Ch.32Luna’s Memory

1.

A dark, gloomy space.

“My name is Luna! And…”

In that place where one loses sense of reality amid the endless darkness spreading in all directions, a young child smiled brightly at Nahan and added:

“I’m not dead yet!”

Well, I might die soon though!

Nahan’s brow furrowed at the brutal content that contrasted with the cheerful voice.

“Die?”

“Huh? Don’t you know about dying?”

“No, I do. It’s just…”

…That’s not something a child under 10 should be saying, is it?

“Ah! You’re scared?”

“What?”

“It’s okay! I was really scared at first too, but I got better thanks to Mom!”

“Mom?”

“Yeah! People call her Mother, but I secretly call her Mom…!”

A bright smile and cheerful voice.

Flutter.

As Nahan felt something off about the girl’s somehow twisted smile—

Ding.

A system window appeared before his eyes.

【Main Episode – <Those Who Cannot Be Saved> begins.】

【Basic information about Black Wolf <No.4 – Luna> is provided.】

Only then did he realize.

Nahan, who had accepted the main episode.

The surreal space made of darkness.

The young Luna who appeared there.

The <Basic Information> specified in the system window was Luna’s past memories.

‘Why now of all times?’

The question was immediately followed by an answer.

‘It must be because Luna’s possession by <Mother> is related to her past.’

Having grasped the situation, Nahan called up the sub-quest window and examined it again.

─『Sub Quest』─

◆ The Face Behind the Mask.

: You are the salvation of the <Black Wolf> members, but it was not complete salvation. Save <Luna> from her nightmare.

◆ Completion Conditions.

1. Escape from <Count Gardner’s Territory>. (Achieved!)

2. Fully understand <Luna>. (…in progress.)

3. <Mother>’s rest.

◆ Reward.

: Past memories of all <Black Wolf> members.

◆ Upon Failure & Rejection.

: <Luna>’s rampage.

Condition 1 was already achieved.

Seeing that “in progress” had appeared for condition 2, it seemed he needed to follow her and see the story through to the end…

“Do you want to see her too? Mother.”

Her eyes were strangely clouded, giving him the feeling that following her would lead to trouble.

But it was clear that not following would result in failing the sub-quest, so:

‘Quest failure = Luna’s rampage = High probability of death = Then I die too.’

Pushed by his survival instinct urging him to hurry after her, he took a step forward.

“Is it far?”

“No! It’s right in front of us! What, you’re coming with me!?”

“Yes. Let’s go.”

“Wow!! Wooow!!”

Luna’s eyes sparkled immediately upon his agreement, as if she hadn’t expected him to follow.

“Stop jumping around and let’s go.”

After lightly patting her head, Nahan noticed Luna gently grabbing his hand.

“Um… I… I was wondering.”

“What now.”

“C-can I hold your hand while we walk…?”

The cloudiness in her eyes had completely disappeared, replaced by sparkling emerald eyes looking up at him.

I answered by simply taking her hand.

“…It’s warm.”

“That’s good.”

Just as I gave a casual response.

Squeeze.

Feeling a soft, slight pressure from the hand holding mine, I looked down.

Like someone fulfilling their last wish before death, the child smiled with tears in her eyes.

“…Thank you. For holding my hand.”

Tears flowed down her cheeks, gathering at her chin, and when they reached their limit and dropped to the floor with a plop—

WAAAAAAH!!!

The space transformed with a roar that filled an enormous tent.

“…Suddenly?”

Nahan quickly assessed his changed surroundings, having no time to be surprised.

Numerous seats inside a circus tent.

Everyone—both those seated and those standing on stage—wore masks.

Mother!!

Mother!!

Mother!!

A woman walked onto the stage amid frenzied cheers.

Though also masked, she clearly exuded the aura of a powerful being.

She emanated the same murky, sharp, and ominous energy that Nahan felt from the possessed Luna.

‘So that’s Mother.’

As Nahan recognized her, Mother surveyed the audience and spoke.

“Bidding begins.”

Simultaneously, the stage mechanism activated.

Clunk!

Rattle-rattle-rattle!

Wooden floor panels opened, revealing merchandise bound in chains.

Rare magical beasts,

Various artifacts,

Expensive spices, and more.

All items difficult to obtain, yet the audience’s reaction was lukewarm.

Nevertheless, the items sold for high prices.

“1kg of firewood.”

“1,000 gold.”

“Number 18, sold.”

At ridiculously high prices.

“One lowest-grade potion.”

“1,000 gold.”

“Number 23, sold.”

How long did this quiet, monotonous bidding continue, so different from the initial excitement?

“End. Closing.”

At Mother’s mechanical voice, the audience rose and streamed out.

As if rehearsed, they moved in orderly rows, disciplined and swift.

‘What’s going on?’

As Nahan stood frozen in the strangely shifting atmosphere,

Someone dressed similarly to Mother approached and whispered:

“Please stand.”

“…Sure.”

As Nahan nodded and was about to rise, someone shouted at him:

“Bullshit!! I paid last time and couldn’t buy anything, so this time I’m staying for free!!”

