Chapter 668: Chapter 307: Love and Existential Anxiety

This time, she remembered the scenes in the nightmare more clearly.

The monster that originally gnawed at the house’s exterior in the nightmare changed to begin eating from under the attic. The attic’s ceiling was fragile and was bitten through with just a few bites.

Just as it was about to enter the attic through the hole, a faint golden light barrier temporarily blocked the monster, keeping it outside.

But the blockade was only temporary, because at the end of the nightmare, she saw the monster extend its sharp teeth and begin tearing at the light barrier.

After listening to Amber’s description, Wu Chang and Erin exchanged glances, realizing that Amber’s nightmare wasn’t just influenced by her Will and Inspiration but also by their actions in reality.

If they could withstand the crisis brought by the Curse Mark, they could delay the monster’s actions in the nightmare.

However, relying solely on their actions outside couldn’t completely solve Amber’s troubles because on Amber’s other wrist, there was also a thorn-like Curse Mark.

As expected, Amber’s mental status worsened.

At this rate, in three to five days, even if the monster in the nightmare doesn’t enter the room, Amber’s mind will collapse.

It is for this reason that Wu Chang was eager to acquire the mayor’s position this morning.

He didn’t know if relying on the city’s influential dungeon rules could counter the rules of the Curse Mark.

During class hours, Wu Chang continued to stand on the rooftop, overlooking Nokes Primary School.

Today, the area marked by the Curse Mark was the school’s backyard parking area, where three huge rolling heads rampaged, smashing all the parked cars and bicycles along the path, swallowing them into their mouths.

After Wu Chang eliminated them, the parking area returned to its original form, but the bicycles and cars swallowed by the three heads did not reappear.

This included Wu Chang’s family car.

That was the new car Sean had just bought, with 68 loan installments still unpaid.

He sighed, manipulating the True Self to bring a similar car, arranging the interior as much as before, hoping to deliver it before getting off work.

Hopefully, Amber wouldn’t notice anything unusual.

Unexpected events happening two days in a row made him certain that the anomalies encountered by Nokes Primary School and 26 Garden Street all originated from Amber.

This kind of Curse Mark appearing on buildings would make the marked building completely vanish.

He was uncertain if this foretold the collapse of the dungeon plane because until now, he couldn’t figure out why Amber’s situation was rapidly deteriorating.

After defeating the Heart Demon thrice, Amber no longer denied herself, didn’t shut herself off, and didn’t suffer from Survivor’s guilt. Her mentality should have been improving, so why was it suddenly on the verge of collapse?

He couldn’t understand.

Just as he returned to the rooftop, worriedly observing below, a voice came from behind him.

"Teacher Sean, finally found you."

The voice was very familiar. Wu Chang turned around and carefully examined for a few seconds, realizing it was Mavira, the teacher who had toured the campus with him and Erin.

He took a few extra glances because the tanning effect at Siegfried Beach was so good. Mavira participated in the previous women’s beach party, and the women at the party, except Amber and Erin, all tanned a wheat-like color.

Wu Chang suspected that if they organized a few more beach parties, the members of White Disciple K would eye Nokes Primary School.

"Teacher Mavira, did you come to find me for something?"

Mavira said worriedly, "I want to talk to you about Amber’s recent situation."

Wu Chang showed a surprised expression. Despite Amber’s efforts to avoid worrying him and Erin, pretending that nothing happened during the day, even Grace, who was often with Amber, didn’t notice. Yet Mavira did.

"Please go ahead."

Mavira said, "Since Amber took a break, I’ve noticed she’s always distracted during class, occasionally looking out the window, as if she’s afraid of something."

"Regarding what Amber is afraid of, do you have any clues?"

Wu Chang had no idea regarding Amber’s matters. In desperation, he shared with Mavira how Amber was frequently woken up by nightmares and their contents.

Mavira pondered earnestly. After over ten minutes, just as Wu Chang was about to give up, Mavira slowly spoke.

"I think Amber might be afraid of life being just a dream, and one day this dream will shatter and return everything to square one due to the many losses she’s suffered."

"But when facing danger in the nightmare, she didn’t think of you, instead confronting the monster alone and finding a place to hide, indicating that she subconsciously didn’t want to seek help from you, which is quite complicated."

Wu Chang: "Hmm?"

Initially, he hadn’t expected an answer from Mavira, thinking of her insight as a jackpot.

However, Mavira’s analysis, combined with the faceless apparition of the old teaching building, suggested Amber, who experienced beautiful memories being stripped away, might fear losing everything with certain choices like before.

His Inspiration told him Mavira was right, and his analysis hit the nail on the head.

He quickly said:

"Your analysis is very reasonable. Indeed, Amber has experienced certain events that cause her to have such concerns."

"We’ve tried our best to provide her with a sense of security, but this security hasn’t reached her heart and worsens things instead."

From the initial Mirror Killer to the faceless specter of the old campus, to intercepting the armed helicopter last night and securing the attic.

He and Erin had already demonstrated their ability to solve her troubles, and Amber’s increasing recognition proved it.

Yet, the Curse Mark on Amber continued to increase.

Mavira fell into thought again, and this time Wu Chang waited patiently.

A few minutes later, Mavira said, "I can tell, Sean, you and your fiancée are good people. Your efforts to always have lunch with Amber every day show your love for her and your attempts to let her integrate with you."

"But sometimes, the better you perform, the more troubles you solve for her. She might view things in a way where she brings only inconveniences and is a burden on you."

"She might think perhaps without her, things would be better for you."

"I’m not blaming you but simply describing a common existential anxiety."

"She worries the current situation will disappear and backward draws her back to the origin. She grapples with fears of the origin itself, leading to a collision of two contradictory mental states, ultimately evolving into anxiety about her existence."

Wu Chang nodded continuously, "Yes, yes, she seems to have such a tendency. I think you’re better suited to teaching psychology than history."

"If Amber’s issue is precisely the existential anxiety you mentioned, how can we prevent her from being anxious?"

Mavira said, "I have two suggestions. First, increase her sense of existence, help her find self-existence value, or say find a goal for her."

"I believe you and Erin are excellent goals. Let Amber take you as role models, continually drawing closer to you."

"The second suggestion is somewhat risky. Amber feared losing the current status and returning to square one, not just because of losing you but also due to fear of the origin itself."

"Perhaps you can find this origin first, then think of ways to help Amber overcome her fear of the origin."