Communion of souls.

Though the concept seemed simple, it was also a first for me, so I didn't expect it to be anything grand.

I thought that if I simply connected two souls, that would suffice.

What is this place?

Glancing around, I found myself in a large rooma place that was definitely not from my memory.

The wallpaper was old-fashioned, the furniture luxurious. These items were akin to those placed in a Royal Palace, yet they had an added touch of a more ancient, dignified aesthetic.

I immediately felt out of place once I stepped out of the room.

Wrists much thicker than those of Deus, the distinctive yellow skin tone of an Asian complexion, and a modern suit

Huh?

An old-fashioned manner of speaking slipped out naturally, catching me off guard as I inspected my form.

Looking in the mirror, there I was indeedKim Shinwoo. Back in my own original form.

I had experienced this just once before.

When I met Deus as a soul.

Does this mean Ive entered Eleanor's subconscious after becoming a soul?

I needed to stay calm.

It was unclear whether this was an exchange of souls or the continuation of a dream. It was possible that this incident was caused by the resonance of Lemegetons power and the remnants left behind by Maek.

But that didnt matter right now. The priority was to find Eleanor.

If my hunch was correct, she had to be in here.

And not just herI had to look for both of her personas.

With that thought, I turned the doorknob and stepped outside, hoping that encountering both of them would resolve this situation.

Creak.

A majestic corridor unfolded before me. I could be certain only after I stepped out of the room.

This place was the Royal Palace.

The unique crests of the Kingdom, along with the neatly laid red carpet proved my point.

Should I head to Eleanors room first?

I made my way directly to her room. Surprisingly, there was no one to be seen, even though I was expecting to encounter someone along the way.

It must still be unfinished as this is a dream world. That must be the reason it feels incomplete.

I began to sprint down the corridor as there was no one watching. Not being weighed down by Deus overindulgence in drugs and alcohol, it felt noticeably easier to move about.

Having adapted to it, I hadnt realizedrunning like this made me realize how much Deus had ruined his own body.

Or is it because I am a soul at the moment?

I was not sure, but for now, it was not important and as I was thinking about that, I arrived at Eleanors room.

And astonishingly, I could hear a relentless scolding coming from inside.

Is that the correct way to conduct yourself!

I opened the door gently, and there stood a young Eleanor and a woman who appeared to be her mother.

Eleanors mother.

Hylan Luden Griffin.

It was my first time seeing her in person. To my knowledge, she had passed away a long time ago due to illness.

And before Hylan, stood the young Eleanor, her lips sealed tight without a hint of rebellion, head bowed low as she received her mothers harsh scolding.

Do it again! Do it over!

Eleanor stepped back and bowed cautiously at Hylans command, each gesture brimming with dignity.

But then.

Slap!

Hylan struck Eleanors cheek, the slap was so hard that it sent the girl reeling backward. Yet Hylan showed no signs of backing down.

Are you kidding me? Is that really correct? You idiot! Youre a princess! The face of this nation! What will become of you if this is the best you can do? Its all an act right now! You need to draw out your true elegance!

I-Im sorry.

Silence! Be aware that you will be hit every time you fail to do it correctly. A mage can get rid of the bruises!

Hylan roughly grabbed Eleanor by the wrist, who was trembling and was clumsily trying to rise, and yanked her upright.

As Eleanor attempted another bow, Hylan raised her hand once again in dissatisfaction.

Click.

I entered the room and grabbed Hylans wrist mid-air.

You! Who are you!

Hylan screamed at me, her voice dripping with venom. But my mana had already surged intensely around her body, lifting her into the air and slamming her against the wall.

Thud!

After all, this was just a dream.

Hylan, Eleanors mother, was nothing more than a person who had already passed away.

Snap out of it.

Eleanor stared at me blankly. She trembled without showing any surprise at the sight of me, who had been the one to beat down her mother.

Huh? Whats going on?

Her tone immediately gave it away.

This Eleanor was the one burdened with the duties of Royalty, the second one.

Huh? A moment ago, I was...

Get a grip on yourself. Do you remember anything?

