Chapter 45 - Illusion (Part 2)

When I woke up every day in New York, the digital clock next to my bed always displayed 5:45 a.m. — early enough to ensure that my day started earlier than most.

I got up, stretching lazily. My body had always been used to a rigid routine, and that hadn't changed. After a quick shower, I put on a black suit that fit me perfectly, paired with a red tie that complemented my crimson hair.

This routine on Earth had become part of me, and I adapted to it with ease. In the morning, I took care of the business that my position demanded — discreet meetings with influential figures in the Underworld and negotiations with other races that inhabited the hidden side of the human world. For the rest of the day, I maintained my position as CEO of Gremory Enterprises.

The corridor to the meeting room was an elevated glass tube stretching across the gray sky of a gloomy New York. Below, cars moved like ants, scurrying between the buildings.

The meeting room was luxurious, circular. A large black marble table dominated the space, and several of the company's employees were already seated there.

Eyes turned to me with respect and fear. Among them were familiar faces — distorted by this new reality.

Kiba Yuuto wore a suit, his hair neatly combed, with a shark-like smile. Director of Security at Gremory Enterprises.

Akeno Himejima was dressed as a high-ranking executive. Head of the Department of Energy.

Koneko Toujou wore a simple suit. She was now the Chief Financial Officer.

"Milicas, how nice of you to join us," Akeno said, smiling. "We have a lot to discuss regarding the new contract with Heaven Corp. They're offering the patent for Excaliburs as energy weapons. We can mass-produce them."

I swallowed. "Excalibur weapons?"

"The costs?" I asked.

Akeno opened a tablet, showing graphs. "High. But the profit potential is higher. Synthesized Excaliburs could supply Gremory's private army for decades."

"Let's close the deal," I decided. And Akeno's broad smile confirmed it — it was the answer everyone had been waiting for.

Hours later, back in the glass room — my office — I threw myself into the armchair. The city outside looked like a battlefield of concrete and steel. I poured myself a glass of whisky from the silver tray and stared at the amber liquid.

"This... can't be real." My head throbbed. Images of Kuoh, of Japan, of my real life, flashed like fragments of a distant dream."

And then the door opened. This time, Asia Argento walked in.

She was wearing a simple white dress, her role resembling that of a secretary. Her smile was the same, pure... but her eyes? Empty. She approached and placed a stack of papers on the table.

"Mr. Gremory, the reports from the Department of Magical Research," she said in a calm voice. "The experiments with the Philosopher's Stone are yielding results."

Hearing that, my mind went into a trance, and all the doubt I'd accumulated over the last few days, haunted by the dream I'd had, faded away.

"Come with me, Asia-chan," I ordered, rising from the armchair.

Asia nodded and followed me without question. Gremory Enterprises' private elevator was waiting for us. As the doors closed, a magical panel activated — runes and numbers floated in the air.

"Basement 13," I commanded.

The elevator descended.

"Asia..." I called, and she looked up. "Do you still pray for me?"

She smiled slightly, but there was sadness there. "Always, Mr. Gremory."

When the doors opened, the smell of iron and sulfur hit me. The metal walls were illuminated by magical crystals embedded in the structures. Men and women in lab coats — scientists, magicians, and alchemists — moved around, carrying tablets, vials, and scrolls.

There, Gremory Enterprises showed its true face.

In the center of the laboratory, a gigantic transmutation circle glowed crimson red. Magical chains held Gasper Vladi — the half-vampire who had once been my Bishop.

His pale body trembled, his chest heaved with pain, and black marks from shadow magic covered his skin. A display constantly projected data on his stamina, his mana drain, and the effectiveness of the extraction.

"Report."

Among the men, one stood out — shaggy blond bangs, a black goatee, and a lab coat stained with dried blood. He was Azazel, and he looked at me with a debauched smile.

"We're at 78% saturation, Milicas-sama. Gasper... well, the boy's not dead yet, which is a miracle in itself," he chuckled. "His shadows are the perfect conductor. With two more sessions... the Stone will be ready."

