『 [ Oh, there's a ride attendant over there! ]
[ I'll go grab you some Aideen Tokens—that way, you can enjoy all these rides to your heart's content. ]
After watching the performance for a while, Hotaru suddenly spotted a park attendant.
Her face lit up with excitement as she pulled Stelle along, rushing towards them.
[ Excuse me, Mr. Attendant. My friend is visiting Penacony for the first time; could she exchange for some Aideen Tokens? ]
Standing before the attendant, Hotaru politely inquired.
[ Certainly, no problem at all. Please present your Dream Pass. ]
The attendant's demeanor was exceptionally courteous.
Immediately, stelle pulled out her pass and handed it over.
[ Name—Stelle… Alright, please take your pass and these tokens. Have a wonderful time playing. ]
The attendant exchanged tokens for Stelle.
[ How many tokens are there in total? ]
Hotaru asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
[ Ten in total. You can now fully enjoy all the various attractions Penacony has to offer, ]
The attendant said with a smile.
[ Thank you! Stelle, let's hurry and try out the nearby rides. Our goal for now is—to use up all the tokens! ]
Hotaru thanked the attendant, then prepared to pull Stelle off to enjoy the rides.
[ Playtime GALORE!! ]
Stelle shouted excitedly.
[ Yay—Playtime galore! ]
Hotaru, too, foolishly echoed Stelle's cry.
[ Let's see, what should we play first…? ]
[ Considering it's your first time, why don't we start with the simplest? Dreamy Slots and the Lucky Wheel are both very easy to get the hang of. ]
Hotaru pondered for a moment, then recommended two rides to Stelle.
Stelle nodded repeatedly as she listened, first approaching the Lucky Wheel.
After studying the rules of the Lucky Wheel for a while, she inserted one token.
The wheel spun rapidly, and soon, she won, a small prize in the center.
[ Wow, you won right off the bat! You're in good form! ]
Seeing Stelle win, Hotaru couldn't help but praise her.
Stelle chuckled, then moved to the Dreamy Delights, ready to try her luck there again.
However, this time her luck was terrible; she only drew a trash prize.
Seeing this, Stelle muttered to herself that it was bad luck. And continued to another spot.
This time, she arrived next to a giant gashapon machine.
After glancing at the prizes displayed on it, she prepared to go all-in with her game tokens!
A moment later.
Eight game tokens were spent. She stared at the trash prizes beside her, lost in thought. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Qingque: "Oh dear, my friend, you've lost utterly and completely!"
Stelle: "It's a fix! Rigged! This gashapon machine must have been tampered WITH!!"
Stelle: "Otherwise, someone as lucky as me couldn't possibly fail to win the super grand prize!"
Hanabi: "Oh my, little gray-haired one, you're just upset from losing, aren't you~"
Sampo: "I say, sis, that's just how these lotteries are. No need to be a sore loser."
Stelle: "Who… who's a sore loser! I just think there's something wrong with this gashapon machine!"
Sunday: "There's nothing wrong with the gashapon machine; I can guarantee that. If it had issues, it would have been shut down long ago."
Stelle: "Then, setting aside the facts, doesn't this gashapon machine bear any fault?!"
March 7th: "Uh… its biggest mistake might be… not giving you anything good after meeting you?"
Stelle: "Naturally. It's an honor for it to be graced by me, the Galaxy Baseballer. Yet it only gives me garbage!"
Himeko: "Heh heh, then try to conquer it, until you twist out its grand prize."
Welt: "Himeko is right. That's a form of trailblazing spirit, too."
Stelle: "Good, then when I get to Penacony, i'll go head-to-head with it! I absolutely must bring back its super grand prize!"
Dan Heng: "…You're quite persistent, aren't you."
....
『 After spending all her tokens, Stelle felt somewhat deflated, so she went directly to find Hotaru, who had been strolling around, and reunited with her.
[ Oh… what's wrong? Have you had enough fun already? ]
[ Perfect, i'm a bit tired myself. Let's sit at the drink bar for a while. ]
Hotaru saw the look on Stelle's face, and thought she was tired from playing, so she led her to sit on a bar stool to rest.
[ Did you have fun, Stelle? ]
[ This land of dreams—Penacony—the 'Golden Hour,' it's still wonderful, isn't it? ]
Once at the bar, Hotaru began to chat with Stelle.
