Chapter 15: Rachel, Who Almost Attended Truth University

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Rachel learned a great deal of information at the Flowing Dream Reef—the place that this memetic entity of the Memory Domain, which she had dubbed “Baby Bus” and Gallagher called “Sleepy,” had brought her to.

These revelations were absolutely staggering.

The true dream, the real place of exile, a faction still steadfastly pioneering fate.

And...

Listening to the background music beside Gallagher, Rachel realized she couldn’t quite grasp the song.

Though she understood the melody—it was the tune of a once wildly popular online song, “Sunny and Cheerful Big Boy”—all the lyrics consisted of a single word.

“Woof.”

Yes, just “woof.”

Woof woof woof woof woof woof woof woof—

Rachel couldn’t help but glance repeatedly at Gallagher.

Why did everyone else sing proper lyrics, yet he alone barked like a dog?

When she finally managed to voice this puzzling question as politely as possible, Gallagher’s response was surprisingly matter-of-fact.

He said calmly that Rachel’s confusion was understandable: “Because I truly am a Pinokonni dog, thirteen years old this year, already an old dog.”

His tone was so serious, yet his words so abstract, that Rachel initially couldn’t tell if he was joking or really a dog.

Gallagher continued, “The invitation was something I released; I made this decision together with the Clockmaker.”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry you got caught up in all this. If none of this had happened, you’d probably still be an intern.”

Rachel comforted him: “It’s alright. I actually enjoy a bit of excitement. Gaining more experience is beneficial for my dream-building career.”

Gallagher smiled faintly. “The buildings on Flowing Dream Reef are quite old, too aged, too dilapidated. You probably won’t find much inspiration here.”

He glanced around. “We need to get you out. There are others who mistakenly wandered into Flowing Dream Reef too. But first, Sleepy needs to rest for a while... Let me think—perhaps you could find someone to accompany you back to reality. After all, communication between Flowing Dream Reef and the Twelve Hours in Pinokonni has been severed for a long time. Normally, I doubt the family would allow your return, but this time is different. A certain high-ranking, uniquely esteemed lady is here. With her, you can certainly return to the higher realms of the dream.”

Gallagher led Rachel a few steps forward. “She’s in the square ahead—a respectable lady teaching children to sing. Even I must admit, her songs and her voice are truly beautiful.”

Rachel followed his gaze and saw Robin.

Even in this dimly lit place, she shone with a radiant brilliance.

*

It was Rachel’s first time speaking face-to-face with Robin.

Face to face... Oh my, she felt her heart race faster. If she weren’t standing still but walking, her steps would surely become light and springy, like a fawn bounding along.

Miss Robin! The singer Rachel had admired even before coming to Pinokonni! During this month at Origami University, she almost always wore headphones in the library, listening to her songs.

On the surface, Rachel remained calm, but inside she was quite thrilled.

Robin had just calmed the children around her before turning to speak with Rachel with full attention. Miss Robin was truly kind.

From Robin, Rachel learned not only about Pinokonni’s true history, the pioneering faction, and the issue of the star core, but also the reason that had guided her here.

“The beautiful dream is collapsing. How to explain it... Well, understand it like this, Miss Rachel: the harmonious embrace of Pinokonni, the harmonious songs, are the reason this dreamland remains peaceful and joyful. But just before this grand festival of harmony, I returned to Pinokonni and found myself gradually losing my voice.”

Robin spoke softly.

“At first, I thought it was my own problem. But now I realize it’s because discordant notes are occurring around me, within the family itself.”

Rachel raised both hands. “Wait, wait.”

Her expression was serious.

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“Miss Robin, do you mean to say that Pinokonni is not only in grave danger right now, but there are multiple reasons causing this peril?”

A flicker of confusion crossed Robin’s eyes. “Yes, that’s right.”

Rachel continued, “And involved in this are the Cancer of the Multiverse, possibly the Coming Command of Harmony, and a whole mess of tangled fates. With luck, these fates might cooperate with you, but if unlucky, you could face the world as your enemy—is that correct?”

Robin: “Yes... exactly.”

Rachel gasped sharply. “Then, may I ask, is there any way to get me out of Pinokonni so I never have to return in this lifetime? Oh, and if possible, could you write me a recommendation letter for another university?”

Robin paused, actually capable of such influence. Nearly all renowned universities across the stars would welcome her as a visiting professor. Robin wasn’t just an interstellar pop icon but also an exceptional musical artist.

Robin: “I... suppose I could?”

She hesitated a moment before asking Rachel, “Then, Miss Rachel, which university do you wish to attend? Arranging a ship to take you away wouldn’t be difficult, but if that’s the case, shouldn’t we send more people?”

Rachel had to admit Robin and Sunday were truly siblings—when it came to never bargaining, they seemed like carbon copies. And for such kind-hearted people, she...

Rachel sighed deeply. “I’m joking, Miss Robin, I still intend to stay.”

Robin smiled, holding her hand warmly. “Thank you.”

Her smile was genuinely lovely. Rachel sighed helplessly in her heart; she truly liked Robin.

*

But Sleepy—or as Rachel preferred to call it, Baby Bus—was diligent at work but somewhat unreliable with timing.

Therefore, when Robin and Rachel learned they could finally return from Flowing Dream Reef to Pinokonni’s Twelve Hours, many others had already arrived in this primal dreamland, including but not limited to:

Members of the Starbound Train, the company envoy whose background music was a gambler’s tune, and Sunday’s Japanese acquaintance.

