"However, you also stayed out many other nights, so at the time I didn't think it proved anything."
Paimon spread her hands. "That's true. Sometimes we lose track of time investigating and it's already the next day. But neither of us has any memory of the days we left the city."
Nahida thought for a moment. "Is that so? That is somewhat strange. In theory, I should have awakened all of your memories."
Lumine said, "Perhaps we should try again tomorrow. The breakthrough might lie there."
The next day...
Lumine found Nahida and received her memories.
Nahida said proactively, "Traveler, besides the memories you just retrieved, there is an additional message left for you."
"Listen to it and you'll understand."
"There is no turning back. There are many spaces there. Sumeru's Sabzeruz Festival is just one of them."
[Ei: Many worlds similar to the Plane of Euthymia.]
[Nahida: Many dreams. Every person wearing an Akasha Terminal generates a dream. That is the dream world created by the Akasha—countless dreams stacked upon one another.]
[Paimon: I can't imagine how beautiful that space must be.]
[Nahida: It is a world of imagination, unbound by any rules. It is beauty at its极致.]
[Paimon: I want to see it! I want to see it!]
[Yae Miko: Sumeru's dream world would make a great topic. How about writing a book called "Roaming Sumeru's Dream World"?]
[Paimon: But you've never seen that dream world.]
[Yae Miko: If I don't get the chance to see it, I'll just make one up myself.]
[Paimon: If you make it up yourself, is it real?]
[Yae Miko: Light novels aren't real to begin with. No one can actually reincarnate as the Raiden Shogun, right?]
[Paimon: I suppose that's true...]
Lumine froze. That was her own voice.
Paimon said, "Lumine, you should have two days of blank memories. Let me tell you what happened."
Then, the memory returned.
In the memory, Lumine arrived at the city gate but was stopped by guards who would not let her leave Sumeru City.
Moreover, this was a direct order from the Grand Sage.
But Lumine still decided to sneak over the wall.
Just as she was about to climb over, Lumine said to Paimon, "Paimon, stay here."
Paimon asked anxiously, "Why? Are you going to leave me behind?"
Lumine shook her head. "Leaving the city might cause memory changes. We need someone to bear witness."
[Furina: As expected of the Traveler. She has one-third of my wisdom, thinking of such a plan.]
[Lumine: I've always been smart, you know. Clearly, the reason we have no memories of the previous two trips is that something was wrong outside the city.]
[Paimon: But what if things don't go as expected? What if something happens to you out there and I can't help you?]
"Mm, I know I can't be much help, but we've always been together."
Lumine said, "Don't worry, Paimon. If we go together, it'll be no different from before."
The scene shifted. Another day had passed.
Lumine woke up and said, "Let's go. Let's try going outside the city today."
Paimon woke up and immediately hugged Lumine. "Traveler! Waaah, I thought I'd never see you again. You suddenly disappeared!"
"I waited at the city wall for so long, and you never came back. Weren't we supposed to just take a quick look and return?"
Lumine didn't understand. She asked cautiously, "What... did I promise?"