THE HERO'S SON IS A MONSTER-Chapter 58: Beginning of the journey

"I don’t mind, but this time, if you stay, how long do you intend to remain here?" Ariane asked, her voice both gentle and tinged with a measured impatience.

The last time, she recalled, time had slipped away unnoticed, leaving her trapped in Pandemonium, where each minute seemed to stretch into an absurd eternity.

"I can only stay here for about two years, I’d say—without any external support!" the ruler of Pandemonium replied, her firm tone barely concealing a hint of resignation.

She explained that, for the most part, she existed in a purely spiritual form. Whenever she decided to leave Pandemonium, she had to create a body to serve as her vessel. Regardless of the type of body she fashioned, its lifespan was always limited.

It was a weakness she knew all too well, even though she possessed the rare ability to materialize a temporary body outside her original realm.

"That’s longer than last time!" Ariane exclaimed, her gaze reflecting both surprise and a subtle hint of concern. A duration of two years seemed almost unbelievable, and she couldn’t help but wonder what implications it might have for their future plans.

"Yes, most of the time, I don’t have a specific goal. The moment my body disappears, my journey ends," the ruler of Pandemonium replied calmly. She added, with a trace of bitterness, that even though her ability to materialize bodies was one of her few unique talents, each vessel she created was merely a fleeting shell, no different from an ordinary human body. Her current body, in fact, had a constitution similar to that of mortals, allowing her to move freely in the human world for an effective period of two years.

Ariane let out a small laugh before adopting a more serious tone. "Now that I think about it, last time, you were followed when you came. I hope they won’t show up in the human world—it would be a real pain to deal with."

The ruler of Pandemonium shrugged nonchalantly. "Dame need not worry about that. The castle has special properties that allow it to move through the borders of the worlds. Last time, since we had stopped there, they were able to track us down easily. But this time, things will be different... I doubt they have the ability to descend into the human world, and besides, they’re all incapable of getting their hands on the Mirror of Reflection, aren’t they?"

The ruler of Pandemonium tried to reassure herself, convinced that their trip would proceed without incident. A brief silence, heavy with unspoken thoughts, settled between them before she made her final decision with a resolute tone:

"Well, now that it’s settled—let’s go!"

Ariane seemed slightly taken aback by her companion’s eagerness. "Let’s go?" she echoed, her voice carrying a mix of hesitation and curiosity.

"Oh, you’re wondering how I plan to leave, given that I can’t step outside the wandering castle?" the ruler of Pandemonium said, an enigmatic smile playing on her lips. Intrigued, Ariane listened attentively, awaiting the explanation.

With precise movements, Ariane gently placed the child on the ground.

Then, with a sharp snap of her fingers, a mist formed, swirling into the shape of a woman with an elegantly proportioned body, perfect curves, and full lips. The apparition seemed almost unreal, like a mirage born from a dream, yet her poise and presence betrayed an undeniable reality.

"Oh? What is this?" the ruler of Pandemonium asked, clearly surprised by the sudden manifestation.

"Good question, lazy one!" Ariane replied playfully, a touch of irony in her voice. "As you can see, it’s not another person—it’s me! I can see through it and control it. That’s how I intend to accompany you on this journey."

The ruler of Pandemonium, still skeptical, responded with suspicion. "Let’s set aside the fact that you insist on coming with me. But tell me, why doesn’t this thing look like you?"

"What are you talking about? We are the same," Ariane stated with unwavering confidence.

Yet, the ruler of Pandemonium narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. This version of Ariane was far taller and more... provocative than her usual self. It was obvious that the model used for this creation differed significantly from her normal appearance—any keen observer would notice it instantly.

"I see... if you say so," she muttered, skepticism lingering in her voice.

"Stop it..." Ariane shot back, before the conversation could spiral further. "Alright, I have nothing more to say. But we’re leaving now."

"Hmmm, we’re not supposed to be in such a hurry... But fine, let’s go," Ariane finally conceded, though a slight reluctance could be detected in her tone.

With another snap of her fingers, the layout of the lobby transformed. The door leading to the Sleeping Coffin swung open with an almost supernatural fluidity, revealing a coffin that slowly drifted toward them. A mysterious aura filled the space, and every shadow seemed to carry whispers of the journey ahead.

The coffin opened on its own, revealing an interior of immaculate white, as pure as untouched linen, with an almost surreal softness.

The moment the lid fully closed, a faint animation began to stir within. The beautiful woman with white hair and a generous figure started inspecting her new body from every angle, as if ensuring that every detail was in perfect harmony.

Ariane rarely had the opportunity to use this body—her real body was imprisoned within the wandering castle. Now that she had the chance, she took her time, reveling in the rare sensation of freedom and movement.

So far, everything felt remarkably comfortable.

"An appearance befitting a true lady," Ariane mused, a trace of admiration in her voice.

The ruler of Pandemonium, however, remained silent, torn between amusement and disbelief. She wasn’t sure what shocked her more—Ariane unconsciously admitting she had always had an issue with her previous appearance, or the fact that she was now openly considering herself a ’lady.’ Of course, she was one, but she had always pretended to dislike being addressed as such.

For a long moment, the ruler of Pandemonium simply watched Ariane fine-tune her preparations. Feeling the weight of her companion’s gaze, Ariane lifted her eyes suspiciously, detecting a trace of mockery.

"What?" she asked, her tone both defensive and amused.

"Oh, nothing... Are you ready?"

"Yes, we can go!" Ariane declared firmly.

As the two stood side by side, a thick shadow, cast by the coffin, stretched until it enveloped the entire lobby. Though harmless, it was a calculated move on Ariane’s part.

The ruler of Pandemonium and Ariane began sinking into the darkness, as if they were being swallowed by quicksand—a final act of detachment from the castle, a step toward a new Chapter. It was Ariane who expelled them all from the wandering castle, setting their departure in motion.

"Oh, the kid nullifies all magical manifestations. I’ll leave it to you from here!" Ariane’s voice echoed from within the coffin, retreating swiftly into the Laughing Coffin as the doors closed behind it.

Meanwhile, the ruler of Pandemonium was no longer visible, swallowed entirely by Ariane’s shadow.

And just like that, the shadow itself dissipated, vanishing the moment the coffin containing Ariane’s body fully withdrew, leaving behind only silence.