Future Diary Survival Game

Chapter 128: Sleepwalking - 4

Magireta’s whisper.

Rather than an ordinary voice, it felt like the Secret Conversation of the Diary Book.

A voice heard only by me.

“What do you mean? Sister.”

-Oh my. Don’t speak out loud. Our Secret Conversation might be discovered.

At the words Secret Conversation, I flinched inwardly.

I moved only my lips and spoke.

-What do you mean, not to expect anything.

-You must be thinking there’s only one step left now. Since everyone realized that the Game has a separate Condition for Passing, and that the Boundary Duty is a fake quest.

-That’s the truth. Kaid is a Dream Demon, and the Companions even know that he’s a Dream Demon.

A Dream Demon who put people to sleep and manipulated dreams.

That Dream Demon even made a deal putting his own limbs on the line and participated in this quest with us. In order to deal with me.

If my companions were as wise as I knew them to be, they would naturally be able to infer that the ‘still unknown’ real quest was related to dreams.

If that was the case…….

At that moment, Magireta continued.

-If it all gets solved that smoothly, it wouldn’t be fun, would it?

-Fun?

-I blocked the flow of your thoughts. Unless they notice the ‘final hint’ I prepared in advance, your companions will never realize that this place is a dream.

For an instant, I felt flames surge through my organs.

-Why would you do something like that? There was nothing like that in the rules of the Sleepwalking Quest!

-What’s this now. Nothing like that? Don’t you remember Rule number six?

Participants must, based on three hints, realize that ‘this is a dream.’

-It said you must realize it based on three hints, didn’t it?

-…….

-If you realize it’s a dream without opening all the hints, that’s a violation of the rules.

I was momentarily speechless.

Looking only at the rules, she wasn’t wrong.

But.

-I knew this was a dream even without the hints.

-Yes. That’s why I wondered whether I should let you pass. You must have received help from some ‘assistant’ I cannot perceive.

-…….

-But I decided to acknowledge it cleanly. I properly blocked even your flow of thoughts. If you overcame that and realized it, then I have to 인정 it.

In other words, if my Companions overcame Magireta’s interference, she wouldn’t interfere further.

However, that possibility was close to none.

The reason I realized it was a dream was thanks to the absence of the Diary Book.

Magireta had been unable to touch the existence of the Diary Book in my memories.

She probably didn’t even know such a memory existed in the first place.

‘Because Magireta’s omnipotence doesn’t work on the Diary Book.’

But my party members would not receive such luck.

-What about Kaid? He clearly didn’t notice all three hints either.

-Not at all. The moment he fell into the dream, he discovered all three hints. And just as he said in the beginning, he tampered with one of them.

-That quickly?

-He is a Dream Demon accustomed to dreams, after all. He passed fairly through his own ability. Unlike you, who used a shortcut.

I wanted to refute her, but I simply closed my mouth.

In Magireta’s quest, the existence of the Diary Book could indeed be called a shortcut.

-So we have to open the final hint as well.

-Yes. But it won’t be easy. Kaid decorated it quite properly.

…….

I flinched.

Decorated?

What did she mean by decorated?

‘It’s not that he replaced the hint entirely…….’

Did that mean he merely altered its shape slightly from the basic base?

Come to think of it, Kaid had said this.

-The hint I change will still function properly as a hint. It will merely raise the difficulty…… Yes, that’s about it.

Right.

He hadn’t replaced the hint entirely.

The basic base still existed.

He had merely ‘decorated’ it into another shape.

I calmed myself and spoke.

-Thank you. Sister.

-For what?

-You gave me a hint at the end. By telling me it was decorated.

-Hehe. To notice your sister’s secret consideration. How admirable.

After saying that, she withdrew her voice.

At that moment, Aina Noel said,

“Anyway, there’s no need to go up to the Guard post anymore.”

“Hmm?”

