I Can Hear the Saint’s Inner Thoughts

40 – Ready, Cue, Action! (3)

As I stepped closer to the territory of the succubus queen Bellamora, a melody began to resonate, so sweet it hardly seemed like the demon realm.

The tones of a pipe organ and piano playing in harmony, the clear, ringing timbre of chimes, and the sound of voices singing in unison, as if with one heart.

— Welcome to the one and only phantasmagoria, the first paradise and the last refuge♬

This gathering of sweet sounds was the first sign that this place was fundamentally different from the demon realm I’d come to know.

“…That’s singing, isn’t it? Is it some device to make people fall into dreams more easily?”

– It’s unsettling. The demon realm I knew was a place where demons and monsters recklessly killed and tormented people…

Victoria, gripping my hand as if afraid to let go, spoke. Upon hearing her words, a multi-armed demon grinned brightly and began to explain.

“Oh no, this singing merely signifies your approach to the phantasmagoria, Nightmare Theater, where the boundaries between reality and dreams are blurred.”

“That’s a unique name for a territory, considering.”

I couldn’t help but retort, looking at the demon around me who was acting like some kind of guide.

Even if they try to hide their intentions like this, they’re still succubi, a race that burrows into people’s dreams to line their own pockets.

“Haha, you have a good sense if you feel that way. Our lord Bellamora is someone who finds even nightmares, that people fear, to be a source of entertainment.”

The demon chuckled, as if amused by my remark, and continued to lead me with utmost respect due to the ticket I was holding.

“…So, in the end, it’s just using people’s sadness and suffering as fuel.”

“Everyone thinks that at first, but Lady Bellamora wishes for everyone in this world to live in happy dreams.”

“If she really wants that ideal, shouldn’t she not take money from people? It doesn’t make sense.”

It didn’t add up. If Bellamora was truly trying to save people like some benevolent goddess, she should’ve taken in all the poor souls I saw earlier.

The fact that she divided them with a thing called a ticket, creating a hierarchy even among people, just showed she was incredibly cunning.

Structurally creating discrimination and admiration among people to make them want to climb higher.

“This phantasmagoria is not yet perfect. Lady Bellamora must expend her magic to show people these dreams!”

“So she can’t do charity work for free, huh? Is that why she’s blocking people’s dreams and memories to gather power?”

I almost forgot that I was using perception-blocking magic to avoid being noticed and snapped irritably at the guide, who was just spouting Bellamora’s lies.

Demons made my skin crawl with hatred.

Their way of life was to mimic and deceive human hearts, with some part of them always twisted and deranged.

Just walking alongside one of them made me feel sick to my stomach.

“…Honey, aren’t you taking this a little too seriously?”

Then, Victoria deliberately wrapped her arm around mine, pressing her chest against my arm as she jumped into the conversation.

“Honey?”

The unfamiliar term sent my mind blank for a moment. Why on earth was she calling me by a term of endearment?

“Yes, honey. We’re here as a couple on a date… aren’t we?”

– If I make the first move like this, Master Astal won’t be able to say anything! In the end, deceiving our enemy is necessary to defeat Bellamora!

Victoria slowly winked, giving me a look that told me to play along.

Her judgment wasn’t entirely wrong.

Right now, we were willingly walking into Bellamora’s jaws. Therefore, this kind of deception was necessary.

“Right, that’s what we did.”

I had no choice but to look at Victoria, forcing a smile.

Since we had already used the VVIP ticket, there was a high chance that Bellamora would know we were at the Nightmare Theater.

Which meant, she could torment us with her dream magic again, just like last time.

“…We came here to have happy dreams.”

I mumbled the empty words, loud enough for those around us to hear. If our reactions differed too much from normal customers, demons might suspect our identities.

“Hehe, why aren’t you calling me honey? You’re always so talkative, are you shy, maybe?”

“……”

– This is the perfect chance to make Master Astal call me honey…!

Victoria hid her mouth with her hand, giggling, and her intentions were so obvious I didn’t even need to read her thoughts, but I decided to pretend not to notice.

All this charade would be over once Bellamora was dead. Our contract relationship was coming to an end.

* * *

My first impression of Bellamora’s territory was surprise tinged with bewilderment.

“Her ego is ridiculously overblown…”

Everywhere I looked, no matter where my gaze landed, her image was there.

Busts and paintings of the succubus queen in all her alluring glory, even living portraits attached to the building walls.

Countless lights and illuminations made night look like midday, and the rows of buildings adorned with glowing letters felt like they belonged to another era.

“I know, right? Truly a succubus obsessed with male essence. She does dress herself up to look different, but her vulgarity just can’t be hidden.”

– “Ugh, annoying, annoying, annoying…. Why does it seem like you’re paying more attention to other women than me….”

Victoria, with a calm face, sat next to me, gnawing at her nails, showing her fury.

Peeking into her mind, it seemed she was angry because it looked like I was interested in Bellamora.

“…Put on your clothes properly before you say anything.”

I frowned at Victoria’s outfit. She had modified her uniform to deliberately expose the bottom of her chest.

I could even argue that Bellamora’s, the succubus queen’s, outfit was more demure and modest.

“Hmm, I think this is quite appropriate exposure. Or are you perhaps bothered by it?”

