I Got a Fake Job at the Academy
Chapter 524

[Copy, you say?]

Lucid was conscious of the human before her eyes.

An outstanding magician. Simultaneously excellent at close combat and possessing unwavering inner convictions.

Brilliant minded with top-tier situational judgment abilities.

Though unsure of the level of outside humans, Rudger Chelici would surely be among the best of the best.

Taking all that into account, Rudger's actions were far beyond common sense even in Dreamland where imagination becomes reality.

This went beyond that level.

"Why are you surprised? You've shown it several times, or did you not think I could copy it?"

Lucid remained silent.

He genuinely thought that way.

'Come to think of it, he showed unusually diverse fighting methods.'

While being a magician, he uses a sword, excels at close combat, and even handles various types of magic without being bound to any one type.

It was a fighting style too excessive for one human to possess.

What if those weren't Rudger's personal abilities?

Even now, seeing him freely handle the dream force wrapped around his hands, that speculation became certainty.

What an astonishing thing.

"Has your curiosity been satisfied?"

Rudger mumbled while staring at the dream force swirling around his hand.

Dream force was certainly a unique power, a special power that could only be used in Dreamland.

If pressed to compare, it could be considered similar to mana in the current world but while mana could be handled in any way, dream force could only be manipulated through individual imagination and mind.

However, because of this, the paths it could take were far greater and more diverse.

'So the magic I was simply imagining was actually being implemented through dream force.'

The moment he became aware of what power he had been using unconsciously, it felt like his eyelids lightened and he had an awakening.

Rudger realized that this entire Dreamland was filled with some enormous energy.

And that from the moment they entered, they were being affected by this power.

'There was a reason magic wasn't working well.'

This power responds to human consciousness.

Because it sensitively reacts to human instincts and unconsciousness, and the thoughts residing there, there are difficulties in implementing magic.

'Dream Walkers must have mastered how to use the dream force.'

Rudger tried moving the dream force flowing around his hand.

The black dream force that climbed up his arm to his shoulder unified with the shadow wrapped around Rudger's body.

"I see. The form is merely a means of implementing mental imagery. It meant that whatever appearance you desire doesn't matter."

The reason Lucid of the lucid dream wrapped dream force around her limbs was because that was the most optimal form for her to use.

If you delve deeper, there is no need to be bound by such methods.

For instance, like this.

-Swoosh!

Black wings spread wide behind Rudger's back.

It was a form that could only be achieved when expanding Aether Nocturnus to its maximum.

Though he usually didn't use it because it consumed considerable magical power, things were different in Dreamland.

[You, just what...]

Lucid, who muttered thus, belatedly became aware of her own state.

'I stepped back? Me?'

She suddenly becomes aware that she had taken one step back from Rudger.

Against a mere human.

Am I gripped by fear?

No. That can't be. How could I, who is aware of everything, against a human in Dreamland...

"Is your faith shaking?"

Rudger wasn't one to miss such wavering in Lucid.

"You said you're aware of everything, but it seems you're not sure if you really can be."

Lucid bit her lips tightly.

Certainly, she could be aware of existing in this Dreamland.

Because she was aware, she could see several moves ahead and gain the upper hand in fights but this was the first time facing someone like this.

Clearly, when first facing Rudger, his aims and actions were as visible as if placed on her palm.

Now nothing could be seen, as if peering into a pitch-black abyss.

Rather, she felt that the abyss was steadily gazing at her.

The position of naturally looking down on something had now reversed to looking up.

It was a situation where confusion took precedence over anger and humiliation.

And then the abyss moved.

-Thud.

Rudger lightly took one step.

However, he had approached within arm's reach of Lucid, as if folding and unfolding space.

The shadow that had been rippling where Rudger had been standing until just now disappeared with a flicker almost simultaneously.

It could rightfully be called a movement that left afterimages.

The footwork that Lucid had shown when first fighting Rudger was now implemented through dream force in a far more elegant and refined form.

-Chit.

Lucid gritted her teeth and strongly intensified the dream force flames wrapped around both arms.

The pink flames she wrapped weren't simply focused on attack.

If she wanted, she could create a wall of fire like this for defense as well.

Naturally, its intensity wasn't much different from when used for attack.

Flames of unified offense and defense that demonstrate overwhelming performance in both aspects that was the dream force that Lucid handled.

Combined with her characteristic of being aware of the opponent's actions, she was supreme at close combat even among the five subordinates.

Though that characteristic of awareness wasn't working on the current Rudger the output of the dream force itself still maintained that terrifying performance.

-Slash!

However, the pink barrier that Lucid spread was split in half far too easily.

One of Lucid's eyes stared at that sight as if unable to believe it.

All Rudger had done was lightly wave his arm, yet his dream force so easily broke through Lucid's defense.

Towards the astonished dream subordinate, Rudger spoke as if sneering.

"You're afraid."

A sword made of lightning forms in his hand.

Lucid, who barely became aware of the greatly swung trajectory, twisted her upper body to dodge but since it wasn't a perfect evasion, an incision formed on her shoulder.

The impact was clearly transmitted even to that sturdy body, showing how strong the force was.

"Your confidence in completely blocking my attacks is wavering, isn't it?"

Lucid didn't answer.

It would be more accurate to say she couldn't answer.

She had to pour all her concentration just into becoming aware of and dodging Rudger's attacks right now.

Rudger's right hand reached toward empty space and when he clenched his hand, a great sword containing chilly cold air was gripped.

When he swung the cold greatsword, countless ice rose like waves along its trajectory and froze the surroundings.

Though she defended by maximizing the output of dream force, sharp ice thorns that penetrated through the pink flames left wounds all over her body.