I looked at Gasper. Our gazes met - fear, despair, but deep down... there was hope, somehow. It was as if he still expected me to save him.

"Go on," I ordered while still looking at Gasper.

"Yes, sir." Azazel nodded.

"The Stone... when it's ready, let me know. I'll transmute it myself."

"Do you really want to carry that burden, boy? This stone won't bring you redemption... only more blood."

"Redemption was never the goal. I'm going to kill the Welsh Dragon. Whatever the cost."

[The entities that cherish chaos are laughing in delight.]

[500 credits have been sponsored.]

My eyes widened. The glass of whisky I was holding almost slipped out of my hand, the amber liquid trembling in my grip.

'Entities?... I... I know that.'

That voice that came from the back of my mind, that translucent screen - it was all familiar. Something I hadn't seen since... since what? The pieces fell painfully into place. The room spun, reality shaking around me like a house of cards. I put my hand to my head, feeling a stabbing pain shoot through my skull.

"Milicas-sama?" Azazel's voice sounded distant, muffled, as if I were submerged beneath an entire sea.

The world in front of me cracked. Tiny, invisible cracks that only I could see. The smell of iron and sulphur, the wizards, the Philosopher's Stone, everything... it was a lie. The Excalibur Nightmare. The bloody sword. I remembered the black glow crossing my vision, Valper Galilei's wretched laugh as he plunged the black blade into my forehead.

This world... this damn life as a CEO, the death of my entire clan and the hatred I had for Issei Hyuodou because he handled it... it was all a lie. It was all a mental prison. A nightmare forged by that sword.

My chest was heaving. I looked at Asia - her innocent face, her empty smile. She... she wasn't real either.

"Mr. Gremory?" she asked, but I couldn't answer.

My eyes fixed on the still-floating system panel.

[The patrons have jointly demanded a Main Mission.]

[Mission Title: Liberation from the Nightmare].

Description: You've realized that everything in this new life is part of a big lie created by Valper Galilei. Freedom in this new life is your goal.

[Objectives:]

Break the Illusion created by the Excalibur Nightmare. (0/1)

[Time limit: One lifetime]

[Rewards: ???]

[Failure: Be trapped in this illusion forever. If you die here, you die in real life.]

My heart raced. 'So there's still a chance...'

"Milicas-sama!?" Azazel shouted, as my body staggered.

The chains holding Gasper shone brighter and, for an instant, I saw. I saw everything - I saw Kuoh; I saw my family... my mother, my father, I saw Makima... And I saw when it was all taken from me.

"Asia..." My voice came out hoarse. "Tell me... what are you?"

She shivered. The words seemed stuck in her throat. "I... I'm your secretary, Milicas-sama."

"Wrong." I smiled, a bitter smile. "You were... my friend, my Bishop."

Azazel stepped forward. "Milicas... the Stone... you need to concentrate. It won't be long now."

I stared at him - eyes as red as blood. "Shut up."

I stretched out my hand towards Gasper, and the power of destruction responded. Crimson flames wrapped around my fingers, pulsing with rage.

"I get the game, Valper. Do you think you can keep me here until I go mad?"

The runes on the walls vibrated. "You... you're going crazy, Milicas-sama," Azazel tried to argue.

"No. I'm finally waking up."

Just as I was about to shoot towards Gasper, to free him from those chains, a crash echoed throughout the room, making the walls of the basement shake. I turned toward the sound, and that's when I saw Makima coming out of the cloud of smoke. She wore that characteristic outfit of hers — a suit and tie. Her yellow eyes were empty, and she was staring straight ahead.

"Milicas-sama, you know what to do." Makima said.

"Makima, you're my Queen. We don't have to do this."

"You're wrong. I'm going to do it, and I'm going to enjoy it."

*

*

*

Support me to write more and read chapters ahead of all regular readers!

P-atreon.com/palmer1998

(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)

In chapters R-18, there are original and exclusive images for the patreons!

Discord: https://discord.gg/2pn9Twxrng