Bjorn Yandel the Barbarian

“Oppa, I came today too.”

Almost every day, Hyunbyeol comes to visit and tells me various stories.

“I looked into it separately because I thought it might help my brother come to his senses. To be honest, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to find it even if I searched for it… Luckily, I found it.”

In this dream world, Hyunbyeol was not dragged into the game, and after hearing news about me from her mother, she came to visit me often and helped me.

Just like this

“I’m a former soldier named Baekho Lee. I posted something on the [Dungeon and Stone] community that my brother used to frequent, and somehow they found me?”

“When I asked if we could meet and talk, he first asked if I was a woman. When I said yes, he said he would meet me… The way he acted when we met was a bit like that, and he seemed a bit crazy about women.”

“Oh, I got off topic. Anyway, the important thing is that he wasn’t sucked into the game or anything. Uh… Are you disappointed?”

What is disappointment?

It was already expected.

In this dream world, no one is dragged into the game.

That’s why·

The reason I sent a letter to my Canadian friend was because

I honestly started to wonder if I was crazy.

But fortunately, the results came out yesterday.

No matter how much drugs you give them and how much bullshit you do,

I’m not crazy

There are many parts that are strange to be a dream and many parts that are unnecessarily realistic, but…

Still, this is a dream world.

I feel bad saying this, but it is also very beneficial to me.

‘Now that I think about it, the police were also strange.’

Even though he was treated as a mentally ill person, he caused a fuss. However, Team Leader Kang still visits him occasionally and spits out kind words, wishing him to get better soon.

And that’s not all?

“Oppa, get better soon and let’s go to Namsan together. You liked the night view there, right?”

Hyunbyeol is so devoted to me, who is just my ex-boyfriend.

“Hansoo… It’s my fault, it’s my fault… If I hadn’t done that, you wouldn’t have ended up like this….”

The same goes for my mother, who was my scapegoat.

Perhaps I continue to spit out the words I have been hoping and wishing for deep in my heart.

Should I really say that this is literally a dream world?

‘That might have been the reason.’

Thinking back now, this may have been more of an effect than drugs or anything like that.

This is reality and I am not crazy.

Isn’t it the case that once a person lies down on an electric blanket, they just want to stay there forever?

‘But I guess I have to get up now.’

With the letter from my Canadian friend as a support, I gathered my weakening will and began to plan my escape again.

We have analyzed the hospital’s structure and the employees’ tendencies and schedules.

However, he pretended to receive treatment obediently and made the patient let his guard down.

It was around the time when I was preparing so diligently.

“Hansoo, actually, you haven’t told anyone about it, including Hansoo, but… I think what Hansoo said could be true.”

Team leader Kang, who came to see me for an investigation, suddenly said something to me.

It was a bit of an awkward situation for me, who was pretending that my condition was improving.

“Huh? Isn’t that something I just made up? I’m really thinking that now···?”

“I’m sorry… I’ve been wondering if it’s right to say this now, when things seem to be getting better… Could you please watch this video, just this once?

Team Leader Kang, who had been speaking as if asking for favors, took out his cell phone and played the saved video.

‘What is this···?’

The police station where I was investigated before was in the video.

The camera was focusing on the monitor placed on the desk.

“Do you see? The letters written on this monitor here.”

There were unknown logs floating on the monitor.

The image quality was poor, so it was difficult to read the text on the monitor through the video, but fortunately, Team Leader Kang was there to read it for me.

“Synchronization completed”

“Character information and logs are recorded and sent to the administrator.

“I successfully completed my coming of age ceremony, I got new gear, my overall item level went up by this much, and… it was full of game messages like that. It even updated in real time.”

“Sometimes, character information was written down, and at that time, the character’s name was ‘Bjorn Jandel’. It matches the name that Hansu mentioned.”

I was thinking that this was a dream and was planning an escape, but suddenly I was in a situation where I wondered what was going on.

“But… so what does that mean?”

When I asked with a frown, Team Leader Kang resumed playing the video that had been paused for a moment.

“Can you please take a good look around the monitor? Yes, right here. As you can see, there are no wires connected to the monitor. Not only the main unit, but the power cord is not plugged in at all.”

Oh… Is that so?

My head suddenly became complicated.

What on earth does this mean?

“It is a situation that cannot be explained scientifically. This makes me think even more that Mr. Hansu’s words might be true.”

“···Then does that mean I’m not crazy?”

“No, I don’t know yet. But one thing is for sure… the situation is very suspicious.”

“Suspicious?”

When I tilted my head, Team Leader Kang looked around and lowered his voice.

“This monitor was lost in the evidence room shortly after we brought it back to them.”

“······”

“It’s as if someone was trying to destroy the evidence.”

What’s going on?

***

Team Leader Kang’s words confused me.

I finally believed that this world was a dream, and now they show me a video like this?

How much of it is real and how much is fake?

Did you send Team Leader Kang to show me this because you don’t believe that this place is real?

‘Then why don’t you just prevent your Canadian friend from receiving such a reply in the first place?’

A situation where resolving a contradiction creates another contradiction.

My head started hurting again, but I decided to think simply.

In the end, what matters is faith.

And I can choose

What should I believe?

‘The date of execution is four days later···’

The escape plan was soon completed and a deadline was set.

That day I will escape this hospital and go outside.

Then you will have to think about how to escape from this dream.

‘I have a feeling that there might be a way to do that in [Dungeon and Stone]…’

Of course, this is just my guess and not certain.

However, it is suspicious that the hospital gave permission to do [Dungeon and Stone] but did not allow it.

Even though there was an excuse that it interfered with treatment,

‘[Dungeon and Stone] Breaking again. That might be the trigger.’

