“Do you think reality is important?”

At Aram the Saintess’s question, Giovanni tilted his head.

“Sounds like a question related to the current dungeon. Did I get that right?”

“You did. Watching the brothers and sisters of the Moon Sect research the ‘Dream Amusement Park’ made me wonder. I wanted to know your thoughts.”

“I’m surprised to be asked such a profound question right upon visiting again.”

“...Ah.”

Only then did Aram seem to realize the timing of her question.

“I guess it was kind of rude to ask right after you arrived, huh?”

“I did pack with the intention of staying longer this time, so it’s fine. But in the future, when making new friends, it’s best to at least let them unpack before asking deep questions.”

“S-sorry.”

While internally muttering something about a ‘lack of social skills,’ Gio unpacked his bags. Aram, now recovered and free to move, trailed after him like a chick chasing a mother hen.

After finishing organizing his room, Gio looked back at her.

“Well then, I suppose we can talk comfortably now. Do you have a place to recommend?”

“Suddenly speaking so formally... Hmm, a place to recommend...”

“I mean a spot good for casual conversation.”

“What about the old debate hall you visited before?”

“The priests there were too frightening, I found it hard to go back.”

“? They didn’t seem scary at all to me...”

Anyway, since he said so, Aram offered another option.

“How about my room?”

“Aram’s room, surrounded by countless theoretical books and papers?”

“There probably won’t be anyone around now, so maybe the quiet cafeteria...?”

“Hm? It’s already 7 p.m.—do you think I came here without eating dinner?”

“...Ah! Ah!”

Aram finally found the answer.

“Let’s go to the garden salon! The salon we made together last time is still well maintained. It’s a great spot to have snacks or tea while chatting...!”

“I’m pleased to see you’ve finally figured me out.”

The two headed for the garden beneath the stars. Aram smiled sheepishly.

“Honestly, before you returned, the garden was mostly maintained out of obligation. Sometimes visiting guests would praise its beauty, but aside from those outsiders, very few people in our sect ever entered the garden...”

“I heard the people from the Eunwol Guild had been managing it, but lately even the Moon Sect priests are tending to it a bit, yes? What’s the atmosphere like among them?”

“I think they said it’s a good place to zone out. Something about cooling their brains when they’re overloaded...”

“You really like studying, don’t you.”

Thus Gio and Aram arrived at the salon. At the center of the glass greenhouse-like space was a tea table, set up for light conversation.

As they sat down, an attendant approached.

“Shall I bring you something to drink?”

“And some snacks too, please.”

“I’ll bring them right away.”

Warm tea and fruits were served. The attendants stepped outside the greenhouse, as if to give them privacy. They could call for help again with a bell if needed.

Only then was the stage for conversation fully set.

“So, about what we were discussing earlier...”

“You’re asking about the weight of dreams versus reality?”

“Mm, maybe?”

Aram furrowed her brow.

“Lately, something’s been off among the brothers. Their sleep duration is the same as usual, but the frequency with which they sleep is increasing. And when they can’t fall asleep fast enough, they’ve even started taking sleeping pills...”

“That does sound a bit dangerous.”

Gio’s face clouded.

“I’ve heard similar things through the Collector. Word is that more and more people are becoming addicted to the ‘Dream Amusement Park.’ Even if it’s not lengthening sleep time and thus not disrupting society—for now—it’ll eventually become a problem.”

“Ah, so it’s happening outside too. Our sect hasn’t reached the point of calling it a problem yet. We’ve experimented with sleep aids before. But, how should I put it... chasing dreams over reality just feels a little...”

Aram hesitated, then said it.

“...Unsettling.”

The Moon Sect had always been quiet. Lately, it had grown even quieter.

“I’ve never experienced it myself, so I don’t really know what my brothers are thinking or feeling.”

“Has the bishop still not granted you permission?”

Another sudden return to formal speech, but Aram had come to understand Gio in her own way. He used informal speech when treating her as someone under his protection, and formal speech when addressing her as a student.

She sighed.

“Yes. Given recent events, there might be unforeseen side effects. Some say this dungeon wasn’t created by monsters, but rather by the prank of an evil god... so the bishop’s being extra cautious.”

“If it’s a dungeon created by a god instead of a monster, that’s going to be a headache.”

