In a space resembling the Dewlight Pavilion...
Black Swan, veiled in purple gauze, smiled faintly. Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the table. However, all the cards on the table had been pushed aside. At the center of the table, a phone rested on a stand, playing Fu Xuan and March 7th's companion mission—[Total Recall].
"Trying to recover your memories, huh...?"
"What a shame, Miss March 7th. You don't realize what those memories truly mean."
"The Memokeepers of the Garden of Recollection would never allow those memories to be made public."
"But..."
"If Yu Ling insists on revealing them, even the Garden might not be able to stop it."
A card in front of her suddenly emitted a faint blue glow. Black Swan flipped it over.
"Hmm, as expected... The time has come."
---
Astral Express, Observation Car.
Faced with a mirror that had abruptly appeared, Stelle licked her lips and placed her hand on its surface.
The next second, a girl wearing a hood and face covering stepped out from the mirror.
"You're the [Messenger], right?" Stelle asked proactively.
After all, in the game, she was always the one who guided them into the [Forgotten Hall]. They were practically old acquaintances by now.
Stelle had assumed this was just a game mechanic for unlocking high-difficulty challenges, but she never expected the same thing to appear on the real train.
However...
The girl wasn't as lively and mischievous as she was in the game, asking things like "Do you wish to enter the Forgotten Hall?"
Instead, her voice was cold as she said, "Apologies, but you'll need to [disappear] for a while."
Stelle was stunned.
"Huh?"
"You're not following the script!?"
Yet, before she could react, a blinding light suddenly flared around her, swiftly engulfing everything...
---
On the other side of the Observation Car...
Pom-Pom, who had been sweeping the floor, abruptly looked up in alarm.
"There's something strange on the train, Pom!"
Without wasting a second, the tiny conductor grabbed the broom and dashed toward March 7th and the others, who were engrossed in the game's story.
But after only two steps, Pom-Pom suddenly froze in place.
"I... What was I about to do again?"
Glancing at the broom on the floor, the conductor mumbled, "Oh right, I need to finish sweeping, Pom..."
The trio immersed in the story didn't seem to notice anything amiss. Only Welt Yang glanced up at Pom-Pom. Seeing the conductor resume sweeping, he dismissed his concern and returned his attention to the game.
---
The scene had now shifted to Belobog's Goethe Hotel.
Fu Xuan suddenly asked, "By the way, Miss March, have you ever wondered why your memories are sealed?"
"Sometimes, to escape pain, people deliberately erase extreme memories."
"Have you noticed? In your memories of the Luofu, everyone you meet subtly—or not so subtly—tries to dissuade you from continuing your search."
"It's almost as if your subconscious is speaking to itself. Of course, it's also possible that an external force has interfered with your mind, leaving behind suggestions to prevent you from recalling something."
"So I must ask you again—do you truly wish to continue exploring these memories?"
March 7th replied, "If you say my memories might've been tampered with, then isn't that all the more reason to investigate? We can't let whoever sealed my memories get away with it!"
Watching her in-game self brimming with confidence, March 7th felt she couldn't lose to a fictional version of herself. She silently psyched herself up.
It's just a game storyline! Besides, I've got Himeko and Mr. Yang with me... Wait, and who else?
Huh? Why am I overthinking this? The priority is finding the source of interference in this scene!
---
Heading to the hotel lobby...
In this scenario, Gepard had taken on the role of a security guard, indicating that the distortion's origin was nearby.
The memory-version of Gepard spoke: "Is there something you need, Miss March? If not, please refrain from disturbing security personnel."
"Also, allow me to remind you—what's past is past. Dwelling on it is meaningless. The only thing we can do is move forward."
March 7th pouted and pressed onward.
At the front desk, the manager had been replaced by a smirking Sampo.
"Long time no see, March! Welcome to Sampo's Grand Hotel!"
"It used to be Goethe Hotel, but now it's mine! Old Goethe was getting on in years, too frail to manage such a big business, so he handed it over to me and retired to enjoy his golden years!"
"Now, don't get the wrong idea—there was no shady business involved! Just a smooth transfer between two gentlemen, a passing of the torch!"
"See, both Goethe and I chose to embrace the future instead of clinging to the past. You should do the same, March."
March 7th shook her head.
Aside from the last line feeling a bit forced, the idea of Sampo swindling the Goethe Hotel out from under its owner was totally in character for him.
...Actually kinda makes sense!
However, Sampo wasn't the source of interference in this scene.
---
Approaching Bronya and Seele...
March 7th initiated a conversation with Seele.
"Hey, long time no see!"
The memory-version of Seele responded: "March 7th? It has been a while... How has everything been since you left Belobog?"
"The Express doesn't look back. It moves ever forward, toward the other end of the cosmos. That's its destiny. Just like us—we can't turn back time."
"March, don't dwell on the past. It'll only bring you harm. Trust me on this."
Fu Xuan couldn't help but interject: "Why is everyone in your memories trying to stop you from remembering? Things are getting stranger by the minute..."
March sighed. "Yeah, it's weird... But we'll figure it out one step at a time!"
Clear the interference.
[Battle Start!]
Fu Xuan's energy was fully charged. March 7th eagerly tapped her ultimate skill.
Just then, Himeko stood up.
"My coffee should be ready. March, hold on—I'll go grab it."
"Hurry back, Himeko! I'll clear these enemies fast so we can move to the next scene!"
"Don't worry."
Yet, Himeko never returned.
Now, only March 7th and Welt Yang remained, continuing the story. Neither seemed to notice the anomalies creeping into the train... nor the fact that their group was shrinking, the air growing colder by the minute.
March 7th scratched her head.
"Mr. Yang, next should be Herta Space Station, right?"
Welt nodded. "Chronologically, yes. The Space Station comes next."
March 7th felt both excitement and nervousness. "I think... this might be the final scene."
"Once we go further back, we'll reach the memories I lost, won't we?"
She touched the Space Station's display, triggering the next cutscene.
[Do Not Look Back]
[March 7th, don't look back. Keep moving forward.]
"Ugh! This prompt again!"
"Wait... why did I say 'again'?"
March 7th suddenly covered her mouth in shock.
"Mr. Yang... did we forget something?"
Welt adjusted his glasses, his sharp gaze scanning the carriage.
Pom-Pom had finished cleaning and was now holding a pair of scissors, presumably to trim the potted plants. Nothing seemed out of place.
Welt relaxed slightly—until he suddenly tensed again.
"Where are Himeko and Stelle?"
March 7th thought for a moment. "Didn't they say they were tired and went to their rooms?"
"Oh, right."
"Mr. Yang, focus! We're about to reach the Space Station. I'll need your help figuring out the interference source!"
---
What March 7th and Welt Yang didn't know was...
In the Passenger Cabin...
Every windowpane began emitting an eerie blue glow as figures clad in attire similar to the [Messenger] emerged from the glass.
In an instant, a group of Memokeepers from the Garden of Recollection had assembled.
The lead [Messenger] spoke gravely:
"Everyone, the situation is dire."
"If her past is exposed through that game... it will unleash an unimaginable [catastrophe]."
"Before things spiral beyond control, we, the Memokeepers, must take drastic measures."
To be continued…
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