The setting is the Library of All Things. There, I was wearing a neat librarian's outfit, shaped like a cape dress.

“What is this? Who changed my clothes again? And who braided my hair?”

I couldn’t find any logical explanation. Fortunately, it allowed me to quickly assess the situation.

“This is a dream.”

Although it felt vivid like reality, there was a dreamy quality when observed closely.

For instance, the titles of books, which became blurry and distorted, almost as if fog covered them when trying to focus.

Definitely a dream. That’s when I reached my conclusion.

“Finally arrived, huh? You’re late.”

“Ugh.”

With a loud thud, Elantia dropped a pile of books beside me.

Come to think of it, books were stacked around me in towering columns, taller than me. Soon, it seemed like the walls would be built up as well.

Just when I thought I might be trapped by books, Elantia’s face suddenly came close to mine. Then, in a voice that seemed to tempt me, she spoke with a subtle tone.

“Hehe, now that you’re in here, I won’t let you go. Shall we begin?”

“Begin? What with?”

Elantia pulled a random book from the pile.

The title was clearly visible. It was one of the recommended books from the Librarian of the Stars: “I’m a Low-Ranking Demon Lord, But the Saintess is Obsessed with Me.”

“We’re going to read the novel carefully and categorize its genres and keywords. And it would be nice if you shared your thoughts as well. I’m sure, like me, you can discuss the beauty of demonic literature at the same level.”

“All of it?”

“Yes!”

Her cheeks flushed as she cupped them with both hands, making her look like a shy girl. Of course, the madness in her eyes overwhelmed everything else.

“You won’t be able to leave until it’s done. You’re mine.”

“...!”

It felt like invisible handcuffs snapped around my wrists. I needed to escape, but I couldn’t.

As a primal fear swept through my body, Elantia’s blissful laughter echoed in my ears.

✠

“Wake up, Ayleth.”

“...Ugh!”

The deep, resonant voice roused me from my sleep. The moment I opened my eyes, I realized I had escaped the dream and returned to reality.

A sense of relief spread through my chest like an anesthetic.

Wow, how old am I to still have nightmares?

Just then, I had to take a deep breath again.

“Ugh! R, Reid?!”

An unpleasant face was right in front of me.

“You’re awake, Ayleth.”

“...”

“Did you fall back asleep? With your eyes open?”

His face drew even closer.

“I’m up!”

“Good. Good morning.”

“Phew, yeah. Good morning...”

After confirming I was awake, he straightened up and casually kissed my face.

Who wakes someone up like this?

Anyway, when the handsome man left my sight, I noticed the familiar interior of the room I had gotten used to over the past few days.

The guest bedroom. Reid and I were still staying at the Demon King’s Castle. It would take some time before the entire Demon Realm would adopt the rule of hanging Reid as a trophy.

“Ugh, I’m so tired.”

Stretching and trying to get up, I felt a heaviness in my body.

No matter how much I slept these past few days, I still felt exhausted, and then I had a nightmare... Maybe it’s because I’m not used to sleeping here. I just want to go home.

Looking at the mirror, my face was a mess. Dark circles under my eyes gave me a somewhat decadent vibe like Reid... No, I looked simply disheveled.

Reid, on the other hand, looked flawless. His appearance was perfect, like he was always dressed to the extreme, as Librarian of the Stars once mentioned.

“You looked uncomfortable, so I woke you up. Want to sleep more?”

“Not really...”

The thought of sleeping more sent a chill down my spine. Reid looked at me curiously.

“You look tired, why?”

I felt a bit embarrassed to give such a childish reason.

“You won’t tease me, right?”

“I wouldn’t.”

“Why do you always talk about the choir and then say things like that?”

“Ah, you took that as a joke? Sorry about that.”

He crossed his arms and leaned against the bed’s headboard, tilting his head.

Reid’s mood was dangerously lazy again. It seemed better to avoid provoking him. I decided to just confess about my state.

“I feel like if I sleep now, I’ll have another nightmare.”

“...A nightmare?”

I thought it was a trivial reason, but Reid straightened his posture and became serious. It seemed this wasn’t a light issue after all.

“Interesting. A nightmare from beyond the room where Chaos Evil resides... What was it about?”

“Umm...”

I felt awkward, like some mental block was keeping me from speaking.

“Did the Librarian of the Stars appear?”

“Uh, how did you know?”

“Knowing that demon’s personality... He probably had you sort books endlessly. Nonstop.”