Towards the great sword being swung again, Lucid extended her fist.

The fist accurately struck the side of the great sword's blade and shattered it like glass but as if unconcerned, Rudger this time gripped empty space with his left hand.

-Whoosh.

A huge stone staff containing hot flames was created.

As Rudger's body spun once, flames swallowed the surrounding area like a typhoon.

[Eek!]

Lucid gritted her teeth and strongly stomped her foot as a huge shockwave burst and tore apart the swirling flames in all directions but Lucid's expression wouldn't ease.

'I'm, being pushed back?'

The more they fought, Rudger's skill at handling dream force became more and more precise.

At this rate, he might already reach her level.

No, he might have already reached and surpassed it.

How could a human do this?

Lucid couldn't understand it.

The human called Rudger now looked like something incomprehensible.

Could she block that monster's attacks?

Even if she attacked, would that monster take any damage?

Fear rose amid the gradually tilting battle and that unconscious terror ate away at Lucid's body.

Even if she was a dream subordinate, that didn't mean she could completely control Dreamland in the palm of her hand.

They were just naturally born with power in Dreamland.

In the end, they were merely beings belonging to Dreamland.

-Crack!

The flames wrapped around both arms shattered like glass.

Rather than extinguishing, they were completely shattered by the logic of power.

Lucid's pupils dilated.

The pink flames that bloomed above her eye patch also wavered precariously like a candle in the wind.

"If he was going to kill me."

And now a typhoon that would completely extinguish that candle swept in.

"Nirva should have come personally."

* * *

Julia Plumhart fell to one knee.

She couldn't withstand the pressure exerted by the red chains wrapped around her body.

Julia's trembling gaze turned toward the owner of the red chains.

To describe him, he was darkness wearing a pure white suit.

Two streams of red light, presumably eyes, flowed from his face, and he wore a red tie with his neatly dressed suit.

He drew even more attention by wearing flashy golden rings and bracelets on both hands.

'Just where does such a monster come from.'

Originally, this place where Julia arrived was a rendezvous point set up in the middle layer.

A kind of base area created in preparation for when they would be scattered while coming down from the middle layer.

Since it was built in a safe place with no dangerous life forms from the middle layer around, it wasn't a bad place for long-term stays either.

But unlike usual, a presence far more dangerous than the middle layer's life forms was waiting for everyone at this meeting point.

One of Nirva's five subordinates, Mirage of the Daydream.

Mirage subdued everyone who gathered here, including Julia and Selina, in the blink of an eye.

It was meaningless to resist the red chains that rushed in from all directions.

Though Julia and Selina struggled, they were insufficient against Mirage who freely handled dream force.

[Hmm?]

However, regardless of Julia's anger, Mirage muttered as if everyone here was beneath his notice.

[Oh my. What an unfortunate thing.]

The subordinates derived from Nirva can sense each other's existence.

No matter how far apart they are, they are connected as one but now one of the five subordinates, Lucid of the lucid dream, has died.

Mirage, who received news of her death, lamented.

[Given her personality, she definitely wouldn't have let her guard down. That means there was such a strong opponent. Not good.]

Mirage hadn't even shown interest in the people gathered here.

To begin with, Mirage only made a few hand gestures to subdue everyone here.

In a way, it was natural that they weren't worth noticing but if Lucid, one of the subordinates, was taken down, that's a different story.

[Originally I planned to make a judgment after observing the situation a bit more, but I've changed my mind.]

Mirage stroked his chin with his gold ring-wearing hand and his red eye light narrowed.

[It seems there are dangerous elements present.]

Mirage came here led by a certain energy.

The same went for the other subordinates including him.

They came to detect and eliminate those with the strongest energy among the people existing in this Dreamland but what they actually encountered were just youngsters.

Though that white-haired girl showed skills unfitting for her young age, that was all.

While they might be a threat later, they weren't forces to be concerned about right now.

So he didn't think much of it, but after experiencing Lucid's death, his thoughts changed.

It's here.

Some kind of something that made him come here.

[Who is it?]

Mirage's gaze swept over the students.

Whenever his red eye light touched them, the students bound in chains trembled in fear.

Some of the more timid ones even burst into tears.

[My, my. I didn't mean to frighten you.]

Mirage scratched his head awkwardly, then pointed his finger at a crying female student.

[But you see, I really hate whining sounds, so could you please be quiet?]

Rather than helping, his pointed words made the female student's sobbing worse.

Seeing this, Mirage shook his head as if disappointed.

[Oh dear. Why do people not listen properly when asked nicely?]

-Whoosh.

His red eyes burned strongly with a hint of annoyance.

[This leaves me no choice but to force you to be quiet.]

What gathered at the tip of his gold ring-wearing index finger was red dream force.

That thing, shaped like a sharp pen tip, was aimed at the forehead of the female student who was still shedding tears and sobbing.

"Stop!"

At that moment, Selina stepped forward as if to block.

Not sure where such strength came from, but she moved despite being bound in chains.

[Amazing willpower. I'll praise you for that. However, if you don't move aside, you'll die.]

"I can't let you harm a student."

Seeing Selina's resolute eyes, Mirage smiled slightly.

[Is that so? Then die instead.]

Red light shot from the tip of Mirage's finger.

Selina tightly closed her eyes at that sight but just before the red flash reached Selina a black dot appeared in empty space, then expanded like a whirlpool and absorbed the light.

[What's this?]

Mirage was puzzled.

The attack hadn't been blocked or anything, it literally vanished as if dissolving.

For an attack using dream force to disappear so easily?

[It was you.]

Mirage's red eyes curved wickedly.