1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

144. The Skull of the Nightmare

Fossils were displayed on the shelf.

From blueprints to various parchments stuck in jars, this was Professor Gomon’s laboratory.

Gomon, who had been dozing with his head on the long table, opened his eyes.

A magnifying glass was clutched in his hand.

“Hmm? Ah, I was definitely aligning the bones.”

Gomon scratched his head with a dazed expression.

His memory was a bit hazy, but he was sure he had been sorting the bones he had brought, placing each in its rightful position.

In the midst of this, his hand was cut by the sharp horn of a skull, and he had gone to fetch the bandages from the mirror-adorned shelf for treatment.

Then he was startled.

‘W-what was that just now?’

When he glanced at the mirror, he had seen someone sitting on the table.

A man with very pale skin…

But when he turned his head, there was no one there.

Gomon soon let his shoulders droop and slumped into his chair.

It seemed he had been seeing things, perhaps from having looked at too many old books lately.

Gomon grasped the magnifying glass once more to finish his work.

Yet, the bones had vanished.

“Ah?”

“You’ve already figured it all out, so why not take a good rest?”

At the sudden voice, Gomon’s head turned slowly.

There was no sense of surprise.

It felt, for some reason, as if he were about to share a conversation with a guest he had invited.

Gomon blinked.

“Hmm?”

A naked man leaned against the wall.

Horns sprouted from his head, wings unfurled from his back, and a black tail flicked playfully beneath him.

His pale skin shimmered like stars.

Even in his dazed state, Gomon realized how utterly surreal this was.

“Am I dreaming right now?”

“Indeed, you are. All of this is but a dream. A so-called lucid dream. Isn’t it delightful? If you have a desire, imagine it for a moment. I shall repay you for waking me.”

At the man’s words, Gomon found himself thinking it was rather fortunate.

If he could live without sleep, his research time would double, wouldn’t it? That hope flickered in his mind.

After all, it was just a dream, but if he had consciousness, he could make use of the time.

‘Researching even in a dream. How splendid!’

Gomon opened a half-burned book nearby. It was an ancient text that had helped him discover bones.

The man showed interest.

“What book is that?”

“Oh, this? An ancient text I was studying.”

Once, Frost Heart had been seized by the Kingdom of Bellam.

This was a book they had written.

Though it had been half-burned when the Academy fell back into the Empire’s hands…

“See, this is why war is a problem. It burns everything, leaving future generations ignorant of history.”

As Gomon grumbled, the man yawned, appearing bored.

“Is that all you wish to read about?”

“Don’t belittle it. There are so many questions. Various speculations keep bubbling up, driving me to distraction.”

Gomon sighed deeply as he handed the ancient text to the man.

“I believe it records the history of the war back then, but interpreting it is difficult. How exactly did they invade the stronghold? And why did they bury such bones in the backyard?”

The man grinned slyly.

“Ah, if that’s the case. Shall I teach you?”

“Huh?”

“It was the work of a nightmare. A nightmare that descended to the realm of men, feeding on their dreams.”

Before long, the man’s bare skin was cloaked in an elegant gentleman’s attire.

After all, it was just a dream, so Gomun asked, accepting it as such.

“A nightmare, you say?”

“Yes, indeed. A nightmare.”

Gomun thought it was a rather absurd notion.

To think that a being, whose existence was uncertain, had once occupied the Frost Heart.

Yet the man continued to chatter on, as if reminiscing about the past.

“The nightmare, awakened from a long slumber, learned the ways of the changed humans and stepped forth like a gentleman. ‘I shall grant you good dreams, so give me sustenance.’ He proposed such a deal to the king of a land called Belam.”

The origin of the nightmare legend lay in Belam.

A foolish tale of a nightmare that, in its greed, sought to swallow the nation with sweet words, only to be outwitted by a wise king and met its demise.

It was a well-known classic tale, familiar in its content.

However, the man’s words diverged slightly from the original narrative.

“But surprisingly, he offered even better terms. In exchange for doing a task, he would grant a fief. The nightmare thought it not so bad. Perhaps he would create a dream world in the area and invite humans? The entrance fee would be a dream. In return, he would provide a good experience.”

