Chapter 33
A Spring Dream (2)
“Please wait a moment.”
S Airlines’ first-class service includes limousine pickup to any destination.
“You don’t have any luggage?”
“No.”
I calmly nodded and got into the black GLS with a gleaming three-pointed star. Because I had skipped the wedding, my phone was ringing like crazy.
It was meaningless. Unless someone actually wanted to live as a slave even in their dreams.
Despite my eye-catching appearance, the chauffeur didn’t speak unless necessary. It really felt like being a VIP.
Well, technically, I’ve been living like a VIP ever since I reincarnated.
As a saint, I was treated like royalty no matter where I went—if anything, I was treated even better than this. Still, the reason it felt so unfamiliar was probably because this was the modern world I was born and raised in.
There’s a saying, after all—modern middle-class citizens live more comfortably than kings from centuries ago. This was exactly that. No matter how wealthy or high-ranked you are in that other world, you’d never get to ride in an air-conditioned German SUV.
“We’ve arrived. Please follow me.”
Soon we arrived at Incheon International Airport. A staff member greeted me and escorted me straight to the first-class lounge. This time, people did turn to stare.
At least, until I entered the lounge.
Once seated, check-in and immigration were automatically completed. I’d flown prestige class before on school research trips, but money really was powerful.
Especially when it was free money.
I ordered a course meal from the chef for a light dinner, then took a proper shower in a warm-water bathroom for the first time in over ten years…
About 30 minutes until departure.
It was time to go.
“Let me assist you with boarding.”
A Korean flight attendant affiliated with Star Alliance guided me to the gate and completed her final duties.
Inside the private cabin—divided like capsules—was a bed and a single seat. I fiddled with my phone one last time before takeoff.
[Mom]
[Dad]
[Lee Do-jun]
My parents and that rude little brother of mine. No messages from any of them.
“……”
Honestly, I hesitated.
If I called right now, I might still hear their voices. If I canceled the flight and rushed home like a lunatic, maybe I could see them again…
At that moment—
[Lee Do-jun: Hey]
[Lee Do-jun: You coming home today?]
[Lee Do-jun: Mom and Dad bought your favorite strawberry cake]
[Lee Do-jun: I’ll celebrate your birthday, be honored lol]
Messages came in—like a lie.
I shot upright. My heart thudded like it would leap out of my chest. Cold sweat dripped down my back.
I remembered this day.
The day I couldn’t go home despite my family’s pleas. The day I went to Daejeon to celebrate someone else’s wedding.
…What had I said then?
“Ma’am, please be seated. We’re about to take off.”
“…Ah. Yes.”
But that was the end.
Soon the plane slowly lifted off. And those messages—would never be answered again.
Because I had awakened from the dream.
I looked around to find enormous tree roots surrounding me.
“Ugh, haah.”
I struggled and managed to free myself. The restraints were only meant to hold someone in place while asleep, so they weren’t that strong.
Just as planned.
There are two main ways to escape a dream controlled by Haru:
First, death.
Second, running far, far away from the origin of the dream.
The former is the most direct and classic method. The latter is a bit of a loophole, exploiting the fact that her dreams have a limited range.
Haru wouldn’t have predicted it. The only means of transport on the eastern continent are carriages or ships. Escaping the dream’s range that way would take at least a week.
I staggered to my feet. The once-scattered house was completely destroyed—unrecognizable. Looking up, I saw a massive cherry blossom tree reaching into the sky.
Right in the heart of the capital…
Just as expected.
Or rather, just like the original novel.
I scanned my surroundings. It didn’t take long to find Cedric buried beneath the tree roots.
Should I go to Cedric first? Or Izumi?
In the original story, Cedric was the first to escape the dream. For someone who lives in darkness, ending his own life probably isn’t that difficult.
The decision took only a moment.
“Grrrrr.”
A chilling growl echoed behind me. A monster.
…Born from a nightmare?
The tree is Haru’s main body.
She uses her roots to trap people and feeds off the negative emotions of their dreams. In truth, all demons feed on human negativity—only their methods differ.
When emotions convert into mana, random monsters are born as by-products.
Mindless, mana-waste monsters aren’t tough for trained knights. The problem was that my body was weaker than the average adult woman.
“…Shit.”
Even if Cedric is strong, inside Haru’s dream he’s basically a living doll. And right now, I’m the only conscious person in this capital.
Which means I have to deal with that thing. I broke into a cold sweat.
Tap. Tap.
I stomped lightly. The wolf-like monster jerked its head toward me. Its red eyes gleamed coldly.
“GRRRRAAAH!”
CRASH. BOOM!
The muscles in its hind legs compressed—then it launched at me, claws bared. I instantly dropped to the ground, rolled, and grabbed a fallen rock, hurling it at the creature.
“YELP!”
Hit.
The monster screeched as it got hit in the nose, shaking its head violently. Then, enraged, it puffed up its body.
Its gaze remained fixed on me—not on Cedric lying like a corpse nearby. Thank goodness.
What do I do?
Adrenaline surged, sharpening my thoughts. One roll and my limbs were already bloodied.
