[The three continued forward and took an elevator to a mysterious and profound corridor.]
[At the end of the corridor, there was only one closed large door.]
["This door… is it locked too?"]
["This is endless. Let me handle it." Black Swan closed her eyes, searching the room and even every corner beyond it in an almost inductive way.]
["This Memoscape… is a bit too distorted. I'll have to use some less elegant methods. You two… please give me a moment…"]
["Hmm… Got it. I can see the center of this dream, and people from the Family… and a few figures groping their way forward. Looks like your friend isn't having an easy time either… One, two, three…"]
[A blurry, illusory figure suddenly appeared in Black Swan's field of vision.]
["…Wait, three? There's a third person looking for the way to the lobby? Wait… this is…"]
[Black Swan's eyelashes trembled lightly, like butterfly wings startled by the wind: "—Is it the little girl who was with you before?"]
[Stelle took a deep breath, trying hard to stay calm: "You said she had already returned to reality."]
["I don't understand, but there's a familiar shadow in the Memoscape that feels very similar to her… Does she have some reason that requires her to venture deep into the dream?" Black Swan frowned in confusion. "She… is she running? No… fleeing? There seems to be something behind her…"]
——
Attack on Titan.
"Who would chase her? Could it be that 'SAM'?"
"No… impossible, Eren."
The chilly evening wind blew. Armin's hands holding the hot tea trembled slightly. "Most likely it's the Meme that attacked them in the Primitive Dream. If we equate SAM's combat power to Kafka or Blade, Firefly would have no chance of escaping at all."
He paused, then continued: "I suspect she came here alone after receiving information from someone. The information indicated that the Watchmaker's legacy is here. Otherwise… there's no way to explain why she would risk everything alone to venture into the Primitive Dream."
"The Watchmaker's legacy… What kind of treasure is worth risking your life for?"
"Could the legacy be some kind of miracle medicine for curing illness? She's a sick girl. If she doesn't get the legacy, she probably doesn't have much time left." Mikasa lowered her eyes and clutched the red scarf around her neck tighter. "I actually hope that man named SAM can save her."
"…Unlikely. SAM saving someone is more like it. After all, the Stellaron Hunter has some feelings for her. Firefly is pitiful… but as a genetically modified warrior, SAM probably isn't the type to go soft just because he sees a girl."
"No, that's wrong—"
Armin suddenly widened his eyes. The black tea in his cup shook violently, and a few drops splashed on the back of his hand, but he didn't notice at all. He stood up abruptly, his knee knocking over the small wooden stool and nearly making him fall.
"My thinking was completely wrong! Eren, your earlier conclusion was right. The one chasing Firefly is SAM!" His fingers gestured frantically in the air, as if trying to grasp a fleeting inspiration. "If… I mean if! What if Firefly has the ability to counter-kill the Mem?"
"Ah?" The other two by the campfire were stunned.
"Eren, do you remember that girl's observation skills that surpassed ordinary people? That's not something normal people can train… Not even Captain Levi has it! She most likely hid her true strength in front of Stelle. She's actually not weak at all. On the contrary… she is very powerful!"
Armin explained patiently: "It's precisely because of this combat power that she dared to venture into the Primitive Dream to search for the Watchmaker's legacy… And the one chasing her is the even stronger SAM, who can annihilate the Jepella Brotherhood!" Armin looked at the two with some pride: "What do you think?"
Eren wiped the sweat from his forehead: "…I think it's a bit far-fetched."
——
["The situation is urgent. I can only make an exception and use some small tricks to take you through the Memoscape together."]
[Black Swan's voice sounded beside Stelle's ear. At the same time, some blurry voices wormed into her mind like loaches:]
["The Watchmaker's legacy…"]
["I… don't want to give up…"]
["I have this right… don't I…"]
[Black Swan's tone clearly became a bit anxious: "I plucked a few strands of her thoughts from the Memoscape. This should help you build an impression of her. Now, firmly grasp these emotions and organize them into shape in your mind. The 'old friend' appearing here isn't just her, but also the third party at the scene when you were in danger—"]
["That Memoscape Meme. It's there too."]
[Stelle's pupils suddenly contracted. She almost instinctively rushed into the elevator in front of her. Some indescribable fluid—darkness—spread from her chest toward her throat. The feeling of suffocation drowned her from the inside out. Then, the voice sounded…]
["I dreamed of a scorched earth, a new bud breaking through the soil. It bloomed toward the rising sun and whispered to me."]
["Why do people choose to sleep? I think…"]
[The final soft sigh, no one knew who made it.]
["…is because they are afraid to wake up from the 'dream.'"]
[Acheron vigilantly pressed Stelle's shoulder: "…Careful! There's a dangerous presence nearby."]
[Stelle's footsteps echoed in the hall. The empty space amplified her breathing. Her gaze scanned around urgently until—]
[Not far away, the girl suddenly turned her head.]
[Firefly's hair drew a gentle arc in the air. The vigilance in her eyes melted like ice and snow. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, carrying irrepressible joy and delight.]
——
KonoSuba.
"I-I'm willing to trade Kazuma's ten years of single life for Firefly to be safe and sound!"
Aqua's extremely discordant wish suddenly rang out in the guild.
"Hey! You damn goddess, at least trade your own leader's happiness for another woman's safety!" Kazuma grabbed Aqua by the collar, but suddenly heard a tsunami of cheers from the guild.
He looked up and saw Miss Firefly in the sky screen gazing at Stelle from across the distance. That affectionate look almost seemed to sparkle. Especially that smile after letting down her guard—it was like a spring breeze.
"Miss Firefly is okay! Awesome!"
"Yay yay yay!"
"Hahaha, Kazuma, your single life is really useful!"
Kazuma almost turned to stone on the spot. While wiping his tears and secretly cursing Aqua, the next second another exclamation came from the guild.
"Hey! Wait! Look everyone!"
"It's the Meme! That Meme is chasing again!"
A purple mist condensed above Acheron and Black Swan. A familiar purple giant claw slowly reached out from within…