Chapter 56

Stelle scratched her head, somewhat puzzled.

"Not at all."

"I intend to accompany you into the dream, to ensure you don't get hurt."

"Memokeepers don't need a Dream Pool anyway... right?"

Black Swan said nonchalantly.

"I see. Fine then."

"I'm going to enter the dream."

Stelle nodded, preparing to lie down in the Dream Pool.

"Alright~ Go to sleep peacefully; I will be right here with you."

Black Swan’s tone became very gentle and alluring.

Amber: "Stelle didn't forget about Firefly's safety."

Stelle: "Of course, how could I forget my companion in adversity, Firefly!"

Firefly: "Thank you for your concern, Stelle!"

Black Swan: "Hehe, are you only thanking her?"

Black Swan: "Shouldn't you thank me as well~"

Firefly: "Uh... I must also thank Miss Black Swan for the rescue!"

Black Swan: "It was just a small favor."

Nahida: "May I ask, Miss Black Swan, does entering the dream without the aid of a Dream Pool represent the abilities of a Memokeeper?"

Black Swan: "Yes. As Memokeepers, we have long since cast aside our physical bodies, existing in the form of memes."

Black Swan: "Therefore, we are not bound by most material constraints and can traverse space freely."

Collei: "That sounds... so magical!"

Lumine: "It feels like being a Memokeeper is a very prestigious profession."

Paimon: "But to become a Memokeeper, one must cast aside their physical body..."

Paimon: "Wouldn't that be terrifying?"

Black Swan: "In the end, it is simply a different way of existing; there is nothing terrifying about it."

Furina: "How interesting. I really want to experience what it feels like to be a Memokeeper."

Neuvillette: "I imagine there are prerequisites for such a thing; it isn't something one can simply choose to do."

Black Swan: "That is true. However, who is to say Miss Furina might not have the talent for it?"

Furina: "Hehe, well, I was just saying."

Furina: "I don't want to abandon my physical body right now."

Ei: "May I ask Miss Black Swan, does this form of existence count as a kind of eternity?"

Black Swan: "Eternity?"

Black Swan: "No, this is still far from eternity."

Black Swan: "In fact, even existing as a meme, there will eventually come a day when one dissipates."

Ei: "Is that so...?"

Ei: "Is there truly nothing eternal in this world?"

Herta: "That is an interesting question."

Herta: "As for the answer, perhaps no one can provide it."

Screwllum: "Analysis: The calculation power of the Aeon of Erudition, Nous, spans the universe!"

Screwllum: "Conclusion: Perhaps Nous could provide the answer to this question."

Ruan Mei: "Of course, that is only a possibility."

Ruan Mei: "After all, this question is truly profound."

Ruan Mei: "You must realize that even Aeons themselves are not eternal."

Ei: "I see...?"

Ei: "Thank you all for your answers; I have learned much."

Video continues.

Through the Dream Pool,

Stelle returned to the room within the dream.

"Back in the familiar room..."

Stelle looked around,

feeling a sense of familiarity.

"Over here, my dear."

Black Swan greeted her from the doorway.

"How are you? Is your body feeling uncomfortable?"

Black Swan asked with concern.

"I feel fine."

Stelle replied.

"Then I am relieved."

"I know you are sensitive to Memory Zone mass, making you more susceptible to the dream's influence than others; that is why I needed to accompany you specifically."

"I will use a few methods to ensure you don't feel so unwell."

"Don't worry, your companions are also safe; before entering the dream, I requested a small trinket from each of them."

"This allows me to sense their presence within the Memory Zone."

"They have already awakened in their respective rooms."

"Now, can you set your mind at ease and follow me?"

"Time waits for no one; let us set off for the lobby."

Black Swan urged,

and began to walk outside.

"March's room is just next door... I should go meet up with her first."

Stelle thought for a moment and decided to find March 7th first.

She arrived at the door of March 7th's room.

"March 7th, are you inside?"

"Are you there? We're about to leave."

"March? It's me, Stelle..."

Stelle knocked hard on the door of March 7th's room,

but there was no response.

"I know what you are thinking, but unfortunately... that girl is not inside, and this is not her room."

"From the moment you stepped into the Memory Zone, the physical construction of reality lost its meaning."

"I can feel that she is currently very far away."

"Likewise, to find the lobby the Navigator spoke of... we will have to put in some effort."

At this moment, Black Swan came to Stelle's side and offered a reminder.

"Alright, I understand."

Stelle nodded,

and began to follow behind Black Swan.

"These poor, disoriented things..."

"Strange, there seems to be someone else's aura here..."

On the way, Black Swan saw the corpses of the Dreamjolt Troupe members lying to the side,

her expression becoming somewhat puzzled.

"Ah... is it her?"

"How is this possible?"

Black Swan led Stelle down the stairs to the lobby, where she saw Acheron confronting some members of the Dreamjolt Troupe.

This made her slightly surprised.

"Is there... no staff here?"

"Huh, why is it you two?"

Huang Quan looked at the Dreamjolt Troupe before her and muttered softly,

then, sensing someone behind her, she turned her head.

As it turned out, she discovered that the newcomers were actually acquaintances.

"You... know each other?"

Huang Quan’s tone sounded as if she knew Black Swan,

which left Stelle feeling somewhat puzzled.

"Yes, she is the Memokeeper I mentioned."

Huang Quan nodded gently.

"You two, let’s end the pleasantries for now..."

"How about we join forces to see these hospitable children out?"

Black Swan looked at the surrounding Dreamjolt Troupe and proposed.

"It would be an honor; thank you both for your help."

Huang Quan expressed her thanks,

and then the group began to work together to clear out the Dreamjolt Troupe.

A moment later, these ferocious Dreamjolt Troupe members were easily wiped out.

"Finally, it’s quiet."

"Why are you two here?"

Huang Quan looked at Black Swan and Stelle,

and asked first.

"In fact, that is the very question we wanted to ask you."

Black Swan raised an eyebrow,

and threw the question back.

"There are rumors circulating in Penacony regarding secret topics like the Watchmaker, the legacy, and nightmares."

"I was curious about who was spreading the news, so I experimented with the methods mentioned in the rumors..."

"And I actually ended up here."

Huang Quan did not mind Black Swan’s wariness,

but instead offered a sincere explanation.

"You... shouldn't be hiding anything, should you?"

Black Swan asked with some suspicion.

"Hiding? In front of a Memokeeper, I don't think I could manage that."

Huang Quan shook her head with a wry smile.

"Can you do it in front of me?"

Stelle couldn't help but interject at this moment.

"No, that’s not what I meant; it’s just a... figure of speech."

Huang Quan said with a straight face.

"You two arrived just in time; this dreamscape is fraught with danger."

"Since our goals are the same, why not travel together?"

"I can protect you from harm, and in the Memory Zone, I also need the assistance of a Memokeeper, and... if we encounter the Family, having one more person always means one more explanation."

Huang Quan’s tone was sincere,

hoping to hitch a ride with the two of them.

"This... what do you think, Stelle?"

Black Swan handed the decision over to Stelle.

"Having more people isn't a bad thing."

Stelle thought for a moment and agreed directly.

"Thank you, Stelle... truly, thank you."

"And I am also very happy to travel with you again, Miss Black Swan."

Huang Quan’s expression was very grateful.

"Hmm... let’s hope so."

Black Swan’s tone was filled with a hint of helplessness.