『 The scene returns to the depths of the Memory Zone, to the standoff between Sam and Acheron.
[ … ]
[ I still dream. ]
[ Stop. It is not yet your time. ]
Acheron faced Sam, and in the end, chose not to draw her blade.
[ …My time? ]
Sam did not understand Acheron's meaning.
[ I have seen many seemingly brilliant disguises. They can cover the appearance, but they cannot hide the heart. ]
[ You are no exception. ]
[ Stelle… you didn't intend to kill her. ]
[ You attacked only to drive away me and that Memokeeper… Why? ]
Acheron asked.
[ … ]
Sam remained silent.
[ Did Destiny's Slave make you do this? ]
Acheron asked in return.
[ You know Elio? ]
Sam was somewhat surprised.
[ I thought this matter would be written in your script. ]
Acheron explained.
[ My script has always been only a few lines long. ]
[ Anything beyond that is unnecessary, and not needed. ]
[ He knows my personality: There is only one destiny, and no one can bypass it—but before that, I have the right to choose. ]
[ But you seem unaware, so it is my turn to ask: Who exactly are you? ]
Sam looked at Acheron, with some wariness.
[ Perhaps not your enemy. ]
Acheron shook her head.
[ That is not an answer to the question. ]
Sam was not satisfied with this response.
[ I am not worth such curiosity from you. ]
[ Those who walk the Galaxy alone always have secrets. I have been wanted by the IPC as well, so it is not strange to know something about the Stellaron Hunters… but it ends there. ]
[ Perhaps I can help you. ]
Acheron said to Sam, as she walked around.
[ What reason do you have to do so? ]
Sam asked in confusion.
[ I often forget things, so rather than memories, I am more accustomed to using feelings to capture… something. ]
[ So… ]
[ I know who is inside that cold armor. ]
Acheron looked at Sam, her tone unreadable.
[ … ]
Acheron's words, silenced Sam once again.
[ Well, are you willing to take off the armor and talk? ]
Acheron said sincerely.
[ It is not yet the time. ]
[ I do not need help, but I can give you a suggestion. It will be better for both you and me. ]
[ If your goal is the Watchmaker's Legacy, go investigate the Family. ]
[ They have not only covered up the existence of death, but also buried the past and truth of the Dreamscape. ]
Sam shared some intelligence with Acheron.
[ I am already doing so. ]
Acheron nodded.
[ —And also… ]
[ The Astral Express is not your enemy! ]
Sam added.
[ I know this as well… ]
[ I just never expected to hear it from your mouth. ]
[ What comes next? ]
[ Stelle was taken away by Black Swan. Are you going to find her? ]
Acheron asked.
[ There is no longer a need for that… ]
[ There is no harm in telling you, Elio gave me only one instruction… ]
[ Let the Astral Express chase the grand legacy together! ]
[ I tried to end this matter in a simpler, more direct way. ]
[ But the result is as you see; I am standing here confronting you. ]
[ I failed. ]
[ The script is irrefutable. ]
Sam's tone held a hint of regret.
[ The so-called impossible is merely that which has not yet happened… ]
[ …Never mind. ]
[ Before we part, may I ask you one more question? ]
[ Is there any part about me in your script? ]
[ I want to know, in the future seen by destiny, what kind of footnote did I leave? ]
Acheron suddenly asked a baffling question.
[ Regrettably, not a word was mentioned. ]
Sam said honestly.
[ …I am not surprised. ]
Acheron had anticipated this result.
After nodding gently, she turned to leave.
[ Wait— ]
[ I don't. ]
Sam suddenly called out to Acheron, speaking two words.
[ Don't what? ]
Acheron did not understand.
[ Your initial question… ]
[ 'Do you still have dreams about everyone who died because of you?' ]
[ I don't. I never have. ]
[ I was born without the function to dream. ]
[ I live for cold reality, for a glimmer of light, burning… constantly burning, until I turn to dead ash. ]
[ Therefore, I envy you. ]
Sam's electronically synthesized voice sounded, carrying a trace of lowness.
[ Is that so… ]
[ Then you are already living in the waking world. ]
Acheron left these final words, and then silently departed. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina: "Eh?"
Furina: "After Miss Stelle and Miss Black Swan left, those two actually stopped fighting?"
Eula: "Watching them fight so fiercely before, I thought it would at least end with one of them dead."
Eula: "Turns out these two just stopped fighting just like that."
Lumine: "Because Miss Acheron realized that Sam was only trying to drive her and Miss Black Swan away from Miss Stelle."
