After splitting into teams, Pei Guang waved at Clockie. "See you later, Clock Boy! We're off to find that key. Catch you soon~"
Clockie replied, "See you at our usual spot~ I wish you success!"
He said "see you soon," but in truth, he was planning to secretly follow Pei Guang.
After all, the key didn't actually exist: he'd have to show up at the critical moment to produce one himself.
But what he didn't expect was that he was about to witness something that would make his jaw drop again.
Before long, Pei Guang would actually find a key that let him move freely between dream layers—a key that didn't exist for anyone else in this world, but could absolutely exist for a player.
Finding an important map key hidden on a person, in a trash can, or inside a monster? For players, that kind of thing was child's play.
After parting with Clockie, the four split up again.
Following beside Stelle, Sparkle asked curiously, "So how are you planning to find this key?"
Stelle shrugged. "No idea. But since Ah Guang said to just go with the flow, we might as well have some fun. Maybe we'll stumble across it while playing around."
Sparkle grinned. "Even if you don't find a key, I can still take you deeper into the dream, you know~"
Stelle shook her head. "No. We need the key to go deeper. Entering without it won't give us any rewards."
Sparkle groaned. "Don't be so stiff~ If you let me take you, you'll beat him for sure!"
Stelle stood firm. "No! Beating Ah Guang doesn't matter—the key does."
Sparkle crossed her arms. "You can enter the dream without a key!"
Stelle replied seriously, "I said: the important thing isn't entering the dream. It's the key."
"…"
Sparkle was completely baffled. Why were Pei Guang and Stelle so hung up on this?
Whether they used a "key" or her help, didn't it all lead to the same thing: entering the deeper dream?
But for Pei Guang and Stelle, there was a huge difference.
Clockie had clearly said it: entering the deeper dream with the key came with rewards! Sure, skipping steps might be fun—but if it meant missing out on loot or a crucial item, any real player would want to slap their past self for taking shortcuts.
Seeing Stelle's oddly determined attitude, Sparkle sighed. "Fine, fine~ I give up. So, what do we do next?"
Eyes bright with excitement, Stelle looked toward the border she'd explored before. "Let's go to the outskirts. The monsters and enemies there should've respawned. We'll farm a bit and maybe we'll get the key while grinding. Once I get it, I'll make Ah Guang cling to my leg and beg me for help."
In truth, the key itself didn't matter that much to Stelle: the fun was in the journey.
Sparkle could sense something familiar in her energy, something that reminded her of herself. It made her even more intrigued by Stelle and Pei Guang both.
"But what if he finds the key first?" Sparkle asked, testing her.
Stelle puffed out her chest proudly. "Then I'll just admit defeat~"
For Pei Guang and Stelle, the competition was nothing more than a bit of fun that didn't interfere with their exploration, and Sparkle and Firefly were part of that fun.
"Wait, is it wrong to call it 'fun'? Eh, whatever. It gets the point across."
Pei Guang wasn't the kind of person to fuss over word choice. As long as the meaning landed, that was good enough.
While Stelle and Sparkle were moving ahead with their own plans, Pei Guang and Firefly were also figuring out what to do next.
"You're looking for the key to the deeper dream, right?" Firefly asked. "What can I do to help you find it?"
Pei Guang spread his hands. "No idea. But judging by the flow of things, this kind of quest usually completes when one of you does what you want to do most, right? So maybe the so-called key isn't a physical thing, but something symbolic.
Think about it: do you have something you've been wanting to do? If the key's connected to you, then the place you want to go probably holds a clue."
Firefly pouted slightly. "You're so goal-driven. So if it weren't for this key, would you not come with me at all?"
Pei Guang laughed. "Of course not! I'm the kind of player who takes on the 'only an idiot would accept this quest' missions. As long as someone isn't my enemy, even if they're just a random NPC, if they've got a quest and the rewards are decent, I'll do it.
Besides, you're no random NPC. I don't know what your affection level toward me is, but mine toward you is definitely at the 'friendship' stage~ The kind where no matter what happens, I'll help and support you as a friend."
"This kind of thing… counts as friendship?" Firefly asked softly.
"Doesn't it?" Pei Guang replied. "With that level of affection, you can't be lovers, enemies, family, or whatever. But that's fine! This is real life: there aren't affection meters or stats. You can't just hang out once and magically become friends. If we're not friends yet, it doesn't mean we won't be later. I'll just have to spend more time with you and raise that affection level myself."
Firefly quickly shook her head. "No, that's not what I meant. I just… feel kind of happy. And as for the key, I don't have any key, but if it's supposed to be 'within me'… then maybe it means something else? Maybe it's referring to the things I've been hiding from you."
A bittersweet smile appeared on her face. The happier she felt, the more it hurt.
It was the first time she'd ever experienced such a complicated emotion.
Their time together hadn't been long, but it had been vivid—exciting and unforgettable. Firefly had her own goals, ones that could only be achieved by using the Trailblazer.
She thought back on her time since meeting Pei Guang. It hadn't been long, but those brief moments had become some of her most cherished memories.
Pei Guang was clearly driven by objectives, yet he treated her as a genuine friend, and she, in turn, began to see him as one too.
He knew she was hiding things, had her own agenda, but he didn't care. His indifference wasn't just talk: he truly didn't mind.
Before meeting him, she'd never imagined she could experience so much joy.
Racing through Penacony together, dodging pursuers, watching movies and proposals, exploring and stirring up chaos… it was like being the protagonist in a stage play.
But dreams were still dreams, and every dream had to end.
Even though Pei Guang didn't care about her secrets, Firefly now found herself hurting because she did care—because she wanted to tell him.
Taking a deep breath, Firefly looked at him. "I want to take you somewhere. Is that okay? I don't know if you'll find the 'key' there… but I want to take you as a friend. It's kind of my secret base. And when we get there, I'll tell you… everything."
Pei Guang grinned. "Sure! But if it's your secret base, why do you look so gloomy about it?"
"I… I'm just afraid you still won't find the 'key' there," Firefly admitted.
Pei Guang shrugged. "If I can't find it, then Stelle will. The mission said the key's tied to you two, so it's gotta exist. Sure, I want the key for the reward, but even if I don't get it, that's fine. Games are about winning and collecting loot, yeah, but my old man used to say the reward's not what matters, it's the journey. Still, I bet your secret base has something good."
Firefly shook her head. "There's nothing there…"
Pei Guang crossed his arms. "Who's the player here, you or me? Just because you think there's nothing good doesn't mean I'll agree. Ever found a starship in a trash can?"
Firefly blinked. "Normal people… can't find a starship in a trash can, right?"