The Sage that the Sword Saint is Obsessed With

35 – 9. The Witch’s Curse (8)

1.

The dream witch, Aurora, has been living for hundreds of years.

Having dedicated long years to studying the realms of the mind and illusion magic, and after perfecting her own magic called Dream Realm Magic, she found no new goals and chose to reside in the ruins in the magical realm, sleeping peacefully.

She could no longer find joy in reality.

In dreams, she could spend limitless happy moments.

In dreams, things that were impossible in reality could be realized without limit.

However, Aurora felt a thrill in reality for the first time in a while.

-Bang! Swoosh!

A brilliant purple light flashed, covering the entire area, as multiple explosions occurred in succession. It was the clash between two magic spells.

Aurora looked at the man in front of her.

She had battled with wizards and other witches before, but a fight that made her heart pound like this was truly, truly a long time coming.

It felt like the first time since the first battle.

Usually, she would fall into eternal slumber before engaging in a full-blown magic clash.

But this man was different.

Though he attempted to put her to sleep using the Eternal Rest ability while attacking multiple times, she saw through all of it.

Aurora is reading all the spells she could use.

“Where, should I see if I can block this too?”

The dream pouch behind Aurora spews out dreams.

Dozens of stars rise into the air.

The colorful spectacle resembles a jewel-filled jewelry box.

-Thunk!

Aurora flicks her finger.

One star twinkles and shoots a light towards Evan.

Just before the light is shot, Evan reaches out his left hand.

Mirror Shield.

He created a shield that reflects all elemental magic.

“Ugh…!!”

However, the starlight penetrates the shield and pierces Evan’s left hand.

A round hole appears where it passed through.

It melted down to the bone.

Evan immediately uses healing magic for emergency treatment.

“The cry of the star?”

Ninth-rank elemental magic, Cry of the Star.

It pierces everything, and defense is impossible.

If every star in the sky is the same, avoiding it would be impossible as well.

“To think you knew about this, indeed, you’re not an ordinary magician.”

Since the rank has not been measured, it is unknown how many ranks the witch of dreams is.

However, using the dream pouch, a magic she researched, she can use all the magic she used in dreams in reality, regardless of the rank. Among them, there are magics that do not exist in the real world.

There are limitations.

What can be dreamt of depends on the knowledge and imagination in one’s mind.

So, while one can use all magic, not all magic can be used.

“Extend my thanks. It was enjoyable after a long time.”

Aurora flicks her finger.

“Now, it’s become mundane.”

All the stars in the sky began to vibrate.

Gathering the light.

If they unleash their light all at once, there’s no escaping.

But Evan remained composed.

Had he accepted his fate?

Aurora thought so.

He said he gave up.

Completely wrong.

Evan wasn’t giving up; he was at ease.

He extended his right hand.

A small black magic circle appeared above his right hand.

What kind of magic is this?

A form I’ve never seen before.

It looks like a single magic circle, but multiple circles are stacked on top of each other.

A magic circle consisting of a total of 10 layers.

The vibrating stars simultaneously emitted light.

The dim space was colored with starlight.

The straight-shooting starlight poured out like rain.

…It had to be this way.

The starlight that had been extending in a straight line suddenly curved, sucked into the magic circle in Evan’s hand.

Black hole.

Among the 10th-grade spatial magics, it was a magic close to the 11th grade, with 10 layers of magic circles acting as a miniature black hole, sucking in anything.

“…”

Aurora was astonished.

She thought the man in front of her was unusual, but she never imagined he could wield such magic.

“Hoo…”

Evan exhaled hot breath, wiping his hand.

It felt like his brain had been cooked.

10th-grade magic not only consumes a significant amount of mana, but also requires a severe mental effort to form and operate the magic circle.

Due to the recoil, even if it’s a powerful magic of the 10th grade, it’s not used lightly.

Among them, he used the magic with the most severe recoil, making his body collapse from the recoil’s force.

It wasn’t a black hole, but there were means to protect oneself.

Using only spatial movement would have sufficed.

Since there were no set barriers, Evan could have picked any coordinates and moved, avoiding the starlight.

However,

Evan saw Leven, collapsed on one side of the corridor.

…To the point of being revolting.

He couldn’t escape alone.

If only he could teleport someone far away, things might have been different.

But since that wasn’t possible, he opted for a risky method.

“…Impressive.”

