Looking at the floating pathway, then at the distant, familiar building and the traces left behind by their previous battle, Firefly fell silent.
Recalling the events in the sewer: the embarrassment, the tension, the nervous anticipation… she now just wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
Forget the ground, actually: that sewer right next to her was probably more fitting.
"Ah… of course," Pei Guang sighed. "Even if the road was already built ahead of time, without asking for the exact address first, we still have to follow the quest steps. Anyway, we did get something out of that sewer trip."
During their time in the sewer, Pei Guang had indeed gathered a large amount of Classic SoulGlad, though he still had no idea what it was useful for.
To avoid having to backtrack or repeat routes, Pei Guang turned to Firefly and asked, "Alright, don't look so down. Let me ask—where exactly is your secret hideout?"
Firefly looked toward a tall building in front of them. "Over there…"
Right now, she looked like a deflated pufferfish—no energy left in her at all.
With a voice full of resignation, she murmured, "I'm really sorry, I…"
Pei Guang interrupted, "Hey, sorry for what? Like I said, this is all part of the mission. But this time, we don't have to take the long way around, right?"
Firefly shook her head firmly. "No. With you here, it's actually much easier."
Pei Guang grinned. "Alright then~ same deal as always, stay close. But since this is your secret hideout…"
He glanced around.
Even though they were near the border, a few travelers still wandered about, having made it here through various means. His method of "cutting class" through the air was fast, but it also left convenient shortcuts for others.
Normally, he wouldn't mind that, but since this was Firefly's secret base, Pei Guang decided to erase the trail.
So, he took out the same building blocks he'd dug up before, placing them in the air to form a floating path. After extending the path a short distance forward, he destroyed the blocks behind them, cutting off any way back.
After laying down a few more blocks, Pei Guang suddenly stopped moving.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Firefly asked.
Pei Guang looked toward a nearby rooftop and replied, "Nothing… just thinking the place you're taking me to must be a really nice spot, huh?"
"Eh? Why do you say that?" Firefly tilted her head. She knew her hideout was nice, but Pei Guang's sudden comment piqued her curiosity.
Pei Guang pointed ahead. Following his gaze, Firefly noticed several couples hidden around the rooftop, each enjoying the night view in their own way.
Some were standing side by side, some were holding each other close, and some were passionately kissing.
"See? A couple there, another over there—oh, oh, that one's bold, they're kissing out in the open! This looks like a great date spot," Pei Guang said with interest.
He'd been through three maps already, Penacony was the fourth, and this was the first time he'd actually seen couples kissing in plain sight.
"...What does it feel like to hug someone you like?" Firefly asked quietly.
Pei Guang shook his head. "No idea. Everyone's different. But I think, in the end, it's all the same: it feels happy. When a relationship isn't close enough yet, a hug is the simplest way to express your feelings. By the way, the place you're taking me to… is it, like, especially good for dates?"
Hearing that question, Firefly froze.
A date? With Pei Guang…?
She understood what dating and relationships meant, but for some reason, just thinking about it filled her with an odd sense of anticipation.
"Do I… like him?" she asked herself the moment that thought arose.
Compared to the long-lived, or even to normal people, her life was short: so short that she had to make the most out of every critical moment.
She didn't have days or weeks to think things over, nor months or years to reach some distant goal.
Every day, every hour, every minute was precious. She didn't have time for hesitation or waiting: she could only make her choices quickly, and act on what she believed was right.
But this time, she was confused.
What was liking someone? And love… what was that?
She couldn't clearly sense such emotions. Still, going by what normal people might say, she gave an answer.
"Yes… it's perfect for couples."
At the word couples, the first person that came to Pei Guang's mind was March 7th.
Stroking his chin, he said, "Nice. Honestly, I'm even more looking forward to it now."
Now, he was genuinely curious about the place Firefly was taking him to.
If it was good for dates, he figured he'd bring March there after their next shopping trip; it might be a good way to deepen their bond.
