Chapter 115: Nightmare. (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 115: Nightmare. (1)
It was a rather strange feeling walking through the passage that had appeared.
Actually, could I even call this a passage?
I didn’t feel like I was stepping on anything, yet I didn’t feel like I was simply floating in mid-air either.
I could move forward if I tried, but there was a strange sense of discomfort—a dissonance, so to speak.
— Don’t lose that sensation. The sense of wrongness you feel is proof that you haven’t been swallowed by the dream yet. You’re fine for now, but whatever the goal of those who caused this incident is, they won’t just sit back and watch a sudden variable like you.
“I suppose so.”
Sun Wukong was right.
No matter how I looked at it, I doubted they would find my presence welcome.
It was best to move forward assuming the worst—that I had already been discovered.
“Ah, a door.”
I understood this was a dream world, but what was the actual structure?
Would passing through this door lead me into someone else’s dream?
“…No point overthinking it.”
For now, I headed toward the door that had appeared, staying as alert as possible.
The moment I stepped through the pouring light…
“…Huh?”
The scenery shifted, and my body changed along with it.
When I came to my senses, a cute, doll-like child was standing before me with a furious expression.
The brilliant blonde hair and intense orange eyes reminded me of someone, but the chubby cheeks and tiny, doll-like stature were worlds apart from the person I knew.
“…I was going to make you my subordinate, and you said what?”
A remarkably clever-sounding voice came from that dainty mouth.
Ah, it really is Cheon Yu-hak. I’m glad I ended up in the dream of someone I know right from the start.
“Oh, it seems our young master can’t understand things the first time? I should be more patient.”
Huh…?
Once again, my body, stripped of its free will, began to flap its mouth on its own.
“Didn’t you hear me? I said the son of the Cheonhwa Group seems to have received an excellent upbringing. Seeing as he’s spouting nonsense about making someone he just met his subordinate.”
Ah, memories are flooding in.
These were Cheon Yu-hak’s memories, but they were also scenes that Kang So-hyun remembered.
Since this was from when we first met, the surroundings were blurry as if the memory wasn’t perfectly clear, but he seemed to remember me with absolute clarity.
…Wait.
I was just focused on solving the incident, but thinking about it, if I use this right, I can actually see the past.
At first, I thought about using the Power of the Heart to regain control immediately, but perhaps this was a chance to learn about Kang So-hyun’s memories that I didn’t know.
However, perhaps because the subject of the dream was Cheon Yu-hak, I couldn’t recall memories from before this point.
The day we first met.
He had approached me with a rather fierce attitude, offering to make me his subordinate, and I had shut him down by saying his upbringing was “fucking excellent.”
…Wow, So-hyun, you were more of a loose cannon than I thought.
Or is it because he’s a character modeled after me that he resembles me?
“You arrogant brat! I thought your level was somewhat decent, so I was going to play with you!”
“Ah, what? You need a friend? You should’ve just said so~ I thought you were trying to pick a fight.”
“It’s too late for that. I’ve confirmed your level. I’ve lost interest. Hmph.”
…This kid sure has a grand way of saying he’s sulking. Was he even worse back then?
“Really? That’s a shame. But are you sure about that?”
“…About what?”
“Is it okay to judge someone based on just a few words? Who knows, we might have become precious companions.”
…No, wait. Hold on. So-hyun’s silver tongue is too weird. He looks like a literal baby, so how is he so fluent?
Actually, putting all that aside… it’s too familiar. This is exactly how I bait people…
Can I really just brush this off as “because he’s a character modeled after me”?
“…There is truth in that. Hmph, fine. Since you are the only one here whose level is fit for this party, I shall overlook it just this once.”
“Hey, if you’re happy to have a friend, just say so~ If you keep acting like that, you won’t be able to make friends later, you know?”
“Ha! I have no intention of playing house with those whose level is lower than mine.”
Despite those words, he seemed quite pleased, huffing and puffing while looking rather cheerful about having his first conversation with a peer.
Well, if you could even call this a conversation.
“Fine. To celebrate you becoming my subordinate, I shall show you around.”
“Oh, I have no intention of being your subordinate, but I can’t ignore the sincerity of the direct heir of the Cheon family.”
“Hmph, as long as you understand. I don’t do this for just anyone, so follow me.”
Hey, he’s mocking you. Yu-hak, don’t fall for it…!
