—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Gallagher: "Heh, seeing as you've all seen right through me…"
Gallagher: "Then by all means, call me whatever you wish."
Zhongli: "A History Fictionologist… A follower of the Aeon of Enigmata?"
Zhongli: "I see…"
Zhongli: "A truly profound methodology."
Zhongli: "One that defies ordinary logic."
Collei: "If he's called a History Fictionologist…"
Collei: "Does that mean not a single word Mr. Gallagher said before was true? That it was all fabricated?"
March 7th: "Definitely!"
March 7th: "History Fictionologists just make stuff up!"
March 7th: "Getting a straight answer out of them is harder than ascending to the heavens!"
Gallagher: "Now, I wouldn't say that."
Gallagher: "A History Fictionologist doesn't necessarily fictionalize everything."
Stelle: "LMAO, you're a History Fictionologist saying you don't fabricate things?"
Stelle: "Do you take us for complete idiots?"
March 7th: "Exactly! We're not stupid!"
Gallagher: "Tsk, you shouldn't view people through tinted lenses!"
Gallagher: "What's wrong with being a History Fictionologist?"
Gallagher: "Can't a History Fictionologist be a good person?"
Gallagher: "If I hadn't used this power to fabricate this identity, how could I have exposed the Family's conspiracy?"
Welt Yang: "Indeed. Power itself has no moral alignment. A History Fictionologist is not strictly bound to speak only lies."
Welt Yang: "Then, Mr. Gallagher, let us see exactly why you went to such great lengths to construct this identity."
....
『 [ … ]
[ Hahahahaha… ]
[ Hahahahahaha! You've got guts. Impressive! ]
[ Not bad. I severely underestimated you… ]
[ I admire you. ]
[ But so what? ]
[ Does this prove that I killed your sister and that stowaway? ]
Gallagher stepped closer to Sunday, one slow stride at a time, a grotesque smile beginning to warp his features. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "Th-that smile… it's like a classic villain! The pressure is immense!"
Furina de Fontaine: "His entire aura changed in an instant!!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Is Mr. Gallagher actually the true shadow looming behind Penacony?!"
March 7th: "Talk about a face-turn, huh?"
March 7th: "Just a moment ago he was playing the tragic character."
March 7th: "Now that his identity has been exposed by Sunday, he's suddenly this arrogant?"
Hu Tao: "It's over. Gallagher's flying into a rage out of humiliation. He's definitely going to make a move on Mr. Sunday!"
Paimon: "Whoa! Doesn't that mean both siblings are going to…!!"
Lumine: "Uh… wait a second."
Lumine: "I just remembered something."
Lumine: "Since Miss Hotaru didn't actually die… doesn't that mean Miss Robin is perfectly fine too?"
Diona: "That should be the case, right?"
Diona: "But where exactly is Miss Robin right now?"
Himeko: "If my predictions are correct, she is likely within a dreamscape beyond the Dream."
Stelle: "So what exactly is Gallagher trying to do?"
Welt Yang: "Hmm… no leads for the moment. Let's keep watching."
....
『 [ It proves that you and the Memetic Entity "Death" are birds of a feather—and that is enough. ]
[ Listen well. I couldn't care less how you did it… I only care about one thing, the answer to one question— ]
[ —YOU BASTARD, YOU DAMN STRAY DOG, WHY DID YOU KILL HER?! ]
Sunday's composure vanished completely.
He stared at Gallagher, and screamed the question in sheer hysteria! 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Nahida: "This is the first time Mr. Sunday has completely lost his composure."
Nahida: "Clearly, his sister's death has filled his heart with hatred."
Paimon: "Ugh… Mr. Sunday really is a very, very good brother."
Paimon: "He's a bit like Mr. Aventurine in that way; they both care deeply about their family!"
Hanabi: "Ohoho~ As expected of a History Fictionologist!"
Hanabi: "To make Chicken Wing Boy tilt like that, you're the first!"
Acheron: "He had been restraining his emotions to the utmost limit before."
Acheron: "But now, facing the true culprit, no matter how deep his shrewdness runs, he can no longer hold back."
Black Swan: "His beloved sister died a tragic death, yet the murderer remains at large. Who could possibly sit still in such a situation?"
Robin: "But… in this state, my brother won't be able to protect himself!"
Silver Wolf: "Protect himself? His head is full of nothing but you right now."
Silver Wolf: "Where's the room to worry about his own safety?"
Sunday: "Robin, to me, your safety is the most important thing."
