The darkened sky held a mysterious purple moon that pierced through the gloom.

It looked as though a massive amethyst was suspended in the heavens.

The moonlight softly illuminated the city, which appeared enchanted, peaceful under its glow.

A blue-haired girl strolled through the moonlit streets with a muscular man at her side.

The buildings lining the road seemed to have leapt straight out of a fantasy novel.

No matter how many times or how many years she saw this street, it never felt familiar to her.

‘For a world so fantastical, how can it not have a T-Rex?’

She muttered this small complaint to herself.

The man noticed her distracted thoughts but chose to ignore them, urging her forward.

As they left the whimsical buildings behind and entered a spacious square, they were greeted by a grand fountain at the city’s center.

The water flowing from the fountain glistened with a magical hue, reflecting the purple moonlight.

It was a stunning sight, but the man frowned as he took in the crowd gathered around the fountain.

"Hmph, even in the North, these 'fake' alchemists are crawling about."

“Well, after me, the line of true alchemists pretty much ended, so it can’t be helped.”

Unlike the man’s irritated tone, the blue-haired girl was smiling, seemingly unbothered.

“No one who can’t wield a single mystery should call themselves an alchemist while they just splash around that filthy evolutionary fluid.”

“Hmm, it does seem a bit distasteful.”

The girl turned 180 degrees, facing the man with the fountain to her back.

“Yet, if you look through old historical texts, ancient alchemists used to call people like us ‘fake’ too.”

With a chuckle, she added softly, “Perhaps we’re the ones becoming obsolete.”

Watching her, the man seemed to calm down, massaging his temples with his large hands.

“So, you gonna tell me what you need help with?”

“Oh, you caught on?”

The girl gave a sheepish grin, as if caught off guard by his question.

“You only ever call on your master when you need something. Heartless girl.”

With that, the man patted her head with his massive hand.

“Let’s just say I need an old book or, well, a stone covered in strange symbols.”

“….”

The man crossed his arms, giving her a look that told her to go on.

“It’s a sacred relic of the Order….”

“You’re crazy.”

The moment she said it, the man’s expression turned incredulous.

I was staring intently at a large mirror affixed to the wall.

Hmm.

The reflection was unmistakably that of young Yerin.

From every angle—front, side, even with my mouth wide open or flashing a cute “V” sign—it was Yerin.

Even pulling at those soft, chubby cheeks, it was still Yerin.

The thought of having Yerin at my command made me chuckle involuntarily.

I felt like I could easily spend ten hours just playing with the mirror.

In the midst of this thought, I heard a lively noise from outside.

Looking up, I spotted a small window high above, out of reach.

From that window wafted joyful voices and the scent of delicious food.

'Wow.'

I found myself admiring whoever had designed this room.

Every day, it seemed, was filled with relentless flames that burned the body, unavoidable mirrors reflecting burnt flesh, and tempting sounds and smells from the cheerful world outside.

My stomach growled at the enticing aroma.

‘Alright, I’ll sneak out for a bite, or rather, I’ll gather some information.’

I needed to find out what this dream was about, and what <The dream reaches a proper end.> actually meant.

And there was something about seeing someone who looked exactly like Yerin in the "Moon of Reminiscence" that made it seem like no coincidence.

But how was I supposed to get out of here?

I looked up at the tiny window, at least three meters high, and started contemplating.

Beneath the vivid purple moon, which felt more alive than the one I’d seen in the snowfield, I sat in a bustling city, having successfully escaped the mirror room.

Thankfully, I could use abilities other than mere regeneration, so the escape had been relatively simple.

At first, I considered going with the simplest solution—phasing through like a ghost—but I dismissed the idea.

If a ten-year-old kid were to wander around naked, I’d never be able to enjoy any food.

So I opted to scale the walls and climb out through the window.

‘Breaking it with a “crash” would have been easy, but I wanted a quiet exit.’

Nom nom.

Biting into a skewer of juicy, grilled meat, I took in the lively city around me.

People in exotic attire filled the streets, their cheerful voices adding to the bustling ambiance.

'Tasty.'

The meat on the skewer was perfectly grilled, crispy on the outside, tender and moist inside.

I had no idea what kind of meat it was, though.

