(EP-218.2) #1

218 – Great Escape #1

It didn’t seem like Aira was completely conscious, as she was muttering to herself. However, it wasn’t a bad thing that Aira perceived the situation as a dream.

“Is it not real? I had an inkling, but…. So it was all a dream.”

“Yes.”

“More importantly, Theo, why did you come into my dream? I don’t recall inviting you.”

“That…, Aira-nim. What happened was….”

As I began to explain, Aira placed her palm over my mouth.

“I must have encountered some sort of issue, so you intervened in my mind with the help of the Draco twins. They, or Saintess Priga are the only ones who can break through my mental defenses.”

“…….”

That was amazing.

Even without my explanation, Aira diagnosed her own condition with precision.

Aira once said, “I know my body best.” It seemed like it was the truth, beyond mere queenly arrogance.

“Still, it wouldn’t have been easy to penetrate my deep subconscious. Impressive. Perhaps it’s thanks to that balloon?”

“Yes. Anyway, we need to get out of here.”

I showed Aira the balloon wrapped around my wrist. Only one balloon left. Thankfully, the situation was going well before everything popped.

“We can use this to escape to a higher place.”

At Aira’s words, I reached out to embrace Lily, who was lying on the ground, and Aira’s waist. Aira nestled against me and softly chuckled.

“Even though it’s a dream, it’s fortunate your arms are long. How did this happen?”

“This…, well, it’s a dream. Things can be a bit exaggerated in here.”

“Yeah, in dreams, anything is possible, and you can meet anything and anyone. Anyway, let’s get going.”

“Go where, my lady?”

“Ever imagined soaring into the sky on a balloon? Just like that.”

“Ah.”

With Aira’s instruction, I leaped lightly into the air, not quite sure what to make of it. This was some sort of lucid dream, so whatever.

Syusyuk-.

Soon the last foothold crumbled, and everything was immersed into the dark void.

But my body was still floating with the balloon tied to my wrist.

A balloon ride, flying among the twinkling stars…

Everything felt surreal.

Yet, there was a certain romantic feeling to it, I thought.

━Geuoooeu, Airaaa….

Seureuk-.

The hairs on the nape of my neck stood like ruffled feathers, as a shiver slithered from the top of my head down to the tip of my toes. One could call it a gut feeling that something bad was about to happen.

━Airaaaaaaaa-.

I instinctively looked below. But what greeted me was countless black pupils.

I couldn’t tell what they were.

But I knew for sure that if I was caught by it, something bad would happen.

Only then did I realize that I was making a huge mistake. The thorn that corroded Aira’s heart was not the death of her family, but something else.

“Aira-nim, what the hell is that-”

Seureuk-.

Then Aira grabbed my chin.

“Don’t look down.”

“But, that…, that, what is that?”

“Nothing. We’re the only ones here.”

“But—.”

I wanted to say more, but my body soon became enveloped in a bright light, and I could think of nothing else.

* * *

Upon opening my eyes, I found myself lying alone on a soft bed.

The blanket was so cozy, and my body felt heavy like wet cotton. I didn’t want to get up.

“I was wondering when you’d stir. Finally awake now?”

“…….”

But I couldn’t just lie there because of all the eyes looking at me.

At first, I was confused when I saw the black mask. But noticing the ridiculous pink hair tied up in pigtails made me certain.

“What is it, Lily? How did it go? Did everything end well? Are we still in the dream?”

Seeing Lily’s pink hair, I wondered if this was still a dream. However, she frowned which made the corners of her eyes stand out between the mask.

“What are you saying? You look sober at least. Now get up and wash your face. Seriously, am I such a saint to take care of someone like you─.”

It was loud.

That jolted me awake.

Seureureuk-.

As I pulled my arms and legs out from under the blanket, I soon realized that my body was shorter and less powerful than expected. Standing up, the ceiling was also exceptionally high.

Had the world gotten bigger?

No, when I looked in the mirror in the bathroom to wash my face, I noticed the familiar scar around my eye. And a face straddling the line between a boy and a young man.

Overall, it was a pretty face, but the discrepancy imbued by the scar was unforgettable.

Although this face was handsome, I had just been enjoying the world from a tall perspective, so it was disappointing to be short again.

Anyway.

I woke up from the dream.

That means-.

I looked around. Only now did I realize that this was Aira’s room. But I had been alone in bed, and Lily had mentioned she was taking care of me.

“Hey, Lily. What day is it?”

“The 21st.”

I ruffled my flaky hair. The day I dived into Aira’s dream was the 19th, so at least two days had passed.

“I slept for two days?”

“That’s right! Anyway, you slept so much─. But more importantly, I feel like I’ve said this before. What is it….”

Lily shook her head as if she couldn’t understand. Then she asked me as if something had suddenly occurred to her.

“Hey, do you remember what happened in the dream?”

“The dream?”

I try to recall as per her question. It felt like a lot had taken place.

But as with dreams, when I tried to remember something, only a few scenes stood out vividly amidst the blurry haze.

What I remembered was wandering through the Witch Forest for a few days, arriving at the wedding venue, the collapsing dream world, and finally discovering something deep below…

“I’m not sure.”

“Really? So it’s not just me who can’t remember… That’s how dreams are, I guess. Anyway, you were the last to wake up.”

Edited by: faker