novelno Chapter 248 248: Has the Problem Really Been Solved?
Chapter 248 248: Has the Problem Really Been Solved?
The ending had long since been decided.
Sunday's Ena's Dream would turn everyone into prisoners of Order—puppets bound by its design.
That was not a paradise for all living beings.
It was a solitary dance performed by one alone.
The years that passed within the stigmata meant little to reality.
Having undergone a full cycle, Sunday remained silent. It was precisely because he possessed such overwhelming empathy that he had wanted to create a paradise belonging solely to humanity—where all the good would find happiness, and all the wicked would receive the punishment they deserved.
It was precisely because he possessed such overwhelming empathy that he felt sorrow at the suffering of others.
And so his emotions could not be called small. He knew full well that this had merely been an attempt to persuade himself, yet he could no longer continue deceiving himself.
The paradise within the dream had been flawless.
"Do you remember the question I asked you?" Kiana said. "Why does life fall asleep?"
Sunday did not answer her question. Instead, he drew a deep breath. "You have won."
"Until I find a true solution, I will not bring up Ena's Dream again."
He could not ignore the voices of others. When that voice broke through layer after layer of obstruction and finally reached him—forcing him to confront it—he could no longer convince himself to turn a blind eye.
"It wasn't me who won." Kiana shook her head. "It was you. You proved that you have never changed—that you did not choose the wrong path and blindly continue down it."
A faint movement flickered in Sunday's eyes. He spoke frankly. "I will not give up because of this. You are right—discovering an error does not equate to failure. It is the beginning."
What he had sought had never been domination, nor godhood.
Though this journey into the stigmata had been like the collapse of a towering spire, to him...
"A paradise requires everyone to build it together," Robin said softly. "No one person can bear the wishes and expectations of everyone else alone. Brother, that would be far too exhausting."
Sunday was briefly stunned. Trust others? Build the paradise in his heart together with everyone?
It was not as though Sunday had held this mindset from the beginning. At first, like Robin, he had believed in others just as deeply.
But what had been the result?
He thought of the things he had once encountered, and he thought of the dream's master, Gopher Wood.
"Perhaps." Sunday understood these principles. Yet everything he had seen and heard in Penacony left him feeling lost from the depths of his heart.
"If you feel that this world is different from what you imagined, then go out and see it," Kiana suddenly said. "Go look at the world beyond. Perhaps you'll gain new insights."
"Only after seeing the sky are you qualified to judge whether a bird should risk falling to its death in order to soar into the heavens. Isn't that so?"
"Only after seeing the sky...?"
Sunday felt his heart tremble. Instinctively, he wanted to say something, yet the words would not come.
From dream-seekers across the cosmos, he had heard countless descriptions of the outside world. But to witness it with his own eyes—this was something he had never experienced.
Perhaps he truly should not confine his gaze to Penacony alone. Perhaps he should step beyond it and see the world for himself. Without witnessing it personally, what right did he have to make judgments—to decide on behalf of others?
"I understand. I will seriously consider your suggestion."
"Brother, as long as you can think it through, that's enough." Robin finally relaxed. Though she hadn't said it aloud, she had truly feared things might spiral toward the worst possible outcome.
"...I'm sorry for making you worry."
Robin shook her head. "No. As long as you understand, that's all that matters."
"It seems this matter is, for now, concluded," Kiana said, glancing at the time. "I know you two must still have much to say."
"We won't disturb you any longer."
She took Black Swan with her, leaving the siblings alone. At a time like this, they surely had many things to discuss.
As for her—she was in a hurry to see Acheron.
Sunday withdrew the wanted order to avoid any future misunderstandings, then turned to look at his slightly downcast sister.
"You..."
They should have been discussing what she had gained from this experience. Yet Sunday could already see the source of her melancholy. The words lingered in his throat before he finally spoke. "You still haven't given up?"
Yes—given up.
Sunday saw it clearly. Kiana's urgency in leaving just now had been to meet someone. And who would she be so eager to see?
The answer was obvious.
After discovering that his sister had fallen in love, he had used every method at his disposal to investigate Kiana. Though what he uncovered was limited, it was enough for him to form an understanding.
And so, in his view, his sister had little chance of success. Giving up would be the wisest choice.
"How am I supposed to give up?" Robin looked at her brother, her gaze complicated. "I like her. She is irreplaceable in my heart. And... it's not as if I have no chance at all."
Sunday felt a headache coming on. In his opinion, dealing with his sister's situation was even harder than realizing Ena's Dream.
After all, Ena's Dream had long been in preparation—only the final step had been missing.
But Robin?
