A dim, dark space.
“My name is Luna! And…”
In the never-ending darkness engulfing the space, the sense of reality was fading, but a young child stood there laughing brightly and added, turning toward Nahan:
“I’m not dead yet!”
Well, at least not yet!
Nahan’s eyebrows furrowed at the contrast between the cheerful voice and the rather grim content.
“Dead? What do you mean?”
“Huh? Don’t you know what death is?”
“No, I know what it is… but…”
…Isn’t that a bit too heavy for a child who’s barely ten?
“Ah! Are you scared?”
“What?”
“It’s okay! I was scared too at first, but thanks to Mom, I’m fine now!”
“Mom?”
“Yeah! People call her Mother, but I secretly call her Mom…!”
Her bright smile and cheerful voice lingered in the air.
Shiver.
As he observed the twisted expression on the girl’s face, Nahan felt a growing sense of unease.
Ding.
A system window appeared in front of him.
【Main Episode – <The Unredeemed> has begun.】
【Basic information about Black Wolf <No.4 – Luna> will now be provided.】
That’s when Nahan realized.
By accepting the main episode, Nahan found himself in an unreal space formed entirely of darkness.
A young Luna had appeared there.
The system window revealed that the <basic information> was a fragment of Luna’s past memories.
‘Why now of all times?’
The question formed in his mind even as the answer followed.
‘It must be because Luna is being consumed by <Mother>, which has to do with her past.’
Understanding the situation, Nahan summoned the side quest window and reviewed it again.
─『Side Quest』─
◆ The Face Behind the Mask
: Though you managed to save some members of the <Black Wolf>, the rescue wasn’t complete. Save Luna from the nightmare.
◆ Requirements.
1. Escape the <Gardner Viscounty>. (Achieved!)
2. Understand Luna fully. (…In Progress.)
3. Rest for Mother.
◆ Reward.
: Full memories of the <Black Wolf>.
◆ If failed/refused.
: Luna’s rampage.
The first condition had already been met.
Since a message indicating the second condition was in progress had appeared, it seemed following her to the end would be necessary to some degree…
“Do you want to come too, with Mom?”
Her gaze was oddly murky, and Nahan had a bad feeling that following her would lead to trouble.
However, he was also certain that not following her would result in failing the side quest.
‘Fail the quest = Luna goes berserk = High chance of death = I die too.’
Instinctually driven by his survival instinct, he forced his body to move.
“Is it far?”
“No, it’s right in front of us! What, do you want to come too?”
“Sure. Let’s go.”
“Woohoo!! Woohoo!”
Luna’s eyes sparkled as if she hadn’t expected him to agree.
“Stop running and let’s go already.”
After gently patting her head, Nahan noticed Luna softly clasping his hand.
“Um… Hey.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Uh, can I hold your hand and walk…?”
The usual mischievousness had vanished, and her emerald eyes gazed up shyly, sparkling.
Without a word, Nahan gently grasped her hand.
“It’s warm…”
“Well, that’s good.”
As he casually replied,
Gently.
The soft, meek grip tightened as her voice quivered.
Tears rolled down her cheeks like a child’s final wish being fulfilled, accompanied by a smile.
“Thank you… for holding my hand.”
The tear trailed down her cheek, reached her jaw, and then, reaching its limit, it fell with a soft plop.
WAAAAAAH!!!
The deafening roar filled the massive tent, and the space began to change.
“What… Is this happening now?”
Without time to hesitate, Nahan observed the sudden environment around him.
Inside the circus tent, a large number of seats were spread out. Both those sitting and those standing on the stage all wore masks.
With her own mask on, the woman who now ascended the stage radiated an aura of unyielding strength.
The oppressive yet sharp presence was similar to what Nahan had earlier felt from Luna, who was slowly being consumed.
‘So she’s Mother.’
As Nahan recognized her, Mother looked around the audience and then spoke.
“The auction begins.”
The moment she spoke, the stage mechanisms activated.
Clunk!
Squeeeeak!
The wooden floor opened up, and chained items appeared.
Strange magical beasts,
Various artifacts,
Expensive spices—
All rare items, yet the crowd’s reactions were lukewarm.
Still, they sold at incredibly high prices.
“Firewood 1 kg.”
“1000 gold.”
“Bidder 18.”
“Low-grade potion 1.”
“1000 gold.”
“Bidder 23.”
The auction, which had started with such noise, proceeded quietly and monotonously.
How much time had passed?
“Auction ended. Closing time.”
At the mechanical tone of Mother, the audience members began leaving in an orderly manner.
Almost eerily synchronized, they departed swiftly and efficiently.
‘What’s this?’
As the atmosphere around him began shifting strangely, someone dressed similarly to Mother approached, whispering to Nahan.
“Please stand up.”
“…Alright.”
As Nahan nodded and began to rise, someone yelled at him.
“Shit!! Last time I paid and got nothing, so this time it’ll be for free!!”
“Please stand up.”
“Hell no, why should I!?”
