Wish.

In other words, it could be related to desire.

After listening to Lehric, I became curious, too.

I had lived my entire life with tension.

By simply possessing spiritual eyes that were capable of seeing ghosts, it meant I could no longer live the same life as others.

My abnormality blended into their everyday life.

Wherever I went, I could see ghosts; the moment they realized I could perceive them, they would follow me until I was exhausted.

Because of that, it was important for me to constantly maintain a blank expression everywhere and not be startled or scared by their grotesque appearances.

Over time, my emotions gradually dulled by this bizarre way of living.

Since desiring something often led to disappointment and being hurt, I simply continued living just like that.

Yes, it was as if I were just drifting along.

And then, I came to this place.

It might sound a bit ridiculous, but living on this continent was much more comfortable than living in my previous world.

First of all, it was because I gained the power to exorcize evil spirits.

That alone already made me feel like my life was becoming fulfilling.

"So, what is your wish?"

I suddenly became curious.

If it weren’t about my principles when dealing with the dead or the pride of saving the continent—if I abandoned all that, what was it that I truly desired?

So, I silently focused on the white light Lehric presented, and there…

A green meadow stretched out.

A cool breeze blew and the shimmering grass swayed gently with the wind.

And on the picturesque landscape that seemed to stretch on forever, a man was walking steadily.

"Hmm?"

Lehric flinched and was startled when the unfamiliar man appeared.

However, my eyes were solely fixed on him.

As if entranced, I kept on staring.

The scenery changed.

It was now a torrential downpour, the once-blue sky was overshadowed by dark clouds and lightning kept striking the ground.

Yet, the man kept walking.

And he continued for a long time.

The man kept walking through numerous changing terrains on his own feet; beaches, snowy fields, deserts, rocky mountains, and so on..

Did he have a destination?

Probably not.

That was why he could walk so endlessly.

"It's a path of penance."

Lehric muttered as he watched the man walking through a dense forest.

However, my impression was completely different.

This was…

"A journey."

The man who was walking—Kim Shinwoo, was on a journey.

He was feeling everything with his own skin.

He wasn't heading towards a specific place, but rather enjoying every path he walked.

A stuffy wave of emotion hit me, and I realized that I intensely desired that.

Although it seemed like a simple journey, the Demon Lord in front of me would never understand the meaning implied in that scene.

Lehric clasped his hands.

The scenery vanished and pitch-black darkness descended once more.

"It's a bit perplexing."

Scratching his chin, Lehric showed an awkward smile.

"Usually, when I show someone their true desires, the person themselves would appear, but in your case, it was someone else entirely."

He seemed puzzled that the person who appeared was Kim Shinwoo instead of Deus Verdi.

"That is me."

"…What?"

"The man you are talking about. Kim Shinwoo, that is the name of the person who just appeared. And that was originally me."

Lehric shut his mouth for a moment, his expression indicated that he would have gasped if he hadn't done so.

In the brief silence, his mind raced before he finally came to a conclusion.

"I see! So, that is why you’re called Kim Shinwoo! You stole the body of Deus Verdi by force!"

Technically, I received it, but there was no need to correct him.

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

The sound of dull clapping echoed due to his white gloves.

Lehric, who had only been showing interest, now looked at me with apparent excitement.

"Deception! Your very existence is a deception towards others! How can there be such a person! How can there be such a lovable man!"

Velica, the Demon Lord of Deformation.

Lehric, the Demon Lord of Deception.

And even Magan, the Demon Lord of Gluttony.

Considering they all showed a certain favorable impression towards me, I seemed to have a truly unfortunate life.

"I want you. I want to invite you to my manor."

"It seems there is some misunderstanding."

Whoosh.

Blue flames flared up from my left hand.

Black chains, which were hidden in the darkness, flew towards his neck with a fierce sound.

Swirrrrrlll!

As the chains wrapped around his neck, I thrust my left hand forward and struck his chest.

The blue flames, which were spreading across his body, started to burn with a crackling firewood sound.

"I came here solely to liberate the souls you have taken."

It was to bring rest to Ophelia's daughter and the victims sacrificed to her.

Other than that, I had no other desires from the Demon Lord.

However, even as he was burning, Lehric nodded and shouted.

"Ahaha! This is great! Very great!"

What was so great about it?

However, I didn't listen any further and reduced him to ashes.

Whoosh!

After all, just as Velica had said, no matter how many times we killed him, he would simply reappear as if mocking us.

And as if to meet my expectations, Lehric's voice echoed from somewhere.

"I can't sell you what you desire. It's already been put up as a reward."

A reward?

Not understanding what he meant, I walked steadily towards the depths of the general store where the voice came from.

However, he was already gone.

Due to the lingering mana, the empty store walls felt dissonant.

Did he flee?

No, could it even be considered fleeing?

