Perception Shapes Reality
When Seoya opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Park Haejun's face gazing down at her with worry etched into every line. Every time she stirred awake, his expression lit up with relief as he gently wiped the sweat from her forehead and murmured something to her. Unfortunately, she didn't even have the strength to respond.
She closed her eyes again, then opened them to find Greek medical staff huddled in front of her, conversing animatedly. They seemed to assume she couldn't understand a word, but in her hazy state, Seoya caught fragments here and there. 'Unknown... patience... stronger meds... ice water...' Something like that.
Another blink, and there was Ji Sein, her face streaked with tears, holding her phone to her ear. She appeared to be reporting Seoya's condition to someone—Seoya idly guessed it might be Lee Gayeon, though she had no real basis for it.
She opened her eyes once more to see Jeong Sira sitting nearby, reading a book with a dark green cover. Sira clearly didn't understand its contents, yet she watched intently whenever new words materialized on the pages, observing with a serious gaze.
Sometimes, when her eyes fluttered open, Go Heejae loomed over her, his face troubled. As always, the man who needed to know everything chafed at this inexplicable situation.
Thus, the scenes that greeted Seoya upon waking varied wildly. But in the dreams behind her closed eyelids, she always saw the same thing.
"So, when can I get out of here?"
Seoya, lying on the bed in the dream world, posed the question to the man. He merely stared at her, observing without a twitch, offering no reply.
If only her mind could clear even in the dream—but whether asleep or awake, her head throbbed relentlessly, her body limp and drained of strength. Fever blurred her vision as she blinked slowly at him. Her thoughts scattered, she couldn't even tell if her words came out right.
Finally, the man pulled a strange face and spoke.
"You seem far more obtuse than I anticipated."
"What?"
Seoya shot back instantly, despite the pain. She could never have imagined such blunt words coming from that perpetually noble face.
Ignoring her reaction, he pressed on. "Why on earth do you insist on doing exactly what I've told you not to?"
"What? When did I—?"
"I explicitly said it. The key is your perception."
Those words jogged her memory of their last dream encounter.
—Remember this: what matters is your perception.
"Yeah, I remember. So what?"
"Even as I said it, I figured the odds were abysmal. But what kind of perception did you have?"
For the first time, incredulity seeped into his flat, emotionless tone—the man who'd shown almost no feelings until now.
"So, in your view, why do you think you're suffering like this?"
"Because of that mark you imprinted on me, right? It's higher world power. Just like those higher world beings erode mental strength, that power's harming my body."
"Why would you think that?" He sounded exasperated. "Why come up with that idea when I never said anything like it?"
"From my own experience? I passed out just seeing you appear in my room."
"The mark I gave you is different."
In her daze, unsure of her own words, Seoya pressed, "So it's not? It didn't hurt because it's higher world power?"
"No. It's not."
She blinked slowly at his response.
"Then why am I hurting?"
"Because you perceived it that way." His voice gained uncharacteristic force, diverging from his usual measured tone. "Change your perception. That power does you no harm."
"Ah?"
In that instant, as realization dawned—why she'd viewed that power as lofty and terrifying—the headache vanished. Her mind sharpened.
Her body felt light as air. Seoya bolted upright in bed, staring at the man before her with wide, unfamiliar eyes.
Her body was fully restored now, but more than that...
‘He doesn’t seem unfamiliar at all.’
The man, once mystical, ethereal, noble, and pure, now registered as an ordinary human like her. Just a strikingly handsome face she'd never seen before. The intimidating aura had faded, replaced by something approachable.
"What is this?" Seoya gaped at him, voice dazed.
He looked like he had a headache.
"Your perception has shifted, so your real body should be fine now. You'll wake soon, probably."
"The pain was because of my perception?"
"Yes. I told you it was all about perception. How much more plainly do I need to spell it out?"
To think all that suffering stemmed from her own subconscious notions—Seoya found it absurd.
She mumbled awkwardly, "Uh... probably need it super simple for me..."
"Haa. I didn't expect this level of dim-wittedness."
The transcendent being who'd once seemed otherworldly was now fretting over Seoya.
Ignoring it, she fired off her burning question. "If I wake from this dream, will you vanish? Can I summon you back like before and see you in the next one?"
"We might meet in the next dream, but I'd prefer to stay out of it as much as possible."
"Ah, wait—one sec before I wake!"
Fearing she'd lose her chance, Seoya blurted questions in a rush. "I know you're a higher world being, but can you tell me exactly who?"
He stared silently, lips sealed, so she pivoted. "Why were you watching me?"
"Well..." His eyes narrowed, expression inscrutable. "I didn't expect you'd be such a small, fragile specimen."
"What?"
"You're special. Undeniably so... but like this? Without my help, you'd die in no time."
He looked frustrated. Gauging her moment, Seoya ventured more questions.
"Um... what should I call you?"
"Unbelievable question." He shook his head.
No answer there either.
"Th-then... where do you live...?"
His face twisted in deeper shock. "Seriously... I knew, but how can you be this foolish? If I don't intervene to the end, you might actually die..."
Normally, she'd bristle at being called foolish, but his reaction made her questions sound genuinely idiotic. Seoya clamped her mouth shut.
Still, with some tact, she steered away from his 'existence.' "Why only appear in dreams? Does seeing you in reality strain my mind too much?"
"Finally, a proper inference."
She beamed proudly, but he eyed her like one hit wasn't worth celebrating—though he answered kindly anyway.
"In dreams, you can overcome fear by shifting perception. Reality's another story."
"Why beat around the bush?" Seoya pouted, exasperated by his evasiveness. "And what was that 'safeguard' you mentioned before?"
He'd said it once in a dream: To prevent your world from perishing, the feeble device born of meager power—that was the safeguard.
"The safeguard... You called it the System, didn't you?"
"Ah, so the safeguard is the System? Why make it so cryptic?"
He stared, more exasperated. "Fine, if that's what you want... How low do I need to dumb it down?"
"This System was made by Ibin unnie. Do you know what happened to her?"
"Do I look like I memorize every insignificant entity's name?" He sighed deeply.
"Um... Then who's meddling with Earth's System from the higher world now? Can't you?"
"I lack the power to manipulate it yet."
This time, he seemed willing to answer seriously. Seoya straightened eagerly.
"Beings with vulgar tastes are interfering... Watching you prattle and act, I may have no choice but to intervene myself soon..."
He clearly saw her as an utter dimwit. Offended, Seoya scowled—then her vision blurred.
The familiar sensation of waking from the dream.
"Ah, I'm waking up."
"Good. Please, please... Once you're awake, try thinking for once."
He muttered like to himself. "Whether all you entities are this stupid, or just you... If it's the former, we're in trouble. Looks like I'll have to spoon-feed everything."
"No—"
She started to retort, but light flooded her vision.
"Ah."
"Seoya-ssi, you're awake?!"
"Aaaah! Princess! You're back with us?!"
Park Haejun and Ji Sein, dozing in chairs by the bed, jolted up at the sight of her stirring, making a huge fuss.
"The fever's down, but you're finally up—thank goodness! The medical team's coming soon; just hold on!"
As the arriving staff fawned noisily, Seoya recalled the man's parting words.
—Whether all you entities are this stupid, or just you... If it's the former, we're in trouble. Looks like I'll have to spoon-feed everything.
It stung, but probably the latter... Recalling how everyone had always nagged her to think before acting...
She had enough info to piece together the full picture, but Seoya knew her own reasoning couldn't bridge the gap.
‘Hate to admit it, but I'm the real problem here...’
She sighed, face complicated.