Chapter 173
["Everyone sang so wonderfully! I rarely try this style of music, and I learned a lot from it!"
When Mika led everyone to find Robin, she was gently teaching the children how to sing. "It's good to see you safe and sound, Miss Robin."
"Everyone from the Astral Express, we meet again.
I heard my disappearance caused quite a stir in the outside world… I'm truly sorry."
"Since you are here… may we assume that Miss Robin is already fully aware of Penacony's current situation?"
Robin nodded: "Ever since returning to Penacony, my voice has become abnormal, gradually worsening into the torment of losing it. I initially thought it was just an accident, perhaps from traveling abroad for too long and not being accustomed to the high concentration of Memoria in Asdana's environment."
"But now it seems… the source isn't me. There is something around me that is dissonant with [Harmony]… Is losing my voice also one of the signals of the dream's collapse?"
"The dream's collapse… That Memokeeper said the same thing. So it's true."]
[Eden]: "A poor, suffering little town warms the heart more than a dazzling, singing metropolis."
[Elysia]: "I never expected that within the Dreamflux Reef, one could be closer to 'Harmony' than with the Family."
[Robin]: "Brother, now that we're about to uncover the truth, can you really not tell me?"
[Sunday]: "I......"
[Qingque]: "I'm sure other Family members across the universe have no idea that the lineages in Penacony are planning to pull off something huge—the kind that might break all of Penacony."
[Silver Wolf]: "In the first draft of the script, if he pulls it off, this stunt will be even bigger than you think?"
[Stelle]: "Why emphasize the first draft?"
[Elio]: "Stelle, shut up!"
["No matter what, I cannot accept my homeland moving in the opposite direction of [Harmony] in the name of [Harmony]."
"To understand why [Clockmaker]
Mikhail broke with the Family, and who exactly made the decision to betray… Mr. Mika, do you remember our deal? Now is the time for me to give my answer—"
"—I am willing to give up and no longer take the stage at the [Harmonious Festival]."
Miss Robin said thus.]
[March 7th]: "That's amazing! Miss Robin investigated this far all on her own!"
[Dan Heng]: 'It seems the [Harmonious Festival] is the core of this plan whose full scope is still unknown.'
[Fu Xuan]: 'That's not necessarily true. If that were the case, they should be more panicked. I don't believe the Dreammaster is unaware of the Dreamflux Reef's existence. It can't just be about sending Sparkle to impersonate Robin to reassure the guests.'
[11 system hours until the opening of the [Harmonious Festival], the other side of Dreamflux Reef
"Brother, look! There's a little bird here."
Little Robin picked up the small bird and showed it to Sunday. "It looks like a little Harmonious Dove."
"But this isn't a Harmonious Dove habitat. Why is it all alone here? Was it abandoned by its parents?"
Robin stroked it pityingly:
"It looks so weak… Should we find some soft padding and make a cage for it?"
Sunday nodded:
"It's too dangerous here. Let's take it back first and place it on the wooden stand by your window."]
[Guinaifen]: "Wow~ Is this Robin when she was little? So cute~"
[Rita]: "Indeed, she is truly adorable."
[Sunday wanted to build a cage for this little bird, but Robin felt somewhat sad. She thought: Birds… belong to the sky by nature.
A gentle voice spoke lovingly:
"You should know that Harmonious Doves are a type of bird capable of flying through the atmosphere.
When flying at high altitudes, their feathers glow magnificently from the heat generated by friction, like streaks of meteors."
"We often see this beautiful scenery because it is their innate ability. Unfortunately, that meteor-like radiance is the result of their struggle against nature for hundreds of Amber Seasons."
"The ancestors of Harmonious Doves were too weak to prevail in the struggle for survival on the ground. To avoid being hunted, they began to look up at the sky and flap their wings to leap…"
"And so, after thousands upon thousands of generations of attempts, one bird in the flock finally learned how to flap its wings correctly. It succeeded in flying up, bidding farewell to the earth from then on."
Robin asked somewhat naively: "So, birds don't naturally know how to fly, but they managed it through their own will, right?"
The elder nodded in agreement: "That is indeed an idealistic interpretation. So, Sunday, what do you think?"
Sunday seemed a bit lost but still gave his answer:
"I think people believe flying is a bird's nature… because they have never seen a bird fall to its death."
"I would… well, put it in a cage first, at least until it can survive on its own. Because…"
"No matter what… I want it to live."]
[Theresa]: "This… is the ideological conflict between Robin and Sunday, the two siblings? The divide between idealism and reality…"
[Otto]: "Little Theresa, I actually think Sunday's view is the most idealistic."
[Stelle]: "Idealism and reality aside, this Harmonious Dove is considered weak? What kind of little bird breaks through the atmosphere solo~ Were the meteors Trailblazer and I saw at the secret base actually these little birds?"
[March 7th]: "Your focus is way off! But Mr. Yang, why do you have that strange expression again?"
[Honkai Star Rail: Welt]: "It's nothing. This just reminds me of an old friend from my homeland."
[Kiana]: "Who?"
["Nice dream talk, little bird. Time to wake up."
"Huh?" The awakened Sunday looked around warily at the unfamiliar surroundings. "What, can't stand steady?
Need me to support you?"
"I'm not dead?"
Sunday stared at him with sharp eyes, looking utterly relentless;
"…Tell me where Robin is. Now."
"Heh, I knew your first reaction would be about her."
"She's in this place, don't worry. Your sister is safe for now… probably still walking around the streets."
"If I were you, I'd be more concerned about myself at a time like this… After all, standing right in front of you is the bastard who just stabbed you in the chest."]
[Sushang]: "So Gallagher really did bring Sunday here to find his sister. He's actually a pretty good guy~"
[Seele Vollerei]: "Even just waking up, his first concern is still his sister. Their sibling relationship is really good."
[Durandal]: "They are siblings connected by blood, after all. If I had a younger sister, I would probably be the same."
[Stelle]: "That's just how siscons are. But Sunday talks in his sleep? Hehehe~"
[March 7th]: "I feel like you're thinking about something inappropriate again."
Next chapter will be a bit late, probably in the afternoon. I had too much fun playing Hollow Knight on Sunday.