* * *

Following the priest’s guidance, they entered the asylum.

Contrary to its notorious reputation, the interior of the asylum was surprisingly clean.

I could feel eyes on her from between the bars of the solitary cells.

The patients inside stared at her with vacant eyes. The unsettling feeling made her quickly turn away.

“Is Jerome also locked up in one of these solitary cells?”

“No, after several incidents… he was confined to an underground space secured with strong holy magic. We’ve placed skilled priests all around him.”

“Incidents?”

The priest hesitated to answer, as if hiding something. Seeing her persistent gaze, he reluctantly continued.

“I assume you’ve heard about the mind control magic Jerome uses.”

“…”

“The only thing that’s certain… is that he’s dangerous. While we’ll do our best to keep him in check, it would be wise for you, Lady, not to provoke him.”

I nodded vaguely at the priest’s stern advice. It didn’t matter to me whether Jerome’s madness worsened or improved.

I was only here to find out if it was possible to erase memories with magic.

The priest led mt down an endless path until they finally stood before a large door.

The thick chains securing the door were undone, and the iron door creaked open with a heavy sound.

Just as I was about to step in, tension tightening in me chest,

“Ah, sorry, but your servant cannot enter.”

Another priest, standing guard, blocked Ber from entering. Ber looked at me with worried eyes.

“Master…”

“It’s fine, Ber. You remember what I said earlier, right?”

Ber nodded. I clenched the pocket watch hidden in his pocket tightly. I still didn’t know how Maya’s power manifested, but just in case…

After passing through several more iron doors, I finally entered Jerome’s real solitary cell.

The cell was incredibly dark, almost as if they didn’t want to provoke the beast inside.

“Light the lamps.”

At the priest’s command, the waiting acolytes lit the oil lamps.

The once-dark room was suddenly filled with light.

A man sat alone at a table, seemingly lost in thought.

Although their meeting this time was under different circumstances from the original story, Jeanne and Jerome were still destined to be enemies.

I had only approached him to extract information, and I had no intention of becoming unnecessarily close.

“Ask what I need to and leave as soon as possible.”

I cautiously walked over and pulled out the chair across from Jerome to sit down.

Jerome slowly raised his head upon sensing my presence. I froze as soon as their eyes met. His gaze was devoid of any emotion, like a human shell with nothing left inside.

Sacred runes were etched like tattoos over his muscular body, and restraints bound his wrists and mouth to prevent him from using mind control magic.

Except for the lack of a collar, he was essentially no different from a monster.

“There’s not a trace of the righteous hero left.”

If Carlisle was like the sun, then Jerome was like the moon—only not just any moon, but one that only rose on the darkest nights. As Jerome stared blankly at me, he finally spoke.

“Could you be… Chloe’s mother?”

My heart dropped at Jerome’s unexpected words. I quickly recalled the original story in my mind.

‘Chloe? Was there such a character in my novel? No, there wasn’t. Could the plot have changed without my knowing?’

I could feel my own eyes wavering. Clenching my fists on my lap, I asked.

“Chloe? Who is that?”

I questioned him in a wary tone. Jerome replied without expression.

“It’s the name I gave my daughter.”

“…”

“I have a good intuition when it comes to romance. I thought we might become deeply connected in the future, so I tried calling you that.”

Suddenly, all the strength drained from my body.

I was dumbfounded by the sudden appearance of a daughter named Chloe.

When I just stared at him without a word, Jerome playfully wrinkled his nose.

“Alright, don’t be mad. Of course, the mother should name her child.”

He really was someone whose personal color belonged in a psychiatric ward.

Fortunately, he didn’t seem as completely unapproachable as the original character, who was depicted with much more madness.

A priest placed an hourglass on the table.

The time allowed for the interview with Jerome was exactly ten minutes.

Jerome, who had been observing her closely, spoke with a curious expression.

“But are you really the Saintess of Maya?”

“Well, I don’t think I’m obligated to answer that.”

“I’m surprised. You look much younger than I expected. Initially, I was going to kill you the moment we met… but I can’t. It would weigh on my conscience.”

