Espi's Story

Okay, ask me your serious question, then.

You can't be serious...

I can't believe you'd ask me something like that, Master...

I clean it every evening, and I wear a different mask every day. Also, each mask has a different purpose.

.........

Yes, of course. I take hygiene seriously. It takes a whole day to clean and disinfect one—What's with that look on your face?

...What?

Wrong! They're all completely different!

Today's mask has the eyes going two degrees upwards!

It's so obvious! Neener, neener, neener! You must be blind to details!

Everybody else can tell. You must be an idiot, neener, neener, neener!

Then, take a guess.

Tell me the difference between this mask and the last one I wore.

Eeeer! Wrooong! You really are blind to details!!! Soooo blind!

*Gasp* How did you know?!

Oh, you're right. I did.

.........

Hehe. You only got it right because I told you the answer. Seems we can safely conclude that you are blind to details!

Neener, neener, neener! You're soooo bliiind! You need the answer! You can't spot the details! Neener, neener!

Ohh, reeeeally?

Hehehe... What else? I came over to see into your dreams and heard you muttering.

Now, you remember the mask I was wearing earlier, right? I changed my mask before I came here. Can you spot the difference between them?

Come on, I'll give you plenty of time too. Hehehe...

Let's go now... Can't figure it out? Where'd all that confidence go just now?

C'mon, eagle eyes. Spot the difference!

You have a sharp eye, don't you, Master? Come on, spot the difference...!

What are you talking about...? Come on, tell me the difference...

Hey, Master.

Is that good?

Ooo, is that okay? Hooray!

Yay, thank you, Master.

Ta-da! Heeeere's Speaki!

What are you doing here, Master? Oh? Having something delicious? I want some too!

Ahhhhh, that was delicious!

Huh? Me? What?

Okay, sure!

Heyo! Long time, no see—Whoops!

Yuuum! That was delicious!

We've been seeing a lot of each other lately, Master.

Sure, why not? You've been quite generous lately, Master. Anyway, thanks for—

Err... What is it?

What are you talking about?

Oh, geez, that's what it was? You've been giving me food so often... That was just to see my face?

Well, you could've just asked me.

You should've just said so... I would've just shown it to you.

Yeah. Like I said, it's no big deal. I just need to take off my mask, right?

Hehe, so you've seen my bare face...

Hehe, beneath my mask... I've sealed something there...

What do you think, Master? Now that you've seen this face, there's no escaping...

Hmm... But now that you've gazed into the abyss, the abyss also gazes back into you...

Hehehe, did you have a nice dream, Master? Ehehehe.

*Chuckle* A thriller tonight! Interesting. Thanks for the show, Master. That will teach you not to peek at someone's face.

Fortune telling isn't a cure-all, you know?

Nightmares, huh... Shouldn't you go see Espi instead? She's the one with the ability to intervene in dreams, so... What's wrong, Master?

Huh? It's been a minute, Master! Any interesting dreams lately...? What's wrong with your face?

Tch... I mean, your face has always been like that, but it looks even worse today... Has Erpin been too much lately?

Why are you coming for my throat all of a sudden? What did I do?

What are you talking about?

Oho... I've been asked for compensation for viewing dreams before, but a dream thief? That's a first! It's kinda refreshing, really.

...Let's calm down first...

*Cough, cough...* Let... Let go of me, you free video streaming service—I mean, Master!

Tch, you found out! Well, now that you know, I can just be blatant about viewing your dreams!

My abilities are limited to watching dreams and changing their endings.

.........

It means I can only make you relive a dream you've already had, but I can change the ending or make some slight changes.

I don't have the ability to create new dreams.

Sigh... Want me to explain again?

Simply put, let's say you posted a video. My abilities let me replay the video you posted.

I could do a bit of editing here and there, too.

But I can't upload a whole new video. That's reserved for the dreamer.

...Did you really understand, Master?

The point is, I have nothing to do with the nightmares you've been having.

Tch. Did you even hear what I said? I don't have such abilities.

*Chuckle* But I can have those nightmares play on repeat. Want me to do that...?

*Chuckle* Let's see... How about the one where the Sprite Queen makes a huge mess...

Ah, Ner's nagging on repeat seems like a good one, too. Okay, let's add this to the playlist, and after that...

By the way, Master... what kind of nightmare was it that made you hate it so much?

What's the genre?

You look fine. Oh, now you're clenching your fist. See? You're still full of energy.

If anything, you look healthier than ever.

You always suffer, though... poor Master...

