"Doll…" Jeanne stood to Sassel's right, tilting her head as she stared at him. "According to the proclamation you just read, this city was built by travelers within a dream. And their purpose… is to pursue a living woman doll?"
Sassel noticed the odd tone in her voice and the frown on her face, as if she found this fairy tale-like story hard to accept.
"It's just like a fairy tale," Astolfo said, quite pleased, nodding his head. "Maybe they had the exact same dream as I did—dreaming of a beautiful doll lady. So they tried to approach her in their dreams, and when they woke up, they continued searching for her. Eventually, they started building the dream world, all to chase after this woman from their dreams. Doesn't that sound beautiful?"
"I don't see anything worth pursuing about that," Sassel said honestly.
Astolfo stared at Sassel, visibly dissatisfied. His expression was rather subtle.
"I agree," Jeanne gave a slight, mocking laugh. "This sort of absurd thing isn't worth chasing. But even assuming that bizarre proclamation is true, that doll seems very suspicious. Let's talk about my experience—first, I saw memories of myself in the dream, then saw that woman doll, and finally, I fell into this silent sea together with the Black… with Sassel." Her tone was calm as she spoke to Astolfo, as if she and the black sorcerer were old acquaintances. "As for his experience, it was the same as mine, no different."
Astolfo shook his head, sighing theatrically.
"…You two truly lack any sense of romance."
"Life is finite."
"That's exactly why we should savor every precious moment," Astolfo said.
"Savor the good times… Then why did you end up in this labyrinth?" Sassel asked him.
"To lead the Church's search party, because you all went missing here."
"You didn't have to go into the dungeon yourself just to guide them, did you?"
"I wanted to help! I have some combat ability, you know. Even though I'm bad with a sword, bad with magic, and none of my skills have anything to do with fighting, and the only treasure I carry is this very ordinary sword… But I thought, at least I could help by distracting the monsters a bit."
"Are you deeply loyal to the Cross?"
"I've believed in many gods before."
"Are you close with Jeanne or one of her knights?"
"Not at all. Honestly, she feels pretty fierce and hard to get along with. And her subordinates are all cold and distant types."
The inquisitor glared at him without a word. Astolfo shrank back a little.
"Then why would you come rescue these people?" Sassel pressed further.
"It's not entirely about them. When I saw the search team heading into such a dangerous dungeon out of duty, I thought—Jeanne and her team have been missing for a long time already—it's a life-threatening place! And when you think about it, what exactly is duty? Is it something worth dying for? I found it baffling. If duty commands someone to die, then what about my own duty? Although Lord Inquisitor looks fearless, some of his knights were obviously scared. Maybe they were newly recruited and not yet ready. I really don't get it—should duty really force people into this?"
"We give our lives for duty, and fear stems from their cowardice," Jeanne said coldly.
"I would run from danger out of fear too."
"Yet you still chose to follow them into this dangerous place?" Sassel asked, while checking the proclamation again for any additional details.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I thought—these people are forced to risk their lives for duty, but I still have the right to choose whether to flee. Since they don't even have that right, I felt I should do something to ease their fear. —If even someone as weak as me dares enter this damn dungeon, maybe they'd feel a little better out of pity?"
"…What kind of twisted logic is that?" Jeanne muttered from behind, sounding thoroughly confused by their conversation.
After confirming that the proclamation contained only those few strange verses, they continued moving forward.
From the distance came the faint, intermittent sound of bells. Rainwater dripped from crooked gutters into puddles along the roadside, creating a monotonous splashing sound. A strand of blue light—this time from a magical lamp typically used by Roman aristocrats—fell onto Astolfo's eyes, making them glitter like purple glass. His expression shifted constantly, sometimes serious, sometimes grinning and baring his fanged teeth; his emotions flitted about like a butterfly.
They kept chatting.
"But did you know you might end up in situations like 'falling into the sea and almost drowning alone'?" Sassel asked.
"Of course."
"How did you know?"
"Because things like that keep happening to me," he said, propping his chin on his finger and sinking into some unpleasant memories.
"…It sounds like you're very aware of how fragile you are."
"Yes, I am quite fragile…" He sighed and said, "But it's because I want to witness the world. Maybe I'm just stupid too? Whenever I think of seeing something interesting, I forget all about danger and consequences—as naturally as the sun rising and setting! But not everyone is like me; not everyone is this foolish. So I find them even more pitiful. That makes me feel uncomfortable, and in a fit of impulsiveness, I followed them down here."
"Is that what you told the search party too?" Sassel asked.
"Ah… well…" Astolfo's cheeks flushed a little. He instinctively twisted a few strands of hair around his fingers, thought for a moment, and admitted, "I was afraid it would sound insulting to them—and that Lord Inquisitor might throw me out if I said it—so… I used 'worrying about you' as an excuse to follow."
"Fair enough. Cold-hearted bastards like us aren't worth worrying about anyway—perfect excuse," Sassel said casually.
Jeanne's eyelid twitched slightly at that comment.
"Well, not completely without worry…" Astolfo coughed softly. "But, uh… My memory isn't the best. If the search party hadn't checked with me, I probably would've forgotten entirely that you passed through Mount Kalaske a few days ago."
"Don't mind it. It's not a big deal," Sassel patted his shoulder. "I've finished asking my questions. Do you have anything you want to ask?"
"Uh… It's hard to say right now." Astolfo looked troubled. After thinking a bit, he said, "I think I forgot what I wanted to ask. Maybe later, when I remember."
"Suit yourself," the black sorcerer nodded. "Use your sense of direction to find somewhere that looks inhabited. We'll follow behind."
"Okay, okay, I'll try my best," he said, then added to himself, "If I can't find anything, please don't blame me."
"No worries," Sassel waved it off. "Just treat it as a hobby."
Astolfo took a few steps ahead, glanced back to make sure they were following properly, and then darted off ahead again to lead the way.
"Quite an interesting fellow," the black sorcerer said, glancing at Jeanne who caught up, then asked her, "What do you think?"
"I can't agree with her values," Jeanne replied. "If you're a bit undisciplined, then she's practically the embodiment of recklessness."
"But a good person, isn't she?"
"…Indeed, a good person," Jeanne muttered, curling her lip. "A good person whose thinking is a mess and who utterly lacks reason."
"You say that like you're so rational yourself."
"The fact that I haven't cut you down with my sword yet proves I'm plenty rational."