TN: And we're back! sorry for the week long hiatus, it was not intentional since I had to get my right leg in a cast after tripping 3 floors down a stairwell (like an idiot ://) and be unable to use my PC setup upstairs BUT I should be OK now.
Anyways, Thanks for Arcanic Madness, WeissAkumu and WolfWTF for becoming as Supporters!,
===BREAK===
At that moment, backstage in the Penacony Grand Theater, only Sunday, Robin, and Sol remained.
"You've been released. Why do you look a bit unhappy?"
Sol retracted his gaze from Himeko as she left and looked at Sunday, who was wearing a troubled expression.
"..."
Sunday glanced at Robin standing next to Sol and chose another reason for his unhappiness. "After the last battle, I understood a lot. My dream deprived them of the right to choose freely, and I didn't have the ability to shape the dream into an ark that could save the world."
"But they still believe in the dream, even though they've already seen hope…"
His expression was confused, even a little pained.
He had guided people into dreams, trying to grant them eternal happiness.
But now, sensing the power of hope and looking at those he had led into illusions, all he felt was guilt and remorse.
The more they supported him, the more Sunday felt sorry for them.
"You really don't need to dwell on it." Sol patted Sunday on the shoulder and said lightly, "Hope and imagination have always coexisted. Nobody can clearly separate the two."
"Those who can fully awaken to hope and then stand on their own are always the minority."
"People place their dreams in your hands, so your responsibility is to guide them toward the better path. Don't craft an artificially perfect dream—shape a world based on reality and give them a chance to learn through trial and error."
"People grow through experience. When they wake up, they'll probably know how to move forward in life."
In his view, Sunday had simply spoiled those people before. Those dreams were made only by getting high on fantasy—completely dreaming, increasingly hollow.
Sol's advice, however, was to have Sunday create a full-on life simulator with maximum realism.
When people enter the dream and spend several years experiencing both brilliance and regret, they wake up as if reborn.
People need to learn through experience. One lesson from reality is enough. Dreams that can bring regret make real life more vibrant.
"This… sounds like a popular life-simulation game in the galaxy?"
Robin's eyes widened, surprised by the suggestion.
"Exactly." Sol touched Robin's forehead and smiled. "But a dream crafted with Sunday's power would be even more realistic and unpredictable."
"..."
Sunday looked at Sol's hand and felt uneasy.
Little sister, please resist… are you two serious with that much closeness?
Such a small gesture, yet the damage is immense~
The suggestion itself was good—he felt enlightened; it was a brilliant idea to guide people towards the light.
But watching Sol and Robin being so close, he felt like he got hit by a -1000000 HP critical hit.
Sol was a good person, but his insight wasn't exactly commendable. Being friends with him would be pleasant, but he didn't want Sol to become his brother-in-law!
If only his sister goes of the same sex.
"What's wrong? Is there something you want to add?" Sol asked, noticing Sunday's mixed expression of joy and bitterness. "Indeed, some people have completely lost the possibility of life in reality—irreversible paralysis, reaching the end of their lifespan, and so on."
"For these people, you can give them a sweet dream, like honey, letting them leave as happily as possible."
Helping others to the end, delivering the Buddha all the way to the West.
If his actions only defeated and denied Sunday's ideals, everything would be meaningless.
He admired Sunday's philosophy, so he made minor corrections and offered a good suggestion.
"Mr. Mercer, you are absolutely right." Sunday forcibly ignored the closeness between the two and sincerely said, "I will seriously consider your advice: guiding those willing to forgive me and helping those I've misled rediscover the meaning of life."
Leaving aside his little sister, Sol's suggestion was excellent.
It seemed very feasible and a positive influence for those people.
Too bad… he really couldn't let go of his sister.
This time, he had caused quite a stir, putting Robin under undue pressure. He didn't want Robin to lose the freedom to choose her life because of his mistakes.
At that moment, Sol's phone rang—it was a message from Pom-Pom.
[Ms. Herta from the Genius Society wants to meet you. Do you want to? She's a real beauty!]
Sol shook his head slightly. Was it that he wouldn't meet her unless she was Herta?
Clearly, all they needed to say was "a real beauty".
Pom-Pom's list of beauties… every one of them was charming.
And yet, little Herta was plain, and big Herta was arrogant. Neither counted as a "real" beauty!
"Let's go. Things have finally calmed down; you two siblings should have a good chat." Sol waved his phone at Robin and smiled as he walked out. "Herta from the Genius Society has come to Penacony. I have some research to collaborate on with her."
Herta possessed a simulated universe, but Sol had no interest in simulating Aeons.
However, borrowing the computing power of the simulated universe to accelerate universal stellar resonance was very appealing.
He hoped that, thanks to Penacony's unique opportunities, he could take a shortcut on the path to becoming an Aeon. But he still wished to prove his existence and ascend infinitely.
"Safe travels. Hope everything goes smoothly."
Robin's gaze was gentle as she watched Sol leave.
She was grateful to him, just as they had promised at Flowing Dream Reef. Whenever she needed help, Sol was always there, her strongest support.
Without Sol's assistance, the outcome would have been far worse.
Her brother would have been defeated by combined forces, Penacony divided by corporate powers, and he would have faced severe judgment. There would be no happy ending, only a relatively bad one.
With gratitude and affection, she unconsciously moved closer to Sol. They were becoming one.
"Robin, what are you thinking about?"
Sunday noticed the gentle warmth in Robin's eyes and couldn't help but ask.
"Hehe." Robin's eyes curved, a soft, sweet smile forming. "I'm just thinking… how nice it is to have him."
Penacony had become a place where hope could rise, and hope had risen in her heart as well.
Everything was perfect, as if in a dream.
"You… you're not being forced, right?"
Sunday twitched at the corner of his mouth and asked.
Although it didn't seem like she was being forced, he still wanted to ask.
Even knowing that asking changes nothing, he couldn't help himself.
"Brother, of course not." Robin looked at Sunday in surprise and lightly laughed. "How could I be forced?"
"Mr. Mercer has helped me a lot, yes, but don't you think his actions are even more appealing?"
"If he were a girl, and from the start proposed the virtual life plan, helping you fulfill your ideals—Brother, I think you'd like her too."
"Mr. Mercer is helping me achieve my ideals."
This kind of thing can never be achieved through coercion.
"..."
Sunday fell silent, but followed Robin's thought.
If there really were a girl like that, discussing ideals, correcting each other's mistakes, and working together to achieve them…
As long as that girl wasn't his sister, he wouldn't be able to resist.
Sunday sighed. "But he's not alone, you know!"
"Why worry about how many people are around him?" Robin asked curiously. "As long as everyone's happy, that's enough. The people around him are becoming my friends too."
She had been a little concerned at first, but soon let it go.
Sol had a good eye; the people around him were easy to get along with. Friends all around, no barriers.
Though Sol's gaze could be a bit lecherous sometimes, most of the time, relationships weren't maintained that way.
"As long as you're happy."
Sunday rubbed his head, letting out a long breath, part melancholy, part relief.
Good news: his little sister was happy now.
Bad news: he's a boomer now.
===BREAK===
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