TRPM 375

chapter 375

Seeing Chloe still unconscious after all this time, I could only come to one conclusion.

The nightmare caused by the curse was far too strong, and Chloe couldn’t process it—she couldn’t wake up from it.

‘At least it’s somewhat reassuring that she’s breathing steadily and doesn’t look unwell.’

Unlike the students in our class who suffered from nightmares, Chloe’s expression remained completely still.

Still, I couldn’t just leave her like this.

“I’ll lie down for a bit too.”

I said that and lay down on Elena’s bedroom floor.

“Are you going into Elf sister’s dream?”
“… Is that even possible?”

Ihaeun asked, having roughly guessed what I intended to do, and Elena, surprised by the idea of entering a dream, followed up with a question.

Wait…

“How did you know? That I’m going to enter Instructor Chloe’s dream?”

I asked Ihaeun.

“Huh? That’s because…”

Chloe, she’s a Cambion, right?

Ihaeun said that.

“……”

I couldn’t deny Ihaeun’s observation.

A Cambion is a half-human, half-demon born between a nightmare demon and a human. Of course, Merlin, whom I had reanimated in Chloe’s body, was also a Cambion.

“You realized it as soon as you saw her?”
“Yeah. Before, when I saw her, she looked like an elf from a story, but ultimately she was just an ordinary human. But seeing her today, I could tell she’d changed.”
“……”

Like Ihaeun, Director Shin Hanji, a great wizard, didn’t seem to know that Chloe Greenwood was close to being a Cambion.

The fact that Ihaeun noticed it…

‘Means her sensing and analysis skills are already superior to Director Shin Hanji’s.’

Sensing and analysis magic are technically auxiliary magic, and Ihaeun is a genius with auxiliary magic. In total, Director Shin Hanji might still be stronger overall, but in this specific aspect, Ihaeun surpasses him.

“A Cambion…? A nightmare demon? No, Chloe is definitely an elf…”

Some of the royals overheard our conversation and looked confused, but I decided to ignore them for now.

“Anyway, Ihaeun, to answer your question, yes. It seems something went wrong in her nightmare, so I’m going in to pull her out.”

“…Can I come with you?”

Come with me?

I hesitated for a moment at Ihaeun’s question. I knew how to enter Chloe’s dream, but explaining it to her verbally would be difficult. Even if she learned the method, unless she had the ability to mimic others like I do, it would be impossible. But…

“I think it’s possible.”

I might be able to bring her in with me into Chloe’s dream.

“But it could be dangerous. I don’t even know what Chloe’s dream looks like right now.”
“It’s fine. I can protect my own body.”
“…Alright.”

If she’s willing to take the risk, I had no choice but to let her join. Especially since Ihaeun, having surpassed Director Shin Hanji in auxiliary magic, would certainly be helpful.

“Whatever the situation, I’m coming too.”
“…Elena, it’s dangerous…”
“Don’t just leave me out because it’s dangerous.”

Elena cut me off and stood beside Ihaeun.

“So? What should we do?”

I sighed inwardly as I looked at Elena. Objectively speaking, she was a capable Awakened. At the very least, she could probably protect her own body.

“Both of you, sit or lie down comfortably. Close enough that I can reach your heads.”

Elena and Ihaeun sat on the floor, as I instructed, and I knelt behind them and placed my hands on their heads.

“Close your eyes and don’t think of anything. Just like when you normally sleep. I’ll handle the rest.”

I began channeling my inner energy into their heads, taking care not to collide with their mana, aura, or elemental energy, as it could be dangerous.

‘…Ihaeun is ready… Elena’s ready too.’

I lulled their consciousness to sleep with my inner energy and simultaneously summoned their awareness. Then I began to fall asleep myself.

‘Now, into Chloe’s dream.’

My consciousness led theirs into Chloe’s dream. The next moment.

Kkrrrkkk…!
Kkgrrrkkk…!
Kakagagak…!

The familiar sounds from last night reached us.

“…Did we make it in?”
“Looks like it.”
“Both of you, prepare for battle.”

As soon as they entered the dream, I confirmed they were ready and instructed them to prepare for combat with the dolls surrounding us. But…

“Huh? Elena, why are your clothes like that?”
“…Not just me, Ihaeun’s outfit is weird too.”

