Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 174
>Chapter Title: The Dream Witch Loydra
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When people fall into shock, their thinking circuits stop—or so they say.
>Do-hyun was feeling just how spot-on that was. In that instant, it was like time had frozen; no thoughts came to him at all.
>One second, two seconds…
>"Ah."
>Just shy of three seconds later, Do-hyun snapped out of it and blinked.
>He could see Luriel tilting her head, staring at him like she was wondering what he was up to.
>She quickly pieced together the situation and explained.
>"Ah, I didn't tell you who she is. No wonder you're shocked."
>"…"
>"You probably had an idea, but yeah. That woman sleeping there is the Angela you've been desperately searching for."
It was the nail in the coffin.
>With this undeniable truth laid bare, Do-hyun took a moment to collect his thoughts.
>No—he tried to.
>'No, I can't sort this out.'
>If only his brain, steeped in sheer bewilderment, could function at full capacity.
>Still, after forcing himself to think hard, he managed to sum up the situation to some degree.
>'So, Angela died, but she actually didn't—and for some reason, she's asleep in this forest? And she's both the key and the medium to obtain the Fragment of Fate.'
>'Something like that… right, Master?'
>'An excellent summary, my lord.'
>'Liza Liza!'
It was great to finally get the lead on the Fragment of Fate he'd been hoping for.
>'No, why of all people does it have to be Angela?'
>Ever since Sargis, he'd known the Fragments of Fate were usually shattered, requiring a key medium to restore their original form.
>But a person? And not just anyone—the supposedly dead Sleeping Queen of the Forest, no less.
>No, did the king even know about this?
>It was suspicious, given the fit he'd thrown over just touching that necklace.
"How could he not know? The king requested it himself, and the White Tower Master crafted this barrier orb personally. There's no safer place."
>"Ah."
Apparently not.
>As he approached the glass orb and reached out to touch it, there was a sharp zap, and his hand bounced back.
>[Protected by a powerful barrier.]
>[Prolonged contact may cause fatal damage.]
>[ without permission requires extremely advanced barrier dispel skills and magical knowledge.]
>'Impressive performance.'
The White Tower Master's unmatched prowess in crafting magic artifacts was legendary.
>She was also renowned for her barrier magic, and this seemed to be a custom glass orb combining both.
>But that wasn't what mattered right now.
>"…More than that, why is Angela in a place like this?"
Why was she asleep here, of all places?
>And why go to the trouble of protecting this spot with a special barrier?
>That was the question nagging at him.
>"Cursed."
>"…Cursed?"
>"A curse of eternal slumber. She's probably living in a dream world right now."
Luriel's expression turned bitter as she gazed at the sleeping Angela.
>"The fate of those who broke a taboo…"
>"Taboo?"
>"This isn't my story to tell. It should come from the ones involved."
>"…Manners. Yeah, sure."
>"Why the look? Like you're shocked I even know the word 'manners'?"
>"No way."
…This kid was sharper than he'd thought.
>Maybe it came from years of giving advice.
>Do-hyun cleared his throat awkwardly and changed the subject.
>"By 'ones involved'… you mean who I think you do?"
Luriel eyed him suspiciously but played along.
>She nodded and looked south.
>The direction of the Dream City Pratel—or more precisely, beyond it, to the royal castle.
>"The king hailed as the greatest ruler in history, Gilberun. He'll tell you the rest."
>"Aha."
Do-hyun nodded along quietly, then paused.
>After a moment's thought, he spoke in a hesitant tone.
>"Um… I have a feeling that might be tough."
>"Eh? Why? He doesn't discriminate against apostles or anything—he'd meet with you."
>"I got kicked out."
>"?"
Luriel tilted her head, her face saying, *What kind of nonsense is that?*
>Do-hyun gave her the short version.
>What had happened, and why he'd been thrown out.
>After hearing it all, Luriel let out a dry chuckle.
>"Unbelievable. How'd you even find it? Even the White Tower Master herself couldn't sense a trace right away."
>"My eyes are pretty good."
>"…Not buying that explanation."
They *were* really good.
>Unique trait: Godo's Unique Eyes.
>Luriel scratched her head, looking unconvinced, then spun around.
>"Whatever. Just follow me. I'll explain it properly."
>"His expression didn't exactly scream 'open to talk.'"
Do-hyun recalled Gilberun's and the Knight Commander's faces when he'd been chased off—they'd been ice-cold.
>He smacked his lips.
>But Luriel remained unfazed.
>"No big deal."
>"What, you got a plan?"
>"Not really a plan. Luriel's standing behind him."
She flashed a cocky grin.
>"Just trust me and follow."
>Do-hyun nodded at her confident stance.
>In that moment, Luriel was pure radiance.
>But it didn't take long for that illusion to shatter.
* * *
Royal castle back gate.
>An entrance forbidden to users.
>"No, I said I'm vouching for him. Just report to the king first. This is so frustrating."
>"…No can do. His Majesty needs rest right now. Especially *that* one… can't let him in."
The guard shot a cold sidelong glance their way and spat the words out. Do-hyun covered his face.
>'As expected…'
>What the hell had possessed him to trust this old-mannered little girl?
>"Didn't I say to trust only me?"
>"No, this isn't what I meant…"
>"Sigh."
>"You think I'm some kind of Karen now?"
How did she even know words like that?
>Luriel's eyes narrowed sharply, and Do-hyun quickly looked away.
>Finally, half embarrassed and half annoyed, Luriel's tongue started wagging at full speed.
>"Why not? Don't you know me? You've seen me come through here plenty of times."
>"I know. You're the one always wandering around giving advice… ahem, counsel to the guards. Even so, not today—come back another time."
