Robin: "Miss Hotaru, you said you were an artist from the Iris family."
Robin: "But I don't recall seeing you among the Iris lineage?"
Robin seemed a little puzzled at this moment.
Hotaru: "I… I… it's like this!"
Hotaru: "Because I'm just a temporary worker… so… so I haven't had the chance to meet a big star like Miss Robin!"
Robin: "A temporary worker? Is that so… I understand."
Robin: "Don't be disheartened, Miss Hotaru. I think you have a very unique aura. You'll definitely become a big star in the future."
Stelle: "Exactly! My second wife is destined for stardom!"
March 7th: "Miss Hotaru is so adorable, she's bound to be loved by many."
Klee: "Big Sister Hotaru looks so, so gentle. Klee likes her very much."
Hotaru: "Tha… thank you, Miss Robin, and everyone, for your encouragement! I'll definitely do my best!"
Silver Wolf: "…I suddenly feel like saying something. Like 'I shall... set—'"
Hotaru: "Ahahaha… Miss Silver Wolf, are you tired? Do you want to vent a little? If you're tired, please go rest quickly, don't make me beg you, okay? (Pitiful.jpg)"
Kafka: "Silver Wolf, stop messing around and go get some rest."
Stelle: "? Why are your voices so strange?"
Hotaru: "It's nothing! Let's just keep watching the video! Let's see where I'll take you next!"
Stelle: "Alright. Whatever my wife says."
....
『 Stelle began to follow Hotaru's lead.
[ Over here, over here. ]
Hotaru arrived at a shopping plaza, and waved, calling out to Stelle.
[ When talking about most people's first stop after entering the dream, it's naturally the "Oti Mall Shopping Center"! The Dreamscape Sales Store here is super famous.. ]
[ In addition, there are all kinds of luxury goods, clothing, trendy toy stores, and even car dealerships—as long as your "Alfalfa coins" are sufficient, buying anything is not a problem. ]
[ These items can not only circulate in the dream but also be "brought back" to reality through an additional service. However, the car dealership's sales window is temporarily closed to the public… we'll have to wait for another opportunity to buy a car later. ]
[ Outside the shopping center is the plaza. Come here—I'll treat you to something delicious~ ]
Hotaru took Stelle for a stroll around the shopping plaza, then led her to the snack street.
[ This is the place. Have you heard this saying—in a dream, 'In a dream, hunger is the most precious spice?' ]
[ Well, you can find all kinds of local delicacies here — Clockie Pizza, Oak Cake Rolls, Alfalfa Salad, and the classic SoulGlad! Feel free to pick anything you like! Today it's my treat! ]
The two stopped in front of a snack shop. Hotaru began to introduce the shop's special delicacies to Stelle, and offered to treat her to food.
[ My spending habits are a bit high, you know… ]
After glancing at the menu, Stelle decided to tease Hotaru.
[ It… it should be fine, I still have some savings… ]
Hearing this, Hotaru said with a hint of guilt.
Seeing this, Stelle smiled, and ordered a UFO Burger. She didn't order anything else. After all, it was Hotaru's treat.
She didn't want to be extravagant. Of course, if the other person were truly a high-roller, she wouldn't mind indulging at their expense.
But the other person was just a delicate, adorable girl with not many savings, she simply couldn't bring herself to be so heartless.
[ Finished ordering? Then I'll pay. ]
Seeing that Stelle had finished selecting, Hotaru immediately began to pay. And she also bought an Oak Cake Rolls.
[ I love the Oak Cake Rolls from this shop the most; I eat one every day. ]
After completing the payment, Hotaru held the Oak Cake Rolls, a joyful expression on her face.
[ Doesn't that get expensive? ]
Stelle had noticed when looking at the menu that the food here wasn't cheap.
[ Hmm, that's why I can only eat one a day… ]
Hotaru lowered her head, a hint of disappointment. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Wuwuwu, my second wife still loves me the most, she even buys me food!"
March 7th: "I say, aren't you afraid of scaring her off by calling her that?"
....
—✦In Between✦—
—✦Honkai Star Rail World✦—
Astral Express, in the Parlor Car—
"Stelle, do you have some kind of social audacity syndrome? You just met her and you're already calling her your wife? Aren't you ashamed?"
March 7th looked at Stelle, feeling that this guy's cheek was as thick as if it had been blessed by the Aeon of Preservation.
Unbelievably thick.
"What? Are you jealous? Hehe, don't be jealous, you're all my wings(Lovers)!"
Stelle chuckled, indicating that she wouldn't show favoritism.
"Who… who's jealous! Stelle, can you be serious for once!"
Hearing Stelle's words, March 7th was so embarrassed she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
—
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Hotaru: "It's… it's fine! I know Miss Stelle is just joking, I don't mind."
Silver Wolf: "Love is blind to Pure Beauty."
Argenti: "Pure Beauty? Where is Pure Beauty?! Is Idrila here too?!"
Stelle: "Good heavens, Argenti, you've been lurking here all along, haven't you? If Pure Beauty wasn't mentioned, you probably wouldn't have popped out."
March 7th: "Idrila isn't here, you can look elsewhere."
Argenti: "Not here? Then never mind."
Stelle: "Speaking of which, my second wife can't even afford to eat an Oak Cake Rolls. How can this be?"
Stelle: "If others saw this, they'd think I was a pauper!"
Stelle: "But I am quite WEALTHY!! Just watch me, I'll buy this pastry shop and make my second wife the manager! She can eat whatever she wants, whenever she wants!"
