『 [ Hey, looks like a pretty good haul! ]
[ I wonder if this will be enough… ]
March 7th and Stelle had finished gathering the ingredients they fancied and were preparing to return to Gallagher.
[ —Move it! I need to see Siobhan! ]
Suddenly, the sound of a heated dispute erupted within the bar.
[ Huh? What's that noise? ]
Hearing the commotion, March 7th and Stelle exchanged a glance, both sensing a wave of confusion.
[ …Did I not make myself clear earlier, Miss Amiky? ]
[ The Dreamjolt Hostelry only welcomes guests who wish to enjoy a drink in peace. ]
[ My apologies… but I have no interest in your proposal. ]
As Stelle and March 7th approached, they saw Siobhan speaking to a stranger named Amiky.
[ But you clearly have the talent! ]
[ You could captivate everyone's gaze… ]
[ You were born for the stage of the Iris Family, not this rotten wooden counter! ]
[ Come with me! ]
[ We could be the most dazzling stars in Penacony, casting our light into every corner of the Dreamscape! ]
[ Please, Siobhan, I need you… ]
Amiky's expression was frantic, bordering on hysterical.
[ ... ]
[ …As you can see, I am attending to guests. ]
[ Don't make me repeat myself. ]
Siobhan's patience was wearing thin.
[ Fine… If you won't agree, then I'll sit right here. I'm not going anywhere! ]
[ Give me a carbonated drink. ]
[ Sweet. Extra ice. ]
Seeing that Siobhan wouldn't budge, Amiky decided to make a scene and planted herself right there.
[ …One moment. ]
Siobhan nodded helplessly.
[ What's going on… ]
[ If she keeps hogging the bar, we won't be able to discuss the case. ]
March 7th watched the scene unfold, her brow furrowing slightly.
[ Stelle, that Clockwork technique you demonstrated before… can you attempt it again? ]
Himeko suddenly stepped forward, inquiring of Stelle.
[ Uh… How come even you, Himeko... ]
Stelle looked at Himeko, feeling a bit surprised.
[ Time is of the essence. We must make haste. ]
Himeko offered a brief explanation.
[ Yeah, we're counting on you. ]
March 7th chimed in as well.
[ Alright then, I'll give it a shot. ]
Seeing that both of them were insistent, Stelle had no choice but to step up.
[ You're Siobhan's guest, right? What do you want? ]
[ If you're here to persuade me to leave, save your breath. Unless she agrees to my request… ]
[ Why, though? ]
[ Why does she refuse to leave this place… ]
[ This desolate, trashy bar? ]
Stelle walked up to Amiky, intending to try persuading her with words first.
However, the moment she approached, before she could even speak, she hit a wall.
With no other options, she began to initiate the Clockwork mechanic.
Following her habit, she first tuned Siobhan's emotion to "Angry" to test the waters.
[ —It's all because of those "Iris Family bastards"! ]
[ They forced Siobhan into a corner, leaving her no choice but to hide here, running a bar for monsters… It's all schemes and conspiracies! ]
[ Ah… I get it now. It's not that she doesn't want to leave, she just doesn't want to face those villains again! ]
[ I… I can pave the way for her—I can help her! ]
[ I'll write a letter to the Dreammaster the moment I get back, exposing the crimes of the Iris Family… ]
[ Siobhan will definitely thank me! ]
Under the influence of Clockwork, Amiky immediately began a frantic mental fabrication, angrily cursing members of the Iris Family.
[ If I let her spiral like this, it's going to cause a major incident… ]
[ Looks like I need to switch emotions. ]
Stelle felt that Amiky's current state was dangerous, so she hurriedly swapped it for a "Sad" emotion, hoping to dampen her fiery temper.
[ ….. ]
[ Heh, it's laughable, isn't it? ]
[ I know perfectly well that our lives are just two parallel lines, yet I still cling to her… ]
[ I am cowardly, timid. I yearn for the places that shine, yet I dare not step into the spotlight. ]
[ I need her guidance, because I can accomplish nothing on my own… ]
[ You don't know Siobhan's past, you don't know that she is… ]
[ Such a radiant person. ]
[ Even in the Iris Family, where superstars gather like clouds, her talent was unmatched. ]
[ I know… ]
[ Siobhan surely thinks I just want to use her fame to get ahead. ]
[ But all I want is for her to return to that place… ]
This time, immersed in melancholy, Amiky began to pour out her bitterness, making even Stelle feel uncomfortable listening to it.
[ This won't work either. Let's try making her happy. ]
Stelle adjusted Amiky's emotion to "Happy".
