Before long, with the authority she had seized over Penacony's dreamscape, Kallen arrived smoothly at the destination she had come for.
It was a gloomy little city.
Its towering spires looked like countless withered bones stabbing into the heavens, while Gothic arches cast crisscrossing shadows beneath the pale moonlight.
Kallen stood in the middle of a ruined square and looked around.
There was no one.
At least, not yet.
Still, based on what she remembered, people who entered Dreamflux Reef were supposed to black out for a while first.
But she hadn't.
She had no idea whether that was because she had entered by a different route, or simply because her constitution was too strong.
"It's even more desolate than I imagined."
Muttering to herself, Kallen started down the main road.
But after only two steps, she heard movement.
"A new arrival?"
At that moment, a scruffy middle-aged man with a melancholy wolf-cut hairstyle and stubble walked over.
Kallen recognized him immediately.
Gallagher—the temporary caretaker of Dreamflux Reef.
"Hello there, mister?" Kallen tried greeting him.
But Gallagher's attention was elsewhere.
"Ugh, another tourist Sleepie accidentally dragged in, huh?"
Then he blinked.
"Hm? Where's Sleepie?"
Only then did he realize that this newcomer didn't seem to have that familiar mischievous little creature with her.
Could she have gotten here by being killed?
But that didn't seem right either.
Gallagher had seen people who came in that way before.
Even if they didn't retain their original wounds, their mental state was never this stable.
But this young lady in front of him...
For some reason, Gallagher felt like she could punch him into next week.
"Miss, may I ask who you are?"
"My name's Kallen. I'm here sightseeing." Kallen answered with a smile.
"Sightseeing?" Gallagher's brows twisted into a puzzled arch. "Miss, this isn't exactly a tourist destination."
"I know." Kallen nodded, looking past him toward the silent cluster of buildings behind him.
"Dreamflux Reef, right? A refuge for the forgotten. Penacony's trash can."
"Or maybe... the real Penacony."
Gallagher's expression changed instantly.
"How do you know that name? Are you one of the Family's people?"
Kallen gave a grand flourish and struck a rather dramatic pose.
"Mister, my name is Kallen, and I'm a Nameless!"
"You're one of the Astral Express's Nameless?"
Gallagher frowned even harder.
He sized up the girl in front of him, suspicion sharp in his eyes, like an old hound catching the scent of something unfamiliar.
"Kid, that's not a joke you should make."
"I'm not joking." Kallen blinked innocently. "Do I look like I'm lying?"
Judging purely from appearances, she almost did look the part.
But unfortunately, Gallagher knew the current Nameless aboard the Astral Express, and there was no such person among them.
That was because, ever since he had received that old man's final wish, Gallagher had been paying close attention to the Astral Express.
And not long ago, he had finally received word that the Express had resumed its journey.
That was why he had sent them an invitation to the Charmony Festival under the Family's name.
So now, as he stared at this self-proclaimed Nameless, his eyes only grew warier.
"Kid, if you say you're one of the Nameless, then you should know the Astral Express's rules."
"What rules?"
"When a Nameless sets out on a journey, they always carry one thing with them."
Gallagher stepped closer.
"The Astral Express's ticket."
At that, Kallen seemed to freeze for a moment.
Seeing that reaction, Gallagher felt a flash of satisfaction.
Well, this little faker clearly hadn't even bothered forging a ticket.
Though to be fair, even if she had forged one, she still wouldn't have fooled him.
"What's wrong?" Gallagher asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Don't tell me you forgot to bring it?"
But Kallen's next words made him stop dead.
"I'm not from the Astral Express. Why would I have a ticket?"
Gallagher blinked.
"But didn't you just say you were one of the Nameless?"
Kallen nodded. "Yeah, I said I'm a Nameless. I never said I'm one of the Astral Express Nameless."
"Even if I've never boarded the train, I still have a heart that yearns for Trailblaze! Being a Nameless is a spirit, not a train ticket!"
Gallagher: "..."
Gallagher fell silent.
Alright. Maybe he had overreacted a little.
After all, he did know enough about the outside world to understand that not everyone called a Nameless had actually boarded the Astral Express.
After a full five seconds of silence, he finally let out a heavy sigh.
"...Sorry. I got a little too jumpy." He rubbed at his temple, and for once there was a trace of embarrassment on that rough-edged face.
