"Oh."
For a moment, Hyperion seemed unsure of how to respond. With only a slight nod, she walked toward the bedroom door.
She had heard from Lysandra that Lanqi had purchased a mansion villa the moment he arrived in the Demon King's capital of Nekalis, which was very much in keeping with his excessive habit of doing as the locals did.
Yet she had never imagined that Lanqi would claim he had bought it for her.
For some reason, even meeting Lanqi's eyes now made her feel a faint prickle of awkwardness. Still, things were fine overall. They had plenty to talk about—such as the current situation in Nekalis and their upcoming plans, which had only been lightly touched upon in idle chatter rather than discussed in depth.
Hyperion could only count her blessings that Lanqi hadn't seen her dream earlier.
Chatting as they walked, Hyperion began her tour of the villa under Lanqi's guidance.
Boss Cat's dinner still needed a little time. On this leisurely evening, having missed each other dearly over the past month, they gradually shared what had happened to each of them during that time.
Their rhythmic footsteps across the mansion's wooden floors sent faint echoes through the halls, becoming the sole melody inside the villa on this midsummer night.
"Your good friend Lysandra lives not far from here. If you ever want to hang out with her, you can visit anytime or invite her over to our place."
Lanqi looked out through the large row of windows and pointed toward a fence visible in the night.
Past the lawn stood a small cottage nestled amid flower clusters.
"Uh, so I'm staying here?"
Hyperion pointed to herself.
It was still hard for her to think of this place as her home. Even though Lanqi had just said the mansion was bought for her, she mostly took it as one of his typical jokes.
"At least for today. Caliera didn't say whether you needed to return. Of course, if you miss her, I can call her over to pick you up after dinner," Lanqi asked with slight hesitation.
"No, that won't be necessary. I'd rather stay here."
Hyperion waved her hands in a hurry.
It wasn't that she disliked the Fall Lord, but she felt that having finally gotten out of the palace for some fresh air, there was no need to trouble her further. Staying with Lanqi was quite nice.
The more she thought about it, the brighter her mood became.
After all, back during the Banquet of Sanctuary Villains at Lichtenstein Castle, they had stayed in the same castle anyway. There was nothing strange about it.
"We'll stay here for two or three days, then head back to the Polant Empire," Lanqi said.
"Alright, I'll go wherever you go."
Having been confined to the palace for an entire month, the newly liberated Hyperion walked with steps as lively as a butterfly.
Enthralled by the wondrous secrets of the old mansion, she hummed softly and turned back from time to time to ask Lanqi questions, her voice like an enchanting serenade.
She marveled at the carvings on the walls and showered praise upon the artistic masterworks Lanqi had designed on the ceilings.
Lanqi smiled, no longer bringing up matters regarding the Shadow World.
He would handle everything.
He only needed to complete a research experiment with his new great demon friends in the Demon Realm and uncover what the "key to defeating the Blood Clan" in the mission objective was. Once that was done, he could take his great demon friends back to the Polant Empire.
According to the intelligence they currently possessed and their latest progress, the Shadow World's mission objective had already shifted successfully:
[Mission Objective 1: From what you understand, the Demon Ancestral Land holds the potential to seal the Blood Clan Progenitor. Within the Demon Ancestral Land, you may discover a crucial spell principle.]
Even though Lanqi felt he had already found a new path to developing the Blood Clan's economy, he still had to follow through on the mission objective out of respect for the Shadow World.
Once the first mission objective was complete, his duties as Diplomat Luoqi McCarthy would also come to an end, leaving only his role as Prime Minister Lanqi Wilfort.
He could work on the remaining tasks while taking Hyperion on a tour of the Polant Empire.
Lanqi always felt the schedule in every Shadow World was terribly rushed.
For instance, back in Purgatory Corridor Academy, the Shadow World had ended before he could even begin enjoying the fruits of victory.
The second Shadow World had been somewhat better; during the Banquet of Sanctuary Villains, everyone had wrapped things up in a single day, leaving four full days to relax.
Unfortunately, it was an isolated castle deep in the mountains with nowhere to go, feeling somewhat like a student club training camp.
