Chapter 74
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Daydream
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Daydream lived up to its name as a type of hallucinogen.
Depending on how it was used, it could become a simple narcotic, but its original purpose was distinctly as a material for shamanic rituals.
Shamans explained that Daydream could be used to delve into the darkness within a person's heart and heal it.
That was exactly the point Abel had focused on.
‘This place…….’
Not long after inhaling the Daydream, Abel had lost consciousness. When he opened his eyes,
he found himself standing in a space shrouded in pitch-black darkness.
His disorientation lasted only a moment.
As memories of the previous situation gradually resurfaced, he quickly pieced together what was happening.
This place was the ‘imaginary world’ he had entered through the Daydream.
‘Imaginary world’ wasn’t a widely used term in reality; it was a phrase from the game.
Since Daydream was a key item featured in another episode, Abel had a fair amount of knowledge about it.
Abel looked around before cautiously testing his body’s movement.
His body glided through the air as if sliding forward.
It didn’t feel like he was moving his own body so much as manipulating an avatar.
It felt awkward at first, but he adapted quickly with practice.
‘Let’s see.’
Once fully accustomed, Abel scanned the surroundings at high speed.
The imaginary world didn’t last long.
If he dawdled, he might get ejected without accomplishing anything.
But even after diligently exploring, nothing caught his eye.
Just as his impatience peaked,
‘……!’
Abel spotted a faint light in the distance.
Without hesitation, he shot toward it at maximum speed.
As he drew closer, the light grew brighter, until he could finally make out its source.
The light came from a ‘person.’
Someone hugging their knees, head bowed low.
Though their face wasn’t visible, Abel immediately recognized them and spoke.
-Hena.
His voice echoed with a deep resonance.
But there was no response.
Abel hesitated briefly before approaching and placing a hand on her shoulder.
-Hena.
This time, there was a reaction.
Hena, who had been burying her face in her knees, slowly lifted her head to look at Abel.
But her eyes lacked any clear focus.
-Can you hear me?
When he asked, Hena stared at him blankly before opening her mouth.
-Who…… are you?
-Abel. It’s Abel. Remember?
Hena didn’t answer right away.
Unfazed, Abel prompted her memory with key words.
-We studied together for the past few weeks. Trained, too. You said studying was so much fun, and you wanted to keep going even after exams. Remember?
-That never happened.
Unlike before, Hena’s response came sharp and clear.
It might have been his imagination, but her eyes seemed sharper, too.
Abel seized the moment and pressed on.
-You said training was so fun, we should extend the time. That it wasn’t tiring at all, and you wished it was even harder.
-No!
This time, her eyes definitely sharpened. The vacant gaze fixed squarely on Abel’s.
Abel asked her,
-Are you sure?
-Yeah. I never said that.
-Then you remember who I am.
-Right. You’re Abel.
The conversation wasn’t perfectly smooth, but it was definitely connecting.
He had passed the first hurdle, at least.
It would have been impossible without spending those weeks imprinting memories of himself on her.
But he couldn’t relax yet.
-Abel, why are you here……?
Just then, Hena asked in a voice laced with suspicion.
A faint wariness colored her tone.
This was the crucial part. One wrong move, and he could get booted before time ran out.
Abel quickly organized his thoughts and replied.
-Remember our promise?
-Promise?
-Yeah. We said we’d all go out together after exams.
Hena’s eyes cleared for a moment.
-Is that possible?
-They said even first-years usually get one outing permit after exams.
-Right.
-Exams are tough, but after they’re over, there’ll be lots of fun things. Right?
-But……
Hena’s slightly brightening face darkened again.
Abel didn’t miss a beat.
-First-year grades, especially first semester, don’t carry much weight anyway. Plus, you had tutoring from me, so passing won’t be an issue.
-Just passing isn’t enough.
Hena lifted her head and said.
-I’m the heir to Del Kior. That’s not enough. Father would be disappointed. Compared to the others, I don’t have any talent. I shouldn’t have come to the academy in the first place……
-When you faced the Gigadeus. Remember?
Hena, who had been spilling words in a rush, widened her eyes at Abel’s interruption.
-Uh-huh.
-It was pretty scary. I even thought that was it.
-You did? You?
-Yeah. I thought about running away more than once.
Abel placed a hand on Hena’s shoulder.
-But then I saw you.
-Me?
-Yeah. Encouraging the others, rallying spirits, fighting back.
-I, I……
-Of course you were scared, too. But that’s how it looked from the outside. That’s what gave me courage.
