10:00
“Can’t you see this?”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah…”
“Nothing at all.”
Ness, An, and even Via, who joined last, were all staring at me.
The friends looking at me shook their heads, even though there was clearly a white light floating beside me.
I pointed at the light with both hands as if supporting it.
“No, look here. There’s definitely a light flying around, right?”
Swish~ Swish~ It was moving around nicely.
“…Even if you say that, I can’t see it.”
“Lily, I can’t see it either.”
“Did you maybe misinterpret something?”
“……”
Why can only I see this light?
Is it a gift from the Dreamland Fairy?
But I know.
Maybe Lily at 6 or 7 years old wouldn’t get it, but at least the 12-year-old Lily knows that the content of picture books is just a fairy tale and not real.
Yet this light is undeniably real to anyone who sees it.
So what on earth could it be?
‘Am I still dreaming?’
“……”
─……
“Hey… Lily?”
“Yeah?”
“Is there something over there?”
The entrance leading to the hill where I fell asleep.
An, with her long, curly brown hair, was staring intently at me.
Well, if it’s something only I can see…
“Nope. Let’s go.”
Let’s just play for now. After that, I can call out like the fairy said.
■
“So I…”
“Poof! Really?”
15:08
In a newly discovered scenic hill, we’ve been playing in the grass for about 5 hours now.
Except for a quick break for food, we’ve been playing non-stop for 4 hours.
Kuaaaa…!
Ah, I’ll correct that. Some people are resting.
There’s Ness sleeping in the grass, while An and Bian are chatting away.
They must be having so much fun; it’s already been over 2 hours of conversation.
Of course, I usually would join in, but right now, something else is more important.
‘This should be enough.’
Lying down and pretending to sleep, I thought towards the light swirling in front of me.
‘Dreamland Fairy, please appear.’
Swish…
The shapeless light began to flicker intensely and shone brightly.
Instinctively, I winced! I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, the fairy I saw in the dream was standing right in front of me.
“Wow…”
Honestly, she has an incredibly beautiful face.
─Hello?
‘Ah, hello.’
─What brings you here?
What brings me here?
A countless number of questions popped into my mind in response to that inquiry.
Starting from the identity of the Dreamland Fairy, the reason I had a nightmare, why the nightmare was said to be real, and what this light that only I could see was.
What in the world is light?
Other questions filled my mind, but the first thought that surfaced was confirmation.
‘…Is this still a dream?’
─Not right now.
‘Reality? You mean this is reality?’
─Yeah.
‘……’
I couldn’t fully believe it.
After all, meeting the Dreamland Fairy in a fairy tale only happens within dreams.
I’d never heard of meeting her in real life like this.
Did the fairy read my thoughts? She shook her head.
─Normally, it would only be possible inside dreams. But the situation is dangerous now, which is why I have revealed myself.
‘…What situation?’
The Dreamland Fairy is an extraordinary being.
She is the master of the Garden of Dreams where all dreams grow, akin to the queen of Dreamland. No, she is a fairy.
What could be so dangerous that she had to show herself?
The Dreamland Fairy gave a slightly sad smile.
─I no longer tend to all the dreams.
‘? Why… ah.’
The content of a book popped into my mind.
Every dream in the world grows in the ‘Garden of Dreams’ managed by the Dreamland Fairy.
Because of this, the world was filled with only happy and joyful dreams. But one day, a wicked being called “Nightmare” invaded the Garden of Dreams.
The Nightmare desires for people in the world to hate each other more and to be unhappy.
Before being chased away, the Nightmare managed to steal several unplanted “seeds of dreams.”
Originally, the dream seeds could only grow in the Garden of Dreams.
However, the seeds infused with the Nightmare’s dark energy could also grow in the Nightmare’s own “Garden of Nightmares.”
Thus, unfortunate and terrifying nightmares spread throughout the world, and the Nightmare grew into the Nightmare Demon King…
─It’s my fault. I should have checked that guy more thoroughly and kicked him out.
“It’s not your fault, Dreamland Fairy!”
The wicked one is the Nightmare; how can one blame the Dreamland Fairy for that?
It’s absurd.
“The Dreamland Fairy did her best! She brought happy dreams to the people of the world and chased away the Nightmare that invaded her garden. You’ve done all you could! No one can say otherwise!”
─…So?
“Yes!”
‘Did my best…’
─Thank you for thinking that way.
The Dreamland Fairy seemed a bit consoled and nodded.
