novelraw Chapter 101 – Beauty Of The Nightmare, Nature Of The Night
Chapter 101 – Beauty Of The Nightmare, Nature Of The Night
<“I can’t decide your names just yet. I barely know you two, let alone anything about your races. Why don’t you tell me about yourselves first?”>
Tinkle…
Hmn…
<“…I see. Sorry about that.”>
Their hesitation said everything. They didn’t know much either.
Of course they didn’t. It made sense—they were test subjects their whole lives. No teachers. No family. Just cold experiments and numbers. If they ever knew what they were, that knowledge had long been buried under years of pain and isolation.
<“Aza, how about you? Do you know anything about their races?”>
【Yes. I gathered data while you three were busy chatting and flirting.】
…As expected of my overqualified, overly snarky guide.
【The older one is from the Alp race—similar to succubi. But while succubi specialize in weaving dreams of love, the Alp race focuses on nightmares. Their natural ability is to enter and manipulate dreams, usually feeding on fear. Their lifespan averages 400 to 500 years.】
<“…Please tell me I’m not going to wake up to horror movies every night.”>
Tinkle!
Her cheerful tone was quick to reassure me: “Of course not, big brother Freed! I’ll never hurt you!”
That was… oddly heartwarming. I guess that explains why my dreams so far had been about food.
Tinkle!
She added proudly: “I’ll train hard so I can create romantic dreams for you too, like a succubus!”
“Oi!” I blurted. “Well... that’s fine, I guess.”
…Well, as long as she doesn’t sneak horror flicks into my subconscious, I’m good. And, if she does manage to create some wholesome love dreams… that’s a win, right?
While I tried not to overthink what that implied, Aza continued her explanation. I leaned back against Selena’s soft form—strictly for support, not for pervy reasons, okay!? If I leaned the other side, she might slip under the water. So logically… it made sense to rest my head between the two… ahem… safety cushions.
Totally for safety. Nothing else.
Now, back to the topic—
【The Alp race feeds on fear, but since she’s currently a disembodied soul, she doesn’t need energy right now.】
<“You said ‘currently’... Does that mean she could regain a physical body?”>
【Yes. Technically, any soul can return to the physical realm if they have a proper vessel. Not their original body, but one that can house them.】
<“…A vessel?”>
【Correct. Right now, they reside inside your body as living souls. They can’t act unless you give them permission. As for me, I have some additional privileges thanks to my position as your guide, but that’s basically the gist of it.】
<“So if I allowed it, they could move my body…?”>
【Yes. But even without permission, a soul could forcibly take over, or even devour yours—like a parasite or a curse.】
<“OIIII!! Don’t just casually drop a horror plot twist like that!”>
Tinkle!
Hmn!
I quickly added before they got the wrong idea.
<“I know, I know. You two—and everyone else—are kind. If any of you wanted to harm me, I’d be dead already. I was unconscious for two weeks… you could’ve easily taken over then.”>
They didn’t. And that spoke volumes.
【Anyway, a vessel doesn’t have to be humanoid. It could be a beast, a doll, even a sword. As long as it’s compatible.】
If I started handing out corpses as vessels, people would definitely mistake me for a necromancer.
Still… the idea stuck in my mind.
A vessel, huh?
<“Do you two… want bodies of your own?”>
Tinkle—!
Hmn—!
Their immediate responses came with an excited warmth, like children nodding eagerly. But their tone shifted slightly—more bashful, more… mischievous.
They said they wanted vessels so they could speak to me directly—and if possible, they’d like them to match my “preferences”—the kind of girls I liked.
<“…Why are you two so attached to me again?”>
Hmn!
She didn't answer directly—just an emotional nudge, filled with warmth, trust… and a hint of teasing affection.
Hmn.
<“Fine. I’ll do my best to find vessels for the both of you. And the others, too. Including those in Selena’s body.”>
Yep. That’s 1,050 vessels total. A small army of souls. I had no idea how or when I’d manage that… but at least they weren’t in a rush.
【By the way, both of you can communicate with him directly through thoughts—just like I do. You’re simply not used to the body yet.】
Tinkle!?
Hmn!?
They exclaimed in unison, their emotions practically bouncing in surprise: “Really!?”
【Yes. Sooner or later, you’ll be able to. You just need time to adapt.】
Tinkle!
Hmn!
Their enthusiasm radiated like sunlight. I could feel it: determination, eagerness, and maybe even a little spark of pride. They were so… lively. It was kind of infectious. They really were like little sisters—ghostly, demonic, and weirdly adorable.
<“Anyway, back on track… What about the Demonic Beastkin race?”>
I shifted the conversation, turning to the younger sister’s lineage. Aza picked up right away.
【The Demonic Beastkin are a hybrid race, born from the union of demon and beastkin bloodlines. Their lifespans range from roughly 350 to 600 years. They inherit a mix of traits—magical aptitude from demons, and physical prowess from beastkin. However… since she doesn’t know who her parents were, we can’t determine which specific demon or beastkin line she hails from.】
<“So her background is still a mystery, huh…”>
Hmn!
A soft pulse brushed my heart—an emotion like a shrug and a warm smile combined. She was saying it didn’t matter. That the past didn’t define her. She had no ties to it. No regrets.
