—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Miss Acheron ran into Stelle again!"
March 7th: "What are the odds?"
Himeko: "Indeed. Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence… three times is barely acceptable."
Himeko: "But for them to cross paths yet again, it really is somewhat…"
Welt: "Three times implies a pattern. Miss Acheron's behavior is beginning to suggest ulterior motives."
Dan Heng: "Agreed. Miss Acheron's identity is certainly suspicious."
Dan Heng: "You claim to be a Galaxy Ranger, but do you have any proof?"
Boothill: "Meow? Proof?!"
Boothill: "If that little Wubbaboo-kisser can cough up evidence, I'll eat shirt right here on the spot!"
Yoimiya: "Mr. Boothill certainly has a unique way with words, haha."
Yoimiya: "But why are you so certain Miss Acheron can't produce evidence?"
Boothill: "Because, obviously…"
Acheron: "That is correct. I am an imposter."
Acheron: "I am not a Galaxy Ranger. I merely assumed their name."
Boothill: "Huh? You seriously just self-destructed, you son of a nice lady?"
Boothill: "Just like that? I hadn't even exposed you yet!"
Dan Heng: "As I thought. The Galaxy Rangers have vanished from the cosmos for a long time."
Dan Heng: "I knew it was unlikely for a Galaxy Ranger to appear out of thin air on Penacony."
Boothill: "Why the fudge is it impossible? The Galaxy Rangers just disappeared, they didn't go extinct!"
Boothill: "Even if they showed up again, wouldn't that be perfectly normal?!"
Hu Tao: "Listening to Mr. Boothill… you seem to know a lot about these Galaxy Rangers?"
Boothill: "Bull-fudge!"
Boothill: "Of course I know! Because I'm a muddle-fudging Galaxy Ranger!"
Stelle: "???"
Stelle: "So the fake just ran into the real deal?!"
Acheron: "You claim to be a Galaxy Ranger. Do you have any proof?"
Boothill: "Proof? You, a fake, are asking me for proof?!"
Boothill: "The gun in my hand is the best proof there IS!!!"
Furina: "Uh… I can understand Mr. Boothill's frustration."
Furina: "But having said that, simply stating you are a Galaxy Ranger doesn't exactly prove it, does it?"
Furina: "For all we know… perhaps both you and Miss Acheron are imposters?"
Boothill: "MEOW!! I gotta say, you really stumped me there!"
Boothill: "To be honest, I really can't prove my identity."
Boothill: "Because the Galaxy Rangers are a group of vigilantes following the Path of The Hunt. We don't exactly carry badges that make us instantly recognizable."
Boothill: "All I can say is, I am a real Galaxy Ranger. Believe it or not. If you really don't believe me, I think the video later on should prove who I am."
Boothill: "Because, barring any accidents, yours truly is also showing up on Penacony!"
Stelle: "What are you coming to Penacony for?"
Stelle: "Don't tell me you're coming for me too?"
Lumine: "That feels like a very high possibility!"
Paimon: "After all, Miss Stelle is a real hot commodity!"
Xiangling: "Hey, not a hot commodity, a sweet pastry!"
Paimon: "Hehe, same difference."
Boothill: "I say, Miss, aren't you being a little too narcissistic?"
Boothill: "My goal in coming to Penacony is simple: find this Acheron imposter and ask her why she's swindling people in the name of the Galaxy Rangers!"
Boothill: "And then I'm gonna love that darling to death with a bullet!"
Furina: "That phrasing always feels slightly ambiguous. But I think I generally understand Mr. Boothill's intent."
Black Swan: "So, Miss Acheron, why did you impersonate a Galaxy Ranger?"
Acheron: "I bear no ill will."
Acheron: "I impersonated a Galaxy Ranger precisely to draw out a real Galaxy Ranger."
March 7th: "To draw out a real Galaxy Ranger?"
March 7th: "Why does that sound so much like…"
Guinaifen: "Entrapment! That's definitely entrapment!"
Pela: "It has the scent of a trap."
Boothill: "Holy Wubbaboo, you fake really are up to no good!"
Acheron: "Forget it. You wouldn't believe me even if I continued to explain."
Acheron: "Let us just continue watching the video."
Acheron: "If Mr. Boothill truly appears later in the footage, then you should understand why I had to impersonate a Galaxy Ranger."
Acheron: "It was truly a last resort."
Stelle: "I believe in Miss Acheron!"
March 7th: "Here we go again. I don't think there's a single mature older sister you don't believe in."
Black Swan: "Not quite. The 'her' in the video doesn't trust me at all~"
Black Swan: "That really is a heartbreaking outcome."
March 7th: "Maybe… you're just not her type?"
Black Swan: "Perhaps… who knows? (Sad.jpg)"
....
『 The video continues.