“Yeah, that’s right. I almost got worked to the bone like a slave. So it wasn’t just a simple nightmare.”

“That’s not something to be overlooked in the Demon Realm. It seems like a deliberate mental curse.”

“Someone’s been up to something?”

[‘The Eye Watching the Chaos of All Things’ provides the details of the crime, claiming the perpetrator knows it well, stirring up trouble!]

“Reid, you’re not guilty? Alright.”

I didn’t suspect him at all, as we had built a good partnership as accomplices.

At this point, the situation became clear to me. Reid summarized.

“Elantia Levant must have done something unpleasant to you.”

“Ha. So it was her.”

Demons are just like that, it seems.

[‘The Eye Watching the Chaos of All Things’ says that it’s too early to be sure without evidence.]

“Ayleth, come back and lie down.”

“Okay.”

“Excuse me for a moment.”

The highest authority in the Demon Realm ordered me to lie back down gently on the bed, my eyes wide open. Reid sat beside me, gazing down at me.

This time, I wouldn’t let myself get agitated.

With that thought, I focused and looked directly up at him, but suddenly, he smiled and reached under my pillow.

Something was pulled out from under it.

[ ‘Nightmare Catcher’

A couple item in pairs.

It links two entities and allows them to share various things.]

It was the item I used to manipulate my ranking ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) to 477th, shared with Elantia.

Although it was a familiar item, I was startled as if I had found a cursed talisman.

I had no hobby of wearing such accessories while sleeping. So, I definitely had not placed this eerie-looking Nightmare Catcher under my pillow.

“Why is this here?”

“It’s found its target.”

“Target? Not the owner?”

“Yeah.”

I wasn’t allowed to express my discomfort at the word, usually used for prey.

“Dare you.”

Reid’s deep anger drowned out my discomfort.

When he tightened his grip, the Nightmare Catcher emitted a dark smoke and revealed its hidden function.

[ ‘Nightmare Catcher’

A couple item in pairs.

It links two entities and allows them to share various things.

Note: One can pull the other into their nightmare to communicate or imprison them.]

The note was a shocking revelation.

“Elantia Levant tried to trap you in a nightmare.”

[‘The Eye Watching the Chaos of All Things’ gives up on defending in the face of irrefutable evidence.]

“Elantia, this really... I’ll make her regret it. I won’t let her off the hook.”

How dare she torture someone in their sleep? I shot up, ready to go after her.

“Do you know where she is?”

“I have a guess. I’ll need to look for her.”

Using my knowledge as a possessor, I narrowed down possible locations. It wasn’t impossible.

But I was so tired right now that it felt annoying, and I roughly brushed my hair back in frustration.

That’s when Reid’s refreshing voice lifted my spirits.

“No need for that, Ayleth.”

“Huh?”

“We have a handy item.”

He shook the Nightmare Catcher in his hand.

“Meet her in the dream?”

I was opposed to the idea. I didn’t want to go back into that nightmare. But Reid had a plan.

“Yeah. Not you. Me.”

“Ah.” 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

“It’s the quickest and easiest way. Plus, if I step in, that demon won’t dare to try anything ridiculous with you.”

“That’s true. Chaos Evil will listen to you.”

I decided to leave the revenge to him.

“Please, Reid. Teach her a lesson.”

“Gladly.”

As soon as he got my permission, a chilling glint crossed Reid’s eyes.

“You like books, huh? I’ll reincarnate you as a bookworm.”

That meant death.

Ugh.

[‘The Eye Watching the Chaos of All Things’ says Elantia Levant wasn’t that bad for a demon, so they ask for leniency.]

But demons are still demons.

[‘The Eye Watching the Chaos of All Things’ argues that without her, this would be Reid’s hopeless harem of dreams.]

That might be true. Elantia had kept me company when Reid was playing around with nightmares at the banquet.

In the end, I couldn’t resist the Eye’s persuasion.

“Reid, just don’t kill her.”

“Why? Do you like her?”

“...Honestly, I’ve grown a bit fond of her?”

Reid’s eyes narrowed, and his gaze seemed clouded.

I instinctively felt the need to smooth things over.

“Of course! Not more than you!”

I wasn’t sure if such a simple statement would work...

“Really?”

It worked on Reid. His eyes widened for a moment before his sharp gaze softened into a curve.

It seemed his old gentle knight impression resurfaced, and I stared at him, dazed.