Chapter 85: Nightmare Improvement

After being called by three women and hearing a barrage of scolding, I was training with a cluttered mind.
‘Somehow, Act 4, Scene 1 is over, but…’
The series of events that followed left my head in complete disarray.
There’s so much to do moving forward, but unexpected problems arose from places I hadn’t anticipated.

“Feeling guilty? Fix that expression of yours.”
At that moment, I lifted my head in response to the voice.
There stood Hania, sparring with me.

She and I are, though fake, in a relationship for now.
So, during class, we stayed together whenever possible.
Of course, in reality, there’s no romantic affection between us.

Hania is devoted to Iris, and I, wrapped in the Veil Bandages, have lost the ability to feel love.
The possibility of us becoming a real couple is essentially zero.

“You’re aware Iris found out, aren’t you?”
“I couldn’t help it, but the other two aren’t entirely my fault, are they?”
That part was something I brought upon myself.

“…Hanon, I believe Iris needs you.”
I blinked at her, looking at her intently.

“Iris grew up lonely her whole life. It’s unfortunate, but the position of the third princess is a sorrowful one.”

In Hyserion, there are four princes and three princesses.
In order of age, starting from the eldest:
First Prince > First Princess > Second Prince > Third Prince > Second Princess > Fourth Prince > Third Princess.

Iris, the third princess, is the youngest among the royal siblings.
However, her maternal grandfather is a man with ambitions of consuming the royal family itself—
Duke Robliaju.

Duke Robliaju, going so far as to make a pact with a malevolent being, relentlessly elevated Iris’s status.
As a result, Iris rose above her elder siblings to the point of competing for the throne with the First Prince.
From the position furthest from the throne, she climbed to being the closest to it.

In that process, no one dared stand by Iris’s side, who became known as the Final Villainess.
On top of that, even the one person who gave her love—her mother—was taken by a nightmare.
Not even family stayed by Iris’s side.

“As her subordinate, I can fulfill my duties, but I can’t become Iris’s family.”
Hania let out a sigh laced with regret.

“But you, Hanon, you can.”
She gazed at me with clear determination.

“You’re someone who can help ease Iris’s insomnia.”

No.
I’ve only provided a temporary fix for her insomnia.
Until her nightmares are resolved, her insomnia won’t go away.
That’s why there’s still much to do to address it.

‘More importantly, I’m not her real family.’
I’ve already told Iris an important lie.
Because of that, I must not approach her as family.

“Hania, that’s not true.”
I denied Hania’s words.

“You’re the most important person to Iris. You’ve been the one supporting and watching over her the most.”

I will resolve Iris’s nightmares, no matter what.
But for everything else, Hania is the more suitable person, not me.

“You’re Iris’s friend, aren’t you?”
When I gave her a gentle smile, Hania looked at me silently.
Then, for some reason, she furrowed her brows deeply.

“Don’t tell me this is how you seduce women?”

What is she even saying?
I stared at Hania in disbelief.

Then, Hania wrapped her unarmed arm around herself.
“Don’t even think about trying to add me to Hanon’s fishing net.”
“…I’ve never thought of that.”
“Does that mean I’m not attractive?”

A verbal minefield.
No matter what I say, a blade will fly.

Hania looked at me, stunned, and let out a hollow laugh.
“I’m joking. I know you don’t see me that way. The way you look at me is different from how other men do.”

“Hania, I’m still a man.”
For some reason, Hania gave me a soft smile.
“Yes, of course.”

Why does that smile feel even more bittersweet?
Suddenly, my chest ached.

“Or perhaps… that’s why women keep gathering around you.”
Hania pondered seriously.
For me, it was a bitter thought.
The idea that I could only interact with women because I don’t see them romantically—it’s a truly sad existence.

‘This is practically being emotionally impotent…’
I’m sorry, my dear son.
Once I save the world, I’ll try to get you back.
Until then, just stay asleep.

“An opening.”
At that moment, Hania lunged at me, taking advantage of my distraction.
In the end, I let her land a strike and found myself rolling on the ground.

* * *

That night.
As before, I visited Iris’s room disguised as Hania.
By now, sneaking into the girls’ dormitory had become second nature.
I easily passed through the entrance and headed to Iris’s room.
Even as girls passed by, I confidently greeted them in Hania’s guise.

Is this really okay?
Such thoughts crossed my mind, but since Iris was the one calling me, there wasn’t much choice.
Suppressing a sigh, I climbed the stairs and realized someone was standing in front of me.

My head slowly lifted.
Soon, I found myself face to face with a girl with honey-blonde hair.
She stood there with her arms crossed, silently watching me.

“…Isabel?”
“Huh, so you came looking like that.”
Isabel said only that before turning and walking away.

Could she have been waiting here for me all this time?
No, more importantly, how did she see through me so quickly?