Having reached an agreement, Stelle, Black Swan, and Acheron began traveling together, searching for the route to the lobby.
They wandered through the corridors, soon arriving in a bizarre, unsettling room.
[ This room… why is it upside down? ]
Acheron scrutinized the interior of the room, visibly surprised.
[ The appearance of the Memory Zone is in constant flux. It seems we must find a way… to walk on the ceiling. ]
Black Swan offered an explanation.
[ We are currently on the ceiling. ]
Acheron looked around and issued a solemn correction.
[ Heh, Miss Acheron has a point. ]
[ Regardless, we must ascend to the plane hanging above our heads—naturally, not by hugging a pillar and shimmying up. ]
[ Allow me to teach you some small tricks for navigating the Memory Zone. ]
Black Swan chuckled softly and began to demonstrate her technique.
[ Well? Can you feel the Memoria flowing around you? ]
[ Now, find a suitable spot… and try to "step onto" the wall. ]
Black Swan imparted the skill of wall-walking to Stelle, then offered a reminder.
[ I'll give it a try. ]
Stelle nodded, then attempted to mount the wall.
To everyone's surprise, she walked onto the vertical surface without effortless grace.
[ Success. ]
[ It actually works. ]
At this moment, Acheron also utilized the method taught by Black Swan to step onto the wall, unable to suppress her astonishment.
[ To a Memokeeper, a Memory Zone of this level is nothing more than a child's playground. ]
[ Let's go. We'll leave through the main entrance. ]
Black Swan began to lead the way.
Stelle and Acheron followed closely behind her.
[ You're quite adept at this, aren't you? ]
[ Stelle, you have a talent for memory. ]
Stelle once again manipulated the Memoria with practiced ease to traverse a wall, earning high praise from Black Swan.
[ We've arrived—there is an elevator here, identical to the one in the lobby. Taking it should bring us to our destination. ]
After walking for a while, the trio arrived directly in front of an elevator.
Acheron stepped forward to examine the elevator closely, unable to hold back a comment.
[ But the Memory Zone ahead… seems severely distorted. ]
[ Everyone, it is best to be careful. ]
Black Swan sensed a dangerous aura, and thus, she issued a grave warning to the other two.
Consequently, the three of them took the elevator down.
[ See, I told you it wouldn't be that simple. ]
[ Where is this? ]
After the three stepped out of the elevator, they were met with a pitch-black corridor.
This caused Black Swan to furrow her brows.
[ This door… is it locked too? ]
The three proceeded down the corridor, only to arrive at a door that refused to budge.
[ This is going to be endless. ]
[ Let me handle it. ]
Black Swan felt that searching for the path in this manner was far too troublesome, so she began to employ her techniques, sensing the general state of this Dreamscape.
[ This area of the Memory Zone… is a bit too twisted. ]
[ I'll have to use some less elegant methods. You two, please give me a moment. ]
Finding the situation somewhat thorny, Black Swan increased the intensity of her perception.
[ Mm… got it. ]
[ I can see the center of this dream, and people from The Family… there are also several figures groping their way forward. It seems your friend isn't having a smooth time either. ]
[ One, two, three… ]
[ Hm? ]
[ That's not right. Three? ]
[ There's a third person looking for the way to the lobby? ]
[ Wait… this is… ]
[ —It's that little girl who was with you before?! ]
Black Swan sensed the situation within the Dreamscape, but unexpectedly discovered a figure who should not have been there.
[ You said she had already returned to reality! ]
Hearing Black Swan's words, Stelle couldn't help but question her.
[ I don't understand, but there is a familiar shadow in the Memory Zone, and the feeling it gives off is very similar to hers. ]
[ Does she have a reason to venture deep into the dream? ]
[ Is she… running? ]
[ No… running? ]
[ There seems to be something behind her… ]
[ Not good! ]
[ Everyone, we need to speed up! ]
Through her perception, Black Swan realized something terrible was happening, so her expression turned anxious.
Seeing this, Stelle immediately understood that Hotaru was in danger.
She said nothing more and began to rush forward, head down.
Her hands clenched involuntarily, betraying her intense apprehension.
[ The situation is urgent. I have to make an exception and use some methods to take you through the Memory Zone. ]
[ I picked up slivers of her thoughts in the Memory Zone. These will help you form an impression of her. ]
[ Now, hold on tight to these thoughts and organize them into a form in your mind. ]
[ Just now, I captured some very familiar memories. The "old friends" appearing here include not only her, but also the third party present when you encountered danger… ]
[ —That Memory Zone meme, it is here as well. ]
Black Swan quickly explained to Stelle, then activated her powers, forcing the closed door before them to dissipate.
[ Quickly, go through here. ]
Black Swan beckoned, hurriedly leading the two through the door, sprinting wildly down the corridor.
Subsequently, they reached the end, where another elevator awaited.
