—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina: "Indeed, Aventurine wasn't the killer."
Furina: "Aventurine was just an unlucky sod who happened to witness the crime scene."
Dehya: "Then it looks like it really was the work of that Memory Zone Meme known as 'Death'!"
Paimon: "But Aventurine accused Miss Acheron, didn't he?"
Acheron: "…I did not kill her."
Aventurine: "Does it really matter if you did or didn't?"
Aventurine: "Regardless, with an identity like yours, you were destined to never wash away suspicion."
Dr. Ratio: "An Emanator certainly possesses the qualifications to execute 'Death' within the Family's sweet dream."
Hu Tao: "Plus, Miss Acheron has been hiding her identity all this time~…"
Arataki Itto: "I've got it! This great Oni has figured it out!"
Paimon: "Bull-chucker, what exactly have you figured out—?!"
Kuki Shinobu: "Boss, quit making a scene! I told you to be quiet! Why do you never listen!"
Arataki Itto: "Hmph, this great Oni completely understands the truth now!"
Arataki Itto: "Actually, Miss Acheron is the Watchmaker!"
Arataki Itto: "That's why she doesn't dare reveal her identity!"
Arataki Itto: "How about that? Am I right or am I right?"
Stelle: "…."
March 7th: "This Mr. Itto's train of thought… certainly takes the scenic route."
Lumine: "Ahem, Itto, I think you should retire from detective work and just obediently watch the video."
Zhongli: "In terms of universal rationality, while Mr. Itto's statement lacks evidence, logic, and correlation…"
Zhongli: "One cannot entirely rule out the possibility!"
Xingqiu: "The main issue is that this Watchmaker is too mysterious."
Xingqiu: "We haven't seen hide nor hair of him up to now."
Xingqiu: "Yet legends of him are everywhere."
Nilou: "Is it possible… that this Watchmaker doesn't exist at all?"
Nilou: "That he's actually just a fabricated character."
Welt: "That's right. I've harbored similar suspicions."
Welt: "Perhaps the so-called Watchmaker is merely a front."
Welt: "A figure pushed into the spotlight solely to gather the major factions at Penacony."
Himeko: "Then whose handiwork would this Watchmaker be?"
Boothill: "Whose handiwork could it be? Whoever benefits the most, that's whose handiwork it is!"
Boothill: "That's right, I'm talking about those sons of nice ladies at the IPC!"
Dan Heng: "Indeed. As Aventurine said, the Family's door is a high wall."
Dan Heng: "To enter Penacony, one must first chisel out a few holes."
Dan Heng: "After that, the IPC will have plenty of means at their disposal…"
Wriothesley: "So… throwing Penacony into chaos constitutes chiseling those holes?"
Bronya: "Judging from the current footage, Aventurine seems to have a well-thought-out plan, confident of victory."
Bronya: "Although Miss Stelle has consistently refused to cooperate with him, he seems certain of the final outcome."
Mona: "So… the IPC is actually the biggest conspirator?"
Mona: "And the Family is just one of the victims?"
Xianyun: "It is too early to say. There are still identities shrouded in mystery; until the final moment, one cannot make a definitive judgment."
March 7th: "Ugh… it's so complex, my brain is burning."
March 7th: "I never expected a trip to Penacony to be this bizarre."
March 7th: "This is more outrageous than some detective novels."
Stelle: "You only find it outrageous; I find it terrifying!"
Stelle: "I had barely stepped through the gates of Penacony when I attracted the covetous gaze of countless eyes!"
Stelle: "And every single one of them is bullying me!"
Stelle: "Who can I even complain to about this?"
Lumine: "It really is like that. Miss Stelle's encounters are indeed quite tragic."
Paimon: "Deceived by people from all walks of life, bewitched by strangers, facing life-or-death crises multiple times, and even having to watch helplessly as her friend died a miserable death right in front of her."
Paimon: "Oh my gosh, what kind of worldly suffering is this!"
Paimon: "Paimon's heart is breaking for Miss Stelle."
Stelle: "Sigh, all these encounters make me want to go back to the Xianzhou and Belobog."
Stelle: "Penacony is full of malice towards me. It's not a sweet dream at all, and it certainly doesn't suit ME!!"
Qingque: "Heh, I told you to stay on the Luofu and play a few more rounds of Celestial Jade, but you just wouldn't listen!"
Qingque: "As the saying goes, if you don't listen to your elders, suffering is right before your eyes!"
Stelle: "General Qing, I have attained enlightenment."
Stelle: "I am threatening the conductor right now to turn the train around and return to the Luofu for Celestial Jade! Wait for ME!!"
Qingque: "Hey, hey, hey, what 'General Qing'?!"
Qingque: "Don't go spouting nonsense!"
Fu Xuan: "There is no need to come. General Qing has learned from her painful mistakes, has quit Celestial Jade, and has started working honestly and diligently!"
Stelle: "You're lying to ghosts!"
Stelle: "If Qingque could work honestly, I'd eat a Celestial Jade tile right here and now!"
