Chapter 139: Forget About Playing Around
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 139: Forget About Playing Around
Thanks to the Villainesses, the ring’s penalty had vanished.
Perhaps contracting with the Three Villainesses was the best deal I’d ever made in the Labyrinth City.
“So, will the Three Villainesses be having the nightmares in my place now?”
“Nightmares? They’ll do more than just have them; they’ll probably play around with them. Unless the entity that cursed that ring is on the level of a Villainess, the curse won’t be able to exert any ill influence on you. Now, disciple, what is the origin of this ring?”
“I don’t know the full history, but I know a powerful dark mage cursed it.”
“I see. A dark mage. In the end, a dark mage is still just a human. It means the curse was placed by some greenhorn who never even made it down to the 8th Floor.”
With that, my fear of the cursed ring vanished completely.
It wasn't a curse placed by Roah, but one by a mere human? Laughable.
“In that case, it’s as if you’ve gained the power to command time as you wish.”
“You’ve been mentioning time for a while now. What do you mean by being able to handle time?”
“One of the most important functions of this ring is Time Acceleration. I told you earlier that if you fall asleep while wearing it, you can precisely manipulate your dreams, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
“That manipulation includes time itself. In other words... you can stretch the time within the dream. You can train without being bound by the constraints of time.”
“No way...”
“Yes. You can stretch one hour of real-time into hours or even days within the dream. You can grow strong rapidly in a short period. However...”
“Is there another problem?”
“The only thing you can hone in the dream world is technique. Since your physical body doesn't grow there, you still have to do strength training and actual physical movements separately.”
In short, it was extreme image training.
I could perform high-intensity image training that felt no different from reality, but I couldn't afford to neglect my physical body in the real world.
“Even if you succeed at Arrow Catching in your dream, your body might not be able to keep up with your reactions when you wake up.”
“I just need to synchronize them, right?”
“Exactly. While others sleep peacefully, you will be training in your dreams. You’ll have to train after waking up, too. You must keep pushing yourself. Will you do it?”
After having a child, I was more prepared than ever to put myself through the wringer.
Training in my dreams to get stronger faster? This was a no-brainer.
“I’ll do it. I’ll do anything if it means I can get stronger faster.”
“Then open the wooden box and put on the ring. If you can nullify the curse, you will be able to rule the dream world entirely according to your will.”
In essence, this was a Hidden Piece.
If the curse didn't work on me, I was basically getting a free artifact.
It felt special, being the first artifact I’d acquired since the Bracelet of Growth. Though, while others seemed to find Hidden Pieces by scouring the Labyrinth, I felt like I was receiving them as quest rewards.
The Bracelet of Growth was a reward from the House of Lionel after rescuing Lady Leah, and the Dream Ring was essentially the reward for the 'Tower Lord Quest'—resurrecting Helena and turning her into a dragon.
“How is it?”
“I don't feel anything special.”
“Oh, that is a relief. It seems to be a success.”
“The curse really doesn't seem to be working.”
“I guess so.”
For some reason, the ring fit my finger perfectly.
Now I could get stronger while I slept.
Of course, it wasn't a free ride, but while others worked for sixteen hours and slept for eight, I could now utilize all twenty-four hours to the fullest.
“But you should be careful. To relieve mental fatigue, you ultimately need to sleep.”
“As my master said, you can’t give up sleep entirely. No matter how much your physical fatigue is relieved, if you are overwhelmed by mental exhaustion, your thinking will slow down and your reaction speed will drop. Also, be careful not to stay in the dream for years at a time, or the sense of disconnect from reality will become too great.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Those warnings were easy enough to handle. If I got tired, I could just sleep inside the dream.
Besides, I didn't plan on staying in there for that long anyway.
“Then I’ll be heading out now. The sun is setting, and I have people waiting for me at home.”
“Alright. See you tomorrow. Oh, and if the ring ever causes a problem, cutting off the finger is one solution. Or the wrist.”
“Why would you say something so horrific?!”
“It’s extreme, but when using cursed items, it’s best to assume you might have to give up at least one body part.”
“Hah...”
She had a point. Cutting off a finger was a small price to pay compared to dying.
It wasn't like my eyes were exploding or my arm was being completely severed; a finger could even be reattached if handled well.
“I’ll keep that in mind. I’m really leaving now.”
“Yes. Get home safely.”
After bowing to the Tower Lord, I left the Magic Tower.
It felt like I walked away with something every time I visited her, and this time I’d gained a Hidden Piece. It was a cursed item, but since the curse didn't affect me, it was just a Hidden Piece without a penalty.
If I used this right, I could get strong fast.
While others were dreaming, I could design my dreams and train.
Alright. Let’s do this. I’ll test out just how incredible this thing is tonight.
*
I returned home and lay down next to Yuria.
Olivia and Marin were already asleep, so I washed up quietly without waking them and slipped into the spot beside Yuria.
“You’re back? Sorry. I tried to wait, but I was so sleepy...”
“No, it’s fine. You did well. Go back to sleep.”
“Mmm... Goodnight.”
Yuria smiled in her sleep, gave me a quick kiss, and drifted off again.
‘Cute.’
In moments like this, Yuria really felt like a large dog. Perhaps because she was close to my height, she felt substantial rather than petite.
So, when I hugged her, it felt like hugging a big Golden Retriever. She was warm, soft, and squishy; kneading Yuria’s stomach or breasts always made me feel great.
I hugged her from behind and toyed with her soft belly.
‘Still scentless.’