Having just set Ena's Dream aside temporarily, intending to perfect it before making a future decision, Sunday found himself entertaining the thought that perhaps he should simply continue with it after all. Aside from Ena's Dream, he had no idea how else to help his sister.
"All right, Brother, don't worry about me," Robin said. "This is my own matter. I'll figure it out myself."
Sunday remained silent. Stand by and do nothing while watching his sister be battered and bruised by love?
He could not do that.
But Robin raised a question that could not be ignored.
"Ena's Dream shouldn't have been your idea alone, should it?"
This matter was not truly over.
But what came next, she no longer intended to trouble Kiana with.
"Who would have thought that a conspiracy sweeping across all of Penacony—one capable of shaking the balance of the cosmos—would vanish so quietly?"
Black Swan sighed in reflection. She had expected something far more tumultuous. Instead, it had ended so simply.
"Has the problem really been solved?"
Kiana turned to look at Black Swan and voiced the unspoken question.
Had Penacony's conspiracy truly been dismantled? Had the problem truly been resolved?
Of course not.
Sunday was the executor, but he was by no means the only member of the Family who had aligned with Order. And from beginning to end, Penacony's underlying issues had never been solved.
This was not a problem belonging to one person alone.
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"The objective I wanted has already been achieved," Kiana said, shaking her head. "What happens next should be returned to its rightful protagonists."
She believed Sunday would not go back on his word. As long as he was not dragged back into the turmoil, then in her view she had given Robin an answer. As for Penacony's future...
That was no longer her concern.
After all, she was not from Penacony. She had come here merely as a guest.
...
"It's Mei!"
After fulfilling her agreement with Black Swan and giving her a portion of her memories, Kiana hurried to the place she had arranged to meet Acheron. From a distance, she immediately spotted her—leaning against the railing, eyes closed, sword in her arms, resting quietly.
The moment she saw Acheron, Kiana's mood brightened.
They hadn't seen each other for a while.
Seeing her again filled Kiana with delight. It wasn't the same overwhelming excitement as when she had searched everywhere for her and finally found her—but the joy and warmth in her heart were just as real.
Noticing that Acheron didn't seem aware of her arrival yet, and still some distance away, Kiana suddenly felt the urge to play a little prank.
If I suddenly appear beside Mei and tap her shoulder, will she jump?
If Acheron were an ordinary person, perhaps she would be startled.
Unfortunately, she was anything but ordinary.
Kiana knew that perfectly well. Even so, she couldn't resist wanting to try—just to see how Acheron would react.
The moment the idea formed, she acted on it.
Kiana tiptoed over carefully, sneaking up beside Acheron. Whatever Acheron had been doing, she still had her eyes closed.
"Hey~"
Holding her breath, Kiana lifted her hand and lightly tapped Acheron's shoulder.
Acheron had known she was there all along. There wasn't the slightest trace of surprise on her face. She simply opened her eyes and looked toward her.
But the instant she did, a hand covered her eyes, blocking her vision.
"Guess who I am~"
Kiana deliberately lowered her voice. Yet because she was so happy to see her—and because she was mischievously up to no good—her cheerfulness and liveliness nearly spilled over despite the disguise.
"...Kiana."
By accident or not, this small prank eased Acheron visibly. Her tone was helpless, indulgent, as she spoke her name.
She answered honestly and did not move. Once her eyes were covered, she obediently closed them.
"Wrong, wrong~"
But Kiana wasn't quite so honest. Seeing how obedient Acheron was, not even struggling, the corners of her lips curled upward.
Acheron's emotions remained steady. Hearing that, she merely asked, "Then who are you?"
"Silly." Kiana suddenly withdrew her hand and wrapped her arms around the person in front of her affectionately. "Of course I'm Mei's most, most beloved wife!"
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Acheron expectantly, waiting for her reaction—waiting for praise.
This kind of playful intimacy was something they had never experienced before.
Acheron's reaction was anything but calm. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise. Though the expression lasted only a moment, on her usually impassive face it was strikingly obvious.
There was no denying that Kiana's words made her happy.
But along with that happiness came a trace of worry—and doubt.
...Could it be because of someone else?
Whether someone else had treated Kiana this way and she had learned it from them, or whether she had grown accustomed to saying such things to others—
Either possibility sent Acheron's emotions spinning one hundred and eighty degrees, plummeting straight down. Her mind flashed back to the photograph the Masked Fool had given her.
"Eh? Mei, you don't like it when I say that?" Kiana caught the subtle shift in her expression and asked with concern. "Even though I'm just telling the truth—but if it makes you unhappy, then next time I—"
"That's not the reason," Acheron interrupted gently. "I like hearing you say it. You are the person I love most. That is something you never need to doubt."
"What the heck... Mei, you're just like me. You made me worry for nothing..."