Sunday: "So, I hope that in the future, you can care a little more about your own well-being. Don't make me worry, okay?"
Robin: "Mn! I promise you, brother!"
Gallagher: "What a touching display of sibling affection!"
Gallagher: "Don't rush. I'll obviously be sending you to reunite with her very soon!"
Gallagher: "You'll thank me when the time comes."
Stelle: "??? Do villains always talk this much smack?"
Stelle: "You're not even pretending anymore?"
Boothill: "Ha, his precious fabricated identity just got blown wide open."
Boothill: "What's the point in pretending?"
Himeko: "Do not worry. The 'reunion' Mr. Gallagher speaks of is likely not what we understand it to be."
Gallagher: "Ha, looks like someone gets it."
....
『 [ The observer is blind—people cannot see the grit in their own eyes. ]
[ They only know the grit is there. ]
Gallagher walked over to sit in the shadows, he pulled out a lighter, and using that faint flicker of flame, he cast a shadow.
[ You want an answer? ]
[ I can give it to you. ]
[ …It's all just a damn twist of fate. ]
Gallagher snapped the lighter shut.
Suddenly, the Memetic Entity known as "Death" materialized!
Squelch!
The sound of a sharp blade piercing through a chest rang out, followed by liquid splashing onto the ground. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "AH!!!! Sc… Scared the life out of me!!"
Furina de Fontaine: "That… that was way too sudden, wasn't it?"
Furina de Fontaine: "They were just talking, and then Mr. Sunday got killed by Death?"
Hanabi: "Oh my, Oh my~ Now Chicken Wing Boy and Chicken Wing Girl are reunited!"
Li Sushang: "That Memetic Entity really was controlled by Mr. Gallagher!"
Li Sushang: "That means he deliberately killed Miss Hotaru and Miss Robin!"
Guinaifen: "Shangshang, using the word 'kill' doesn't seem quite appropriate."
Guinaifen: "Miss Hotaru is still alive and kicking right now!"
Li Sushang: "Oh, right. But having said that, how exactly did Miss Hotaru survive?"
Nahida: "Thinking back on it now, Miss Hotaru likely sought death voluntarily at that time."
Nahida: "She clearly sensed the secrets hidden in the depths of the Dreamscape, so she had to use the hand of that Memetic Entity, 'Death,' to uncover them."
Nahida: "You could say Miss Hotaru was likely the first to learn the truth."
Lumine: "Nahida is right."
Lumine: "If Miss Hotaru hadn't sought death willingly…"
Lumine: "I feel that if she had transformed into SAM, that Memetic Entity wouldn't have stood a chance against her."
Paimon: "But… how did Miss Hotaru know that being killed by that Memetic Entity wouldn't result in actual death?"
Lumine: "I don't know. Maybe it was a guess?"
Lumine: "Or perhaps, she learned it from that… mysterious script?"
Sampo Koski: "Speaking of which, Miss Robin, seeing your own brother killed… do you have any comments?"
Stelle: "Comments?"
Stelle: "Hey Sampo, do you know how to talk to people?"
Stelle: "If you don't have anything nice to say, shut it. No one thinks you're mute!"
March 7th: "Exactly!"
March 7th: "A dog's mouth really can't spit out ivory!"
Gepard: "Mr. Sampo, you are disgracing Belobog. I am coming to arrest you immediately!"
Sampo Koski: "Okay, okay, okay, sorry!"
Sampo Koski: "It was poor phrasing on my part, old Sampo apologizes!"
Sampo Koski: "What I meant was, seeing your own brother murdered as well, does Miss Robin have any… er… thoughts?"
Robin: "To be honest, if I hadn't seen Miss Hotaru survive, this scene… I probably wouldn't be able to bear it. I might have fainted on the spot."
Robin: "But since I now know this death isn't a true death, that there is still hope…"
Robin: "I am much calmer…"
Robin: "However, what confuses me is… what exactly is Gallagher's goal in doing all this?"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Motive… Indeed, a critical question!"
Gallagher: "Nothing complex. Just wanted to invite you all to a certain place as guests."
Gallagher: "The method was just a little rough around the edges."
Gallagher: "But it's fast!"
Nilou: "A little… rough??"
Nilou: "I don't think 'rough' covers it, does it?"
Dehya: "Ha, letting a grotesque monster stab someone through the chest."
Dehya: "I fail to see how that constitutes an invitation!"
Dehya: "Or is this how all you… History Fictionologists invite people?"