Huh? Wait, who are you?

Furrowing her brow and pointing at me, Eleanor demanded an answer, and I replied calmly.

Deus Verdi.

What? Youre nothing like the Deus I know. Youre like night and day. Who are you?

Eleanor was confused, but there was no time to explain. Because Hylan, who was smashed against the wall, began to get up slowly.

And then, she began to grow enormously, bending at the waist until her back touched the ceiling. With elongated hands, she slammed the door shut, preventing our escape.

How dare a princess talk to a man like thiiiiis!

With a cry that almost sounded like a curse, Eleanor and I turned to bolt outside.

Once again, I wielded my mana to smash both the hand and the door itself to get out.

My mana felt unusually responsive, almost eerily.

As I was thinking about this, Eleanor clicked her tongue in response.

Its dream mana, after all. Its more about will than talent or effort.

Is that so?

But that means delicate control is not possible.

I twisted my body, drawing up mana with all the strength I had.

The giant Hylan, now with one hand less, tried to come near us, thumping along.

Boom!

But she was pushed back by a torrent of mana, a tidal wave that eventually swept her through a window and out of sight.

It seems that I have no trouble using more mana than I normally can.

Eleanor stared blankly, her mouth agape as I nodded at this discovery.

Then, wouldnt it consume quite a bit of your mental strength, making you feel dizzy and such?

I mused on the ambiguous nature of mental strength. But as someone who was not easily unsettled, I didnt find it too demanding.

Are you really Deus?

Eleanor asked as she stared at me with curiosity, and I scratched the back of my head as I replied.

More precisely, you could say that I am the man using Deus body.

In my current state, I didnt feel like introducing myself as Deus.

I extended my hand to the little girl.

Kim Shinwoo. Thats my real name.

Kim Shinwoo?

Eleanor took my hand, her expression a mixture of confusion and curiosity, but there was no time to waste.

Hylans grotesquely twisted face was already staring at us through the window.

She just wont die.

Eleanor, with a soured expression, glanced at Hylan and poked at my thigh.

Carry me. It seems that it is wiser to flee than to fight.

...

And I think I know where the other Eleanor is. Lets head there.

Where?

Honestly, I didnt feel like carrying her, but Eleanors strides were too short to be able to escape from Hylan, who was crawling toward us on all fours.

The rooftop! I sense the other half there.

Upon hearing her answer, I hoisted her onto my back. Hylan banged her forehead against the ground, screeching.

The princess! Riding on the back of a strange man! Insanity! Insanity! Insanity! Come here! Come heeeere!

Hylan began to close the distance at a frightening pace. However, I confronted her head-on, propelling mana outwardly to repel her.

Hylan crashed into a wall, swept away by my mana, and we passed by the window she had been pushed through earlier.

The scenery outside wasnt even properly formed.

Moreover, my senses were off; the palace walls seemed as high as those of a skyscraper.

I wondered if this was how Eleanor saw the palace when she was a child.

Argh!

I discharged mana as we soared through the sky. Eleanor clung to my neck in panic, but I was not choked.

Moreover, without the ability to use magic delicately, my body kept swaying as if entrusted to a wild tempest.

Yet, I neither felt dizzy nor nauseous.

Hey, listen!

Eleanor yelled through the artificially raging winds.

When I turned my head slightly to ask why, Eleanor asked with a displeased expression.

Why did you change your manner of speaking?

...

No, seriously, its so different. You know, the usual Deus had a somewhat... annoying tone, right?

She said what was on her mind without hesitation.

Should I just chalk this up to Royal bearing?

Im deliberately making a distinction.

I brushed off the question with that simple explanation. Eleanor looked puzzled for a moment, but she was a sharp girl; shed catch on immediately.

Eleanor and I reached the edge of the building and floated up to the rooftop before we knew it.

Behind the sparkling, watercolor-like scene, a blonde girl crouching down came into view.

A different Eleanor, this one appeared to be seventeen.

Just as we were about to come closer to her.

Dont come closer!

She screamed.

Her trembling voice filled with despair.