Starry Sky Railway: Opening Performance - Taixu Sword God

"It went very smoothly. Thank you, and thank you for coming all this way to participate in the Harmony Music Ceremony."

The female guest laughed loudly:

"Hahahaha... Miss Robin is too kind!"

"How could it be tiring to party day and night with guests from all over the universe?"

“I hate being alone and can’t stand a boring life, and this dream world full of fun is just right for me.”

The robin thought for a moment, then asked seriously:

"If this kind of life continued forever, would you get tired of it?"

The female guest quickly shook her head and said matter-of-factly:

"Of course not! Who would complain about having too much happiness?"

She laughed happily:

"I can wear beautiful clothes every day, experience all kinds of dream bubbles as I please, and never gain weight, get sick, or grow old no matter how much I eat..."

"As long as you can afford the room, this is the best paradise!"

The robin paused for a moment, then asked again:

"But... you should know that very few things can be brought back to reality from dreams."

The female guest, hands on her hips, said matter-of-factly:

"That's why I'm not going back!"

"It's enough to indulge in dreams. I'm not immortal; my lifespan is only sixty or seventy years. There are too many things to consider... It's not easy to live a happy and fulfilling life."

"Only in this beautiful dream can I be my own master and truly take control of my life..."

"Having tasted this kind of success, why would anyone want to go back?"

After hearing the female guest's reply, the robin seemed a little melancholy, but still politely spoke up:

"...I understand. I sincerely wish you happiness."

The female guest nodded repeatedly in response:

"I also wish Miss Robin a successful performance! I'm off to Blue Moment for a dance party now, see you later."

Watching the female guest leave, the robin couldn't help but sigh.

"……Ugh."

On Sunday, he smiled and looked at the robin:

"It seems that the guest's explanation just now did not satisfy you either."

The robin gently shook its head:

"No, she has a point. I can also sense that she is genuinely happy, but..."

Sunday, staring into the eyes of a robin:

"You mean... she thought she had become the master of her life, but she was just abandoning reality and escaping into a beautiful dream. Once she lost her protection, she would instantly reveal her true colors."

The robin admitted:

"Ah."

"After all, she did mention [the room rate]... didn't she?"

Sunday's gaze was wistful:

"But the paradise in our hearts... should not have an end."

The robin looked around at the passersby, its heart growing even heavier:

"The paradise in our hearts... should not just be a vague and unreal dream."

The two continued walking down the street, waiting for the dreamer to arrive.

Ahead, an old man stood with his hands behind his back, looking down from the edge of the bridge.

The robin then went over and struck up a conversation:

"The scenery in this dream world is really beautiful, isn't it?"

The old man turned around and, seeing that the newcomer was a robin, quickly nodded:

"It's Miss Robin... What an honor."

He looked at the robin:

"you're right."

"Although time doesn't flow in dreams, it's always new and refreshing... I always have some new feelings each time."

The robin keeps smiling:

“A thoughtful philosopher… I hope I haven’t disturbed you.”

The old man shook his head and smiled in response:

"No, I don't have much time left. On the contrary, I would like someone to talk to me—especially someone as distinguished as you."

"Would you like to talk if it's convenient?"

The robin nodded calmly.

"I'm happy to help, let's chat casually."

"You just mentioned that you don't have much time left... Excuse my boldness, but is that why you came to Pinocchio?"

The old man smiled and said:

"Haha...yes."

"I've been to the battlefield. When I crawled out of the mothership in Sukwu, I also stuffed some radioactive metal lumps into my head."

He lowered his head, his cloudy eyes filled with disappointment.

"And then... all my comrades are gone, and my hometown was melted in several neutron radiation bombings."

"Heh... It's all gone. I really can't go on living like this."

"But I heard that there were people in this area who had a way, so I came here."

The robin, somewhat empathetic, offered words of comfort:

"This is... such a pity. I hope the family can help you solve this problem."

The old man strongly agreed:

“My family has indeed helped me a lot, and I am extremely grateful for that.”

"They arranged a comfortable room for me, the most advanced life support equipment in the entire galaxy, and a whole platoon of nurses."

He said sadly:

"Now... my body is fixed in the Dream Pool, surviving on life support devices."

"The me you see is whole, sensible, and no different from a normal person... but the me in the hotel is not like that."

"The real appearance..." The old man shook his head and gave a bitter smile.

"Ha ha, Miss Robin, I hope you never see her."

The robin thought for a moment, then asked:

"So... you'll live in this dream forever, right?"

The old man smiled helplessly:

"Hehe, it's a blessing to be alive."

"Whether I dream it or not doesn't matter, after all, I have no choice."

"My world is inherently flawed; it might disappear at any moment."

"So... no matter how fake a dream may be, it is still paradise to me."

"I cherish every moment here."

He looked around at the bustling streets and sighed deeply.

"Sigh... I really envy these things that never change."

After the old man left, the robin looked sadly at Sunday.

"The old man's story... is so sad, but thankfully this beautiful dream did leave him with a happy memory for the rest of his life."

Given his physical condition, aside from Pinocchio's dream, he didn't have many other options.

Sunday replied:

"This is the significance of the Pinocchio Dream."

Even so, the robin still held his own opinion.

A dream is just a dream; it cannot replace reality.

"But dreams are ultimately limited."

"It is merely a haven for the disheartened, and cannot eradicate the pain from its root cause."

The robin took a deep breath:

"It's like the illusion the little match girl saw before she froze to death by striking a match."

"Roast chicken, fireplace, grandma..."

"Whatever it may be, it is ultimately just a fleeting dream."

"Just like the guests in real life, they are merely lying in the dream pool of a hotel room."

"When the room fee runs out... or when Pinocchio is thrown into turmoil, the dream... will have to end."

Unlike the robin, Sunday remains confident and smiling.

"There's always a way—Pinocconi...is on the right track."