It sounded somewhat like a businessman.

Unlike the gruesome depictions in tales of him wickedly sucking the life force from humans to turn them into mummies.

“So what was the task the king set for him?” Gomun asked, and the man’s eyes took on a sorrowful glint.

“He said he would grant the land if he helped him conquer the Frost Heart. But these days, kings are truly treacherous. Do you know what happened after the task was completed?”

“What happened?”

“They tore me to pieces and buried me in the backyard.”

Gomun narrowed his eyes.

The man had clearly said “I.”

As if that nightmare were himself.

“I? What do you mean…?”

“Did you not find it strange, Gomun? Why the bones were lighter than water.”

Clack, clack.

The man approached with dim, clouded eyes.

“That is because it was not truly bone. Yes, my body does not rot even in death. What you thought was bone was merely an illusion I conjured.”

From the man’s form, countless droplets of crimson spilled forth.

As if to reveal how he had been severed.

Gomon’s eyes widened at the chilling sight.

“So, what do you desire?”

The man replied with a cold gaze.

“Revenge.”

His voice, as he spoke those words, was indifferent yet edged with sharpness.

“Hmm. Perhaps it is because I have awakened from a long slumber, but I find myself a bit hungry. Shall I devour the dreams of those present here first…?”

The man snapped his fingers.

At that moment, the sound of rain pouring outside faded, and the room began to fill with bubbles.

Gomon shook his head and opened the book once more.

‘What a strange dream this is.’

* * *

The torrential downpour transformed entirely into bubbles.

As I sought allies to procure hidden items, I could see those sprawled across the hallway, snoring on the floor.

Yet, a few managed to regain their senses and rise, while most wandered with dazed expressions, chasing after the bubbles.

“Hehe, a butterfly.”

“Hey? I’m going to catch that one.”

“No, I am! Hehe.”

“But what were we doing until just now?”

“Who knows? Heehee.”

Their minds had become utterly vague.

The moment they recognized this place as a dream, they slipped into lucidity, and if they could not, they merely drifted along in the dream, intoxicated by the illusion, becoming fools of the unconscious.

Donathan asked in a flustered voice.

‘Hursel, what in the world is happening?’

“I would like to say we’ve finally changed our line of work to a mental asylum… but isn’t there some commotion occurring? Something that should not awaken has awakened, perhaps?”

I made a vague excuse, yet I was well aware of the situation.

This was proof that the dream world had manifested.

At last, the scenario has begun.

【Dream Phantom Irte】

It is categorized as a humanoid monster, a ma-in.

Irte possesses intelligence and the ability to speak.

Its powers can be divided into three main abilities.

One is the summoning of sleep gas.

Then there is hypnosis, which can only be cast on those who are asleep.

It is powerful enough to resurrect itself even after truly dying.

Lastly, it has the power to merge its dungeon, the Dream World, with reality.

…At first glance, it sounds like an immortal being, akin to a god capable of creation, but fortunately, it is not quite that formidable.

The creature’s weakness lies in the core hidden within its dungeon.

If that is destroyed, the illusion will vanish, and the death that was long ago sealed will become reality.

It is not exceedingly difficult, but conversely, since that is its only weakness, the challenge is moderate.

So, who are the ones destined to defeat it? They are the protagonists in the role of wizards.

The barrier mage Belman, the master of manifestation Rix, and the shapeshifter Edina. As an ally, there is Rockefeller.

Except for Rix, the first-year students of the Adel Department are currently training under Rockefeller in a sealed space known as the Magic Control Room.

Thanks to that, they have not been swept away by the sleep gas and have not fallen into a dream state, allowing them to move freely.

“I doubt I’ll be of any help.”

With the setup being this solid, there’s no way the scenario could go awry.

Though I’ve been targeted by villains and caught up in various disturbances simply for having enrolled, Irte and I have no connection whatsoever.

If the protagonists, who have been struggling, were to ask me what I’ve been doing, I could easily say I’ve been dreaming like everyone else.