It’s definitely worth a try.

So the important thing is that the escape is successful on the first try.

‘Just in case, one more time·’

While waiting for the final day, I continued to run simulations to find out if there were any shortcomings.

and····

One day, two days, three days

It was at that point that there was only one day left until the decision-making date.

“Patient Lee Han-soo! This is a visitation!”

Someone visited the hospital where I was admitted.

Hyunbyeol’s mother, Team Leader Kang

I thought it would most likely be one of the three, but when I actually got there, the person who greeted me was an old man I had never met before.

Race: White·

The attire is a suit reminiscent of a gentleman.

A high-quality staff that doesn’t look like a weapon.

‘Even though you’re holding a staff, you’re not a wizard.’

When you first see a stranger, you start analyzing them.

A habit that arose in Lapdonia—·

“You are Hansu.”

Surprisingly, the old man, who looked like a pure white man, spoke Korean so naturally while looking at me.

I thought the young man behind me was an interpreter.

Are you just a performer or something?

I don’t know, but one thing was clear:

“Yes, but… who are you, sir?”

I don’t feel good for some reason.

Why would these people come to me?

At first glance, he looks like he has a lot of money and high status.

It is suspicious that someone who has no connection to me was able to come to visit me····

Swish·

Soon, the old white man takes off the bowler hat that was covering his face and places it on the table.

Then, a face that had been hidden was revealed.

Thanks to this, introduction is no longer necessary.

“There is a man named Auril Gavis.”

Thump-!

“I’m also the one who created [Dungeons and Stones], which you played.”

I didn’t know this old man would show up either.

Is it because the concept is ‘dream’? I really can’t read the plot even an inch ahead—·

“But let me tell you something…”

The old man’s sharp gaze, whose depth is difficult to fathom, is fixed on me.

An atmosphere that is overwhelming just by looking at it.

“I guess you already know me?”

There’s nothing you can hide from this old man, whether it’s this world or that world.

“I guess you saw another me over there?”

“Another me···?”

“Hmm, so you didn’t figure that out······”

Is it because we are too accustomed to modern life?

As soon as I hear the sound of my grandfather’s mouth watering, old senses come back to my whole body.

If you don’t wake up, you’ll get hurt.

Yeah, so····

“Okay, let’s get to the point”

As I lowered my voice and looked straight into his deep eyes, an inexplicable smile appeared on the corner of my mouth.

A smile that seems somewhat satisfied.

“I am the only one who knows that you are not crazy, and I have the power to help you get out of here.”

“······”

“But since there’s no particular reaction to those words… it seems like you’ve already made a plan to escape?”

Hey, why does this old man float around so naturally, as if he’s breathing?

“Just the main point”

When I lower my voice a little and speak in a stronger tone, the old man slowly nods his head.

And finally, let’s get to the main point.

“I’ll ask you straight out.”

This old man came to me because he was curious about one thing.

“Have you met that kid?”

“Who is that kid?”

I had a guess, but when I asked him again pretending not to know, the old man shook his head.

“···Okay. Change the question.·”

What is this? I’m curious for no reason.

“How could I come back? The gate to the abyss wasn’t even open.”

“···If you’ve come this far, you must have already done all the research, right?”

“Oh, you mean the records you told the police or the doctor? If that’s the case, I checked it a long time ago···”

The old man who had been speaking calmly suddenly shut his mouth tightly and burst into loud laughter.

“Hahaha! Ahahahahaha!”

“······”

“Do you really believe that this world is a dream?”

I didn’t want to answer because it sounded like a mocking tone. But if I just kept my mouth shut, I wouldn’t be able to get any information.

“I guess Grandpa doesn’t think so?”

“No matter what you believe, Hansoo, this is definitely reality. Even if it’s different from where you were.”

“It’s different from where it was? What does that mean?”

“There is no such thing as a ‘cheat mode’ in this world. That is why only you could open the gates of the abyss and go to Lapdonia. But…”

The old man who had been trailing off continues to speak.

“That doesn’t mean this place isn’t real.”

“It’s hard to believe, but it’s all real. Your mother who begs for your forgiveness, your devoted ex-lover.”

It wasn’t just hard to believe, it was an unbelievable story.

“Then… show me the evidence…”

However, when I went out with a bold attitude, the old man just smiled and shook his head.

“No, that’s not necessary.”

“Isn’t that because there is no evidence to support it?”

Even though I scratched it gently, the expected reaction did not come back.

“Think as you wish. Don’t you think this is a dream anyway? If you want to go back there, there’s no reason to persuade me.”

Ha… Is this how it comes out here?

My stress level suddenly skyrocketed, but I couldn’t hit him because I was about to escape.

“Then I’ll get up now. I wish you good luck.”

Grandpa stands up coolly as if all his work is over.

Of course, I could have just sent it here, but···

“for a moment·”

I felt uneasy for some reason and stopped the old man.

“Do you have anything to say?”

Uh… I didn’t catch you because I had something to do, but I caught you because I thought I couldn’t just let you go like this…

Since it has come to this, I decided to ask.

“How do I wake up from a dream?”

“Ahem?”

“If you want me to go back anyway, why don’t you just tell me?”

The old man, who had been staring at me as I asked him the question repeatedly, snickered again.

“That’s what I hope for.”

“···what?”

“If you want to go back, you will, whether you want it or not. But I see you are still here…”

“······”

“Contrary to what you said, it seems like you like this place quite a bit.”

What are you talking about? Even at this moment, I just want to go back.

“Oh, if it’s a hospital or police issue, I’ll take care of it. You can do whatever you want.”

Whatever you say, never get confused.