"Based on our reactions at The Reverie Hotel, did we truly win, or was it all an illusion?"
In the real world, after bidding farewell to his companions at The Reverie Hotel in the game, Little Bear followed the mission guide back to the Astral Express.
"This whole situation feels off. How could we possibly get to choose the next destination?"
Staring at the five options in the dialogue box, Little Bear immediately sensed something was wrong.
If he had previously sensed something was off with the characters, he now felt the entire story was amiss.
Is the next planet really up to us? Shouldn't it be the passengers who decide where the train goes? How could the Player possibly get to choose?
Shaking his head, Little Bear randomly selected an option.
"Edo Star has unanimous approval! It seems we've reached a consensus. The Astral Express's next stop will be Edo Star, Pom-Pom!"
In the game, as Little Bear made his choice, the Astral Express Crew voted unanimously in favor of Edo Star. Pom-Pom promptly announced the result.
"Huh? No way, buddy, you're actually going to Edo Star? Seriously? You better actually go, or I'll flip out if something goes wrong halfway there."
Seeing the Astral Express Crew unanimously approve the decision and Pom-Pom actually announce the result, Little Bear's jaw dropped in astonishment, his mouth forming a perfect "O" of shock.
[ Go! You better actually go, or I'm heading straight to your headquarters! (Facepalm) ]
[ Based on what the characters said at The Reverie Hotel, are we still in a dream? ]
[ If they actually go, I'll eat my hat. Version 2.2 is going to a new planet? What are they planning for the subsequent versions? ]
[ You're more likely to believe I'm the First Emperor than believe they're going to a new planet now. ]
[ First Emperor, DM me 50 to prove your power! ]
"Stelle, care for a chat? Come over here." In the game, the meeting concluded, and the preparation phase began.
Just then, Black Swan's voice drifted over, sounding like she had something to tell the Trailblazer.
"Great! It's Jail Swan! We're saved!" Hearing her voice, Little Bear immediately maneuvered his character toward her.
"..."
"Then... return that little farewell gift from earlier. I'm getting a little impatient."
"Don't get too impatient, or you'll tear it to shreds again..." Little Bear couldn't help but chuckle as he watched the elegant Black Swan on the screen.
In Little Bear's eyes, Black Swan's declaration, "So, I intervened," carried even greater weight than Sparkle herself, the Masked Fool.
"Hmm? ...Oh?" After receiving the farewell gift, Black Swan wore a momentary expression of surprise.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing." She quickly regained her composure. "I just discovered a very interesting place in your memories."
"..."
"And now, I'll tell you this Answer as a little bedtime story, to lull you to sleep..."
Black Swan talked at length but never revealed the Answer.
"Stop being so cryptic! Why is everyone on Penacony such a riddle-master?" Little Bear grumbled, unable to contain his frustration.
Ever since Version 2.0, every character he'd encountered—Acheron, Black Swan, even Lumina—had been spouting riddles like it was going out of style.
Enough already! Can you riddle-mongers please get off Penacony?!
"Attention passengers! The Astral Express is about to initiate Warp. Please fasten your seatbelts and hold on tight!" Pom-Pom's voice echoed through the Train's intercom.
"At this rate, are we actually going to leave?" Hearing Pom-Pom's familiar Warp announcement, Little Bear took a deep breath, still somewhat disbelieving.
[ There's no way we're leaving. Something unexpected is bound to happen soon. ]
[ I'll say it again: if we actually go to Edo Star, I'll eat my hat. ]
[ Can you stop scamming for food? ]
"Heh, it seems we're finally setting off."
"So many more memories await us ahead. Let's end our conversation here for now," Black Swan chuckled softly, bringing the in-game dialogue to a close.
"Mm," Stelle nodded in the game, then found a seat on the Train to await the Warp.
"Mm... the Warp is about to begin. Let's check the note Sister Lumina gave me," Stelle murmured, sitting in her chair. She reminded the Player outside the screen to open their inventory and examine the note from Lumina.
Seeing this, Little Bear opened his inventory and found Lumina's note.
Compared to before, a "View" button had appeared at the bottom of the note.
Little Bear clicked it immediately. The note contained nothing but a short passage:
[ Sweet dreams lull us to sleep, despair traps us in endless reincarnation. With each blink, time begins to reverse... May we meet again in the clear-eyed reality. ]
(Spy-Chinese version of White night has different lyrics)
"This is... lyrics from 'White Night'?" Little Bear instantly recognized the original source of the passage.
"So... why another riddle? We're about to warp! Can't you just tell us the answer directly?!"
The next moment, Little Bear exploded.
The entire Penacony was just a giant riddle nest... Everyone was communicating through riddles, except for him, the Trailblazer of the Astral Express, who understood nothing.
[ Isn't it obvious? "Sweet Dream" must refer to everything we're experiencing now—it's all too perfect. "Reincarnation" likely means we're trapped in an endless loop: Train Warp → Return to Penacony → Experience a series of events → Defeat God Sunday → Train Warp → Return to Penacony... ]
[ Holy crap, so we've been stuck in a dream the whole time?! ]
[ "White Night" didn't lie after all... ]
"So what? Telling us our situation doesn't help us escape. Lumina didn't tell us how to break free..." Little Bear sighed, dismissed the note interface, and closed his backpack.
The screen went black, and the end credits immediately began to roll.
"?"
[ ? ]
Both Little Bear and the live stream viewers were instantly stumped.
Why did it end so abruptly?