─The power of the Nightmare Demon King is growing stronger. People are having more nightmares, and now its power is starting to affect reality.
It’s getting bigger and bigger. People are having more nightmares, and now that power is starting to affect reality.
“So, you…”
─Did you read the book?
Nods her head.
The Nightmare Demon King grows by feeding on people’s misfortunes.
─What happened to that guy?
“One day, the Nightmare Demon King finds a girl who is completely unaffected by his nightmares.”
A girl who remains unscathed even in the nightmares of the Nightmare Demon King.
Furious at such a girl, the Nightmare Demon King sends even more nightmares, but she remains unharmed.
In the end, the Nightmare Demon King can’t hold back his rage and decides to invade the girl’s dreams to bring her down.
However, the girl was under the protection of the Dreamland Fairy, and the Nightmare Demon King tried to flee upon seeing her but ends up captured, losing all his powers.
“…So while nightmares disappeared from the world, the remnants left by the nightmares faintly remain, causing people to occasionally have frightening dreams.”
─That’s right. It’s been a long time ago.
“So why is the Nightmare Demon King back again…?”
─He has appeared again.
This time, stronger than that Nightmare Demon King.
A True Demon King that crushes the souls of people is coming.
─An evil someone gathered the remnants of nightmares spread across the world and resurrected the Nightmare Demon King once more. This time, it’s even worse.
“…Then could it be.”
─That suspicion is correct.
Once again, a girl is needed to confront the Demon King.
“Can’t the Dreamland Fairy catch him…?”
─As stated in the book, I can only operate within dreams. I can manifest to a degree, but to effectively use my powers, it must be in the dream realm.
“……”
─If you’re scared, you don’t have to.
The Dreamland Fairy firmly drew the line.
─It’s not something that can be forced, and no one has the right to make someone else do it.
“…What if I don’t do it?”
─Then I’ll have to find someone else. Or I’ll somehow find a way on my own.
“……”
─Again, I’ll say it, you really don’t have to take this on forcefully. This isn’t something that anyone is obligated to do. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself for someone else.
A battle against an enemy that is impossible to confront; just the sight of it sends shivers down the spine.
The likelihood of failure is high, and even if things go well, the damage is certain, so there’s no reason to take it on.
Yet.
“I’ll do it.”
─Why?
“Because if I don’t, my other friends will.”
She was Lily.
Even though she possessed no abilities.
“You need younger friends, right? Children who can fool the Nightmare Demon King. It’s better if I do it myself.”
─…….
─…….
“And…”
‘I told you I’m not the Saintess…’
‘The world is doomed, yet why are you still out there saving people… No, I’m not saving them. I’m just…’
‘…just for my own satisfaction. There’s no special reason.’
“It’s also about self-satisfaction.”
─…What’s that?
“Becoming the Dreamland Fairy’s disciple! It sounds totally fun, right?”
Young Lily beams cheerfully.
But ‘I’ know very well.
Whether it’s an odd shiver in my arms and legs.
Despite the fear of nightmares, I willingly throw myself into them to save the world.
‘It’s truly terrifying.’
The Dreamland Fairy smiles.
─Hehe…
“Fairy Lady?”
─Aren’t you regretting it? No take-backs.
“Of course not!”
─Good. Lily.
I’ll make you the strongest.
Light burst forth.
■
“…?”
Lily’s friend, Ness, woke up soaking in sunshine.
The place Lily introduced was quite nice.
Perfect for play and whenever tired or needing a break, it was just right to sprawl out and rest.
Not to mention, the village was visible at a glance and a refreshing sea breeze kept it from being too hot.
Above all, the massive old tree overshadowing most of the grass…
“Where is it?”
There was definitely a huge tree just before sleeping!
Brushing off his backside, he headed towards where the tree had been, only to find just dirt and grass left as if the tree had never existed.
The only remnants were a few branches far away.
Tilting his head, he scanned the area and spotted a startled-looking Lily.
“Lily!”
“Uh? Wh-What?! Why? Why?!”
“…? What’s with the surprise?”
“Oh, nothing!”
“Why are you hiding one arm?”
“Oh! It’s just a little scraped. Hahaha.”
Lily laughed, hiding one arm behind her back.
Ness took it at face value, but Lily couldn’t hide her startled feelings.
A fairy symbol etched on Lily’s hidden arm.
As she carefully touched the symbol, she recalled the situation from just a moment ago.
‘No way…’
Her lightly tapped fist had reduced a decades-old old tree to nothing in an instant.
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