The sight of a toddler excited to show his first friend around, followed by a toddler-sized devil smiling darkly, was a rather bizarre and slightly terrifying scene.
Seriously, Kang So-hyun, what kind of guy were you?
To me, it looked abnormal no matter how I sliced it, but the adults nearby seemed to think the children were just mimicking grown-ups, watching them with warm, fond smiles.
“My birthday festival this year is being held on a scale that even the leaders of most nations couldn’t experience. My father said all of this is for the circulation of the economy and serves as a beacon of hope to relieve the poor.”
…A birthday festival? Just hearing about it sounds insane. You liked this stuff back then?
Anyway, his waddling walk was just precious, but this toddler seemed to think he looked quite dignified, puffing out his chest proudly as he bragged about his father.
Was he much more talkative as a child? Or maybe he just didn’t know how to hold a conversation since it was his first friend.
“Oh, he’s a good man. You must be proud?”
“…Well, I understand it’s a good thing. I just don’t know if it’s necessary.”
“Hmm?”
“Why must we share what we’ve built through hard work and give opportunities to those who don’t work or make an effort? I don’t understand. I could understand if it were rewards for those who work hard.”
To this toddler, who had already completed his own worldview in his own way, the weak seemed to be objects of contempt.
From a young child’s perspective, what was natural for him must have felt like it should be natural for others as well.
“It irritates me to see people who don’t try, even though they weren’t born with a disability or suffered an accident.”
Still, saying it “irritates” him is a bit cute compared to now.
If it were the current him, wouldn’t he have said it’s “nauseating” or “bothersome”?
My mouth, which had been quietly listening to his story, finally opened again.
“You’re right.”
…Wait, you’re agreeing with that?
“People misunderstand, but the weak aren’t always good. Some oppress those even weaker than themselves, and others justify their evil deeds as if their weakness is a shield. It’s a sad thing.”
You’re not a kid, are you?
“I knew you were someone I could talk to. I was right to make you my subordinate.”
I gave a beaming smile as if finding the boasting toddler cute, then continued in a lecturing tone.
“But actually, the volunteer work and donations your father does aren’t unnecessary.”
“Hmm? Why? Didn’t you also consider them useless?”
“Because there are those who are born in the gutter but crawl up to see the world no matter what. Like jade that was mixed with stones from birth but shows its beauty without breaking, there are ‘possibilities’ that die simply because they truly never had a single opportunity.”
“…I don’t really get it.”
“I call that talent.”
“…Are you saying there might be Awakened among them?”
“Ah, you could understand it that way. It’s similar, but it’s a more fundamental story than that.”
“…Hmm?”
“Just think of it simply. It’s a waste. Possibility is always something that shines. Perhaps someone absolutely necessary to the future you is dying somewhere. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could save that ‘talent’ just by sharing something that means nothing to you?”
“…I see. You mean it’s an opportunity to sell a favor to a talented individual at a low cost. It makes sense, but it’s still more efficient to just buy someone already proven. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s inefficient.”
“That’s not exactly what I meant, but well. Someday, the day will come when you understand.”
“Ha! As if. Don’t act so smug.”
“Sure, if you say so. So? Anyway, where are we going now?”
“Ah, right. We’re almost there, so I’ll tell you. It’s good to watch and learn what adults do, but it would be a nuisance to ask questions every time. So, I plan to go on an exploration to find out for ourselves.”
In other words, watching adults work is boring, so he wants to play.
“And first, we’ll need disguises for our exploration.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because if the adults recognize me, they’ll fuss over me. Exploration is more fun when it’s just us, without adult help.”
He just doesn’t want to be interrupted while playing with his first friend.
The dressing room we arrived at under Yu-hak’s guidance surprisingly had quite a few child-sized clothes.
His assumption that people wouldn’t recognize him just by wearing a wig and changing clothes was strangely age-appropriate.
“I’ll wear this black wig, so you wear this one.”
“Oh, it’s a gold wig similar to yours?”
“Yes. Consider it an honor. It’s a color very similar to my own hair, but I’m allowing it since you’re my subordinate.”
“Of course, of course. It is an absolute honor.”
“Hmph, I’m glad you know your place.”
After securing the wigs and looking at each other, it felt like the disguise was fairly successful.
“Good. First, let’s go to the banquet hall. We must secure enough provisions before setting out on our exploration.”
“Oh, and drinks too?”
“Yes. Orange juice would be good.”
“Then, as your subordinate, I’ll take care of the heavier drinks. You look for the food.”
