Chapter 216. A Dream Inside a Dream (4) (2/2)

Seol Jihu was taken aback, but he soon analyzed the situation stoically. He threw his sense out the window when it came to romance, but he was rather quick-witted about things like this.

‘It’s Miss Phi Sora’s dream.’

Seol Jihu arrived at the correct answer instantly. After all, he had touched Phi Sora’s body without staring at the stone’s light. He must have been sucked in when he made contact.

Considering how he could be influenced by the curse, it wasn’t surprising that he was experiencing something different than what Flone did.

This situation wasn’t so bad if his goal was to rescue Phi Sora. Rather than shouting endlessly from the outside world, it was far more efficient to appear in person and help her wake up.

The only problem was that it was dangerous.

‘I don’t have much time.’

Phi Sora was in a dangerous state. Dilly-dallying for too long might end with the dream devouring her alive. As such, Seol Jihu immediately entered the ancient emperor’s villa. He had a feeling he knew where Phi Sora was.

The inside of the villa carried a gloomy atmosphere, but Seol Jihu didn’t think it was dark. Rather, bright light spread out wherever he went and illuminated the area.

Seol Jihu tilted his head, wondering ‘What phenomenon is this?’ His gaze then landed on the pendant.

The pendant was shining several times brighter than before. Looking back, it seemed to be blinking incessantly when he was in his dream. He had just realized too late.

Seol Jihu gave a bitter smile and ran forward at full speed. As soon as he reached the 4th floor, he paused unknowingly.

He had no other choice. Because the things filling up the floor hardly left any room to step forward. He could see several people, who had died during the villa expedition and were likely Phi Sora’s comrades.

[It’s your fault…]

[We died because of your greed! It’s all your fault!]

Seol Jihu doubted his ears. Over ten corpses were pointing their fingers at someone, spitting out spiteful, vicious comments. The evil spirits in the villa were also dancing in the air, enjoying the scene play out.

It was a truly bizarre sight. And in the middle of it all was Phi Sora.

[You goddamn, despicable wench! You dare to run away after killing us all?]

[Die! If you have any conscience left, go kill yourself!]

She was crying. Surrounded by the corpses, Phi Sora was crying quietly with her face buried between her knees. She flinched every time a hateful comment flew her way as though it was spearing her alive.

“I’m sorry… I’m really sorry…”

[Sorry? You think apologizing will fix anything?]

“Then… what should I do…?”

[Didn’t I just say it? You should die too. Now! Kill yourself painfully.]

It was then that Phi Sora lifted her head slightly.

“I just have to die…? Then you’ll forgive me…?”

[Of course! Of course, we’ll forgive you! Hurry, hurry…!]

The corpse rejoiced. Seol Jihu shouted aloud.

“You can’t, Miss Phi Sora!”

Phi Sora flinched. Raising her head and seeing Seol Jihu, she made a dumbfounded expression.

“Miss Phi Sora! This is a dream! A dream!!”

Even so, Phi Sora only stared at him blankly. Seol Jihu raced forward, unable to hold back his frustration. But then, he paused.

The murmurs filling up the 4th floor had subsided before he noticed. He couldn’t even hear a peep. He might be mistaken, but he felt like hundreds of pairs of eyes were glaring at him.

Craaaaaaaaack!

Then suddenly, bone-chilling cracks rang out. The sound was coming from the corpses’ necks.

Their necks creaked 180 degrees sideways until they were all facing Seol Jihu. Seeing their hollow eyes, Seol Jihu groaned inwardly.

[A dream?]

[Kik. So what if it’s a dream? So what?]

They sneered. Seol Jihu’s eyes narrowed.

[Wait, he must have walked in here by himself!]

[We can’t let him leave then! Heehee! Heeheehee!]

They burst into creepy laughter before turning around fully. Clear hostility shot out.

[You come here too!]

[Kihihihihi!]

Just as they began to run forward like starving hyenas…

Paat! A brilliant light erupted from the pendant. It was so dazzling that Seol Jihu was blinded momentarily.

Next, screams rang out from all directions in a truly uproarious fashion. Wherever the light shone, the evil spirits would writhe in agony. Only then was Seol Jihu convinced.

‘This pendant!’

Flone’s grandfather had left this pendant for a future generation of the Rothschear family to find the inheritance. The Pagoda of Dreams’ curse worked regardless of whether one was a member of the Rothschear family or not. However, the pendant acted as a shield protecting its holder from being afflicted by the curse.

That was why it kept blinking in Seol Jihu’s dream and helped him wake up through Flone’s voice. Assuming that Flone was unaffected by the curse because she wasn’t a living being, it all made sense.

Knowing this, Seol Jihu was no longer afraid of anything. After all, this pendant was basically a free-pass in finding the Rothschear’s inheritance.

“Alright, Miss Phi Sora!”

As soon as he came to this realization, he quickly went into action. He grabbed Phi Sora’s hand and ran down the stairs swiftly.

Even after leaving the 1st floor, Seol Jihu continued to run without stopping. Although he didn’t really need to run, he forcefully dragged Phi Sora out because she was so down. She was noisy as well.

“Wait, wait!”

Seol Jihu stopped only after running along the sandy beach for a long time. It was because Phi Sora’s legs had become limp and stumbled. Seeing Phi Sora lying face-down on the ground was quite the sight to behold.

“What’s… going on…?”

“A dream. This is a dream. How many times do I have to tell you?”

“Dream? No, I definitely…”

Phi Sora looked extremely confused.

Seol Jihu smacked his lips. He told her about the inconsistencies in this dream world, yet she didn’t show any signs of waking up. The trauma she was suffering must have blown up and influenced her mind somehow. The nightmare seemed to have eaten up her mental state quite a bit.

“But everything is so vivid…”

Seol Jihu was starting to get annoyed, but he held himself back.

‘I was like that too.’

It was just like what Flone said. Someone dreaming wouldn’t necessarily feel that they were dreaming, while someone interfering in a dream would be fully aware that they were in a dream.

But the fact was that he didn’t have much time. The pendant would help them escape, but staying in the dream any longer than necessary wouldn’t help one bit.

So what should he do? How could he break Phi Sora’s nightmare?

He knew how. From his experience, Phi Sora just had to strongly deny that this world was real.

Seol Jihu got on one knee with patience. He got on Phi Sora’s eye-level and carefully wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

“Miss Phi Sora, listen carefully. We experienced something similar in the past, right?”

“That…”

Phi Sora nodded without realizing it. Seol Jihu spoke calmly with a serious face.

“Try to remember. A lot has happened since then. We met because of the Yi siblings’ recruitment issue, you followed me to Carpe Diem, we fought in a war together, then met on Earth.”

Phi Sora’s mouth opened slightly. Seol Jihu didn’t miss this reaction.

“Do you remember what you told me in a fit of anger while we were eating budae-jjigae