In a desolate corner of the Golden Hour.
"Everyone knows that you don't die in dreams."
Robin looked at Gallagher and spoke calmly.
She frowned slightly. As time pushed closer to the Charmony Festival, her discomfort was becoming more severe.
"So why not try it? What would happen if someone died once in a dream where death isn't supposed to exist?"
Gallagher smiled faintly and looked up at the small sun in the sky. "Penacony's dreams have become far too lavish and have already lost their original meaning. If one does not pierce through the essence of it all, Miss Robin, your pursuit will never lead you to an answer."
In recent days, things that should not have existed had begun to appear—the anomaly of the Golden Hour, the strange sun hanging in the sky.
The old man's final letter had drawn in some very troublesome individuals.
He needed an ally, and the Robin before him was the most suitable choice. Pure Harmony, silenced because of impurities within The Family.
People can lie to disguise their character, but the reactions of a Path never will. By comparison, Robin's elder brother—who showed no adverse reaction at all—was far too suspicious.
Yes.
What would happen if someone died in a dream where death does not exist?
Robin had never considered such a question before. After hesitating for a moment, she nodded. "Alright. Thank you for the reminder. I'll try."
She knew the man before her—Gallagher of the Bloodhound Family, the rumored successor of the clockmaker who founded Penacony. Information from someone like him was likely trustworthy.
"I will provide you with the answer."
Gallagher smiled slightly. Behind him, the memetic substance suddenly tore apart, and a monster emerged.
Its head was a circular maw lined with sharp teeth, followed by a long, slender body colored black and violet. Its left arm formed a wing made of blades, its right arm ended in short claws, and several sharp, metallic tails extended from behind.
A Memory Zone Meme: [Something Unto Death], and also Gallagher's beloved companion—Sleepy.
Robin frowned slightly, but her expression remained calm as she straightened her posture.
Though it had come rather suddenly, facing death like this did not frighten her.
The sharp tail swung in a crescent arc.
Rip—!
Robin's abdomen was completely pierced through, her eyes snapping wide open.
Her body dissolved like water, within this dream where death does not exist.
Dense memetic matter surged into her chest. Her consciousness was shredded like paper caught in a vortex, and she fell into total darkness.
"Th-The monster killed someone!"
A passerby who happened to walk by collapsed backward in fright.
Trembling, he scrambled away, still turning back to see if it was just his imagination.
When he saw that the monster was still there and recalled the victim's appearance, his scream grew even louder. "The monster killed someone—Miss Robin was murdered!"
The monster floated beside Gallagher, rubbing its tentacles against the man's hand in grievance.
"Hmm~"
Gallagher shrugged and gently stroked the monster's tentacles. "Good job. Another one guided into Dreamflux Reef. But the Trailblazer guest hasn't entered yet, so I'll have to trouble you a bit longer."
Seemingly comforted, Sleepy let out a cheerful cry. It tore through the memetic substance and vanished from the Golden Hour.
What was unexpected, however, was that it, too, received a gift of light.
...
Dreamflux Reef.
This was Penacony's pure land.
Unlike the extravagant dreams operated by The Family, this place resembled an ordinary, old town—quiet and peaceful.
Robin shook her head. Just as she regained consciousness, a warm, soft little hand grabbed her arm.
"I picked up a little bird! She said she wants to come home with me!"
Sparkle held Robin's hand, looking like a child who had found a priceless treasure.
"So, you really did pick one up. Guess waiting here all this time wasn't for nothing."
Sol looked at Robin's dazed expression and spoke with some surprise.
After the Golden Hour reopened, he had been dragged here by Sparkle to fulfill their earlier promise of picking up a little bird.
Without guidance from a Memory Zone Meme, there was actually more than one or two ways to reach this place.
Silver Wolf had come along as well and gone off to find somewhere to play.
Black Swan, on the other hand, followed him around like an obsessed stalker.
Yeah… it was hard to judge.
Clearly, Silver Wolf was the captive, yet Black Swan looked more like the one serving a sentence.
"Hey, hey, hey! You get a little bird and forget about Sparkle? Who was it just now that wouldn't let go of me?" Sparkle shot Sol a disdainful look, then added, "Be gentler with the little bird. She doesn't have a body as sturdy as mine."
"Act normal. I just want to make a friend."
Sol's face darkened. These days, even wanting to hear an authentic 'whoa!' got you slandered.
Did he really look like the kind of guy who took every chance to act shameless?
"Hm?" Robin opened her eyes amid the noise. Seeing a playful girl in a red dress, she smiled apologetically. "Sorry, but I don't intend to go home with you."
Even though she didn't know what was going on, the most urgent thing was not to become someone else's little bird.
"No way. I picked you up, so you're mine!" Sparkle gripped Robin's hand tightly and said with utter seriousness.
"Let Robin go. She's not someone who can match your rhythm."
Sol beckoned to Sparkle as he spoke.
"How boring."
Sparkle pouted, but still obediently walked over to Sol Mercer's side.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Robin, a singer of the Iris Family of Penacony."
Robin inclined slightly, revealing her delicate collarbones.
She recognized Sol—the guest who checked in on the same day as the Astral Express Crew, and also the winner of the special-grade lottery.
She and her brother had personally watched as he went upstairs together with the Stellaron Hunters.
"My name is Sol Mercer, a traveler waiting for the Charmony Festival—and also a big fan of your songs."
Sol Mercer smiled slightly and hummed the climax. "Whoa ↘ Oh ↗!!!"
Robin froze for a moment, then smiled sincerely. "Thank you for your appreciation."
Though it was only a short tune and slightly altered, she could already tell which song it was.
[Welcome to My World], one of her signature tracks.
Robin spoke with a hint of apology. "I'm sorry, but because of issues with my voice, I can't perform live for you."
"Isn't it a bit better now?" Sol said pointedly. "Away from The Family's interference, the symptoms should have eased somewhat, right?"
"Hm?"
Robin was startled, but her symptoms indeed had lessened.
Did this Mr. Mercer know something?
"It has improved a little." Robin touched her throat and said sincerely. "But there's still some distance before a perfect performance."
"That's really a shame. I even had the tapes ready."
Sol looked at the angel-like girl before him and sighed.
The little bird now couldn't sing.
The little bird after the Charmony Festival wouldn't have the mood to sing.
Tch. That meant he could only collect those soulless albums, which was terribly boring.
So—abduct the little bird and make her sing beautiful songs.
"..."
Robin pressed her lips together, looking at Sol with a complicated expression.
It was nice that fans loved her singing.
But she was only temporarily voiceless—once The Family's issues were resolved, she would recover.
The way he looked like she would never be able to sing again… was genuinely complicated.
Robin sighed, then smiled gently. "Mr. Mercer, I've just arrived in this dreamscape. Would you mind if I traveled with you for a while?"
She sensed it—he knew many things she did not.
Traveling together would help her unravel the mystery.
"Of course I don't mind."
Sol snapped back to attention and smiled brightly. "Or rather, this is exactly what I was hoping for."
Robin—though she had lost her brother—still had him! He could absolutely become a guide on Robin's path through life, couldn't he? (not really)
"Woohoo!"
Sparkle looked at Robin with great interest, her crimson eyes filled with excitement and curiosity.
Little bird, little bird—you've been marked now.
===BREAK===
Like the story and want more chapters?
Join and support me by joining my Patreon!
[email protected]/SiRoasa