I Can Hear the Saint’s Inner Thoughts

47 – The Wizard of the Sleeping Cinema (2)

* * *

A fishy, lingering scent that made you want to plug your nose.

The sight of everyone I knew, their arms and legs severed, their bodies mangled and writhing like insects on the ground.

“Save me…! I still have a son at home who hasn’t even been weaned…!”

“Please, please…. My daughter…. Run…. away….”

Someone was screaming for help, while another, crying, told their child, who hadn’t managed to escape, to run. This tragedy was unfolding vividly before my eyes.

“Haa…, huh…”

Even after exhaling, all I could feel was the scorching heat of the fire, as if it was burning my body, and the acrid ash and smoke that made me cough.

Everything in front of me was burning, and the shadows of people writhing in agony looked like they were dancing.

I couldn’t help but remember this scene.

This was the catastrophe that occurred in my hometown ten years ago.

Even though a lot of time had passed, the fact that everyone had died because of my arrogance as a genius hadn’t changed.

Even knowing that this was clearly Bellamora’s illusion, the scene felt so real that I just searched the floor and found a small dagger.

“…….”

If I stabbed my neck with this, I could wake up from the dream.

This isn’t real. It’s just a vile demoness playing with my past memories.

I bit down on my lip, and with trembling hands, I grabbed the knife, trying to stab myself, but…

“Oh, this one’s pretty good, isn’t she? Should I enjoy her a little before I kill her? You know, people are said to have the best pleasure right before they die.”

A demon, holding someone like a toy with his massive hand, was shaking them. Tears were streaked down the face of the woman caught in his grip, her expression showing a pitiful sense of complete despair.

“Humans are just like bugs, aren’t they? Cut off their limbs and the way they scramble to live, it’s exactly the same, you know?”

The creature with the head of a giant bird, its laughter echoing as it enjoyed throwing severed limbs far away like finish lines, forcing their original owners to crawl towards them.

“Look, I made a necklace from ears and eyes. This way, I don’t have to report how many I’ve killed later, right?”

The moment I saw the demon, draped with human eyes and ears like trophies around its neck.

“You fucking b*stards…!!!”

A wave of disgust and revulsion instantly surged through me, I couldn’t help but curse. Demons and monsters, they’re all just twisted in some way, that’s how they are.

Even if there are those who preach cooperation or co-existence with humans, like Bellamora, they’re just madmen putting on a facade to further their own twisted interests, like this illusion I’m trapped in.

Even knowing that this is Bellamora’s illusion, I couldn’t help but hold my breath and run towards the demon in front of me.

I didn’t want to see people die in front of my eyes anymore.

I didn’t want to be unable to protect those precious to me anymore.

I never wanted to repeat the regret, not ever again.

“If you’re going to kill someone, kill me instead…!!”

I shouted as I ran.

Running and running until the sensation in my legs disappeared, getting closer to the people being brutalized by the demon.

“…Looks like there were still some survivors left.”

At that moment, a voice like the edge of a cold blade echoed.

A deep, rumbling voice like it was coming from a cave, a voice I could never forget.

One of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord’s army, more famously known by the moniker of the undefeated knight, the Death Knight Dullahan.

The headless knight clad in jet-black armor, his helmet tucked under his arm, glared at me with eyes that burned like fire.

“Dullahan…!!”

“You know me? How flattering. I never imagined my exploits would have reached even this backwater village.”

I immediately cast magic and took a stance against Dullahan.

Right now, I was back to being my 10-year-old self. The more time I wasted, the more my body and mind would merge into that of my younger self.

But,

‘I can’t use a layered magic circle now, then…!’

The me of the past was different from the me now. Even though my body and mind had returned to my 10-year-old self, I still had all the knowledge and experience I had accumulated so far.

I used Ice Blade, creating a blade of ice, and Chain Lightning, triggering chain lightning around me, simultaneously.

“A kid using intermediate magic, are you? Quite audacious…”

Dullahan stared at my magic blankly, momentarily stopping the motion of cutting off people’s heads.

“…But, you need to distinguish between reckless abandon and courage.”

*Shudder─.*

The instant the Dullahan aimed his sword at me, the sensation of ‘death’ grazed my body.

Even I, who had crossed countless battlefields and deathlines, recoiled at the murderous intent the Dullahan exuded. His presence, his spirit, was immense.

“Ho ho, you’re withstanding this. Now I understand why the Demon Lord ordered an attack on this backwater village.”

The Dullahan looked at me with the eyes of a child who had found an amusing toy, laughing heartily, and the blue flames blazing above his neck grew, crackling.

“…You’re someone who will grow into an amusing one if we let you live.”

“Shut up…!”

I gripped the swords I had formed in my hands and charged at the Dullahan, attempting to wound him.

This attack was a flow that hadn’t existed in the past.

