He didn’t know how time flowed in the dreamscape, or when he would finally be able to leave.

So he started keeping a diary to track the passage of time and sort out his thoughts.

According to the Shepherdess, today was supposed to be one of his last few training sessions. He might be able to leave soon.

He’d be leaving into the Inner Side, if all went according to plan. He needed to clearly outline his priorities in his notebook:

First, the last clue he remembered was the Canaan Tree Staff, mentioned by Master Zophie. Anthony had been killed by the Canaan Tree Staff coated with Mistletoe Liquid. It was similar to how the Undead were killed, yet different, because the Corruption Flower was used on them.

’I’ll need to find Master Bagins and ask him if there’s any difference between the two. There might be something there that could clear my name.’

Second: ’Avenge Master Zophie. He died for me. The next time I see that bastard Roy, I’ll kill him... even if it means exposing my identity...’

After a moment’s thought, Baron crossed out "exposing my identity" and changed it to "while trying not to expose my identity."

The Inner Side was full of enemies. He might be Bronze now, but he was no king.

Third, cling tightly to Westminster Cathedral. Baron, a world-class financial predator himself, believed that even if the truth about him came out, the Deputy Governor would likely make an exception for him as long as he demonstrated sufficient potential.

’They should be very interested in a Bronze Tier Dragon Knight.’

And if they weren’t interested... Baron paused, then added a threat to his notes: [disclose to the entire world the Taboo Items in the warehouse that still bear the labels of other Old Blood Clans and the Law Enforcement Organization]. That would be his leverage, forcing them to cling to *him*.

Having written these points, Baron felt that was about enough. He could add anything he’d forgotten later... ’Damn that Chain of the Imitator,’ he thought. The price for using it was Forgetfulness, which meant he didn’t even know what he’d forgotten.

Finally, Baron added one last point in large letters: Improvise.

After all, with his luck—already abandoned by Destiny and now cursed with misfortune—he figured it was entirely possible he’d get ambushed by a hundred-ton truck on some Outer Side road the moment he woke up.

After writing all this, Baron accepted the floral tea the Shepherdess offered him and took a sip. Before he could even say thank you, he passed out, his body sinking into the grass.

’Can’t I just fall asleep normally for once...?’

The last thing Baron saw was the Shepherdess picking up the diary that had fallen to the ground.

The Shepherdess picked up the diary. This is roughly what was written inside:

[Day 1: Sparred with the Shepherdess today. Got my ass kicked. Her moves looked a lot like Gawain’s. When I asked, she told me she was using the techniques from that *Dragon Spear* manual Gawain gave me.]

[Day 2: Practiced the Dragon Spear. The name fits—it feels like it was designed for Dragons, not people. I thought using a spear was just about stabbing, but I ended up not getting hurt by the Shepherdess, but accidentally skewering my own foot. Can I get tetanus from this? Probably not, since the spear is formed from my own blood.]

[Day 3: Sparred with the Shepherdess again. I’m still not used to the spear, having to unlearn all my swordsmanship. I asked the Shepherdess why we weren’t fighting with blades like before. She hesitated, then said it was an order from the Dream Master. The Dream Master wants me to practice the spear? What kind of weird-ass order is that?]

[Day 4: I think it’s day four. It’s hard to tell when you can’t see the sun or moon. There’s nothing here but black sheep and grass. After spear practice, I taught the Shepherdess how to play Go. I figured that as a beginner, she’d be terrible. Turns out I’m the one who sucks.]

[Day 5: Spear practice...]

[Day 6: Spear practice. Chatted with the Shepherdess about the dreamscape. I found out that for someone who seems to love flowers, she only knows the few types that grow here. The Dream Master is a pretty cheapskate system administrator. Who would want to work for a guy like that?]

[Day 7: Spear practice. The Shepherdess plays Go like an AI. Looks like soon, the only game I’ll be able to play with her is Gomoku.]

[Day 8: She wants to read my diary. She may be an emotionless killer, but judging by her glances and the way she’s "casually" walked past me thirty-six times, she’s definitely curious about what I’m writing.]

[Day 9: What’s the point of a diary if not to be read?]

[Day 10: ...This is a Purple Sparrow Flower. In the Prole language, its meaning is ’another world.’]

The Shepherdess carefully plucked a small, pressed purple flower from between the pages. Her expression was one of pure curiosity, like a newborn baby opening its eyes to the world for the first time.

Her grip on the diary loosened, and it fell to the ground.

The Shepherdess reached for it, but the pages fluttered open, and flowers of every color tumbled out... none of which she had ever seen before.

"Another world."

The Shepherdess spoke quietly, her eyes on the colorful array of flowers scattered across the ground.

For the first time, a clear ripple of emotion disturbed her emerald eyes, like a stone tossed into the placid depths of a lake.

The black sheep watched, chewing thoughtfully. It let out a single BAA, then went back to its chewing.

...

Meanwhile, Baron’s eyes fluttered open. He found himself in bed with a strange woman.

’Here we go,’ he thought. ’A classic opening.’