Kiana had meant to tease her, only to be struck dead-center by Acheron's straightforward confession instead. Heat crept onto her face. She released her embrace, her gaze lingering on Acheron's face before shyly shifting away.
"Are you done with everything on your side?"
"...You could say that?" Kiana didn't answer too definitively. She couldn't fully predict how events would unfold next.
Which meant things weren't completely over. For the time being, she would still need to remain in Penacony.
Acheron wasn't surprised. She simply watched Kiana quietly. Ever since opening her eyes, her gaze hadn't left her.
"Staring at me like that... did you miss me?"
Kiana had just recovered from her earlier embarrassment when she noticed Acheron's eyes fixed on her again.
Just like when they had first reunited.
It had only been a short separation. But a separation was still a separation.
And now, she felt bold again.
"I missed you a lot," Kiana said with feeling. "It hasn't even been that long, but without you beside me, Mei, it felt like time dragged on forever. I missed you so, so much!"
So Kiana thought about her constantly too? She wasn't used to being apart either?
Acheron did not voice those heavier questions.
Instead, she shifted the topic. There was something else she cared about more.
"How has your time in Penacony been?"
"Not bad?" Kiana thought back on everything that had happened. "A lot of things happened. If you're interested, once we get back, I can tell you all about it one by one~"
"Did you make any new friends?"
"New friends?"
Kiana looked at Acheron in surprise. She hadn't expected her to care about that.
Surprised though she was, she answered seriously.
"Hmm... I guess so? You could say I did."
After all, with a transaction completed and some time spent together, she and Black Swan could barely be considered ordinary friends now.
If there were opportunities to interact again after everything in Penacony ended...
Then perhaps they could truly become friends.
The brief hesitation on her face did not escape Acheron's notice. Especially the way Kiana still seemed to be thinking about it.
A faint displeasure stirred in Acheron's chest.
After savoring that sour emotion for a moment, she suddenly took out the photograph Sparkle had given her earlier and, without warning, held it out in front of Kiana.
Whatever scheme that Masked Fool had intended didn't matter.
Acheron knew her own boundaries.
"What's this?" Kiana was drawn to the photo Acheron handed her. She reached out to take it, and after seeing what was on it, her eyes widened slightly, confusion and shock written plainly on her face. "This photo—?"
Wait. Why did Mei have a photo of her dancing with Black Swan at the ball?
Mei hadn't even been in Penacony at the time.
Who took this picture?
No—who gave it to Mei?
"A Masked Fool who claimed to be a kind-hearted person," Acheron said, arms folded, her gaze fixed steadily on Kiana's face. "Is she... the new friend you were just thinking about?"
Completely innocent, Kiana felt cold sweat break out across her back.
Mei had paused just now.
She definitely paused.
She had absolutely misunderstood something!
Forgetting about the Masked Fool, about the origin of the photo, about what Acheron was thinking—Kiana's intense survival instinct kicked in, and she hurriedly explained.
"Mei, listen to me! It's absolutely not what you think!"
"Not what I think?"
Acheron looked at her and simply repeated her words. Just that quiet gaze alone made Kiana inexplicably uneasy, and she subconsciously looked away.
It wasn't guilt over this matter.
It was because she suddenly remembered what had happened last time—when they parted on Jarilo-VI. Mei had gone to find Sirin, while she had headed to the space station to meet Herta and discuss the aftermath of the stigmata trial.
It had nothing to do with what they were talking about now.
But the fatal problem was that Kiana felt she would never forget what had happened during that period. Even merely recalling it unintentionally in front of Acheron made her feel awkward.
If Mei were to find out...
Kiana shuddered involuntarily.
Even Ruan Mei had reacted like that. If Mei knew, there was no need to imagine what would happen next.
"I didn't initiate it—it was she who invited me to dance!" She shook her head, forcing herself out of those terrifying imaginings, and hurriedly explained. "Her name is Black Swan. She's a Memokeeper. You know what Memokeepers are like—curious to a frightening degree and fond of courting danger."
"She had her eyes on my memories."
Recalling how Black Swan had nearly been drowned in her memories, Kiana continued, "I saw through her intentions and rejected her at first. But she insisted on a dance. It was hard to refuse her enthusiasm, so I agreed."
"She tried to pry into your memories?" Acheron's brows knit slightly. If that woman was a Memokeeper and had approached Kiana for her memories, then the nature of this matter changed entirely.
"Even if I refused, she wouldn't necessarily have given up. Better to guide than to block, right? So I agreed and gave her a little lesson—let her understand that some things aren't to be casually intruded upon."
With that, she had more or less explained the photo. She added, "Penacony is rich in Memoria, and Memokeepers are experts in that field. I needed that knowledge, so we cooperated a bit. Now we can barely be considered friends."
