Chapter 40

───────────

Episode 9 - World of Dreams [1]

─────────────────────────────────

"Hello, you are the Spectros del Sueño, aren’t you?"

The Spectros del Sueño remained silent, but soon answered my question.

"Yes, human. Did you dream about us on purpose or because of a story?"

The other Spectros del Sueño looked at me intently.

It is well known that this race is very childish; however, those who have lived a long time are smarter.

They stop being childish and become more serious; many of them are Dream Guardians.

The reason is simple.

The World of Dreams is a dangerous place.

That’s why, for all beings who can dream while they sleep, they have never entered the World of Dreams.

’In the game, Lumina once entered the World of Dreams and then regretted it.’

She doesn’t remember exactly why she regretted it, as it was only one line of dialogue and she never mentioned it again.

’Well, I’m not the one who writes the game’s dialogue.’

Although I knew almost everything about Holy Land, I couldn’t remember it all.

Besides, I focused my memories solely on the game’s Chapters.

"I’d like to obtain an item you have. Is that possible?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The Specters of Dream nodded happily.

"Of course, of course, but you must know the name and pass the test we’ll give you."

I nodded and said the name of the hidden item.

"The name of the item is Lock of Ascension."

The Specters of Dream closed their eyes as if searching their memories. Soon, one of them said,

"Oh, yes, we have something with that name."

"That’s right. We found it in this place five hundred years ago."

"Yes, yes, you’re right."

They all nodded at once. Seeing this, I couldn’t help but think about their personalities.

’It’s like literally seeing a child.’

In any case, I said:

"Then, what will the test be?"

The Specters of Dream fell silent and looked at me with serious faces.

"What’s going on?"

I frowned at their reaction; they had never reacted like that before.

Those players who managed to interact with the Specters of Dream usually said how adorable they were.

But in front of me, these Specters of Dream had serious expressions.

’Is something wrong? Is it because of my soul?’

They have the ability to see through the physical body and observe the soul of any living being directly.

If that was the case, then I didn’t know what to do about it.

’The Specters of Dream don’t ask questions, no matter how strange or unique you are.’

After a few seconds, one of them finally said,

"Hey, human, do you want to enter the World of Dreams?"

"...."

His question took me by surprise.

Entering the World of Dreams could be interesting, but remembering Lumina made me hesitate.

The World of Dreams was never shown in the game; players simply knew it existed.

For us developers, it was just a brief topic, as the World of Dreams wouldn’t impact the story.

So, a map of the World of Dreams was never created.

’I don’t know what it looks like or what’s there.’

I thought about it for a while, then I asked:

"Is it related to the test?"

They nodded.

"The test will take place in the World of Dreams."

That left me puzzled; normally, the test was held in the real world.

The tests varied greatly, so I didn’t even know what type of test I would receive, but this...

’It’s unexpected. Never before has a test been held in the World of Dreams.’

I finally decided to ask why.

"Why the World of Dreams? Is there a reason?"

Then they replied at the same time:

"We don’t know. Your older sister will explain the test to you."

"..."

"Does that mean your older sister just told you?"

They nodded.

"Yes, you guessed right."

I took a deep breath as a flood of thoughts rushed through my mind.

I was torn between accepting and not accepting.

〖Accepts.〗

My master said. Then I asked why.

’Why do I have to accept?’

〖I speak from personal experience. I went to the World of Dreams once, and although most people die there, or even if you come back alive, you go mad, those are the cases where the Specters of Dream don’t protect you. If you’re with them, you’ll be fine, and besides...〗

She fell silent for a moment, as if recalling the past.

〖And who knows, you might discover your purpose, discover your true self, or even find the answer to some of your questions, if they’re related to the soul〗

Upon hearing his last words, my thoughts raced.

What was my biggest question?

That was easy.

’Why did I transmigrate?’

Transmigrating into a new body means that the soul travels through some mysterious plane and enters a new body with its memories.