But for some reason, her tone sounded slightly sorrowful.
[ You sound a little sad… why? ]
Stelle acutely noticed this.
[ It's not exactly sadness. It's just… this dream is too benevolent, too forgiving. ]
[ It's vast and profound. Like an ocean, where even the most obscure individuals can find peaceful slumber. ]
[ …I'm truly grateful that you chose to help. Because of that, i could introduce you to this paradise—it's willing to accept me, even though I don't belong here. And I love it. ]
[ That's why I wanted to… share it with others. ]
Hotaru looked at Stelle sincerely, her words filled with a certain gratitude.
[ Could it be… you're really a stowaway? ]
Listening to Hotaru's words, stelle felt that something was very wrong,
[ I… I have legal identification… ]
Hotaru's expression shifted, and she stammered out a reply.
[ Now… Stelle, could you please come closer? ]
[ Closer, i want to ask you a question… ]
Hotaru's gaze suddenly sharpened again, and she then asked Stelle to come closer.
Although Hotaru at this moment was very strange, with a distinct feeling that she wanted to carve out her kidneys.
But Stelle trusted her own skills as the Galaxy Baseballer, so she moved closer to Hotaru.
Wanting to see what Hotaru was actually up to.
[ …May I ask, did you come to Penacony alone? ]
Hotaru asked a question that seemed somewhat inexplicable to Stelle.
[ I did. At least for now. ]
Stelle crossed her arms, her expression growing slightly colder.
She had a nagging feeling that Hotaru was about to make a move on her.
This made her start to calculate in her mind, how to punish this cute yet vexing little girl.
[ I see, I understand… ]
[ You might have realized it, or maybe not, but I've been leading you on a detour, to various places, because… ]
Hotaru slowly began to speak, seemingly about to reveal her true purpose.
However, her next sentence left Stelle stunned.
[ Because someone is following you! ]
Hotaru's tone suddenly turned serious.
This made Stelle instinctively want to look back.
But Hotaru stopped her with a word.
[ —Don't look back. I'm certain he's targeting you; he hasn't lost our trail since we said goodbye to Mr. Gallagher. ]
[ I wondered if this person might be your friend, but my gut tells me no. ]
[ He's approximately 1.8 meters tall, within a two-centimeter margin of error, with a sturdy build, clearly well-trained. His stride is long, but I can't hear his footsteps; they're very light. This kind of gait leaves no footprints… ]
[ …It seems he's very skilled in combat—the covert kind. His palms are broad, but his fingers are slender and nimble. I suspect he's accustomed to using knives. Short blades, daggers… ]
[ Do you know anyone like that? A burgundy coat, green eyes, dark blue hair… ]
Hotaru spoke rapidly, her analysis fierce as a tiger.
Leaving Stelle utterly dumbfounded. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina: "Are artists from the Iris Family so broadly skilled?!"
Furina: "To possess even reconnaissance capabilities! And so precise, too?!"
Arlecchino: "Heh heh, this kind of skill cannot be explained by mere reconnaissance ability."
Arlecchino: "In my understanding, only extremely professional assassins possess such training."
March 7th: "As… assassin?!"
March 7th: "Miss Hotaru is so cute, how could she possibly be an assassin?"
Scaramouche: "Hahahaha, why not?"
Scaramouche: "Perhaps this delicate appearance is a deliberate disguise of hers?"
Scaramouche: "And the real her, perhaps, is a demon with hands stained in blood!"
Stelle: "Bullshit! Stop slandering Hotaru here!"
Stelle: "No matter what identity she's hiding, i believe she would never do anything to harm me!"
Hotaru: "…Why… are you so certain?"
Hotaru: "Even though I'm so suspicious…"
Stelle: "Because… you're so beautiful!"
Silver Wolf: "So your moral compass follows your aesthetic preferences, huh?"
Silver Wolf: "Aren't you afraid someone might sell you out if you're like that?"
Stelle: "Heh heh, first of all, to sell me out, she'd at least need to be as beautiful as Hotaru!"
Stelle: "Secondly, she'd need a body that can take a beating!"
....
—✦In Between✦—
"Heh heh, do you really think I'm a gullible idiot? I'm smart, you know."
