The Dream Code: Yume no Kodo [Light Novel] Vol. 2 – Page 6

Page 6

^{Jirkunland [The Dream Code]}

July 2029. The atmosphere in the capital of Jirkunland, the magnificent city of Jirca, was alive with the crisp, electric hum of advanced technology. As Mitsuru and his five girls—Ava, Yuki, Poi, Shika, and Jing—stepped into the city, they were immediately struck by the sheer scale of the engineering before them. The city was encircled by a colossal, shimmering wall of a robust, metallic substance, composed of minerals they could not identify. It was a marvel of defensive architecture; deep within its structure lay an intricate network of processors that could, at a moment’s notice, project a shimmering energy dome over the entire city. This field emanated a frequency so precise that it could identify and disintegrate any incoming threat, from conventional missiles to the most devastating nuclear weapons, vaporizing them harmlessly ten kilometers above the earth.

As they marveled at the perimeter, a youth of sixteen, Kamen Minora, approached them with a sharp, respectful salute. “Welcome to Jirkunland, Mitsuru-kun, and welcome to your girls,” he said, his gaze bright with intelligence. “My name is Kamen. I am with the city’s defense unit, and I have been honored with the task of guiding you.”

Mitsuru stood tall, his presence magnetic. While he was nineteen in spirit, the body he inhabited—that of Kanzaki—bore the weight of forty-one years. The inner radiation of his own soul had smoothed the harsh lines of age, lending him an aura of timeless, youthful vitality that seemed to defy the calendar. He was no longer concerned with reflections; he was concerned with duty. “I am pleased to meet you, Kamen-kun,” Mitsuru replied, his voice a steady, humble baritone that carried the weight of a man who had seen the rise and fall of eras.

Kamen led them deeper into the facility to the A2 military base. A couple of thousand war machines stood in silent lethal formation. These weren’t mere automatons; they were fluid, adaptive marvels of intelligence. Before their eyes, a unit shifted its chassis, effortlessly transitioning from a bipedal stance into a sleek, aerodynamic fighter jet, then back to a rugged transport vehicle. Within their metallic frames sat thousands of peanut-sized shells—technological marvels that could act as kinetic bullets, high-yield explosives, or rapidly expand into defensive barriers, all governed by a hyper-advanced central AI. “This is but one of its many functions, Mitsuru-kun,” Kamen noted, his voice ringing with pride. “These units are the pride of Jirkunland, the iron pulse of our city’s survival.”

“You must be exhausted from your travels,” Kamen observed as the demonstration concluded. “Your accommodations have been prepared. Please, follow me.” He guided them to a specialized defense vehicle, driving them away from the industrial heart of the city toward a quieter, elevated district. The landscape shifted from towering metallic structures to serene greenery. They arrived at a beautiful, two-story white duplex nestled against the hillside, bordered by a tranquil forest and a private garden.

“I could not be more pleased than this,” Mitsuru said, his voice thick with sincere gratitude. He knew that Master Genryu, a man whose wisdom was tempered by the spiritual visions of the dream realm, had orchestrated this. Having communicated his true nature to the Master, Mitsuru was humbled to see how Genryu had looked after him. He turned to his girls, their faces bright with relief and joy. “Are you happy, my loves? It is not the palace, but I feel it is the finest space in Jirca.”

Ava stepped forward, her eyes dancing as she wandered into the garden. “We must express our deepest gratitude to Master Genryu, Mitsuru-kun. Look! The garden is filled with jasmine!” She turned back to him, a playful, nostalgic smile on her lips. “Do you remember when we first met in the dream realm? There was a jasmine flower tucked in my hair.” Mitsuru stepped close, gently brushing a stray hair from her face. “Yes, Ava,” he whispered against her ear, the scent of the garden grounding him, “I smelled it when I kissed you—the moment I knew I had found home.” The other girls gathered around, their hearts full and their spirits settled, finally finding a place to rest.

“Take some rest, Master Mitsuru,” Kamen said quietly, sensing the weight of the day. “I will return at dawn to escort you to Master Genryu.”