Of course, I am not under Irte’s hypnosis.

[Threat detected. Type: Hypnosis]

[1-second invincibility activated.]

“Heh heh.”

So, with this free body of mine, all I need to do is leisurely find a guard or two and sneak away a hidden item from its dungeon.

Please, let this hardship be yours alone, you rascals.

* * *

In the café of the Adel Department, Leana opened her eyes.

As she lifted her head, a few strands of red hair clung to her lips.

“Hmm…”

I tidied my hair out of habit and glanced around.

The café was filled with people moving in a languid dance.

Bubbles floated, drifting like dreams.

People followed them, enchanted.

“Look, a dragonfly.”

“A fairy.”

“No, it’s my love letter.”

It was truly a bizarre sight.

‘Am I dreaming right now?’

As that thought crossed my mind, a heaviness settled in my consciousness.

Then I spotted Sila, her face buried on the table before her.

Leana gently shook Sila’s shoulder.

“Sila?”

“Uh, ugh…”

Sila rubbed her eyes and sat up.

Leana blinked slowly, her gaze clouded.

“Sila, what were we doing?”

“We were drinking tea.”

“Oh, right. What were we talking about?”

“Hmm… Your fiancé?”

Their conversation continued in a dazed exchange.

“Oh, right. But did I have something like that?”

“Uh… Hessel?”

“Hmm? That’s strange. Did we…?”

As Leana spoke, Sila looked around, bewildered.

“Speaking of which, why are we at a ball?”

“A ball?”

To Leana’s eyes, it merely appeared as a café.

“Look over there, people are waltzing.”

They were merely humans, stumbling along, trailing after soap bubbles.

“Over there, a band plays. Hee hee.”

Men hummed with the sound of pigs being slaughtered.

Surely, Silla would not have cast a spell.

It seemed they were caught in some strange dream.

* * *

The interior of the clubroom was stained a deep green.

The fabrics had all transformed into red carpets, and wisps of ash floated in sporadically.

This place had somehow become a dungeon themed after the Demon Lord’s castle.

Students wore vacant expressions, giggling foolishly.

“Was it always like this?”

“Hmm? Was it? It feels oddly like home. Am I dreaming right now?”

At that moment, the students whipped their heads around at the dull clanking of armor.

Clank, clank.

I hid among the group, observing the figure.

Clad in full plate armor, yet the contents were nothing but an empty suit of armor.

That was a dungeon creature, filling the stronghold, a minion of Irthe.

Clank, clank.

Fortunately, it passed by without noticing my presence.

Then, the woman who had been chattering earlier wrapped her arms around the back of the armored knight.

“Alend, right? Huh? The armor seems a bit big, doesn’t it? Or is it just my imagination? Well, whatever. Can you take me to my room?”

“······.”

“What’s this? Now that you’re all grown up, you won’t carry me anymore? Ah, who cares. It’s a dream anyway. I just want to be carried.”

The woman patted the armor playfully and forced herself onto its back.

Ignoring the knight, she clung on as it continued on its path.

Donathan spoke, puzzled.

“Strangely, it does not attack.”

The minions never assault those intoxicated by dreams.

It made sense; they were all sources of energy—what good would it do to kill them?

They only attacked those like me, who were not lost in dreams.

—

By the way, where the hell is Riamon?

I’ve wandered here and there, but the guy I marked as a bodyguard is nowhere to be seen.

Yet, I couldn’t just waltz into the place where Mircel or Eruzel were.

That spot was crawling with minions, and true to their appearance, they were stronger than the undead.

With my meager ability to wield ‘physical telekinesis’—a spell I could barely use—I had no confidence in breaking through their numbers.

But just standing around here felt pointless.

I walked slowly, muffling my footsteps. Then, a human with a dazed expression pointed at my face and shouted.

“It’s the Bear!”

What the hell, is this guy insane?

Just as I was about to ignore him and move on, someone called my name correctly.

“Bear? It’s Hursel. Hursel!”

Did those words trigger some kind of chain reaction?

