CH 56

“Ugh!”

Seora opened her eyes. Two wet eyes hurriedly looked around the room.

A dark room, a plush luxury bed, and even curtains covering the windows.

This was not her room. It was not Song Hanna’s house, which she moved to because she could hardly live in a place where the traces of her parents remained, nor the officetel she had lived in since she became an adult and became independent.

Hotel. Yes, it was the suite that she’d been living with Sung Jarim recently.

The fact was unbearably reassuring.

“Calm down.”

But her body was still shaking. Her parents’ graves, where flowers had been thrown, crossed her mind, and she closed her eyes again.

But she couldn’t come back to her senses. The past traumatic event repeated itself over and over again in her head.

‘I hope those kids grow up to be like their parents.’

‘If only they would awaken to an S-class and sacrifice for us.’

‘When do you awaken? When do you awaken? When do you awaken? When do you awaken? When do you awaken? Isn’t it time now?’

Tak, tak, tak. Auditory hallucinations like a broken cassette tape disturbed her ears.

Seora curled up, covering her ears tightly. Even though it wasn’t winter, she felt a chill. Even when she pulled the duvet and wrapped it around her, there was no warmth.

It’s going to be okay. I’ll be alright in no time. This, too, is just a nightmare that will eventually pass…

“Ah…”

A warm touch suddenly touched her cheek and hair when she was alone in her thoughts. The warm wind that resembled a hand opened her eyes.

[The system administrator whispers that it’ll be okay.]

What caught her eye was a system message, not a hand.

[The system administrator whispers that it’ll be okay.]

Even though it was just those words, she could feel a kind and gentle warmth somewhere.

[The system administrator whispers that it’ll be okay.]

A warm breeze still lingered near her hair as if comforting her, just like Song Hanna’s promise to protect her.

She felt like she was going to burst into tears suddenly. Not tears swept away by nightmares but tears of relief.

She bit her lips tightly and hugged her shoulders. Before she knew it, her hands had turned warm.

Even though the tremors had stopped, the system messages continued.

[The system administrator whispers that it’ll be okay.]

[The system administrator whispers that it’ll be okay.]

Until the sound of Seora’s breathing, which had been irregular, became completely even.

Until the precious contractor shook off the anguish and slept deeply.

[The system administrator whispers that it’ll be okay.]

The small starlight stayed by her side.

***

Clatter. Something small and hard touched her bare feet. Seora frowned.

What is this? Did I put some beads on the bed? No, I don’t have beads in the house in the first place.

But it’s weird. I think I’ve had similar thoughts before.

As soon as the thought went so far, she opened her eyes. Instead of a monotonous studio room with few ornaments, the view was filled with the most luxurious mansion she had ever seen. It seemed there were even more jewels than before.

“The day has come when I kick a jewel away in my life.”

The floor was littered with jewels, except where she was standing. Even if one toe moved, the beautifully crafted things would roll over and cover the instep.

Oh, my gosh. I’ve never seen a scene like this unless in a movie.

The restless feeling went away in an instant. Wait, how did he know I was suffering from nightmares?

<It is very easy to understand.>

Seora had been struggling to build more jewelry on the top of her feet by wiggling her toes when a mechanical voice fell from behind.

Oops, I was so blinded by jewels that I forgot that there is a landlord here.

‘Take a deep breath. I need a deep breath.’

After Seora calmed her mind to welcome the beauty more dazzling than the jewels, she slowly turned back.

“Aigoo. We met again. How have you been? I’m so glad that you’re still beautiful.”

The beauty she saw after a few days still showed off his formidable beauty. Seora smiled broadly because her life was rewarding just by looking at him. I’m glad I’m alive.

<I’ve thought about it before, but you’re really… shameless. Or should I say you’re very honest with your desires?>

“Won’t anyone fall into lust in a place like this?”

Thousands of jewels on the floor and a beautiful beauty in front of one’s eyes.

Who wouldn’t kneel in front of the perfect combination that would even put a high priest in agony?

“But how did I come here again? Once is a coincidence, and twice is fate. Are we related?”

As Seora smiled shamelessly, the man’s face was colored with absurdity.

<What will you do if you have a relationship with a man living in your dreams? You can meet a real person who is kind and friendly instead of a bubble-like illusion.>

Wait a minute. Is this a surprise attack? Her heart was beating fast at such a great flutter.

