Chapter 532: 2.3 Main – Pinokangni (203)

"\"Regardless of whether the result is sweet and dreamy, or bitter and realistic, it is the answer we have longed for. So why do people choose to sleep? I think, just as you said... \""

"\"Because in the end, we all must awaken from the dream. \""

"..."

"Thus we have: Liúmèng Jiāo."

"Huangquan silently placed three bouquets of flowers in front of three memorial stones."

"\"Mihaier places two bouquets here every year. After he left, it became three. Your Weiyuan has always been remembered. \" Huangquan looked up at the sky over Thus we have: Liúmèng Jiāo, \"Now, Pinokangni, as you hoped, welcomes dawn after the long night. The road ahead may not be smooth, but people are ready to stride toward Freedom. \""

"Huangquan lowered his eyes and quietly stared at the familiar name on the memorial stone."

"\"Tie Ernan, you can go home now. \""

"\"And the future nameless passengers are also ready to set off for their next stop. \" Huangquan's words were cut short as the train crew arrived behind her; before departing, they had to bid farewell to the old nameless passengers."

"However, beyond the three memorial stones, Sanyueqi keenly noticed an additional hound statue on the railing."

"\"This statue... wasn't here last time, was it? \""

"\"It seems this is the final puzzle Mr. Jialake left us, \" Jizi said sadly, \"In the end, we still don't know his true form, and can't even tell if he's a living person. \""

"\"How should I put it, this uncle truly lives up to being a fictional historian. I suddenly recall he claimed to be only thirteen in the media park—perhaps a hint? Yet not everything can be explained by mystery... \""

"——"

"Assassin Wu Liuqi."

"\"Wait...! \" Wu Liuqi instantly sat upright, eyes flashing, \"I get the meaning of that 'thirteen' phrase now! \""

"Beside him, Ji Daba lazily glanced, \"Ah Qi, let out that fart already. \""

"\"He's a hound, right? For a dog, thirteen is old age. When he said he was thirteen, he was hinting he's already an old man with little time left, \" Wu Liuqi said with a smug grin, \"What do you think? Does it make sense? \""

"Ji Daba nodded thoughtfully, \"... Seems indeed so. In other words, even if Jialake wasn't seen through by Xingqiri, he wouldn't live much longer. \""

"\"They're not even considered a person, just a collection of consciousnesses. Holding out until the train crew arrived already exceeds the clockmaker's task. \""

"Wearing flip-flops and focused on barbecuing by the campfire, Lan Minghua slowly lifted his head, \"In the end, he is a product of mysterious destiny power; perhaps even his values and thoughts stem from the amalgamated consciousnesses of different people within him. \""

"——"

"\"Finally, the train crew raised their glasses together to salute Jialake. \""

"\"——To the invitation of the grand gathering, all the lies, and the sole truth... \" Sanyueqi gently looked at the hound statue, \"... If we meet again, don't speak so riddlingly. \""

"Then the train crew found Mi Kai, raised a toast to him, and after wandering around, they returned to the place where Mihaier sleeps."

"All stories began because of him, and naturally should conclude with him."

"Jizi raised her glass, \"Lagewoke·Xia Er·Mihaier, we salute you, the clockmaker of the Dreamland, the nameless passenger of the Starry Sky Train—honoring Pinokangni's past, present, future... and the child's unwavering dream to the end. \""

"When everything came to an end, Sanyueqi seemed to have something on her mind; only after others pressed did she speak it out."

"Now, every day they experience, Mihaier and his companions have certainly lived through as well, like reading a book where characters always face hardships and end with regret, and those who witness it feel a complex mix of emotions."

"Now Sanyueqi is such a witness; she imagines what Mihaier thinks while sitting on this chair waiting for the Starry Sky Train. If at the end of his life he can still firmly say he never regretted, then what is the regret in her heart now?"

"——"

"Honkai 3."

"\"Ahaha~ The witness's regret? Such a beautiful yet slightly sorrowful trouble. \""

"Within Past Paradise, Ailixiya was watching the cute pink-haired girl on the heavens' curtain; when a hint of sorrow flashed in Xiao Sanyue's eyes, she keenly noticed."

"Beside her, Yidian slowly set down his glass, \"Actually, Xiao Sanyue's regret is easy to answer. Regret is not a void lament but the love and passion that existed. If that clockmaker can speak without remorse, it's because he gave his all, never wasted. And Xiao Sanyue's regret... is precisely the warm, passionate proof of her resonance with him. \""

"\"Indeed, Sanyueqi hopes Mihaier's story ends perfectly; she wishes he lives to witness that day, hence her regret. Yet... reality is never perfect. \""

"Kaiwen deeply understood Sanyueqi's feelings, and also grasped the emotions of those whose stories end in regret. However, he considered himself luckier; at least he still had a chance, through the heavens' curtain, to learn that future humanity produced a plan better than the Saint Mark scheme, and moved toward a farther future."

"He is both a character in the book and a witness to its long ending... Speaking of it, the feeling is rather marvelous."

"Ailixiya looked up at the heavens' curtain; though she knew the other couldn't hear, her tone remained light and confident, as if cheering a little friend from another world."

"\"No one likes regret, nor imperfection, but dear Xiao Sanyue~♪, the most beautiful movements often arise from that tiny bit of imperfection! \""

"\"And all stories, because they have readers like you who feel joy and sorrow for them, are granted true 'life', you know? \""

"——"

"\"I think each of us is searching for the answer to this question, \" Jizi looked up at Pinokangni's vast 'starry sky', a reflection of another city, \"The galaxy is vast, life is tiny, the stride of expansion never ceases, yet on a cosmic scale, an ordinary person can only travel a short distance in a lifetime. \""

"\"But it is this extremely short stretch, linked together, that can connect countless worlds. Every person who leaves a sleeper under the silver rail, the universe may not remember them, but we will. \""

"\"As long as we remember, their stories (of expansion) never end. And what Mr. Mihaier left us is his answer to this question. It may not be perfect, yet it can make an aged nameless passenger smile with relief at life's end. \""

"\"And its meaning will be interpreted by us later. \""