A familiar ceiling.
Dream Weaver gazed at the dim, yellowish ceiling above her and thought to herself.
Just like the futures she had glimpsed in the previous script worlds, the time she had was truly not much.
Earlier, when she made that declaration in front of everyone about heading for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, it was mostly because Dream Weaver genuinely hadn't expected to be surrounded like that.
She had been at a loss and just blurted it out to change the subject.
But once the words were out, she couldn't help but start to feel a flicker of anticipation.
After all, she had already slightly altered that world by winning the Triple Crown.
If she could really win the Arc de Triomphe, then the Uma Musume in that script world would surely have an even brighter future ahead.
It's just a shame she really didn't have the time.
Just as Dream Weaver was feeling regretful, that cold, mechanical voice rang in her ear.
[Worldline confirmed. Hidden item effect locked.]
Hearing this, Dream Weaver instinctively furrowed her brow. It was the first time she had encountered a system prompt like this.
And from the sound of it, it was related to the hidden item unlocked by achieving the highest evaluation in this script world.
"'Worldline confirmed'… Could it be connected to the future we created in the script world?"
Holding this suspicion, Dream Weaver summoned the system panel in her mind.
With practiced ease, she scrolled down the list to the very bottom and saw the special item and hidden item she had unlocked from this script mission.
Her points decreased by one. She didn't hesitate at all to exchange for it.
Based on her previous point calculations, she already had enough points to exchange for the Hope Gem.
A mere two points wouldn't change anything.
Switching the semi-transparent blue interface before her to the item inventory, Dream Weaver first turned her gaze to the hidden item she was curious about.
--+--
[Adjudicated News Article]
[Description: A newspaper recording news of a future from a certain world. Its contents seem to change based on someone's actions.]
[Status: Adjudicated]
[Note: "'Our dream will not end!' — A declaration echoed in the tense conference room once more."]
--+--
"News… article?"
Dream Weaver murmured softly as she looked at the item's name. This item reminded her of the photo album she received after the Kasamatsu world ended.
But unlike that time, this item seemed to only reveal its true form after she took action in the future.
The 'worldline confirmed' from the system prompt earlier likely meant that the news recorded on this newspaper was the future news after she made her declaration about the Arc de Triomphe.
The thought that she could witness the distant future of a script world in this form struck Dream Weaver with awe. Her eyes widened in amazement, and she eagerly summoned the item.
A clearly trimmed newspaper clipping, containing only the most eye-catching front-page headline, fluttered down into Dream Weaver's hand.
By the dim, yellowish light in her room, she read the headline word by word.
"An Unprecedented Victory — The First Uma Musume to Seize the Arc de Triomphe from Europe—"
"Dream Weaver."
She slowly read her own name. Her gaze didn't linger on the article but settled on the front-page photograph.
In the black-and-white image, she stood with Shinzan, Symboli Rudolf, Mr. C.B., Shiragawa, and others, all holding the glorious Arc de Triomphe trophy.
Behind them, a sea of spectators from around the world surged like a tide, cheering for the victory.
Dream Weaver's fingers lightly traced the grayscale photo. Due to the newspaper printing, their faces weren't perfectly clear, but in her heart, they felt incredibly real.
"It's wonderful…"
She whispered. Even though she hadn't had the chance to experience that journey herself, seeing this victorious outcome already filled her with joy.
"System, you really are gentle, aren't you."
Moreover, the significance of this item went beyond merely foreshadowing this script world's future.
Its existence hinted at one thing: after Dream Weaver returned to the real world, time in the script worlds continued to flow. Every encounter she had that ended abruptly might have had its own corresponding future.
After making her declaration to Mejiro Ardan and Narita Brian about heading to the future, perhaps the future version of herself in that script world could truly step onto the racetrack once more.
After taking a relaxed group photo and secretly making rabbit ears behind them to tease everyone, they could all gather together again, just like before, and strive for their local region once more.
Although the path forward was always bumpy, filled with pain and sacrifice, the destination still marched in the direction of hope.
Realizing this, Dream Weaver couldn't help but sigh with emotion that the system was indeed gentle.
It didn't need to tell her such things specifically, yet through this hidden item, it allowed her to learn that everyone had a hopeful future.
But then…
Dream Weaver suddenly rested her chin on her hand, as if remembering something.
What about the future of that first script world, where she was King Halo's younger sister, facing off against T.M. Opera O?
Logically, she had burned out completely in that Satsuki Sho. But when she traveled to the future, she had genuinely touched King Halo and said her farewells.
How should that be explained?
Could it be that her self in that world could suddenly leap out of her coffin and revive?
Or perhaps she turned into a tangible ghost that could stay by everyone's side?
When it came down to it, did this world really have such supernatural, mystical things?
At least based on the witch enthusiasts, fortune-telling fans, and Taoism hobbyists Dream Weaver had met at Central Tracen Academy, they probably didn't possess such powers.
Dream Weaver scratched her head in frustration, unable to determine what exactly the future of that script world was like.
While she had a general expectation for the futures of most script worlds, this one remaining unknown bothered her immensely.
But before she could agonize over it in bed for much longer, the mental fatigue from completing the script mission washed over her like a tide.
As her eyelids grew heavy and began to droop, an irresistible drowsiness made it impossible for Dream Weaver to continue thinking.
She simply flopped back onto the bed with a soft thump, covered her face with that newspaper from another worldline, and mumbled weakly,
"Ah, forget it. I've already confirmed the system is gentle. Surely the future of that world must be full of hope too."
After saying that, she didn't even look at the other special item she had exchanged for. Lying in bed, she immediately fell into a deep sleep.
But that was actually understandable. After all, in Dream Weaver's perception, she had just exhausted every ounce of her strength to defeat Shinzan in the Kikuka Sho.
Even though she hadn't felt it much when she first used the system to enter the script world's future, once Dream Weaver confirmed that everything was truly over, she could no longer ignore the wave of fatigue welling up from her spirit.
By the time Dream Weaver opened her eyes again, it was already early morning the next day.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.