Hotaru: "Ah, this… isn't… isn't that a bit exaggerated?"
Stelle: "Say no more, it's decided. My second wife must be pampered by me!"
....
『 [ Let's eat as we walk to the next stop~ ]
Hotaru, holding the roll cake in her hand, began leading Stelle to the next location.
[ This is the luxury goods store I mentioned earlier. ]
[ Further down is Glaux Avenue—the main thoroughfare of Golden Hour. ]
Passing the entrance of a luxurious shop, Hotaru casually introduced it.
[ Come—here! Keep up. ]
The two arrived at an intersection, Hotaru crossed the street first, and waved to Stelle.
As Stelle was crossing the road, she was violently struck by a car! 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Damn it! You dare to hit me with your car! Don't you want your wheels anymore?!"
March 7th: "It's clearly your fault for not watching where you're going… and… you didn't use the crosswalk."
Stelle: "I'm a PEDESTRIAN!! Do you understand what 'yielding to pedestrians' means?!"
Stelle: "I'm telling you, it's a good thing it was me he hit. If it had been anyone else, they'd be lying on the ground already!"
Stelle: "Then, he'd have nowhere to cry!"
Dan Heng: "You can't die from being hit in a dream."
Stelle: "..."
....
『 [ Over here, over here, I'll show you something interesting~ ]
[ Look, this statue is Penacony's famous cartoon character—"Clockie"! ]
[ From Penacony's longest-running and most famous cartoon animation, it tells the adventure story of the protagonist Clockie and his companions living in Dreamy Town—it has been serialized for over ten thousand episodes to date! ]
Hotaru led Stelle to a peculiar statue, and began to speak with great interest.
[ What an abstract clock. ]
Stelle looked at Clockie, finding him somewhat comical.
[ Uh… maybe it's because the animation style is quite retro. ]
[ By the way, do you know that Clockie's design is said to be inspired by none other than the legendary Watchmaker? ]
Hotaru first responded to Stelle, then continued.
[ Watchmaker? Is this person very famous? ]
Hearing the name Watchmaker again, Stelle became interested, preparing to probe Hotaru for information.
[ You don't know? He's a legendary tycoon in Penacony's history, the founder of the Dreamscape, the one who "turned dreams into reality"! ]
[ People have various theories about Watchmaker's origins: some say he was an interstellar merchant from beyond the heavens, some say he was a prisoner from a prison planet, and others say Watchmaker is just a symbol, that such a person never actually existed… ]
[ No one knows his true background, but everyone wants to replicate his success and become the next Watchmaker! ]
[ As his inspiring story became known across the cosmos, those with a dream flocked to Penacony in droves. They held feast after feast, eventually building the Planet of Festivities we have today. Everyone in Penacony knows this name. ]
[ The cartoon character Clockie is portrayed as reckless and full of hot air, but I believe the real Watchmaker was a Nameless! After all, creating the Dreamscape sounds like just the kind of thing a Trailblazer would do! ]
When talking about Watchmaker, Hotaru began to speak eloquently.
[ ...Hold on... If the Watchmaker really was a Nameless, wouldn't that make him your predecessor? Would you like to take a picture with him? ]
As she spoke, Hotaru suddenly looked at Stelle.
[ A photo? Sure, I'd appreciate that. ]
Stelle didn't refuse, smiling and nodding in agreement.
[ No problem~ Come, give me your phone. ]
Stelle took out her phone, and handed it to Hotaru. Then, she walked up to the Clockie statue, preparing to strike a pose.
However, as soon as she approached, she heard strange sounds.
[ Hey! Hey, hey, hey! ]
[ Save me! Save me, chu! ]
These two voices were delicate and sharp.
They came from the eyes of the Clockie statue, making Stelle instinctively peer closer.
[ Eh, what's that? It looks like there's something on Clockie's face ]
Hotaru looked in the direction of Stelle's gaze, puzzled.
[ Save me! Save me, chu! Pull me out, chu! Save me, chu! ]
The cry for help came again, but Stelle ignored it for the moment. She found a suitable spot, and began to prepare for the photo.
Then, with a click, the photo was taken.
[ Alright! It looks really good, you're very photogenic. ]
Hotaru saw Stelle in the photo, and couldn't help but praise her.
[ Save me! Save me, chu! Pull me out, chu! Chu! ]
After the photo was taken, the cry for help continued.
This time, Stelle noticed something amiss. She saw a colorful feather in the eye of the Clockie statue. Without a second thought, she immediately leaped up, and pulled the feather out from the crack in Clockie's eye.
[ Hey! Hey, hey, hey! Thank... you, beautiful person! ]
[ I'll... repay your kindness! Go to... the tree! Please go... there! There! I'll show... you something... nice! ]
[ Tweet~ ]
What Stelle pulled out from Clockie's eye was a strange, angular little bird.
After being pulled out, it chirped a few peculiar yet cute words to Stelle. Then it flew off into the distance.
[ What happened to Clockie's statue…? Why did you suddenly jump up just now? ]
Stelle's inexplicable behavior just now left Hotaru very confused.
[ I rescued a bird — a bird with sharp edges and points. ]
Stelle explained.
[ A bird with sharp edges and points... Umm, I don't think I saw it. ]
[ Well... If you're okay, let's move on to the next stop, which is just a stone's throw away from here. Please follow me~ ]
Hotaru was slightly puzzled but didn't dwell on it, and directly pulled Stelle to the next location. 』
『 ....』