Chapter 109
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Noé Rustin.
The boy who walks through dreams was born on a starry night, in a hunter’s house on the plains of Balt.
When the stars shine brightly, the entire continent starts searching for the one chosen by the stars.
But Noé Rustin remained hidden from the world for twelve years. He never once showed himself.
There was only one reason why.
“I think Noé Rustin likes my dreams. Probably because they’re very different from everyone else’s.”
Noé couldn’t control his powers.
His ability wasn’t just entering and controlling others’ dreams. He could actually pull real life into the dream world.
But the side effects were serious. Noé often got lost in the dreams.
When he entered someone’s dream, he sometimes forgot it was someone else’s dream and ended up losing his sense of self, becoming part of the dream.
He didn’t choose to enter these dreams either. Every time he fell asleep, he just naturally slipped into someone else’s dream, like flowing water.
Then, when Noé was just six years old, something happened that changed his life forever.
He went to sleep as usual and didn’t wake up for a year.
When he finally opened his eyes, he realized that he had pulled his real mother, Millie Rustin, into a dream.
It was the first time he had ever brought a real person into the dream world. And even worse, he left her behind in someone else’s dream.
That’s when he learned the terrible truth: when real people enter dreams, they fall into a deep sleep and don’t wake up for a very long time.
Even though he had been asleep for a whole year, for Noé, it felt like just one night.
But in that one night, he lost his mother forever because of his own power. That drove him nearly mad.
After that, Noé started to fall apart. And the more unstable he became, the more he lost control of his ability.
And maybe that’s exactly why… he started to like my dreams so much.
“How are your dreams different from others’?” Winter asked.
I couldn’t answer clearly.
Because then I’d have to explain things from the 21st century.
Ever since I remembered my past life, I always dreamed of it when I slept.
I listened to music on a smartphone, went to the movies with my older brother Seojoon, and stared at airplanes flying through the sky.
That life still feels more real to me because I lived it longer than this one.
And I imagine that one day, Noé fell asleep like always, fighting to stay awake. Then, like usual, he wandered through dreams—and by pure chance, ended up in mine.
Normally, he would have lost himself in someone else’s dream again.
But instead, when he saw the unfamiliar world of 21st-century Korea, he snapped awake inside the dream.
Just like how I, even in this new world, can’t let go of who I was as “Seo-Ah,” Noé held on to his identity as Noé Rustin while in my dream.
I wonder—when did he start stealing my dreams?
—I need to know more about you.
But it’s clear he still doesn’t fully understand me or the things he’s seen.
“Hmm, let’s just call it a ‘sweet potato dream.’”
When I answered vaguely, Winter frowned.
“Didn’t you say it wasn’t about sweet potatoes?”
“I didn’t mean actual sweet potatoes. It’s a metaphor.”
Winter looked even more confused.
“Do sweet potatoes appear a lot in your dreams? What exactly is your relationship with sweet potatoes?”
“To me, sweet potatoes are just food. That’s all…”
I sighed.
Feeling bad for confusing him, I explained a bit more.
“I’m a prophet, right? In my dreams, I see many things that don’t exist in this world. Noé Rustin probably stays aware of himself in my dream because of that.”
“Then he’ll keep coming back to your dreams.”
“Exactly. That’s why I need herbs that help with lucid dreaming.”
If Noé keeps visiting my dreams, he might learn too much.
Like… where I came from. Why I ended up in this world.
And if he ever figures out that this world is part of a book…
Who knows what might happen? He can’t even control his power now. He could go completely out of control.
But if I can stay aware while dreaming, maybe I can block him from stealing my dreams.
“If the future you saw appears in your dreams, is there a reason Noé must not see it?”
“That’s…”
“Is our future that terrible? What exactly are you seeing?”
What have I seen?
That all of Winter’s pain and suffering was part of someone else’s entertainment.
That even Noé Rustin’s tragedy was designed by someone else.
I pressed my fingers against my temple.
“I’ve seen many of this world’s failures. Some you know of, some you don’t.”
I only know a bit more than Winter does. That’s all.
“And I want to avoid all those failures.”
Someday, when I can confidently guarantee a happy ending…
Maybe then, I’ll be able to tell him everything.
But that time is definitely not now.
“Grand Duke, do you think I’ve gained a little weight?”
I casually changed the subject.
Winter picked me up and replied,
“Only about 200 grams.”
“Has there been any pressure from the North Empire for us to return? We should head back soon…”
“Actually, an envoy from the North Empire arrived today,” Winter said as he sat back down on the bed.
“One of them brought my [sacred relic]. With seven years left until the Monster Wave, we have a lot to do—but figuring out how to use our [sacred relics] is the most important.”
“You already have mine and yours. We still need to find Noé Rustin’s.”
Unlocking the secrets of the relics was just as important as preparing for the Monster Wave.
“I’ll try meeting Noé Rustin through a lucid dream. Since the relics are tied to us, I think we’ll find a clue.”
“I’ll find out where he is. Some Northern nobles are staying in the West Empire—we can use them.”
We had so much to do.
I wasn’t a morning person, but maybe it was time to start getting up earlier.
“Okay, sweet potato. Time to wake up.”
I got out of Winter’s arms and gently woke the little one still lying in bed—formerly known as “Sweet Potato.”
“Umm… huuung…”
Huh?
As soon as the baby saw my face, he turned his head away.
Even the little stem on his head drooped like a wilted plant.
“Hey… Sweet Potato? What’s wrong…?”
Worried, I picked him up, but the more I tried to look at him, the more he shook his head and refused to meet my eyes.
Unlike Winter, who always liked it even when the baby rejected him, I was feeling pretty rejected.
“Izana, actually… Sweet Potato got upset when you said, ‘To me, sweet potatoes are just food.’”
What?
“I told you. If you keep calling him that, he’ll think it’s his real name. He’s sulking because you haven’t given him a proper name.”
“Aaaang—!”
As I tried to meet his eyes again, the (former) Sweet Potato started crying.
Ow!
The sound of his cry hurt my ears. I nearly dropped him from the shock.
Since that incident in the dungeon, he had never used that death-cry again—but now he was really hurt.
“You know that if she gets hurt, you’ll be punished too, right? Stop crying.”
Winter scolded him a bit sternly, and the baby quieted down.
But he was still angry and even tried to bite Winter’s hand.
“S-Suran!”
Panicking, I finally called out “that name.”
Winter smiled like he’d won.
And I had no choice but to calm the baby down.
“Suran, your name is Suran. You’re not a sweet potato. You’re Suran.”
Did he understand me?
The baby peeked at me shyly through teary eyes and covered his face with his little hands.
“Suran? Can I see your face, Suran?”
Peeking.
Through his fingers, he looked at me and mumbled in a baby voice.
“Su, Susu, Shook, Shoong.”
“Suran.”
“Suuu… Suraan…”
“That’s right. Suran.”
Yes, my adorable baby.
You’re no longer a Sweet Potato.
Your name is Suran.
Which means… You’re a pumpkin sweet potato. 🍠🎃
