I had a dream.

It was a strange dream where I could realize that it was a dream.

Usually, in a lucid dream, the dreamer can control it freely, but that wasn’t the case for me. I could only be aware that this was a dream.

In that dream, I was like an invisible presence. I could see everyone, but others couldn’t see me, like a transparent being.

In that state, I observed the middle school days of the Three Emperors.

Their faces looked younger than the present, indicating that what I was witnessing was their childhood.

Next to them was a man I didn’t know.

I silently repeated his name in my mind.

‘Jin Hae-yul.’

It was strange. I had never seen Jin Hae-yul’s face before or after the possession. However, the dream vividly showed me Jin Hae-yul’s face. Was it because I was the possessor?

In front of my bewildered self, the ordinary daily life of the Three Emperors, or rather the Four Heavenly Kings, unfolded.

Back in their middle school days, their lives were not much different from the present.

The Four Heavenly Kings were always at the center of attention.

Back then, Sung Ji-chan was still confident, Ban Ha-min pretended to be cute, and Seonwoo-jin was indifferent to the world.

And Jin Hae-yul…

I decided to observe him more closely.

Jin Hae-yul looked kind and handsome, just like ‘^_^’.

He was a righteous and lifeful boy whose dream was to become a pianist.

As his long and straight fingers pressed the piano keys, beautiful music resonated.

Everyone liked him, and everyone sought his attention.

There was nothing Jin Hae-yul lacked.

It truly was a perfect life.

However, what disrupted their peaceful routine happened in an instant.

It was an ordinary day like any other. Jin Hae-yul, as usual, was walking along the street with the Four Heavenly Kings. They waited for the traffic light to change to cross the pedestrian crossing.

Finally, when the green light came on, the Four Heavenly Kings crossed the street together.

At that moment, a truck rushed towards Sung Ji-chan.

Jin Hae-yul, the first to notice it, quickly pushed Sung Ji-chan out of the way.

And…

Crash!

“Ugh.”

After waking up, I breathed heavily.

‘What kind of dream was that?’

My heart pounded rapidly. My body reacted intensely, much like when having a nightmare. No, was this indeed a nightmare?

‘It’s okay. Let’s calm down.’

It was just a dream.

Nothing more.

I reassured myself and regained composure.

However, as I came to my senses, I suddenly felt discomfort.

‘But… where is this?’

I looked around. Unfamiliar ceiling, unfamiliar walls, unfamiliar bed. Everything around me was something I had never seen before.

‘No, wait. On second thought, it seems like I’ve seen this before… Wait a minute, isn’t this a hospital?’

In front of my bewildered self, the system suddenly appeared.

I was startled.

Only after confirming that what I saw in front of me was the system I usually knew did I open my mouth.

“Oh, it surprised me.”

Did I collapse or something?

Was it severe enough to be hospitalized?

That’s unlikely. Considering my health, it’s impossible for an event like ‘fainting due to anemia.’

…When I thought about it until now, the last thing before closing my eyes came to mind.

“Ah.”

I got hit on the head.

Moreover, with a wooden stick.

Recalling that moment again, a dreadful feeling washed over me, and I furrowed my brows.

‘But I don’t feel any pain now?’

I touched the back of my head where I was struck. Even if there was a bump, I expected at least some pain, but there was no discomfort, and everything seemed fine.

“This is strange…”

Was my head really that tough? It doesn’t make sense how nonchalant I feel.

While muttering to myself, the system appeared again in front of me.

Treated?

Now that I think about it…

〈It's okay even if you get hit! I'll treat you! +_+〉

There was a time when it said such words.

I thought it was just a casual remark, but it seems there really is a treatment function. No wonder my body feels unusually light; there's a reason for that. I expressed my gratitude.

"Thank you. It doesn't hurt at all, thanks to you."

The system, confirming my awakening, spoke a few more words and disappeared.

I got up from the bed and turned on the lights in the hospital room.

The bright light revealed my surroundings at a glance. A luxurious single room. It looked similar to the ward I saw when I visited Yu-hee or did a hospital visit last time. Maybe it's the same hospital.

Anyway, now that I know it's not a dangerous place, I could finally relax.

'What time is it now?'

It's still dark outside. I glanced at the clock on the wall of the hospital room. 4 a.m. I have to wait a bit for the sunrise.

'I should get some more sleep.'

I turned off the lights again and lay back on the bed.

Glowing in the darkness, I stared at the ceiling with my eyes half-closed.

'By the way, why did I dream such a dream?'