This time, the Shadow World was a completely open map. Apart from the Southern Continent being an enemy nation at war where visas were unobtainable, travel across the Northern Continent was essentially unrestricted.
From the moment he arrived, Lanqi had made up his mind.
He had to turn the Shadow World into a smooth, winning game as early as possible so Hyperion could enjoy herself freely and happily.
If he had another chance next time, he would definitely conquer the Southern Continent as well, allowing Hyperion to go wherever her heart desired.
Sure enough, compared to drawing on paper, painting on a world map was far more fulfilling.
Such was the ultimate ambition of an art student.
Watching Hyperion joyfully explore the villa, Lanqi kept his hands in his pockets and thought to himself as he walked behind her.
The mansion's corridors were like portals leading into unknown realms, every wall sconce like a warm, outstretched hand dispelling the night.
Hyperion wandered, guided along.
They passed through an indoor courtyard surrounded by blossoming buds.
Stepping down marble stairs, the next floor gradually came into view, revealing a delicate transformation—there was no lavish ornamentation here; instead, the entire interior had become a fragrant garden. Inside, the brilliance of daffodils, the foamy purity of hawthorn blossoms, branches laden with plum flowers, and the pale golden hues of honeysuckle all completely captivated her.
The corridor stretched endlessly forward.
Enveloped in a crisp serenity, Hyperion and Lanqi walked through a sequence of Nekalis-style music halls and reception parlors restored to the ancient Demon Realm style. Every space was extraordinarily quiet, as if hidden, invisible spectators were silently watching their every move.
When Lanqi closed the heavy doors of the library that seemed to lead into another era, Hyperion felt for a fleeting second as though she heard deep, faint laughter echoing from a classroom in Purgatory Corridor Academy.
Looking closer, the villa's design indeed incorporated many architectural elements of Purgatory Corridor Academy.
"Sure enough, you still can't forget that school," Hyperion sighed.
"You don't like it?" Lanqi looked at her and asked.
"No, I like it very much." Hyperion shook her head with a faint smile.
It felt as though the two of them had returned to that ancient, renowned Demon Realm academy—the time when they had stepped into a Shadow World for the very first time.
Back then, she had thought that day was the most wonderful day of her life.
Later, she realized there could be days even more wonderful.
Perhaps today was one of them.
"Do you think that in the background lore, Miss Witch never had the chance to visit Purgatory Corridor Academy with the Child of the Sun again?" Hyperion asked, the thought suddenly crossing her mind.
After all, according to the Shadow World's background information, her role was Miss Witch, while Lanqi played the Child of the Sun.
In the first Shadow World, the Child of the Sun had infiltrated Purgatory Corridor Academy, met Miss Witch, whisked her away from the academy, and made her his companion in the human world.
In the second Shadow World, the true historical story was that Miss Witch had died during that Banquet of Sanctuary Villains, bequeathing all of her royal blood to the Child of the Sun.
From that point on, Miss Witch was no more, leaving the Child of the Sun entirely alone.
The Shadow World they were currently in was a "hypothetical timeline" distinct from real history, brought about by a slight deviation in the storyline.
"Uh, probably. But maybe even so, the Child of the Sun would still build his villa to look much like it, waiting for someone who can never return to come home," Lanqi said after a moment's thought.
Perhaps having played the Child of the Sun three times, he could somewhat fathom the Child of the Sun's feelings.
Chatting idly, the two of them stepped onto the stairs once more.
The floor below retained the same antique elegance. Cabinets lining the walls were draped in rose- and lavender-colored silk, where vibrant fresh flowers had found their home.
At last, they arrived at Lanqi's private quarters—a bedroom, a sitting room, and a study modeled after the headmaster's office.
Sitting in the study, they sampled a bit of the vintage Demon Realm floral wine Lanqi retrieved from a wall cabinet.
Lanqi didn't dare drink any himself, but back on Tier -6 of Herrom Prison, Hyperion had discovered she had a remarkable tolerance for alcohol, and ever since, she always wanted to try a sip whenever she saw wine.
Sure enough, after finishing two small glasses, Hyperion's verdict was that it tasted like sparkling water.
Lanqi smiled in relief.
