—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Keqing: "It seems Mr. Gallagher holds some prejudice against The Family?"
Keqing: "Is it just my imagination?"
Hu Tao: "I noticed it too. Could there be some conflict between Mr. Gallagher and The Family?"
Hu Tao: "But that shouldn't be the case, right? Isn't he a member of The Family himself?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Speaking of which, it gets even stranger."
Furina de Fontaine: "Mr. Gallagher is a security officer for The Family, so why is it that his own subordinates can't even remember his name clearly?"
Xiangling: "Is it possible that Mr. Gallagher doesn't use his real name on a daily basis…"
Xiangling: "And that's why his subordinates aren't familiar with it?"
March 7th: "Eh… that actually sounds like a real possibility."
Stelle: "That would make sense."
Welt Yang: "Is that really the case?"
Welt Yang: "I still feel something is amiss."
Dan Heng: "There is an indescribable sense of dissonance…"
Dan Heng: "This Mr. Gallagher… seems like…"
Madam Herta: "Heh, just a patchwork master, cobbled together from odds and ends."
Stelle: "What's that supposed to mean?"
Madam Herta: "Exactly what it means literally."
Stelle: "I don't get it. Translate it for me?"
Madam Herta: "If you don't get it, then you don't need to know."
Stelle: "Hmph, stingy! (Angry.jpg)"
....
『 The video continues.
The scene shifts, focusing on Acheron and Welt.
[ "Even after such a sensational tragedy, this Sweet Dream continues to operate methodically…" ]
[ "Aside from The Family of The Harmony, it is hard to imagine any other faction in the universe capable of sustaining such a colossal construct." ]
Walking along the streets, welt could not help but sigh with emotion.
[ "The Family itself is a huge, perfect building. Like... A living idol." ]
[ "Each member of The Family sees themselves as a piece of the divine puzzle, revolving around a singular core(Aeon) and a shared ideal(Harmony). Under THEIR command, they loyally fulfill their roles, offering themselves while also receiving sustenance in return." ]
Acheron voiced her own insights regarding The Family.
[ "An intriguing metaphor. Perhaps that is the foundation upon which Penacony's Sweet Dream achieves eternity." ]
Welt found Acheron's perspective quite interesting.
[ "But the human body has its limits, and so does the divine's." ]
Acheron suddenly added a supplementary remark.
[ "…" ]
[ "That does not sound like a comment a Galaxy Ranger would make." ]
Welt crossed his arms, believing that such rhetoric was not the kind of philosophy one who follows The Hunt would espouse.
[ "Merely pointing out the facts. Mr. Welt surely understands the nuance within better than I." ]
Acheron shook her head, her words seeming to imply something deeper.
[ "Why does Miss Acheron say this?" ]
Welt asked in return.
[ "The Sweet Dream is collapsing. But not because of any specific Aeon, faction, or specific visitor." ]
[ "Its collapse stems from a certain inevitability of human nature. The Family refuses to acknowledge this, and it has ultimately backfired and become a catalyst..." ]
[ "As people immerse their souls in the Dreamscape, where consequences and pain cease to exist, and only ease and pleasure prevail, they draw closer and closer to necrosis." ]
[ "No matter what kind of paradise he believes he is living in, death is an immutable ending." ]
[ "Also, this necrosis will diffuse and spread. One piece of the puzzle's mutation will eventually cause the entire building to shake, break... and crumble. ]
Acheron's tone was spectral and distant, elucidating the essence of the current Sweet Dream of Penacony.
[ "In the end, the Sweet Dream built for freedom will inversely become a cage that imprisons the self." ]
[ "It seems Miss Acheron has gained quite a lot from this trip. Would you be willing to share with me?" ]
That Acheron could speak such words, sparked a sense of interest within Welt's heart.
[ "Of course… provided that I still remember." ]
Acheron nodded, and immediately gripped the hilt of her blade.
Then, for just a brief moment, she let go of her hand.
[ "…?" ]
Welt noticed this action, and an expression of confusion surfaced on his face.
[ "Do not mind it. It is merely a habit." ]
[ "Due to certain past events, I have become prone to… forgetting. Only when this blade is unsheathed do those hazy scenes gradually become clear." ]
Acheron knew Welt would be puzzled, so she offered an explanation.
[ "I see… please, proceed." ]
Welt expressed his understanding.
[ That should do it. I vividly remember everything that occurred on Penacony. Ask away. ]
Acheron signaled that she was ready.
[ "Good…" ]
[ "First question: did you discover anything regarding the Moment of Daybreak..." ]
[ "I've heard that's where the 'Dawn Factory,' which processes the foundation of the Dreamscape, is located." ]
Welt did not stand on ceremony, and asked immediately.