“You said this entire quest is fake. It doesn’t matter how many Dolls get stolen, right? There must be a separate real Condition for Passing.”

That would be a problem.

If we failed to realize it was a dream before losing all 30 Dolls, we would be eliminated.

In other words, the effort to protect the Dolls from the Thief had to continue.

Only then could we buy even a little more time to think.

After organizing my thoughts, I opened my mouth.

“Part of what you said is correct. We don’t need to follow any of the rules written on that opaque Bulletin Board.”

“Right?”

“But we must protect the Dolls.”

They all tilted their heads.

Berseum asked,

“For what reason?”

“I cannot tell you.”

“Hmm……. That must also be related to your realization. It must be one of the conditions of the hidden real quest.”

He stroked his mustache and continued.

“For instance, something like ‘the time limit of the real quest.’”

“……!”

“If you fail to realize something before losing all the Dolls in the fake quest, you’re eliminated…… something along those lines.”

My Companions truly were the best.

If not for Magireta’s interference, they would have realized long ago that this place was a dream.

I silently nodded.

Then Benjamin Noel let out a sigh and spoke.

“In that case, we should prepare the next Sentry.”

“No. There’s no need.”

“What?”

“Hey, Kaid! Come out here.”

Silence.

I looked toward Berseum.

Just as Sienne had once understood my intent from a mere glance, he too manifested magic without a word.

-Kwaaaaaang!

The Rock where Kaid had been hiding shattered completely.

“Aaaagh! What are you doing? No, why are you people so violent!”

“You wouldn’t listen.”

“Hey. If someone doesn’t listen, you’re supposed to coax them first.”

“I’ll coax you, so come here.”

“That’s a lie. My Master says that too, but when I get close he always…….”

“That routine is enough.”

With a sigh, I continued.

“For the rest of the remaining time, you and I will stand as Sentries.”

“Huh? What nonsense is that.”

“…….”

“Ah, no. What nonsense are you saying? The Sentry is supposed to change every two hours.”

Kaid pointed at the opaque fake Bulletin Board.

I smiled cynically and said.

“Are you really saying that? You, who already realized everything and passed?”

“…….”

“That Bulletin Board is fake, and the Boundary Duty Quest is fake as well. There’s no need to follow a single rule written there.”

“…….”

“In other words, there’s no need to bother with changing the Sentry either. Now, follow me.”

I walked up to him and grabbed him by the collar.

The frail Dream Demon struggled as I dragged him along.

“No, I refuse. Why should I stand Sentry all day for you people?”

“Either way, you and I have already passed. The others need time to think about what the final hint might be.”

“…….”

“So those of us who have some leeway should at least show that much generosity.”

“Aaaah. Someone please help me.”

At that, Armelia Kerr Dneroum stepped in front of us.

Kaid’s eyes sparkled as he opened his mouth.

“Ohh. Have you come to help me? How kind of—”

“Mason. Will you be alright?”

“Pardon?”

“If you stand Sentry for twenty-four hours straight, your body will suffer greatly. You’ve barely slept for almost two days already.”

Realizing she hadn’t come to rescue him, Kaid went limp.

‘I haven’t been awake for two days.’

I’m asleep right now!

It was unfortunate that I couldn’t say that.

Dragging Kaid along, I replied,

“The effect of the medicine Aina Noel gave me is excellent. During the Bungee Jump Quest, I once went three days straight without sleeping.”

“Even so.”

“It’s fine. Instead, if you’re worried, please realize it quickly. Whatever it was that I realized.”

She silently nodded.

My Companions and the Ordinary participants also took on resolute expressions.

As I shoved Kaid up the Ladder, I said,

“Now then. Let’s have an enjoyable conversation, just the two of us.”

“…….”

“When I worked as a restaurant employee, I heard from soldiers that when a new recruit comes in, they always make him stand Boundary Duty with the senior-most soldier and give him a hard time. Like a warm initiation ceremony.”