He had always cared little for the wealth in his residence, and now that Hyperion was here, none of it mattered in the slightest.
When he led Hyperion to the third floor, a stately set of doors stood before them. Gilded patterns embedded in the towering panels shimmered under the refracted glow of the stained-glass windows.
Two floors farther down was the level where the restaurant operated.
Pushing the doors open, they were met by the faint aroma of scented candles lingering on the third floor.
"Today has been wonderful. It really takes finding you for a Shadow World to become fun," Lanqi said, beaming happily.
It had been a long time since he and Hyperion had hung out like this.
They had already explored every corner of the royal capital of Ikerite—or rather, as a local, Ikerite held no novelty for Hyperion beyond being a place to live.
"Yeah. It was only after meeting you that I realized every day could be this happy."
Along the way, Hyperion's emotions had shifted several times.
From her initial unease to delight, and now to a state of complete self-forgetfulness born of their long-awaited reunion.
During those long nights in the palace, she had waited in torment, not knowing when Lanqi would arrive in the Demon Realm, her inner tension beyond words.
Now, her emotions were finally released; she was no longer a clock wound tight with anxiety.
"Oh, right, Hyperion, let me take you somewhere." Lanqi remembered something and looked in a certain direction.
"Where?" Hyperion had intended to keep exploring downward, but hearing his words, she turned back with keen interest.
"Follow me." Lanqi snapped his fingers with a light chuckle.
Further down was the restaurant, which might be a bit noisy.
Conveniently, there was a wonderful terrace right here on the third floor.
Lanqi invited Hyperion out to the open-air garden terrace on the third floor.
The moment they stepped outside, their field of view broadened dramatically.
The terrace was paved with wooden decking and furnished with rocking benches for lounging. From here, one could clearly see the vast expanse of Lanqi's estate while enjoying the crisp night air.
The midsummer full moon had climbed higher, and across the endless night sky over the Nekalis sea hung a band of silver stardust.
Out here, they could finally hear the operatic music drifting up from the restaurant below like a stage performance, accompanied by the occasional faint clink of glasses. One could easily picture fine wine foaming in slender flutes as patrons shared gentle toasts.
Yet Lanqi had plenty here as well.
In this mansion, one could find unfamiliar vintages and complete sets of glassware every few paces, and the terrace was no exception.
Lanqi led Hyperion to the very edge of the terrace.
Standing side by side, leaning against the stone balustrade, they gazed out over the shimmering waters of the bay, losing themselves in the serenity and beauty of the moment.
"If not for tonight's mist, we would be able to make out the silhouette of the palace on the opposite shore," Lanqi murmured softly. "At the end of the bay, the eternal blue light of the palace barrier is always so bright."
Lanqi reached a hand toward the distance. In his own words, he seemed to sense the passing of what that blue light once signified to them.
Hyperion turned her head, looking at his profile.
"So... you've been watching me from across the water this whole time?" she said softly.
Only now did she truly understand where she was—
and why Lanqi had bought this mansion upon arriving in the Demon Realm.
Looking across from here,
that beam of light from the palace had once seemed so close across the gulf between them, almost within arm's reach.
The distance between them had felt like that between the stars and the sun.
Yet now, it was merely an ordinary light on the far shore.
They were already standing beside each other.
"Yeah. To be honest, I was worried in my dreams these past few days about whether you were happy over there. Fortunately, Lysandra told me you were safe in the palace," Lanqi admitted before looking back across the water, savoring the peaceful moment.
The wind outside grew stronger. On Naica Island across the bay, myriad lights sparkled, and mana rail trains filled with passengers crossed the grand bridge back and forth between the two shores.
A long silence settled between them.
Mainly because Hyperion had stopped speaking.
"So you have dreams too," Hyperion mused.
"Of course. I can fall victim to the Gentle Land of the Fallen too, you know." Lanqi always felt that Hyperion treated him like some sort of monster.
He was actually quite normal.
"Lanqi, if the dreams inside the Gentle Land of the Fallen change, what does that mean?" Hyperion asked in a murmur, gazing out at the bay.
In truth, if there was still anything she couldn't understand after waking, it was the magic of the Gentle Land of the Fallen.
