Chapter 1050 – With Shackles
000
When I was young, I liked sitting on the frame of the window of a small mansion, soaking in the sunlight, and reading the books my father gave me.
I once heard that books exposed to sunlight deteriorate quickly, but books wear out anyway whenever they are read by people.
After turning the last page again and again, again from the beginning.
That is to say, he liked the feel of a book wearing away at his fingertips more than the deterioration caused by invisible light.
And, the stories of the past conveyed by the various knowledge written in those books.
And whenever I sat on the window sill and read a book, there was always a bird that came close to the window.
This guy was aiming for the cookies I had prepared next to him to enjoy while reading a book, and he seemed to be used to having people around him, so he flew over and sat next to the plate without fear.
At times like that, I follow him with my eyes, but he turns the pages as if he doesn’t really care.
Then he carefully ran with his quick steps and moved over the plate.
He was pecking the outermost cookie with his beak.
And after moving his head a few times, he boldly takes the cookie and gets off the plate.
Did I gain confidence knowing that I wasn’t going to stop him?
Nevertheless, he moved his head diligently, as if he was being chased by something, and quickly destroyed one of my favorite cookies covered in strawberry jam.
Then, without even saying thank you, he flew into the sky and disappeared.
Only at that time did I take my eyes off the book and look at the back of the guy who was flying away and scattering away.
How can this guy fly in the sky?
That too, while breaking open a cookie and putting it in the stomach.
To me, it’s a piece of cookie smaller than my fist, but to him, it’s the same size as his body.
People can lift heavier objects than that, but they also cannot fly.
Even humans, who had begun to conquer the sea by inventing a means of transportation called ships, were still unable to overcome the sky on their own.
Unless you tame demonic beasts such as Pegasus, Griffin, and Hippogriff.
Or – unless you use ‘magic’, a talent available only to some humans.
Isn’t that cruel?
Why should one’s area of activity be restricted based on the ability or lack thereof at birth and the ability to use magic?
I remember what my father, who is currently away, once told me.
The development and discovery of technology that all humans can enjoy equally makes the world equal.
My father was a scholar.
Father’s father, mother’s mother.
And even their parents.
They were people who traveled around the world on their own feet, discovering the past buried in the thick dirt and sands of time.
How many people know that the world we live in now and humanity were actually destroyed once?
What my father talked about was the family’s belief, and the belief was that if we had the overwhelming technological power of the original world, we might be able to solve the current situation in the inherited world where the ‘strong’ oppress the ‘weak’.
Flying in the sky was also an extension of that story.
When I was reading the book, I wanted to follow the flying bird and catch it.
If you could fly, how many more places and farther away would you be able to go?
However, is there a way to ascend to the sky without borrowing magical power or riding a demonic beast?
“Ah… I’m sure it exists. Haha. You want to know that too. Blood can’t deceive.”
That’s how my father answered my question.
“When I was just like you, I also wanted to fly in the sky. So, I tried many different methods. Have you ever heard the story of the Labyrinth Rich Man?”
Could it be that they followed that ridiculous myth?
Even though I was his father, I could only shake my head in disgust at the fact that he put into practice such a reckless idea.
Then he looked troubled and felt a little embarrassed.
However, he spoke at the same time.
Although the wax wings failed, records show that in the original world, the sky was a realm conquered by mankind.
A world where anyone could fly in the sky as long as they could pay a relatively fair price in the form of money.
A time when humans were able to grasp vast and wide areas that could not be reached without the help of magic with today’s technology.
Their goal was to once again create a truly dream-like world.
“Even though I failed. One day… Maybe, Attis, you might lead humanity to the sky.”
As he said that, he took out a book he had and showed it to me.
There really was only a photo, but it was a picture of something that humans used to fly in the sky.
Looking at it, I remember nodding my head.
──So, I think, standing alone on the ground, left behind by the departing expedition team.
In the true sense, it is impossible for me to float like a balloon in the unconquered sky.
I can’t even imagine riding around there on the back of a demonic beast that can fly.
The promise to him, which was already worn out and barely remembered, hung heavily on her feet like shackles.
‘Humans cannot fly.’
I couldn’t fly over that area that hadn’t been conquered yet, either on my own or with someone else’s power.
I guess so.
This is what I hoped for until his father’s death forced him to pursue the monster called Leviathan.
The root of a dream that reminds me once again of why I became a scholar.