Both of them were surprised by each other’s attire while preparing for battle.

“Since this is real, don’t relax… okay…?”

I looked at them, seeing their outfits, and was left speechless.

Elena wore a beautiful dress that clearly suited a royal. Ihaeun wore a robe reminiscent of those in fantasy comics or movies and carried a massive staff.

“…Why are your outfits like that?”

I asked instinctively.

“We don’t know. And Kenwoo, your clothes changed too.”
“Wait, what’s that in Kenwoo’s hand?”
“My hand?”

I looked at what I was holding…

“…This is…”

It wasn’t my Harmonized Sword but another, older sword.

“This sword is incredibly worn. It’s been maintained well, but many teeth are missing.”
“…”
“Is it a special sword despite its appearance?”
“…It’s an ordinary mass-produced sword.”

Yes, just a mass-produced sword. Except that it had been used extensively, soaked in the blood of countless monsters, and was a magic sword.

“…Hooo…”

I channeled my inner energy into the sword, and it eagerly absorbed it.

‘As expected….’

This was the sword I used before my regression. Though gone after regression, it existed in my memory and manifested in this dream.

‘Holding it after so long, I can feel it. This sword responds better to my inner energy than my Harmonized Sword.’

Subconsciously, I had known. This older sword suited me better than my current Harmonized Sword. My subconscious must have created it instead.

‘Elena and Ihaeun’s outfits are probably similar in origin.’

They likely imagined stronger, future versions of themselves. That’s why Elena got a fantasy princess dress, and Ihaeun got a fantasy wizard robe—both influenced by subculture fantasy imagery.

‘And my clothes….’

I looked at my own outfit, which was made of noticeably expensive fabric, probably carefully sewn by a skilled domestic tailor. Seeing the guild mark, I chuckled.

“The Iron Blood Guild mark…”

This was probably my future outfit for when I join that guild. Not a foresight per se, just my subconscious imagining my future self.

Kkrrkk…!
Pak!
“Get lost.”

While admiring my clothes, the dolls attacked. I kicked away the one swinging at me and told Elena and Ihaeun,

“Stick close behind me.”
“We’ll fight too.”
“We came here to fight too!”

Both of them prepared their wind elemental and magical abilities.

“Alright, then give me a buff.”
“Yes.”
“Okay!”

Elena applied a support buff through wind elemental guidance, and Ihaeun boosted my attack power.

Vrrrooom…!

My sword vibrated as if excited, ready to sweep away the enemies using the buffs.

“Hooo… Both of you, get down.”

I emitted an immense aura, and Elena and Ihaeun ducked in shock. Confirming their positions, I spun.

Basic Sword Spin Slash

Not an extraordinary technique. Just a turn of the body with a swinging sword. A natural extension of a horizontal slash. But…

“Hoo…”

The world split in two. Not only the dolls charging at us, but the very world we were in split top to bottom.

“……”
“……”

It was silent. The lower halves of the dolls froze mid-charge, while the upper halves hovered, unaffected by gravity.

‘Looks like I even cut their time.’

I could cut through space-time. Unintentional, but effective.

Crrrack…

The calm was broken by my sword.

“This…”

Perhaps it couldn’t withstand the previous strike—it began turning to dust. After all, manipulating space-time is a post-regression ability. Even a sword I used pre-regression couldn’t endure it. In this regard, my Harmonized Sword, made of my inner energy, would be better.

“Still… thank you for your service.”

I spoke to the vanishing sword.

Shaaah…

The sword dissolved completely, leaving no form, as if satisfied. Even before regression, I wondered if it had gained a consciousness through the blood it absorbed.

Lost in thought…

“…What?! What just happened?”
“Hoo… hoo… I think we even forgot to breathe.”

Elena and Ihaeun, overwhelmed by what had just happened, regained their senses and rushed to me. They asked what they had just witnessed and if such a thing could even exist.

And then…

“Kenwoo…?”

Chloe Greenwood, appearing as a succubus, descended from above.

“Instructor Chloe, are you okay?”
“…I almost got swept up in that attack.”

Chloe spoke, staring at me with lifeless eyes. Only after I explained that I had calculated the swing to avoid her being affected did she return to her usual self.