I created a safe zone in the nightmare world.

"Tap tap tap!"

The sound of hurried footsteps grew louder as they approached.

Under Shi An's watchful gaze, a figure strode out from the dimly lit corner of the stairs.

This is a female dreamer. Her long, silvery-white hair flows like the wind. She wears a deep purple witch's dress with ruffles, tall boots, and a wizard's hat. She doesn't hold a staff but wears a fiery red glove.

"Does this world still have witches? Shrine maidens? Magical girls?"

Shi An was surprised, then realized that this was a nightmare world.

Nightmares are still dreams.

As we can see from the middle-aged man from last time, the appearance of those who fall into nightmares in the nightmare world will be quite unique. Bizarre and flamboyant are both possible.

His appearance changes instantly when he enters the safe zone. This may be the underlying rule of the nightmare world.

The other two Dreamers, dressed in black trench coats, were perfectly normal and blended into the environment.

...

At this moment, the two dreamers in black trench coats were on edge, and only breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that what came out was a person and not some other monster or anomaly.

"However, this girl is a bit reckless. When exploring the nightmare world, one must be careful and cautious; making noise is a big no-no."

The Dreamer, dressed as a witch, was somewhat surprised when she stepped onto this floor.

Surprised by the other two dreamers not far away, and also by the door whose style was so different from the current environment.

However, she was only surprised for a moment, glanced at the two of them, and then quickly walked forward.

Reach out and press your hand on the gleaming brass handle.

He paused for half a second, then pushed the door open without hesitation.

"Squeak~!"

The gate opened.

The white fog began to dissipate.

The newcomer said, "Brother Chen, it seems like we've been beaten to it?"

The newcomers were obedient and didn't rush to grab the door, though they were a little restless.

But the experienced leader stared wide-eyed, surprised, speechless, and helpless.

He felt his new recruit might be being led astray, but, "Are all those who suffer from dream-related problems this reckless these days?"

That's too fierce!

He was conflicted... He analyzed the door for several minutes, but still didn't have enough confidence to make a judgment.

However, the newly arrived folk dreamer only glanced at the door before pushing it open without hesitation.

His expression tensed up again, his eyes fixed on the door that had been pushed open, wary of any potential danger.

No danger occurred.

But the dreamer who pushed open the door seemed to remember something and said, "Oh right, the dormitory lights are going out, starting from the first floor."

One by one, the light bulbs went out.

The man-eating darkness began to spread upwards from the first floor.

The real danger of the dormitory nightmare has only just begun.

……

The witch, the Dreamer, pushed open the door and strode inside.

Although there was only a step between the front and back of the door, she seemed to have passed through the curtain and the barrier of the entire area.

The girl was somewhat surprised.

Although people often call her fierce, she's not really fierce. It's just that she accidentally spent too much time exploring the lower levels, so when the lights went out again, she couldn't stay in the dark any longer.

Pushing open the door may be dangerous, but staying in the dark will inevitably lead to danger.

If she had to choose between the two, she would of course choose the former.

That is wisdom.

just,

The witch who pushed open the door stared wide-eyed.

"Huh? Where did I get here? Is this still the Nightmare World?!"

Here, the lights are bright.

This place is clean and tidy.

Here, soothing background music makes you feel relaxed and at ease.

If she weren't so sure she hadn't left the nightmare world, she would have thought she was back in reality.

"Ding-a-ling!"

"Ding-a-ling!"

The bell hanging on the door rang crisply, and two Dreamers dressed in black trench coats finally pushed the door open and entered.

Then, they all froze on the spot.

After a long pause, the newcomer couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Master, Master, I didn't know there were places like this in the Nightmare World! Why didn't you tell me?"

The leader of the dream-falling group: Aba Aba.

Nobody told me that!

What exactly is this place?

"This is a safe zone, a place free from nightmares."

Not far away, Shi An spoke up, drawing the three people's attention back.

It was only then that they noticed Shi An standing behind the bar. Shi An gave them a very strange feeling, like the owner of this place, with a relaxed and carefree demeanor, yet also like an indifferent bystander, who didn't say anything except for that one word of advice.