Even knowing all of this was Bellamora’s phantasm, I wanted to kill that b*stard, no matter what.

-[No, Astar. This isn’t a hopeful movie. It’s a sad one that repeats tragedy until you dedicate everything to me, remember?]

At that moment, I heard Bellamora’s voice, as if crunching on something. Along with it, everything around seemed to freeze, as if time had stopped for a moment ─.

– [Even with a retake, the ending and flow of the original can’t be changed, can it? So I’ll just make a few adjustments.]

With a sensation of something violently pulling my body backward, I found myself back where I had been slumped down.

“Huh…?”

The feeling was so new, I could only let out a small gasp. It was as if time had rewound.

“aaargh…!!”

Immediately after, a scream that shattered my eardrums erupted from the Dullahan’s direction. The same b*stard who had just lowered his sword was now, just as I remembered, slaughtering people indiscriminately.

“Like a reverse firework! The sounds when they hit the ground, the beauty of the blood splattering, they’re so similar!”

Beside me, another demon, as if enjoying some amusement, tossed the children I had played with high into the air, laughing.

The children, screaming, plunged to the ground, becoming a gory mess of blood and flesh.

In the end, this horrible nightmare didn’t unfold differently from the past I remembered.

“Ah… Ah… aaah….”

As if someone were controlling me with strings tied to my legs, I let out small cries, repeatedly slamming my forehead against the ground.

“Please stop…!! Just kill me instead…!!”

Please stop, I pleaded. Just kill me, I begged.

I shouted and cried until my throat was raw. I begged the demons and monsters on my hands and knees, but.

“Hey, boss! Come look at this brat over here! Hahahaha!!”

All that returned were pointing fingers and mocking laughter. The demon, clutching his stomach as he laughed at me, had his mouth stretched as if about to tear.

“…Everything that’s happening here today is your fault, kid.”

And then, the sound of the Dullahan’s horse approaching me reached my ears, and I bit my tongue, the events to follow swirling in my head.

‘Next, my parents will be killed….’

In the distance, I saw familiar faces running towards me with farm tools.

Claude Kaisaros and Celine Kaisaros.

If things continued like this, my parents would die at the hands of the Dullahan.

Bellamora was now, within this illusory dream, stripping me of my free will, making things unfold as they did in the original history.

‘It was on purpose. The dream where Victoria confessed to me was all an act.’

Only then did I realize that Bellamora had intentionally shown us a lighter dream last time, tricking us into thinking we could easily break free.

The true terror of the Queen of the Succubi, the Nightmare Queen, was taking away the freedom of those trapped in dreams, preventing them from even committing suicide or resisting.

‘…I really want to see the real Victoria.’

I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting to witness the moment my parents came to save me, and in the darkness of my vision, her dazzling form arose.

The only woman who told me it wasn’t my fault when I participated in the Demon Lord subjugation to find a grave site.

Sometimes she grumbles and says harsh things to me, but in truth, she’s the Saint who worries and cares for me more than anyone.

Victoria Everhart, who is contractually bound to me and is now acting as my fake lover.

As I thought of her, I felt a strange sensation in my mouth.

“……Umpf?!”

Something soft and moist, like a tongue, entered and sensuously teased the inside of my mouth. A situation that was completely out of place in the nightmare Bellamora had created.

That tongue-like sensation tapped against my teeth, and though clumsy, wrapped around my tongue, staking a possessive claim.

“…….”

I naturally exhaled a rough breath, my mouth filling with saliva, yet someone continued to suck it, as if they were constantly taking it all in.

It was like a first kiss, clumsy and with unfamiliar tongue movements, but the sensation of them trying their hardest to satisfy me, to explore every bit of me, spread through me.

“…Victoria?”

A tongue that was slightly longer, moister, and softer than a human’s—a characteristic of dragons. There was no mistaking the owner of that exquisite and lewd tongue play.

“Really, you’re a very troublesome prince.”

As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw Victoria practically devouring me in a kiss, embracing me tightly.

With half-lidded eyes, she let out a slightly excited giggle, and as if flaunting the silver thread connecting us, she flicked her tongue.

“It’s amazing that kissing was the key to entering the dream.”

“You…you mean, my lips….”

“Oh, don’t misunderstand, it was just a simple rescue mission. Think of it as an unfortunate accident, it will be easier that way.”

-With this, your first kiss also became mine. It was a first for both of us, so I got a little greedy… Hoo, I don’t even know how many kisses we’ve shared…

It was unmistakably Victoria, judging by the embarrassing thoughts spilling out.

“…So, how did it feel taking my first kiss? Did you enjoy it? Our perverted wizard?”

– Just the kiss sent my head floating like a cloud… I wonder how much better it’ll feel after this…

*Gulp.*

Victoria was eyeing me, smacking her lips like a snake spotting a mouse.