World Isekai

"What do you mean?" asked Mori.

Her hand was playing on his face, her finger tracing a line from his forehead to his lips.

It was unsettling, yet a feeling he didn't dislike.

She was kind of like him, or what he wanted to be.

Someone who didn't care and did whatever they wanted.

"What's your name?" asked Mori.

"Maël."

Her expression was neutral at all times, besides when she toyed with him. A snide smile would then appear on her face.

"Isn't that a guy's name?"

"Short for Maëlstrom."

"Who names their kid Maëlstrom?"

"Who names their kid Memento Mori?"

Mori eyebrows were all the way up.

What is happening?

Mori's face was red, yet he sustained her stare the best he could.

"So, why Maëlstrom?"

"That's what humans used to call me, back then. I don't recall my name."

"You don't remember your own name?"

"What is it? Maybe you want to name me? Give me a cute little name?"

"Maël. Couldn't care less."

Mori's mind could not keep up with her.

She was 'undoing' him. Her attitude and personality were attractive, but it ultimately clashed with his.

He felt like a kid in highschool, the one with a silver tongue who finally met his match.

He was suddenly self-aware, trying to not stutter on words or say stupid things.

For a moment, he realized she was in control.

Mori frowned, grabbing her shoulder, trying to push her off him while standing up.

She didn't budge; she was like a stone wall.

"What..." he muttered

"I'm the one in control here."

Her smile was starting to annoy him.

"How? Isn't this my mind?"

"Our mind, now. Also, you're the one who voluntarily let yourself fall this low. Actions have consequences, do they not?"

"And what will be the consequence for Aleesia's death?"

"You don't need her anymore. You have me."

Mori punched her face with all his might. It felt like punching a rock, his fist was in pain.

"You don't learn?"

She took his hand, kissing it with that arrogant look on her face.

"How do I save Aura?" asked Mori drily.

"Hmmm. I don't know if I should tell you..."

She looked at Mori's expression, who remained stone cold.

"Alright... Since you're grumpy, I might as well tell you."

He rolled his eyes.

"So," she continued. "Those walls don't let you use cursed energy. Sure. I know another place that would let you use it."

"I'm stuck there, remember? There has yet to be a single room where I've regained even 1 cursed energy out of 1.4 million."

Maël was playing with his hair, barely even looking into his eyes as he spoke.

"Hmmm."

"What is it now?"

"I'll help you for free this time, but next time it will cost you."

"What? You want my soul? You want to take over my mortal body or something? Sacrifices?"

Maël started laughing loudly, so much so that Mori started to feel embarrassed.

"Ahh, it truly is my lucky day."

She got off him, and started slowly pacing pacing around the room.

"Isn't there somewhere you've forgotten? Somewhere you've been avoiding?"

Mori's eyes went down as he tried remembering.

Since he arrived in this dungeon, nothing much had happened that was out of the usual.

He would defeat levels, unlock their S 'farming' levels, grind those levels a bit before moving to the next.

He had been in his [0-0] room a lot. Besides that, nothing really stood out.

Huh.

He realized he had never visited Aleesia's room.

She did offer quite a few times, but what use would it be? Sightseeing? He just invited her, establishing his room as their 'home'.

This letter he had must've been the only thing remaining of hers.

It felt unjust. Unfair.

He couldn't see her anymore. He couldn't even know how or where she died. What killed her. Even revenge.

How would he even get revenge? Right this wrong? Kill the cat?

The Unkindled had been upfront with the risks, and accepted the blame of pulling them in.

Based on that blame, he could kill him. But that cat was only 'one of them'. There was an Unkindled cat in everyone's [0-0] room.

Like tendrils extending in the dungeon, he was everywhere and nowhere.

At the end of the day, he just would've killed a husk, an empty shell. Whatever was in that cat would probably just go into another one, somewhere else.

Killing Maël was also not possible. How would he do it?

She was inside him.

She had no intentions to move, and he was the one who let her win.

"Interesting."

Mori's fiery eyes snapped on Maël.

"Are you reading my thoughts?"

"No, the Unkindled is doing that — but not in here, though. I don't like being spied on. It's more like feeling your thoughts. Don't think I'll ever let you take your own life."

"I wouldn't."

"Huh?"

Mori stood up.

"Don't underestimate me. I have only one goal, and until it's achieved, nothing else matters."

"That's why I like you."

She stopped pacing, sitting down in the armchair again, slowly crossing her legs.

"I can't recall what place I missed. Tell me."

"Please."

"Tell me, please." Discover hidden tales at m,v l'e|m-p| y r

"Good boy."

She re-crossed her legs, taking her time to answer.

"The place you've forgotten is the place you recently started to mess with. The one through which you've let a lot of us out. Like me."

Mori's round eyes were staring into oblivion.

He never thought about it. It had never even been an option.

Who knew what was on the other side? That's where those eldritch beings came from. What would ever be the point of going there, besides being mobbed by a bunch of them?

"Going there isn't as dangerous as you think. Especially for you, our 'Sovereign'."

She re-crossed her legs.

"But... there is a hierarchy, like I said earlier. Since your Mana will be recovering, maybe we try not to make big waves when we get there."