>"Advice? Did you just say *advice*? That's what you call it?"
>"What else would it be?"
>"Hah. You guys are so hopeless, I gave you a tip out of pity. That stuff turns into blood and flesh—benefits you. You think I'm doing it for me?"
Do-hyun watched in genuine awe as Luriel spat out classic boomer lines without batting an eye.
>'Wow…'
>Were boomers timeless?
>It was astonishing how their words and actions were all identical.
>"Ah, whatever, you're all talk. You're the newbie, right? Zero tact. Hey, this is what they call *latte is…*"
>"Stop it, Luriel. You're embarrassing yourself. Jihad, stay back over there."
>-Master, I'll always guard your side!
>"No. Hang back for this. You need to manage your image too."
He'd thought her boast meant she had some massive pull.
>Turned out she was just your typical neighborhood busybody.
>The only difference was that she was a *strong* busybody.
>"I don't know which noble house's daughter you are, but even so, not today."
>"No, just call the king? Or Rack at least."
>"…You have a personal friendship with the Knight Commander?"
Do-hyun was about to drag her away since he couldn't watch anymore.
>But the guard froze at the name Rack. His bored expression had stiffened.
>Knight Commander Hyde Rackdrier.
>Few were permitted to call him Rack so casually.
>Just then, a chill ran through the guard's mind—*No way…*
Creeeak—
>"Looks like someone's here to see me."
>"…Figured only one person would cause this kind of ruckus… It really is you, Lady Luriel."
The door behind the guard swung open, and two deep male voices rang out.
>Voices he'd heard once before, but etched strongly in his memory.
>"…Huh?"
>"King…?"
It was Pratel's King Gilberun and Knight Commander Hyde Rackdrier.
>"Rack!"
>"Eek…!"
Luriel's face lit up noticeably, while the guard's turned ashen.
* * *
Thankfully, Luriel wasn't *just* some unhinged busybody girl.
>"We got a report of a young girl causing a scene at the back gate, so I wondered… It really is you, Lady Luriel."
>"…Is he truly the one you're vouching for?"
>"I said yes—don't you trust me?"
The two men clearly harbored no fondness for Do-hyun, yet they accepted it on her single word.
>And that wasn't the end of it.
>"Hmm… It wouldn't be otherwise."
>"A vouch from Lady Luriel is trustworthy enough."
They'd chased him out before, but solely because *she* had brought him, they allowed entry into the castle.
>Even to the very audience chamber where he'd first met the king.
>All thanks to Luriel's position.
>"Who else would we trust if not the prophet's word?"
>"Quite right."
>[Heard the title of Wanderer NPC 'Luriel' for the first time.]
>[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]
Wanderer NPC, Luriel.
>She was the one and only being called a prophet in Pratel.
>'Whoa, didn't see that coming.'
>He'd expected something extraordinary given her aura, but someone who could speak to the king so casually?
>Not above him, but on equal footing—that alone was astonishing.
>It seemed users weren't the only ones in the dark.
>The guard's reaction suggested her true identity was a secret even among NPCs.
>'That guard's face was gold.'
>Pale turning to bluish—like he'd seen a ghost.
From the guard's perspective, it must've been like a bolt from the blue.
>He was just doing his job, pegging her as some spoiled noble girl with a busybody streak—only for her to be someone even the Knight Commander couldn't touch.
>Who could've imagined?
>'What happened to that guard, Master?'
>'Hmm. Judging from my own experience, probably getting an earful from his direct superior.'
>'Guess it's the same in every era.'
This was a fantasy world from the past, after all—probably worse, if anything.
>At least Luriel, grumpy as she was, had a generous side.
>She didn't badmouth the guard and brushed it off coolly, saying it was fine.
>To her, he was just frustrating—no malice.
>Anyway, that was that.
>The real reason they'd let Do-hyun in on Luriel's single word of "vouch" was something else.
>"Still… your vouch means he's the prophesied vessel of the apostle, right, Lady Luriel?"
>"Obviously. He passed all my tests. Even gathered the materials."
>"I see…"
>"Lucky break. No one with real potential in ages—then I felt a good vibe from him."
>"?"
Do-hyun shot them a puzzled look as they chatted in riddles.
>Prophecy? Potential?
>What were they even talking about?
>Better to speak up than let half of it slide.
>"Finally… Finally, the time has come."
As he listened quietly, Gilberun showed an excitement Do-hyun had never seen before.
>His eyes bloodshot like he was glaring at an enemy, he muttered in a trembling voice.
>"Loydra… the time to banish that nightmare and claim the spark of purification."
>Do-hyun perked up his ears at the mutter.
>'Loydra?'
A name he'd never heard before.
>At least, no boss or NPC by that name was known in Pratel.
>He'd have known if it was an official boss, and he'd scoured every corner searching for Angela, so he was sure about NPCs too.
>Which meant…
>'Hidden piece!'
He'd uncovered another hidden piece.
>"Who's Loydra?"
>"Ah, looks like Luriel hasn't explained yet."
>"I figured it should come from the ones involved."
>"I see… Fair enough."
Unable to hold back, Do-hyun asked, and Gilberun opened up without hiding anything.
>"A horrific aggregate of nightmares that feeds on dreams. The witch born from my own misguided greed."
Ding—
>[Heard the name of the horrific nightmare and Dream Witch, Loydra.]
>[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]
>[Learned of Pratel's hidden raid boss.]
>'Hmm… right, a raid boss this time… Huh?'
Do-hyun was reading the messages with interest when he suddenly shut his mouth.
>'Wait, what kind of boss?'