Why does life slumber?
There were many answers to that question. Perhaps everyone held a different response within their heart, but Rosemary was different, and so were the people living in this bubble world.
It was a question they could never answer.
Because they were residents of a dream world. They had never awakened, and they did not know what reality was.
Thus, no matter how deeply Rosemary pondered it, she felt as though she were wandering through an exitless maze shrouded in fog, unable to find an answer she could accept.
But now, two people from beyond the world, from the waking world, had appeared before her. Rosemary could not stop herself from voicing the question that had troubled her so deeply.
Rosemary: "Lord Captain, please tell me... why does human life slumber?"
Elias: "..."
Rosemary clutched Elias' lapels with both hands, as though she had finally found what she had so desperately sought. Elias fell silent and considered the question seriously for a moment before speaking.
"Not long ago, because of an enemy, I wove a perfect dream for my world and screened malice from human nature, allowing everyone to enjoy a pleasant dream."
"In that instant, humanity became angels and the dream became paradise. At least for that moment, I created a perfect utopia—an infinitely beautiful world."
Within the miracle Elias created, every beautiful aspect of human nature was fully awakened. And because people lived within a dream where material concerns did not exist, they were free from any regrets.
Sorrow, pain, malice—all of it vanished like smoke.
Humanity seemed to have completed its ultimate evolution.
For a moment, Rosemary could only listen in stunned silence.
Because that situation was identical to their dream world, and in some respects, it was even more perfect. After all, malice still existed within the hearts of the people in this world.
Elias: "But after I defeated the enemy, I dispelled that dream and returned the evil of human nature to humanity."
He had once created a utopia with his own hands.
But he had also personally closed the gates of paradise.
He had turned a perfect heaven back into the mortal world.
Rosemary: "Why... did you do that?"
Elias: "Because what makes us human is the coexistence of good and evil within us. And a dream will always remain a dream. No matter how beautiful it is, it is ultimately an illusory world. A dream that lasts too long will bring our lives to a standstill. One day, it must end."
The white-haired youth shook his head as he spoke. In the next instant, the authority of the Herrscher of the Void activated, teleporting all three of them high into the sky.
Elias gazed across the beautiful world. Following his imagination, countless objects appeared from nothing—pure-white castles, magnificent warships, roads stretching endlessly into the distance, and much more.
Rosemary stared at everything in astonishment. Countless things she had never known existed emerged from Elias' imagination.
"How does it feel, Rosemary?"
"It's incredible. Truly magnificent. There are even many things here that I cannot describe in words. No one in our world could ever create such things."
"Mm. These are all things from my memories, things I encountered in reality. But for the current me... imagining an entire planet is probably my limit, because the greatest thing I've ever constructed was a planet."
Elias was referring to the Previous Era's bubble world.
It was a supermassive bubble world he had spent a long time constructing bit by bit with the entirety of his authority. It was virtually indistinguishable from Earth in the proper world.
"Lord Captain, you've actually done something like that?"
Rosemary drew a deep breath. Once again, she had been thoroughly shocked by this man. The curiosity in the young woman's heart grew even stronger. She wanted to know what kind of life Elias had lived in the past.
However, Elias shook his head.
"That's right. But although I can imagine a planet within a dream, I cannot create anything beyond it. Because... the me in reality has never constructed or witnessed anything grander than that. And that is the limit of a dream world."
"!!!"
Dreams were beautiful and seemingly omnipotent.
But that was precisely why they would restrict humanity.
In a hedonistic world without any setbacks, humanity's potential would be erased and life would grind to a halt.
And when a species ceased moving forward, one day it would regress to life's most primitive state before ultimately being eliminated and disappearing entirely. Thus, dreams could only be places where life rested briefly.
Therefore...
Rosemary: "Why does life slumber?"
Elias: "Because we must awaken from the dream!"
Rosemary: "...I see... So that is the answer."
At that moment, Rosemary felt as though the fog within her heart had been scattered by a white wind. She lowered her gaze to the lantern in her hand. Resolve had already filled her wine-red eyes.
"Thank you, Lord Captain. Rita now knows what she must do."
"You're welcome. Actually, I originally intended to do something similar to you, but now that I think about it, never mind."
"Huh?"
"Even saviors deserve the occasional vacation. Since someone here can save her own bubble world, there's no need for me to interfere unnecessarily. Ahh~ I really wish there were more people like you in this world, Rosemary."
Elias stretched as he spoke. Being a savior was hardly a good job. No one paid him, and it was terribly troublesome.
(But that can't be helped. Rather than a job, it's more like volunteer work~ Besides... had I never encountered it, perhaps it wouldn't matter. But once something happens right before my eyes, standing by and doing nothing would leave a bitter taste in my mouth.)
Elias shook his head. His thoughts involuntarily drifted toward a certain flat-chested immortal. He and Fu Hua were actually quite alike.
In the words of a certain Miss Pink Elf...
"Aside from their emotional intelligence and appearance, Eli and Hua are actually the same kind of person in both figure and personality. After all... you both remember far too much. People with memories that good always lead more difficult lives."
For people with poor memories, whether they did something they regretted or witnessed something sorrowful...
After only a few days, their minds would automatically forget. Time would heal the wounds in the hearts of those with poor memories.