In the end, it seemed like there was nothing I could gain from this place.

Let alone anything, the entrance was the only thing I could see in this pitch-black darkness, which had somehow closed.

Closed?

A sudden chill ran down my spine as I hurriedly ran towards the entrance, pushing the door open.

This wasn't my laboratory.

A strong gust of wind, akin to a hefty sword aura, immediately greeted me. Due to the fierce wind, which felt like my entire body was struck by, I couldn’t fully open my eyes.

However, at least I could clearly see where I was standing.

I was at the entrance of a manor which was emitting an overall faint purple hue.

The manor was so huge that the Verdi Household’s manor in Norseweden was incomparable to it.

The main gate was wide open as if welcoming me, and likewise, all of the windows were brightly lit.

"Huff."

Was this what he meant by inviting me to his manor? Despite feeling dumbfounded by the peculiar invitation, I scanned my body since I didn't know what would happen next.

After turning my right shoulder to check if my prosthetic arm was working properly, I immediately headed forward.

Since I wasn't going to get any answers standing, there was no point in staying here.

I also needed to escape the hundreds of hungry gazes I felt around me for the time being.

Passing through the main gate, I opened the manor's door and stepped inside.

A warm yet cozy air enveloped me as I entered. The interior of the manor was extravagantly decorated, rivaling that of the Griffin Royal Palace.

And there, right in front of me, a woman was sitting on the floor at the entrance, sewing something.

Despite her unsightly appearance and gaunt figure, she seemed to be enjoying herself as she moved the needle.

"...."

However, she wasn't sewing on missing buttons or mending torn clothes.

With the thread in her mouth, she vigorously stitched her left wrist with her right hand. After finishing, she raised her left hand with a bright smile.

"Done!"

As if a bug was crawling around, her left hand wriggled strangely and grotesquely.

As she raised her head, her gaze naturally landed on me.

Startled, I flinched, but the woman quickly smiled brightly, welcoming me.

"Aha, a newcomer?"

"..."

Although my silence seemed to make her wary, she nodded in understanding and pointed to one side of the wall with her freshly stitched left hand.

"The manor rules are written over there, just read and understand them."

Her manner of speaking sounded as if there was a screw loose somewhere. But I passed by her and headed towards where her left hand pointed.

There, the rules of the manor were written in large letters.

- Rules of the Dream Demon Manor -

1. Private rooms will be assigned to each guest. Your room is number 110.

Room 110?

The way the numbers shimmered seemed like each person would be seeing different digits, as if magic had been cast on them.

2. Please refrain from going outside at night. If you happen to go out, the responsibility lies with you.

The second rule seemed related to the hungry gazes I felt outside just now.

3. The owner of this abode is the Demon Lord Lehric. Please keep that in mind.

4. Guests are only permitted up to the third floor.

5. One can only stay in the Dream Demon Manor for five days. Exceeding this period will result in a forced expulsion.

6. Engaging in combat within the Dream Demon Manor is not recommended.

7. The clock is located at the center of the first floor. Please do not ask other guests about the time and rob them of their time.

8. If you are expelled from the Dream Demon Manor after five days, you will lose all memories of events that occurred here.

9. Rules about the Dream Demon Manor are hidden all over the Manor. You will be rewarded for finding them.

10. Among the guests –

Rule No. 10 was cut off midway. Just as I was wondering about the situation, I slowly turned, and the woman who had been sitting on the floor moments ago was staring at me with her large eyes.

It was a pair of eerie, dazed eyes that could send chills down one's spine.

"Your body seems quite easy to handle. It looks so thin and fragile, almost as if I could break your bones with ease. Your skin also seems thin, perfect for a summer cloak."

The woman licked her lips, eyeing me greedily. Although she was drooling, she seemed more interested in me as a research subject rather than prey.

I tried to express my discomfort. However…

Step, step.

Footsteps coming down the stairs to the first floor were heard.

Upon hearing the footsteps, the woman who had been sewing her hand hastily grabbed her needle and thread, fleeing down the left corridor.

She seemed so frightened by the approaching presence that she didn’t even look back as she ran away.

"Who has Lehric brought this time?"

The woman descended the stairs.

However, this time, I couldn't divert my gaze away from the woman.

Wondering what was happening right now, I now understood why there was Rule No. 7.

Please do not inquire about time from other guests and waste their time.

Asking was pointless in itself because each of us lived in our own time.

"Another Necromancer?"

Recognizing me as a Necromancer, she seemed intrigued as her eyebrows twitched.

A voluptuous figure.

Clad in a black robe enveloping her whole body.

A semi-transparent black veil draped beneath her eyes.

Unlike who I knew, her purple eyes were chillingly cold.

Without realizing it, I murmured her name.

"Dark Spiritualist..."

It was her from a time when she was still alive.

She stood before me, not as a soul, but as someone living.