"Mei, don't overthink it. After I came to Penacony, I was always with Robin, investigating the Family's 'traitor.' Araya can testify for me!" she added quickly. "If you don't believe me, ask Araya. She was with me the whole time."
"I never said I didn't believe you." Acheron shook her head, a hint of puzzlement in her tone. "Kiana... aren't you reacting a bit too strongly?"
"I was afraid you'd misunderstand!"
Kiana laughed awkwardly. Her reaction had indeed been excessive. Because when she looked at Mei, she felt a little guilty.
As for where that guilt came from...
"There's nothing between me and her. Just a transaction. And that transaction is basically over now."
"There's no need to be nervous, Kiana," Acheron said. "I'm not interrogating you. Even if you truly had done something, it wouldn't matter. I simply couldn't help wanting to know how you've been."
That was something easier heard than believed.
Even so, Kiana let out a sigh of relief. "I'm doing great. You don't need to worry about me. If you're interested in what I've gone through lately, I can tell you everything in detail right now."
Acheron nodded, then shook her head. "Before that, there's something I should warn you about in advance."
"Eh?" Kiana asked curiously. "What do you want to tell me?"
"Ruan Mei, I'm not certain about. But Miss Herta... she will likely make a trip to Penacony because of you." Acheron spoke in an entirely ordinary tone about something decidedly extraordinary.
"Make a trip because of me?" The curiosity on Kiana's face turned into confusion—and a trace of discomfort. "Why would she suddenly come to Penacony?"
As she spoke, she glanced at her phone. Herta still hadn't replied to her message. She didn't know whether Herta hadn't noticed it—or simply didn't feel like responding.
The latter seemed more likely.
"Could it be because of..."
Kiana thought of something that might explain it. But Acheron had said Herta would come because of her.
She quietly dismissed that thought.
No. She hadn't even told Herta about that yet. And even if she had, it wouldn't be "because of her."
"Why would she come to Penacony?"
Acheron neither concealed nor hesitated. She answered plainly.
"Because I shared this photo with them."
So that was it.
Kiana suddenly understood.
And then she realized something was very wrong. Her eyes widened as she stared at Acheron, who had said it so calmly.
What had Mei just said?
What did she mean by shared the photo with them?
No wonder she had suddenly received messages from Ruan Mei and Herta. So it was Mei who had told them about what happened here.
Since when were you all so close?!
Kiana looked at Acheron in panic, blinked, then quickly forced herself to calm down. She had done nothing wrong. She had nothing to fear from questioning.
What worried her was something else.
The earth-shattering words Mei had spoken the last time she awakened were still vivid in her mind. She couldn't help but grow tense.
Rubbing the back of her neck, she forced a strained smile. "She hates trouble. She probably won't come personally. And Ruan Mei has been busy lately. She likely doesn't have time either. I'll explain things to them right now."
"Nothing else you want to say?"
Kiana hesitated, then shook her head awkwardly. She more or less understood why Acheron had done this. She wanted to explain—but considering her past behavior had indeed been a little... attention-grabbing.
She lacked confidence in defending herself.
"I'll be more careful about keeping my distance from others next time," she promised, though even she wasn't entirely certain.
Acheron's gaze lingered on her face for a moment before slowly dropping to the photo.
"Whatever the Masked Fool's motive was, first a Memokeeper, then a Masked Fool. It means you have already entered their field of vision. They have taken notice of you."
So that was all?
Kiana's heart finally settled completely. She nodded. "Not surprising. What happened on Jarilo-VI caused quite a stir. And I frequently go in and out of the space station. It's only natural that some people would notice me."
"Black Swan targeting me was purely an accident. She probably just happened to be unlucky enough to choose me."
"As for the Masked Fool, maybe information was exchanged. There's a Masked Fool in Belobog, after all."
"Belobog..." Acheron fell into thought. That aligned closely with her own guess. It could only be Belobog.
"Stop worrying about me. I'm fine." Kiana took her hand and began walking, speaking as they moved. "Let's talk somewhere else. By the way, where have you been lately? What have you been doing?"
"Shouldn't you explain to them first?"
"...Ha, haha, you're right." Kiana released her hand with an embarrassed laugh and pulled out her phone. "Let me think... how should I explain this at a time like this?"
Ruan Mei would be fine. As long as she explained everything here clearly, that should settle it.
But Herta...
That woman was capable of saying, 'Do you have proof?' And she loved setting traps on purpose...
Somehow, it felt like explaining might not help at all.
—
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We've now caught up with the latest chapter released by the author.
With no updates in the past seven months, it's likely the novel has been dropped.