Keeper Program

Ed didn't expect that in just a few days after he came back from the dead, he would have to attend two funerals—the first time for a human, and the second time for a cat.

For this farewell ceremony, the owner of the store, Downston, specially closed the Broken Dream Cafe for one day.Namelissa's remains were placed in a small white oak coffin, and those who came to the funeral were regular customers of the cafe.

"I've never seen such a scene: so many people gathered together to mourn for a cat." Ed walked to Mr. Downs, took off his hat and put it on his chest, bowing his head.

Mr. Downston squeezed out a smile, and his fancy beard was stained with obscure sadness:

"Funerals are for the living, whether it's a human or a cat. Besides, she's my family."

"Family is indeed very important," Ed nodded slightly in agreement, "You taught me a lesson."

"It's often said that black cats have nine lives. I wonder what kind of danger cost Nymerissa nine lives at once."

"It's better that you don't know about this. Curiosity doesn't just kill cats."

He thought for a while, and it was better not to let ordinary people like Mr. Downston get involved in things related to the mysterious field.

There was a moment's silence between the two, while the gloomy sunlight peeped through the clouds and fell on the window in an apricot light that fell on Mr. Downston's brown eyes, which were as fragile as withered roots.

It was Ed who broke the silence again: "So, how did the name Namelissa come about?"

"...my daughter's name, the second year after she left, her mother went with her. So I raised a cat, at least I can have a companion by my side."

Downston's smile is both sad and warm, like the afterglow over the ruined city:

"I think about them a lot. I dream about living with them, it's stupid and boring...but it's comforting, as if everything is alright..."

"Sometimes reason will tell me, 'They're dead.', and drag me out of my dream like a bandit, and I can't do anything, fuck..."

He lowered his head and laughed at himself for his gaffe, took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the corners of his eyes:

"Heh...boy, is there anyone you miss? Do you occasionally feel the same way?"

Ed pursed the corners of his mouth, and there was helplessness in his words:

"Uh... For me, nostalgia is a luxury."

He really wanted to pat Downston on the shoulder and say, "I understand how it feels," but he didn't.There is no memory without memory.

"When I came to another world crying like a baby, Namelissa wiped my tears with its fluff. How to put it...it was like their reflection in this world, the reflection of home. "

Downston put his handkerchief back into his jacket pocket, counted out five one-pound notes from his wallet, and handed them to Ed:

"...Anyway, I want to thank you for bringing Nymerissa home, boy."

Ed pushed back Mr. Downston's money with the back of his hand:

"Forget it, I deserve it. The entrustment says to bring her back alive."

Just as the two repeatedly declined, a childish voice came from outside:

"Is Mr. Downston in?"

I saw a group of ragged children standing outside the window. The trouser legs of the one standing at the front were drooping on the ground, and there were only two gaps where the original front teeth were.

"I'm just, what's the matter? We're closed today."

Downston walked out of the store with a tired and helpless tone. He naturally knew that these kids couldn't afford coffee.

"That... we found your cat."

The youngest child took out a kitten from the ragged bag, as thin as a mouse.

But her fur is indeed blacker than the night, her eyes are like bright yellow gemstones, her limbs are covered with pure white gloves, and her tail is covered with icebergs of pure snow——

"Namelissa..." he muttered, "No, it's impossible..."

The panicked kitten stopped whining when it saw Mr. Downston, and stared at him with its two bright yellow eyes.

"Is this your cat, please? The gentleman with the cane over there told us you lost it and would pay to get it back."

Mr. Downston held the cat carefully, stroked its fur, and looked back at Ed.

Ed stood far away and raised his hat to greet him:

"Okay, now you should know who to pay the money to."

After finishing speaking, he put on his smoky gray flat cap, picked up his cane, and quietly turned and left.

Mr. Downston's choked voice came from behind: "Yes, this is my cat. Take this money, you deserve it, children, thank you..."

The gloomy clouds seemed to have dissipated a bit, and the faint sunlight shone on the road, as if shaking gently with the wind, shining with a light golden color like hope.

how to say?Maybe it was a happy ending for Mr. Downston and the kids.

On the way back, Ed thought to himself.

As far as he was concerned, it was just a similar kitten.But for Downston, that may be some kind of spiritual comfort...

Or, maybe, as people say, black cats really have nine lives...

……

In the evening, in Arthur's old room.Ed sat on the head of the bed, and Sylvie's flame words slowly appeared in front of the mirror:

[It seems that this adventure has paid off quite a lot, my dear good sir. 】

Are you mocking me?I obviously didn't make a penny, and I lost twopence.Oh, and maybe also gain a long-lost family relationship.

Ed rolled his eyes, and in a sense it was quite rewarding.

【I am serious.That ancient scroll is an encrypted document that uses a special language called "Secret Agreement", and after deciphering it, you will get the coordinate data of an unknown dream. 】

A new dream beacon?

Ed suddenly became interested, and even put his hands on his knees, which had been doing nothing behind his head:

But that ancient scroll has already been taken away by Tia, and it is estimated that it has been sent to the employer or middleman by now.

[When you scanned the document, I will automatically read and copy the same content for you, and it has been stored in your thinking hall. 】

Before Sylvie finished writing the flame words, Ed had already knelt on the bed and began to enter a state of meditation.

About 10 minutes later, he successfully entered the hall of thinking, and saw that the strangely shaped white machine had spit out a card——

"Dream Beacon: Treasure Room"

The picture on the card is a square beech wood treasure chest with a medieval flavor.

"Will it be dangerous this time?"

The experience in Arthur's dream last time made Ed somewhat guilty.It was only later that Sylvie told him that Extraordinary people would also have to bear a very high price when they died in the dream—sanity pollution.

When a Extraordinary suffers from extremely high mental pressure, or encounters things beyond his rational understanding, his personality crystallization will be polluted.

Unlike physical trauma, this kind of mental trauma is almost irreversible: as the pollution intensifies, the Extraordinary's character and behavior will become more and more distorted, until they fall into uncontrollable madness.

[The possibility of risk is not ruled out.But this is a neutral dream, there is no subject, and there will be no dangerous subconscious incarnation like "Mechanical Giant". 】

"Okay, wealth and wealth are in danger..."

Ed said half hypnotically, and then inserted the card into the slot on the door.

After a burst of light, the door opened——

Contrary to Ed's expectation, the world behind the door is about the size of a single hut in the countryside.The space is filled with cobwebs and dirt, and a dusty wooden box is crammed into the small, closet-like space.

Uh……

Ed glanced at his hands, showing embarrassment, and finally chose to open them.

Cough!

As soon as the lid was lifted, the dust hit his face, choking him so much that he could hardly keep his eyes open.Ed clenched his left hand into a fist and coughed, his right hand kept fanning the air in front of him, and finally saw the contents of the box clearly:

A set of drawings, and a coin.

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