“Please stand.”

“No way, asshole, why should I!?”

“Final warning. Please stand.”

The two people acted as if Nahan didn’t exist.

Rising hesitantly, Nahan waved his hands in front of their faces and confirmed:

‘They can’t see me.’

Of course—this wasn’t reality but a separate space for glimpsing Luna’s memories.

Nahan sat down again a little distance from the argument and muttered:

“So I’m just a spectator.”

If that’s the case, he should quietly observe.

With a more relaxed mind, abandoning even his Black Wolf act, he leaned back—just as the auction participant shoved the staff member and shouted:

“I said no, you son of a—!!”

Thud.

His head fell off.

The staff member calmly picked up the head, walked over, and handed it to Mother, who received it and spoke:

“Processing fee. 100 gold each.”

Numbers 18, 23, 86…

“Tsk, that stupid bastard.”

“An unnecessary expense.”

“Hey, it’s just one person today, right? A hundred is manageable.”

As the remaining participants raised their paddles to indicate payment, Mother tossed the head aside and turned around.

“Bidding begins.”

The same cold voice.

With that, the quiet audience began to fill with madness again.

“I wonder what items we’ll see today?”

“Hope there’s something good.”

“What’s the point? Number 1 will take everything if there’s crying.”

“Ugh. Let’s not talk about Number 1, it makes me sick.”

As countless eyes began to glisten with desire, the mechanism activated again.

Clunk!

Rattle-rattle-rattle!!

The floor opened, items were dragged up.

‘Another auction? When will Luna appear?’

His patience wearing thin, Nahan was about to stand and search—

“Kack, keeack!!”

“Gurp!”

“Keuuugh…!!”

Desperate sounds reached his ears.

Nahan turned toward the source and immediately saw:

“To…day… I won’t…die…”

Luna, suspended in mid-air with a chain around her neck, smiling while kicking her feet desperately.

She wasn’t the only one.

The other “merchandise” also floated up, struggling, yet still trying desperately to smile.

“These bastards.”

Nahan’s eyes went wild, and without thinking, he chose Ilgwangseom, but—

【Intervention not possible.】

It wouldn’t activate.

【Measures taken upon detection of ‘hostility’ exceeding threshold.】

【<Your> movements are restricted.】

As if that wasn’t enough, only after restraining his limbs to the seat did the window disappear.

Clunk!

He struggled just in case, but he was firmly bound by some force.

‘…Let’s stay calm.’

This situation is something that ‘happened’ before, not something that ‘is happening.’

Every scene is an illusion.

Even if he intervened, it would only change things within this space, with no effect on reality.

‘I need to observe properly and gather information.’

Fully understand Luna’s past, then leave here and deal with <Mother>.

Just as Nahan calmed his mind after much restraint—

“Olan. Starting at 10,000 gold.”

The auction began.

2.

Gurgle.

Can’t breathe.

Soon I’ll be placed on the floor, but still, dizziness overwhelms me.

But no one cries.

Everyone smiles.

-Smile brightly, that’s how you survive.

“Smile… bright…ly… every…one.”

-That’s right, smile a little more.

“…Yes. That’s… right. A little more.”

-Even brighter, smile until your mouth tears.

“More. Kuhup, more brightly…!!”

-That’s how you survive.

“That’s how, to…day, too… I’ll… live…!!”

Because that’s what Luna, the longest-lasting “item” in <Wandering Troupe – Loss>, taught us.

Through her fading consciousness, Luna’s murmurs repeatedly reached her ears.

-Don’t tremble, that’s how you survive.

“Don’t… tremble…!! That’s… how. I, live.”

-When it’s too hard, wear a mask and cry.

“Don’t… cry. Never… here… No, don’t…!!”

-Try and try again.

“O-Olan…!! Please, you’re good, right?”

-Until someday you can smile even with a mask on.

“Huh? Please, please don’t… cry now…!!”

“Huaa, kuhup, huaaang!!”

“Ah…”

Despite Luna’s efforts, the first item, Olan, shed tears, and Number 1, who had appeared from nowhere, raised his hand with a smile.

“100,000 gold.”

“Number 1, sold. Purpose?”

“Sacrifice. Right now, as always.”

No sooner had the brief Q&A ended than a “shadow” hiding behind Mother appeared and reached toward the hanging Olan.

Crack.

A gruesome sound. As Number 1 reached out, Olan’s body rapidly decayed.

Turning into a viscous liquid, it flowed into Number 1’s mouth.

Gulp.

Licking his lips with a greedy tongue, he nodded in satisfaction.

“Next.”

“Mina. Starting at 10,000 gold.”

The auction continues.

We smile.

With reddened faces, until our mouths tear.

Luna wished.

That everyone in the world would just smile.

…Right, Mom?

.

.

.

【Possession Rate: …85%.】

【The awakened <Mother(S-)> begins to take control of <Luna>’s body.】

.

.

.

“【That’s right, good girl, Luna.】”