A hollow laugh escaped her. The idea that a man who had killed countless innocent priest would spare her just because I looked young was absurd. I unintentionally responded in a sarcastic tone.

“I’m surprised you even have a moral compass.”

“Of course. I have to live ethically. I probably paid the most taxes out of all the nobles.”

Contrary to his notorious reputation, Jerome, aside from his menacing appearance, seemed like an ordinary person.

After staring at him in dismay for a moment, I got straight to the point.

“So, about that mind control magic… Can it really make someone commit suicide so easily?”

“You don’t know much about mental magic, do you?”

I quietly nodded. Jerome, who had been silent for a moment, smiled and continued.

“To be more precise… it’s not really mind control. It’s about reading the person’s thoughts and showing them their worst nightmare. The human mind is weaker than you might think.”

“Then, what are you most afraid of?”

As the conversation naturally flowed, the oil lamp on the table suddenly went out. The unexpected darkness put me on high alert. But contrary to my worries, the lamp was relit.

“Maybe it was just the wind.”

The priests standing around looked around in confusion, as if wondering where the wind had come from in the sealed room.

Jerome, with a relaxed expression, asked.

“But is that question really necessary for an interview with a heretic?”

“Well, I don’t expect you to answer easily.”

“No, it’s not good to be too stubborn. I’ll tell you. What I fear the most is…”

The oil lamp’s flame flickered out once more.

When the light returned, the restraints on Jerome’s arm were completely shattered.

But that wasn’t all.

All the priests around him had fallen, their heads brutally crushed.

Jerome, sitting calmly in front of me, slowly removed the gag from his mouth.

“Damn it.”

Just as I was about to call for help, Jerome seized both of my hands with a fierce grip.

His dark red eyes, brimming with madness, gleamed dangerously.

The sudden shift in atmosphere sent chills down my spine.

“Fool, you’re too late.”

Jerome’s hand tightened around my neck, slamming me against the wall.

As I choked out a painful sound, Jerome released me with a startled expression. I collapsed to the floor, coughing violently.

“Ugh…ugh…”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t control my strength. That must have hurt. I’m really sorry.”

Jerome, genuinely apologetic, knelt beside me, scanning my face with concern.

Terror had already consumed me, and I couldn’t even lift my head.

A single thought dominated my mind.

‘Is the person in front of me really human?’

Jerome clasped my trembling hands tightly. His gentle voice pierced my ears.

“You’re scared, aren’t you? What should I do? I’m really sorry. It’s been so long since I’ve dealt with someone this weak…”

“…”

“Are you angry with me?”

Jerome drew my hand to his cheek, and I stared at him in stunned silence.

‘Isn’t he just a demon pretending to be human?’

Jerome, watching me intently, whispered in a shy voice.

“Alright, I’ll tell you a secret just for you. The thing I fear the most…is being saved.”

“…”

“If I’m saved and wake up from the nightmare, I have to return to a reality even more painful than the nightmare. So, I’d rather stay in the nightmare forever. Don’t you agree? It’s a world too harsh to endure with a sane mind.”

A line from Jerome in the original story flashed through my mind.

[This memory will be your worst nightmare, Jeanne. But don’t wake up… Please, live forever in the nightmare with me.]

After sealing the Great Demon Mephisto within himself, Jerome had lost everything.

To him, this reality must be far more terrifying than any nightmare.

I harshly brushed Jerome’s hand away, gasping for breath.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“…”

“Live in a nightmare because you’re afraid of reality? I’ll live in this hellish reality. Not in a nightmare that I can comfort myself by thinking it’s just a dream!”

Seeing me defiantly retort, Jerome gave a faint smile.

“You’re amazing. You’re really different. I’m glad I already picked out a name for our daughter.”

Jerome pulled me into a tight embrace. His strong arms squeezed me firmly.

“Still, let’s see how you handle this.”

I instinctively sensed that the tone of Jerome’s voice had changed. Blood trickled down from my nose.

My instincts told me clearly—this was definitely a mind control spell.

“Think of what you fear the most.”

His soft lips brushed against my earlobe.

His voice, now low and chilling, filled my ear.

“Something so terrifying that you’d want to die immediately.”

* * *