<“…Still, naming you is going to be tricky without knowing more.”>
Hmn…
That quiet sound echoed again, this time laced with sadness. It wasn’t disappointment—it was the echo of a wish. A longing for identity. Even if she claimed not to care about the past… I could feel it. That quiet yearning to be seen—not as a number, not as a test subject, but as someone real.
And now, I was the one meant to give her that.
<“Hmm… Let me think. Alp and Demonic Beastkin…”>
Time to name the older sister first.
Alp, huh? A race tied to nightmares… but honestly, if someone told me she was a dream goddess instead, I’d believe them. She’s too beautiful to be associated with horror. It’s like slapping a “Cursed” label on a cupcake.
<“Usually, cool names come from Greek or Latin. Aza, can you translate ‘Nightmarish Beauty’ for me?”>
【Certainly. In Latin, it's nightmarish pulchritudo. In Greek, it's efialtikí omorfiá.】
<“That’s it! Efi-AL-tikí omor-FIA! Sounds kinda fancy, doesn’t it? Hmm… How about Alfia? It’s short, elegant, and comes from ‘nightmarish beauty’—or, more poetically, ‘the beauty of the nightmare.’”>
Tinkle!
A warm, sparkly chime echoed in my heart. I could feel her dancing at the sound of it. She loved it.
<“I’m glad you like it, Alfia.”>
Now, onto the younger sister…
Demon… Beastkin… The first thing that pops into my head for beastkin is “wild.” And for demons… well, “evil.” But that didn’t fit her at all. She's more like a shy kitten pretending to be a panther. How can such an innocent girl be evil?
I tried to think in another perspective. Demons… If it’s not about evil… Well… they’re usually associated with night… huh?
Wild Night…?
…Nope. That sounds like an adult movie title. Abort mission.
I shook the thought out of my head before it spiraled further. Still, the concept wasn’t bad. I just needed a less cursed phrasing. Besides, she looks harmless, adorable, and completely illegal to bully. How can she be wild?
<“Let’s see… Night for the demon side, and maybe nature for beastkin… ‘Night Nature’ sounds decent. Aza, what’s that in Greek?”>
【‘Night Nature’ translates to Nychteriní Fýsi.】
<“Hmm… Nychteriní… Nych… Nyx? That sounds familiar.”>
【Nyx is the goddess of night in Greek mythology.】
<“Ohhh, so that’s where I heard it. Hmm… let me twist it a little… Nyx… Nyxfysi? Sinyx? Fynyx? Vynyx? Vinyx… Nah, still too sharp. Nyxi… Nyxia. That’s it! Nyxia! It flows better. A name born from ‘the nature of the night.’ A demon who loves the nature, or a beastkin who loves the night.”>
Hmn!
She was practically sparkling with joy. “That sounds cool! I like it!”
<“I’m happy you like it, Nyxia.”>
<“Alright then, let’s get along from now on, Alfia. Nyxia.”>
【Nice to officially meet you, Alfia and Nyxia.】
Tinkle!
Hmn!
Their hearts pulsed with cheerful energy. “Please take care of us!”
And just like that, I had two names carved into my heart. Not numbers. Not test subjects. Not ghosts.
Alfia and Nyxia.
My ghostly, demonic little sisters.
<“By the way… I’ve been curious about you too, Aza.”>
【Me?】
<“Yeah. You. Lately, your words sound more casual… and I can actually feel more emotion in your voice.”>
【Ah… That’s because almost 90% of my personality has returned. It’s thanks to you, Master—for believing in me more.】
<“Really? I didn’t even notice. But… maybe I started trusting you more without realizing it—especially after we purified Selena’s curse.”>
【Exactly, Master. That moment changed a lot—for both of us.】
<“I’m glad, then.”>
A gentle warmth stirred inside me.
Maybe… I’m healing too.
It’s been over ten years since I came to this world, carrying the broken pieces of a heart betrayed too many times. My past life left scars I rarely dared to touch—scars that whispered not to trust, not to hope, not to care.
But now…
I trust Aza.
I had trusted my family—Sis Celes, Sissy, and our parents—before they were taken from me. And now, somehow, I’ve gained two more companions: Alfia and Nyxia. I don’t know if I can trust them completely yet… but I believe I will. In time. Because something about them feels different. Warmer. Realer.
And then… there’s Selena.
I want to believe in her. I do believe in her. But deep inside, there’s still that whisper of doubt—soft, cold, and persistent.
What if she changes?
What if she distances herself?
What if she used me just to be free from the curse… only to cast me aside afterward?
Even though she saved me. Protected me. Even though she smiled for me…
That voice still lingers, because I’ve heard it before. My classmates in my past life used to smile like that too—only when they needed something. Kind until the exams were over… then cold, distant, as if I were nothing more than a temporary tool.
Selena is nothing like them. I know that.
But the fear still clings.
Still… I hope. I really hope… she’s different.
I let out a long breath and closed my eyes, letting the warmth of the bath wrap around me like a soft embrace. Behind me, Selena remained still—peaceful, resting quietly.
And for now, that was enough.
Even with doubts.
Even with fear.
I could still hope.
And maybe… that’s where healing finally begins.