"Things haven't been peaceful around Dreamflux Reef lately. I've been a bit on edge."
"That was a pretty quick apology." Kallen didn't seem to mind, continuing to inspect the surroundings with her hands behind her back.
"So were you testing me just now?"
Gallagher didn't admit it. "Heh. Nothing like that. Just asking casually."
"But since I was in the wrong first, how about this, kid? Since you're new here, I'll be your guide as compensation."
"Sure." Kallen answered immediately.
She had wanted a local guide anyway, so now that Gallagher was offering himself up, there was no reason to refuse.
"But, mister, I don't need you as a guide."
Gallagher raised a brow. "Then what do you need me for?"
"Help me find someone."
"Find someone?" Gallagher frowned again.
She had only just arrived at Dreamflux Reef, and already she was looking for someone. That definitely wasn't normal.
Even so, outwardly he kept his tone mild.
"Alright, then. Who exactly are you looking for?"
"An old man. A very, very old one."
"Maybe he's already dead. Maybe he's still hanging on. He should have been here for a very long time—longer than anyone else in this city."
Gallagher's expression had already shifted the moment she said the first sentence. It was subtle, but unmistakable: surprise.
"What's the name of the person you're looking for?"
Kallen stared straight into his eyes and said it, one word at a time:
"Mikhail."
The moment those four syllables left her mouth, Gallagher was utterly shaken.
"...Who's this Mikhail you're talking about?" he asked, pretending not to know.
After all, this stranger had tracked him down knowing not only what Dreamflux Reef was, but even Mikhail's name. There was no way she was harmless.
If she was one of the Family's people, or even worse, if she had come for Mikhail's legacy, then things were going to get ugly fast.
Heh. Still acting?
Kallen seemed to have expected this answer.
"You know him," she said.
That sentence hit like a thunderclap at Gallagher's ear.
This time he neither denied nor admitted it.
After a long pause, he finally asked, "What do you want with him?"
"I want to talk to him."
"Talk?"
"Yeah. Just talk. About what Penacony used to be like. About stories from when he was young. About how Dreamflux Reef came to be."
Gallagher stared at her for a long time.
"Kid... who exactly are you?"
"I already told you. My name is Kallen. I'm a—"
"Nameless." Gallagher finished for her, his tone carrying an indescribable weight.
"I know. But you're more than just a Nameless."
He stepped closer, those murky but razor-sharp eyes locked on her.
"An ordinary Nameless wouldn't know Mikhail's name. Wouldn't know where Dreamflux Reef came from. And wouldn't..." He paused, sweeping his gaze over her from head to toe.
"...wouldn't carry yourself like this."
Kallen put on that innocent expression again.
"What kind of bearing? What are you talking about, mister?"
Gallagher wasn't fooled in the slightest.
"I've lived in this city for decades. I've seen all sorts of people. And you..." His eyes narrowed. "You're the most dangerous one I've ever met."
At that, Kallen actually looked a little impressed.
As expected of the old dog. His nose really was sharp.
Still, she had never intended to hide forever.
And anyway, her identity wasn't exactly something shameful.
"Well, fine. You're right. I'm not ordinary."
Gallagher focused completely.
Then a heavy aura spread out from Kallen. She no longer concealed herself.
Emanator-level power.
And of Preservation, at that.
For a moment, Gallagher's expression became an absolute spectacle.
He had assumed she might be from the Family. Or perhaps some major figure.
But never in his wildest guesses had he expected her to be a Preservation Emanator.
And Kallen, of course, delivered her grand introduction.
"I, Kallen. Kallen Kaslana. The Holy Maiden of Schicksal."
"At the same time—"
She grinned brightly.
"—I'm also a Trailblazer-loving Galaxy Ranger getting ready to switch careers into being a Nameless!"
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 150)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter190)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter105)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter225)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 195
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 170
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/5
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 225
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 210
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/30
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 115
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 130
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 105
I Can Copy Unique Skills 100
Summoning an Evil God, but the 70
Supernatural Multiverse 90
My Harem Is Indescribable 85
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 90
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 68
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 100
Still playing traditional Honk 69
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 75
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 60
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 71
Checking In in Demon Slayer 75
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 80
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 66
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 58
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 65
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 63
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 59
Why did they assign me to Uma 55
MYGO Beauties 56
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 45
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 49
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 36
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 35
The Uma Musume Who Became 15
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