It was the first time he had seen a 10th-rank magician. Moreover, it was the first time he had seen a 10th-rank magician he didn’t know.

Aurora knew three.

The Sage, Arahan.

The First Witch, Sephyros.

The Penitent, Desmond.

Now, there was one more.

The man in front of him boldly used 10th-rank magic.

“What’s your name?”

He became curious.

It had been a long time since he felt such a strong curiosity.

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“Why?”

“I’ve become curious about you.”

“Sorry, but there’s no time for chit-chat.”

Evan prepared to end it in earnest.

He had tried a few spells and even used a black hole in practical combat, gaining everything he could from this battle.

“A high price to pay.”

Aurora applauded.

The space rippled.

The surroundings blurred as if shrouded in mist.

Dream within a dream.

The most powerful magic in the dream world that Aurora researched.

The empty expanse turned into a dense forest.

In the sky, there is an ocean.

Not metaphorically, but a real ocean with waves.

Half of it is blue, and half is the color of sunset.

Birds swim in the sea, and fish fly between the trees.

Fruits on the trees chew insects with a crunch.

“This is my dream world.”

Tree roots rise from the ground and entwine Evan’s arms and legs.

Aurora’s figure disappears like smoke.

The smoke rides the wind and stops in front of Evan.

It transforms back into Aurora.

“Shall we spend some time leisurely?”

Aurora gently strokes Evan’s chest.

2.

It’s the worst.

Realizing how foolish she is to have felt excited and happy.

Ruen looked into the mirror.

Her body in the mirror was very clean.

Her body had become gruesome from years of battlefield life.

Slashed by a sword, pierced by a spear, bitten by monsters…

Scars cover her entire body.

There are even burn marks on her back.

But in the mirror, Ruen’s skin is clean and smooth.

At that moment, Ruen realizes that this is a dream.

Dreams only show what you want to see.

Knowing that her body is gruesome, Ruen wanted to appear beautiful to Evan, and that was reflected in the dream.

“…Evan wouldn’t be like this from the start.”

Evan hugs Ruen.

“Why are you crying? Huh?”

With a warm smile, Evan wiped away Leven’s tears.

A lump formed in his throat.

Knowing it’s fake makes the heartache even more intense.

Leven pushed Evan away.

“…Thanks for the comfort.”

Leven smiled at the fake Evan.

“But you’re not real, are you?”

“What are you talking about? Fake?”

Evan looked at Leven with wide eyes, as if not understanding her words.

Maybe this is better?

But Leven shook her head.

Dreams are just dreams.

The world began to distort.

When you wake up from a dream, the world crumbles.

Leven’s body was getting closer to reality.

Scars appeared on her pale skin, staining it.

Her underwear transformed into a black gown.

“Leven?”

Evan looked at Leven with a bewildered face.

A face filled with sadness as if sensing a parting.

Similar to the face from when she unilaterally declared their breakup.

“Where are you going?”

The face consumed by sadness started to contort.

The vitality in her eyes vanished.

A bitter smile spread across her lips.

“Again?”

“…”

“Planning to discard again?”

A piercing remark that stabbed the heart.

Leowen clenched her lower lip tightly.

“Selfish woman. In the end, you haven’t changed. You still only think about yourself, then and now. Have you ever considered someone else’s feelings? I forgave you even when my life was falling apart and I lived like a beggar because of you. But how could you do this?”

Fake Evan asked, accusingly.

Her throat felt dry.

Leowen grabbed fake Evan’s hand.

Even if it’s just a dream, it’s fine.

She wanted to convey these words.

Words that she could no longer say in reality.

“… Evan, I really love you.”

Evan’s face crumbled with complicated emotions.

The world shattered.

The cozy inn room turned into a cold prison.

Leowen blinked her eyes a few times and got up.

“Phew…”

It was indeed a dream.

It felt empty and miserable.

Although it was just a dream, the sadness felt even greater because she had thought of it as a moment of happiness, even if just for a short while.

Leowen’s gaze turned towards the boundary in front of her.

She could feel a strong aura of mana.

Evan’s mana was mixed in as well.

“Ha…”

Leowen let out a long sigh and raised her hand to the hilt of her sword.

Her eyes sharpened like blades.

The empty heart filled with disappointment was now filled with cold anger.

She drew her sword.

Leowen stepped into the boundary with firm steps.

From under her long eyelashes, a chilling spark flickered in her golden eyes.