Chapter 200: Dream

"Where am I?"

Killian asked out loud as he looked around.

He was currently in a blank space, unable to see anything due to the darkness.

It was like the view whenever he closed his eyes.

"Strange..."

Killian tried taking a step forward, only to feel nothing beneath his feet.

It felt like he was floating with no sense of direction.

"Is this a dream?"

He did not know if he was standing or if he was upside down.

It was then that the memories before he fainted came back to him.

"Oh, right. That’s what happened..."

Killian placed both of his hands behind his head and "lay" down.

"I didn’t expect Regis to be that strong already."

The scene of him instantly being able to cut the demonic worshipper into shreds remained vivid in his mind.

"And to think that I, despite being with the others, lost one of my arms and eye just by trying to hold him off for a minute..."

A self-deprecating chuckle escaped Killian’s lips.

"I can’t believe this..."

His chuckle stopped as he felt a lump in his throat.

Using one of his arms to cover his eyes, Killian made no sound as tears silently streamed down his cheek.

"If only I were stronger..."

At this moment, a figure shrouded in light appeared beside him, "It’s my first time seeing you cry."

"Regis?" Hearing the familiar voice, Killian instantly guessed the identity of the one who spoke, even with his eyes covered.

But before Regis could continue, he scoffed, "Oh, fuck off. This isn’t the right time. It’s my dream too, can’t you let me rest?"

"Oho? And to think you said all those big words about becoming my sword, even swearing on your family’s name.."

Regis’s voice was laden with disappointment, "Is this what your oath as a knight amounts to?"

"Huh?"

Killian flinched, the words of "Regis" beside him seemed to be more than just a part of his dream.

"Is that really you, Boss!?"

"Who else would take the time to visit you in your dreams?"

"Boss!!" Killian cried out as he gave Regis a hug.

Regis had a gentle smile on his face, "I thought you didn’t swing that way?"

"Fuck off. I died for you, you son of a bitch." Killian pushed him away.

Hearing his words, Regis’s expression became serious, "Not yet."

"What?" Killian tilted his head.

"You’re dying, but you’re not dead yet."

"What do you mea—"

"You trust me, right?"

"I mean... Of course, but can you explai—"

"I only have a minute, we can continue talking after you wake up."

"But aren’t I already dea—"

"Shut up and agree to this contract."

"At least let me read it fir—"

"Shut up and just agree!!"

"Okay, okay. Chill, no need to be so demanding~"

[I accept]

The moment those words left Killian’s lips, he felt as if his soul suddenly came back to his body.

’What...’

Killian was shocked as he felt all the pain he was feeling suddenly disappear.

***

At the same time...

A black-haired girl stood alone in the middle of the darkness.

"H-Hello?"

She spoke out loud, looking as if this mere action surprised her.

"Strange, wasn’t my tongue shredded by that demonic worshiper? How come I can talk again?"

It was none other than Pandora who used her dainty hands to caress her lips.

"Though it seems like my vision hasn’t returned."

However, a gasp escaped her lips as she caressed her eyes and the area around them.

"Hm? I still have my eyes?"

Pandora then tried looking around with a curious expression, "Am I in the afterlife?"

"Huh?"

Feeling something hot streaming down her face, she used her hands to touch it.

"Am I crying? But why?"

Just as she asked herself this, the image of a boy appeared in her mind.

"Oh right, I’m sad... hic... I miss him."

Pandora had a hard time maintaining her calm as overwhelming regret filled her entire being.

"I still wanted to spend time with him."

"I-I wanna grow old with him..."

"I still haven’t even said that I have a crush on him!!"

"I haven’t even said t-that I l-love him..."

Pandora shouted her feelings out loud, throwing tantrums and resenting the world for its unfairness.

"You’re finally acting like your age now."

"Hic..."

Hearing a familiar voice behind her, Pandora immediately looked back, "Regis!?"

"Is that really you!?" She could not believe what she was seeing.

Regis took a step forward, caressing her head as he got close to her.

Feeling the ever-so-familiar warmth of the hand that caressed her hair, Pandora immediately broke into tears as she hugged Regis tightly.

"Wahhhh!! I was so scared!!! I missed you!!"

"There, there~ I missed you too. And I’m sorry for being late."

