"Ah?"
"You… you really have a way to cure my Entropy Loss Syndrome?!"
Evan had just finished speaking and was about to go pay—
When suddenly—
Firefly grabbed his sleeve.
Her expression—
Soft.
Hesitant.
Almost pleading.
"…No?"
"I never said I could cure it."
"I just said—"
"I can give you a new body."
"The Glamoth soldiers' bodies were designed from the start—"
"As tools of control."
"…A new body?"
Firefly froze.
Her mind went blank.
What kind of solution is that?!
She had never even heard of something like this.
Evan turned—
And calmly walked toward the counter.
"Wait—Mr. Evan!"
"I… I still want to understand more."
"Can you… give me that chance?"
He paused.
"…Fine."
"But just a little."
"Any more, and I'll start charging."
"Mm! Got it!"
Golden Hour — Outside the Clockie Restaurant
The two sat side by side.
Watching crowds pass by.
Evan held a cup of coffee.
Firefly held a glass of milk.
A quiet moment.
Then—
"Mr. Evan…"
"What do you think… the meaning of life is?"
"…Huh?"
Now it was his turn to pause.
That's… a heavy question.
But—
He understood immediately.
Firefly's life—
Had only ever had two phases.
Phase One:
A Glamoth Iron Cavalry soldier.
Live for the Empress.
Fight for war.
Die for purpose.
Phase Two:
A survivor.
Her comrades—gone.
Her world—gone.
Her purpose—gone.
Among the Stellaron Hunters—
Everyone had their reason.
Kafka → to understand life and death
Blade → for revenge
Silver Wolf → for stimulation and challenge
Only her—
Was still searching.
"…Let me think."
Evan said.
"You were once a knight of Glamoth."
"Now you're a Stellaron Hunter."
"And in the future… you'll be something else."
"All those versions of you—"
"Past, present, future…"
"Everything you've experienced—"
"That is your meaning."
"I know what you're struggling with."
"You used to be a weapon."
"But now?"
"You're living your own life."
"What connects your past and present—"
"Doesn't decide your future."
He took a sip of coffee.
"…Instead of overthinking it—"
"Think about what you'll treat me to next time we meet."
"…Eh?"
He smiled.
Then stood up.
"…I still don't fully understand."
Firefly murmured.
"But… thank you."
"At least now—"
"I know how to keep living."
She stood up too.
"There's a way forward."
Evan added casually.
"But you still need to decide."
"Do you want a soulsteel body—"
"Or let Ruan Mei rebuild you from scratch?"
"I can guarantee—"
"A soulsteel body is replaceable."
"Your power doesn't come from the armor."
"It comes from you."
"But if Ruan Mei handles it—"
"Your genetic flaws won't even be a problem."
He looked at her.
"Think about it."
"You can find your answer here."
Then—
He smiled faintly.
"I can always be your fallback."
…And right then—
Everything changed.
Sudden Shift
A large number of Hound Family enforcers appeared—
All across Golden Hour.
The atmosphere instantly turned tense.
Firefly instinctively hid behind Evan.
After all—
She was still a stowaway.
Even Evan frowned slightly.
What's going on?
Then—
A familiar figure approached.
Gallagher.
He stepped close—
Glanced at Firefly—
Then leaned toward Evan's ear.
And whispered—
"…Miss Robin is dead."
"…What?"
One System Hour Earlier — Dewlight Pavilion
Robin had already noticed something was wrong.
"…Brother."
"My voice… feels off."
Since returning to Penacony—
Her voice had begun to change.
At first—
She thought it was fatigue.
But medical checks showed—
Nothing was wrong.
Sunday frowned.
"…What's happening?"
"I don't know."
"The doctors say it's not physical."
"Maybe I'm just not used to the high-density memoria here…"
He went silent.
Then sighed softly.
"…Rest."
"You're the centerpiece of the Harmony Festival—"
"But don't let pressure consume you."
"…Okay, brother."
"I'll rest before the performance."
She hesitated.
"…By the way…"
"I haven't seen Mr. Gopher Wood."
"Should I visit him?"
Sunday's expression—
Twitched.
"…No."
"He's busy."
"Don't disturb him."
"…Focus on the festival."
"My dear sister."
She nodded.
And left.
The moment she was gone—
Sunday's expression darkened.
Then—
He noticed a letter.
Left earlier.
He hadn't read it before.
But now—
He opened it.
The Letter
Dear Brother,
Something urgent has come up.
Since returning to Penacony—
My voice has deteriorated.
At first, I thought it was illness.
But doctors found nothing wrong.
So I investigated.
And realized something—
Harmony here… is not pure.
There is noise.
A distortion.
It's affecting my voice.
To create interference of this level—
The source must be either:
Extremely powerful external forceOr someone high within the Family
Unfortunately—
It's the latter.
There is a traitor among the Family.
Likely one of the four heads.
(I trust you completely, brother.)
With the Harmony Festival approaching—
They may try to interfere.
Or use the festival itself.
Please investigate.
And protect yourself.
You are my only family.
[…]
Sunday lowered the letter.
His expression—
Twisted.
"…My dear sister…"
Because—
He already knew.
The "disharmony."
The "traitor."
Was—
Himself.
Back to Golden Hour
Evan narrowed his eyes.
"…I didn't even act."
"And she's already dead?"
"…Did she go the usual route?"
Gallagher shook his head.
"…Not Sleepie."
"She discovered the truth of the deeper dream."
"…And then—"
"…She chose to kill herself."
Even Gallagher couldn't help but admire her.
A galactic superstar—
Who, in such a short time—
Discovered:
Disharmony within HarmonyA traitor within the FamilyThe truth of the deeper dream
Because there are only two ways—
To enter the Deep Dream:
Find the hidden pathDie once
The shattered Dreamscape.
The Child's Dream.
Or—
Death.
Just like in Firefly's script.
To reach the deepest layer—
You must first—
Fall.
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
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