『 [ "██████████████████████████ ██████" ]
[ "████ Who █ ██ are ███ you █ █" ]
[ "—Who are you?" ]
Strange voices suddenly echoed through the corridors of memory.
[ "…This is?" ]
Black Swan's expression shifted into one of mild surprise.
[ "No—this isn't a memory?" ]
She realized it in a flash of insight.
[ "Oh… a Memokeeper. Do you serve the Garden of Recollection… or are you a Cremator?" ]
[ "My name is Constance… a pleasure to make your acquaintance." ]
[ "We were meant to meet in Penacony, to share a truly… 'unforgettable' time together." ]
[ "But it seems that is no longer possible." ]
[ "Dahlia's not welcome on the Banquet Star, and I don't need a coming-of-age ceremony... And you, I know what you're looking for..." ]
[ "You want 'her' secrets?" ]
[ "I can give them to you. In exchange… enjoy that grand banquet in my stead." ]
[ "I wish you 'unforgettable' memories." ]
Ring, ring, ring!
Ring, ring, ring!!
As Constance's voice faded, the telephone in the room suddenly began to blare.
[ "..." ]
[ "…A phone call? Should I answer it?" ]
Black Swan hesitated for a fleeting moment. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Navia: "I can't believe Miss Black Swan actually went to Miss Acheron's room in the real world to look for clues."
Navia: "And not only did she find nothing, she got played by a stranger who popped out of nowhere?"
March 7th: "Constance the Dahlia?"
March 7th: "Is she one of Duke Inferno's progeny?"
March 7th: "What's her angle? Is she trying to avenge the Duke?"
Stelle: "Her tone was way too chill for that. She didn't sound like she was out for blood at all."
Stelle: "Besides, this Constance talks like a total fox. She's kind of… alluring."
Dr. Ratio: "To think that a scion of the Ever-Flame Mansion would interfere so inexplicably."
Dr. Ratio: "One wonders where exactly this particular chess piece has been placed on the board."
Black Swan: "It likely has something to do with that phone call."
Black Swan: "I wonder… who could be on the other end?"
Sushang: "We won't know until you pick it up, Miss Black Swan!"
....
『 Black Swan's scene faded out. Simultaneously, elsewhere…
[ "..." ]
[ "…Recently, the Interastral Peace Corporation officially announced—" ]
[ "Under the watchful guidance of the Marketing Development Department and in accordance with the Interstellar Peace Charter, the independent Sigonian Sovereignty has hereby been established, and shall take a legislative seat at the Interstellar Congress..." ]
[ "The formation of the Sigonian Sovereignty is of great historical significance to the Sigonia system: This move puts an end to the planet's long and bloody history, turning the sensational Katica-Avgin Extinction Event into a distant memory..." ]
[ ""Sigonia-IV is located in an unclaimed zone at the intersection of the Dnies, Pruthian, and Dorneau star clusters. The planet's surface environment is known for being extremely harsh, constantly faced with the threat of impact from small-scale celestial objects..." ]
[ "This is why very few intelligent species have made this planet their home. Dividing themselves into several tribes to eke out nomad lifestyles as they struggle to survive the arid desert wilderness, they have developed their own folk beliefs that are independent of the Aeon belief system..." ]
[ "...." ]
The sterile voice of the IPC broadcast droned on.
Then, the scene shifted. A mother, cradling an infant, appeared on the screen.
[ "…Sigonian, Sigonian. Ravenous eye of the storm, spurned by all the gods..." ]
[ "Land of rock, but not water, lightning, but not rain, blood, but not tears." ]
[ "You beat us with your falling stars, you lash us with wind and storm, you chew us up with the cracked earth..." ]
[ "You promised us a land of honey(Avgin), yet yoked us beneath a sword(Katica) of bitterness. ]
[ "O, Gaiathra Triclops(Fenge Biyos), if Thou can hear me, please open up thy three eyes and gaze upon this child..." ]
[ "When You took his father, my child was still sleeping in the womb." ]
[ "And now, where my husband is, I shall soon follow…" ]
[ "I don't ask for a peaceful death. I only wish for You to tell me… does the baby swaddled sweetly asleep... does he dream of his mother's heartbeat and the sound of falling rain?" ]
[ "Please tell me whether this life is all just a fleeting dream..." ]
[ "...Otherwise, why would this child be born to face impending death...?" ]
The mother's voice was weak, her face etched with bitterness as she gazed at the sleeping infant.
[ "Mommy...! Mommy...!" ]
[ "Mommy...! The rain — it's raining!" ]
Suddenly, a young girl ran excitedly toward the mother.
