House

Sunny sat on an extremely soft and comfortable chair, and in front of him was a large, spacious desk. Behind it sat a middle-aged Awakened reading from a screen hanging on his desk, occasionally glancing at Sunny. After finishing what seemed to be reading his information, the man cleared his throat in a hoarse voice and spoke.

"Awakened Sunless, your file is quite impressive. A boy from the outskirts gets his True Name in his first Nightmare, then returns from the Dream Realm after almost a year of absence… but as you know, there's a lack of information we have about the year you spent in the Dream Realm. So if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you several questions and I hope you'll answer honestly."

"That's fine. You can ask, but I have the freedom to answer or not, right?"

"Yes, your status allows you that."

"Then go ahead."

"You and the Sleepers were in a death zone called the Forgotten Shore. Is that correct?"

"Yes, that's what the Spell called it."

"Also, that region was inhabited only by Awakened, Fallen, and Corrupted monsters… meaning it's beyond any Sleeper's ability to stay alive. And everyone who managed to survive must have killed one or two of them. Tell me, how many did you kill?"

Sunny appeared as if he was thinking deeply, which he wasn't doing. He had decided to reveal everything he had to divert attention from Nephis and draw it to himself. The Great Clans would not tolerate the Heir of the Immortal Flame moving around freely, but if he was accompanied by the most prominent and powerful Awakened of their batch, they would reconsider the cost of killing her.

"More than a thousand, I think? Maybe I even surpassed two thousand… I even killed dozens of Fallen creatures. I think that's what the Spell called them."

The man froze in place, looking at Sunny with suspicion and inquiry.

"Be aware that everything you say is being recorded right now."

"Oh, sorry, I lied to you. I killed far more than that number. I even killed a Corrupted One… well, I didn't really kill him. I peeled him, but the Spell counted his death for me."

The man began to look angry but met Sunny's honest yet serious gaze. He reluctantly wrote down what Sunny said. From the statements of previous Sleepers, this boy was the one who led them into the battle at the Crimson Spire with Changing Star. And what made his claim believable was his True Name. A truly ominous name.

"So, thousands of Awakened Nightmare Creatures, dozens of Fallen monsters, and a corrupted one?"

"Yes."

"You know something, Young man? You're kind of ridiculous, but I'm inclined to believe you."

The interview continued as Sunny wanted, avoiding some questions, answering others with verbal manipulation, while answering some honestly.

Sunny was dismissed from the luxurious room where his interview took place and was sent to his private room in the Academy. He was given a very advanced communication device and a bag containing extremely potent stimulants so strong they would leave a normal person in a miserable state. Of course, they wouldn't affect Sunny much, as the purpose was to keep him awake and prevent him from sleeping until he was transported by a Saint to a Castle and bound to it.

"Well then, let's try Shadow Step. Is it the same, or is there some improvement? I hope the God of Shadow gave me something other than my freedom and his so-called inheritance."

Sunny looked at the shadow of the chair in front of him, then stepped into it.

"What?"

Sunny appeared from the shadow of the chair, but previously he could either dive into shadows or teleport instantly. Now he teleported directly into the shadow, but it consumed more Soul Essence than diving into shadows, and the distance seemed much shorter than shadow diving as well.

"This thing is extremely dangerous! I can emerge from anyone's shadow and stab them from behind in an instant."

Sunny summoned his weapon again and tried to transition without diving into the shadows with his weapon, but he couldn't. When he dived into the shadows, he was able to carry his weapon. And that was a significant improvement since carrying a weapon with him into the shadows opened endless possibilities for killing his enemies.

Sunny moved and sat on his luxurious bed. He was treated specially by the government as one of the leaders of the Sleeper regiment who returned from the Forgotten Shore. The government wanted to win his favor, perhaps hoping their stance toward him would cause some of the newly awakened to join them.

Sunny didn't really mind, as the government was, in his view, the only force whose goal was to ensure humanity's survival and continuation. So, if they wanted to win his favor, he also wanted to win theirs. Sunny picked up his communication device and began searching his memory for Jet's number.

He wanted to contact her to help him settle in the Waking World. He needed to buy a house and finish the procedures for transferring to one of the castles. So there was no harm in pulling some hidden strings to speed everything up. Sunny tapped the screen of his device, waiting for the call to connect.

Several hours later, Sunny was sitting on a chair in the Academy's cafeteria, holding a coffee cup and trying hard not to crush it with his strength. Five of his shadows were wrapped around him, and the cafeteria was softly lit to create a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere for those sitting there. But for Sunny, it was a curse. His innate ability doubled his strength, turning him into a monster with excessive power who could crush his coffee cup if he didn't focus properly.

"Are you having trouble holding your cup? Is that what happens from the sudden increase in strength?"

"Oh, you don't have to make five of your shadows wrap around you and multiply your unnatural strength five times in an instant."

