A staff member guided Do-Yoon through the giant academy hallways.
The academy was so huge that Do-Yoon already felt lost after only ten minutes.
Long glowing hallways stretched in every direction. Some students walked around calmly while carrying books or weapons. A few people were even practicing magic outside the windows.
Do-Yoon looked around constantly like a tourist.
"…This place is seriously insane."
The staff member looked back at him calmly.
"You will get used to it."
"…I don't think so."
The staff member ignored him completely and continued walking.
Meanwhile, Min-Jae had already run away earlier after hearing where his room was located.
"BRO I'M FINDING MY ROOM FIRST!" he had shouted before disappearing somewhere into the academy.
Do-Yoon sighed while remembering it.
"…That guy would survive even during the apocalypse."
Finally, after walking through another hallway and climbing two staircases, the staff member stopped in front of a door.
"Room 3187," he said calmly.
Then he handed a small silver key to Do-Yoon.
"This is your room key."
Do-Yoon carefully took it.
"…Thank you."
The staff member nodded once and walked away without another word.
Now only Do-Yoon remained in the hallway.
He looked at the door quietly.
"…So this is my room."
Slowly, he unlocked it.
Then opened the door.
And instantly—
"…WOAH."
His eyes widened completely.
The room was beautiful.
Not huge.
But not tiny either.
It was somewhere perfectly in between.
The room looked extremely clean, almost like nobody had ever used it before.
A soft bed stood beside the wall. Near the window was a study table with a chair. A bookshelf filled with many books stood quietly in the corner.
There was even a small balcony.
Moonlight entered softly through the glass door, making the room feel peaceful.
Do-Yoon slowly walked inside.
"…This is WAY better than my real room."
He touched the bed carefully.
Soft.
Very soft.
He immediately sat down.
Then bounced slightly.
"…Oh my god."
The bed alone already made him emotional.
He looked around the room again.
The bookshelf was filled with thick books about magic, combat, Mirror history, elemental control, and many other things he didn't understand.
But honestly—
Do-Yoon did not care about books right now.
He only cared about one thing.
Sleeping.
After everything that happened—
The gates.
The guardians.
The city.
The systems.
The academy.
His brain felt completely exhausted.
Do-Yoon removed his shoes lazily and fell onto the bed dramatically.
"…Finally…"
The blanket felt warm.
The pillow felt perfect.
His body instantly relaxed.
"…I'm never leaving this bed."
Within only a few seconds—
His eyes slowly closed.
And he fell asleep.
Darkness Again
Everything became dark.
No sound.
No light.
Only silence.
Then slowly—
Do-Yoon opened his eyes.
"…Huh?"
He blinked slowly.
The room looked familiar.
Too familiar.
He slowly sat up.
Then froze completely.
"…Wait."
This wasn't the academy room.
This was—
"…Min-Jae's room?"
Do-Yoon stared around in confusion.
The posters.
The messy floor.
The snacks thrown around carelessly.
This was definitely Min-Jae's room in the real world.
"…What?"
Before he could understand anything—
"BRO YOU'RE AWAKE!"
Min-Jae suddenly appeared beside him.
Do-Yoon nearly jumped off the bed.
"DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!"
Min-Jae laughed loudly.
"Your face looks so stupid right now!"
Do-Yoon rubbed his eyes quickly.
"…Wait."
He looked around again carefully.
Morning sunlight entered through the window.
Everything felt normal.
Completely normal.
No systems.
No glowing skies.
No magical academy.
Just Earth.
Do-Yoon slowly realized something.
"…It was a dream?"
Min-Jae crossed his arms proudly.
"A very awesome dream."
Do-Yoon stared at him.
"…You remember it too?"
"Of course!"
Both suddenly became quiet.
Because that part was strange.
Very strange.
Both remembered everything.
The gate.
Sir Crantos.
The tests.
The city.
The academy.
Everything felt completely real inside their memories.
Min-Jae suddenly grinned.
"…Bro."
"What?"
"That dream was PEAK."
Do-Yoon nodded slowly.
"…Honestly… yeah."
Min-Jae sat beside him excitedly.
"We had skills!"
"And systems!"
"And magic!"
"And that huge academy!"
Do-Yoon remembered his room from the academy.
"…My room was amazing."
Min-Jae looked offended.
"Mine was bigger."
"…No way."
"I'm serious!"
"You're lying."
"I'm not!"