[ "Raining...? Raining..." ]
The mother looked on in disbelief.
[ "It's raining! It's true!" ]
[ "Those outworlders weren't lying to us. They really did summon the rain..." ]
[ "Mommy, we can leave here... We can go back home!" ]
The girl wept with joy.
[ "Back home... Ahh... Gaiathra Triclops, you came. Do you hear that? Thank you... Thank you..." ]
[ "Darling, listen... this is the sound of rain. On the day you were born, the sky also sent down a gift(Raindrops) like this from Gaiathra. ]
[ "Such a lucky child, such a blessed child... Just like your name. A gift from THEM to Avgin... my boy..." ]
[ "May the goddess Gaiathra close HER eyes three times..." ]
[ "Keep your blood eternally pulsing..." ]
[ "Let your journey be forever peaceful..." ]
[ "...and your schemes forever concealed." ]
[ "...Welcome to this sad world, Kakavasha(Child Blessed by Gaiathra)." ]
[ "....." ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Honkai Star Rail World✦—
Penacony—
"Mother? Sister?! Is it you?!"
"Is it really you?!"
In the hotel, Aventurine watched the screen, his eyes beginning to glisten.
He couldn't believe that after all these years, he was seeing his sister and the mother he barely remembered once again.
Before this, no matter what setbacks or insults he faced, he never cared.
But now, facing this scene, his composure utterly shattered.
—
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Dr. Ratio: "Sigonian… This scene… is it a glimpse into Aventurine's childhood?!"
Topaz: "What?! That annoying guy… his childhood was actually that tragic?!"
Guinaifen: "Land of rock, but not water, lightning, but not rain… and constant meteor strikes?!"
Guinaifen: "Heavens, how does anyone even survive in an environment that hostile?!"
Zhongli: "Based on universal rationality, such a living environment could be described as nothing short of purgatory for humanity."
Ei: "The people living in such a barren land must endure immense suffering…"
Lumine: "It's possible that… perhaps just staying alive took everything they had…"
Furina: "What a… what a heartbreaking scene."
Furina: "So Aventurine is a tragic soul after all…"
March 7th: "Kakavasha… is that Aventurine's real name?"
Stelle: "Sigh… everyone has their own cross to bear."
Hu Tao: "Looking at the video, his mother seemed so weak already…"
Hu Tao: "Don't tell me!!"
Aventurine: "That's right… she died shortly after."
Aventurine: "I didn't even get the chance to look her in the eye…"
Hu Tao: "…I'm… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up such a painful memory."
Aventurine: "It's fine… it happened a long time ago."
Aventurine: "Actually, I should thank this unknown screen."
Aventurine: "To be able to see my mother's face with my own eyes… I could die now with no regrets."
Xiangling: "I thought you were just a big villain, but I never imagined you had such a miserable past."
Nahida: "So, Mr. Aventurine's current personality… is it linked to what happened in his childhood?"
Aventurine: "... More or less… after all, if I didn't gamble… I wouldn't even have survived…"
Aventurine: "Tch, why am I telling you all this. I don't need your pity."
Aventurine: "The me of today will never repeat the mistakes of the past!"
Aventurine: "It's just a pity… they aren't here to see it… they'll never see it…"
Stelle: "..."
Hotaru: "..."
Robin: "..."
Dr. Ratio: "Sigh… what a wretched world.."
....
『 The video continued.
[ "Time to wake up, gambler." ]
Dr. Ratio's deep voice suddenly rang out.
[ "…Whoa!" ]
[ "Heavens, I might have had one too many SoulGlad… I didn't expect you back so soon. Well? Find anything?" ]
Aventurine rubbed his groggy head and looked toward Dr. Ratio.
[ "Just as you suspected: no one outside knows Robin has been murdered. Not even a whisper of a rumor." ]
[ "The TV is still broadcasting her ceremony rehearsals—likely a body double—everyone is still dreaming." ]
Dr. Ratio reported his findings.
[ "Of course." ]
[ "Who would expect Death to truly descend upon the beautiful dream constructed by the Family? And the victim is the heroine of the Charmony Festival itself…" ]
[ "To be honest, I didn't believe it at first. I even 'tested' it myself a few times." ]
[ "Until I realized I truly couldn't die. Whenever danger strikes, I'm forcibly awakened by the Dreampool, as if it were just a nightmare." ]
[ "That's why I'm certain there's a much bigger secret hidden behind all this." ]
Aventurine explained.