Nephis sat on the other side of the table, looking at him in disappointment. She had forgotten that Sunny came from the outskirts with literally nothing but the rags he wore, so her plan was shattered before it even started.

But everything could be planned from the beginning, so Sunny asked her to come with him to meet one of his acquaintances. Sunny turned his gaze toward the entrance, and when Nephis followed his gaze, she saw a woman wearing a dark blue outfit with the buttons left open, revealing a tightly fitted suit beneath, with short raven-black hair, flawless white skin, and eyes as blue and cold as ice itself. Beneath her eyes were black circles caused by a lack of sleep. Sunny waved to the woman.

"Master Jet, I'm here."

The woman lifted her gaze to Sunny, then yawned and approached them with a happy smile on her lips. As she got closer, she spoke to Sunny.

"I'm honestly surprised. The street rat I observed in his first Nightmare has become an Awakened like no other… of course, that doesn't include you, Lady Nephis."

Jet sat down beside Nephis and, after adjusting her sitting posture, looked at Nephis and spoke.

"Pardon me for introducing myself to someone of your stature, Lady Nephis… I'm Master Jet, an employee of the government."

Nephis nodded slightly with a slightly nervous smile. Sunny hadn't told her that one of his acquaintances would be a master. Sunny spoke, cutting off the awkward silence.

"Master Jet, do you want something to eat? I've got all the time, but I doubt you have time to eat in peace."

"You're right. They make me work without rest, but the food here isn't as good as in the trainers' cafeteria… although I'm not that demanding."

Jet got up from her seat and went to get food, giving Sunny a chance to ask Nephis.

"Did any representatives from the Great Clans visit you?"

"Yes, a representative from Valor visited me. He spoke to me coldly and seemed to hate the very idea that I was alive, but at least he maintained manners and congratulated me on my return… also, he took Caster with him. Caster didn't seem alive anymore. He looked like a walking corpse."

"Don't worry about the Valor representative. At least he showed you his hatred, which means they're now limited in the kinds of tricks they can use."

"I hope so."

They sat in silence, then Jet approached, carrying a plate full of food and a coffee cup in the other hand. She returned to her seat, then looked at Sunny as she began eating.

"So, Sunless, why did you send for me? I was planning to visit you, but not this soon. I've been extremely busy and couldn't find a time to come to you. But your sudden call gave me an excuse to escape work."

"Ah, well, can you do me a favor? Honestly, I don't want to spend too much time doing nothing, so can you help me speed up my placement in one of the fortresses?"

"That'll be a bit difficult, even for someone like me, but no problem. But from the way you're talking, it seems you're not finished yet."

"That's right. Now, onto the harder request: Can you help me buy a house?"

Jet nearly cursed at him, while Nephis looked at him uncertainly. Sunny seemed like someone who knew everything, but now he didn't even know how to buy a house.

"Sunless, you're an important person. I mean, the Legacy Clans are fighting over you guys. You could just say you want a house, and they'd give you one to win your favor. You don't even need to go through the buying process."

"Oh, am I really that special that I'd be given a luxurious house for free?"

"You seem different from the times I spent with you back at the Academy. You look like you're trying to downplay yourself. But back then, you were very boastful and arrogant."

"I'm trying to change, as you can see. Too much arrogance doesn't seem fun in the Dream Realm."

After a day and a half, Sunny, Cassie, and Nephis were transferred to the same fortress in the Dream Realm: Noctis Sanctuary, by Saint Tyris or Sky Tide. Nephis reluctantly accepted Sunny's advice to join him and Cassie in the same fortress, saying it was the best and safest fortress, despite it being affiliated with one of the Great Clans. And after being transferred to the fortress, they were returned to the Waking World.

Sunny and Nephis were standing, looking at a large and spacious house. There was a medium-sized garden in front of the house door, and the house itself was made of white brick with some wood adorning it. The neighborhood was located near the area where Sunny used to live, and he had chosen a bigger house this time because there were companions living with him. Sunny looked at the pale girl sitting in a wheelchair in the middle of the garden.

"Dofus, you're incredibly rich! You bought this huge house You're so generous for letting me live with you guys. I hope I'm not making any trouble for you"

"Don't worry. You'll get used to it."

Neph tried to comfort him, but her words fell on deaf ears.

The three of them entered the house, and they were greeted by a spacious hall furnished with luxurious furniture. The house consisted of seven rooms and a large basement divided into several sections. There was also a security system, as if a gate opened nearby, as well as a decent-sized kitchen.

Sunny left Effie and Nephis to do whatever they wanted in the house. Then he went to the basement and entered the password. Inside the basement, he headed toward a section where three capsules were placed, the latest products connected to advanced healthcare systems.

Sunny had spent a lot of Contribution Points and Memories to acquire the house and the selected equipment. But he didn't regret it. Quality was extremely important to preserve their bodies when they entered the Dream Realm.

Sunny opened his capsule, took off his clothes, then entered it and lay down. After that, the capsule closed over him.