“Dungeons born of divinity have much vaguer strategy parameters. At first, we thought it was just lucid dreams resolving grudges from reality, but now it feels more like a refuge.”

Aram looked up at Gio.

“That’s why I wanted to ask your opinion. About dreams and reality.”

“The wisest thing would be to keep a proper balance between both.”

“Maintaining balance?”

“Isn’t it said that anything in excess is harmful?”

Giovanni smiled with his usual cheerful expression.

“When food is too bland, it’s dull to eat; when it’s too salty, you can’t even touch it. Life is the same. Imperfect as humans are, we must rest—but we also can’t allow ourselves to fall apart.”

Aram blinked.

“To think you’d even use food as a metaphor...”

“Isn’t it the easiest to understand?”

“Well, yes.”

“This is a bit too serious and philosophical for me... I tend to think very simply.”

“At least you look like someone who’d suit such seriousness, so don’t worry.”

“I’m glad you think so. Then shall I show off a bit more?”

Gio rubbed his chin and rolled his eyes before continuing.

“...Humanity has fled reality countless times in history. Not just through sleep, but also through play, food, conversation—all can be forms of escape. As the times changed and technology advanced, the depth of that escape deepened.”

And it was still happening.

“After the Great Catastrophe, mystery returned to our world. People can now use magic to escape mentally, or even flee their own lives. In times as chaotic as these, erasing one’s identity and relocating isn’t even that hard.”

“Even small things can count as escape, huh.”

“Running from a hard and exhausting daily life isn’t some huge thing. It’s just looking away. If you keep the moon in your gaze all the time, it’s tiring—but if you take a moment to look up now and then, you’re enchanted by its beauty.”

Everyone could flee—and that was natural.

“But if you spend all day staring at the moon, then it becomes a problem.”

“......”

Aram hesitated, then asked,

“...Are you referring to our Moon Sect’s teacher...?”

“Would I say something so impious in front of the Saintess of the Moon Sect? It’s just a metaphor. If something comes to mind from that metaphor, it belongs to you.”

“...I understand. I’ll keep listening.”

“That’s the kind of attitude that makes me happy.”

Giovanni continued.

“The Saintess asked if reality is important. Yes. It is. Our soul’s roots, and the totality of our lives, reside here. These are irreplaceable things—things dreams cannot substitute.”

“You mean they’re precious?”

“Precious and important are very different. Unfortunately, many people live without understanding that distinction. They blame themselves for not treasuring what is important to them.”

“Ah... are they really that different?”

“Of course.”

It was obvious.

“You can’t love every foundational piece that makes you who you are. If humans were born with overflowing love and patience, things might be different—but we are creatures who live for ourselves.”

“For ourselves?”

To her question, Gio smiled.

“Of course, there are those like the Saintess, who sacrifice themselves. But that too is your desire. You could’ve chosen not to—but you wanted to become a Saintess and bring good to the world, didn’t you?”

“That’s... true.”

“Choice is an expression of opinion. An act of will, not necessarily agreed upon by the world. And so, it is selfish. Just like no one can be universally good to everyone.”

No choice could please everyone.

“Here’s an example. I don’t like my blue eyes. I simply cannot love them. But if I gouged them out, I wouldn’t be able to see anymore.”

“...What if you used dye to change the color? To one you like?”

“How long would that last?”

“No magic or drug is truly permanent. But it could last nearly a lifetime. Wouldn’t that be enough?”

“Even so, the memory that I once had blue eyes wouldn’t disappear. And many people besides me would remember it too.”

“There might be magic that alters memory.”

“Alright, let’s say I went through with all that.”

Giovanni tilted his head.

“Would that still be me?”

“...Ah...”

“I think you understand now.”

No matter how clever or elaborate the means—some things couldn’t change.

“The essence would shift.”

That’s why important and precious weren’t the same.

“What forms me, what forms my surroundings and the world—those are all important. But when something isn’t precious, you might feel like discarding it. Especially in today’s world, where rejection and individualism run rampant.”

“But until now, there hasn’t been a problem... Well, maybe that’s only because I’ve been treated well as the Saintess of the Moon Sect. If I think back to when I was a vagrant in the slums... I can’t really say this world was an easy place to live.”

“The reason so many ‘problems’ haven’t come to the surface yet is because there was no other choice. When arrows are flying at your back, do you stand still? You run. You ran because not running meant death. And now, you’ve found a tree to hide behind.”