The skewers were interspersed with unfamiliar vegetables that were crunchy, with a hint of spice, piquing my appetite.

No idea what they were, but every bite of the meat’s juices spreading in my mouth made me forget the little details.

After finishing the first skewer, I strolled back to the vendor, holding out my hand.

The vendor hurriedly grilled more meat and placed a skewer in my palm.

“Enjoy!”

As he bid me farewell, I plopped down on an empty chair and began eating again.

It seemed that in this world with the purple moon, I had no need for money while accompanying this “Otherworld Yerin.”

From the chatter around me, it seemed we were part of some group called the "Order."

The ninja group must be part of the Order.

I was curious about this Order and started gathering information, but I hadn’t learned much yet.

I did uncover one peculiar detail.

The Order worshipped something, but no one knew what it was.

No name, no image, no statue, no mention—just pure devotion.

It was a strange religion indeed.

Apparently, they gained quite a bit of respect by disposing of magic books for free.

Nom nom.

Swinging my legs that barely reached the ground, I continued to observe the colorful lights on the buildings and the purple glow of the moon.

Somewhere, lively music played, and people danced to the rhythm.

But then I heard something unusual.

The sharp clinking of metal.

It had to be related to <The dream reaches a proper end.>

With a sigh, I quickly finished my skewer and stood up.

The city under the purple moon was cloaked in darkness.

In the back alleys, the blue-haired girl was running frantically.

‘Master! Your disciple’s about to die!’

She was desperately searching for the escape route her master had promised, but there was no sign of it.

“They’re really persistent. I told them I’d just borrow it for a bit and return it.”

Gasping for breath, she clutched a glowing green rectangular tablet made of jade.

But the ninjas chasing her had no intention of responding, swinging their sharp blades with relentless precision.

As she dodged and rolled in the dirt, she had a ridiculous thought.

‘I always thought those Order guys looked like ninjas, and it turns out they really are!’

The ninjas performed unbelievable feats, leaping from the ground or dropping from the sky without any visible alchemical assistance.

At the final moment, a sharp blade flew toward the blue-haired girl’s heart as she was cornered in a dead end.

‘No way. Is this really how it ends?’

She couldn’t believe it. She believed in her destined fate, in her importance.

‘I am meant to be! I am essential!’

Clap clap.

Just as she was about to give up, a small applause broke the silence.

Then the sound of light footsteps followed, echoing.

The ground beneath the ninja gave way, pulling him into a bottomless pit.

Thud thud thud.

Turning toward the sound, she saw a child around ten years old, striding toward her with an impassive expression.

Golden flames seemed to ignite in the child’s eyes as they approached, completely unfazed.

The blue-haired girl, cornered in the alleyway, froze as the child approached.

The child, appearing no older than ten, was moving with a deliberate calmness, their golden eyes blazing like fire.

The ninjas had been relentless, but now, faced with the child, they hesitated, unsure of what to make of this new arrival.

The child stopped a few feet from the girl and raised their hand, creating a golden aura that rippled through the air.

With a sudden, effortless motion, the child gestured, and the ground around the ninjas began to crack. Without a word, the ground opened, swallowing the ninjas into the abyss below.

The child’s face remained expressionless, even as they turned to the blue-haired girl, who was still clutching the glowing jade tablet.

“Are you alright?” the child asked, their voice steady and composed.

The girl, catching her breath, nodded. “Thanks… I was beginning to think that was the end for me.”

The child glanced down at the tablet she held, then back at her. “That object you’re holding… it’s dangerous. Why did you steal it?”

The girl hesitated, looking away. “I didn’t have a choice. I needed it to find the truth.”

The child tilted their head, curiosity glimmering behind the golden flames in their eyes. “The truth? About what?”

“About this world, the Order, and… myself,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

The child took a moment to consider her words, then turned back to the gaping hole in the ground where the ninjas had disappeared. “Then let’s get moving. It won’t be long before others come looking for that tablet.”

Without another word, the child began to walk away, leaving the blue-haired girl to quickly follow, clutching the jade tablet close to her chest.

The purple moon hung overhead, casting an eerie glow on the deserted alleyway, as the two of them disappeared into the shadows, on their way to uncover the secrets that lay ahead.