Chapter Text
Everything started about three months ago, when I returned to my run-down apartment after a long, exhausting day at work.
'I’m really… exhausted.'
Today, once again, I had done my best to carry out my job as a fake agent—successfully eliminating a shadow and rescuing all the trapped civilians. Even though it was ultimately just an effort to maintain the image of a 'perfect agent,' I couldn’t deny that I genuinely felt happy when I received everyone’s sincere words of thanks.
Setting aside that sense of pride and relief, exhaustion began to take over my body. The injuries I had sustained during the rescue now throbbed sharply, making their presence painfully clear. I really just wanted to collapse onto my bed immediately.
I unlocked the door quickly and practically rushed inside, striding toward the bedroom before throwing myself onto the makeshift bed—crude, but comfortable enough for now. My eyelids felt unbearably heavy as drowsiness born of sheer fatigue washed over me.
'Maybe I’ll lie down for a bit… and take a shower later.'
Moments like this always made me think back to why I had started all of this in the first place.
'I miss home so much.'
I missed the feeling of peace, of not having to worry about anything—being able to rest freely, having family and friends…
Lost in those faint, hazy memories of the past, I suddenly realized something.
I realized that I… was lonely.
Even though I was surrounded by so many connections—the Daydream Inc., Team D, Hyunmu Team, and others—there wasn’t a single person among them who was truly close to me.
There was no one I trusted enough to lean on, to confide in, to speak honestly about my worries, my desires, my suffering.
I felt adrift.
In this vast, unfamiliar world.
So many times, I wanted to let it all out—yet I still had enough reason left to hold myself back.
It was exhausting.
Why did it have to be me…?
I buried my face into the pillow, feeling my eyes grow hot.
'Just… a little more effort.'
Just try a little harder… and then I’ll be able to go home…
I closed my eyes, letting my consciousness slowly sink, carried away by the current of my thoughts into the darkness.
'!!'
'How long have I been asleep?!'
I had only meant to take a short nap—who would have thought I’d fall into such a deep sleep? I’d even forgotten to set an alarm.
I hurriedly checked the time on my phone.
[06:45]
Thankfully, it wasn’t time to report to headquarters yet—but it was far too late to properly prepare for the next workday. Damn it, my body probably smelled, I hadn’t changed clothes, hadn’t washed my hair, hadn’t treated my wounds. If I went to the Bureau like this, I’d be a complete mess.
I staggered upright. Fine—being as presentable as possible would have to do. I needed to hurry, or I’d be late—
'Huh…?'
'Did I already change into pajamas?'
Only then did I realize I was wearing a set of comfortable, warm sleepwear.
'Wait—'
I lifted my shirt and froze in surprise when I saw that the bruising around my waist had been replaced by a pain-relief patch. My ankle injury had been bandaged, and there was even a faint medicinal
scent lingering on my skin.
I jumped up and rushed into the bathroom.
The face reflected in the mirror was still mine—but it looked strangely clean and well-groomed. It was definitely not the face I’d had before I passed out.
'What the hell is going on?'
Had I been so tired that I’d woken up and forgotten everything? It felt as though a part of my memory had been forcibly stripped away.
'Brown…'
[Oh my, it seems my friend has quite a lot of questions.]
The host’s gentle voice echoed out.
'Can you tell me what happened yesterday?'
[Hmm, nothing special really. After you dozed off for a bit, you woke up, took a shower, treated your wounds, and then went back to sleep, right?]
Was that really the case?
Then why couldn’t I remember any of it…?
A sense of unease slowly welled up inside me.
[My dear friend, perhaps you’re just worrying too much. Sometimes the body simply doesn’t bother recording such dull, automatic actions.]
[And it’s not anything serious, is it?]
That… was true.
I went along with Brown’s reasoning, deciding to treat it as just a strange experience in my life.
After quickly fixing my clothes and hair, a new workday began once more.
'!!!'
Hah—
I jolted awake.
At some point, my body had once again been dressed in pajamas I definitely hadn’t changed into before closing my eyes, my skin clean and pleasantly scented.
It was that same experience again.
This was already the fourth time it had happened. Once or twice could be brushed off—but at this point, there was definitely something wrong.
Forcing down my confusion for the moment, I noticed that the medical kit was still strewn messily at the foot of the bed. I rolled up my pant leg, revealing a half-finished bandage around my wound.
I hurriedly turned on my phone.
[00:13]
So this time, I had woken up in the middle of the night.
The previous times, even though I was sure I’d set an alarm to wake up and shower after my nap, every time I woke up, it had been turned off—replaced instead by my work alarm.
I didn’t know whether this was good luck or bad, but thanks to it, I now had a chance to look deeper into what was going on.
'Did someone break in… or am I sleepwalking…?'
First, I needed to check the apartment.
Just as I was about to get up—
“Calm down.”
“!!!”
I startled, immediately turning toward the source of the voice.
Standing beside the bed, somehow appearing out of nowhere, was a tall man in a suit. His jet-black hair was neatly styled, his deep-set eyes tinged with red, and his face was disturbingly familiar.
It was me.
Or rather—
It was Roe Deer of Daydream Inc.