Chapter 38 …
Even the invisible host and audience.
Even Yeonrahwa on the stage.
Even the other kids far away.
It felt as if the entire space itself was focusing its gaze on me. Even…
…my older brother right beside me, and the grandfather on the stage.
“Ahhh! C-CHILLS!”
This is literally a scene from a horror movie!
It was scary enough with everyone else, but having grandfather and older brother staring at me sent shivers all down my spine.
“Ahhh, focus! Both of you!”
It seemed like both of them had, somehow, gradually mentally adapted to this space.
“But why am I fine?”
Could it be thanks to Duri?
Still panicking, I quickly poured more spiritual energy into the protective talismans for grandfather and older brother.
Then, the sword ornaments on their swords seemed to tremble a little…
“My goodness, my granddaughter. Is this truly a dream?”
“Wow, what’s this? My head just feels so clear!”
“Phew, that’s a relief!”
Both of them returned to their usual selves!
“Thank you so much, Duri, the strongest and coolest guardian ever…”
I breathed a sigh of relief as I looked at grandfather and older brother with their clear eyes restored.
“There’s no one like Duri. Duri is the best!”
[Hmph, no need to gush. But…]
Duri fluttered a leaf like shrugging at my overly heartfelt praise.
[Think carefully.]
“Huh?”
[The space just trembled slightly.]
The proud air was gone, replaced by Duri’s calm, measured voice.
I recalled the scene I had just witnessed.
I had almost forgotten in my shock at grandfather and older brother, but the space had definitely crackled and trembled.
…The tournament continues now as if nothing happened.
[The moment you said…]
‘The moment I said this is a dream, it trembled.’
[Yes. If you keep collapsing the space like this, you could wake from this dream.]
Duri added the warning.
[The longer you drag this out, the more dangerous it becomes. Don’t forget.]
I swallowed hard at those words.
Then I turned to my older brother.
“Older brother!”
“Uh…huh?”
“From now on, repeat exactly what I say. Got it?”
“What?”
If we want to collapse this space as quickly as possible, the more people, the better!
I glanced up; grandfather was busy defending against the resumed attacks from Yeonrahwa, unable to focus on us. Well, there was nothing we could do about that.
“Here!”
“Here…? But why do we have to—”
“Shh! Later! There’s no time now!”
“Uh…okay. Here.”
My older brother looked confused but quietly followed my instructions.
“This is a dream!”
“I-It’s a dream!”
At our shouts, the space crackled again.
Kwoooong—!
Far off, a deep sound of something collapsing reached us.
As expected, shouting together with older brother had a much stronger effect on the space than shouting alone.
“Ahhh! Younger sibling, is this right?”
“Exactly! Older brother, keep shouting! It’s a dream!”
Jijik—
“This is a dream!”
“That’s right, good job! It’s a dream, dream!”
“Dream! Dream! Dream! Aaah!”
Kwoooong— Thud—!
With our shouts, the space kept collapsing. Perfect!
“The atmosphere… the atmosphere is rather chaotic!”
The invisible host’s voice sounded.
“Audience members, please maintain order so as not to disrupt the tournament.”
It sounded somewhat displeased.
Ignoring that, I shouted “It’s a dream!” repeatedly and ran toward the corner where the other kids were.
They stared at me expressionlessly as I shouted.
‘They don’t have protective talismans…’
There was no helping it!
“Duri, Duri!”
[Yes.]
I drew a talisman in the air with my right hand.
The Eye-Opening Talisman (Anmyeongbu).
‘It may not be as strong as the protective talismans… but it should work.’
As soon as I finished the talisman, I poured in spiritual energy…
Fwaaak—
A bright light shot toward the kids.
“Everyone, focus!”
As I shouted, the light shone on the kids.
When it faded, their expressionless faces were replaced by confusion and fear.
Good. I quickly shouted again.
“Shout that it’s a dream!”
“What…?”
“What is going on here? What is this place?”
“Ahhh! Scary… save me, mom! Dad!”
Some of the terrified kids burst into tears and collapsed to the floor.
I spoke to them.
“It’s okay. If you shout, you can leave here!”