“This is your final warning. Please stand up.”
The two acted as if Nahan weren’t even present.
As Nahan hesitated and stood, waving his hands in front of them one by one, he confirmed he was invisible to them.
‘I’m invisible here.’
Of course, this wasn’t reality but a separate space constructed to delve into Luna’s memories.
Feeling a bit more relaxed, he muttered,
“So, I’m a spectator.”
As a spectator, the least he could do was observe quietly.
Relaxing now with less urgency, he stopped pretending to be Black Wolf and leaned back.
As he did, one of the auction participants pushed a staff member and shouted,
“Hell no, you little…!”
Thud.
The moment he finished speaking, his head was severed.
The staff member collected the severed head and walked away to hand it to Mother. Accepting it, Mother spoke in an unemotional tone,
“Processing fee. 100 gold each.”
“Bidder 18, Bidder 23, Bidder 86…”
“Tch, you stupid fool.”
“Unnecessary expenditure.”
“Pfft, but it’s only one this time? It’s doable considering we’re at the hundred mark.”
As the remaining participants raised their placards to pay, Mother tossed the head aside and turned back.
“The auction begins.”
Her voice, just as cold.
Simultaneously, the mad excitement in the seats began rising again.
“What items do we have today?”
“I hope there’s something good.”
“Not like it matters much anyway; Bidder 1 always gets everything.”
“Ugh, don’t mention Bidder 1; just makes me feel sick.”
As countless eyes gleamed with lust, the mechanism activated again.
Clunk!
Squeeeeak!!
The floor opened, and more items started rising.
‘Another auction? When will Luna appear?’
As his patience was wearing thin, and he was contemplating searching on his own while preparing to rise,
“Keeeek!!”
“Gurgle!”
“Khurrr…!!”
Harsh screams echoed around.
Nahan turned toward the source and froze.
“Eh… you really didn’t…die…”
Chained at the neck, Luna floated mid-air, her feet kicking helplessly while she grinned.
It wasn’t only Luna.
The other ‘merchandise’ also floated like objects, struggling, but still smiling despite themselves, trying desperately to hang on.
“You bastards…”
In a single instant, Nahan’s senses flared, and he went to strike—but a system message interrupted.
【You cannot interfere.】
That wasn’t all.
【A force beyond limits detected. Taking necessary actions.】
【<You>’s movement is restricted.】
It wasn’t over yet; after binding his limbs, the message disappeared.
Clunk!
Even as Nahan wriggled cautiously, he was bound tightly by an unseen force.
‘…Stay calm. This is something from the past, something that ‘happened,’ not something ‘happening’ now.’
Everything here is an illusion.
Even if I interfere, it’ll only change this space, not the reality outside.
‘Focus on gathering information, understand Luna’s past fully, and then deal with <Mother> once I leave this place.’
After enduring for some time, Nahan finally calmed himself. The moment he relaxed,
“Auction starts. Orlan for 10,000 gold.”
And so it began.
2.
Guguguk.
My throat feels like it’s closing.
At this rate, soon, I’ll reach the ground, but even so, the dizziness is overwhelming.
But no one cries.
Everyone smiles.
-Smile more; that’s the way to survive.
“Let’s smile… brightly… everyone…”
-Good, show me an even bigger smile.
“Yeah, let’s… we need to… more.”
Smile until your mouth tears apart.
“I will… keh, brighter…!”
-This is how we survive.
“Because this is… how we survive… today…!”
Here, in the group called <Wandering Troupe – Loss>, this was the survival method taught by Luna.
Faintly, through my consciousness, Luna’s whispered words repeatedly echoed.
-Don’t tremble; that’s how you survive.
“Don’t tremble! This is… survival…”
-And when it’s too hard, cry behind your mask.
“No crying here… absolutely… not allowed…!!”
-Keep trying, keep trying.
“Oh, Orlan… please… be good?”
-One day, you’ll be able to smile even while wearing the mask.
“Yeah, please don’t cry, not… now!!”
“Kha… khe… wah!!”
“Aaah…”
Despite Luna’s efforts, Orlan shed tears as the first item, and someone unknown as 1 raised their hand with a smile.
“1 million gold.”
“Bidder 1. Intended use?”
“Sacrifice. As always, immediately.”
Right as the brief exchange ended, the ‘shadow’ concealed behind Mother appeared, reaching toward the hanging Orlan.
Crack.
A harsh sound. The corpse began rapid decomposition as soon as 1’s hand extended.
It turned into sticky liquid and flowed into 1’s mouth.
Glug.
1 licked their lips greedily, showing satisfaction.
“Next.”
“Mina, starting at 10,000 gold.”
The auction continued.
We laugh.
With flushed faces, mouths stretched wide.
Luna wished for a world where everyone could laugh forever.
…Isn’t that right, Mom?
…
【Infection Rate: …85%.】
【S-Grade Awakened <Mother> begins taking control of Luna’s body.】
…
“【Good job, Luna. You’ve been a good girl.】”
