Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: 15. School Star
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Dream-based magic training was going really smoothly. Above all, it was fun.
‘Should I drop into someone else’s dream again today? Hmm, today… how about trying a stranger’s dream?’
I’d read something like that in a comic or novel before. Dreams are connected. Dreams are another world linked by consciousness, a pathway for the soul. Everyone’s heard something like that at least once.
And it’s true. Just like how I can visit my friends’ dreams. All dreams are interconnected.
There are ‘pathways’ in dreams that connect to other dreams. You can wander into anyone’s dream through those paths. But controlling it is incredibly difficult. First off, only certain people can even find those dream pathways—like me, someone who can see and locate them. Even for people like me who lucid dream and are aware of the connections, it’s hard at first. You’re lucky if you can summon or find the ‘door’ to the nearest dream. Finding the actual pathway comes later.
And that’s not the end of it. Even if you find the pathway, it’s so complex inside and changes constantly. You lose your way in no time. Opening doors to dreams is tough. Some are sealed shut by a mind that’s firmly closed off. Pinpointing the dream’s owner is hard too. You have to wander around inside to find your friends’ dreams.
I only recently got the hang of locating them. Until not long ago, I’d step into the pathway entrance and get randomly sucked into other dreams, waking up over and over in confusion. But then that pivotal event happened where my mana surged. After that, I’ve gotten pretty skilled. Sneaking into other people’s dreams without permission isn’t exactly a good thing, but there are so many pretty, fascinating dreams that I end up just sightseeing. Even outside of mental realms, watching the dreams people are having right now is just too entertaining.
Ever since before I started thinking about my dream world, I’ve always enjoyed my own dreams. I love stories, so dream stories are no exception. That’s how it is.
‘Alright. Time to go dream hunting for the first time in a while.’
Oh, and there’s this too: peeking at good dreams transfers that luck to you! Last time I glimpsed a nightmare, my whole day went south. Looking back now, it’s all just fun flavor.
‘Ehehe.’
I giggled to myself. Inha gave me a puzzled look.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing. I’m heading in to train first today! Gonna play in dreams!”
“What?”
Inha pouted. But I waved apologetically, making it clear I wasn’t budging this time.
“Sorry!”
“Hmph… Do whatever. But you have to tell us dream stories again.”
“Yeah! Promise!”
I pinky-swore with Inha and dashed inside the house. I was ready to dive into the dream world right away.
“I’m home! Mom, I’m sleepy, gonna take a nap, don’t wake me!”
“What? Right after getting here? Eunha~!”
Ignoring Mom’s nagging, I headed up to my room. I went to the window first. I was about to slip into the dream world but remembered I couldn’t sleep without it dark, so I reached for the curtains. As I touched them, I spotted someone passing through the alley near our house—from this side to that.
I tilted my head. It was too far to be sure, but it was a face I didn’t recognize in our village. This is a small residential area; I know all the familiar faces. Hmm, but it kinda felt vaguely familiar…
‘Come to think of it, I’ve noticed some unfamiliar people around here lately…’
I paused, puzzled. Then the man looked up. Our eyes seemed to meet, and I yanked the curtains shut.
I didn’t know what it was, but it felt off. I stared at the curtained window for a bit, head tilted. Then I climbed into bed, pulled the covers over, closed my eyes, and counted in my head.
‘One, two, three.’
….
When I opened my eyes, I wasn’t in my dream world this time—I stood in the space of dreams itself. Now I could enter the pathways immediately upon arriving. Depending on where you flow from here, you enter countless dreams. Other people’s dreams require opening doors directly, so without awareness, you can’t see them.
Okay, whose dream should I check out? That pretty door looks like a lovely woman’s dream. Whoa, that one’s too gloomy—definitely a scary dream….
“Hmm, maybe just hop into a random dream from someone nearby?”
I scanned the countless pathways connected to surrounding dreams, excited. Maybe because I can now read emotions as colors? Each dream has a ‘vibe.’ That one feels happy, that one sad, that one exciting. Of course, everyone’s thresholds for happiness or sadness differ, so I can’t assume it’s exactly what I expect. But if the vibe’s good, the dream usually is too.
