Just like a dream on a midsummer night or a mirage in the desert.

The corpses disappeared into nothingness before anyone realized it.

With an expression of disbelief, the Cadavermancer stared blankly at where the corpses had been. Then, as if coming to her senses, she suddenly raised her head. However…

Crush!

My mana-enhanced hand swiftly seized her thin neck.

“A Necromancer without evil spirits and a Cadavermancer without corpses. Is this not such a fitting duel?”

“K-Keek!”

As I dragged her away, her desperate struggle to escape now looked like the pitiful tap dance of a wretched woman.

She dropped the crystal skull and tried to stab my wrist with the dagger, but it seemed like she didn’t have enough strength, so her efforts were in vain.

Her physical strength was weak since she had sewn her body several times before, making it pretty difficult for her to pierce through my reinforced wrist.

“W-Where are you going?”

Han So asked as he hastily chased behind me. I replied as I exited the dining hall and opened the first-floor’s entrance door.

“There is something I need to check.”

“Let! Cough! Me! Cough! Go! Cough!“

Creak!

The door at the entrance was opened and the outside was still buried in a pitch-black darkness.

It didn’t need to be said that something was hiding in that darkness, watching us.

Since I first came to the Dream Demon Manor, I had been feeling this eerie sensation. Thus, I needed to test it.

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

“Don’t do it! I said don’t!”

I felt like an animal trainer about to throw meat into a lion’s den. The only difference was that the meat I was holding was still alive, but regardless, I still threw her without hesitation.

Then, as if already waiting in anticipation, the shadow of monsters flew out from the darkness.

Initially, screams accompanied the shattering of bones, but soon, only a squelching, slurping noise echoed from outside.

I see.

Rule No. 2 was the most critical factor in determining whether one could leave the Dream Demon Manor immediately or not.

However, I needed to confirm the meaning behind the vague statement regarding how responsibility lay with oneself. And this confirmed it.

“How horrifying.”

Han So turned his head away, saying he couldn’t watch anymore. However, given that the Cadavermancer had murdered the other guests and even disrespected the deceased by using their corpses, this execution method did not seem excessive.

Nevertheless, my eyes continued watching the death of the Cadavermancer.

As expected.

She, too, was a soulless being.

Jortu, who died first.

Mul, who committed suicide right before me.

And finally, this female Cadavermancer.

I couldn’t see their souls even though they were all dead.

Perhaps the other guests were the same.

Ultimately, this meant…

“Aren’t you acting too hastily?”

At that moment, the Dark Spiritualist, who was exhausted from the fight with the Cadavermancer, gathered herself together and stepped outside the dining hall.

“Don’t we need to confirm the rules known by the Cadavermancer?”

“We already know the method to escape anyway.”

Rule No. 30: Only the last remaining person can escape the Dream Demon Manor.

Once we knew this, everything else was unnecessary. In fact, most of the rules were tricks made by Lehric to make the Dream Demon Manor more interesting.

“You were aware of Rule No. 30. That was why you killed Jortu without hesitation, right?”

When I pressed this question to the Dark Spiritualist, she simply turned her head and avoided answering.

No wonder she killed Jortu for a ridiculous reason.

“What are you going to do now? Shall the three of us fight to see who wins?”

“Hmph!”

At the sharp retort of the Dark Spiritualist, Han So subtly backed away while raising his Heavenly Oath Martial Staff.

No matter how loyal and affectionate he became during our time together, as a martial artist, he wouldn’t have wanted to die meaninglessly in a place like this.

Ignoring those two, I slowly turned my gaze to the clock on the first floor.

Another day had passed.

It was already the second day.

If we excluded today, we only had three days remaining.

After five days, everyone present here would be forcibly evicted and end up like the Cadavermancer just now.

Interrupting the two people who were cautious of each other, I intentionally matched the atmosphere and asked the fundamental question.

“What is the reason for the Dream Demon Manor’s existence?”

“The reason for its existence?”

“Well…”

As if they had never thought of this, the two hesitated, unable to give a proper answer.

I continued pouring out questions, one at a time, about the things that I had been thinking about until now.

“The Manor has guests coming from different eras.”

Although there were plenty of treasures, mana could not be sensed; food was created randomly, and the cleaning was done neatly.

Rare and precious items like Lemegeton and the Heavenly Oath Martial Staff were distributed without a care, as if they were just welcome drinks.

“Can a place like this really exist?”

Shaking my head, I admitted it honestly.

“I consider it impossible.”

Neither of the two could strongly deny my statement. It was also because we were talking about the Demon Lord of Deception, Lehric.

I didn’t know how he did it, but I could only speculate that it might have been possible since he was a monster who had lived for hundreds of years.

“Moreover, my biggest concern regarding this Manor is the time paradox.”