It doesn’t have to be something as great as a fortress in the sky.
One person needed something big enough to fly in the sky.
So—
Close and open your eyes.
Even if you can’t imagine ‘me flying in the sky’ or ‘animals flying in the sky’—
001
An arrow passes by the ball.
Although blood did not flow out, I felt a bitter sensation.
Laila steals the ball without realizing it, narrowing his eyes at the monster that stands in his way-
I was glaring at the guy I had decided to call ‘Mac’, based on his appearance and the fact that he lived in a space called a dream.
The guy who was continuously smiling because he was having fun absorbed their attacks unilaterally and copied them and fired them in this direction.
Fireballs, rain of arrows, and blades of ice.
Ranged attacks with projectiles could not reach it, and if you tried to attack it from close range, it would immediately inflate its nose and suck in any nearby victims with strong suction power.
Amelia and Melusine both specialized in close combat, but since they couldn’t get close, they just kept their distance and did their best not to get sucked in.
“What should I do?”
When Cuon’s voice was heard, Lila bit her lip without saying anything.
What should I do? It’s been dozens of minutes since she’s been filling her head with those thoughts.
However, even if I reached out to the countless possibilities and turned over all the cards, what was written there was just a list of meaningless ideas.
That’s probably true as well. The more you confront him, the more certain it becomes: ‘who’ is the owner of this dream.
Is it their dream?
Obviously, after realizing that this place was a dream, they were using it as they pleased, to some degree, by twisting various laws.
Human dreams basically do not share space.
This is because it is fundamentally impossible for the worlds in each person’s head to continue.
However, if what makes even such absurd things possible is vast magical power –
A person who can manipulate the spirit vein of this mountain at will and guided them to this world.
In other words. This space is the dream of a ‘guardian.’
Even while awake in reality, he created a dream space and even created a gatekeeper to block beings trying to escape from it.
This is a monster that resembles a ‘Mac’.
How can we defeat a monster created by a monster?
So to speak, the master of dreams is the god of this world.
In other words, her imagination is what serves as Mac’s shield.
Our tactics – using magic, swinging her sword, and shooting her bow – it’s probably not difficult for her to come up with a way to deal with it.
If there is no way to catch the enemy off guard, time will just pass by as the attack and defense continue like this.
And in the meantime… What would happen to the humans who were eaten by Mac was unknown.
─Nevertheless, you are responsible.
It is his responsibility to ensure that the expedition team, including himself, is not annihilated.
“For now, let’s keep our distance and back away. Until we find a way to deal with him, it’s best not to get close.”
When Lila said that, Meluzin nodded her head.
The two people with the quickest tactical thinking within were reaching the same conclusion.
There is always a way to defeat any enemy.
However, if there was no way to do it right now, it was the right decision to take a little bit of care for their own safety in order to preserve power.
If you make even the slightest mistake and see an opening during this endless confrontation, it will immediately lead to a loss of power.
“But, the people who were eaten…”
“I honestly don’t know what will happen. But if we end up in the same situation, there is no way to save us.”
Lila said that a little coldly in response to Amelia’s words.
“… I think that would be better. I, too, will act with the young lady’s safety as my top priority.”
Kshat nodded his head as he said that and was quickly going down to the ground with Fleur, who was carrying him on his shoulder.
Then-
[KIKIKIKI…]
The guy’s eerie laughter echoed once again.
Then, the distance between themselves and the clouds beneath their feet suddenly increased.
“Wha…!? This?!”
Kshat will stop moving and look around in confusion.
You didn’t move up.
The distance between you and the cloud suddenly increased, like pulling a rubber band.
“As expected…! That guy could manipulate dreams too!”
Laila spoke as if it were what she had expected and quickly tried to fly towards Kshat.
Then.
“Wow…!?”
The relationship between Kshat and Laila suddenly becomes further apart.
She tried to move forward, but Laila felt like she was flying backwards, making her look funny.
[KIKIKI…]
Then, the guy let out that unpleasant laugh again.
Ah, I figured this out.
This guy is ‘enjoying it.’
The sight of humans struggling before her eyes, trying to escape from her dream-
He is enjoying watching his own actions come to a meaningless end.
As she was looking at that guy who seemed to have condensed her bad mood, Lila was glaring at the monster with her sharp eyes while floundering in the air.