Only the Fall Lord and Lanqi could likely give her an answer.
Lanqi was something of an expert on the Gentle Land of the Fallen himself.
"It means the dreams you believe are impossible to realize in reality have multiplied," Lanqi said with the professionalism of a psychological counselor. He walked over to the nearest table by the terrace railing, picked up two glasses, poured two servings of grape juice that he could drink as well, and handed one to Hyperion.
A flicker of disappointment flashed through Hyperion's eyes.
But she concealed it almost immediately.
"Is that so..." she murmured softly, coming to terms with it.
Just as she thought.
An impossible dream.
That dream of a church wedding was simply too absurd; even her own subconscious was convinced of it.
"But haven't you noticed? Reality is drawing closer to your gentle dreamland, which means it can still come true," Lanqi said suddenly. "Look, hardly anyone in the Hutton Kingdom dares to bully you now, we have leads on Duke Mikhail, and Antanas and the others might even help us find Miss Efatia. In short—no matter what dream you have, I'll help you make it come true."
Lanqi looked at her, raised his glass, and grinned with an earnest promise.
Hyperion stood dazed for a moment upon hearing his words. When she came to her senses, she found herself beneath a starry sky dancing with phosphorescence.
The sight before her stunned her once more.
Across the boundless, dim expanse of the sea, the end of the long road merged with the horizon.
"..."
Hyperion stared blankly at the youth, framed against the night sky and starlight.
The midsummer stars stretched across the vast celestial canopy, countless points of light like fragments of time, shimmering with an eternal brilliance to weave a dazzling tapestry across the horizon, blending the depth of night with the fabric of dreams.
The world of the gentle slumber seemed not yet to have dissolved. Her heartbeat resonated, repeating endlessly in that fleeting instant, guiding her half-awake, half-dreaming self.
She remembered that during those late nights when she slept in exhaustion, his figure would always appear in her dreams.
Was she truly awake?
She didn't know.
She had thought she was merely bowing to Lanqi's brilliance, believing that everything was destiny.
Even now, she was unwilling to awaken.
Yet perhaps...
asking her to give up now wasn't something that could be settled with a simple nod.
A surge of emotion rushed to her heart. Gathering all her courage, she leaned toward Lanqi, stood on tiptoe, and kissed his cheek.
As Lanqi stood alone gazing out at the sea, his eyes snapped wide open.
He felt an indescribable touch gently brush his cheek—like a cool breeze, or the lightest feather leaving a tender sensation against his skin.
"Lanqi, thank you."
Hyperion's words sounded clumsy and hesitant, yet they flowed like a gentle stream, tender and fierce all at once.
Lanqi didn't speak for several seconds. He merely turned his head, gazing at Hyperion in a daze as if caught in a dream.
Hyperion had never expected her action to leave Lanqi looking as though his brain had completely short-circuited.
Gradually, a wave of shame washed over her. With her heart pounding like a war drum, she awkwardly lowered her head and clutched her sleeves.
If Lanqi thought she had crossed a line, then in the worst-case scenario, they might not even be able to remain friends.
"Hyperion..."
Yet Lanqi didn't seem to mind Hyperion kissing him at all. He remained very close to her without the slightest guard, looking as though he had merely remembered something else.
"What is it?"
Seeing Lanqi's reaction, Hyperion felt her heart race again, yet an inexplicable relief washed over her, accompanied by a sudden surge of secret delight.
"I started a livestream..."
Lanqi had worried that Dean Loren wouldn't be able to handle the pressure, so he had intended to broadcast briefly to report that they were safe and let Loren see that he had successfully retrieved Hyperion.
What he had never imagined was that Hyperion would suddenly kiss him.
Now, Dean Loren's pressure was likely going to be even greater.
What the people of Hutton imagined a Tier 7 Shadow World to be: Tier 4 and Tier 5 students fighting desperately for survival, doomed to disaster the moment the broadcast began.
What Ikerite Academy actually saw after a three-week blackout: an exclusive premiere of *Midsummer Night's Romance*.
Hyperion: "??!"
She buried her face in her hands.
"Aaaahhh..."
She felt like she could never go back to Ikerite again.
Chapter 589