Dream (5)

The endless dream continued.

Hyeon-byeol came to see me nearly every day and always had something to talk about.

“I thought it might help you regain your senses, so I did some digging. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d find anything, but… I actually got lucky.”

In this dream world, Hyeon-byeol wasn’t dragged into the game. After hearing about me from my mother, she frequently visited and helped me.

Like now.

“It’s that discharged soldier you talked about—Lee Baek-ho. I made a post on the Dungeon and Stone community board, you know, the game you always used to play, and he really replied.”

‘When I asked if we could meet and talk, the first thing he asked was whether I was a woman. When I said yes, he agreed right away… Judging by how he acted, he’s kind of obsessed with girls.’

“Ah, I got distracted. Anyway, the important thing is that he wasn’t sucked into the game either. Uh… are you disappointed?”

Disappointed, my foot.

It was an expected outcome.

In this dream world, no one was dragged into the game.

That’s why-

That’s why I even wrote a letter to my friend in Canada.

Deep down, I was starting to wonder if I’d actually gone crazy.

Luckily, though, the results came in yesterday.

No matter how much they drugged me or messed with my head, I wasn’t crazy.

Although there are too many strange aspects for it to be a dream, there are also too many unnecessarily realistic details.

Still, this is a dream world.

It feels a bit wrong to say this, but it’s also a world that is very advantageous for me.

‘Thinking about it now, the police were strange too.’

No matter how much they treated me like a mental patient, I caused quite a scene. But Chief Kang still visits me occasionally, telling me to get well soon and saying favorable things.

And that’s not all.

“Oppa, when you get better, let’s go to Namsan together. You liked the night view there, remember.”

Hyun-byeol, my ex-girlfriend, treats me with unbelievable devotion.

“Han-soo… it’s my fault, it’s all my fault. If only I hadn’t done that, you’d never have ended up like this…”

Even my mother, who had always treated me with contempt, was acting strangely. It was like she was saying everything I’d always wanted to hear deep inside.

It’s literally like a dream come true.

‘Maybe that’s why.’

Perhaps it wasn’t the medication, but this comfort that made me doubt myself, making me wonder if this really was reality after all.

After all, once someone lies down on a heated mat, they just want to stay there forever.

‘But now it’s time to wake up.’

Using my Canadian friend’s reply as encouragement, I rebuilt my fading resolve and started planning my escape again.

I studied the hospital’s layout, learned the staff’s schedules and personalities, and pretended to comply with treatment in order to lower their guard.

Everything was going according to plan—until…

“Mr Han-soo, I haven’t actually told anyone this, not even you, but I think there’s a chance your story might be true.”

Chief Kang, who had visited me under the pretext of an investigation, dropped that bombshell on me.

Because I was acting like I was recovering from my delusions, this presented a problem.

“Huh? Isn’t that something I made up? I genuinely believe that now…?” I said masking my reaction.

“I’m sorry… I kept wondering if it was the right time to say this when you seem to be improving, but could you please watch this video just once?”

He took out his phone and played a saved video.

‘What the hell is this…?’

It was footage from the police station where I’d been questioned.

The camera focused on a monitor sitting on a desk.

“Do you see it? The characters written on this monitor here.”

The monitor was filled with unknown logs.

The image quality was poor, so I couldn’t make out the words, but Chief Kang read them aloud for me:

“Synchronization complete.”

“Character data and journal entries have been recorded and transmitted to the administrator.’”

“It listed stuff like: the coming-of-age ceremony completed, new equipment equipped, total item level increased… basically game-type messages, filling the screen and updating in real time.”

“There were even occasional entries about a character named ‘Bjorn Jandel.’ The same name you mentioned.”

Just when I’d decided this was all a dream and was preparing to escape, it caught me completely off guard.

“So… what’s your point?”

I frowned as he rewound the video.

“Look closely around the monitor. Right here. See? There aren’t any cables connected. No computer tower, no power cord—nothing.”

Huh… he’s right.

My mind started spinning.

What was this supposed to mean?

“It can’t be explained scientifically. That’s why I started to think your story might be true.”

“…So you’re saying I’m not insane?”

“No, I can’t say that yet. But one thing’s certain—something’s very suspicious.”

“Suspicious?”

He glanced around, then lowered his voice.

“Not long after we brought in that monitor, it disappeared from the evidence room.”

“…”

“As if someone deliberately wanted to destroy the evidence.”

What the hell is going on?

***

Chief Kang’s words left me feeling confused.

Just when I’d finally convinced myself this world was a dream, he had to show me that.

What’s real, and what’s fake?

Did they send Kang to show me this because I refused to believe in this reality?

‘No, if that were the case, they could have just prevented my Canadian friend’s reply from ever reaching me.’

A situation in which resolving one contradiction leads to another.

The thought alone gave me a headache, so I chose to go with a simpler plan.

Ultimately, what matters is belief.

And I can choose.

What I will believe.

‘I will execute the plan in four days…’

My escape plan was complete and I’d even set a date.

That day, I’d break out of this hospital and get outside.

Then, I’d figure out how to escape this dream for real.

‘I’ve got a feeling Dungeon & Stone holds the key somehow…’

It was just a hunch, but still—

The fact that the hospital allowed everything except that game was suspicious.

