Chapter 279 : Chapter 279

Chapter 279. Dream of the Underworld Butterfly (2)

NEIGH!

The sound of horses neighing was heard.

The coachman's voice soothing the horses. Wind blowing from outside the carriage.

And the smile of the mother sitting in front.

Radel unconsciously gripped the armrest of the chair.

'This is a dream.'

But it was so... real. Everything felt like reality.

Just as Radel was flustered, a young voice was heard from beside him.

"What's wrong with you? Are you sick somewhere?"

It was young Leon. Short legs and a round face, cheeks still with baby fat. However, he sat in a dignified posture unbefitting a child.

He was neatly dressed in splendid ceremonial robes and his hair was cleanly combed back. Even his expression was like an adult's.

"Did you eat dirt again? Mother told you not to pick up and eat just anything."

It was a completely different tone from seventeen-year-old Leon. Though mature, there was a childlike honesty.

It was something the current Leon would never say. Above all, he was not hostile toward Radel.

'He must not know it's a dream yet.'

If he had even a little bit of current consciousness, that tone would not come out. Still, it was necessary to check.

"Dirt? I'm past the age of eating that. I'm even attending the academy."

Radel examined Leon's reaction while mentioning the academy. Leon closed his eyes tightly as if dizzy for a moment.

"There he goes again."

Then he opened his mouth with a frown. As if his lacking brother was pathetic.

"Are you really sick in the head? What academy? Even Brother Ferdinand hasn't entered the academy yet."

"Brother Ferdinand?"

"Soon you'll say you forgot Mother too."

Ferdinand Adolf Cretian. The name of the 1st Prince, no longer of this world.

'Brother Ferdinand was alive at this time too.'

Radel felt a new emotion and looked at the mother sitting in front. Bianca made eye contact with Radel with a warm smile.

"What is it, Radel?"

Hearing the affectionate mother's voice, it really felt like he had returned to those times.

"Leon is treating me like a weird kid again."

"Leon did that?"

"Yes, he asked if my head hurts. Leon thinks I'm an idiot."

"Oh my."

Bianca reached out and stroked Radel's head.

"So our Radel was upset?"

"Yes, Leon always thinks he's right."

"When did I? And you said something ridiculous first."

"Leon. Whose thought is it that what Radel says is ridiculous?"

When Bianca asked, Leon pouted.

"...Mine."

"Right. Our Leon is smart, but you often jump to conclusions too quickly."

"...Yes. I'll keep it in mind."

Radel felt exhilarated watching Leon get scolded. Usually, he lived holding his breath under Leon's watchful eye, but it felt good to have Mother speak so refreshingly here.

Radel stuck out his tongue at Leon at an angle Mother could not see. Then he saw Leon's fists tremble.

'This is fun?'

No wonder he did not want to wake from the dream.

* * *

"Look at this guy?"

The Spirit of the Library urgently fluttered its pages. It was guarding the two people whose souls were connected to the Underworld Butterfly.

"What happened?"

The Spirit of the Library hardened its expression as it detected mana flowing from Radel.

As expected. Just as it had predicted, Radel's soul, which had been maintaining balance until just now, was suddenly sucked in deeply in an instant.

"I told you not to be enchanted like that..."

The Spirit of the Library let out a groan.

As the administrator of the Library of the World and the spirit of the academy library, it had seen many records. It had read countless records about Dungeons and magical beasts.

Most of those were records accumulated from failed experiences. No matter how strong mages were, facing irregular Dungeons and magical beasts that exceeded human physical capabilities inevitably resulted in more failures than successes.

Especially undead-type monsters were dangerous to mages. Because it was difficult to defeat magical beasts that cursed people and corrupted souls with ordinary magic.

Moreover, mental strength was extremely important for mages. There was no need to explain how dangerous magical beasts that touched mages' minds and souls were.

If the body broke, it could be fixed. But there was no way to reverse a broken soul.

In cases where souls were captured like this, as time passed, they could not recall who they were. Being swayed like that, they lost their ego and eventually their soul disappeared.

Of course, if they overcame that, the story was different...

"Don't collapse here, you fool."

The Spirit of the Library looked down at its clumsy contractor and muttered.

"I want to see more of the world."

For that, that guy needed to overcome. Not knowing the spirit's feelings, Radel's face was only peaceful.

* * *

Wind blowing from outside the window disheveled Bianca's hair. She tidied her fluttering golden hair with movements so natural it was unbelievable this was a dream.

And she smiled at the children.

"Mom is happy to be with you on a day like today."

In Bianca's green eyes, the endlessly spreading forest was reflected. The scenery reflected in the window was a place familiar to Radel too.

'The Imperial Hunting Grounds.'