“Haha, fine. Let’s gather what we can and meet back here.”
And how much time had passed?
Little Yu-hak, like the smart kid he was, returned with food that wouldn’t get messy or ruined, packed in a sack. I also brought water and drinks, filling them one by one into easy-to-carry canteens.
“Haha, perfect.”
“The leader decides where we go, right?”
“…Leader?”
“You said we’re exploring. Then we’re an exploration team. I’ll be your subordinate just for times like this. If I’m the subordinate, you’re the exploration leader.”
“Not bad.”
How does such a cute, chubby toddler grow up to be Cheon Yu-hak?
…Wait, looking at his actions, is he actually the same even now? That’s a bit sad.
Well, a children’s exploration didn’t involve anything major.
They opened doors to places they’d never seen, and if they happened to meet older girls or boys who played along, they’d move on to find their next goal.
Upon seeing a high staircase, Cheon Yu-hak shouted, “This place looks too difficult for our current level to handle! We should check other places first!” and ran off, making Kang So-hyun burst into laughter.
It was fun.
Kang So-hyun was enjoying the play with him, but it felt less like the pure joy of a child and more like the satisfaction of watching a pure child.
Yet, there was also a strangely childlike emotion mixed in.
It’s subtle. I’m not quite sure.
“Tired already?”
“No way, not even close.”
“Good. I would have been disappointed if you started whining when we haven’t even seen half of it.”
In truth, it was a bit taxing.
Even at this age, Kang So-hyun was already not very healthy.
Then, suddenly, my body stopped, and my gaze shifted.
While the two of us had stepped outside to get some fresh air, a child sitting alone in a corner caught my eye.
She seemed strangely familiar, but perhaps because she didn’t have a striking appearance like Cheon Yu-hak, or because she was too young, I couldn’t tell who she was.
Or maybe she was just a stranger.
The girl was crying with a face that looked like she had already experienced all the world’s sorrows.
“What are you looking at? Hmm? What, it’s just a crying kid.”
You’re a kid too, you brat.
“I’ll go comfort her.”
“…Ha? Why are you being so nosy? It’s a nuisance to interfere when you don’t even know why she’s crying. She probably just lost her parents in the large hall. A guard will find her soon.”
“Hey, she’s probably the child of one of your dad’s guests. You shouldn’t be like that.”
“Hmph. Someone who can’t do anything but sit and cry is none of my business. Well, if you’re that concerned, we can just tell the lost child center.”
“Ah, it won’t take long, so just wait a bit, Leader. She might turn out to be unexpectedly helpful later.”
“My, you certainly live a difficult life.”
Little Yu-hak seemed a bit annoyed that his exploration play was being interrupted, but since being called “Leader” made him feel good, he sat down nearby as if to say he’d wait just a moment.
Is that really this effective? Maybe I should try calling him “Leader” once I go back.
“Hurry up and come back.”
“Thanks, Leader~ I’ll be right back!”
I took a cream bread and some foil-wrapped chicken from the food sack and approached the child.
Since she’s a kid, she’s bound to like either sweets or chicken.
“Are you hurt? Why are you crying? Want some of this?”
“…No. Go away.”
Wow, I don’t know who this little princess is, but she’s got a sharp tongue. But you clearly look hungry and exhausted, so don’t play hard to get.
It’s normal for kids to be unable to resist what they want right in front of them~
“Hey, whatever happened, eating something delicious always makes you feel better~ After you eat this, you’ll probably want to tell me why you’re crying~”
Only then did the little lady lift her head and look at me.
“Mm, thanks for looking at me. Which do you like better, chicken or cream bread?”
“…Cream bread.”
Even though I wasn’t moving by my own will, it was a very strange experience to see my body move exactly as I wanted it to.
“Here you go.”
“…Thank you.”
The child tore off a small piece of the cream bread and popped it into her mouth.
“…It’s good.”
“Right? I told you it would be.”
“…How old are you?”
“Five.”
“I’m five too.”
“Then we’re friends. Why was our friend crying here all alone?”
“…Sniff.”
Oh boy, she’s crying again. She must have been through something very upsetting.
“You can take your time. I have someone waiting for me, but he’s the type who’ll wait regardless~”
“Thank you.”
As the child took another bite of the cream bread, I held out a strawberry milk I had secretly packed, and she gulped it down readily.
Aww, how cute.
Whose kid is she to be this adorable?