The unending dream continued.

“Oppa, I came again today.”

Hyunbyul visited almost every day, telling me various stories.

“I looked into it separately, hoping it might help you come to your senses. Honestly, I doubted if I could find you... but I got really lucky.”

In this dream world, Hyunbyul hadn’t been pulled into the game, and after hearing about me from my mother, she often came to help.

Just like this.

“A discharged soldier named Ibaekho. I posted on the [Dungeon and Stone] community you frequented, and somehow, I managed to find him.”

“When I asked if I could meet him, he first asked if I was a girl? When I said yes, he said he’d meet. But his behavior is kind of... like a guy crazy about girls.”

“Oh, I got sidetracked. Anyway, the important thing is he wasn’t pulled into the game world either. Ah... are you disappointed?”

Disappointed? Not at all.

It was expected.

No one in this dream world had been pulled into the game.

That’s why.

I sent a letter to my Canadian friend despite everything.

Because I sincerely wondered if I was really crazy.

But fortunately, as of yesterday, the results came out.

No matter how many drugs they gave me or the torment they put me through.

I am not crazy.

There are many strange parts that don’t quite fit a dream, and plenty of unnecessarily realistic elements.

Still, this is a dream world.

It might sound weird, but that’s somehow very advantageous to me.

‘Thinking back, even the police were strange.’

Even though they treated me like a lunatic and I caused a ruckus, Team Leader Kang still visits occasionally, hoping I recover soon, speaking kindly.

Not only that.

“Oppa, when you get better, let’s go to Namsan together. You liked the night view there.”

Hyunbyul, despite being just an ex-girlfriend, treats me with utmost care.

“My son... it’s my fault, my fault... If only I hadn’t done that, none of this would have happened...”

My mother, whose words always hit my sore spot, was the same.

She kept spilling words I wished for deep inside my heart.

It really was a dreamlike world, wasn’t it?

‘Maybe that’s why.’

Looking back now, this might have been bigger than the effects of drugs or anything else.

That this is reality, and that I’m not crazy.

After all, people tend to just stay where they are once lying on an electric blanket, right?

‘But now I have to get up.’

Taking the letter from my Canadian friend as support, I steeled my weakening will and began planning my escape again.

I analyzed the hospital’s layout and the staff’s tendencies and schedules.

At the same time, I pretended to take treatment obediently to lower their guard.

It was while preparing diligently like that...

“Mr. Hansoo, although you haven’t told anyone... I think what you say might be true.”

Team Leader Kang came for a visit under the pretense of questioning and suddenly said this.

For me, who was faking improvement, it was an awkward situation.

“What? Isn’t that all just made up? I sincerely believe it now...”

“Sorry... I’ve been wondering if it’s right to say this now that you seem to be improving... but could you please watch this video just once?”

Then, like asking a favor, Team Leader Kang pulled out his phone and played a stored video.

‘What is this...?’

It was the police station where I’d been questioned before.

The camera showed the monitor on the desk...

“Can you see? The words on this monitor.”

There were unknown logs displayed.

The resolution was poor, making reading the text difficult, but luckily Team Leader Kang read it aloud for me.

“Synchronization completed.”

“Character information and logs are recorded and sent to the administrator.”

“Messages like: ‘Initiated adulthood ceremony successfully,’ ‘Equipped new gear,’ ‘Comprehensive item level increased by...’ and so on—just like game messages—were densely written. Even updated in real time.”

“Sometimes character info appeared, and at one time, the character’s name was ‘Bjorn Yandel.’ It matches the name you mentioned, Mr. Hansoo.”

For me, who judged this place a dream world and was planning an escape, this situation was suddenly puzzling.

“But... so what does that mean?”

I asked, furrowing my brows, and Kang replayed the video that had paused briefly.

“Please look closely around this monitor. Yes, right here. As you can see... no cables are connected to the monitor. Not even a power cord.”

Oh... that’s true.

My mind got confused for a moment.

What on earth does this mean?

“It’s a scientifically inexplicable situation. Because of this, I think even more that your story might be true.”

“...So you’re saying I’m not crazy?”

“No, I don’t know that yet. But one thing’s for sure... the situation is very suspicious.”

“Suspicious?”

When I tilted my head, Kang glanced around and lowered his voice.

“This monitor was lost from the evidence room shortly after being brought here.”

“...”

“Like someone tried to destroy evidence.”

What on earth is going on?

Team Leader Kang’s words left me confused.

I had finally come to fully believe this world was a dream, yet he showed me such a video?

Where’s the line between truth and falsehood?

Did they send Kang to show this so I’d believe, since I refused to believe this place was real?

‘If that were true, why did the Canadian friend’s reply ever arrive?’

Every contradiction solved creates another.

My head hurt more and more, but I tried to think simply.

Ultimately, faith is what matters.

And I can choose.

What to believe.

‘The execution day is four days from now...’

My escape plan was completed, and the date set.

That day, I would escape this hospital and get outside.

Then I’d have to think about how to escape this dream.

‘Somehow, I think [Dungeon and Stone] might have the method...’

Of course, that’s just my guess, not certain.