[ "Behind the sensual pleasures of the dreamscape lie factories of imagination, one after another." ]
[ "Day after day, workers create all manner of whimsical commodities within the dream, then return to reality to rest on cots that are a far cry from luxury suites." ]
[ "They say this is enough; that the bizarre and motley dreamscape is the best reward." ]
[ "I met a young girl there. She had just come of age, the very time when she should be indulging in the Sweet Dream." ]
[ "Her greatest wish was to one day move to The Golden Hour and see the fine garments woven by her own hands…" ]
[ "Due to certain reasons, her wish is very difficult to realize." ]
[ "However, I found a way to bring a garment to her…" ]
Acheron recounted her observations within The Hour of Dawn. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "I suddenly realized…"
Furina de Fontaine: "Is the dream world of Penacony… truly a Sweet Dream?"
Furina de Fontaine: "If it were truly a Sweet Dream, why would there still be people unable to fulfill their wishes?"
Paimon: "If you can't even fulfill your wishes, Paimon thinks this isn't a Sweet Dream at all."
Paimon: "Because when Paimon dreams, the wish to eat whatever I want always comes true!"
Paimon: "But that girl couldn't even realize such a tiny, insignificant wish…"
Paimon: "It sounds… actually a little pitiful."
Collei: "A Sweet Dream should be something that makes people happy, right?"
Collei: "But that girl gave me the feeling that her life isn't happy at all."
Collei: "Because her wish is forever out of reach."
Stelle: "You have to work like a robot even in a dream? And you guys in The Family call this a Sweet Dream?"
Stelle: "Let me just ask you guys, who among you actually works a job while you're dreaming?"
Stelle: "Isn't that total bull?"
March 7th: "Also, listening to Miss Acheron's description, it seems the employee benefits aren't that great either?"
Aventurine: "Heh, I told you before. Penacony's so-called Sweet Dream is designed only for the upper class."
Aventurine: "As for the commoners…"
Aventurine: "The Family says! 'Who do you think you are? You think you're worthy of the Sweet Dream we spent so much effort creating?'"
Eula: "As expected, true equality simply does not exist in this world!"
Eula: "Even The Family, who worships The Harmony, is no exception!"
Hu Tao: "Sigh… what a disappointing reality…"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "By that logic, Penacony's Sweet Dream is unworthy of its name."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "The reputation of the Planet of Festivities is merely the result of propaganda by major celebrities."
Robin: "I apologize… The Family has disappointed everyone."
March 7th: "Miss Robin, you don't need to apologize. This has nothing to do with you."
March 7th: "This is a decision made by The Family's higher-ups. You can't change it either, right?"
Himeko: "Indeed. Although Miss Robin is a superstar in the cosmos,"
Himeko: "Within The Family's internal hierarchy, her influence is likely minimal."
Shenhe: "But Miss Robin's older brother is the Head of the Oak Family…"
Shenhe: "Do his words carry no weight either?"
Yanfei: "That's right, Mr. Sunday looks like he holds quite a bit of power, doesn't he?"
Boothill: "Heh, if his words were worth a damn, would his sister have been killed by some inexplicable thing?"
Boothill: "And even after she was killed, to get revenge, he had to go and beg the mother-fudging IPC lapdogs for help in a roundabout way."
Boothill: "You tell me, is his power really that great?"
Sunday: "…The Family is not my dictatorship; I cannot refute that."
Sunday: "But… I will strive to change all of this!"
Sunday: "Just as I promised before, one day, The Family's dream will become a true… Sweet Dream that belongs to everyone!"
Zhongli: "Then… may I ask, Mr. Sunday… what is the price?"
Zhongli: "What does it cost?"
Sunday: "The price may be merely the willing sacrifice of a very few… such a price is negligible."
Zhongli: "…"
Zhongli: "Mr. Sunday is indeed a noble man…"
Zhongli: "However… is that truly the only price?"
Zhongli: "Immersed in a sweet dream, one may enjoy happiness, but does that not also sever many possibilities?"
Zhongli: "After discarding these possibilities, does one not then bear a cost of far deeper significance?"
Welt Yang: "Mr. Zhongli's insight truly hits the nail on the head."
Sunday: "…"
Sunday: "I acknowledge Mr. Zhongli's perspective, but these conclusions must ultimately be founded upon reality."
Sunday: "Therefore… let this video reveal whose philosophy is the correct one…"
Lumine: "Uh… what are those two talking about?"
Stelle: "Dunno."
March 7th: "Don't understand."
Silver Wolf: "Abba abba."
....
『 The video continues.
