"If you still feel like doing it after hearing my words, I won't stop you."
Rune stopped Ferdikion, who was about to lash out with hatred, destroying himself and others.
Staring at the red eyes, which seemed ready to swing a sword in rage, Rune spoke calmly.
As if trying to stop Rune's words, Pashyas screamed and shot a series of massive flames.
But he couldn't break through the thin dark barrier that Rune had created.
"There's a saying that what goes around comes around. The actions you take now will surely come back to you in the future."
"Are you a fairy or something? Is that all you wanted to say? I can say that too."
"Then, I'll tell you about your future."
Ferdikion's gaze turned to Rune.
Though he frowned, he didn't refuse to listen.
"You will become an elder of the fire clan unharmed. But you will rule your kin through the violence and anger you learned from your father, the murderer. Your dwarves will accumulate anger, and while they will submit and bow, they will hate you to the point of no return."
"Do you think I'll be afraid of that...!"
"Doesn't the image I just described remind you of your father?"
Ferdikion couldn't say anything.
The image of moving just like the one he hated most, not hesitating to get his hands dirty.
A chill ran down his spine from the back of his neck.
The fire energy surged, and inside the thin black barrier that blocked him, Rune continued quietly.
"Don't use the wrong methods just because a wrong person used them. You'll only end up with the same result."
"Then, should I just endure this anger?"
Rune shook his head. To the child whose veins ran with the flames of anger instead of blood, Rune spoke in a more soothing voice.
"The method you want to use is irrational violence and moral degradation, something you learned under your father, the murderer. So, I'll teach you something different."
Repeated verbal abuse and physical violence. The oppression that was carried out naturally.
The result of growing up in the wrong way was already known.
The tyranny over the dwarves, and Ferdikion becoming the object of their hatred.
Therefore, Rune showed Ferdikion where his anger should truly be directed.
"Try to let even a child speak about justice. Whether it's a child or not, if they speak the truth, they should be able to speak to their parents or adults, and raise questions at any time."
Even adults make mistakes.
Parents can't be perfect.
In fact, perfection is just a wish. All living beings make mistakes and live.
At least if you can acknowledge that and have the courage to accept the right words.
And if you can set an example for the children, they will grow up to act the same way towards the next generation.
"It might get a little noisy, but try to create a lair where someone like your father can't even set foot."
The surroundings began to crumble.
The boundary between reality and illusion gradually blurred.
This was evidence that Ferdikion's murderous intent was subsiding.
Gradually becoming calm, just before the illusion completely disappeared, Ferdikion asked softly.
"Do you think I can do it?"
The resonance transmitted through Rune's palm was not swept away by the heat of anger but was fully conveyed to Ferdikion.
To the one who had started to listen, Rune spoke about his true future and the current Ferdikion.
"You will meet very good people in the future. There will be hardships, but many dwarves will recognize you as the ruler of the fire clan before you become an elder, and you will win their hearts. You will treat them to delicious meals and be a good ruler who protects their pride, ruling with benevolence."
Ferdikion's eyes began to change.
The memories were slowly returning.
"Sometimes, you will share stories of good memories, like your mother's songs and weaving."
Rune couldn't help but smile slightly.
Ferdikion's eyes took on a different look.
He was confident. Even though he had never seen this face before, Ferdikion already knew someone he could trust more than anyone else.
[Yeah, that's the brother I know.]
Ferdikion's eyes widened slightly, and a ripple ran through him.
The one who had listened to him completely.
The one who gave him trust.
Ferdikion smiled gently, feeling at ease.
"When did I ever not be your brother?"
Ferdikion's face looked more relaxed and warm.
Seeing that face, Rune sighed inwardly.
[No, you've always been my brother.]
The illusion, which had weakened, completely collapsed.
The fallen dwarves, the blood, and the image of Pashyas turned into black smoke and disappeared.
Rune, who had slowly turned his body, absorbed Pashyas as he was about to disperse.
On the day Ferdikion becomes a complete ruler of fire.
A world where those who use violence to get what they want can't even set foot will come.
When Ferdikion, who had escaped the illusion, opened his eyes, the water was gently spreading.
Pressing his temples due to a slight headache, Rune checked on him.
The red hatchling was a bit dizzy but took deep breaths and straightened his posture.
Then he polymorphed into his usual human form.
"You showed a weak side. Why can't I see the others?"
That look was quite commendable to Rune.
Even though his mind was thoroughly muddled by darkness and illusion, he was acting quite composed.
'Fortunately, he recovers quickly. There's no need to worry.'
Rune extended his right hand, and Ferdikion, after staring at it, took it.