But the hospital allowed everything except playing [Dungeon and Stone], which felt suspicious.

Though they said it was because it would interfere with treatment.

‘Clearing [Dungeon and Stone] again. That might be the trigger.’

It’s definitely worth trying.

So the important thing is to succeed on the first try...

‘Just in case, one more time.’

While waiting for the execution day, I kept running simulations to find any shortcomings.

And...

One day, two days, three days.

When only one day remained before execution day.

“Patient Lee Hansoo! You have a visitor!”

Someone came to visit the hospital where I was admitted.

I thought it would be one of Hyunbyul, my mother, or Team Leader Kang.

But to my surprise, it was an unknown old man.

White race.

Dressed in a suit reminiscent of a gentleman.

A luxurious cane, not looking like a weapon.

‘Holding a cane doesn’t mean he’s a wizard, though.’

I immediately analyzed the stranger.

A habit formed in Rafdonia—

“You must be Hansoo.”

Surprisingly, the old man who looked like a pure white person spoke Korean very naturally.

I thought the young person behind him was an interpreter.

Maybe just an attendant?

I don’t know, but one thing was clear.

“Yes, but... who are you, sir?”

For some reason, I felt uneasy.

Why would someone like this come to see me?

He looked wealthy and high status.

Even the fact that someone unrelated could visit me made me suspicious...

Swiftly.

The old man removed the fedora hiding his face and placed it on the table.

His previously hidden face was revealed.

No introduction needed anymore.

“I am Auril Gavis.”

Heartbeat!

“The one who made the [Dungeon and Stone] you played.”

I hadn’t expected even this old man to show up.

Maybe because this concept is ‘a dream,’ I really couldn’t predict the development—

“But...”

The old man’s sharp, unfathomable gaze fixed on me.

An overwhelming presence just from his look.

“It seems you already knew me?”

Well, whether this world or the other, I can’t hide anything from this old man.

“Did you see another me in that world?”

“Another you...?”

“Hmm, I guess you haven’t found that out yet...”

Maybe I’m just too used to modern life?

Hearing the old man smack his lips awakened old instincts throughout my body.

I have to keep my wits about me.

Alright, so...

“Enough, get to the point.”

Lowering my voice, I met the deep eyes directly, and the old man smiled strangely.

A somewhat satisfied smile.

“I’m the only person who knows you’re not crazy. And I have the ability to help you get out of here.”

“...”

“But judging by your lack of reaction, you must already have an escape plan.”

Ha, this old man probes so naturally, like breathing.

“Get to the point.”

I lowered my voice further and spoke firmly, and he slowly nodded.

Finally, he got to the point.

“I’ll ask directly.”

The old man had one thing he was curious about.

“Did you meet that child?”

“Who is that child?”

Though I guessed, I pretended not to know, and the old man shook his head.

“...Forget it. I’ll rephrase.”

What? Now you’ve got me curious.

“How were you able to return? The Abyss Gate never opened, did it?”

“...If you’ve come this far, I suppose you’ve already investigated everything?”

“Oh, you mean the records you told the police and doctors? I checked that long ago...”

The old man, who had been speaking calmly, suddenly clamped his mouth shut and burst into loud laughter.

“Hahaha! Ahahahaha!”

“...”

“Do you really believe this world is a dream world?”

The tone was mocking, so I didn’t want to answer. But if I kept silent, I’d gain no information.

“So you don’t think so, old man?”

“Hansoo, no matter what you believe, this is unquestionably reality. Even if it’s different from where you came from.”

“Different from where I came from? What do you mean?”

“This world has no ‘cheat mode’ like you said. That’s why only you could open the Abyss Gate and cross to Rafdonia. But...”

Trailing off, the old man continued.

“That doesn’t mean this place isn’t real.”

“Hard to believe, but it’s all real. Your begging mother, your devoted ex-lover.”

It wasn’t just hard to believe—it was unbelievable.

“Then... provide proof.”

But when I dared to challenge him, the old man just smirked and shook his head.

“No need for that.”

“Not because you don’t have any proof?”

I tried to push it, but he didn’t respond as I expected.

“Believe whatever you want. You probably think this is a dream. If you want to go back there, there’s no need to convince you otherwise.”

Ha... saying that now?

My stress level spiked, but since I was close to escaping, I couldn’t hit back.

“Well then, I’ll be leaving. Good luck.”

The old man got up smoothly, as if his business was done.

Of /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ course, he could have left right there, but...

“Wait.”

Feeling uneasy, I stopped him.

“Is there something else you want to say?”

Uh... I didn’t stop him because I had business, just because I couldn’t let him leave like that...

Since it had come to this, I decided to ask.

“How do I wake up from the dream?”

“Hmm?”

“If you want me to return anyway, shouldn’t you just tell me?”

The old man, who had been staring at me through repeated questions, smiled again.

“I want that.”

“...What?”

“If you want to return, it will happen whether you want it or not. But since you’re still here...”

“...”

“You seem to have grown fond of this place despite what you say.”

What the hell? Even now, I only want to go back.

“Oh, I’ll handle the hospital and police matters. So you can do whatever you want.”

Whatever he says, I will never be confused.