Even though the new dream wasteland did not last for very long, it was enough for Sunders to fully foresee its value.
While still annoyed at Angor’s scary gifts, Sunders mustered his patience and began noting down some key points in his notebook.
After hearing everything Angor had to say, Sunders also provided his suggestions for improving the dream wasteland in return.
Apart from building cities, using “privilege” to control the territory and unlimited alchemy, Sunders realized something way more important that could be achieved by a dream wasteland, which was creating a brand new world with comprehensive structures and biosystems. And just like the wizarding world, the dream wasteland had its own set of rules, which could be freely passed on to its inhabitants.
Building a complete world wouldn’t happen any time soon. But Sunders knew he had to keep an eye on such a possibility in the long run, which would yield astonishing fruits in due time.
As for unlimited alchemy... Both organizations that were trying to train alchemists and alchemists who had to spend large amounts of materials daily would get crazy about the idea.
Alchemy was one of the most costly subjects one could think of. If an organization could send their students into the dream wasteland and practice alchemy without actually consuming materials, they could maximize their chances of owning a team of full-fledged alchemists in no time. This alone equaled some of the most useful Mystery items known today.
And to think that unlimited alchemy was far from being the only advantage provided by the dream wasteland...
For example, if the “consciousness” of deceased individuals could instead live on in the dream wasteland, it was not so different from immortality.
Countless people in this world were either attempting to achieve immortality or die trying!
“This little freak...” Sunders was no longer sure whether he should be glad or upset about finding Angor. “Just in case, do you have any other surprises cached behind your back?”
“Hm? What do you mean, sir?”
“I mean, do you have anything else you have to tell me?”
“Oh...” Angor considered and reached into his storage. “You need me to add my own discovery into The Mystery of Nightmare Domain within 50 years, right? Will this do?”
Sunders accepted a research report from Angor’s hands.
Nightmare Energy and Dream Manipulator Arts
The title alone had told him enough.
Sunders took a while to read the papers. As he expected, Angor had recorded how he had been altering Dream Manipulator cantrips by using nightmare energy to cast them, instead of using conventional mana.
“This is fine.” Sunders nodded. “But we can both see that you haven’t done enough.”
Angor agreed. The new subject was still in its initial stage. Even so, 50 years was more than enough to finish it.
After returning the papers to Angor, Sunders asked in a somewhat careful manner, “Anything else?”
Angor indeed had another piece of information to share with his professor, which was about the Torrent Plane. But he changed his mind when he saw Sunders’ expression clearly telling him to shut up.
“... Not for now, sir.”
Not for now??
They spent a moment in silence, during which Sunders double-checked the notes about the dream wasteland.
“Sir... Can Jon’s illness be cured?”
Sunders looked up from his table and saw Angor staring into the dark sky outside with a sad look.
“When my job here is done, I’ll go and check him.”
In fact, Sunders would like to take Angor out of the Abyss Plane as fast as possible. But with the situation getting more intense by the day, he couldn’t afford to abandon his post now.
“Stay here for a few days and use your time to work on the second part of the Monument Loop. I want to see how your illusion will turn out.”
Angor’s sorrowful expression turned blank.
...
It had been only a few hours since the last meeting when Sennefer summoned everyone into the conference room again, to discuss how they would rescue the wizards who were held as prisoners by demon patrols in level 4.
Samantha just sent a message that she managed to get them out and were trying to return. But a group of demons was in hot pursuit, including two particularly powerful ones. Samantha was about to reach the entrance to level 3. But she needed reinforcement who would help her stop the enemies in Prominent Forest.
Naturally, it had to be the strongest fighter the base had to offer.
Hearing Sennefer’s words, everyone looked at Sunders. Speaking of the strongest one currently in the base, people would think of Sunders first. Besides, illusions were perfect for keeping enemies behind.
Sunders chose to accept the task.
At the end of the conference, Sunders was the last one to leave the meeting room. He saw Kanter waiting for him.
“I saw Sennefer talking privately with you back there. Did she give you another secret mission or something?”
“No. She was only asking where to find Sand of Resurrection.”
“... Sennefer wants to trade with Balalaika?” Kanter already heard about what happened at the necropolis.
“Yes. About that curse on her body, I believe.”
“Or maybe she wants to know more about our target.”
“Either way, we should leave her to her business. It’s not like she can get her hands on the Sand of Resurrection just because she wants to. Enough of her. Kanter, keep an eye on Angor when I’m away, will you?”
“Angor? He’ll be fine as long as he remains in the base, no?”
The truth was, Sunders was not telling Kanter to keep Angor safe. But he could not just tell Kanter that Angor tended to cause “scary mischief” either.
“Just... Watch over him and get him out of trouble if he finds any.”
“Sure, sure.”
...
Sunders departed from Overwatch Base by noon.
He already told Angor to keep working on the Monument Loop and hoped to see the “extra content” by his return. He mainly wished to keep Angor focused on something harmless in the meantime.
Angor obediently got to his job. As soon as Sunders left, he found the necessary materials from his storage and began crafting.
While at it, he accidentally knocked the ant nest over and caused it to tumble onto the floor. Several drops of Akeso’s blood were thrown out of the nest in the process.
But strangely, the Dream Weaver ant was nowhere to be seen.
Angor made a full scan over the nest without finding the ant inside and suddenly realized something bad.
This was not the first time for the ant to wander off. Previously, the creature tended to settle down inside the Soft Larva nest instead. And it didn’t go there in peace—after feeding the Soft Larva eggs with Akeso’s blood and letting them hatch, the ant would then mercilessly kill the larvae for food.
“Not again...”
Angor quickly searched for the Soft Larva nest. He didn’t really care about common larvae or their eggs, but he would like to protect that particularly big egg, which might be way more valuable.
He found the nest, placed it on Sunders’ desk, and reached a spirit feeler inside to look at what was going on.