Seeing Pei Guang's delighted expression, Chadwick got up, preparing to leave.
For him, being able to meet such a special existence like Pei Guang in the last moments of his conscious life was enough to make his life feel complete.
However, just as he was about to leave, Pei Guang stopped him.
"Old sir~ you've suffered quite a lot in this dream world during the latter half of your life, haven't you? I've got something really good here that can help you relax a little~"
Looking at Chadwick, who was ready to go, Pei Guang decided to let him be the first to experience the fire cupping.
The fire jars looked powerful, but most of their effects still needed to be tested. And right in front of him was the perfect subject: Pei Guang wasn't about to let the chance slip away.
Hearing Pei Guang's suggestion, Chadwick stayed silent. After a long silence, he agreed.
Pei Guang pulled out his fire jar and placed one on Chadwick's neck. During the cupping process, Chadwick, in the final moments of his consciousness, felt an unparalleled sense of relief and comfort.
Chadwick: "This feeling… it's really good. If I were still alive, I'd definitely ask you to relax me again. It's just too comfortable."
Pei Guang: "Hahaha~ as long as you feel good, that's what matters. Reality? Virtuality? Doesn't matter—if you feel comfortable, isn't that enough?"
Chadwick: "But if your consciousness is all fake, does that still not matter?"
Pei Guang waved his hand dismissively: "Too deep for me. I don't get it. All I know is that every choice I make in this game is my own choice. Whether it's fake or real, I'll leave that for the smart people to debate. I'm just here to play through the story."
Chadwick: "Is that so… then what do you think of this dream?"
Pei Guang: "I look at it with my own eyes~ But honestly, since it's a dream, I can't shake the feeling that this world isn't so simple. It wouldn't surprise me if it's a dream within a dream, then a dream within that dream, and then another… until the deepest dream is the real world.
Hiss, but judging by your tone, you seem to know some secrets about this world? Tell me?"
Hearing his question, Chadwick calmly replied: "Over the years, they didn't allow me to contact the outside world. But by chance, I did hear some legends. I don't know if they'll be of any use to you…"
Pei Guang: "Doesn't matter, say it anyway~"
Chadwick: "Just like you guessed, Penacony has deeper layers of dreams. But no one knows how to reach them. That's all I know."
Though it was just a simple sentence, when Pei Guang heard it, he fell deep into thought. He felt that what this old man said might really touch upon the secrets of this world.
After sharing what he knew, Chadwick stood and walked toward the door of the room. "I've lingered long enough. Time to leave. Thank you. But that thing of yours really is comfortable."
With the mark of the fire jar still visible on his neck, Chadwick left. As he departed, his consciousness returned to the memory bubble, and this inner world completely disappeared.
Meanwhile, Screwllum, who had been patiently waiting beside Chadwick's memory bubble, noticed something strange. The originally blue bubble now had a faint reddish ring forming on it?
Seeing this, even Screwllum felt like his system froze. Not just him: even a Memokeeper would probably doubt their own eyes if they saw it.
It was just a memory bubble, yet it now had a fleshy red circle on it? It even looked like something round had been pressed against it.
And, unbelievably, a fried-food aroma was coming from the bubble.
As a robot, Screwllum had no need for normal food, but to better understand the world, he was equipped with normal senses like taste and smell. Still, in all his years, he had never heard of a memory bubble giving off a smell.
Looking again at the reddish, pancake-like circle, Screwllum even started to wonder if the bubble had… been cooked.
At the same time as this ring—or rather, this pancake-like mark—appeared on the bubble, Screwllum also received a fragment of consciousness from within.
"Cupping~ So good!"
That feeling of pleasure completely scrambled Screwllum's system, but soon he realized it wasn't meaningless.
"The bubble has become… more stable…"
Screwllum examined Chadwick's memory bubble. Compared to before, when it was always on the verge of dispersing, it was now more solid and easier to carry back.
Since Chadwick's consciousness had returned, Screwllum decided to take the bubble and leave Penacony.
Meanwhile, in the dream world, after leaving Chadwick's consciousness, Pei Guang recalled their exchange.
As he pondered, a triumphant Stelle came rushing over: "Ah Guang! You know what? Big harvest, huge harvest. Eh? What are you thinking about?"
Originally, Stelle had come to boast about her haul, but as soon as she returned, she saw Pei Guang deep in thought.
Pei Guang: "Thinking about the possible plot developments ahead, the potential crises this dream world may hold… and also about the item I just got."
Hearing there was a new item, Stelle's whole face lit up: "A new item? What is it? Is it fun?"
Pei Guang gave a firm nod: "It's fun, and very useful. I just used it on the last mission target, and he felt really great."
Stelle: "That old man?"
Pei Guang nodded.
Stelle sucked in a sharp breath: "As expected of you, you even managed to make an old man feel good!"
Though Stelle's words weren't wrong, to Pei Guang they sounded… very off.
Pei Guang: "What? You want to try it?"
Stelle: "Try it on me~"
Stelle was already eager to try, while Pei Guang took out his fire jar set and explained: "Here, this is it, the fire jar set. The closer you get to the target spot, the better the expelling effect."
Stelle: "Oh? On my chest or back? You really are a pervert, but—"
Before she could finish, Pei Guang pressed down on her head: "Stop your nonsense. The most perfect spot is the back. One jar."
Pei Guang was excited. Just the thought of being able to place a jar on Stelle's flawless back made him almost tremble with excitement.
But just as he was feeling thrilled, Sparkle came over: "Something fun going on here?"
Seeing Sparkle disguised like that, Stelle raised her head to glance at Pei Guang.
When she arrived, she had already seen Sparkle, marked by Pei Guang, using the appearance of an ordinary girl, playing around with him and Firefly.
Since Pei Guang didn't expose her, Stelle simply went along with Sparkle's act and kept playing.