[ I see it… ]
[ The moment Siobhan and I step onto the stage together. ]
[ The audience is applauding, cheers surge like a tidal wave, a melodious tune plays, ribbons drape over our shoulders, and the air is filled with the fragrance of irises… ]
[ This taste… it's sweeter than honey. ]
[ I have seen this spectacle countless times. Though it was in a dream, every time it leaves me intoxicated. ]
[ And precisely because of that, no matter what, I must bring her back to that world. ]
[ Shall we toast? ]
[ My good listener, stranger… consider this a premature celebration for a dream that remains out of reach. ]
Amiky's mood improved significantly, and a smile began to bloom on her face.
Caught up in this emotion, she couldn't help but raise her glass and clink it against Stelle's.
[ Sigh… after chatting with you, I feel a strange mix of emotions. ]
[ All sorts of thoughts are tangled together. It feels somewhat liberating, yet I also feel a bit like crying… ]
[ Perhaps… I should find a place to rethink what Siobhan truly means to me… ]
[ Here is the money for the drink. Please pass it to her. ]
[ I'm leaving now. Goodbye. ]
Hard work pays off. After some effort, Stelle finally managed to usher away the great obstacle that was Amiky. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "You guys saw that, right?"
Stelle: "Himeko-jie put me up to it this time."
Stelle: "I didn't use Clockwork on her just for kicks."
March 7th: "Hey, you, why are you in such a rush to issue a disclaimer?"
March 7th: "Nobody said you did it on purpose."
Himeko: "It was a matter of urgency. We are racing to uncover the truth of Penacony, so in special circumstances, we must resort to special measures."
Nahida: "However, it seems the outcome of the Clockwork was not bad at all."
Nahida: "After the Clockwork was applied, Miss Amiky seems to have thought through many things."
Hu Tao: "Hehe, looks like you accidentally did a good deed."
Lumine: "Hmm… Miss Siobhan and Miss Amiky seem like people with quite a story."
Paimon: "Their relationship feels kinda weird."
Paimon: "Miss Amiky seems a little too dependent on Miss Siobhan."
Collei: "Maybe because… she has low self-esteem…"
Collei: "That's why she yearns for someone as dazzling as the sun, like Miss Siobhan…"
Furina de Fontaine: "So it was a disaster caused by a lack of self-confidence."
Furina de Fontaine: "I think Miss Stelle should have hit her with a 'Confidence' Clockwork emotion."
Furina de Fontaine: "That might have solved the problem instantly."
Stelle: "Is there a possibility… that the me in the video hasn't discovered a 'Confidence' emotion for Clockwork?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Uh… that does seem to be the case…"
Furina de Fontaine: "I overthought it, hehe."
....
『 [ …Amiky left? ]
[ This is better for her… The dream of the Charmony Festival is enchanting, but a dream is just a dream. It isn't reality. ]
[ I'll cover her drink. You keep the money. ]
[ Oh, if you're ready, go find Gallagher—I can see his hands are itching to mix something. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Oho! I didn't expect to make money playing Clockwork this time!"
Stelle: "Tsk tsk tsk, I think I've discovered a new business opportunity!"
March 7th: "Adjusting emotions for unhappy people, relieving their worries…"
March 7th: "Stelle, I think you could totally use Clockwork to become a psychotherapist!"
March 7th: "You'd make a killing, right?"
Black Swan: "Ha, that is quite an intriguing idea."
Black Swan: "Perhaps you would be even more popular than a Memokeeper skilled in healing the human heart."
Stelle: "Say no more. Once I master Clockwork, I'm opening a shop in Penacony!"
Stelle: "When the time comes, everyone here gets a 50% discount if you come for counseling!!"
Silver Wolf: "Heh, you're surprisingly generous…"
....
『 [ We've found all the ingredients we wanted. ]
Stelle and March 7th arrived before Gallagher.
[ Hmph, pretty quick. ]
[ Let me see… ]
[ …You've brought some interesting things. Take your pick. ]
[ Every drink has a different flavor profile. The base usually determines the first impression and the lingering aftertaste—which ingredient do you want to choose as the base? ]
Gallagher looked over the materials the two had found and asked with interest.
[ Uh… let's use this Pika White Grape Soda. ]
Stelle thought for a moment and replied.
[ They say this was the favorite drink of the legendary Hanunue's. Of course, I'm talking about its prototype. ]
[ This stuff is sour and bitter. The bubbles explode in your throat like swallowing a rusty iron chain, evoking thoughts of prisons and cells. ]
Gallagher picked up the soda, offering a brief explanation.