As I looked around, one pathway caught my attention. It felt strangely close to me, yet unfamiliar and unsettling.
“Hmm, what to do?”
I hesitated. Bad vibe, but feels close to me—kinda nagging at me. After waffling, I reached out toward it.
The black-and-white door swung open, and something dark surged from the pathway, engulfing me. The scene shifted.
It was a stark… room. Like the inside of a computer program. Circuits sprawled below, a massive monitor ahead. And no one in the dream.
The owner was probably awake.
“....”
I hesitated, then sat at the room’s lone prominent object: the huge computer. There was a desk, chair, mouse, and keyboard—of course.
If I’m right, this computer is the dream’s core.
I moved the mouse to bring up the desktop, then checked the documents folder for saved files.
Guided by my dream talent—my intuition—I clicked through folders. I found one packed with video files. I double-clicked the top one labeled ‘My Person of Interest.’
Click-click.
The player opened… and after static, the video appeared. It was only about 10 seconds, but more than enough to shock me.
On screen: a very… familiar little girl’s face. Shoulder-length wavy brown hair, dark brown eyes, clear childlike features. Of course it was familiar. It’s the face I see in the mirror every morning.
“Me…?”
Instantly, text—or emotion?—overlaid the video. Some indescribable color smeared into black. The world turned pitch black. Bad feeling. I covered my mouth, fighting nausea. Revolting.
A sharp *clang* echoed, and the dream shattered. I bolted up, gasping. Nausea surged; I clapped a hand over my mouth.
‘What… was that?’
Just my photo, my video—nothing else. Yet it made me sick, the mood awful. Sweating coldly, I went to the window for air.
But then I saw the man’s shadow below—and fought another wave of nausea.
The same guy from before bed, beyond the window. Now passing the alley the other way. Coincidence. Just coincidence. Still, the bad feeling was intense. I drew the curtains again and sat on the bed.
Exhaling deeply.
That day, I couldn’t sleep again. The next day too. Somehow, sleep terrified me. Even when I did, I set sleep mode. Felt like I’d get sucked into that dream the moment I dozed off.
After that dream, I stayed hyper-vigilant for a while. Felt like something bad was coming. The video was just 10 seconds, my face flashing briefly—yet ominous.
Uneasy, I maxed out home security, teleported straight home from school for a bit. Didn’t hang out with friends. No going to Inha’s, no inviting her over. Said I had stuff to do.
But nothing happened—absurdly uneventful. One day I checked the pathways; that dream was gone.
I finally relaxed. Just someone who saw me and got briefly interested—ordinary dream. I dropped the hyper-vigilance, went outside. To vent pent-up stuffiness, I spent all day at the nearby playground.
Thinking back, first time my bad premonition was wrong. All that tension just piled on stress. I pigged out to make up for it.
“You seemed down lately. Something happen?”
“Huh? Just felt uneasy for no reason. But I’m good now. Don’t worry.”
“Phew, good.”
I patted Inha’s relieved head. She blushed shyly.
Really, that ominous feeling seemed baffling now—nothing at all. Just peaceful.
Soon, vacation ceremony day arrived. BTW, Minhee snatched top written score; we five tied for top practical. Sorry to the rest.
Unusually, disappointed kids paraded by. Ceremony ended quick, then same-grade kids I knew came up, looking dejected—especially my weird fan club members.
“Lady Eunha! Have a great vacation!”
“Ugh, gonna miss you over break….”
“But you’ll hang with Hansu, Inha, Minhee, Hyunho plenty, right?”
“Jealous….”
“That combo’s enviable….”
“Hyunho, you lucky jerk!”
I just sweated bullets watching.
Minutes later, escaping the crowd, we promised a full fun day together. Vacations make meeting hard, after all.
Racing excitedly out the school park, we bumped into Teacher Junhwi and Teacher Min. Felt like ages; we glomped them happily. Well, not all—Minhee and Hyunho did.
“Wow! Teachers!”