Sajin had arrived slightly earlier than the Starbound Train members—especially before Xing—because Glowfly had delayed her time a little in a corner of one dream.

When the train navigator, Miss Hiko, with long red curls as beautiful as a rose, entered the largest (and possibly the only) tavern here, guided by the Flowing Dream Reef residents, she saw him sitting, a glass of wine in hand, gently swirling the ice cubes, letting them clink against the glass but not drinking it—interest piqued as he conversed with Rachel.

Shortly before—perhaps just fifteen minutes earlier—she had seen this gentleman standing before the giant screen at the Clork Film and Music Park, streaming all moments golden for the place. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, waited, then a memory domain meme appeared and “pfft”—he was sent to Flowing Dream Reef.

He looked rather pitiful when unmasked. Hiko couldn’t help but think of him as just a young man, and with the rumored tragic past behind this company executive, her sisterly instincts flared, filling her with pity, much like how she doted on the three little ones on the train. At that moment, she closed her eyes—forming a sharp contrast to her current demeanor.

Hiko entered the bar and clearly overheard their conversation.

“...Speaking of which, I really must thank you. If you hadn’t exposed the identity of the star core hunter Sam, and almost publicly attempted and succeeded in summoning the memory domain meme, I might have had to look for another way to ‘die’.”

Sajin continued swirling his glass, clearly not intending to drink.

“If I hadn’t used this method, I’d have to gamble at Oak Mansion to find that winged fellow, probably losing something along the way. Then, I’d have to gamble twice more—whether that Yomi lady, who’s actually a Command of Harmony, would truly strike me down, and whether I’d survive that blow... I do love gambling, but such high risks are sometimes genuinely frightening.”

He finally pushed the glass forward and clinked it with Rachel’s.

“Thank you, miss, for your analytical skills, your wisdom, your courage, and of course, your abilities. Your powers are quite extraordinary—I can’t fathom how you got that memory domain meme to obey you. I know it won’t harm anyone, but it’s really fierce.”

Rachel’s cup did not contain alcohol.

By physiological age, she was just newly of age in the short-living species, considered an infant by the long-living kind. So even in Pinokonni, she wouldn’t be served alcohol.

Her cup held a beautifully crafted fruit tea, about one-third composed of Solada, giving it a sweet, dreamy orange glow.

“No thanks needed,” she accepted the gratitude calmly, from someone who was at least a billionaire. “If your thanks could be cashed out, that would be best.”

Hiko, eavesdropping nearby (not intentionally), nearly burst out laughing.

Rachel thought her reasoning was sound: look at Mr. Sajin before her, his attire so extravagantly luxurious it defied simple description. Money meant nothing to him.

And judging by the credit points slipping between his fingers, it could cover her highest full scholarship for years... Oh, if Mr. Sunday didn’t mind her slacking off and not taking anything seriously, her full scholarship was basically already secured.

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That would cover an entire small building back home.

And this shouldn’t completely erase the social debts between them—so why not accept the money?

She was poor—desperately in need of money.

No matter who it was, if they planned to insult her with credit points, Rachel would make a point to attend every event on time, accepting it all without fail.

Sajin truly didn’t care about money.

“Glad to help.” He smiled brightly. “When we get out and have signal, I’ll call you.”

He didn’t even mention the amount.

Usually, people like this were the most generous with money.

He also extended an olive branch: “Origami University is indeed a decent institution, but not the top. Would you want to study at a university affiliated with the Erudition Society? I have connections there.”

Rachel declined decisively: “No, thank you.”

She paused and explained, “I’ve heard that those doing research can only make money if their topics satisfy the company. If they fail to produce results long-term, there’s a good chance of being defunded—that’s the treatment even for those who do well in the Erudition Society. I initially didn’t choose that society because students have to do a lot of menial tasks for their mentors; it’s exhausting, like beasts of burden, yet promotion isn’t guaranteed.”

“Oh, and,” Rachel remembered, “I know the Erudition Society has a very talented but quite difficult professor, but I browsed the campus network at Truth University, and nine out of ten posts were people being scolded to tears by that professor.”

The tenth was about coveting the professor’s perfectly toned white arms.

If not for those posts and the accompanying candid photos, Rachel wouldn’t have agonized for half an hour over whether to apply to Truth University.

In the end, she chose to be kind to her heart.

Being scolded daily for beauty’s sake... she simply refused.

After all, it was just something visible but unattainable.

Sajin nodded in understanding. “I see. What if you skip the degree and jump straight into the company to earn money? I think highly of you—join my project team. Starting salary at P25, directly comparable to P30 level.”

Rachel was genuinely tempted.

She stared at Sajin for a long moment, her face clearly reading: “This is an enticing offer.”

But in the end, she still refused.

“No, thank you.”

Rachel said reluctantly, struggling, in a painful voice.

“I will never drop out... This isn’t about you, the Strategic Investment Department, or the salary. This is my problem.”

Who would understand... After nine years of compulsory education, plus three years of high school and four years of undergraduate studies in her past life, she had been thoroughly trained into a scholarly mold.

As the saying goes:

One can sacrifice one’s life for love, but never for the college entrance exam.

People may die, buildings may be jumped from, but not a single day of study can be missed.

Rachel: “Please don’t tempt me any further.”