Both argued for a few seconds before suddenly becoming quiet again.
Because slowly—
Reality hit them.
Do-Yoon's eyes widened slightly.
"…Wait."
"What?"
"I slept here all night."
Min-Jae blinked.
"…Yeah?"
Do-Yoon instantly panicked.
"MY SISTER!"
He quickly stood up from the bed.
"She's gonna kill me!"
Min-Jae also looked worried now.
"…Oh."
Do-Yoon grabbed his head dramatically.
"She was probably worried the whole night!"
Just as he was about to run outside—
The bedroom door opened.
Min-Jae's mother stood there calmly.
"Oh, you're awake."
Do-Yoon immediately bowed awkwardly.
"I-I'M SORRY AUNTIE!"
She blinked. "…For what?"
"I accidentally slept here!"
Min-Jae's mother laughed softly.
"I know."
Do-Yoon froze.
"…You do?"
"I already told your sister you were staying here."
Silence.
"…What?"
"She called during the night," Min-Jae's mother explained calmly. "I told her both of you fell asleep here, so she said it was fine."
Do-Yoon immediately sighed in relief so hard that he almost collapsed.
"…I survived."
Min-Jae laughed loudly.
"Bro was about to enter his final arc."
Do-Yoon ignored him completely.
But then suddenly—
Both froze.
"…WAIT."
They looked at each other.
"…SCHOOL!"
Min-Jae panicked instantly too.
"WE'RE LATE!"
Both immediately started running around the room in chaos.
"WHERE ARE MY SHOES?!"
"WHY ARE MY SOCKS DIFFERENT COLORS?!"
"BRO MOVE!"
"YOU MOVE!"
Min-Jae's mother watched them silently for a moment.
Then finally said,
"…It's summer holiday."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Both slowly stopped moving.
"…What?" Do-Yoon asked quietly.
"There is no school today," she repeated.
Another silence followed.
Then Min-Jae slowly sat down on the floor.
"…We panicked for nothing."
Do-Yoon also collapsed onto the bed again.
"…I hate life."
Min-Jae's mother laughed softly and left the room.
After calming down a little, Do-Yoon finally decided to go home.
Back Home
The streets felt strangely normal now.
Cars moved normally.
People walked casually.
Everything looked peaceful.
Yet after experiencing that strange dream—
The real world somehow felt smaller.
Do-Yoon slowly reached his house and opened the door.
"I'm back."
Ji-Eun immediately appeared from the living room.
"You finally came home."
Do-Yoon scratched his head awkwardly.
"…Sorry."
His sister crossed her arms.
"You slept at Min-Jae's house without even warning me properly."
"I didn't mean to."
"…You accidentally slept there?"
"…Yeah."
Ji-Eun sighed.
"You seriously act like a child sometimes."
Do-Yoon smiled weakly.
"…Sorry."
Luckily, she didn't stay angry for long.
"Just don't disappear randomly next time."
"…Okay."
After eating and resting for a while, Do-Yoon finally went to his room.
The moment he sat on the bed—
His thoughts returned again.
The dream.
No—
That strange world.
It didn't feel fake at all.
Everything was too detailed.
Too real.
And the weirdest part—
Min-Jae remembered everything too.
"…Can two people even share the same dream?"
Do-Yoon lay down slowly.
His eyes stared at the ceiling.
"…What if it wasn't a dream?"
The thought stayed inside his mind for a long time.
Then another thought appeared.
"…Can I go back there?"
He remembered the academy room.
The system.
The city.
The excitement.
Even the danger somehow felt exciting.
Do-Yoon slowly closed his eyes.
"…I want to see it again."
The rest of the day passed normally.
Evening turned into night.
Night became deeper.
And eventually—
Do-Yoon decided to sleep early.
He lay down quietly.
Pulled the blanket over himself.
Then slowly closed his eyes.
Darkness covered everything again.
But this time—
The darkness felt different.
Deeper.
Heavier.
Then suddenly—
Do-Yoon opened his eyes.
And instantly froze.
"…What?!"
He was standing inside his academy room.
The same room.
The same balcony.
The same bookshelf.
The same bed.
Everything was exactly the same.
Do-Yoon stared around in complete shock.
"…NO WAY."
His heart started beating faster.
"…I came back?"
He touched the wall quickly.
Real.
The floor.
Real.
The bed.
Real.
Do-Yoon slowly looked around the room again.
Then whispered quietly—
"…It wasn't a dream."