"Oh, Young Master, you were still here?" Sebas asked.
"How the hell am I supposed to get out?"
Since I’d told him I was going on ahead, I couldn't exactly slink back into the room where the succubi were. I’d just been standing there, waiting for Sebas to show up. I had assumed that since this was a mental world, I could just leave whenever I wanted, but apparently, it wasn't that simple.
"You must return the way you came," Sebas replied.
"Huh?"
I’d spent the whole journey falling, taking the easy way down. Now he was telling me I had to climb all the way back up that endless spiral staircase? It was too cruel.
"We could return this instant, but that would lead to a most... unfortunate situation."
"Unfortunate?"
"Yes, quite catastrophic. Young Master, why exactly do you think you had to exchange blows so violently with the First Head?"
"Wait, wasn't it to merge our powers?"
"That was part of it, yes. However, it was also intended to induce a state of mental exhaustion. It was necessary to make your inexhaustible life force and libido—which are now overflowing—easier to control."
So it wasn't just because the old man wanted a fistfight. It was because my sexual desires were literally on the verge of exploding. It wouldn't just be an unfortunate situation; it would be a horribly lewd situation.
"As an extra precaution, sprinting up these long stairs is another excellent coping mechanism," Sebas added.
"You've got to be kidding me..."
"Actually, you should praise the First Head's mental fortitude. He had become a literal mass of lust, yet he managed to restrain himself to having only two succubus illusions as companions."
"I don't know about that."
I could only see him as a pathetic middle-aged guy. Was he actually suffering through that much restraint? No, he was definitely enjoying himself. I had a feeling it wasn't a matter of mental strength at all.
"You look skeptical. Well, I suppose Lady Alicia would be more than happy to accept you even if you did turn into a beast."
"...I'll run. I'm doing the staircase sprints."
We hadn't even kissed yet. The thought of Alicia being manhandled by some sex-crazed version of me was enough to make me restless. Maybe the sprints weren't such a bad idea. It explained why teenagers in their prime threw themselves into club activities—it was all about redirecting that pent-up energy.
"Right, I actually overheard something earlier," I said.
"Oh? And what might that be?"
"Is there more to the story of the Hero and the dragon?"
When people talked in a quiet, empty void like this, I couldn't help but overhear. Specifically, the part about the Silver Dragon helping House Brave.
"Hmm. Are you curious?"
"I have to thank her on the old man's behalf, don't I?"
They had parted ways on such tragic terms. The fact that the First Hero had never mentioned the dragon again before dying meant they never reunited.
"I have to tell her that his feelings were passed down."
Now that I had met Alicia and found someone I loved, I realized just how important it was to convey that message.
"How noble of you, Young Master. I am truly moved."
Sebas paused before continuing. "However, you need not worry. Those feelings have already been conveyed. After all, she has been supporting the Brave Territory from the shadows this entire time."
"From the shadows? I think I would've noticed if a dragon was hanging around the territory."
"If she had stayed nearby, she would have found it impossible to honor the First Head's final request. Therefore, she has provided assistance from afar to ensure his will was fulfilled."
His tone suggested that this support was still ongoing.
"...Don't tell me it's the neighboring country?"
They always picked fights and started wars at the perfect times to keep our bloodline sharp. I’d always suspected those wars were staged. I hoped it wasn't just spite from being rejected, because that would be incredibly sadistic.
"No, Young Master, it is nothing like that. She carries herself with great dignity, but in truth, she is a very shy and gentle person."
"She sounds a lot like Alicia."
"So, you've realized it."
"What!?" I nearly tumbled back down the stairs in shock. "Is it Alicia?"
"Lady Alicia possesses a beauty that is indeed a mirror image of her ancestor, but she is not Lady Menou. To be precise, the woman who founded Lady Alicia's house was Lady Menou herself—after she discarded her dragon form to become human."
"She gave up being a dragon...?"
It was hard to wrap my head around.
"It was the conclusion she reached after much deliberation. She honored the First Head's wish to save his friend and sought to ensure that he would have at least a few more allies in the distant future."
"...I see."
It certainly seemed like those feelings had been conveyed. Looking back, my perspective on Alicia’s rampage in the original game world started to shift. The demon she had sold her soul to was almost certainly Sebas. In that timeline, House Brave had been destroyed...
"I imagine there is one other person weighing on your mind, Young Master," Sebas said. "However, unfortunately, I am not that deeply involved with her."
He continued, "Even if she is not to your liking, the enemy of your enemy is your friend. Since your objectives align, it would be wise to form a temporary alliance."
"You mean Patricia?"
I knew the truth about the Barrier now, and I had my own reasons to destroy it. However, I still didn't understand why Patricia wanted it gone. Was it just a grudge, or something else?
"It's rare for you not to know something, Sebas. Especially since you act like you're the all-knowing narrator."
"Demons are not the only ones who watch over humans. There are many beings just as whimsical and innocent as we are. They are rare in this land, which was once forsaken and choked by miasma—I am speaking of Spirits."
"Spirits, huh..."
"Beings that are quite incompatible with both demons and dragons—oh, my. It seems I've lost track of time. Young Master, at this very moment, Lady Alicia is attempting to kiss you while you are still in your severed-head state."
"Wait, what!?"
He dropped the bombshell before I could even process his talk about spirits.
"Hey, what do you mean!? Explain yourself! Why the hell is my first kiss happening while I'm unconscious, and in a place I don't even know about!?"
"Indeed, quite the dilemma."
"Get me back! Get me back right now!"
"Are you certain?"
"Like hell I'm letting my first kiss happen while I'm a decapitated head!"
"Then you had better hurry, Young Master."
"Just send me back already! You're clearly enjoying this!"
He was mocking me for being a virgin. The idea of my first kiss being a memory of my severed head was just too much to bear.
"Very well. Good luck, Young Master."
With a wide, mischievous grin at my frantic state, Sebas snapped his fingers. My body began to float, as if being sucked upward toward the world above. I surged toward the light, returning to where I belonged.