Yuria had no body odor. It was a great Ability for when we couldn't wash for long periods, but it was a bit of a shame when we were sleeping together like this.
Since Lady Leah and Rosier both had distinct scents of their own, I occasionally found myself wishing Yuria had one too.
Regardless, snuggled up with Yuria under the covers, drowsiness soon washed over me.
“Ah. So this is the dream.”
When I opened my eyes, I was standing in a pure white space.
I was floating alone in a colorless, odorless void with no floor, walls, or ceiling.
Was this my mental world? There was nothing here.
“First, some clothes.”
Since I was naked except for the Dream Ring, I manifested some clothes.
It worked. As if I’d been wearing them from the start, my naked state changed to being fully dressed.
“So this is how it feels.”
She said I could manipulate the dream, but this was beyond the level of a typical lucid dream.
“If I can make anything...”
In this space, I was essentially a god.
I could apply the physical laws of reality as I wished.
I could even manifest things I had experienced before.
“I wonder if I can make ramen?”
I imagined it. The ramen I used to eat back on modern Earth.
As I thought of the curly noodles, the bright red broth, and that specific savory umami, a steaming bowl of ramen appeared before my eyes.
“Whoa... it works. It really works...!”
I snapped the wooden chopsticks in half and inhaled the ramen.
The taste of ramen after eight months was nothing short of miraculous.
Nothing in this world’s cuisine had moved me as much as this ramen.
No matter how fresh the meat, no matter how great the chef, there was always something missing when it came to perfectly capturing a Korean’s palate.
“Kimchi. Cold rice. Ah...”
It all worked. Every food I had ever eaten was perfectly replicated in this space.
Emboldened, I changed the white void into a place I knew well.
The scenery of Seoul was recreated in my dream. I couldn't talk to them, but I could even make the streets bustle with people.
As long as I didn't forget this scenery, I could pull it out of my dreams whenever I wanted.
“I want to show this to Olivia too...”
She missed her home terribly as well.
With this ring, I could show the sights of the past to Olivia, who was now blind and couldn't see an inch in front of her.
‘But...’
Because of the ring’s curse, she would end up having nightmares. I couldn't do it until I found a way to break the curse on the ring itself.
I sat on a bench and took in the view of Seoul, sipping a cold canned beer that had appeared in my hand.
Unlike the ale commonly consumed in this world, this was a crisp, incredibly refreshing lager. This was Earth.
“Will I ever be able to go back?”
When I first dropped into this world, I thought I would return to Earth no matter what.
And shortly after, when I obtained the Subspace Pocket, I felt a twinge of despair at the realization that there might be no way back.
But now, even if a way back opened up, I don't think I could go. I probably wouldn't return to Earth of my own volition.
I had already made too many precious people here. Yuria, Lady Leah, Rosier... and even Moira. There were too many people I cared about.
Yes, this scenery. This taste, scent, and atmosphere.
They had already become too distant from me.
I felt a bit sad. If one day I were to lose most of my memories of Earth...
Then I would never be able to recall this place again.
‘I miss them.’
Because of that, I couldn't bring myself to manifest my family in this dream.
I was afraid my longing for them would only grow. I thought it might be better not to see them at all.
I had already gained so much; I was afraid I would start wishing for even greater happiness.
Afraid that a vain greed would take hold, making me want to return to Earth...
“Hey. I get that you’re feeling nostalgic and getting all misty-eyed, but shouldn't you start moving?”
“Hehehehe! How long do we have to watch your little melodrama! Get up! Stop chugging that booze!”
“Don't try to set the mood, you philanderer! You came here to train, and you’re enjoying a vacation? Die!”
Crash—!!!
“Gah!!!”
While I was lost in sentiment, three women kicked me and began to demolish the Seoul I had created in my dream.
The city shattered and vanished. The people walking the streets were all torn away, and they snatched the canned beer from my hand and gulped it down themselves.
“W-what is this! You guys..! How?!”
“Who do you think is blocking the curse that’s trying to eat away at your life?”
“Oi, Porter! Dreams are the domain where we can interfere the most easily.”
“We called you here to work, and you’re out here spreading a mat in someone else’s front yard and drinking? We couldn't just sit back and watch that!”
“Ah...”
The Three Villainesses pinned me down and barked at me.
Then, they drew lines across the white space, creating a circular arena.
“This dream is not yours. From now on, we three sisters are taking over.”
“If you came in here to train, then crawl like a dog! Hehehehe!”
“Sister! Should we call a Kraken?! Or a Hydra?!”
“It’s still too early for this greenhorn. Hmm. Right! Wouldn't a Chimera be about right?”
“He said he was doing Arrow Catching, so a Killer Porcupine would be good too.”
“Wait, wait, wait. W-what are those?!”
“Monsters that used to be common in the old days. Now, fight.”
“What?!”
Monsters I had never experienced before were manifested one by one by the Villainesses.
Right, I wasn't the master of this dream. The time had come to pay the dream’s usage fee with my body.
‘This... this is basically a nightmare! This is the penalty!!!!’
The curse hadn't disappeared...
It had just been replaced by the Three Villainesses...!
“Aaaaaagh!!!!”
A mad porcupine as large as a dump truck began firing the quills on its back.
My entire body felt like it was being riddled with quills as large and heavy as a man, but since it was a dream, I didn't die.
I didn't die, but it hurt like hell. And there was no time to rest.
“Hehehe! Get up! Fight again! Use your Subspace Pocket!”
From that moment on, I had to roll until the Three Villainesses were satisfied.