Chapter 444: with translation of chapter title

Qieya lay on the grass, a blade of grass in their mouth: "That's how trailblazers are—not every trailblazer on the train can make a name like Star, Himeko, and Mr. Walter. Getting off the train, practicing 【Trailblaze】, then dying in obscurity…that's probably the life of most trailblazers."

Though Liúmèng Jiāo under the sky lacks the bustle of the golden moment, its streets and alleys are still filled with people performing and playing; in this dim night there are no trailblazers' footprints, yet everywhere traces of them remain.

"Not everyone can die surrounded by others. I suspect the other two trailblazer predecessors met a similar fate."

He suddenly turned his head, sizing up Xiao Jie's serious expression: "Hey, you wouldn't still be hoping they're alive, would you?"

Xiao Jie didn't deny it either: "I really do want to see them, mainly hoping the trailblazers can tell them what they've seen and heard on the train—if they knew Star and the others had helped the Astral Express and revived Belobog…they'd probably feel proud."

"I hope so too, but honestly it's better to let go of that thought early." Qieya let out a light sigh: "A thousand years…even the immortal species of the Astral Express would have become a demonic shade by now."

——

"Several people walked along the road, only to hear a Pipisi person's trembling voice: 'Spare me…'"

"San Yue Qi Xiaojie beside them wearily rubbed their forehead: 'Wake up already! I'm begging you…'"

"Seeing the crowd, the Pipisi person cried out that they were ghosts, their face turning deathly pale."

"\"Ah, I said I'm alive, you're alive too—can't you be normal? \" Hearing familiar footsteps behind them, San Yue Qi Xiaojie turned happily: 'Ah! Uncle Yang and Star, I've been waiting for you!'"

"\"Quick, help me—I met a family member on the road! He was terrified, I just wanted to calm him down. But then…\""

"\"Spare me, spare me… I've done good deeds all my life—why can't I rest in peace even after death? \" The Pipisi person was on the verge of tears."

"\"…There, that's how it is. \" San Yue Qi Xiaojie shrugged, utterly helpless."

"Star: 'I pay my respects to the ghost of Liúmèng Jiāo, San Yue Qi Xiaojie!'"

"\"What, what a ghost! Watch out, I'll hit you! \" San Yue Qi Xiaojie raised her sandbag-sized fist."

"Misha stepped forward to comfort them: 'This guest, this is not the afterlife—it's Liúmèng Jiāo.'"

"\"Exactly, exactly. Did you hear that? \" San Yue Qi Xiaojie looked at the Pipisi person trembling behind them, head in hands, and said word by word: 'Repeat after me: Liú, méng, jiāo.'"

"But this Pipisi person before them was clearly even more terrified, almost hiding in a trash heap: 'You… you're chatting back and forth with something invisible—if I'm not dead, what am I? Wah, wah… I shouldn't have courted death by challenging taboos, trying to sleep in a dream… curiosity killed the Pipisi.'"

——

Detective Conan.

In Professor Agasa's basement, Haibara Ai looked up at the sky while gently stirring her coffee; upon seeing the Pipisi person trembling, she suddenly realized things weren't that simple.

——This Pipisi person actually can't see Misha.

"\"Kudo…\" she suddenly said, 'Do you think this sense of unease comes from the Pipisi person or from Misha?'"

Conan pushed up his glasses: 'I lean toward Misha. Without a doubt, everyone can see the Pipisi person, but not everyone can see Misha—he seems somewhat special…'

Although Conan didn't want to speculate that the person was a 'ghost,' right now 'ghost' is undoubtedly the most fitting description.

"\"I know what you're thinking, but let me remind you: Misha does have a physical form at the Daydream Hotel. \" Haibara Ai set down her coffee cup: 'His identity is a bellboy, and a bellboy's job is to help guests carry luggage—without a physical form that simply couldn't be done.'"

"\"Yeah, but that's the strange part. \" Conan continued, unconsciously rubbing his chin: 'He knows Galah, and even Nemotron is willing to help him travel between the two dream layers—there's likely some connection between them. Could it be that the Pipisi person is the problem?'"

"\"My thinking leans more toward 'family'…or perhaps the influence of 【Harmony】. The deeper someone is bound by 【Harmony】, the less they adapt to Liúmèng Jiāo; in short—that meme might have severed his ties with his family, causing some kind of cognitive issue."

Saying this, Haibara Ai lifted her chin with a hint of pride, the corner of her mouth slightly upturned: 'Kudo, what do you think?'

Conan nodded: 'That makes sense, but why is Zhigengniao so well adapted to Liúmèng Jiāo?'

"\"……\""

Haibara Ai froze on the spot.

"\"Eh? \""

——

"\"Don't, don't ask anymore! It'll attract monsters—all the dead people are here, all……! \""

The Pipisi person's strong negative emotions successfully attracted a nearby Memovore, frightening him so much that he lay down calmly on the spot. However, San Yue Qi Xiaojie was quite curious, as it seemed the passersby here weren't afraid of Memovores.

"\"Unlike sweet dreams, here nobody regards Memovores as dangerous monsters…even if there is danger, one can escape the dream through forced awakening. \" Misha explained."

Several people brought the Pipisi person to Aunt Cui's place; she seemed already used to these 'accidental intruders' fresh faces, their numbers growing, leading Aunt Cui to consider this one of the signs of 'dream collapse.'

——

Mob Psycho 100.

"\"Those who intrude by accident are either killed by Huangquan or snatched away by that Memovore, right? \""

Xiao Jiaowo pouted: \"Shouldn't this be blamed on Galah's lax supervision? Letting such monsters run wild in the dream, or does Galah want Nemotron to kill more people, gathering ever more crowds in Liúmèng Jiāo? \""

"\"But why would Mr. Galah do that? \" The extra looked puzzled at the master."

"\"Who knows? That guy looks like a good person, but who knows what scheme he's hatching behind the scenes? \" Linghuan shrugged, 'But what's really worth noting is Misha's remark……\"You can escape the dream through forced awakening. \"'"

Xiao Jiaowo caught the meaning in Linghuan's words: 'You mean, when someone who was forcibly awakened dreams again, do they return to the golden moment or to Liúmèng Jiāo?'

Linghuan nodded: 'Yeah, if they could return to the golden moment, Liúmèng Jiāo's existence would probably have spread throughout Pinokangni by now. I guess those brought here by 【Death】 can never return to that prosperous dream.'

——

"\"This gentleman has suffered quite a shock, San Yue Qi Xiaojie—could you help me find a Celestial girl? Her song can heal mental trauma. \""

"\"A Celestial girl…? \""

"\"That must be Zhigengniao. She is also in Liúmèng Jiāo right now. \" Walter explained."