If she had a beam coming out of her eyes, she would have been able to pierce him to death with just that-
Unfortunately, even that kind of magic won’t work on him.
[Yes.]
Such a voice echoed in Lila’s head.
The group’s vision was shaken by a voice that seemed to have been heard somewhere before.
And, behind the ‘Mac’ and the huge ‘trapdoor’ in front of me.
There, a huge human upper body appeared, looking like a god looking down on the earth from the sky, and the woman with emerald hair was talking.
Kuon still wore the white visor on the face he had seen before, but the familiarity felt when looking at its gigantic form and up close.
It felt like I was looking in a mirror.
The difference may have been that the outfit was a little more revealing and that she looked a little more adult than herself.
“Guardian…!”
Lila called out to her without hiding her seething feelings.
Then, the guardian smiles and answers.
[Pure Land of Dreams… The world of dreams is so chaotic that I never thought there would be people who realize their dreams so quickly and try to come out… When the momentary anxiety passes, you too will enter a beautiful, pain-free world of eternity. It could have melted into.]
“I guess they were planning to keep us here forever, but they won’t let that happen!”
[Why? Reality is a world full of irrationality and absurdity. What is the meaning of living in Yeto, a land steeped in filth? Rather than an imperfect world that will end one day, it would be happier to stay here where you can achieve whatever you want.]
“Because I know this world is fake…!”
As Sasha said that, she took out her bow from her back and pointed it at her.
[Hehe… Fake… The distinction between authenticity and falsehood varies from person to person. For example, this ‘Mac’ is the gatekeeper of dreams where I have captured and placed demonic beasts wandering around the dream world.]
The guardian raised his finger and stroked the head of Mac, who was smiling in front of the door.
[And if he is there, no matter how distorted the laws of this world are, they can be restored to their original state like Mac eating a nightmare. They quickly melted into this dream world – by now, they would have fallen into their own dreams and become a part of this world.]
“… What that means is that if you defeat that monster, the rest will come back too!”
Lila will quickly figure out the hidden meaning in the guardian’s words, and confidently point her staff at him.
However, the guardian shook his head with a sad expression.
[Mac is eating my ‘dreams.’ And my dreams are what I can imagine. In other words, Mac can eat ‘every thought I can imagine’ and nullify it. Your magic and the struggles of others.]
“Ugh…”
At her words, Lila returned her raised wand.
So they can’t do anything about this Mac on their own?
“Layla, you can’t give up!”
“That’s right…!”
“I know… I’m thinking about it right now…!”
At the sound of Kuon and Sasha’s voices, Lila pulls out her hair.
This guy is a guardian—probably, he has made countless visitors melt into this dream over the years from the original world to the present.
It was easy to imagine how many wizards and warriors he would have faced in the process.
Normal strategies cannot penetrate her imaginary defenses.
“… It’s better to spread some distance first and find another way-“
“I don’t have time for that!”
At that moment, something rose up through the clouds, making a loud noise.
When they thought they heard Artis’ voice, the party, the guardian, and Mac looked surprised at the sudden appearance of ‘it’ at the same time.
It was like a huge ‘bird’ made of metal.
A pointed front beak, and wings spread flat on both sides.
However, I knew very well that it did not fall into the category of creatures such as demonic beasts.
[That is…]
The guardian looks at it while muttering.
Inside the translucent glass attached to the front – a figure of a person moving.
I saw Attis.
“Total length 18.9 m, overall width 13.56 m, and total height 5.09 m… I’m glad I remembered the catalog data of the unearthed weapon…!”
The ruins on the plain that were excavated with Cleon were a weapons development laboratory in the original world.
Inside, data on numerous weapons that existed throughout history was dormant, and even if you can’t understand the entire contents, you can at least know what it looks like and what it is.
It was all enshrined in Attis’ excellent memory.
And among them, he was able to move on his own ─
At the same time, one of the greatest flying weapons in human history.
It was created out of ‘imagination’.
“What, hey…!? What about that thing!?”
Lila speaks in embarrassment.
As for knowledge about airships, even if it is shallow, Laila also has it.
However, it is different from the huge magical flying battleships developed by the Empire in the past, which required dozens of wizards to board and provide magical power.
“Evidence of mankind’s dominance over the sky…”
After saying this, Attis paused for a moment – and finally, he put the name in his mouth.
“It’s an F-22 Raptor!”
