You just have to surround yourself with appropriate people

Before Reigner could rest, he found himself in another nightmare. The nightmares weren't only about the battle, but the painful past as well. The only time Reigner was sad and overwhelmed by emotions was when he was very young.

"Lackey! Lackey! Lackey!"

"Bring us some water! Don't you see how thirsty we are?"

"Move your ass, brat!"

It was in the orphanage.

Reigner had never met his real parents and only had one mother who had adopted him which was like a saving grace from the god himself. The lady had extended a hand towards him gently, and once he grabbed that hand, a life without pain and sadness unfolded before him.

No one treated him like a lower human being. No one had kicked or punched him. No one chucked stones or glass cups at him and then pointed their fingers at him to throw all the blame. Life was rather nice.

"Do you know why?"

Reigner could stop this nightmare now that he knew the origin of it. The black monster couldn't be summoned in the past forcing Reigner to experience all the bad treatment. Now, however, Reigner just shook off that nightmare and locked his eyes on the black monster.

The Nightmare himself.

It was also because Reigner realized what he has to do to avoid such treatment.

[...]

"You just have to surround yourself with appropriate people at the appropriate time."

When his 'mother' extended her hand, no one dared to throw anything at him. They stood quiet and even looked jealous of Reigner leaving the orphanage. Many brats even tried to come to his mother and act as if they are brothers with Reigner.

This alone was enough.

In a new class, Reigner quickly acted with his new knowledge. He hid his fear and anxiety, and deeply introduced himself with a bright and loud attitude. New friends surrounded him without any problems and no one dared to bother with him at all.

"It is the same this time."

Reigner felt like in the nightmare, both he and the black monster are equal. With the feeling of the black blade still lingering on his mind, he summoned the weapon and threw himself forward. The weapon cut through the darkness and clashed with the opponent in a blink of an eye.

"Not really the same though. If you dare to kill me, your reincarnation for a new life... Then if there are soldiers ready to plunder and kill harmless people... Then the friendships and relationships are twisted."

[In the face of the impending danger, people tend to use others. It looks like I don't have to bother about you falling into other hands inadvertently.]

"I won't fall into anyone's hand nor yours."

Reigner couldn't win though. But the fact that he began controlling his mind and fighting back was already enough for him. Step by step, and soon, the item creation system will unfold itself even in the nightmare.

But for that, Reigner has to learn more about the nightmare and the world which is soaked in the supernatural energies.

-

World Hope.

Nightmare had said it briefly for now. Four lines in the universe split the worlds like some borders... There are worlds completely unaware of any other worlds and their knowledge regarding supernatural energies was lacking.

Even if someone had been born with magic, such a person wouldn't have been able to even feel that magic unless it was somehow special like in Nightmare's case. He had his consciousness, but the world without magic was still limiting him.

Other than such worlds, the rest of the borders contain the worlds with low, medium, and high energy density.

Unlike Reigner's world, the low worlds have it the worst when their world somehow gets their energy supply diminished. If their world's energy supply gets too low, then the world will self-destruct.

But when World Hope happens, part of the 'energyless' world transports to their lands to assimilate. When such a thing happens, the new lands become the nutrient for the world. The surrounding strongholds then come closer to capture the summoned residents as those are also bound to the new rules.

[It's not like the world without energy can not fight back. They get powers here and if they succeed, then they can come back to their world and join the ranks of the low worlds.]

When Reigner heard it, he spat some of his blood then continued his searching for some road. If earthlings somehow grow up in strength, then they should be able to come back to their home by seizing up their city.

But there was a more important part which was also too annoying. The energyless world becoming a low world is simply a pain in the ass. Reigner already could imagine the hierarchy changing and new rules becoming part of daily lives.

The strength is what matters here and if this simple rule becomes normal on the earth, then a lot of killing will spread across the whole continents. This is because humans are stubborn and those with money surely wouldn't sit still without doing anything.

"Can I go back home alone?"

[You can.]

"How?"

[Simple.]

-

Reigner found a road. He had to surround himself with appropriate people, but how could he possibly find them in the forest without luck? He either finds them on the road or in the city that this road leads to.

There were also wounds on his body with some dirt splashed on his clothes. The clothes are what bothers Reigner the most. He had the feeling that the common clothes of the supernatural kingdoms are different from his.

Exposing himself to the air is like exposing his identity.

It is just bad.

He narrowed his eyes, then hid amid the trees and bushes. Not like he couldn't dirty himself more and it was just safer. Going next to the road, Reigner hoped to find some people and cooperate with Nightmare to gather nightmare points and win some stuff.

The luck was on his side!

There was a carriage not too far away from Reigner, looking as if resting on the road's side. It was the carriage belonging to the merchant. He had his daughter together with him and a few workers... Behind the carriage, the two-man party was keeping up their vigilance for dangers around.

Those had armors similar to the soldier who had invaded the city from the earth.

The quality was far worse and it was not full body armor. It looked like they were only wealthy enough to cover their torso and get some weapons...

'Your people were freely killing us...'

Reigner's resolution rose as he thought about that. He slowly closed up the distance while keeping his posture low, then when he found himself not too far away from the carriage...

[That woman looks like a spoiled brat.]

"Give her sweet dreams then."

The daughter of the merchant went asleep soon. It looked like the horses needed a lot of rest. She nimbly jumped onto the carriage's roof and sunk into the dreamland with carefree expression.

[Heh.]

"Heh."

The influence of Nightmare slowly crept onto the carriage through the shadows. Moments later, the lady began screaming loudly while experiencing the worst nightmare in her life. To her father's surprise, the lady didn't even awaken after he shook her body!

Nothing could wake her up!

And so Nightmare fed himself on her mind.

"Don't take all the points for yourself. We need to take them down and get carriage."

[I know, you shit. The city full of people... is what I seek the most right now.]