“Time… what?”

“What are you talking about?”

I unintentionally used Earth’s terminology. I cleared my throat and corrected my explanation.

“There was an old Han So in my time. However, if I kill the young Han So present here, what would happen to the old Han So I knew?”

“Ah, that part also bothered me.”

As I explained the concept, the Dark Spiritualist immediately understood and agreed. Since it wasn’t such a difficult explanation for Han So, he also pondered while stroking his chin.

A time paradox was a considerably significant problem that couldn’t be dismissed lightly.

Since Heralhazard Luaneth, who was to invade the Griffin Kingdom, had died, the very future of the kingdom would drastically change.

This would cause all of history to be altered. A situation that shook the very foundations of the game’s story was unfolding.

However, I was still standing here, unchanged—as Deus Verdi, the Soul Whisperer.

“This Manor has never tried to stop us despite our countless opportunities to interfere with the past.”

Even when I told them that Han So died at the age of eighty five and that I was the Dark Spiritualist’s apprentice, the Manor showed no reaction. This meant there were no specific rules related to it.

“Certainly.”

“I-I see.”

There were too many possibilities—this was a place that could greatly disrupt the continent’s history.

Thus, I couldn’t help but hold some doubts.

“If there is a reason, I can only think of one.”

I put forward a simple hypothesis instead.

“Deaths that occur here, or any information about the future that guests have learned, will not have any impact outside the Manor.”

At the same time, both the Dark Spiritualist and Han So remained silent.

The Dark Spiritualist twitched her eyebrow as if she had vaguely sensed it, but Han So, who was still puzzled, tilted his head.

“Even if I talk about the future, it will not change the past.”

“I-is it because regardless, we will be losing our memories after five days?”

We certainly could gloss it over like that. At first, I also thought the Dark Spiritualist had lost her memory after she left this place.

While that might not be entirely wrong, but drawing on the fact that no souls existed here, I laid out the cruel truth.

“I wonder if everyone other than me, who came from the future, is fake.”

***Booooonnngg!

At the long, echoing sound of the bell, I slowly got out of bed. I had intended to briefly close my eyes to rest, but unexpectedly, I spent the night wide awake.

After putting Lemegeton, which I took from the desk, back into my pocket, I headed outside my room.

Although we had agreed to meet at the dining hall, Han So was already standing in the corridor, waiting for me alone.

He leaned the Heavenly Oath Martial Staff against the wall, appearing like a vigilant watchman ready for a determined battle.

“Have you sorted out your thoughts?”

“…How could I possibly accept that I’m not real, but a fake?”

Saying this, Han So let out a bitter smile tinged with self-mocking.

“Come to think of it, was the reason you were particularly polite because you had met the eighty-five-year-old me?”

He wasn’t wrong, but if I had simply met Han So, I wouldn’t have used honorifics to this point when addressing him.

“It is not just because of your age.”

“Hmm?”

“It is because I consider you a person worthy of respect.”

“…”

Han So’s gaze was calm and settling; there was a deep curiosity in his eyes.

“I was not present at that moment.”

Technically, it was the original Deus who was at the banquet hall at the time.

“But, I heard that eighty-five-year-old Han So fought against the demons until the very end on behalf of the Han Empire.”

“…Me?”

With a reluctant expression, Han So carefully dwelled over my words.

“Even with your aging body, you stood on the front lines against the demons. You were befitting of your title as the War God of the Han Empire until the very end.”

“…”

“Such behavior certainly deserves respect, so I am simply being polite to you now.”

“But am I not myself?”

Han So cut me off abruptly and clenched his fist. Judging from his trembling expression as if filled with anger, I could feel how deplorable the current situation must be for him.

“After hearing your words, I’ve thought about it all day. Frankly, it is still too difficult to simply accept that I am not the real Han So.”

“…”

“Because it is so hard to accept, in the end, I am considering killing you and escaping.”

If he were to fight me now, someone who did not control any souls, Han So could certainly gain the upper hand and secure victory easily.

However, despite Han So’s declaration, I continued to silently look at him, and perhaps sensing something amiss, he lowered his gaze and asked.

“Are you not going to resist?”

“It would not matter if I did. However…”

While I had considered this possibility, there was one thing I needed to firmly address.

“I find it difficult to accept that you are different from the Han So I know.”

“What do you mean?”

“Before coming here, can you recall everything from your past?”

“Yes. Very vividly.”

He resolutely responded as if trying hard to deny he might be fake.

However, hearing such a denial made me understand why Lehric had sent me to Dream Demon Manor in the first place.

“This is just my speculation, but perhaps you did indeed enter the Dream Demon Manor at exactly this age many years ago.”

“…”

“Back then, you would have used Room 110; although I do not know whether you succeeded or failed to escape.”