“Grrrr…”
Luckily, thanks to the nose hit, the monster wasn’t charging yet. It stood still, tail raised, watching me. If it realized how weak I truly was, the hesitation would vanish instantly.
This won’t be easy.
No—but…
I felt a slight smile tug at the corners of my mouth. No need to ask why.
Since it’s come to this, I might as well gamble. I exhaled slowly, locked eyes with the beast, and began walking forward.
It flinched. But my goal had never been the monster.
“Sir Cedric.”
I sat down atop Cedric’s body, resting there as if shielding him. The creature hesitated, confused by the strange act.
Meanwhile, I took his hand and pulled out a mana scroll.
Can’t believe I’m actually using this.
Since I knew how things would unfold, I’d spent a hefty sum in advance to purchase these scrolls.
An explosion scroll I gave Cedric. A signal spell just in case. A forbidden one to invade someone else’s dream. And even blank mana scrolls I could inscribe myself.
Problem was—I couldn’t inject mana directly.
“I’m borrowing a bit of your mana.”
Thankfully, Cedric’s aura naturally radiated mana. Just being near him made the scroll begin to glow faintly.
Alright, then.
“See you in the dream, Cedric.”
My eyes closed.
The monster lunged.
Burning smell.
Screams of himself.
“Be a good person.”
Yustinas, forcing a smile.
A horrible nightmare. Cedric saw Yustinas die over and over—tens, hundreds of times. Her burning body in the house. It gnawed away at him relentlessly.
Even knowing it was a dream didn’t help. His mind eroded with each repetition.
“Aah… aaah… aaAAAAH…”
Curled up on the floor, he trembled uncontrollably. There was nothing a boy barely in his teens could do.
Ten years passed like that.
“I have a request for you.”
Cedric, eyes hollow from endless nightmares, looked down at the priest before him.
“Let’s go.”
“Excuse me? Don’t you want to hear the details?”
“Don’t need to.”
Was this a dream or reality?
He couldn’t tell. It was too brutal to be real, but too vivid to be a dream.
Still, Cedric clung to hope. He knew Yustinas was across the sea at the temple. So he feared nothing.
Or so he thought.
“I’m Izumi Pauli! I’ve heard from His Holiness. You’re a skilled fighter, right?”
“…What the hell?”
“Pardon?”
The moment he arrived at the temple, Cedric grabbed the hero who greeted him by the collar.
“Cut the crap. Tell me where the saint is.”
“S-Saint?”
The hero looked baffled. A blond princess nearby chimed in with a scowl.
“Hey! That’s rude—”
“Rude? Ha.”
Cedric scoffed.
“You think this is a joke? Where is she—”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
The hero yelled as he shook Cedric off.
“There is no such person as a saint!”
“…What?”
His black eyes trembled.
“Don’t lie. Wasn’t she supposed to be at Aegis?”
“Actually, that’s correct.”
Pope Zephyros appeared behind him, smiling gently as always.
“For some reason, this generation’s ‘saint’ was instead named a ‘hero.’ It likely means the demons will be especially fierce this time…”
“What… are you saying?”
Cedric’s jaw dropped. An unbearable thought crossed his mind.
What if—
What if everything with Yustinas was just a dream? And this was reality?
His head throbbed.
“…Leave me alone for a bit.”
Which is real?
If this was a nightmare, he wanted to wake up. But days passed, and Yustinas never appeared.
Peaceful. Calm.
Without her.
Time flowed. One day, a thought emerged:
What’s the value of this world?
A world without Yustinas.
Such a world—
Might as well not exist.
His hands covering his face turned gray. His once-rounded pupils sharpened. His bangs lifted and parted unnaturally.
And then—
“Cedric.”
His eyes snapped open.
A delicate hand on his shoulder. He exhaled shakily, afraid this moment would vanish like a mirage. He didn’t dare turn around.
“It’s time to wake up.”
“Yu…s…”
“Yes, Cedric.”
She whispered softly.
“I’m right here.”
“Yus… Yus… Yustinas…”
Murmuring her name, Cedric finally gathered courage and turned his head.
There she was, smiling like an angel.
Their eyes met.
“Cedric.”
“Yus… your eyes—”
Unlike the blind girl he remembered, the Yustinas before him looked directly at him with vivid clarity. Her blue eyes, full of life, were even more beautiful than a preserved memory.
“Cedric, do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Then stab yourself in the heart.”
“My heart…?”
“You can do it, right?”
“For you, I can.”
Cedric nodded, drew the dagger from his belt, and reversed the grip.
Then he stabbed.
Without hesitation.
“Thank you.”
No groan. Just warmth spilling out as his body grew cold.
But he was happy.
“You’re a dear friend to me.”
“Friend, huh…”
“Mhm.”
Yustinas gently shook her head with a soft smile.
“No… actually, you’re not just a friend.”
“Then what…?”
“I love you, Cedric.”
And then—his heart stopped.
The clock turned back.
Cedric opened his eyes to the metallic scent of blood.
And—
“Kh… haah…”
“…Yus?”
“Ah… haah…”
Covered in blood, Yustinas straddled him, smiling faintly.
“Did you sleep well, Sir Cedric?”