Lumine: "Looking at it this way… Sam seems to be intentionally protecting Miss Stelle?"
Venti: "That's not wrong to say."
Venti: "After all, Miss Acheron's identity is mysterious, suspected to be an Emanator."
Venti: "And Miss Black Swan has designs on Miss Stelle."
Venti: "These two staying by Miss Stelle's side indeed poses a great risk to her."
Collei: "But isn't Sam a member of the Stellaron Hunters?"
Collei: "Why help Miss Stelle?"
Silver Wolf: "What's weird about that?"
Silver Wolf: "Who said Stellaron Hunters have to fight to the death with the people of the Astral Express?"
Nahida: "Actually… I'm more interested in knowing what the script is exactly?"
Nahida: "Listening to Sam, all his actions are actually following the script."
Nahida: "And that Elio, being called Destiny's Slave…"
Nahida: "Is there some deeper meaning to this?"
Dr. Ratio: "Elio, the leader of the Stellaron Hunters, is quite famous in the Galaxy."
Dr. Ratio: "But he himself is incredibly mysterious and rarely shows his face."
Dr. Ratio: "It is only known that he seems to have the ability to see the future, and has been trying to change something through a certain script…"
Zhongli: "Hmm… sounds like a very mysterious figure."
Ei: "As a slave to destiny… yet wanting to change destiny?"
Ei: "Can that really be done?"
Black Swan: "Hehe, regarding that point, I'm afraid no one can give a definitive answer."
Black Swan: "But to borrow a phrase from that Duke Inferno…"
Black Swan: "'The so-called impossible is merely that which has not yet happened.'"
Black Swan: "So… who says destiny definitely cannot be changed?"
Alhaitham: "Some of the words spoken by this Duke Inferno are actually quite philosophical."
Alhaitham: "It is a pity that he is a fanatic of Destruction."
Alhaitham: "Destined to be in opposition to most living beings in the universe."
Guinaifen: "Fam, I'm just saying, these two spoke in riddles for ages, and in the end, neither of them revealed their identities!"
Guinaifen: "Oh my goodness, it's making me so anxious watching this!"
Sushang: "Kei-chan is right! I'm dying of curiosity!"
March 7th: "Miss Acheron seems to have figured out Sam's true identity!"
March 7th: "But… how is that possible?"
March 7th: "Did Miss Acheron know Sam from before?"
Stelle: "I don't know why… but I also feel a sense of familiarity from Sam."
Stelle: "Some of his words, and his tone, I feel like I've heard them somewhere."
Hu Tao: "And those last few sentences from Sam…"
Hu Tao: "Don't you think they felt a bit jarring?"
Hu Tao: "A mecha that looks tall, mighty, and murderous, personally saying he has a rather tragic ending."
Hu Tao: "It just feels like suddenly…"
Sampo: "Heh, you feel like the filter is different, and the vibe it gives off is different too, right?"
Hu Tao: "Yes, yes, that's exactly the feeling!"
Ganyu: "Ugh… he even envies the ability to dream…"
Ganyu: "Suddenly, I feel a little heartache for him…"
Bailu: "So, who exactly is this big mecha!"
Bailu: "When will we be able to know the true identity inside his mecha?"
March 7th: "That's hard to say…"
March 7th: "Maybe we won't know Sam's identity even at the very end."
Aventurine: "It doesn't matter. Compared to the Stellaron Hunter,"
Aventurine: "I'm more interested in knowing the origin of this Miss Acheron."
Dr. Ratio: "Foolish gambler, it's been so long, haven't you found even a single clue?"
Aventurine: "Well… I do have a guess."
Aventurine: "It's just that this guess is a bit too outrageous, so I can't confirm it directly yet."
Hanabi: "Not bad, Little Peacock, you've got a sharp eye~"
Hanabi: "You managed to guess a bit of the truth from just this?"
Aventurine: "Miss Fool, you flatter me."
Aventurine: "As a merchant, having a keen eye is just a basic qualification."
Acheron: "Why must everyone be so fixated on my identity?"
Acheron: "Knowing these things may not bring any benefit."
Furina: "Eep~ Miss Acheron's words sound a bit threatening."
Furina: "Is she about to get angry?"
Acheron: "Miss Furina, you misunderstand."
Acheron: "My statement was declarative, not a threat."
Acheron: "It is true that everyone is curious about my identity."
Acheron: "But as I said, I am not worth everyone's curiosity."
Boothill: "You say not curious, so we're not curious?"
Boothill: "What the fudge, everyone is curious about what kind of unspeakable purpose you're hiding!"