Given that no one knew what would happen five days later, I couldn’t be sure right now.

“Even if the real Sir Han So is gone, his memories and experiences from that time remain here.”

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been possible to create such an elaborate fake.

This wasn’t only the case for Han So or the Dark Spiritualist, but everyone else behaved and moved as if they were the real person.

“Did the Dream Demon Manor… recreate me?”

Similar to the already broken Lemegeton and the supposedly lost Heavenly Oath Martial Staff, I speculated that the Dream Demon Manor was capable of recreating humans from a time who no longer existed.

“What about the uninvited intruder, the Dark Spiritualist?”

“In the end, she must be the same. She was an intentional device created by Lehric to manufacture some tension.”

Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been a particular need to create Rule No. 27.

The warning and the wording used, uninvited intruder, fell under the same nature as all the other rules in the Dream Demon Manor.

“In the end, despite being real, I am just a fake? Is that what you mean?”

Two words that contradicted each other.

But that was why he was a presence that fit the Dream Demon Manor perfectly.

“I don’t know anymore…”

Han So lowered his head deeply, exhaling as if to complain. The Heavenly Oath Martial Staff he had been holding was now on the ground.

“I will no longer determine whether I am real or fake. After this conversation with you, what difference does it make? I am simply Han So, the War God of the Han Empire.”

He cast aside his complex dilemma to follow his own conviction.

“As you said, fighting against a great evil is probably the most fitting end for a War God like me.”

“…”

“And that is why, I, War God Han So, will stand by your side.”

With a hearty laugh, Han So patted my chest lightly. I slowly bowed my head towards him.

It no longer mattered whether the man before me was real or fake.

However, I only hoped that this being, who had lived his life like Han So, would continue to do so like the real Han So until the end.

“Thank you.”

In the end, whether it was the 85-year-old Han So or the current one here, they both chose to fight against the Demon Lord with unwavering conviction.

Wasn’t he truly such a simple hearted man?

“Come to think of it; maybe I came here to be persuaded by you.”

With a self-mocking smile, he gently pushed me from behind.

“You should go to the dining hall. She’s waiting.”

Knowing about my teacher-apprentice relationship with the Dark Spiritualist, Han So winked and stepped back.

As I headed towards the dining hall, I slowly stopped and turned my body to look at Han So.

He tilted his head, asking if something was wrong.

However, out of courtesy, I spoke once again.

“Come to think of it; I have never given you a detailed introduction about myself.”

“Deus Verdi of Norseweden. That is all I know about you.”

Han So shrugged, and I placed my hand on my chest, bowing.

“I am a Necromancer who consoles the souls of the deceased. The name graciously bestowed upon me by King Orpheus of the Griffin Kingdom is ‘Soul Whisperer.’”

“‘Soul Whisperer… Soul Whisperer Deus Verdi. A Necromancer who consoles the souls of the deceased….”

As he repeated the words several times, he soon realized why I said this to him. He let out a forced laughter-like exclamation.

“Hah! So you’re an expert at handling someone like me!”

When I didn’t say anything more and simply offered a faint smile, he nodded several times before swiftly turning his body, saying.

“That’s right; if this life is indeed heading towards its end. I’ll ask you to see me off.”

Although there was no soul in the current Han So, I thought that what I had done so far might still be of help to him.

After leaving Han So, who had returned to his own room, I headed back to the dining hall.

As I did, I noticed a new phrase written on the wall listing the Dream Demon Manor’s ten rules.

10. Among the guests, there is only one living person.

The missing part of Rule No. 10 was now revealed.

“Was figuring it out myself the condition for completing the rule?”

They weren’t just written down, the rules were locked away like riddles.

Seeing Rule No. 10 now made me realize that Rule No. 30 was also a kind of trap.

“So, in the end, that is what No. 30 meant.”

30. Only the last remaining person can escape the Dream Demon Manor.

It was a cruel, final rule that encouraged a ruthless massacre.

However, the true meaning of that rule wasn’t for me to kill everyone to survive.

It just meant that I was the only living person here.

In the end, nobody else but me could escape from the Dream Demon Manor.

“How ridiculous.”

With a sneer, indicating that I would not be swayed by such things anymore, I entered the dining hall.

Sitting there was the eighteen-year-old Dark Spiritualist who had been waiting for me.

“You’re late. We don’t have time.”

She seemed quite displeased, but I reassured her with a smile.

“There are three days left.”

We had three days left until we were forcibly kicked out of the Dream Demon Manor.

“The remaining time is quite abundant for three people to fight for their lives, and yet quite demanding just to unravel the mysteries of this riddle-filled place.”

I slowly sat down next to her.

“But.”

Anticipation for the time ahead brought a faint smile to my lips.

“It seems like a perfect time for us to have a conversation.”