The arrow was reality. The tree, a dream.

“But how long can you hide behind that tree?”

Was the reason they ran merely because of the ‘arrows from behind’?

“All humans have desires. Unless you’re a rare exception, even you, Saintess, have desires. A notable one being your thirst for knowledge.”

“Y-yes, that’s true.”

“That’s why I say, people didn’t run only because they’d die otherwise. They also ran to eat what they wanted the next day, to see loved ones, to reach that promotion if they could just endure a little longer...”

And so on.

“You can’t fulfill those desires hiding behind a narrow tree.”

“But I heard the ‘Dream Amusement Park’ fulfills people’s desires.”

“It satisfies desire, yes—but doesn’t resolve it. Nothing substantial remains in the end, does it?”

“But... the knowledge remains.”

Even if it was a dream—if you remembered it, the knowledge from that amusement park remained.

“That’s why the Moon Sect is in turmoil. Some say, even if others shouldn’t use this dungeon—shouldn’t we be the ones to utilize it? The Moon Sect is a temple of reason that collects and cultivates knowledge... There’s no one more suited to use it.”

Giovanni smiled.

“That’s how the current research facilities of the Association were born.”

“...Yes, you’re right.”

Aram knew well how some of those Association labs had committed horrific things. She couldn’t bring herself to approve it. But... she was curious.

“Do I have to be whole myself?”

“Is that your thought?”

“No. I think preserving myself is the right thing. My desire to benefit the world is far stronger than my wish for personal peace or pleasure.”

“Then this must be the thoughts of other brothers.”

“They want to become part of the dream.”

They had always treated themselves not as humans, but as tools and parts. The priests of the Moon Sect, who experimented on themselves and handled their bodies without hesitation. They feared neither losing what was ‘important’ nor what was ‘precious.’

And Gio said,

“Even so—they returned to reality.”

“...But at this rate, they’ll all be addicted to the dream soon...”

“Before they forget, wouldn’t it be good if they remembered?”

“...Remember what?”

“The reason they gave up the dream and returned to reality.”

“......”

“What could it be?”

The lesson was over.

“Think about it.”

And before long, she found the answer.

Then she went to the bishop.

***

“There’s something wrong with the Master...!”

Aram raised her voice.

“There are too many things that don’t sit right about this dungeon. Ever since it appeared, the Master has fallen silent and hasn’t even shown himself to me anymore. If the Moon itself doesn’t respond to the Saintess, that clearly indicates something is wrong!”

“That’s not a reason for the Saintess to participate in this research. Have you forgotten how precious you are? You wanted to warm the Moon and bring good to the world. Then you must remember how important you are too.”

“I do know I’m important! I know I’m precious! I want to not be in pain, to laugh more than cry, to be happy rather than alone! And it’s me saying all this...!”

Aram was angry.

“This is something I want to do!”

“Saintess, right now...”

“Don’t stall—answer me!”

What value did she have if she was only meant to be protected?

“I’m a living person too! I have desires! Things I want to do! If my selfishness won’t hurt anyone, then there’s no obligation not to act. If the Moon Sect didn’t raise me like livestock—if I’m truly one of you, truly family to you and the Moon...!!”

Then—

“...My actions don’t need excuses or justifications.”

“It may be dangerous.”

“We can choose and act on anything.”

“But...!”

“That’s what the Moon Sect is...!!”

“......”

Only then did the bishop speak his true feelings.

“...I’m afraid I’ll ruin everything.”

Days later.

The Saintess joined the research into the ‘Dream Amusement Park.’

***

In the early days, even if the brothers knew how sweet the dream was, they could still wake easily.

But more and more were becoming addicted.

And Aram’s teacher had said:

“They should remember—before they forget.”

What were they forgetting?

Aram knew.

“......”

That they were a family, too.

That even this ordinary, unremarkable daily life... had been happy.

“...I can do it too.”

That was why Aram stepped forward.

She had been chosen, [N O V E L I G H T] yes—but becoming the Moon was her own will. She loved and cherished the Moon Sect more than anyone, which was why she didn’t refuse the role of Saintess.

She had both duty and the right.

“It’s my choice.”

She slipped a note under her pillow, containing her wish, and went to sleep.

***

『Please help my family wake up.』