Paimon: "Actually, that doesn't seem impossible?"
....
『 The scene shifts.
It is now twelve system hours before the opening of the Charmony Festival.
Inside the Astral Express.
[ News Flash: The countdown to the Penacony Charmony Festival has begun. ]
[ Accompanied by the ticking of Clockie, in 12 system hours, this celebration will see its grand opening… ]
As the radio broadcast played, the interior of the carriage gradually came into view.
And at this moment, a wild, uninhibited cowboy, was pointing a gun in his hand, directly at Dan Heng. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Holy shit! What's going on?!"
Stelle: "Our train got hijacked?! Who the hell is this guy?"
Stelle: "Daring to hijack the Astral Express!! Does he have a death wish?!"
March 7th: "Uh… we haven't been gone that long, have we?"
March 7th: "Someone's already targeting our train?!"
March 7th: "And this guy is actually pointing a gun at Dan Heng??"
Furina de Fontaine: "Another stranger has appeared."
Furina de Fontaine: "And he doesn't look like one of the good guys."
Furina de Fontaine: "The situation is getting even more complicated."
Hu Tao: "Um, this guy looks super dangerous."
Hu Tao: "Will Mr. Dan Heng and Conductor Pam be in danger?"
Hu Tao: "And the Astral Express… he's not really going to hijack it, is he?"
Stelle: "Relax, Dan Heng is no pushover!"
Stelle: "Don't let his plain, cold look fool you."
Stelle: "Piss him off, and he'll transform in a split second!"
Stelle: "Then this guy will get beaten so hard he won't know which way is up!!"
Dan Heng: "..."
Lumine: "Trans… Transform?!"
Lumine: "It seems Mr. Dan Heng is quite formidable as well!"
Welt Yang: "The question is, who is this person?"
Welt Yang: "Why hijack the Express while we were away?"
Boothill: "Ahem… well… this might be a fudging misunderstanding."
Boothill: "Is there a possibility…"
Boothill: "That the guy in the video just wants to ask for directions?"
Silver Wolf: "Asking for directions with a gun to someone's head?"
Silver Wolf: "How delightfully polite!"
Silver Wolf: "Even Sam wouldn't pull that!"
Hotaru: "Mhm, I have a navigation system, I usually don't need to ask for directions!"
Boothill: "Sigh… maybe… different folks, different strokes…"
Li Sushang: "Mr. Boothill, why does it sound like you're defending the guy in the video?"
Li Sushang: "Aren't you a righteous Galaxy Ranger?"
Li Sushang: "Shouldn't you hate villains like this?"
Boothill: "W-well… haha…"
Guinaifen: "Tsk, I smell something fishy!"
....
『 [ I've told you! If there's an issue, we can discuss it calmly! ]
Pam walked up to the cowboy, trying to mediate with a nervous expression.
[ Sorry about this, little furball. I've got some urgent business, so I had to use this method to ask for a small favor. ]
Facing Pam's plea, the cowboy replied with a cheeky grin.
[ Since you know what you are doing, I must remind you of the risks involved. ]
Dan Heng looked at the cowboy, his gaze unfriendly.
[ Brother, why so tense? I only pulled this thing out to say hello. ]
The cowboy adjusted his aim.
[ Last chance. State your identity and purpose. ]
Dan Heng's expression turned cold, issuing a final ultimatum.
[ Name's Boothill. I'm a Galaxy Ranger. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Boothill?! You mother-fudger, you're the one hijacking our Astral Express?!"
Stelle: "Have you no shame?"
Stelle: "Are you really a fudging Galaxy Ranger?!"
March 7th: "Uh… what's wrong with your speech?"
March 7th: "Are you wearing a modified Synesthesia Beacon too?"
Furina de Fontaine: "So this is Mr. Boothill!"
Furina de Fontaine: "He finally made it to Penacony?"
Furina de Fontaine: "But why isn't he looking for Miss Acheron? Why is he hijacking the train instead?"
Hu Tao: "Could it be that Mr. Boothill's identity is also fake?"
Hu Tao: "He's not a Galaxy Ranger at all, but an interstellar bandit?!"
Boothill: "Holy baby! Interstellar bandit my ass!"
Boothill: "I'm telling you, I really am a Galaxy Ranger!"
Boothill: "Didn't the video just say so?"
Boothill: "I only did this to get Brother Dan Heng to do me a small favor!"
Silver Wolf: "Didn't look like asking for a favor. Looked more like asking for his life."
....