"—Let us offer a prayer for the pitiful lamb who has strayed here without invitation. May your soul be blessed in the life to come."
The figure that emerged was a young woman dressed in a Sister’s habit.
She had long, snow-white hair, but what drew the eye even more was—
"—!"
Deep scars were etched across her eyes, which remained tightly shut. Perhaps she had an injured leg; her footsteps—a rhythmic click-clack, click-clack—carried a distinct irregularity.
It was obvious the woman possessed physical frailties, but Luna had no mental capacity to exploit them.
An indescribable pressure emanated from the mysterious woman. It felt like an invisible set of chains, binding Luna’s limbs until she was paralyzed.
"Haah… haah… haah…!"
Gasps of terror escaped Luna’s lips.
A primal dread swelled from deep within her. She felt like a frog pinned by the gaze of a snake. Every instinct screamed that the being before her could snuff out her life as easily as plucking a flower.
The blind woman stepped forward and stroked Luna’s cheek.
Her touch was chillingly cold.
"Is it painful? Is it difficult? That is only natural. This is not a domain intended for someone of your standing. I wonder, how were you able to stray in—or rather, why were you so unfortunate as to wander here?"
Her fingers drifted to Luna’s lips.
Luna couldn’t even feel revulsion; she was too consumed by a fear that made her spine shiver uncontrollably.
"You must possess some glimmer of brilliance. Ah, but what a pity. A half-baked talent is often nothing more than a curse that shortens its owner’s life."
"…W-who… are you…?"
Luna managed to squeeze the words out through her trembling throat.
The blind woman’s crimson lips curled into a delighted smile.
"Oh? Did God grant you permission to speak?"
The woman’s right hand blurred. A supple whip lashed out, striking the floor with a sharp crack.
"—Grovel, you pathetic creature."
The moment she spoke, an unbearable weight crashed down on Luna. Before she knew it, her knees buckled and her cheek was slammed hard against the stone floor.
"Gah!"
"Hehehe! What a precious voice! Please, let me hear you cry out more!"
The blind woman writhed with a look of pure ecstasy.
Luna tried to escape the crushing weight, but her body refused to budge, as if pinned by the palm of a giant. Even drawing breath became a struggle.
In fact—
Under the sheer intensity of the pressure, Luna’s consciousness began to fade.
(What is this? Is it… a dream?)
It was the only explanation she could wrap her head around, but her intuition rejected it.
This was reality.
If she died here, there would be no waking up.
With a heavy rattle, a thick chain dropped before Luna’s eyes.
"Now, let us take our time and enjoy ourselves! We have an infinity here, and I have countless toys to entertain you with. I wonder which will happen first—will your spirit break, collapse, shatter, or be crushed? Oh, I can hardly wait!"
As the woman’s rapturous voice squeezed the air from her lungs, Luna made one final plea.
(Please help me! Lord Albert! Please!)
Crying out that desperate prayer in the silence of her mind, Luna lost consciousness.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
When I returned to my seat in the library, the sight that greeted me was Luna slumped over the desk, unconscious.
"!?"
I rushed to her side.
She was out cold. Fortunately, she was still breathing, but her face was twisted in pain, and she was let out low, agonizing groans.
"Luna? Luna!"
I rubbed her back and called her name, but there wasn't even a hint of her waking up.
This wasn't normal sleep.
—It was something magical.
Then, I noticed where her right hand was resting. It was stretched toward the book I had been reading—the grimoire of Ancient Magic.
"…No way."
When I had been studying the Imperial Book of Weather Control I’d brought from home, I had been pulled into that strange space governed by the woman who called herself Shiunin.
It wasn't a stretch to think the same thing was happening here.
…Though it was annoying that I hadn't even managed to make contact with the will sealed in this book yet.
Did Luna have some sort of "quality" that bypassed all my hard work?
No, I didn't have time for petty jealousy.
I had to decide my next move.
There was no guarantee Luna would come back on her own. My first meeting with Shiunin, the guardian of the Thunder Emperor’s power, had been a total disaster. Considering her arrogance and the way she viewed human life as literal trash, it was a miracle I’d survived.
If this was the will of another Ancient Magic, there was a high probability it was just as insane.
And since Luna was clearly suffering, she was definitely in the middle of a nightmare scenario.
Should I struggle to bring her back, or just cut my losses and leave her?
…I couldn't exactly leave her to rot.
It wasn't that I felt sorry for her or anything. It was a purely pragmatic decision: she was a vital piece of the puzzle for defeating the Demon King alongside the Hero, Leon. It would be a massive headache if she dropped out of the story here.
Fine. I’ll go save her.
That said, I still hadn't figured out how to enter this book’s inner realm. Could I even do it?
To hell with it, I have to try!
I grabbed the grimoire and stared at it, poring over the text.
Of course, nothing happened. That stood to reason—I’d already been staring at this thing for days until I nearly burned holes in the parchment.
Still, I couldn't back down. I had to pry this door open and get to the other side!
Despite my resolve, I was just spinning my wheels. My mind was racing with impatience, and my eyes just slid over the characters without absorbing anything.
It was infuriating. Why did the book accept Luna and reject me? I’d poured more time and effort into this than she ever had!
As I flipped through the pages in a fit of pique, a mocking laugh echoed in my ears—the kind of sound that set my teeth on edge.
—Ho ho ho. Is that the scent of a man’s jealousy? How wretched. Truly wretched. Perhaps you should reflect on the narrowness of your own soul.
"…Shiunin…!"
I grimaced as if I’d swallowed something bitter. She really knew how to push my buttons.
Presumably, my desperate desire to reach "the other side" had re-established my mental link with her. Fine. That worked in my favor.
"Hey. Take me to where your friend is."
—You seek my assistance?
"Can you do it or not?"
—How droll. However, there is a certain way one should ask for favors, is there not?
"If you want me to kowtow, I’ll do it."
—Ho ho ho, how amusing. But I have grown bored of such displays. Besides, there is no value in seeing a head as light as yours bowed. Very well. I shall mark this down as a debt.
I hated the idea of owing her anything, but I was out of options.
—Are you quite certain?
"I am. Why are you double-checking?"
—The woman at your destination is no refined noble like myself; she is a madwoman. She finds her joy in harming others and revels in their agony. She is not one for conversation. It would not surprise me if you were slaughtered the moment you arrived. Do not expect any help from me.
"Hearing that only makes me more certain. I can't let Luna die."
—Ah, such gallant words. You sound just like the 'Hero who slays the Demon King.' How utterly repulsive. A man like you should simply hurry up and go get himself killed.
In that instant, my vision blurred.
This is it—!
The moment the thought crossed my mind, the world shifted.
The space that opened up before me wasn't the Central Library or Shiunin’s manor. It was a cold, desolate stone chamber.
The reason it sent a chill down my spine was simple: the room was filled with objects that could only be described as instruments of torture. The dark, crusted stains marring the floor were unmistakably blood.
What the hell is this place?
Two figures were in the room. One was a woman in a Sister’s habit holding a whip. Her back was turned, so I couldn't see her face.
Beyond her sat a girl, her wrists bound by chains protruding from the wall. Her head hung low, hiding her features, but it was obvious who she was.
"Luna!"
Luna didn't respond, but the woman in the habit turned around.
"…Oh? Another guest. It seems we’re quite popular today. How delightful."
Her scarred, tightly shut eyes seemed to stare right through me.
"How would you like to be marked? Do you wish to be struck? Beaten? I can accommodate any request you might have."
Her lips pulled back into a smile of pure, localized insanity.