S27 Residue of a Nightmare

It stands upon the rock.

Eight crimson eyes, lifeless, stare at me.

Not particularly large in size.

Yet its presence surpasses that of any monster I have encountered before.

I cannot move.

Neither can the others.

As if frozen in place, utterly still.

It felt as though my heart had been seized by the white spider-like monster.

[Chosen One?]

Suddenly, a voice echoed.

Not through sound.

Through telepathy.

Not directed at me.

I had merely overheard the telepathic message, sent toward someone else.

[Chosen One]

And then, without notice, that someone else was there.

Everywhere.

[Overlord?]

[Overlord]

[Identification: Failed]

[Overlord?]

[Overlord]

[Reincarnated?]

[Reincarnated]

[But weak?]

[Weak]

[Weak weak]

The telepathic voice echoed from everywhere.

Without notice, they were there—on the floor, on the walls, on the ceiling, in every direction.

Infinite red gazes.

White, stretching to the horizon.

The scene froze thought.

No—think.

They communicate with clear intent. Use language deliberately.

Among the words, one stands out.

"Know the Reincarnated!?"

I resolve to speak.

I see Busgas’s eyes widen. But this—this must be heard.

[Know]

[Impossible not to know]

The response returns.

Communication is established.

They are not mindless monsters.

"Why do you know this?"

[Mistress]

[Master]

[Mother]

"Is that master a reincarnated one?"

[It will become clear in time]

[It will be known in time]

[It will be known soon]

[It will become clear soon]

"What does that mean?"

[Proclamation]

[Declaration]

[The beginning of the end]

[The world begins]

[The world ends]

The white shadow gradually fades away.

"Wait! What does that mean!?"

[Knowing is pointless]

[You will die anyway]

[Everyone dies]

[Struggle to survive]

Implied, until then, they would be overlooked.

And the residue of the nightmare vanished from before us.

"Idiot!"

Baskas's fist strikes my face.

I do not resist. I accept the blow without protest.

Hyrins pulls Baskas into a wristlock, restraining him.

"Didn't I say it? Foolish actions from the monk could get allies killed!"

Even as he is pinned, Baskas shouts, rage in his voice.

He struggles as if about to break free.

"Come now. We're all safe. That's enough."

The instructor intervenes. Baskas stops moving.

Still furious, but no longer violent.

"I'm sorry. I had to know."

"Even if it costs you your life?"

A cold glare.

No reply comes.

"If the monk wants to die on his own, fine. But don't drag others into it. If you wish to die, do it alone."

"Baskas, you're going too far."

The master scolds Baskas, yet Baskas is correct.

I acted recklessly against dangerous remnants of a nightmare—only because I wished to know.

Baskas pushes past Hyrlins.

Hyrlins releases Baskas without resistance, having judged further struggle pointless.

Baskas leans back against a rock some distance away, sliding down into a seated position.

Closer inspection reveals a poor complexion.

Baskas claimed to have encountered nightmares before.

Possibly triggered a trauma.

Looking again at the others, Katia and Ana sit motionless. Hyrlins appears slightly pale.

Only the master maintains composure.

"Are you alright?"

Addressing Katia and Ana, seated.

"My legs won't hold me."

"I apologize."

Each of them looks up with faces on the verge of tears.

A slight chill runs through them. They must be terrified and nauseous.

Though relatively small for a monster, being surrounded by large spiders is undeniably unsettling.

Even I felt queasy. The women would be worse.

"Master, you're remarkably calm."

"No. Not calm at all. The exterior was cute, but the interior was… unsettling."

"Cute…?"

Ah. They weren’t just playing a role.

Master. They’ve always had a taste for the grotesque since their past life.

I thought it was part of the character, but they genuinely like spiders.

Unexpected.

"By the way, what do you make of what those children said?"

The cryptic phrases spoken by the remnants of that nightmare.

"I do not know. The information is too sparse."

What, exactly, were those creatures called remnants of a nightmare?

The fact they detected our information suggests a high-level detection skill—beyond doubt.

Additional evidence: intelligence sufficient to comprehend human speech.

The stealth required to gather in such numbers without detection.

Coordination among them using telepathy.

Even fragments of their abilities display such power.

If a confrontation were to occur...

I do not believe we could prevail.

"The beginning of the end. Everyone will die."

An ominous phrase, like a nightmare.

That single thought now clings to my mind—refusing to release.