—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Aaaah! That wretched BEAST!!"
Stelle: "I WILL KILL YOU!! I SWEAR IT!!"
March 7th: "What happened to the wholesome, sunny livestream we were promised?!"
March 7th: "Why does it have to end like this?!"
Furina: "I can't believe it… Miss Hotaru was ruthlessly murdered by that MONSTER!!"
Furina: "I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THIS ENDING!!"
Yoimiya: "Miss Hotaru… she died within the dream…"
Yoimiya: "This outcome is just too cruel…"
Arataki Itto: "Waaah! What kind of hellish, dark storyline is this?!"
Arataki Itto: "Even a manly man like the Great Arataki Itto is about to CRY!! Waaaaah…"
Kuki Shinobu: "Boss, stop crying. Miss Hotaru is still alive and well right now."
Kuki Shinobu: "Hurry up and wipe your nose and tears!"
Paimon: "Waaah… Paimon is crying too…"
Paimon: "That monster even stabbed her again while she was dying! It's an absolutely inhumane super-demon! Waaah…"
Klee: "Waaah, monster bad! Klee wants to blow up the monster and avenge Big Sister HOTARU!!"
Lumine: "Miss Hotaru… the expression she wore before death was heartbreaking."
Lumine: "Her face seemed to carry guilt towards Miss Stelle… and so many, many regrets…"
Robin: "Brother… such a tragedy should never occur within the Family's beautiful dream!"
Robin: "ABSOLUTELY NOT!!"
Robin: "I suggest we notify the Family immediately and evacuate everyone from the Dreamscape!"
Robin: "Then, lock down all of Penacony!"
Welt: "Miss Robin is correct. The urgent priority is ensuring the safety of the guests!"
Sunday: "..."
Sunday: "I deeply regret what happened to Miss Hotaru. But I apologize… such a decision is not mine alone to make."
Sunday: "I will report all of this to the Dreammaster. He shall adjudicate this matter."
Aventurine: "The Dreammaster?"
Aventurine: "Heh, so you aren't the top dog of Penacony after all."
Silver Wolf: "Sigh, what a miserable way to go. Even watching it makes my heart clench."
Hotaru: "So… is this how the future me experiences 'death' for the first time?"
Hotaru: "I'm sorry, Stelle. I made you sad."
Stelle: "Hotaru, from now on, you must absolutely not go into the Dreamscape!"
Stelle: "As long as you don't enter the dream, this future might be changed!"
March 7th: "That's RIGHT!!"
March 7th: "Since we've already seen this cruel future, we absolutely have to change it!"
Robin: "Miss Hotaru, could you give me your location?"
Robin: "I will personally come to your side and stand guard!"
Robin: "Until the Dreamscape of Penacony returns to normal!"
Sunday: "..."
Hotaru: "No… I wouldn't want to trouble you, Miss Robin."
Hotaru: "Since I already know this, I definitely won't enter the dream again."
Furina: "Miss Hotaru, you really must be careful!"
Hu Tao: "Mhm, mhm, please pay close attention to your safety."
Stelle: "Don't be afraid, Hotaru! Once I get to Penacony, I'll come to your side and protect you!"
March 7th: "I'll protect you too!"
March 7th: "When everything is done, you should come join us on the Express!"
Pam: "Passenger March 7th's suggestion is excellent! As the Conductor, I would welcome Miss Hotaru's arrival, pom!"
Hotaru: "Th… Thank you, everyone!"
Sampo: "Sister Hotaru's death really gave old Sampo quite a fright."
Sampo: "But speaking of which, after that thing killed Sister Hotaru…"
Sampo: "It won't continue to commit murder, will it?"
Zhongli: "…It is not impossible."
Eula: "So… who will be next…?"
Hanabi: "Who knows? It could be anyone~"
Hanabi: "Just keep watching~"
Hanabi: "I have a hunch the answer will be very amusing, hee hee hee~"
....
『 After the Memory Zone Meme slaughtered Hotaru, it dissolved into the deep, abyssal purple mist, vanishing without a trace.
Stelle could only stare at the puddle of liquid on the ground, stunned in despair.
[ Stelle, are you… alright? ]
Stelle's face was pale as a sheet, causing Acheron some concern.
[ Is this… a dream…? ]
Stelle spoke with a lost soul's voice, unable to accept the scene that had just transpired.
[ Stelle, look at me… calm down, take a deep breath, okay? ]
Acheron stepped forward, attempting to soothe Stelle's emotions.