[ "Then you must have heard of that Memory Zone Meme(Something Unto Death)…" ]
[ "When I went to pull some strings with the Oak Family for you, they were in a total panic." ]
[ "Besides Robin, there was another victim." ]
[ "The details are murky, but word is it was a stowaway." ]
Dr. Ratio shared the other piece of intel he had scavenged.
[ "Two murder cases!?" ]
[ "I knew that Nameless girl's reaction was off. She must have stumbled onto the other one…" ]
[ "The killer is a total lunatic…" ]
[ "But I have to say, a murder case is an excellent breakthrough. We can charge the Family with professional negligence and use it as a pretext for the IPC to intervene." ]
[ "It's just that their methods are much tougher than I imagined, even having a double for Robin ready to go…" ]
[ "These two cases will definitely be suppressed." ]
[ "What should we do?" ]
[ "Let me think… this is a rare opportunity, I can't afford to blow it. I have to be extremely careful…" ]
Aventurine fell into deep thought, plotting his next move.
[ "Impressive, gambler." ]
[ "At a loss for words already?" ]
Dr. Ratio looked at Aventurine, his tone playful and laced with a hint of mockery.
[ "I have plenty of chips, but I have to choose carefully." ]
[ "The most direct one… is still Robin." ]
[ "Remember? That Masked Fool told me to 'find a mute for a friend.'" ]
[ "Robin is the mute she was talking about." ]
[ "She lost her voice. Most people wouldn't notice, but it couldn't escape our ears. That wasn't an organ producing sound; it was the resonance of Harmony." ]
[ "Unless that girl practiced singing until her throat gave out, there's only one possibility…" ]
[ "Something went wrong with the Family, or something went wrong with Robin herself." ]
[ "I did everything I could to meet her just to figure that out…" ]
[ "…But she died. Right under my nose." ]
As he reached the last sentence, Aventurine's expression turned grim.
[ "A total loss—and it landed you right on the interrogation table." ]
[ "There were witnesses at the scene. The Family accepts your alibi for now, but from here on out… I'm afraid you'll be spending your time under the watchful eyes of the Bloodhounds." ]
Dr. Ratio spoke with an air of indifference.
[ "The situation is looking grim, Professor. I'm starting to break a cold sweat." ]
[ "Do you think there's still a chance… to flip the board in this mess?" ]
Aventurine spread his hands, asking with a deceptive ease.
[ "If you're asking about the probability—there is one, but it's approaching zero. To put it in Penacony terms: you're dreaming." ]
[ "But if you just can't help yourself and want to try your luck, there happens to be a perfect candidate…" ]
[ "That man wants to see you again." ]
Dr. Ratio raised an eyebrow.
[ "Who?" ]
Aventurine countered.
[ "Sunday." ]
Dr. Ratio replied.
[ "..." ]
[ "…Is it a public trial, or a private interrogation?" ]
Aventurine was momentarily speechless.
[ "If it were the former, they wouldn't need me to deliver the message." ]
Dr. Ratio stated the obvious.
[ "Fine…" ]
[ "Then it's right. Everything is right." ]
[ "See, the dead don't speak, but the living do—" ]
[ "Ratio, I'm certain now. There is definitely a problem 'inside' the Family." ]
[ "Just you wait. That man's sister is dead… he won't be able to sit still." ]
[ "No time to waste, let's go—lead the way!" ]
[ "The show… is about to begin." ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Aventurine and Dr. Ratio are back together plotting again?"
Stelle: "I thought they'd gone their separate ways ages ago!"
Dan Heng: "They are both IPC envoys, after all. They wouldn't let personal feelings get in the way of the mission."
Dan Heng: "Though it seems Mr. Aventurine is about to be in a world of trouble!"
Furina: "Because Mr. Aventurine accidentally stumbled onto the scene of Miss Robin's murder, he's become the unlucky fall guy."
Furina: "Now he's the Family's prime suspect."
March 7th: "Who told him to listen to that Fool and go looking for Miss Robin anyway?"
March 7th: "Now he's really stepped in it, hasn't he?"
Gallagher: "Tsk, tsk. Mr. Sunday, as the head of the Oak Family, is no ordinary man."
Gallagher: "I hope this Mr. Aventurine can walk out in one piece after meeting him… Tsk."
Sunday: "I am not one to ignore the truth."
Sunday: "If my sister's death truly has nothing to do with him, I will not vent my grievances upon him."
Aventurine: "Ha, that's all I needed to hear. I trust that with Mr. Sunday's noble character, he won't make things too difficult for a poor, unlucky guy like me?"
Dr. Ratio: "Hard to say."
Dr. Ratio: "After all… he still holds quite a few of your cards in his hand!"
....