〘Stelle〙: Huh? There's another master player?
〘Silver Wolf〙: This is the official staff stepping in to kick people out.
....
『 The Dreammaster couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this, shaking his head as he did. After he finished laughing, he stared intently at Acheron, who had just revealed his identity.
"There is now one more reason why you cannot be allowed to stay."
More Family members stepped forward.
"But whether you believe it or not, this is the real 'me'."
"And not only that, every single one of them is."
As more and more Family members stepped onto the stage, Acheron looked at the crowd gradually surrounding her and asked, "Is this what the Family calls 'many minds with one heart'?" 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: So that's what having 'one heart' means?
〘Herta〙: Very much in the style of Harmony.
....
『 "My mortal frame has long since dissipated. The one hundred and seven thousand, three hundred and thirty-six children of the Oak Family are now my eyes, ears, and mouths. In times of need, I shall spread the harmony throughout this beautiful dream on their behalf, and when necessary… banish evil from this paradise for me."
Acheron crossed her arms and looked at the Pepeshi at the front. "Sounds like you are asking me to leave Penacony."
"I am glad you have some self-awareness." At this point, the Dreammaster snorted coldly. "Regrettably, there is no 'asking'."
"You think you can do it," Acheron said in a calm tone.
"Are you threatening me?"
"Hmm… I used a period. It was a… statement," Acheron explained.
"You are not the first, nor will you be the last, to show such malice after learning of my identity. This scene has played out too many times. Faced with my inquiries, most people would ask in return, 'Why not?'"
"But the result… has always been 'not'." 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: She really says the most ruthless words in the calmest tone.
〘Acheron〙: I was merely stating a fact.
....
『 "You are very confident, but please remember—the Family is humble, but never weak. The chords of the Harmony resound throughout the cosmos. If you do not comply, should that long blade be unsheathed even by a fraction, you will never be able to escape the Eternal Centurion(Aelenev)'s wrath in all of your lifetime."
"And before that… one hundred and thirty-seven people. That is the number of outsiders I have personally banished since becoming the Dreammaster. Some of them once broke my wings, some once burned my body to ashes…"
"But today, I still stand here, and I wouldn't mind adding another stroke to this number." 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: He's so brave.
〘Hanabi〙: You don't get it, do you? As he said, he has over a hundred thousand children. As long as he sends one every day, specifically appearing to sing harmony when Acheron is trying to sleep, he can annoy Acheron to death.
〘Acheron〙: ...
〘March 7th〙: I can picture it… Should I say, as expected of Elation?
....
『 "And then you will die." Fearing the Dreammaster might misunderstand her meaning, Acheron added, "I mean… all of you will."
The Dreammaster fell silent upon hearing this, looking at Acheron with a solemn expression.
Acheron took a few steps forward, and the Dreammaster controlled the Family members in front to make way.
After a few steps, Acheron stopped. "…But that won't happen. Just as you said, I will leave."
"A very wise choice."
Acheron turned her head to look at the Family members surrounding her. "It seems there are no other options."
"For you, this is indeed the only path. But please remember at all times, you and Penacony do not belong to the same world. Those born on the other shore cannot find a home on this shore."
"Leave, and never return. The light of the Planet of Festivities is too dazzling, attracting too many swindlers, villains, and criminals. But even the Harmony… will absolutely not welcome a Self-Annihilator of the Nihility."
"And even more so, when this Self-Annihilator heralds the destruction of everything. Your strength is obviously a gift of the sleeping and shapeless, immeasurable and fathomless, like a tributary spawned from the abyss that brings death and sin to all."
The Dreammaster turned to look at the slowly walking Acheron. "Acheron… Hmph…a befitting name."
Acheron stopped in her tracks and looked up at the sky—or more accurately, at that Lordly Trashcan.
"Take it from someone on the other side of your so-called river: You know better than I do that Penacony has already deviated from the Harmony. Whatever your intentions may be... I foresee only one outcome."
"Its future holds nothing but Nihility, just like all the worlds that have drowned in THEIR shadow." 』
『 ....』
{The Great Train Robbery—End}
〘Robin〙: Straying from the Harmony… Is this the reason why I lost my voice?
〘Herta〙: Things are getting interesting. Which Aeon did Penacony choose after straying from the Harmony?
〘Aha〙: It's definitely not Aha anyway. Aha really has no face.
{At the exact same time, in the Golden Hour, Miss Robin, who was supposed to be dead, appeared here, comforting the startled dreamseekers. However, after comforting them, she would always leave behind a strange button.}
{Now Playing—The Fool Always Rings Twice}
〘Stelle〙: Who's the protagonist? It's so hard to guess~
〘Hanabi〙: Yes, yes, indeed so hard to guess~
....
『 At the same time—Golden Hour
A Pepeshi looked up at the news playing on the TV in front of a store.
"…The imagery just now was caused by an equipment malfunction at the Clock Studios Theme Park. The Family has cordially cordoned off the scene immediately, and no one was injured. Guests can rest assured." 』
『 ....』
〘Aventurine〙: No one was injured.
〘Cocolia〙: A classic journalistic charm moment.
....
『 Hearing this, the Pepeshi shouted, "I swear, that was absolutely not filming a movie! So many chips fell from the sky, and I even grabbed one, but it vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye!"
"Excuse me, are you talking about the accident at the Clock Studios Theme Park?"
A voice familiar to the Pepeshi came from behind. He turned around and said, "Huh? Yeah, what about it…"
After turning around and seeing clearly who the other party was, the Pepeshi covered his mouth in shock. "R-Robin, Miss Robin?! Am I seeing things?"
(Robin?) smiled slightly. "Hehe, don't be nervous. I'm very sorry for bringing such a bad experience to your dream journey. The chips you mentioned just now interest me a lot. Could you please tell me more about it?"
The Pepeshi nodded. "It's just… those common chips, colorful, falling down with a clatter, like rain."
"And then those chips simply disappeared? Ah, it appears... to be the DreamSim Tech the Iris Family has been developing."
(Robin?) wasn't even acting anymore. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: This Hanabi flavor is practically slapping me in the face.
〘Sunday〙: Fool, I tolerated you masquerading as my sister, but you cannot make her go out of character! Absolutely not!
〘Hanabi〙: Is this what people mean by 'to open a window, you must first break down the door'?
....
『 "Eh? Miss Robin means… those chips were all special effects for a performance? But I clearly—" The Pepeshi scratched his head in confusion.
(Robin?) placed a finger to her lips. "Shh—this technology hasn't been made public yet. It was originally meant to debut at the Charmony Festival, but it leaked by accident."
"Could you help me keep this secret? Because this dreamlike rain of chips… was originally scheduled to be used in my performance."
Hearing this, a look of realization dawned on the Pepeshi's face. "S-So that's how it is! That makes sense then. As long as the Charmony Festival can be held smoothly, I will definitely cooperate fully!"
"Thank you! In exchange, let me give you a little gift."
(Robin?) handed the button to the Pepeshi. The Pepeshi took it. "This button is…"
"Press it at a certain moment during the festival, and there might be a surprise," (Robin?) said with a smile.
"Alright, it seems other guests are having trouble as well. I'll take my leave first. I hope you continue to enjoy this dreamscape." 』
『 ....』
〘Black Swan〙: So the button you said could destroy Penacony, you just hand it out to random people on the street?
〘Hanabi〙: Only then does it get interesting, doesn't it~
....