Acheron: "…"
Acheron: "Sigh, never mind…"
....
『 Following the parting of Acheron and Sam, the scene in the depths of the Memory Zone comes to an end.
The screen shifts to the Golden Hour.
At the Clockie Statue.
At this time, the Astral Express crew has successfully reunited.
[ We heard about Miss Hotaru from Black Swan… but I didn't expect that even Miss Robin… ]
After listening to Stelle recount the entire experience, March 7th looked somewhat sorrowful.
[ I'm sorry… I couldn't be by your side at that time. ]
Himeko could imagine how helpless Stelle must have been after experiencing all of this, so she felt a bit guilty in her heart.
[ Reality is calm, yet the Dreamscape is turbulent. It really echoes the words of that Memokeeper… ]
[ Everyone, it is not yet time to be depressed. We can still do something within our power for them… ]
[ For example… find the murderer! ]
After Welt sighed, he began trying to boost everyone's morale.
[ Let's organize the current situation. Stelle's words reminded me of something. ]
[ March, do you remember what the Family representative who negotiated with us said? ]
Himeko looked at March 7th.
[ "Indeed, we believe the Nameless are unrelated to this matter, and we also implore you to assist the Family in investigating the identity of the deceased." That's what he said… referring to Miss Hotaru. ]
March 7th recalled.
[ Thinking back now, his expression was a bit evasive at the time, and he kept silent about the other incident that should have happened even earlier. ]
Himeko realized, detecting that something was wrong.
[ The Family intends to conceal the news of Miss Robin's death. If this matter were to spread, Penacony would truly be awash with blood… ]
March 7th spread her hands.
[ But the second incident that followed immediately after clearly exceeded their expectations, forcing the Family to go with the flow and ask outsiders for help. ]
[ The Charmony Festival is imminent; they must be overwhelmed. ]
Welt analyzed.
[ It's also possible that because there were many witnesses to Miss Hotaru's case, it was inconvenient to cover up… ]
[ So they might as well push the boat with the current, letting more people enter to control the situation. ]
[ After all, the nature of the two cases is fundamentally different… The Family's primary guard is against those guests with ill intentions, such as that envoy from the IPC. ]
Himeko thought for a while, and added.
[ But Aventurine was guarding against Acheron. ]
Stelle interjected.
[ Indeed, he is particularly concerned about that Galaxy Ranger. ]
Welt nodded.
[ What is this, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind… ]
[ But I feel like Aventurine's reasons for accusing Miss Acheron are also very subtle. Should we believe what he says? ]
March 7th felt that Aventurine's words, were full of uncertainty.
[ As things stand, the only ones we can trust are probably ourselves. ]
Himeko shook her head helplessly.
[ In short, let's try to gather information and list as many possibilities as we can. ]
[ Then eliminate the contradictions one by one. The fewer facts remain, the more likely they are to be the truth. ]
[ But I have a premonition… even after so many things have happened… ]
[ We are still spinning in the vortex regarding the Legacy… ]
Welt frowned slightly, and offered a suggestion.
[ This time we have to play the role of great detectives for real… ]
[ But before the investigation begins, how should we reply to the Family and Aventurine? ]
March 7th threw out another question.
[ In my opinion, the Family holds no malice toward the Astral Express. ]
[ If they didn't trust the character of the Express crew, they wouldn't easily entrust outsiders to investigate a case that could be considered a scandal. ]
[ Moreover, this is the Family's territory. Cooperating with them should facilitate many subsequent matters. ]
[ As for Aventurine's side… ]
[ Welt, I want to hear your opinion. ]
Speaking of Aventurine, Himeko looked at Welt.
[ This man is not simple. He deliberately lowered his posture during his negotiation with Stelle, yet his words were constantly cornering and intercepting… ]
[ Both emotionally and logically, he gave convincing arguments. ]
[ He says he won't force it, but his intentions are already obvious. ]
[ However, in the current unclear situation, establishing more connections is not a bad thing. ]
[ Aventurine demonstrated his capability in just a few words. As long as interests align, he can also be a reliable ally. ]
[ We also have to handle the distance with the Family carefully; we must not get too close. ]
[ Cooperating with the IPC is a way to balance things out. Once either side has ulterior motives, we have a chance to withdraw. ]
Welt gave his view.
[ So you suggest accepting Aventurine's cooperation proposal first? ]
Himeko asked back.
[ Yes. Hidden dangers certainly exist… ]
[ But we can only make further judgments after the intentions of all parties become clear. ]
Welt nodded in admission. 』
『 ....』