Regis replied in a soothing voice with one hand caressing her head and the other tapping her back.

"Don’t worry, that demonic worshipper is dead now..."

"R-Really?" Pandora’s voice sounded muffled due to her face being buried in Regis’s chest, "B-But am I dead too?"

"I can’t let that happen."

"B-But..."

Pandora remembered her state before she fainted; she knew she did not want to live like that.

’I can’t be with him if I’m like that...’

Regis noticed her worry and said, "Just agree to this contract and leave everything to me, okay?"

Despite how she felt, she acted the moment Regis gave the word.

"Okay, Brother..."

He smiled as he heard the tone of Pandora’s voice returning to how it was before.

[I accept]

***

"What the hell is happening!?"

Eldrin looked horrified as he witnessed what was happening before him.

Larkson also looked terrified, but he noticed something else.

"Elder, look at them."

Eldrin looked to where Larkson was gesturing with his chin.

"What kind of miracle is this... their injuries... have disappeared just like that!?"

The two of them looked at Killian and Pandora, who both looked as if they were merely sleeping.

Even Killian’s severed arm grew back, while the bleeding in Pandora’s mouth also stopped.

Moreover, both of their skin returned to its healthy complexion as it had before, and their eyes looked like it was never gouged out in the first place.

As his eyes observed everything, Larkson asked, "Elder, is there any magic spell that can do this?"

"No..." Eldrin answered, shock still apparent in his eyes.

"How about a holy miracle?"

"I’m sure that someone like the pope can cure their injuries, but it doesn’t seem like that.

The old mage, as someone who pursued knowledge above all else, quickly thought of an explanation.

"It’s like... he’s transferring their injuries to himself..."

Larkson was in disbelief, "That’s ridiculous."

"I know, right? But..." Eldrin caressed his beard as he continued observing.

Larkson then asked, "Then is that perhaps an evil craft?"

"That’s what I’m thinking too... but I’m not sure."

At this moment, Regis seemed to have stopped moving as he knelt on the ground with his hand supporting him.

"Ha.... Ha... Ha..."

He panted, the wounds that appeared in his body recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye.

An instant was all that was needed for him to fully regenerate.

After a short while, Regis glanced at Killian and Pandora.

Seeing their peaceful expressions, he heaved a deep sigh of relief before looking towards the fortress commander and the old mage.

"Did anyone see my state earlier?"

Eldrin shook his head, "Don’t worry, the commander ordered the other soldiers to remain outside the fortress and watch out for other enemies."

"Thank goodness..." Regis heaved another sigh of relief.

At this moment, Larkson approached him from the side, "I remembered my niece not receiving any damage from the demonic worshipper earlier... Is that your doing too?"

He looked the commander in the eye and replied, "Yes. By the way, I have a proposition for you, Commander."

"Although I have a feeling as to what that is, you need to rest first."

"But your arm..."

"My injuries aren’t as bad as theirs. At most, I can pay a fortune to the Temple of Light to help me regrow my limbs. Besides, if we want to make our story believable, we need some casualties first."

Regis looked at Larkson, who seemed to be in deep thought, and felt admiration in his heart.

’To think that he was already thinking that far into the future... As expected of a fortress commander.’

Eldrin chimed in from the side, "Kid, can I just ask you one thing?"

"What is it, old man?" Although he already had an inkling, Regis retained a respectful tone.

Without beating around the bush, the old mage asked, "Are you a demon?"

Larkson also observed the boy’s facial expression, looking for any signs of him lying.

"No, I’m not a demon." Regis answered, his blood-red gaze meeting their eyes without hesitation.

His tone remained unwavering as he continued, "If you want, I can even explain—"

"No need." Larkson was the one who interrupted him.

A confused expression appeared on Regis’s face.

Seeing this, Eldrin chuckled, "Don’t worry, kid. You saved our lives, so trusting you is the least we can do."

"Besides, we can just ask my niece and the others for some of the details."

Larkson spoke as he walked towards the direction of the North Gate, "We’ll take care of the aftermath, you can rest now."

Regis smiled as he collapsed beside his companions, "Thanks."

Just like that, the gruelling battle between the forces of Bakurad Fortress and the demonic worshippers finally ended.