Rune lifted the black pearl containing the fairy.
To help Ferdikion, who might have felt unsteady, Rune controlled his pace to avoid walking too fast.
Soon, Heumi, Baekya, and Amelia were seen running over.
"Chirp! Chirp chirp chirp!"
Heumi and Baekya ran over enthusiastically with Amelia, who looked somewhat tired.
Rune checked on Heumi as she approached.
"Are you okay? Did you see any strange illusions?"
"Y-Yes! Nothing strange. I just saw a beautiful Heumi with nine tails and white hair. She told me to come this way, but Heumi said I should go where Lord Rune was, so I came out quickly."
Heumi, who had no memory of her mother, didn't realize that the illusion was of Baekya.
Although it was by chance, she had come out of the illusion and found Rune, valuing the present more than lingering in the past.
'Her innate purity overcame the false illusion.'
Baekya, being a phoenix, seemed unaffected by the illusion, and Amelia looked somewhat gaunt.
When Rune's gaze met hers, Amelia smiled faintly and waved her hand in greeting.
"I, I...... It's been a long time since I saw my former self, alone in the darkness. But now it's different. When I felt it was strange, it disappeared."
If she could escape the illusion on her own and make it this far, she had done quite well.
At that moment, Amelia felt a piercing gaze.
Turning around, she saw Ferdikion. His eyes were quite sharp.
Ferdikion's brusque reply made Amelia hesitate, but she mustered the courage to look back.
His eyes immediately turned even more fierce.
Startled, Amelia quickly turned her head and thought.
'Why, why is he doing this!'
Seeing the tense Amelia and the intensely staring Ferdikion, Rune sighed inwardly.
Fortunately, his loyalty to Rune...... no, his presence was strong enough to help him escape his father's shadow, but seeing Amelia escape the illusion on her own must have made him feel something.
Everyone was safe in the end. Rune spoke softly to gather their attention.
"You all did well. The illusion showed the hardest times, the painful and difficult illusions to escape. It's impressive that you managed to get out."
"Ah...... Y-Yes, that's...... true."
While Amelia blushed and was pleased, Ferdikion's lips drooped slightly.
Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw a Dullahan running over to them.
He looked completely unaffected and stood calmly beside Rune.
Curious about what illusion the memory-losing Dullahan had seen, there was no time to ask.
The rest of the party, except Ferdikion, flew to the Dullahan and stared at the floating black pearl.
The fairy inside the black pearl circled around the Dullahan, exclaiming in amazement.
[Such an existence. How?]
The fairy, who had shown little interest in the others, found the Dullahan, a spirit knight born from death, intriguing.
The fairy circled around the Dullahan as if sniffing him, muttering in a rapid, hard-to-understand tone.
[The smell of death. Darkness. A spirit or the dead. Why?]
The Dullahan, receiving the fairy's intense interest, didn't look too pleased.
[I'll take it. I want it. This.]
But he pretended to be calm, crossing his arms and shaking his head.
"You're interested, but he's my knight. I can't give him to you."
"Well, if you can be useful, I might consider letting you spend some time with him......"
The fairy blinked inside the black pearl, then put her finger near her lips and said.
[I'll do it. Guide. The path of the fairy.]
If movement became easier, they could clear the dungeon much faster.
Rune rubbed his chin, pondering, then accepted.
"Alright. But on the condition that you don't cause trouble."
The fairy narrowed her eyes, looked at him, then giggled seductively and nodded.
"Alright. Guide us to the boss room by the shortest route."
[Impossible. Possible. Up to that point.]
It was impossible to reach the boss room, but she could reduce the distance to the area where regular monsters appeared.
Though somewhat disappointed, Rune nodded.
The black pearl containing the fairy flew over and slipped into the Dullahan's armor.
Inside the black helmet, a green flash trembled and blinked a few times.
Seeing the strangely uncomfortable, large-dog-like appearance, Rune sent a telepathic message that only the Dullahan could hear.
[He plans to ascend to divinity once we leave this dungeon. He can't escape the black pearl, so don't worry. Just keep an eye on him until we clear the dungeon.]
The Dullahan looked somewhat perplexed but weakly nodded.
Though he felt sorry for him, the fact that the troublesome one was now listening and focusing all his attention on the Dullahan made things quite convenient.
"A! Heumi, do you know what this is? A stalker pervert!"
"St-stalker...... P-pervert? What...... is that?"
Amelia expressed her confusion.
Ferdikion, raising one eyebrow, seemed to have caught on.
"A pervert who pathologically and obsessively follows someone they're interested in!"