Qingque: "Tsk tsk tsk, the one who knows me best is…"
Qingque: "Ahem, watch your mouth!"
Qingque: "What do you mean I can't work honestly!"
Qingque: "I am the most diligent employee of the Divination Commission, bar NONE!!"
Qingque: "You're slandering me here; be careful or I'll get angry with you!"
Qingque: "Master Diviner, you saw it yourself, Stelle has been slandering me this whole time!"
Qingque: "Your foresight is torch-like; surely you won't blame me, right?"
Stelle: "Oh… I get it."
Stelle: "General Qing has encountered an unparalleled enemy and has been suppressed."
Stelle: "How truly pathetic…"
Fu Xuan: "Alright, alright, stop teasing Little Que."
Fu Xuan: "She still has work to do for this Seat."
Qingque: "(tears_without_weeping.jpg)"
Fu Xuan: "Crying? Crying counts as time too~"
March 7th: "Eek~ The Master Diviner is so scary."
....
『 [ Thank you. ]
Stelle took the item, politely expressing her gratitude.
[ Next… I have some private matters to attend to, concerning that Galaxy Ranger. ]
[ Let us part ways here. ]
[ The next time we meet, what kind of interesting memories will you bring, I wonder… ]
[ I am looking forward to it. ]
Black Swan chuckled softly, then sent Stelle towards the Golden Hour.
After arriving at the Golden Hour, Stelle was disoriented for a moment, before hurriedly pulling out her phone.
She then saw a series of message history.
[ ⚠︎ Astral Express Family ]
[ /March 7th: Stelle ]
[ /March 7th: You still at hotel in the dreamscape? ]
[ /March 7th: Stelle! ]
[ /March 7th: Stelle! ]
[ /Welt: What situation have you encountered? ]
[ /Himeko: We got separated in the Memory Zone, but Stelle is accompanied by that Memokeeper. ]
[ /March 7th: I feel so antsy ]
[ /March 7th: Help ]
[ /Himeko: Little March, stay calm. ]
[ /Dan Heng: Do I need to get off the Express and help? ]
[ /Himeko: Not for the time being. ]
[ /Dan Heng: Understood. If needed, tell me immediately. ]
[ /Welt: The Reverie Hotel in the real world is very calm. Not much is happening. ]
[ ——End of message history. ]
Stelle finished reading these messages, and began to reply in the group chat.
[ /Stelle: I finished investigating on my side. ]
[ /Stelle: Where do we meet? ]
[ /March 7th: Stelle! ]
[ /Himeko: Stelle, it's great that you're safe. ]
[ /March 7th: That lady didn't do anything bad, did she? ]
[ /Himeko: I'm sorry... about what happened to Miss Hotaru… ]
[ /Himeko: The scene has been cordoned off by The Family. We're wrapping up negotiations with some Family delegates. ]
[ /Himeko: Let's meet somewhere near the Clockie Statue later. ]
The messages stopped here, temporarily concluding the exchange.
[ (The Family representative… I hope Himeko and the others are alright… ) ]
After putting down her phone, Stelle felt slightly worried.
Then, she began heading toward the Clockie statue.
[ (So much has happened... I should take a moment to gather my thoughts, and wait for everyone to arrive...) ]
Arriving in front of the Clockie statue, Stelle began to sort through her thoughts, while waiting.
Meanwhile, the scene shifts.
A scene from the depths of the Memory Zone, some time ago, begins to play.
[ Better unsheathe that blade now. ]
[ Ranger! ]
At this moment, Sam, with scorching flames erupting from his chest, was in a standoff with Acheron.
[ …Hunter, do you still dream? ]
[ Do you dream of those who died because of you? ]
Acheron gripped the hilt of her blade, asking an inexplicable question.
And at this moment, the scene shifts once again.
Time rewinds to several days prior, at the Ever-Flame Mansion…
[ … ]
[ ...It appears the outcome has already been determined. ]
Duke Inferno, Ifrit, leaned wretchedly against the base of his throne, looking at Acheron before him, his expression one of defeat.
[ They are still alive, and so are you. ]
[ You still have room to choose. ]
[ Leave that music box, and go. ]
Acheron pointed her scabbard at Duke Inferno, offering him a chance at life.
[ Choice? The bloody path of Destruction has never tolerated hesitation. ]
Duke Inferno shook his head.
[ Fetora's fire demon... Even if you sacrifice your life for that Aeon, you won't get special treatment. ]
Acheron stated a fact.
[ Ranger, you tread the narrow Path of The Hunt. You could never understand. ]
[ We come from the fire, born bathed in flame; we spread, burn, and destroy, until the kindling is exhausted, leaving only dead ash. ]
[ Burning is the life of a Fire Demon, the beginning and the end. ]
[ We are born towards death, only to implement a profile of the universal truth: All things are born for Destruction. ]
Duke Inferno's tone was so resolute.
[ Your companions do not seem to think so; they fought for a chance for you to live. ]
Acheron said indifferently.