“Leave…?”
“But…”
The kids wavered at my words.
They even glanced at older brother, who was shouting to them, “Grandpa says it’s all a dream!” with a confused face.
“You can trust it! So hurry…”
“How would you know!”
Then, a familiar boy’s voice interrupted me.
White hair, just like Yeonrahwa’s on stage.
It was Yeonraho, who had been hiding behind the other kids as a shield.
[He really…]
‘He hid so well, I didn’t even know he was there!’
I scowled at his cheeky face.
Yeonraho glared at me.
“What do you know about leaving here? Didn’t you hear that weird voice telling us to stay put?”
“So you’re not going to do anything?”
“Do you know what will happen if we try something wrong! Every time you shout, the space trembles and weird sounds happen.”
Other kids hesitated, glancing around nervously.
Yeonraho crossed his arms defensively.
“It’s fine. In a little while, soldiers will come to save us…”
“The soldiers can’t come now.”
“What?”
I quickly explained the outside situation.
Suddenly, monsters had appeared in the middle of the tournament, and the soldiers were currently holding them back.
“R-Really?”
“No way! These aren’t monster dens, so why did monsters suddenly appear…?”
Everyone turned pale, unable to believe it.
“Why are monsters popping up here!”
A natural reaction.
For a long time, the places monsters emerged from were predetermined.
‘But that will change now.’
The Gaeryeoguk kingdom will face a disaster like the legendary ones from a thousand years ago.
Sudden monster dens, malevolent beings hiding among humans.
Unexpected monster attacks will devastate the nation.
‘And this incident is probably just the start.’
I hadn’t expected it to be this soon.
I’m the only one who knows the future where the entire nation plunges into disaster.
‘Ugh. I can’t just tell anyone!’
I exhaled deeply and organized the situation in my mind.
“So everyone, quickly shout that it’s a dream! If you want to get out of here.”
“I-It’s a dream!”
“R-Really, we can get out…? It’s a dream…!”
Some kids timidly shouted while glancing at me.
Perhaps because they were shocked or had nothing else to rely on, Yeonraho remained silent.
Jijik—
The space trembled lightly at their shouts. Clearly, it wasn’t enough.
“Okay, on the count of three, everyone shout together! Got it?”
“B-But!”
“Huh?”
“Why have you been casually using informal speech since earlier?”
…Really!
I was too stunned and scowled.
“Is that important right now?!”
“…Tch.”
I glared at the cheeky face again and refocused.
“One, two, three!”
“It’s a dream!”
“It’s a dream!”
“It’s a drea—ahhh!”
Shouting together with older brother, the space crackled and shook violently.
The tall stage of the tournament collapsed, and the large audience seats disappeared in an instant.
The imaginary space was slowly crumbling.
[This isn’t enough. There’s no time.]
Duri spoke at that moment.
“The atmosphere in the tournament hall is unusually restless today. Once again, audience, maintain order!”
The host’s warning echoed.
‘Ahhh, what should I do now?’
From a glance at the stage, almost-adult Yeonrahwa and grandfather were still clashing swords.
“Child! Focus! This is a dream!”
I heard grandfather shouting.
At first, it seemed like he couldn’t be heard, but every time the word “dream” was mentioned, Yeonrahwa’s expression changed.
Their terrifyingly strong skill was gradually being pushed back by grandfather.
‘I need to provoke the host more.’
I shouted loudly.
“Yeonrahwa! Wake up from the dream now!”
At the same time, grandfather’s sword flashed upward.
The bright swordlight pierced the eyes—
Kakang—
A sharp metallic clang.
Something sliced through the air and crashed to the ground.
It was Yeonrahwa’s sword, shattered.
“…Child. Let’s leave this bad dream behind.”
The sword fell from Yeonrahwa’s hand, leaving only the handle.
Jijik— Jijik—
Kwoooong—!
Simultaneously, the space began to collapse.
Thud!
Kwoooong—!
The space surrounding us crumbled.
The invisible host’s voice, the words <Swordsmanship Tournament>, the sunlight overhead—all disappeared and were replaced by…
“Uh…?”
A normal, ordinary indoor room.