[ …Let me handle this. ]
[ Relax—you will be fine. ]
Black Swan arrived at Stelle's side, and began to employ the abilities of a Memokeeper, helping Stelle stabilize her state of mind.
[ It… it was too sudden… ]
After a while, Stelle's emotions were temporarily steadied through Black Swan's efforts, but she still could not forget the scene she just witnessed.
[ I am truly sorry, but I must leave for a short while… ]
[ Death is still roaming. I must personally confirm the safety of Miss Himeko and Miss March 7th, and warn them… ]
[ I leave Stelle in your care… Miss Acheron. ]
Black Swan's brow held a trace of anxiety.
She left a few words of entrustment to Stelle and Acheron, then departed in haste.
[ I regret that this happened… ]
[ I was too focused on that girl, and I neglected… ]
[ It was my hesitation that cost her her life… I am sorry, Stelle. ]
After Black Swan left, acheron looked at Stelle, her expression filled with guilt as she began to apologize.
[ It's not your fault. ]
Stelle shook her head, not believing Acheron bore any blame.
The monster had appeared far too suddenly;
It was something no one had anticipated.
[ But if, in that moment, I had chosen to draw my blade… ]
In the split second Hotaru was in danger, Acheron had considered striking, but in the end, she abandoned the thought.
[ Sorry, I... had no choice. ]
This caused her great guilt.
[ The priority is to figure out what happened. ]
Seeing Acheron seemingly sinking into depression, Stelle shifted the topic.
[ Yes... Yes, we will. But not yet. ]
[ Before The Hunt, we should keep our eyes peeled and consider where the true enemies are hiding, and how to fight them... ]
[ Do not let pain dictate your thoughts, Stelle. ]
[ Compose yourself, and you will walk the right path. ]
[ Once, someone said to me… ]
[ 'No compassion for the enemy, for that is cruelty upon yourself. But you must see clearly who the true enemy is...' ]
[ And then, with one swing of your blade, you must understand its meaning and the price you pay. ]
[ This is the only advice I have for you, from someone burdened with a blood debt. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Thank goodness Miss Black Swan was there."
March 7th: "Otherwise, after such a huge shock, I'm afraid Stelle wouldn't have recovered for a long time…"
Black Swan: "I merely used some methods to temporarily suppress that nightmare-like scene in her heart."
Black Swan: "But that lingering shadow will accompany her for quite some time."
Boothill: "Actually, none of that is the point!"
Boothill: "The point is, Acheron, you little darling, why didn't you make a move to save that little girl? Don't tell me you didn't have the ability."
Boothill: "Judging by your whole speech, you just didn't want to save her! And you, you mother-fudger, you even dragged The Hunt into this!"
Boothill: "You really have no shame, do you? A fake like you deserves to mention The Hunt?"
Stelle: "Um… maybe Miss Acheron didn't have time to save her?"
Stelle: "After all, the monster appeared so suddenly?"
Hu Tao: "Yeah, that monster killed Miss Hotaru in just a few seconds!"
Hu Tao: "We watching the video barely reacted, so the people experiencing it in person would have had even less time, right?"
Boothill: "Barely reacted? Heh, that's the biggest mother-fudging joke I've ever heard!"
Boothill: "Do you guys have any idea… what her true identity is?"
Boothill: "Do you really think she would be helpless against that monster?"
Acheron: "Apologies… as I said in the video…"
Acheron: "I… had no choice."
Acheron: "The meaning and the price… of drawing that blade… made me unwilling to risk it."
Boothill: "I spit on that! A fake is a fake!"
Boothill: "If it were me standing there, I absolutely wouldn't have watched helplessly as that little girl was killed by some ugly monster!"
Boothill: "Had no choice! Can you stop being so mother-fudging hypocritical?!"
Hotaru: "Um… please stop arguing, you two."
Hotaru: "I feel that Miss Acheron truly has her difficulties."
Hotaru: "Although she is somewhat mysterious, her words and attitude have always felt sincere!"
Hotaru: "I can feel that it isn't a disguise."
Acheron: "…I did not expect Miss Hotaru to speak up for someone who left her to die…"
Furina: "Sigh, the plot is getting more and more chaotic."
Furina: "Every single one of you seems to have your own hidden agenda, and your own difficulties…"
Furina: "Looking at it this way, it seems only Miss Stelle is relatively pure."
Hanabi: "Pure, indeed~ Pure enough to be led around by the nose by factions from all sides~"
Hanabi: "And usually, we call that kind of person… a fool~ Hehehe, what a pitiful Little Gray~"
Stelle: "DAMN IT!! Who are you calling a fool?! Say that again and see what happens!"