[ They are my children. Like I once was, they are flames not yet white-hot. ]
[ They are still young; I will not blame them. ]
[ But my flame has already grown hoarse; time is running short. ]
[ Can you see the Planet of Festivities in the distance? ]
[ I will bring purgatory there—so before that, I must step over you. ]
Duke Inferno struggled to stand.
[ Why? ]
Acheron could not understand.
[ Because on the path THEY have forged, you have traveled farther than I have... ]
[ …Emanator. ]
Duke Inferno saw through Acheron's true identity.
[ …. ]
Acheron responded with silence.
[ You cannot hide your true identity. ]
[ Draw that blade. We will certainly remain here, we are destined to fight to the death, because I "choose" to do so. ]
[ Destruction is a magnificent instant. ]
[ If one survives through despicable means… this life would be too long. ]
Duke Inferno chose his ending.
[ Even if the answer… might be your own destruction? ]
Acheron frowned and asked.
[ The answer is not important; what is important is that it exists, just as your existence does. ]
[ Everything exists to be destroyed—an Emanator is no exception. ]
[ Even within the void, a sweet dream can be born. ]
[ The so-called impossible is merely something that has yet to happen. ]
Duke Inferno explained.
[ …. ]
[ …Very well, I grant your wish. ]
Acheron was silent for a long while, then placed her hand on the hilt of her blade.
[ You shall witness the most brilliant and intense fire in existence. May this flame illuminate the farthest reaches of your bottomless dream. ]
Duke Inferno's tone was heroic and resolute!
[ A bottomless dream... Yes, that's right. But you've made one small mistake. ]
[ This blade remains in its sheath not out of pity or scorn. ]
[ It is a secret I do not wish to show others, but as a return of respect… ]
[ ….. ]
[ I will be honest with you! ]
[ The Hunt… is not the Path I walk. ]
[ ... ]
The sound of the blade's resonance rang out, Acheron's blade was unsheathed!
[ May death be the end of your boundless dream... ]
[ ...guiding you back to the waking world. ]
The scene at the Ever-Flame Mansion ends here. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Is this… the scene where Miss Acheron went to snatch the invitation?"
Dr. Ratio: "It would seem there is no mistake."
Dr. Ratio: "After all, the image on the video is the Ever-Flame Mansion."
Dr. Ratio: "It is Duke Inferno's lair."
Sampo: "Tsk tsk tsk, judging from the video, this Duke Inferno counts as a resounding, tough character!"
Sampo: "Facing death without uttering a sound, completely fearless."
Acheron: "I remember now. He was a qualified martyr."
Acheron: "Until the moment of his death, he was practicing the faith of his life."
Diluc: "But that doesn't change the fact that he wantonly brought destruction to others!"
Stelle: "Exactly. He looks all dressed up like a human, like a gentleman."
Stelle: "But in reality, isn't he still a lunatic?"
Stelle: "His attitude towards martyrdom is undeniable, but the things he did are indefensible!"
Boothill: "He's a son of a nice lady, a dog like that actually has the face to call The Hunt narrow?"
Boothill: "I swear by the Wubbaboos, if that dog-thing were still alive, I'd go over there and put a bullet of love right through his goat HEAD!!"
Boothill: "I'm just laughing, really, any Tom, Dick, or Harry thinks they can judge The Hunt now."
Dr. Ratio: "The Destruction that Duke Inferno believed in was merely wishful thinking."
Dr. Ratio: "Even upon greeting death, he did not receive even a fraction of Nanook's gaze."
Dr. Ratio: "Or perhaps, from the very beginning, the Destruction he believed in belonged solely to himself… which is obviously not pure."
Seele: "I can only say, for a villain like that, death still came too late."
Seele: "With his insane obsession with Destruction, who knows how many people he harmed!"
Zhongli: "His attitude towards practicing his own Path is worthy of recognition, but the myriad crimes he committed also demand a painful price!"
Venti: "Ehe, hasn't the price already been paid?"
Cyno: "It's not enough. Letting him die like this feels like letting him off easy."
Furina: "By the way, aren't you curious about exactly how powerful Miss Acheron's strike was?"
Paimon: "Of course Paimon's curious!"
Paimon: "But… just when Miss Acheron was about to draw her blade, the footage cut off!"
Aventurine: "Sigh, cutting off at the most exciting part, what a buzzkill."
Aventurine: "I had originally hoped to use this to see through some of her secrets."
Beidou: "This so-called Duke Inferno didn't even have the qualifications to make Miss Acheron draw her blade."
Beidou: "From this alone, we can see that Miss Acheron's true strength is ridiculously high."
Silver Wolf: "That's right. When facing off against Sam, she still didn't draw her blade."
Kafka: "She is an Emanator, after all…"
Kafka: "As long as she doesn't encounter another Emanator, then before her, perhaps nothing can be called a threat."
Jing Yuan: "In my opinion, Miss Acheron's strength among Emanators is also quite extraordinary...."
Welt: "General, your words seem to carry a deeper meaning?"
Jing Yuan: "Hahaha, I won't spoil it."
Jing Yuan: "Just watch, just watch and you'll see."
....