Hena’s lips trembled as if she wanted to speak, but no words came.
Abel spoke to her in a low voice.
-Everyone has their own fears and worries deep down. Inferiority complexes, too. Honestly, every time I see Daniel, I wonder what kind of monster he is.
He continued.
-And honestly, I’ve felt that about you sometimes, too, Hena.
-About me?
-Yeah. I can never handle mana as freely as you.
-But that’s……
-Right now, the difference isn’t stark, but as time goes on, your mana talent will shine brighter.
Abel placed his other hand on her opposite shoulder.
-But I’m not stopping. I have my own talents.
-My own talents.
-Yeah. Ah, can you stand up?
At the question, Hena hesitated before slowly rising.
Abel supported her as he continued naturally.
-When you open your eyes, take deep breaths first. I’ll be right there, so no need to feel anxious.
-Okay.
Hena nodded obediently.
Abel glanced away from her, surveying the surroundings.
Darkness still blanketed everything, but soon, a brilliant light burst from one side.
-Let’s go.
Abel led Hena toward the light.
Flash-.
* * *
His vision brightened in an instant.
As he squinted and looked around, his foggy mind slowly cleared.
‘This place…….’
The first thing he saw was the people still passed out. Turning his head a bit more revealed Hena slowly lifting hers.
“Abel……?”
Hena called his name in a daze.
Seeing her, Abel remembered what he needed to do and raised both arms.
He placed his hands on her shoulders and spoke.
“Hena. First, take deep breaths.”
“Deep breaths?”
“Yeah. Slowly. Inhale long, exhale long.”
Bewildered but compliant, Hena followed his instructions.
She inhaled deeply, exhaled deeply.
After repeating several times, a noticeable change occurred.
‘Now we’re getting somewhere.’
Abel thought to himself.
From the moment he woke, an intense pressure had been crushing him.
While he’d been out from the Daydream, Hena’s rampage had progressed further.
But as she started breathing deeply, the pressure eased significantly.
‘The situation…….’
Abel quickly assessed the surroundings.
People were still unconscious.
Subjectively, it felt like a long time had passed, but less than three minutes had elapsed since the initial rampage.
‘Three minutes really felt like thirty.’
The others would probably need another minute or two to wake.
On the other hand, the Gigants, sluggish before the blackout, had mostly recovered.
Boom-!
Thanks to that, the Gigadeus Fragments were getting swept away by the Gigants before they could do anything.
The situation was highly positive.
As long as they didn’t drop their guard until the end.
“Ah, Abel.”
Then Hena called him.
Turning, he saw her eyes trembling with anxiety.
“What happened?”
“No idea. Maybe someone attacked. For now, stay calm and suppress your energy.”
“Okay?”
Hena looked confused but nodded in understanding.
Gradually, the pressure subsided until it melted away like snow.
“Good.”
“Huh?”
“Can you stand?”
“Ah, yeah.”
Abel helped her to her feet.
By then, the passed-out people were starting to stir one by one.
Watching them, Abel said to Hena,
“Let’s get out of here first.”
“Here? Why?”
“It might still be dangerous. Trust me for now.”
Hena hesitated but soon nodded and followed him.
As Abel quickened his pace, he thought.
The biggest threat, Hena’s rampage, had been suppressed early.
But the dangers weren’t over.
‘This scenario splits into two routes.’
If he failed to stop Hena’s rampage, that alone became the threat.
But if he succeeded, another danger struck.
An ambush.
‘It was an episode where danger came one way or another.’
Of course, if choosing one, the latter was preferable.
Unlike the former, no misfortune befell Hena or those around her.
‘Though both carry game over risk.’
Game over meant death, simply put.
Hena was especially at risk.
The reason……
Kwaaaang-!
Before he could finish the thought, a massive explosion collapsed a nearby wall.
From the debris emerged a monster covered entirely in black.
Nearby were cadets and staff just starting to wake, but the monster’s gaze skipped them, locking straight onto Hena.
Tadak-!
Spotting the monster charging, Abel grabbed Hena’s hand tightly and ran.
That ‘monster’ was closer to beast than human.
It didn’t have clear intent but reacted to strong stimuli—and here, the source was Hena.
‘It woke up because of Hena in the first place.’
In that sense, this ambush was an extension of Hena’s rampage.
Even those who hid the monster in the academy hadn’t anticipated it.
“Ah, Abel? Where are we going?”
Hena asked amid the frantic run, and Abel answered briefly.
“Huff…… Back. There’s a Gigant back there.”
If they reached it somehow, everything would be over.