The Specters of Dream are one of the rare races that can see and understand the soul.

If I ask the "older sister" the Specters of Dream speak of, perhaps I’ll get an answer.

"And it seems her older sister is an adult."

After a few seconds of silence, she finally spoke.

"Okay, I accept."

The Specters of Dreams flew around me and then said:

"Great, you’re one of the few humans who will enter the World of Dreams under our care."

The Specter of Dreams who seemed to be the most mature said cheerfully.

The others nodded.

"That’s right, that’s right."

"Now, we will create a portal for you to enter."

The Spectres of Dreams are the only beings capable of transporting any living creature in physical form to the World of Dreams.

Normally, everyone enters the World of Dreams through lucid dreaming,

Which is a state in which you can move around in your dreams at will.

Then, I was able to find the Door of Dreams that leads to the World of Dreams.

The Specters of Dream spun around; then, within seconds, rose petals made of mana flew in front of me, forming a door.

"Open the door and come in, human. We’re waiting for you on the other side."

I nodded, then took the doorknob, turned it, and finally pushed the door open.

Then I took a step, and soon the rest of my body followed through the door.

***

Lumina’s thoughts were in utter chaos as she looked at the scene before her.

A door made of rose petals glowed faintly.

Adel opened it and stepped inside without hesitation. Seeing this, Lumina’s thoughts raced.

’What is she doing? Why is she entering the World of Dreams? Doesn’t she know about the dangers there? But in my previous regression, he looked completely fine, except for that strange feeling that something was different about him.’

In his previous regression, Adel somehow had something strange or different about him.

She didn’t know what it was, as it was so difficult to even notice that slight difference.

’How to put it... His normally stoic expression looked slightly different.’

Of course, after about two days, he returned to normal.

So, he didn’t pay much attention.

But imagine if she had actually gone to the World of Dreams.

Lumina knew from experience about the horrors that lurked in that place.

’It was like when I entered the World of Abyss.’

Lumina became trapped in the World of Abyss during one of her first regressions to find a solution to her death.

What she saw there was traumatic. In the end, she died just a few days after entering the World of Abyss.

Something similar happened with the World of Dreams.

Others might imagine it as a calm, peaceful, and pleasant place.

But that was just an illusion.

The reason the World of Dreams was a horror was simple.

’All living beings dream when they sleep.’

That said it all: absolutely all living beings dream.

In the World of Dreams, dreams become real.

The greatest fears of all living beings, nightmares, traumas, and so on.

Especially those of entities that should not be seen or understood.

’Damn it, I don’t know what she’s doing, but I need to get in there too.’

Lumina needed to know exactly what was happening with Adel and her reason for entering the World of Dreams.

Whatever the reason, Lumina entered the room.

Just as the Specters of Dream were about to return to the World of Dreams.

Lumina shouted:

"Wait a moment."

The Specters of Dream looked at her in confusion.

"What’s going on, human? Is there something you want?"

"Oh, wait, isn’t she...? Hey, what do humans call you guys? Ah, right, you’re the wife of the human who entered the World of Dreams."

Lumina’s expression didn’t change at all on the outside, but on the inside...

’W-w-what is this Specter of Dreams saying...? M-me, his wife...?’

Her previous worry had temporarily vanished.

However, even though her thoughts were like a mental assault,

Outwardly, she simply said:

"No, but that’s not the point, I can go in too."

The Specters of Dream looked at each other.

Then they nodded and turned to look at her again.

"Yes, since you seem to be with that human, we’ll protect you too. Come on in."

Lumina sighed, then walked toward the door. Before entering, she said:

"Could you send me a little farther away from where Adel will appear?"

The Specters of Dream nodded.

"Sure, no problem."

"Then I’ll give you a tour. What do you think, human?"

"Oh, right, you want something too."

Lumina shook her head, then took the doorknob, turned it, and finally pushed the door open.

She entered, and the world before her changed.