Sure, they claimed it interfered with treatment, but still.

‘Beating Dungeon & Stone again—maybe that’s the trigger.’

It was worth a try.

So, the important thing is to succeed in the first escape attempt….

‘Just in case, one more time.’

While waiting for the execution date, I simulated the plan over and over, looking for flaws.

And then….

One day, two days, three days.

And just one day before the escape—

“Patient Han Soo! You have a visitor!”

Someone had come to see me.

I figured it’d be either Hyun-byeol, my mother, or Chief Kang.

But when I got to the visiting room, I was greeted by an old man I’d never seen before.

He was an elderly white man, dressed like an English gentleman, and carried a finely crafted cane that didn’t seem to be a weapon.

‘Just because he has a cane doesn’t mean he’s a mage, but still.’

It was a habit I’d picked up back in Rafdonia—analyzing strangers as soon as I—

“So you are Han-soo.”

The man’s fluent Korean honestly took me by surprise. I’d figured the young man behind him was a translator, but maybe he was just there for company.

I couldn’t tell, but one thing was certain.

“Yes, but… who are you, sir?”

For some reason, I didn’t like the feeling.

He looks like someone with a lot of money and high status. The fact that he’d even managed to arrange a visit here was suspicious in itself…

Swish.

The old man removed the fedora that had been covering his face and placed it on the table.

The moment I saw his face, any further introduction was unnecessary.

“My name is Auril Gavis.”

Thump—!

“I’m the one who created Dungeon & Stone, the game you played.”

I hadn’t expected him to show up. Maybe it was just because this was a dream. I had no idea what to expect.

“But, let me say this.”

His sharp, piercing eyes locked onto mine.

Just meeting his gaze was enough to make me feel under pressure.

“You already know who I am, don’t you?”

There was no point trying to keep secrets from this Guy. Neither in that world nor in this one.

“It seems you’ve seen another me over there?”

“Another you…?”

“Tsk. So you haven’t figured that part out yet.”

Maybe I’d grown too used to modern life already, because the sound of him clicking his tongue immediately reawakened my old instincts.

If I let my guard down, he’d crush me.

Focus.

“Enough talk. Get to the point.”

I lowered my voice and met his gaze head-on.

He gave a mysterious smile.

“I’m the only one who knows you’re not insane. And I have the means to get you out of here.”

“…”

“But judging by your lack of reaction, it seems you’ve already made your plans.”

How could this old man say all that so easily, as if it were nothing?

“Get to the point.” I said in a firmer tone.

He nodded slowly.

“Then I’ll be direct.”

He had one question for me.

“Did you meet that child?”

“That child?”

I had a rough idea, but I played dumb.

“…Never mind. Let me rephrase.”

Now I was really curious.

“How did you manage to come back? The Abyss Gate wasn’t open.”

“…If you’ve come this far, you must have already investigated everything, right?” I asked back

“Oh, you mean the statements you gave to the police and doctors? I’ve read those, yes, but…”

 

He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, then burst out laughing.

“Hahaha! Ahahaha!”

“…”

“Do you actually believe this world is just a dream?”

I didn’t want to respond to his mocking tone, but keeping quiet would only make it harder to get any information from him.

“Seems you don’t think so, old man?”

“Mr. Han Soo, whatever you believe, this place is undeniably real. Different from the world you came from, yes—but still real.”

“Different? What do you mean?”

“In this world, the ‘cheat mode’ you mentioned does not exist. That’s why only you could open the Abyss Gate and cross over to Raphdonia. But…….”

He trailed off before finishing.

“That doesn’t mean this world isn’t real.”

Believe it or not, everything here is genuine: your mother’s pleas for forgiveness and your ex-girlfriend’s devotion.

It wasn’t just unbelievable—it was impossible to believe.

“Then show me proof.”

I tried bluffing, but he just smiled faintly and shook his head.

“No need. There’s no point.”

“Or maybe you just don’t have any proof.”

He didn’t take the bait.

“Think what you will. You already believe this is a dream, don’t you? If you intend to return there, I have no reason to convince you otherwise.”

Tch… that smug attitude.

My stress level suddenly skyrocketed, but since I was about to escape, I couldn’t just punch him.

“Then I’ll take my leave. I wish you good luck.”

He stood up calmly, as if his business was done.

I could have let him go, but something about it didn’t feel right.

“Wait.”

He paused and turned back.

“Yes?”

Uh… I didn’t stop him because I had a specific reason, but because I felt I shouldn’t let him go like this…

Now that things have come to this, I decided to ask this.

“What is the way to wake up from the dream?”

“Hmm?”

“If you want me to go back anyway, why don’t you just tell me?”

The old man looked straight at me for a long moment, then chuckled softly again.

“You should have the desire.”

“……What?”

“If you really want to go back, it will happen whether you like it or not. But seeing as you’re still here…”

“…….”

“It seems you’ve grown rather fond of this place.”

What is he talking about? Even at this moment, I only want to go back.

“Ah, regarding the hospital or police matters, I’ll take care of them. So you can do as you please.”

No matter what he said, I couldn’t afford to get confused now.

 

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