Lumino had searched every corner of this place, yet there was still no trace of Jester. He felt his stomach growl with hunger, while the others hadn't sent up a single flare.
'Should I return to the last checkpoint?'
The thought barely registered when a dry rustling scraped against his ears. He whirled, adrenaline surging, and plunged forward.
He tripped, his hands slapping the damp earth, and saw it: a dark crimson door, its surface like dried blood, stood solid and silent in the shadowed woods.
A chill prickled down his spine the longer he stared at it. The door radiated a discomfort that gnawed at his instincts.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally opened it. Darkness. A complete, oppressive blackness met his gaze. But a chilling cold poured out, like an icy breath against his skin.
Before he could react, something struck the back of his head—hard. Lumino staggered forward and fell straight through the door, swallowed by the darkness as his consciousness faded.
------
Conversely, Alira gazed upwards, her head tilted, and a smile on her face. Flying was exhilarating.
Good thing I ended up in Lumino's body this time.
She had circled the forest several times from above, but still no sign of Jester. No signal flares either from Kael or Lumino.
Isn't this getting a little boring?
She glanced at the floating words shimmering faintly above Lumino's head: Red Orb – Completed.
The sight pulled her thoughts to Lady Seraphine.
After days of wrestling with her doubts, she had finally made a decision. Regardless of its rightness, her heart affirmed this was her only remaining choice.
In the end, Kael will return to his world. Even Lumino might leave someday.
This entire experience, including all the adventures, was just temporary. A bright spark of joy in the long shadow of her life.
It brought back memories of her coven's past, their laughter, and the brief connections they shared. Nostalgia warmed her chest. She nodded to herself.
All I could do now just smile… and be grateful.
----
Golden chandeliers cast a glittering light over the ballroom, illuminating swirling gowns. The sweet, melancholic strains of violins resonated, weaving through the air.
Kael's stomach churned with nerves. He'd never witnessed anything like this before. He'd only seen scenes like this in the romance comics found on DF-1, usually on Yurim's shelf. He didn't enjoy reading them, but sometimes his curiosity got the better of him.
Smiling gently, Lumino noted, "Lady Alira seems awfully quiet this evening."
Kael knew the smile well, having seen it countless times, but in this moment, it made him flush with awkwardness.
'Why the hell am I stuck here?!'
He kept silent for a long while. The music shifted tempo, signaling the dance to begin. Lumino extended his hand invitingly.
"I… I don't know how to dance," Kael muttered.
Lumino blinked at him in surprise, then lowered his gaze, disappointment shadowing his expression.
"The last time we met, you danced as gracefully as always. And now you claim you've forgotten…"
'Damn it, I'm not lying! I really don't know how to dance!!'
"I see…" Lumino sighed softly, but his tone brimmed with patience, with understanding.
"I will guide you."
It was as if a spell was woven around Kael. His body—Alira's body—moved forward of its own accord. Lumino's hand lifted his, drawing him closer, close enough to feel the warmth of his breath.
The gown swirled around Kael's legs as Lumino twirled him effortlessly. Their eyes met, and for a moment Kael forgot to breathe.
"Relax, my lady. Confidence is the key."
Lumino's hand found his waist, a grounding pressure. He leaned back, the air rushing past his ears as he dipped, then spun. His body felt unbound, as if he floated, no longer connected to the floor.
The music swelled to its climax, their movements growing more intense, their steps painting arcs of grace across the floor. Gasps and awed murmurs rippled through the crowd of nobles watching.
Mesmerized by the dazzling lights and the music of the violins, Kael lost himself in the repeated spins and the pulsing rhythm.
And then the music stopped. Applause thundered across the ballroom.
Kael gasped for breath, tilting his head up. Normally, he always looked down on Lumino from his own height. But here with Lumino looming above him, steadying him, his heart skipped violently.
"My lady," Lumino said softly, "you claim you cannot dance, yet you move so beautifully. It seems your body still remembers."
'He looks… so beautiful.'
Kael stared at Lumino, heat flooding his face. His cheeks turned crimson.
Ting—
==================
You must finish the quest to get out!
Conquer the heart of Prince Lumino Theodore.
✓ Dance with him. → Completed
2. Show him your charm.
3. Kiss him.
Good luck! One step down, my friend!
==================
Kael's eyes widened at the floating words. His gaze dropped immediately to the third option.
'Do I really have to… do that?!'
His face burned redder, hotter, like a tomato in the sun.
"My lady? Are you alright?" Lumino asked, concern in his voice. "You seem exhausted. Let us rest by the side. I will fetch you some lemonade—wait here a moment."
With that, Lumino slipped away toward the refreshment table, leaving Kael alone at the edge of the ballroom, staring at the quest log in despair.
------
To be candid, Lumino was clueless. Preferred to remain so, but the place was undeniably horrifying.
He vaguely recalled being struck from behind while standing before a dark crimson door. When he finally opened his eyes, he found himself in a ruined and shattered building.
Roots and moss crept over the collapsed walls, and the stench of rot and decay filled the air. Even worse, something was chasing him.
Lumino ran. Since he was now trapped inside Kael's body, he couldn't even use his own powers.
"System! System, come on!"
For thirty agonizing minutes, he had been shouting those words, yet no system interface appeared. Panic gnawed at him, especially because the creatures pursuing him were far more terrifying than anything he had imagined.
They resembled humans—but their bodies were rotten, damp, and covered in patches of mold and fungus. Their grotesque, half-decayed forms made his skin crawl.
"Damn it… what do I do?!"
He sprinted faster, the guttural moans of the abominations echoing closer and closer.
When he glanced back, there were even more of them than before. His stomach sank.
'There's an alley ahead—I'll turn there.'
He swerved sharply into the narrow passage, pressing himself behind a rusted container. His chest heaved as he clamped a hand over his mouth, trying to stifle his breath.
"Grawwwwrr…"
'Don't breathe, Lumino… hold it.'
"Graa… graaaa…"
The sound of the monsters grew nearer, their rancid presence crawling against his skin. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, so loud it felt like his chest would explode.
Then—
Ting!
'What was that?'
A floating screen flickered to life before his eyes.
'Did… the system finally recover?'
But instead of the familiar violet interface, what appeared was a blood-red window radiating ominous energy.
===================
Complete the quest!
Uncover the cause of this world's destruction:
1. Find the key figure behind this world.
2. Become the leader of the resistance army.
3. Save this world from ruin and slay the villain.
Good luck completing this quest.
Disclaimer: "If you die in this world, you die for real. Don't waste your life carelessly."
—Warm regards, your friend, The Jester
===================
'What… is this?'
Lumino's eyes widened in disbelief at the screen.
"Don't tell me... has this world already been destroyed?"
Cautiously, he emerged from his hiding place, only to be instantly confronted by one of the creatures he'd seen before. It lunged at him, snarling, its claws poised to strike.
Swusshh!
Something sharp whistled through the air and lodged in the creature's head. The monster collapsed with a guttural shriek.
"What—?!"
Lumino spun around.
"You nearly became its dinner. You really should be more careful."
The newcomer adjusted the goggles resting on her face before sliding them up to reveal sharp, amused eyes. She smirked.
'Alira…?'
"Be grateful to your savior," she said with a crooked grin.