The Veil Bandages might not do everything, but their appearance is flawless.
Unless she had Mirinae like Sharin, there’s no way she could have known.

Was it a coincidence?
Or was she testing me?

I stared blankly at Isabel’s retreating figure, completely taken aback.
She said absolutely nothing else.

Feeling a strange sense of unease, I turned to knock on Iris’s door.
“Come in.”

Hearing Iris’s reply, I opened the door.
Iris was sitting by the window, quietly gazing at the sky.

The dusky sky was heavy with clouds, hiding the moonlight.
Because of that, the dimly lit room felt quite dark.

“Iris?”

When I called her, Iris turned toward me.
“I heard you helped with the recent boycott incident.”
So, was this why she had called me—to interrogate me about it?
I gave a wry smile and slowly closed the door behind me.

“Yes, I helped.”
“Why?”

I couldn’t tell what answer Iris was looking for.
The only thing I knew was that she didn’t want a sugarcoated response.

“It was something necessary for my goal.”

A vague answer.
But since it was the truth, I stood there calmly as Iris tilted her head.
Her jet-black hair slid down smoothly with the motion.

Though it was still autumn, her thin garments occasionally revealed glimpses of her skin beneath.
In the dim light, only her ruby-like red eyes stood out clearly.

Later, as the vessel for the Malevolent One, those eyes would undoubtedly contain an enchanting power that couldn’t be ignored.

“A goal, you say.”
“To safely graduate from Zeryon Academy.”

The end of Zeryon Academy marks the conclusion of the Blazing Butterflyarc.
After that, even I have no idea what will happen to the world.

That’s why, in the meantime, I plan to use the knowledge I have to survive as best as I can.

‘Or maybe I’ll see the ending and return home… but I’m not counting on that.’
By then, returning home might feel more awkward than staying here.

Iris slowly tapped her fingers on the table.
She repeated the motion for a long time before turning back to me.

“So, this incident was something related to your graduation?”
“During my time in the student council, I discovered that some professors had ulterior motives. For Zeryon Academy to function properly, I judged that it was better for them to be removed, so I acted accordingly.”

“And what about Nikita-senpai?”
“That wasn’t any different.”

It was a necessary step for Zeryon Academy to move forward.
That’s why I did what I did.

“I see.”

However, a hint of regret flickered in Iris’s eyes.
I noticed it and tilted my head slightly.
Was there an answer she had been hoping for?

“So, it wasn’t for me, then.”

Soon after, I read the loneliness that lingered in her gaze.
Hania’s words from earlier in the day came back to me.

She had said that the loneliness Iris carried wasn’t something she could resolve on her own.

‘…The one who frees Iris from her loneliness is Lucas.’

Iris, who was forced to pursue the throne like a puppet under Duke Robliaju’s schemes—
Lucas was a truly unique figure in her life.

He wouldn’t stand for injustice, and when danger arose, he was the first to step forward.
Even if it meant harm might come to him, he willingly put himself on the line.

At one point, Iris had taken an interest in Lucas.
It was fleeting—so faint it vanished after his death—but at the time, Iris had clearly found Lucas intriguing.

Lucas, with his fiery determination, is the key to resolving Iris’s nightmares.
For her, who cannot sleep peacefully each night, Lucas stays steadfastly by her side.

In the process, Iris gradually begins to feel comfort and rest, and, for the first time, she experiences warmth, opening her heart to him.

On the day Lucas finally rescues her from her nightmares, Iris truly falls in love with him.

That was the story of the heroine, Iris Hyserion.
It was a tale far removed from someone like me, who lacked Lucas’s Flame of Determination.
Thus, I couldn’t take on the same central role as Lucas.

But this alone couldn’t resolve Iris’s fundamental loneliness.
Her loneliness constantly gnawed away at her, and that, in turn, had a direct impact on her nightmares.

‘I…’

I had entered this place under the guise of her cousin, Hanon Airei.

And Iris desired the warmth of human connection—something she had never experienced before.

‘I can do it.’

If it would help Iris recover, I could willingly play the role of her cousin, Hanon Airei.
But was that really okay?
Was it okay for her to feel a false sense of familial affection through my performance as Hanon?

No.
Absolutely not.

That wouldn’t truly help her.
What I want is not some decorative, fake happy ending.
I want a true happy ending where everyone finds happiness.

“Iris.”
“Yes?”
“Starting today, let’s train together in the mornings.”
“Huh?”

False familial affection?
It can go to hell.

“Iris, your nightmares.”
Iris’s shoulders flinched.

Everyone knew she suffered from insomnia, but no one knew that she was plagued by nightmares.

Because of that, Iris’s eyes widened in shock, her face clearly flustered.
Seeing her reaction, the corners of my lips lifted.

“I’ll take care of them for you.”

I’ll forcefully bring her into a life without insomnia.