Aozaki Residence.
Under Rin's urgent summons, everyone in the mansion hastily gathered in the master bedroom.
The Nakano sisters, who were entering for the first time, were startled by the vicious bloodstains on the headboard, while Utaha and the others turned their worried gazes toward Roy, lying motionless on the bed.
"Just as Rin said, there are no abnormalities on the surface."
After a thorough examination, Touko concluded with a thoughtful expression.
"It seems he's trapped in an inescapable dream. No physical injuries, and it's not caused by magecraft… Whoever did this likely isn't a magus."
"So, is this bad?"
Aoko leaned against the doorframe, her eyes flickering with displeasure as they swept over the bloodstains on the headboard before settling on Touko.
Her expression was grave, and her concern for Roy was obvious to anyone watching.
"Judging by the fact that Roy collapsed right by the bed, he probably didn't anticipate this situation either."
Rin rested her chin on her hand as she analyzed. "This suggests the other party forcibly dragged him into the dream. Roy was pulled in against his will—this is definitely a hostile act!"
"Then we need to wake him up as soon as possible."
"I'll prepare the ritual immediately."
Touko nodded decisively. "I'll set up a magecraft to connect your dreams to Roy's. Since I have to maintain the spell, I can't go in myself. The rest of you, lie down here and fall asleep."
Rin agreed without hesitation.
"Are we going in too?"
Ichika asked uncertainly.
Realizing how her words might sound—as if she was trying to avoid involvement—she quickly added,
"Won't we just get in the way?"
"No, I need you to help me monitor the situation inside the dream. Since I can't enter myself..."
Touko paused, then added reassuringly.
"Normally, dreams don't affect reality. If any of you are considering becoming magi, this could be a good trial. But be warned—it might leave psychological scars. Decide for yourselves who will go."
The Nakano sisters, Utaha, and Hayasaka, huddled together, whispering among themselves.
Rin and Illya were definitely going in—their resolve was firm.
"I'll keep watch."
Aoko, however, waved her hand dismissively.
Touko simply nodded without comment.
"We'd like to try."
Utaha and Ichika stepped forward together.
Hayasaka and Miku stayed back, clearly unwilling to get involved.
Illya glanced at the two of them.
Miku was timid—she'd be useless inside.
But Hayasaka was neither cowardly nor unskilled. If she wanted to help, she could have volunteered.
Illya scoffed lightly.
This girl's obedient act was just a facade, after all.
Hayasaka and Miku fetched bedding from various rooms, and Rin's group of four lay down, quickly falling asleep under Touko's hypnosis.
"Saber, you're there, right?"
After linking their dreams to Roy's, Touko suddenly spoke to the empty air.
"Yes."
Okita materialized in the room, dropping her spiritual form.
Miku's eyes flickered toward her, but she didn't dare speak up at a time like this.
"As Roy's Servant, you can enter his dream more easily than they can. I'm counting on you—for his sake, and for these girls."
"Leave it to Okita!"
With a bright smile, Okita stepped into the dream with Touko's assistance.
Aoko watched silently, her gaze shifting to Touko, who remained calm and composed as she handled the situation.
"You don't seem worried at all."
"Victory in dreams depends on willpower."
Touko shrugged, her expression unreadable.
"I have full confidence in Roy's will. Even if malice lurks in his heart, he can control it. My only concern is that he might face other dangers."
Since Touko said so, Aoko chose to believe her.
Though she was the one who brought Roy back, Touko undoubtedly knew him best among everyone present.
Still, the mention of "other dangers" caught her attention.
"What other dangers?"
"Dreams usually don't affect reality—99% of the time. But if the enemy has prepared countermeasures, things could get ugly."
Touko's expression turned cold.
"I couldn't detect any abnormalities, meaning this likely wasn't done through magecraft but by some other method. And if even Roy didn't sense anything wrong, the force probably didn't come from outside—it erupted from within him. This might be Angra Mainyu's doing."
"Would that bastard really let Roy go so easily after tormenting him for three years?"
***
When Rin opened her eyes again, she found herself on a desolate hill.
The land around her was scorched black. The sky, the earth—everything looked identical to the real world.
Soon, Illya, Ichika, and Utaha appeared beside her.
"It's no different from reality."
Illya surveyed their surroundings with mild curiosity.
"Which means this dream isn't based on the enemy's design, but on Roy's own experiences?"
"Then… is this dream Roy's past?"
A shiver ran down Rin's spine.
For Roy, his past was an absolute taboo.
If the enemy had recreated it as a dream, what state was Roy in now?
Had he already lost his mind?
"Let's go. Time to explore this world of the past!"
Illya, however, cheerfully took the lead.
Rin followed with a heavy heart.
Utaha and Ichika trailed behind in silence. This was their first real exposure to magecraft—they knew nothing and could only follow the other two, speaking little and observing much.
But teaming up in a dream? That was something they hadn't expected.
Dream logic defied reason.
After just a few steps, the scenery around them twisted violently. The sky and earth shattered, replaced by a vast, grotesque pool.
Standing at its edge, the four of them paled at the sight before them.
Dozens of "people" who looked eerily similar to Roy and Illya lay discarded in the pool like trash. Some were still breathing, yet could only wait helplessly for death.
"I see. A disposal pool."
Illya's voice was icy as she observed the scene.
"The Einzberns had one too—much larger than this. And far more homunculi died in it."
***
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