Kaid’s face turned pale.

Leaning close to his ear, I whispered,

“I’ll give you a thorough initiation too. Look forward to it.”

Only Kaid and I remained at the Guard post.

He refused to meet my eyes and merely stared straight ahead.

No, to begin with, he had his eyes closed.

“Hey. Aren’t you going to open your eyes?”

“I’m sorry!”

“If you’re sorry, open them.”

“Well, you see……. To be honest, I have no obligation to help you pass.”

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

I lowered my voice further.

There was no way the conversation here would reach below, but if by any chance this exchange reached their ears, I would be eliminated.

“This place is a world of dreams, and you can control dreams, can’t you?”

“Yes. Well, that’s true.”

“Then the Thief who’s been approaching through various routes must also be a being within the dream. Can’t you control that Thief?”

“I could, if I wanted to…… but I refuse.”

He answered sternly.

“The existence of the Thief is the most crucial element not only in the Boundary Duty Quest but also in the Sleepwalking Quest. The time it takes for him to steal 30 Dolls is the time limit.”

“…….”

“To control the Thief would be no different from ruining the Sleepwalking Quest. There’s no way Lady Magireta would permit that.”

“You originally intended to put me to sleep forever. You were fully prepared to shake the very foundation of the Game. And now you’re saying this?”

“But in the end, I didn’t do it.”

He shrugged smugly.

“Since I didn’t take a risk to eliminate you, I won’t take a risk to help you pass either.”

“Fine.”

“You’re more understanding than I expected.”

“Instead, make it so I don’t miss the Thief. That wouldn’t be shaking the foundation of the Game.”

Kaid tilted his head as if asking what I meant.

I continued,

“In this dream, you must be an omnipotent being comparable to Magireta. Using that ability, give me chameleon-like eyes that can monitor 360 degrees.”

“What are you—”

“You said you wouldn’t interfere. So I’ll keep watch myself so the Thief can’t approach.”

“Listen here, Mr. Mason.”

He snickered.

“If you ask whether it’s possible or not, it is possible. There’s a Monster with eyes like that, you know? I could create a ‘dream’ where those eyes are implanted into yours.”

“Then do it.”

“You’re unbelievable. Even if this is a dream, the base is still constructed upon your mental world.”

He raised his index finger as he explained.

“You’ve had the experience of waking up exhausted after an especially vivid nightmare, haven’t you?”

“I have.”

“The more vivid a dream is, the more mental energy it consumes. This dream world constructed by Lady Magireta is also built upon the participants’ mental energy.”

He said that once the quest ended and we awoke, everyone would likely be utterly drained.

I understood what he meant.

“So?”

“So what do you mean, so? If you gain eyes capable of monitoring in all directions, it will consume far more mental energy.”

“What happens if my mental energy runs out?”

“That depends on the person…… but if you’re unlucky, you might become an imbecile.”

For a moment, I swallowed dryly.

Kaid continued with a sly grin.

“Wasn’t your only weapon that cunning brain of yours? Don’t wager it on a pointless gamble.”

“Fine.”

“So you understand.”

“Implant those eyes into me immediately.”

“You didn’t understand at all, did you.”

He let out a deep sigh and tried to persuade me several more times.

But when I remained unmoved, he eventually gave up and waved his hand dismissively.

And in the next moment.

My field of vision suddenly changed.

Normally, one can only see in the direction one’s pupils face.

But now, I was observing multiple directions ‘simultaneously.’

Various images surfaced within my mind.

Not only east, west, south, and north, but even surveillance from above was possible.

I marveled at this strange phenomenon……

“Ugh.”

Suddenly, a stabbing headache pierced through me.

“See? You’re already like that from the start.”

Ignoring him, I focused on the numerous images in my mind.

‘There he is. The Thief.’

This time, he was to the south.

The Thief approaching the Dolls, only to freeze upon being caught in my sight.

“Found you.”