The three entered the elevator in silence.
The elevator doors began to close slowly, and for some reason, Stelle's heart, trembled inexplicably in sync with the closing gates.
Her thoughts began to ripple like flowing water, a sensation of suffocation drowning her from the inside out.
And in her trance, she seemed to hear voices.
[ In my dream, I saw a scorched earth, and a new sapling emerging from it. It bloomed against the morning sun, and whispered to me. ]
[ Why do people choose to sleep? I think... ]
At this point, a soft sigh from an unknown source echoed.
[ ...It is because they're afraid to awaken from the dream. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "How could this be?!"
Stelle: "Impossible, it can't be like this!"
March 7th: "What exactly does this scene mean?!"
March 7th: "Why is Miss Hotaru still lingering in the dream?! Why is Miss Hotaru still being chased by that Memory Zone Meme?!"
March 7th: "And why would Stelle… inexplicably hear Miss Hotaru's voice in the elevator?!"
Paimon: "Waaaaah, my heart is starting to pound!"
Paimon: "I have a feeling that when the elevator doors open… we're going to see…!"
Lumine: "Paimon! Don't talk nonsense!"
Lumine: "Nothing bad will happen!"
Guinaifen: "Ahaha… this is a livestream, after all!"
Guinaifen: "Livestreams always have a relaxed, healthy, sunny, and positive livestream style!"
Guinaifen: "How could… how could it… really livestream a scene like that… It shouldn't… right?"
Furina: "…. But is this livestream room truly sunny and positive?"
Himeko: "Let's hope… that kind of thing doesn't happen."
Aventurine: "Although it's a bit of a killjoy, the upcoming scene might become a powerful cornerstone for toppling The Family!"
Stelle: "Aventurine, shut your mouth!"
Stelle: "What do you mean? Are you cursing Hotaru right now?"
Aventurine: "You misunderstand, I didn't say that."
Xiangling: "Sure enough, a profit-seeking merchant, only thinking about his own interests!"
Xiangling: "No empathy at all!"
Hu Tao: "Indeed, it really is hard to change a merchant's face."
Topaz: "Aventurine, you idiot, read the room!"
Dr. Ratio: "I know you are anxious to see The Family's collapse, but I ask you not to be hasty, you foolish gambler!"
Aventurine: "Fine, fine, fine, I misspoke. I apologize."
Aventurine: "But I think you're all making a mountain out of a molehill!"
Aventurine: "Although Miss Hotaru in the video might meet a very unfortunate end."
Aventurine: "She is currently alive and well, isn't she!"
Hotaru: "Uh… yes… that is correct."
Hotaru: "I am still very safe right now."
March 7th: "Oh, right! We're getting too worked up!"
March 7th: "The video is showing future events after all. No matter what happens, there's hope to change it!"
Stelle: "Even so… I still don't want to see that terrible scene."
Hotaru: "It's okay, Stelle. I'm fine. Don't be afraid!"
Beidou: "I say, everyone, don't get discouraged so fast!"
Beidou: "What if nothing happens at all?"
Beidou: "Don't scare yourselves!"
Welt: "Miss Beidou is right. Miss Hotaru might be safe and sound!"
Stelle: "Sigh, I hope so."
....
『 [ Careful! There is a dangerous presence nearby. ]
[ Everyone, stay alert. ]
Stelle stumbled out of the elevator in a daze, only to hear the vigilant voices of Acheron and Black Swan.
This snapped Stelle's mind back to clarity instantly, and she began to follow the two, rushing toward the lobby.
[ Ah! It's Hotaru! ]
Upon arriving at the lobby, Stelle immediately spotted Hotaru's figure.
[ Stelle! ]
Hotaru also saw Stelle, and a brilliant smile, straight from the heart, flashed across her face.
[ Hotaru, wait for me, I'm coming right now! ]
Stelle began to sprint wildly toward Hotaru, desperate to protect her.
However, at that very moment, a purple shadow struck from above Stelle's head.
Its speed was extreme; in the blink of an eye, it bypassed Stelle, and under her terrified gaze, it seized Hotaru!
Then…
SQUELCH!!
The sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out!
Stelle watched helplessly as Hotaru's body was impaled by the tail blade of the Memory Zone Meme!
[ I… I'm sorry… ]
A tear rolled from the corner of Hotaru's eye, seemingly filled with guilt toward Stelle.
And in the next instant, the blade exerted force once more, completely piercing through Hotaru's chest!
SQUELCH!!
Then, as if discarding trash, it flung her down!
[ No! HOTARU!! ]
Stelle's expression crumbled into despair, she scrambled frantically to catch Hotaru's body, yet what flooded into her embrace was only a mass of…
Pale, dissolving fluid… 』
『 ....』
( Hotaru-chan!! My Hotaru-chan got bullied...)