[ "Heh, Miss Acheron is quite the warm-hearted person." ]
[ "Then, how much do you know about The Gilded Hour?" ]
[ "I heard that place is the monetary center of Penacony." ]
Welt continued his questioning.
[ "Yes. It is a city of finance, as heavily guarded as a fortress. The economic heart of the dreamscape." ]
[ "The Pepeshi of the Alfalfa Family maintain its operations there, pumping the blood made of paper bills to every corner of the giant that is Penacony." ]
[ "Everyone there is dressed exquisitely, walking with hurried steps." ]
[ "Entering The Gilded Hour to work is the greatest wish the local Pepeshi have for their descendants." ]
[ "I did not meet anyone willing to converse." ]
[ "I could only stand at the crossroads, watching crowd after crowd sweep past the steel jungle like the wind, solely to lock their earned Alfalfa Credits into bank vaults." ]
[ "I do not know if they will ever open the doors to those vaults again." ]
[ "But before I left, I witnessed with my own eyes an impeccably dressed Pepeshi fall from the sky, yet the people around him simply passed right through him." ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Navia Caspar: "It sounds like a place completely devoid of human warmth."
March 7th: "Like a bunch of cold-blooded capitalists. Eyes only for money, nothing else."
Stelle: "Speaking of which, I'm even more pissed off now. You have to spend money to buy stuff in a dream?"
Stelle: "Is this a joke? If you don't have enough money, you'll be living in poverty even in the dream."
Stelle: "Just like Hotaru before, she couldn't even bear to buy a cake every day. What kind of Sweet Dream is this, anyway?"
Stelle: "I think you guys might as well just charge an admission fee to enter the dream…"
Aventurine: "Friend… you don't actually think… The Family lets you enter the dream for free, do you?"
Aventurine: "The place you're staying at in the video, I gave that to you for free. The Family didn't give it to you for free!"
Aventurine: "You need to be clear about the difference!"
Guinaifen: "Fam, if you ask me. The Family's Sweet Dream world is essentially just a luxurious, high-end amusement park under the guise of a dream."
Guinaifen: "And if your status isn't top-tier, and the credits in your pocket aren't hard enough, you can't even get into such a high-class venue!"
Guinaifen: "Put that way, doesn't it make a lot more sense?"
Li Sushang: "As long as The Family stops spouting those high-and-mighty speeches and we just treat it as a simple amusement park, then yeah, it makes way more sense."
Seele: "So… this is actually false advertising and exaggeration?"
March 7th: "I wouldn't call it false advertising, right?"
March 7th: "At least for those who are qualified, it really is like a world of sweet dreams."
Venti: "Sigh, what a pity for us locals. Clearly, we aren't the qualified ones."
Paimon: "Hey, Tone-Deaf Bard, don't belittle yourself like that!"
Hanabi: "Are you stupid?~"
Hanabi: "Penacony's figurehead, the Chicken-Wing Boy, is right here.~"
Hanabi: "Just say the word to him… would he have the nerve to deny you a spot?~"
Hanabi: "If he really won't let you in, just ruthlessly smear and slander him! Hee hee~"
Venti: "Ehe, I'm just a simple bard, I wouldn't dare do such a thing."
Hanabi: "Bards are great! Bards are perfect for weaving false lies and singing praises~"
Hanabi: "Don't worry As long as you join the Tavern and become a Masked Fool, the Aeon of Elation will protect you~"
Paimon: "Uh… hearing that title, Paimon just can't wrap her head around why there would be a God of 'Elation' in the universe…"
Lumine: "I can only say… it's a big world, full of wonders…"
....
『 The video continues.
[ "That does align with some of my impressions of the Pepeshi people." ]
[ "Then, what kind of scene is the very romantic Hour of Blues?" ]
Welt nodded, then inquired about The Hour of Blues.
[ "Perhaps Mr. Welt has heard of it as well. There is a giant ship named the Dusk moored upon the sea of dreams there, with soft songs and graceful dances that never cease, night after night." ]
[ "I met an elderly woman there…" ]
[ "She was at the harbor, longing for the return of a lover who left many years ago, waiting for countless hours within stagnant time." ]
[ "In the humid sea breeze, she spoke of her youth—just like many who came to Penacony chasing dreams of wealth and opportunity…" ]
[ "His consciousness, however, vanished into the depths of the dream ocean." ]
[ "In the end, she suggested we sit on a sampan and continue our conversation on the nearshore waters." ]
[ "I agreed and boarded the small boat with her, but she said nothing more, merely gazing blankly at the horizon where sea meets sky for a long time." ]
[ "Finally, we retreated back to the sandy beach…" ]
As Acheron recalled this past event, her expression held a trace of desolation. 』
『 ....』