Sampo: "Uh, sister, although her words are a bit harsh."
Sampo: "The facts do seem to be… well, facts…"
Arlecchino: "Correct."
Arlecchino: "Miss Stelle has been following everyone else's rhythm from start to finish."
Arlecchino: "Extremely passive."
Zhongli: "But this is not because Miss Stelle lacks intelligence."
Zhongli: "It is simply that there are too many people wishing to utilize her."
Venti: "Furthermore, these are all figures with resounding reputations."
Venti: "Anyone in that position would find it hard to gain the upper hand."
Stelle: "Waaah… hearing you guys say that makes me feel so aggrieved!"
Stelle: "Why does everyone want to use me! Playing with my feelings as they please!"
Stelle: "Can't you guys spread the love a little? Go use someone else for a change! (Crying loudly.jpg)"
Kafka: "Listen to me… don't cry. Who asked you to be the most special one?"
Kafka: "But… I believe in you. You will definitely make the right choice."
Silver Wolf: "Count me in. I believe in you too."
March 7th: "Eh? Why are you making it sound like Stelle is your companion?"
March 7th: "Stelle is a member of our Astral Express family! It's enough that we believe in her!"
Welt: "Yes, I also believe Stelle won't be defeated by this!"
Himeko: "It is merely a small setback on the path of Trailblazing. Stelle is already an outstanding Nameless; she can certainly overcome all difficulties."
Dan Heng: "No matter what, I believe in her!"
Pam: "Don't be sad, don't be upset! Passenger Stelle is the best, pam!"
Hotaru: "Stelle, do your best!"
Stelle: "Okay, alright! Thank you everyone for the encouragement! I feel fired up again!"
....
『 [ You two, I have returned. ]
[ Stelle, Miss Himeko has words for you… ]
[ There is bad news, and there is good news. ]
Black Swan returned to their side once more, producing a Dream Bubble, and handing it to Stelle.
Subsequently, Stelle pressed the Dream Bubble against her forehead.
And saw the following scene.
In the image, Himeko and March 7th were together, their path blocked by the Family.
Black Swan was right beside them, yet the Family members seemed oblivious to her presence.
[ I understand the situation. Please, you must take Stelle and evacuate to a safe location. ]
[ If you have the leeway, you may also investigate the matter regarding Hotaru first. ]
[ Let us meet later at the Clockie statue. ]
A voice came from the image, it was Himeko speaking to Black Swan.
After these words concluded, the scene within the Dream Bubble came to an end.
[ So, entrusted by Miss Himeko, I must take you two back to reality. ]
[ Stelle… I am glad to see you are safe. Let us depart; we can talk once we are somewhere secure. ]
Seeing Stelle put down the Dream Bubble, black Swan spoke with a faint smile.
[ Miss Black Swan, do you not intend to open a… portal, or something of the sort? ]
Acheron suddenly asked.
[ Hmm… I do not recommend doing so. ]
[ Her mental state is still unstable; we should avoid such "rough" methods of travel. ]
[ Furthermore—while evacuating, we can still do more for Miss Hotaru, can we not? ]
[ There are still some traces she left behind in this vicinity. ]
[ Before they completely vanish, let them become your memories. ]
Black Swan shook her head, rejecting Acheron's suggestion, and proposed they attempt to find the traces left by Hotaru.
[ …If we can conduct an investigation on the way, then very well. ]
Acheron nodded in agreement.
[ Let us go. We must find another path… ]
Black Swan turned, intending to lead the two away.
[ Apologies, could you give me a few more minutes? ]
[ I… still have unfinished business. ]
Acheron called out to stop them, then turned and walked to the spot where Hotaru had just turned into bubbles, performing a gesture that only she could understand.
[ May death be the end of your boundless dream... ]
[ Guiding you back... to the waking world.]
[ ...Let's go. ]
Acheron turned back to the pair, a trace of sorrow lingering on her face.
It caused Stelle's heart to twitch painfully in sympathy.
[ This way—please follow me. ]
Black Swan did not know how to comfort them, so she could only lead the way.
Acheron remained silent, following closely beside Black Swan.
Stelle, lagging a few steps behind, spotted something at the location where Hotaru had died.
It was half of a phone, on the verge of dissipating, on the screen remained a message that was never sent…
It was a group photo…
The two people in the photo were smiling so happily… so happily…
Stelle felt a wrenching pain in her heart, unable to stop herself from picking up the phone.
However, the moment the phone touched her hand…
It turned into a Dream Bubble, and faded away completely… 』
『 ....』