People began to swarm around me.

They were first-year knights from the Adel Academy.

“oooh, it’s Hursel! Our hero!”

“Thanks to this man, the tyranny of the Ten has come to an end. Everyone, cheer!”

“I’ve always wanted to do that to him. How fortuitous!”

Strong fellows lifted me up, using their aura.

With a bunch of them charging at me, I was utterly defenseless.

“Ha, stop it.”

I resisted, but in the end, I had no choice but to allow their hands to roam.

“One, two!”

As they signaled and shouted cheers, my body soared into the air.

Each time, it seemed to draw attention, and other students began to murmur.

“That guy. He’s the one who made me lose all my money in gambling.”

“Ugh, I still have debts left.”

Damn it.

Since they recalled the name Hursel, it seemed everyone finally recognized me for who I truly was.

It was around the time the second cheer began.

Naturally, this caught the attention of the armored knights, and they started clanking their way over.

—

I hurriedly leaped, timing my descent to stomp on the heads of the first-year brats.

“Thud!”

Thanks to Donathan’s guidance, maintaining my balance was no issue.

I didn’t look back, rushing up the stairs.

Clank, clank.

With every echo of armor clanging from above and below, my heart raced.

“Damn it.”

With no other choice, I kicked open the nearest door.

This was a floor reserved solely for the students of Adel Academy.

The closest facilities were the dining hall and the café.

The dining hall would be closed at this hour, so I hurried into the café.

Ding—

The bell attached to the door chimed.

Fearing a repeat of earlier chaos, I quickly covered my face with the collar of my coat.

As I scanned for a suitable hiding spot among the swaying figures, it happened.

Bang!

The wooden door creaked and splintered with a loud crack.

In a panic, I hurried toward the curtains, thinking to hide behind them.

At that moment, a familiar voice called out.

“Hershel?”

It was Leana. In front of her, Sylla swayed rhythmically from side to side.

Of all the people to run into, it had to be these women.

“Hershel, right? The one who headbutted me?”

“Yes, that’s me. The very same Hershel.”

With only such memories to share, I couldn’t help but wonder what violent act they might inflict upon me in my current state of foolishness.

“Ugh, get rid of him. That nasty brat.”

Well, fortunately, it seemed Sylla had no intention of doing so.

She still perceived me as an object of fear, instinctively terrified.

But what about Leana?

I cautiously gauged her reaction. As expected, she rose from her seat, her gaze sharp and predatory.

I was just about to fling open the window and unleash my signature move, the ‘Falling Escape.’

But then Leana suddenly wore a perplexed expression, gazing at the armored knight who had burst through the door.

Clank, clank.

As they approached, Leana turned to me and asked,

“Are they troubling you?”

“Well… that’s one way to put it. Why?”

“That’s a rather hurtful question. I mean, as your fiancée, shouldn’t I be helping you?”

“Fiancée?”

For a moment, I doubted my ears, but soon enough, it sank in.

She had always been a bit dazed, and in this foggy state, it was no surprise she seemed even stranger.

Yet, wrongs must be righted.

Even if I perceived all this as a dream, the moment I awoke, it would linger faintly in my subconscious.

Just as I was about to correct the misaligned button.

“Our relationship is—”

The armored knight swung his sword.

Whoosh!

Leana swiftly dodged, then stomped down on his wrist with her foot.

Thud!

In an instant, she snatched the sword that had been sent soaring.

Pointing it at him, the other knights charged toward her.

Leana targeted the joints of the armored knights one by one, and soon enough, they fell to the ground, severed by parts.

Donathan watched in awe.

‘She’s improved quite a bit.’

It was clear even to my novice eyes.

Her movements had certainly sharpened since learning from Bellen.

Once Leana had dispatched them all, she approached me, stretching her limbs, and asked,

“What were you saying earlier? Something about our relationship…?”

I wore an apologetic expression as I continued from where I had left off.

“Our relationship is…”

“Is?”

“Engaged yet still without a date for the meeting of families, are we?”

The truth could wait until after the hidden item was found. Perhaps.