“Teacher Min~ So hard to see you! Still can’t contact you?”
Teacher Min looked a bit worn, tired. But seeing us, he beamed as usual, hugging tight.
“Wow! My cutie pies!”
Ugh, cringy. Teacher Min hammed it up, hugging us. Wasn’t this close before—just cheeky. Now we’re tight. Hyunho and Minhee grinned in his arms.
“Teacher Min~ When’s that over? Gotta end soon for contact and training~.”
“Sorry, sorry. Takes forever.”
“Teacher Baekhan’s doing the same, right? Ugh! He ignores calls and texts!”
“Bear with us. Tough spot for contact.”
“Tried student IDs; he said he’d confiscate if I tried again~.”
“...Really bear with us.”
Huh? I blinked. His face stiffened for a sec? But he smiled, ruffling our hair, so I relaxed.
“Still, great seeing you. No issues lately? Like weird people? Say, strangers around home….”
I blinked at that. Minhee laughed.
“What~? Teacher Min, you’re like Mom.”
“No, just in case. Lots of that stuff lately. Actually, school sent investigators last time.”
“Oh, that was it.”
That explained it. Friends and teachers looked at me.
“Seen unfamiliar people around home sometimes. Thought I knew locals since small neighborhood. Could be mistake, though.”
“....”
I smiled lightly, but Teacher Min hesitated, then nodded with a grin.
“Yeah, it’s fine. Don’t worry.”
“Okay.”
I nodded. He gave us one last tight hug, then turned.
“Alright! We gotta go. Rare day off! Oh, right. Our stuff’s ongoing—don’t contact till we do.”
“Aww~.”
Disappointed—we meant masters too.
“So today’s your day off? Where to?”
Heh, Teacher Min puffed proudly, yanking Teacher Junhwi’s shoulder.
“Where else! Date time!”
Uh… uh… got bold while apart?
I looked up, startled. Teacher Junhwi met my eyes, blushed, looked down. Subtly stepping on Teacher Min’s foot—ooh! Junhwi’s embarrassed!
Heartwarming; I just smiled. Kids teased playfully.
“Pfft, guys on a date? Lame!”
“What’s wrong? We girls say date too! And they suit each other—forgiven!”
Hyunho and Minhee bantered. Teacher Min grinned at us, waved.
“Have fun on break.”
“Yeah! See you post-vacation, teachers!”
“Have a good date.”
I added smiling. He ruffled my hair roughly. Why do guy grown-ups love that? Je-hyeon bro too. Not that I mind.
“See ya.”
“Yesss!”
“Bye!”
Answering their goodbye, we turned. Before fully, Teacher Min added,
“Oh, and no wandering alone on break. Take guardians far out—dangerous.”
“Got it!”
We waved, heading off. That stirred up the old dream unease, but I shrugged it off. Past stuff.
We went to Hansu’s for once. His mom out; dad greeted us.
“Oh, been a while.”
“Hello!”
We bowed with Minhee. Hansu’s dad had a super kind face—unlike mom or Hansu. Hansu’s kind deep down. Face and outer personality from mom, inner from dad. Heard plant hobby from him.
“Visiting to play?”
“Yeah!”
“While here, ta-da! Sequel to Eunha’s game? Let’s play this!”
“Whaaat?! Why do you have that?!!”
I gaped at Hyunho’s CD. What? That’s the super-secret otome game Master and I made secretly…. I only did story and characters! Wait, over half? Sound by Teacher Min, programming/CG by Master… Ahh!!
“Teacher Min’s the culprit!”
“Ding-dong!”
Hyunho nodded ‘correct.’ Kids zeroed in on the CD.
“Wow! Eunha-made game? Last one hooked me hard!”
“Guys, I only did story….”
“And sold out in a month! Reprinting now? Huge hit anyway! Making bank, Eunha?”
“Well….”
I fidgeted. Started as hobby extension; never thought to sell. Master liked it, shared with acquaintances. Cheonho bro and Je-hyeon bro played, said sellable. Master’s pro (‘popular’) game maker, so out it went—flew off shelves….