A place untouched by human footsteps. However, now many carriages were lined up entering.

Flags symbolizing each noble family. Knights armed and on horseback escorting the carriages. Splendid tents where imperial family members and nobles would stay were probably prepared far away.

Radel realized what point in time this was.

"...The Imperial Hunting Competition?"

Right. Today was the day he lost his mother.

As Radel could not continue speaking from the shock like being hit on the head, Bianca opened her mouth with an excited voice.

"Right. It's the Imperial Hunting Competition. Until now, you couldn't come because you were young, but today His Majesty specially gave permission."

"His Majesty did?"

"Yes. He said you've grown enough to come to the hunting competition. But you have to promise to behave quietly at the hunting grounds, okay?"

Radel could guess why he and Leon could come to the Imperial Hunting Competition. If his memory was correct, it was the first hunting competition held after Leon's Ability manifested.

Dragon's Blessing. Since such an Ability appeared in the imperial family, His Majesty the Emperor must have been generous.

Mother had wanted him and Leon to have various experiences. She would have thought the Imperial Hunting Competition was a good opportunity to show the children a wider world.

Because it was a large event attended by knights, hunters, and mages who could not usually be met.

"It'll be really fun when we go. Maybe we can see prey up close."

"I see."

Radel barely nodded his head.

'What was I like in the past?'

He must have been happy. Because the self at that time did not know what would happen.

However, there were almost no memories.

Mother's death.

That incident completely changed young Radel's life. The past Radel erased what happened then from his head.

Because it was painful to remember. Until he recalled his past life.

Not now. He wanted to know about Mother's death.

Because only then would everything become clear, right? It was also necessary to unravel the relationship with Leon.

'If I stay here, that day will be reenacted.'

Before entering the dream, he had planned to take Leon and leave as soon as he found him. But now his thoughts changed.

This was not the real past. It was a fake past created based on Leon's memory.

Still, if it was Leon's excellent memory, it would be close to the truth.

'Let's find out everything I can.'

Radel revised his plan to persuade Leon.

* * *

The 5th Imperial Consort's tent set up at the hunting grounds.

Befitting a space for the 5th Imperial Consort and the princes, the inside of the tent was cozy. Bianca had servants bring sweet drinks to the children who must be tired from the carriage ride.

"Stay outside so the princes can rest."

And she sent the servants outside. Up to here was similar to Radel's memory.

'Next, a servant sent from another tent comes.'

"Your Imperial Consort Highness. If you are not busy, may I ask if you would like to have a conversation?"

It was just as Radel vaguely remembered. Mother had briefly left her seat at someone's invitation at this time.

But from here on, his memory was not accurate.

"Radel, Leon. Mom will be right back, so wait quietly."

"Yes."

"I understand, Mother."

Radel answered energetically, then sipped his drink and fell into thought for a moment. Now, what should he do?

Leon, who had been watching such a Radel, asked.

"Are you really sick somewhere? You're not like yourself."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Normally you would have already snuck out of here by now."

Radel grinned. To remember such a thing... Even though Leon was absorbed in the dream, he seemed to be unconsciously recalling something.

Because Radel had really snuck out of the tent in the past.

'Well, I just remembered that too though.'

"What will you do if I leave here?"

"Well, of course... No, how would I know that?"

"How would you know? You know because you're you."

It was Radel answering casually. Leon's expression became complicated watching that.

It was strange. Radel was different from usual.

Was it because he had a childish side? Though they were twins, the two were too different. He could not tell at all what he was thinking.

But now it was not that feeling. It was not just a feeling of not knowing his thoughts.

'He seems like a completely different person.'

THUMP.

Leon's heart beat. More precisely, it was the dragon's magic power.

A sensation only imperial family members who manifested the Ability 'Dragon's Blessing' could feel. The tension instinctively felt when meeting a strong opponent.

'That guy... shouldn't have manifested an Ability yet.'

How could that bastard with pathetic magic power...

Leon was suddenly startled by the thought he unconsciously recalled. It was not a thought the current self would have.

The current... self?

Just as confused Leon turned his head looking for Radel.

"...Huh?"

Radel had already disappeared.

* * *

"Where did he go?"

A young boy dressed in splendid ceremonial robes was wandering between tents. However, no one seemed to notice him moving.

It was thanks to the magic cast on the boy.

Illusion Magic.

Was it thanks to his excellent Ability? Though it was the boy's first attempt at the spell, the magic activated without hindrance.

"Mother told us to stay quietly."

The frowning boy wandered here and there looking for his missing brother. Then he heard a familiar voice from a tent.

It was the voice of Mother, who had briefly left her seat.

"...What do you mean by that?"

"Just as I said. Don't give the children any more affection."

The boy stood still in that spot.