"How could I possibly actually be sold out by someone?"
in the Parlor Car, Stelle watched everyone's comments, and couldn't help but let out a cold snort.
—
『 [ Ah, here he comes! ]
After Hotaru finished her analysis, she saw the person who had been following them, openly walking towards them.
[ Yo, isn't this my loyal big customer—Stelle! ]
[ Long time no see, my dear! ]
[ To think I'd run into you here—oh, i'm truly having a stroke of luck! ]
Hotaru initially thought a fierce battle was about to ensue.
Who would have thought that after the person walked over, he would enthusiastically greet Stelle.
[ Am I dreaming?! ]
Stelle was a little bewildered seeing the newcomer.
[ You're such a hoot, buddy. This is Penacony, of course you're in a dream! ]
[ Surprised to see me? It's all thanks to you—Jarilo-VI is now wide open! ]
The newcomer, seeing Stelle's shock, immediately explained with a smile.
[ Uh… who is this? ]
Hotaru looked at the scene, somewhat confused.
[ Oh, miss March, you don't remember me? After all the help I gave you in Belobog… ]
Sampo turned to Hotaru and said in a very sorrowful tone.
[ What kind of eyesight do you have? Does March 7th look like this?? ]
Stelle heard Sampo's words and retorted with a slightly strange expression.
[ …My name is Firefly. I'm a stage performer from the Iris Family., ]
Hotaru introduced herself.
[ Oh! So that's how it is, i was just thinking—it hasn't been that long, but Miss March has changed so much. ]
[ Pleasure to meet you, pleasure to meet you! My name is Sampo, an old friend of Stelle's, please take care of me! ]
Sampo revealed a look of sudden realization.
[ Who's friends with you… you're truly shameless. ]
Stelle was a bit speechless.
[ Hey hey, don't be like that. You're making things awkward. ]
Sampo saw that Stelle wasn't giving him face, and immediately gave a fawning smile.
[ Mr. Sampo… what are you doing in Penacony? ]
Hotaru asked at this point.
[ Doing what? Haha, that's an interesting question, young lady. What else is there to do in Penacony? Just wandering around, daydreaming… on vacation. ]
[ Oh, speaking of which, perfect timing—pal, it's rare for us to meet in Penacony, why don't I take you two on a proper tour around here? ]
[ I've been watching you two for a long time. Miss Firefly does know Penacony well, but when it comes to "entertainment for grownups," I think I can do much better. ]
Sampo explained a few things to Hotaru.
Then a mysterious smile appeared on his face.
This smile gave off a… mischievous feeling.
[ ...Entertainment for grownups? ]
Hotaru was somewhat puzzled.
[ Looks like my analysis is spot-on. Follow me, you two. Let me give you a taste of the adult world! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Sampo, you rascal, you're in Penacony too?"
Stelle: "And you want to take us to play in the adult world?"
Stelle: "Not bad, you're on the right track. I appreciate you."
Lumine: "Uh… this 'Entertainment for grownups,' is it legitimate?"
Paimon: "Judging by Mr. Sampo's expression… it probably isn't that legitimate, right?"
Seele: "Tsk, how shameless!"
Gepard: "Mr. Sampo, i never thought you'd be bringing shame even to Penacony. Please refrain from claiming to be from Belobog in the future."
Gepard: "Also, when you return to Belobog, please surrender yourself to the Silvermane Guards. Don't make me personally come and arrest you."
Sampo: "I say, Captain Gepard, isn't that a bit much?"
Sampo: "Also, I'm being framed here!"
Sampo: "According to the timeline in the video, I'm not even in Penacony, so how could I appear before Miss Stelle and Miss Hotaru?!"
Sampo: "And if it really were me, there's no way I'd mistake Miss March 7th!"
Sampo: "I, Sampo, walk the (rivers and lakes) specializing in social connections; it's impossible for me not to recognize acquaintances I've met!"
March 7th: "That's true; given Sampo's smooth demeanor, he really shouldn't."
Stelle: "Then who is this impersonator?"
Sampo: "Just keep watching, he'll definitely reveal his chicken feet!"
Lumine: "His… chicken feet?"
Sampo: "Apologies, i misspoke, his true colors!"
....