Story 100% mine; I get royalties.
Sold well, so made another sim game—huge now. My nickname’s hot as scenario writer.
Next: VR scenario… but too embarrassing for acquaintances. Only told parents, Master/teachers, Inha!
Ugh, mortified. I ducked my head.
“Sweet! Vacation clear: solo Eunha game!”
“Eunha, let’s go!”
“Even romance sims work for me. Explains all the novels.”
“Don’t say it. Dying of shame….”
While I hid my face, Minhee and Hyunho dragged me to the room. Literally pulled. Soon in main room, plopped by them. Hansu brought snacks. Kids rock-paper-scissors for first controller. I just huddled, face-covered, munching snacks amid chaos.
“Rock-paper-scissors!”
“Got it!”
“Ugh…!”
“Hehe, first up me!”
Hyunho grabbed controller eagerly, hooked to big monitor, loaded CD.
We gamed till late. Hyunho’s first ending? Fitting his personality… bad end? Happy? Protagonist no romance, hooks hidden guy with friend, heroine finds dream solo….
“Romance sim?”
“It is. Friends got together?”
“....”
Later ones normal. Gotta pair all guys for hidden.
…Half endings done, game night over. Kids wanted longer, but ~7pm, Auntie Seona called Inha.
[Inha. Where are you? With Eunha?]
“Yeah. At Hansu’s.”
[Sorry, come home first? Mom’s got stuff. Trip starting tomorrow.]
“Okay?”
Inha glanced at us, nodded reluctantly.
“Got it.”
[Sorry! Oh, Eunha—home soon too!]
Call ended. Inha sighed, turned.
“Sorry, guys. Eunha, heading out.”
“Aww, bummer.”
“No helping it. Bye!”
“Yeah.”
Inha nodded, gripped student ID. Badge glowed; poof—gone.
We played more, but less fun without her. Promised next time, split.
“Me too!”
“Hey, Joo Minhee, Yoo Eunha. Careful home.”
Hansu’s shy-worried tone hit me weirdly. World… kid who asked ‘why not follow food-givers?’ years ago now says ‘dark out, careful.’ Felt like watching kids grow up. Eyes welled;感動 swelled.
Staring misty-eyed, Hansu flushed, flustered.
“W-Why?”
“Just… you’ve grown so much.”
“Eek…!”
“Pfft…!”
Minhee/Hyunho burst laughing; Hansu’s face went red—different reason. But true heart. When did they grow? Really poignant.
Hansu pouted-glared cutely; I smiled.
“Thanks. I’ll be careful.”
“Our Hansu, cool guy!”
“Hey, stop!”
Hansu relaxed at mine, flushed at Minhee’s yell. She cackled.
Then we teleported home. Past 8.
Moon low in sky, fine stars like glitter. Teleported, habitually skyward—stunned. Stars gorgeous. Always are, extra tonight. Mesmerizing.
Hesitated, checked 8:10—little longer. Glanced around, recalled hilltop playground—highest spot.
Walked sloped path. Tap, my steps echoed softly. Familiar face passed. Else empty. Not super late, yet quiet.
Tap—then steps behind. Tensed, but overreacting. Common.
Only mine after. I walk quietly anyway—no presence sounds. Not scared. Wind, crickets serenading clearly.
At top playground, scanned. Early night, empty. Tap. To straight iron slide in sand center. Brushed sand, flopped on. Moon bright, stars sprinkled.
‘Cygnus, Aquila… Lyra. Summer Triangle. Wow, pretty.’
Love stars, but only basics. Better than nothing.
‘Summer break—observatory with kids?’
Not bad. Winter best, summer fine.
Rustle—something brushed. Jolted up, someone? No shadows—wind?
Looked, stood. Time to go.
Left playground, downhill. Thud-thud, steps audible—felt weird. Glanced back. …Nobody.
Turned forward. Yeah, nerves. But nope—turned again, expanded sight.
Mana colors rose: trees, flowers, weeds… and behind wall—human mana.
I flinched.
‘Just standing there by chance.’
So thinking, I turned away.