[ The base is selected. Next is the adjunct. It's responsible for creating a wondrous chemical reaction with the base. It shouldn't steal the show, yet it must bring an unforgettable gustatory experience… ]
[ Which ingredient do you want to choose as the adjunct? ]
Gallagher poured the soda into the glass, then asked.
[ Let's use this 'Looking Forward to a Bright Future'. At least the name sounds auspicious. ]
Stelle took out the adjunct she liked.
[ A Bright Future… ]
[ It's been a long time since I've tasted this. ]
[ I'll never forget it. When Mikhail took me galloping through the wilderness of the Dreamscape, the winds of Memoria were wrapped in this scent. ]
[ Those days haunt my dreams… they were too beautiful to be real. ]
Looking at the adjunct Stelle produced, a look of reminiscence surfaced on Gallagher's face.
[ Mikhail…? ]
Himeko heard the name and felt a pang of curiosity.
[ Heh, that's about it. ]
[ Come, pick a decoration. What style do you like? ]
[ I have them all here. ]
Gallagher smiled, clearly not intending to elaborate further for the moment.
[ Let's go with a Hanu's sign.. ]
Stelle picked one at random.
[ A symbol of bravery and dauntlessness. May you break free from your shackles just like he did. ]
[ Alright, it is done… ]
[ With this 'A Ticket to the Boneyard', I salute you, Nameless— ]
[ —A toast to the dead and the dying. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Diona: "Whoa! He actually used those abstract things to make a drink that looks delicious!"
Diona: "How on earth did he do that?"
Stelle: "It's magic! He added magic!!"
Gallagher: "Heh, miss, that is nothing surprising."
Gallagher: "This is a Dreamscape. Anything can happen reasonably."
Gallagher: "Though this drink… it really did dredge up some memories…"
Li Sushang: "I'm just saying, isn't the name of this drink a bit too weird?"
Li Sushang: "A Ticket to the Boneyard… A toast to the dead and the dying?"
Li Sushang: "What kind of saying is that?"
Guinaifen: "I wanted to roast that too! Such a good-looking drink, isn't that name a bit ominous?"
Silver Wolf: "What do you guys know?"
Silver Wolf: "This is abstract art!"
Madam Herta: "Hmm… indeed abstract. Just like the man himself."
March 7th: "Um… Mikhail…"
March 7th: "Mr. Gallagher mentioned that name, right?"
March 7th: "Who exactly is he? do you know him?"
Himeko: "That is a question I would like answered as well. I hope Mr. Gallagher can shed some light on it."
Gallagher: "Oh, Mikhail…"
Gallagher: "I do know him. An old acquaintance."
Gallagher: "He… he's just an ordinary old geezer, a classic nice guy."
Gallagher: "Nothing much to say."
Hu Tao: "Mr. Gallagher saying that isn't very convincing."
Hu Tao: "Previously, Miss Stelle and Miss Hotaru saw many things related to Mikhail in that dangerous Dreamscape."
Hu Tao: "This person is definitely not 'ordinary' as Mr. Gallagher claims!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Exactly! This Mikhail must have a significant background!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Who knows, maybe he's the mastermind behind everything?"
Paimon: "Uh… if you put it that way…"
Paimon: "Wouldn't Mr. Gallagher, who knows the mastermind, be an accomplice?"
Paimon: "But he's a security officer of Penacony…"
Sunday: "A security officer of Penacony… Heh."
Eula Lawrence: "What does Mr. Sunday mean by that?"
Gallagher: "Probably nothing. He likely just looks down on an old dog like me."
Amber: "Why does Mr. Gallagher refer to himself as a dog…"
Collei: "Because he is… from the Hound Family?"
Zhongli: "Perhaps Mr. Gallagher's identity extends beyond that."
Lumine: "The situation seems to have taken a strangely wrong turn."
Sampo Koski: "Tsk, I feel like you people have more twists in your heads than us Masked Fools!"
Hanabi: "Hehehe, I just love people with ulterior motives~"
....
『 [ Not bad, Gallagher. You haven't lost your touch. ]
Siobhan looked at the drink Gallagher had concocted and offered a compliment.
[ And you all? Are you satisfied? ]
Gallagher looked toward the three who were partaking.
[ This flavor… ]
[ It's much more complex than SoulGlad. ]
March 7th took a sip and spoke with amazement.
[ Rich texture, distinct layers. A true masterpiece. ]
[ Especially the handling of the adjunct. I can taste a unique flavor—spicy, astringent, yet with a hint of sweetness… ]
[ I don't know what this signifies. Perhaps Mr. Gallagher would be willing to explain the ingenuity behind his craft? ] 』
『 ....』