“Are you doing this on purpose now? My heart is going to stop.”

When she seriously asked, like in a scene in Korean dramas, the man burst into laughter.

Aah… My mind is purified.

<But I don’t think I’m wrong.>

“You are speaking as if you know me very well. You’ve treated me like this since the start like I’m very familiar with you.”

<Ah.>

For a moment, the man rubbed his lips as if in embarrassment. As his fingers pressed his thick, well-shaped lips to and fro, Seora swallowed her saliva without realizing it. Whoa, this is killing me.

<That’s… I hadn’t thought of that. I didn’t use honorifics much.>

“If you don’t want to use it…”

<Then can I do it now?>

“… What?”

Seora and the man’s eyes met. The shiny, pretty green eyes became thin, and the squishy lips drew a pleasant arc.

<This is your dream, so I can give you anything you want. Whether it’s an honorific or anything else.>

“…”

<How is it? Is it okay now?>

Seora buried her face in her hands. Not only did her face get hot enough to burn, but she had to cover her mouth, which was about to open.

‘You are very determined to seduce people.’

I’m losing my mind. Seora had to pat around her nose, which was as hot as her face, several times to see if it was bleeding.

“Just speak comfortably. I’m going to faint at this rate.”

The man smiled brightly at the words full of sincerity. Even though it was still a voice mixed with machine sounds, it was amazing that it sounded so refreshing.

Face. Is this the effect of the face?

<One has to do what the dream master wants to do. You don’t think it’s uncomfortable, do you?>

“I can’t speak informally when I see your face.”

The man laughed again as if he were having fun.

“Do you enjoy talking to me that much? I feel like I’m the only one who’s very proud to have made you laugh.”

<I don’t know. Aren’t you the one enjoying yourself?>

“Me?”

<You were very gloomy when you first came here. But you look like a flower in full bloom now.>

Seora licked her lips at the unexpected words.

Yeah, for a moment, I really forgot.

The day of Mom and Dad’s funeral. The day when my life was turned upside down at 10.

It’s such a terrible moment that I’ve never erased it from my mind.

“That’s right. That’s amazing. I never forgot.”

Numerous jewels rattled near her feet and a man who treated her more affectionately than when they first met.

All of that took her out of the swamp of melancholy.

“Did you prepare all these jewels?”

<Because there’s nothing good about the dream master being sad.>

Unlike before, this time, it was like he was drawing a line somehow. Seora’s nose wrinkled.

“I like you being friendly. Can’t you be friendly until the end? You said you’d do whatever I, the dream master, wanted. So be friendly to me.”

<Oh. You’ve suddenly become harsh.>

He slowly approached Seora, even as he spoke in embarrassment.

Expensive jewels were stomped by his feet, but he didn’t care. As if those gems held no importance.

However, when he stood before Seora, his movements changed cautiously. As if she were more important than the scattered jewels.

Why? Just because I’m the dream master?

<But I’ll listen to you because you want it to. I’ll always be friendly to you.>

“… Wait, wait. Those are very exciting and pleasant words, but why is your hand on my shoulder again?”

She had felt like she was fading away for a short time. Before she knew it, she opened her eyes wide to see the neat fingers on her shoulder.

She remembered the first time they met. This resolute hand had mercilessly pushed her back and woke her up then!

Seora hurriedly grabbed the man’s wrist, but it was already too late. He looked apologetic.

<Mm, I’m not lying. I will always be friendly to you. Always… That’s why you shouldn’t be here long. I don’t want to make you sad.>

“Again! You’re saying that again! This behavior of yours makes me sad!”

<I’m sorry, but it’s all for you, so please excuse me.>

There was no choice. Seora tightened her grip on the man’s hand. The twisted wrist must hurt, but the man didn’t shake. Instead, he pulled the caught arm toward himself. As soon as Seora opened her eyes wide, their bodies touched each other gently.

Even though she couldn’t feel his body temperature because it was a dream, her ears were strangely hot as she felt his smooth chin.

<It’s okay. Don’t be afraid. Because you have power now. The same thing won’t happen again.>

“What…?”

The conversation ended there. The man pushed her before she lost her strength at the soothing whispers.

<Good-bye, my…>

The man’s face, gradually moving away, disappeared completely with a splashing sound. Seora’s body, which had fallen into the sea of jewels, slowly sank into the depths.