Who exactly is this person?

Are they also dreamers like them?

Humans in the nightmare world are, of course, dreamers. However, this person was surrounded by mystery and aloofness that kept people at arm's length. Even though he wanted to ask something, he opened his mouth but ultimately didn't.

I just can't help thinking:

A safe zone? Free from nightmares?

He frowned. Could there really be such a place in the nightmare world?

but……

"This place is truly magical; it's bright, cozy, and gives you a great sense of security. It doesn't feel like a nightmare world at all."

Regardless, compared to the dormitory building that gave him an unsettling and uncomfortable nightmare, the dreamer in the black trench coat would definitely prefer to stay here.

He considered for a moment, then asked Shi An, who looked like the shop owner not far away:

"Sir, may we... rest here for a while? It won't take too long."

Shi An stopped wiping the cup and looked at the three of them.

He wanted to say that there was no need to be polite and that it would be best to stay a while.

"Yes, that was my original intention in building this place."

This place was built by this gentleman... or this shopkeeper?

Can a person who has fallen into a nightmare really construct such a scene in the nightmare world?

Is it true or false?

Who exactly is the store manager?

Logically speaking, given their level, it's impossible for them to encounter dreamers of too high a rank in the nightmare world.

There are many things to consider when wearing a black trench coat for an older man, but...

The witch who falls into the dream has a simpler mind.

She looked at Shi An and said, "Manager, we have several people suffering from nightmares here. You said this place can block nightmares from invading us. I wonder if we could borrow this space and work together to conquer this nightmare?"

"Conquering Nightmare?!"

Newcomers are confused.

The veteran in the black trench coat twitched his lips. He explained to the newcomer, "We Dreamers survive in the nightmare world by exploring, investigating, avoiding danger, and stalling for time until we wake up and escape the nightmare. However, since our survival method is to escape the nightmare, there must be another way to break free from it, and that is... to defeat the nightmare!"

"To be precise, it's about defeating and eliminating the nightmare in the current dream realm. Once we completely defeat the dangers within the nightmare, we won't need to run anymore, and we can even reap considerable rewards, but..."

That's just wishful thinking.

That's not a problem for the vast majority of dream sufferers to consider. This folk dream sufferer dressed as a witch is really too reckless.

"but……"

She wanted to try again, even though the store manager had nodded slightly in agreement—in fact, Shi An had no idea of ​​the difficulty and significance of conquering the nightmare—but she didn't expect that she would be stuck on the two men in black trench coats instead.

She said, "As long as we use safe zones to defend against attacks, conquering nightmares is entirely possible."

So, the little girl is too naive and innocent.

No one should believe everything they are told.

Not to mention this is a nightmare world.

The seasoned man in the black trench coat thought to himself, his eyes involuntarily glancing towards the door.

One by one, the lights went out. The nightmare of the dormitory, which started with the first floor turning off the lights, finally spread to the sixth floor.

"They're here!"

His muscles involuntarily tensed.

*Smack!*

All the lights went out, and the dormitory building outside was completely dark. Darkness descended, and a chilling danger seemed to be brewing in the shadows, gradually drawing closer.

Approaching.

Approaching.

It's always getting closer, yet it feels like there's an insurmountable chasm between us, stopping us at the very gate.

"Huh? That's it? Is this still the nightmare world I know?"

His mouth was slightly open.

Newcomers may not have a direct understanding of this, but for an old man like him, it is extremely shocking.

The witch who fell into dreams also had her mouth slightly open.

She believed this place could keep out danger, not because she was actually that reckless, but because her belief was based on the information she already had.

She knew that the real danger would only resurface after the dormitory lights were turned off, while here, this little shop was brightly lit, and as long as the lights were on, it could naturally suppress the danger in the dark to some extent.

Use light to curb the spread of darkness.

That's what she originally thought.

But what about now?

The gate is like a line separating the world, keeping out all the eeriness, danger, and misfortune in the darkness.

Danger still lurks outside the door, but leisure and comfort reign inside.

Is this still the nightmare world she knows?

Well, she also judged early on that the store was safe enough, which shows that she is quite smart!