– It’s because I changed my clothes to make you pay attention to me.

Victoria stuck out her tongue a little and even pried open the hole in her chest with her fingers, trying to tempt me.

The heart-shaped hole was right where her heart was, and looking there revealed an indecent sight.

“No, not at all.”

“That’s a shame then. I did my best after all….”

Victoria let out a hot sigh and gripped my arm a little tighter. I still couldn’t get used to the soft sensation, no matter how many times it happened.

My reason became paralyzed, all my senses focusing on my arm.

– Last night, you were holding me up with something so hot and hard…

Meanwhile, in her thoughts, she was recalling the events of last night, looking up at me with a foxy gaze. It was like an invisible tail was swishing back and forth behind her.

“So, what do we do now? If we ended up using the ticket Bellamora gave us, she must have realized we’re here.”

The hero Kyle gathered his companions and started reviewing their plans. His face looked troubled.

Originally, he thought the best plan was to infiltrate among the audience and assassinate Bellamora without anyone noticing.

They had tried to enter legitimately, purchasing tickets rather than storming the estate, for this very reason.

“…I think the priority is to explore the surroundings and find Bellamora’s location,”

Kyle stated. Then the archer, Tarion, spoke, looking over at the surrounding buildings. His gaze was fixed on the geometric signs, decorated with various colors, lined up in a row.

– [Passion for Adventure! Treasure Hunter! We will give you the dream of an archaeologist who went on the hunt for treasure chests!]

– [Tonight, a forbidden love story, never before experienced by anyone, will unfold. Come watch the movie about an elf who lives eternally, and the tale of a reincarnated lover who remembered each other and reunited! Eternal Love!]

– [Lilith’s Kiss. Hand-picked incubi will give you the ultimate pleasure, only for you. If you experience this, you may never be able to return to an ordinary life.]

“What…are these things?”

“They seem to be some kind of dream illusion…But they’re not fake, there are too many odd things about them.”

As Tarion slightly moved his finger, the images flipped over, showing the faces of people that matched each one.

They were exhibiting lively expressions, as if they were the original owners of those dreams or memories.

– We have to run away! It’s a mimic with limbs!

– Remember me. Next time, I’ll remember you.

– You know, mating with an incubus is way more pleasurable than with a normal human? Heh heh, you’re so cute…. Shivering like a puppy.

Sounds arose, and the shifting, morphing images seemed to beckon us into their respective buildings.

How was any of this even possible?

Even with my eyes, honed to see magic, it didn’t look like any particular spells were being used.

Then, in that moment,

“This is called a ‘movie’. Isn’t it amazing? Tens of thousands of images strung together continuously, creating the illusion of movement.”

A click-clack of high heels echoed towards us, and a sickeningly sweet voice seemed to embed itself directly into my skull.

“Of course, the raw materials used here contain the actual lives and memories of people, you know. That’s what makes it so vibrant, wouldn’t you agree?”

A black-haired woman smiled brightly at me and my companions. It was as if she’d known we were coming all along; a red carpet was already rolled out at her feet.

“…Bellamora Lyktis.”

“Oh my, you remember me. What an honor. Heh heh.”

Unlike last time, she was dressed in an excessively revealing red dress as she bowed towards me. The woman was none other than Bellamora Lyktis, the succubus queen who ruled this place.

“Astell, darling, welcome to my territory. Judging by your using a VVIP ticket, I’d say you must have missed me terribly, yes? Or… should I assume something else is far more urgent?”

“Shut up.”

My perception-altering magic had no effect on Bellamora. She saw right through our disguises, acknowledging us as if we were old friends.

“So impatient…. Fighting here and now would only drag innocent people into the fray, wouldn’t it?”

We instantly drew our weapons, preparing to attack Bellamora, but instead, she smiled faintly and opened her mouth slowly.

The area teemed with crowds of people. Even for us, a battle here would be a guaranteed bloodbath of innocents.

“Say, since you are intent on killing me, how about we agree to a truce for a week? I’ll prepare a special venue for us by then.”

“How can I possibly trust you?”

“Didn’t you see that the tickets I gave you weren’t a trap? I could have easily given you fake ones that would’ve allowed demons to kill you the moment you used them.”

What Bellamora said was actually reasonable, and we were forced to consider it for a moment. She spoke of her own death so carelessly.

“Instead, there is a movie I want to watch alone with you, Astell… How about it? That’s the entire term of our agreement. And just so we’re clear, this is a date invitation, okay?”

Bellamora extended her palm toward me, gesturing for me to take it, and as if to signal something special, she winked at me with one eye.

“Sorry, I don’t think that’s going to work.”

“Why not…? Opportunities like this are rare.”

“Because she’s my girlfriend right now. Right, honey?”

I said, looking at Victoria, who was holding my arm tightly against her chest. Her eyes widened in that instant.

The most straightforward way was, after all, the best way to deflect such temptations.

“…….”

Victoria, unable to speak, had her head bowed low, trying to hide her flushed face, but

– *He called me baby, he called me baby, he called me baby….*

If you didn’t release her from her embrace, or listen to her noisy thoughts, it was as if she was happier than anyone else.

“Huh…?”

Upon hearing my words, Bellamora’s expression gradually became stained with shock and despair, as if she couldn’t even begin to comprehend it, and her voice trembled.