So, what's the genre? Hmm? Hmm? Come on, tell me!

Oh... I love a mix of genres! You never disappoint me, Master! Can I have a visit next time to watch it?

Then let's pick a day for a binge session! Come on, Master!

If you hate the idea that much, just show me the nightmare right now. There, problem solved! You already had a nightmare today, so it should be fine, shouldn't it?

Oh... really?

Hehe, so you just need to get sleepy, right?

Hehehe, let me knock you out for a bit.

Aw, come on, just once... huh?

What do you mean?

What's with the obvious question...?

O-Oh! N-No! Don't look... it's embarrassing...

I... I lose my courage without the mask...! It's... so embarrassing to even speak like this...

M-Master?..! Please, give me back my mask... please give it back before someone else comes...

Please, hurry and give it to me...

W-What are you saying... I mean, yes, wearing the mask makes me courageous a bit... But the mask is my true self? That's nonsense!

Showing my bare face like this is t-too... too embarrassing, so I can't... speak well... Please, hurry and give it back!

Tsk. You should have just given it back when I asked nicely.

To think you dared to tease me... I'll make sure you have a nightmare tonight!

Oh, Master, you have more books than I thought. This one's called... "A Research on the Livelihood of Witches"? Hmm... sounds interesting.

Hmm? What's this...? "The Sprite Diet"? What a snoozefest... ugh...

And "How to Communicate with Elves"? Do you really need a book to learn this?

Hmm? Don't mind me, you just go to sleep.

You're quite touchy sometimes, Master.

Being angry like that is bad for your sleep, you know.

Huh?

Hmm... I could put you out in one hit. How does that sound?

Last time I sneaked in here, you got jumpscared when you woke up. So I decided to be considerate and arrived early this time.

Aw, come on. It's been a while since I had a visit, you know?

Well... that's because your dreams are the most entertaining.

But I've seen them so many times, they aren't even funny anymore. Your dreams are the best. They're so refreshing. Maybe it's because you're from Earth?

I don't like every genre, you know.

No... that's not it.

I'm telling you, that's not it! I... just don't like mukbang.

Exactly! That Sprite Queen's dreams are 99.8% mukbang! I'm so sick of it!

At first, sure, sprites love sweets, so of course her dreams are mostly about food.

But it was just too much! Still, I tried my best to understand! I thought maybe, just maybe, things might be different since she's the queen of the sprites!

I said 99.8%, remember? You'd have to watch 1,000 dreams to find one or two that aren't mukbang... And even then, those two were...

They were about going on an expedition to find new foods... or researching new recipes...

No matter what she dreams about, in the end, it's all about mukbang!

Do you know what's even worse?!

Sprites are the natives of this land, so I've seen their dreams the most! I've watched tens... no, probably hundreds of thousands of mukbangs by now!

I'm so done! I'm sick of it! It's no fun at all! I don't wanna see it anymore! So hurry up and go to sleep!

Come on, go to sleep, Master. I'm not letting tonight pass without watching something fun.

Having trouble sleeping? You want me to knock you out?

C'mon, Master! Hurry up and go to sleep!

I'm bored.

Are you listening? I said I'm bored!

Aw, come on. I'm bored, Master! I'm bored!

Huh? Seriously? You think I watch dreams all day and do nothing else?

Just who do you think I am?!

Excuse me? You wanna have a nightmare from this dream thief or what?!

Hehe. Aw, you flatter me too much...

Huh? Whatcha gonna do about it?! Huh?!

Eek...! M-My mask...! P-Please, give it back!

W-What? All of that?

B-But... how am I supposed to...

W-What...? Burn it...? Is that allowed...?

Y-Yes! Eek! Please don't look this way, Master...! It's embarrassing...

Y-Yes!

Please give me back my mask, Master...

W-What?!

B-But you said you'll give it back if I help you with this work...! How am I supposed to go three days without my mask...!?

Who's this Swan Maiden!? I don't know any phantom like that...! Just give me my mask back, please...!

N-No way...

A nightmare... I'll give you the most terrifying nightmare...

Hehe... I'll show you the depths of abyss.

Silly Master... didn't I tell you that I change and clean my mask every day?

Hehe... Sending me home was a mistake. My place is full of masks, you see... To think you made me walk around streets without my mask...

As a gift, I'll give you one heck of a nightmare... A compilation of every nightmare you've ever had...!

You're too late!

Master, hurry up... go to sleep. Let's... meet in your dreams... hehehe...