But people with good memories could not do that.
Especially people like Elias and Fu Hua, who possessed hyperthymesia and could remember everything with perfect clarity. They would remember every tragedy that happened before them for the rest of their lives.
Thus, whenever tragedy appeared before their eyes, they would recklessly rush forward and attempt to change it, all so sorrow would not become eternal within their memories.
And this was the primary reason Elias saved the world. He could not tolerate blades or tragedies unfolding before his eyes.
"Lord Captain, are you all right?"
"Captain, do you need Ai's lap pillow?"
Rosemary and Ai looked at Elias, who had suddenly fallen into a daze.
They saw a trace of exhaustion within those magnificent mismatched eyes—weariness born from saving the world again and again. Both women's hearts tightened at once, and they took Elias' hands with concern.
"Ahem. I'm fine, I'm fine. How could anything be wrong when two such beautiful ladies are accompanying me~?"
Returning to his senses, Elias immediately revealed a smile as dazzling as the sun, then shamelessly clasped both women's hands in return.
"Right. Since you've made your decision, let's ask what the other residents think next. And while we're at it... would you go on a date with me, Rosemary?"
"!!!"
Rosemary's beautiful eyes widened. Elias' sudden invitation caught her completely off guard, yet she was not surprised to discover that she felt no rejection whatsoever.
"After all, this dream is about to end. We might as well leave ourselves with some beautiful memories at the end. What do you think?"
"...It would be my honor, Lord Captain."
The witch within the dream smiled faintly, innocent yet impossibly alluring. This was Rita Rosemary Rossweisse, a witch who seemed born to captivate every living soul.
Even Elias was momentarily entranced. Once again, the urge to abduct her onto the Hyperion arose within his heart.
Ai: "Me, me, me! Don't forget about me! Don't even think about having a date for two. I'm coming too!"
Rosemary: "...Let's have stir-fried cabbage with shredded pork tonight..."
Ai: "!!!"
...
After that, Elias, Rosemary, and Ai began their three-person date. Within this dream world, Rosemary, as one of its residents, was naturally the most suitable guide.
Since Dream's Twilight would soon arrive, the three of them visited every worthwhile location in the dream world so they would have no regrets.
After all, to the Herrscher of the Void, the freest being of all, distance had never been a problem. As long as Elias desired it, he could reach any place in the world.
At the same time, the three of them did not forget to question the residents.
After all, they were about to destroy the world. Naturally, they had to ask the locals for their opinions. Should the residents prefer being devoured by the [Nightmare] within this dream instead of returning to reality...
Then even Elias would have nothing to say.
But what left him even more speechless was that most of these dream residents did not even know what reality was!
For the many people who had never left their beds in their entire lives, they even believed this dream to be the real world. Only a tiny handful knew they were living within a dream.
"Hey~ Mister, would you be willing to return to reality and live there right now?"
"Reality? What reality? What kind of place is that? Aren't we living perfectly well here?"
"It is quite pleasant, but a dream is still only a dream. It may appear free and unrestricted, but everything is actually empty. If..."
"Uh, Lord Hero, what are you talking about?"
"...You'll really die if you don't return to reality."
"Please take me to the real world immediately!"
"..."
It seemed that compared to discussing the grand principles of life and human nature with ordinary people, simply talking about whether they would live or die was much faster.
The survey also proceeded more smoothly than expected. Many people said they were willing to return to reality. Perhaps although life in the dream was easy and comfortable, having everything they wanted made it rather boring.
Even those who refused to budge immediately changed their minds once the [Nightmare] was mentioned. However, the people who left the strongest impression on Elias and the others were a certain couple.
Man: "Reality? What kind of place is that? Never mind. It doesn't matter. As long as I can be with her, I'll go anywhere."
Woman: "That's right. As long as we can remain together, it doesn't matter whether it's reality or hell."
Elias: "Touching. Applause."
The three of them played while conducting their survey, and eventually returned to Rosemary's flower-shop cottage. The elegant and beautiful witch personally prepared an incomparably lavish final supper.
As Elias and Ai enjoyed the meal, they also felt regretful.
"Rosemary, are you truly unwilling to board our ship? My Hyperion is enormous, and we're desperately lacking a professional chef like you!"
Elias looked at Rosemary expectantly. Although he knew how to cook, he had become lazy.
Or more accurately, ever since Elias returned from the Previous Era, the women in the dormitory had spoiled him rotten. A certain maid was especially responsible.
Elias believed that Rita Rossweisse ought to take responsibility.
Rosemary: "What does something Maid Rita did have to do with Rita Rosemary? However... I can understand how my other self feels. After all, Lord Captain truly gives off an air that makes people unable to resist spoiling you into complete uselessness~"
In the end, Rita still politely declined the invitation to board the ship, explaining that her place belonged within this bubble world.
Elias felt deeply regretful, but he did not force her.
After all, while a melon forcibly picked might quench one's thirst, it would not taste sweet. Many things were best when both sides shared the same feelings and willingly moved toward one another.
Had a certain giant fluttering moth been present, she would undoubtedly have revealed a meaningful smile. Sometimes, from the very moment two people met, the red threads of fate had already become entwined.
Elias: "All right! We've gone on our date, and we've eaten dinner. It's time to let the flames ignite the world!"