For some reason, seeing Pei Guang's expression made Firefly feel a strange pang of irritation. Acting on that feeling, she lightly pushed his shoulder.
"Let's keep moving. Don't disturb them."
"Mm~" Pei Guang replied casually and moved on.
Passing by the couples, the Dreamweavers, and avoiding Penacony's monsters, the two finally reached the staircase leading to a rooftop.
Standing there, Firefly couldn't help but sigh in amazement. "Such a convenient power… Even though this is a dream, being able to build paths in the air like you do—it's really incredible every time I see it."
After all, it was still a dream.
Yes, a dream could have anything: but that didn't mean everyone could do whatever they wanted in it.
After all, this was a dream under the Family's control. Normally, outsiders wouldn't have the power to do something like this… but Pei Guang could, and he did it as easily as breathing.
In response to Firefly's praise, Pei Guang smiled modestly. "It's nothing much, really. Just placing blocks in midair. I know at least five or six games that let you do that, and even more that can make floating blocks stick around. Besides, this is a dream: if you can't do it in reality, then doing it here should be perfectly logical."
Firefly tilted her head. "What a strange kind of logic… forget it, that doesn't matter. Come with me! Believe me, in Penacony, this place is absolutely amazing."
She led the way toward the rooftop.
As they walked, soft music began to play around them, calm, but tinged with melancholy. Pei Guang instinctively wondered if his "battle BGM passive" had somehow triggered itself.
Which led to the next question: who was he about to fight? Firefly? And if so, would it be a serious fight? Because if it wasn't, Pei Guang was absolutely out.
As he was lost in thought, Firefly spoke again, her tone carrying a bit of joy. "Have you heard this song before? 'If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking.' It's by Robin. With the Charmony Festival approaching, her music occasionally echoes through dreams like this."
While she spoke, Pei Guang listened to the melody echoing through the dream.
Following behind her, he reached the rooftop and was greeted by a breathtaking sight.
Above them, countless shooting stars streaked across the sky. In the distance, the first rays of dawn painted the rooftop in golden light.
In this dreamscape, only the rooftop of this particular building was illuminated by the sunrise: the rest of the world bathed in a faint golden glow.
Shaking his head in awe, Pei Guang said, "Haven't heard it. Just know she's a superstar. Didn't expect this, though…"
Firefly gazed at the shooting stars, all of which seemed to fly toward the rising sun—toward that "golden moment."
Standing beside him, she looked at the sun frozen at the horizon and said softly, "This is the closest place to the sky in this dream. Far from the noise of the city, without everyone' arguments. Here, you can just… be. Feel the moment, the view, the people, the dream itself…"
Her eyes grew distant. "How beautiful… Time stops here, in this golden hour: a golden dream. The Fool from the Tavern, the Memokeepers of the Garden, the wandering Rangers, the Interastral Peace Corporation's envoys, the Trailblazers from the Astral Express… and me."
She turned toward Pei Guang and looked at him quietly—at the man who had taken her through this fantastical dream, showing her new and strange things.
Her gaze was soft, filled with warmth and happiness, and beneath it all, a faint trace of joy she herself hadn't yet noticed.
Racing with the Family's members, complaining about the Family and the Company, sharing desserts and coffee at a sweets shop. Watching a touching movie at the cinema park.
Feeling the joy of someone's successful proposal on Glaux Avenue. Fighting together on rooftops. Admiring beautiful sights like this one side by side…
Looking back on her life, she realized she had never been this happy: carefree, unconstrained by consequences or by reality.
They hadn't even known each other for a full day, yet it felt like they'd lived and adventured together for a month.
Thinking about everything they'd gone through: the misunderstandings, the confusion, the sighs… what remained most was… happiness.
The feeling of being alive. The meaning of being alive. And the will to keep living.
This unreal experience made her feel something like happiness, but it also brought a faint ache to her heart.