—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "The fiction has been seen through; time is running short?"
Stelle: "What does that mean? Is Gallagher done for?"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "A fabrication, once seen through, is not far from dissipation."
March 7th: "Doesn't that mean…"
March 7th: "Now that we all know Gallagher's true identity, he's about to disappear?"
Madam Herta: "Normally speaking, yes."
Madam Herta: "But perhaps there are exceptions?"
Furina de Fontaine: "So, Mr. Gallagher, are you still there?"
Furina de Fontaine: "You haven't quietly passed away already, have you?"
Gallagher: "Here, of course I'm here! And I'm feeling quite good about myself right now."
Gallagher: "I don't feel like I'm finished at all."
Black Swan: "But this defies common logic."
Silver Wolf: "We're this far in, who cares about logic?"
Silver Wolf: "Look at this livestream Chat Lodge; does this follow logic?"
Acheron: "The power of this livestream Chat Lodge is too transcendent; even Nihility cannot encroach upon it in the slightest."
Acheron: "Perhaps Mr. Gallagher has been influenced by the livestream Chat Lodge, and thus nothing has happened."
Gallagher: "Tsk, tsk, tsk. In that case, it looks like this old dog is riding on your coattails."
Gallagher: "Seems I can linger on for a while longer."
....
『 The scene shifts, arriving at the location of the Astral Express crew.
[ This is the monument I mentioned earlier. The names upon it… should be no strangers to you all. ]
Before three monuments, Micah spoke to the group.
[ Razalina, and… Tiernan. ]
Welt examined the monuments on the left and right with great care, reading aloud the names inscribed upon them.
[ In the era when Penacony was still known as the Frontier Prison, it was the Trailblaze that connected it to the stars. ]
[ They were heroes who saved Asdana. Their names deserve to be carved into the monuments of time, not merely these small stones. ]
[ Yet now, the Planet of Festivities retains only sweet dreams. The heavy history, much like that prison… has long since vanished without a trace. ]
Micah looked at the three monuments, a desolate expression on his face.
[ If their names are inscribed here, then that means... ]
Robin looked somewhat downcast, hesitating to speak.
[ According to Mr. Micah, they passed away a long time ago. ]
Himeko replied.
[ Razalina sacrificed herself during the war for independence. ]
[ To understand the flow of Memoria, she piloted a shuttle alone into the center of the star system and never returned… ]
[ Tiernan was a cowboy skilled with firearms, powerful and reliable… ]
[ He led the people through the brutal war against foreign aggression, yet he could not hold on until the day peace truly arrived. ]
[ In the decade following the war, Penacony was mired in internal strife and external threats. ]
[ For the sake of Asdana, Tiernan took up the Path of Trailblaze once more, leading the Lampmoth Family to explore beyond the star system, only to be surrounded by the Swarm… The entire army was wiped out. ]
Micah explained the deeds of these two heroes one by one.
[ Although I had anticipated it, the stories of our predecessors… are still truly regrettable. ]
After listening to Mikhail's account, March 7th felt a pang of sadness.
[ True to the title of Trailblazer, they spent their lives venturing into the unknown. But... what about this tablet? There are no names carved on it. ]
Himeko looked toward the blank monument in the center, asking curiously.
[ When Dreamflux Reef was created, its owner was still alive. However, he insisted on erecting a monument for himself, saying that 'It will happen someday.' ]
[ Here we meet again, everyone from the Astral Express.]
At this moment, Gallagher arrived with Sunday, approaching the group.
[ Robin… ]
Sunday finally saw the sister he had been longing for, and his gloomy face Instantly relaxed. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Ah! I didn't expect that both Nameless predecessors had already met with misfortune…"
March 7th: "Even though we kind of guessed it… isn't this too tragic?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Suddenly, I feel like being a Nameless is actually very dangerous!"
Welt Yang: "The process of Trailblazing has never been smooth sailing."
Welt Yang: "One never knows when a life-or-death crisis might occur."
Welt Yang: "But, even so, it cannot stop the Trailblazing heart of the Nameless!"
Welt Yang: "Because this is the Path of Trailblaze!"
Lumine: "The Path of Trailblaze… it really is quite magnificent…"
Stelle: "Magnificent is magnificent, but the occupational hazards are way too high."
Stelle: "Take our last stop, for example. We just finished beating a Lord Ravager of Destruction half to death on the Xianzhou."
Stelle: "Good grief, you guys have no idea. That battle was truly earth-shattering and ghost-weeping!"
Stelle: "It was all me holding the line!"
March 7th: "Does 'holding the line' mean lying on the ground and slacking off?"
Hu Tao: "Oh my!! Are the Express crew's operations always this dangerous?"
Hu Tao: "You actually have to fight Emanators?!"
Paimon: "Uh oh… I suddenly don't dare to be a Nameless anymore!"
Paimon: "After all, with my small body, wouldn't an Emanator crush me with one hand?!"
Zhongli: "I did not expect the previous journey of the Express crew to be so perilous."
Zhongli: "It is truly awe-inspiring."
Stelle: "It's nothing. The Express crew only plays high-end matches!"
Stelle: "Wherever there's a big scene, that's where you'll find our Express crew!"
Stelle: "Just like this time, no exception!"
....
『 [ I promised to give those siblings a little private space. Let's discuss our matters first. What do you say? ]
Gallagher found the Express crew, preparing to speak with them.
[ No harm in that. ]
[ However, Mr. Gallagher went to great lengths to gather the head of the Family, the Astral Express, and the Stellaron Hunters in one place. I presume you have something important to impart? ]
Welt responded with a question.
[ Oho, even you figured it out? ]
Gallagher deliberately put on a surprised expression.
[ The look on your face is practically screaming 'I'm the one behind all this...' ]
March 7th crossed her arms, speaking with a look of speechlessness.
[ Hahaha, Mr. Welt is correct. It is indeed time to be open and honest. ]
[ Those siblings know what they need to know; they are aware of the choice before them. ]
[ Since you Nameless arrived a bit late, I ought to spend some time answering your questions. ]
[ Before we begin, allow me to reintroduce myself— ]
[ The founder of Dreamflux Reef, the Watchmaker's deputy, and also the one who sent out that invitation… ]
[ History Fictionologist Gallagher, at your service. ]
Gallagher formally reintroduced himself.
[ You History Fictionologist! So everything you told us before was made up? ]
Hearing Gallagher reveal his identity, March 7th immediately got annoyed.
[ On that point, I can guarantee that the stories I told you earlier were all true… er, mostly. Except for the part about the Family accepting me back. ]
Gallagher spread his hands, explaining with a smile.
[ I confirmed with Mr. Micah. The deeds concerning the Family, the Watchmaker, and Mikhail himself have all been verified as accurate. ]
Himeko nodded, providing strong corroboration for Gallagher's words.
[ Thank you for your understanding! Now, let's get down to business. ]
[ I imagine you must be very curious as to why I went to such great lengths to orchestrate a battle for the legacy, sending invitations to so many factions and turning Penacony upside down… ]
[ The answer is actually quite simple, and something you are all very familiar with. The root of everything… is the Stellaron. ]
Gallagher revealed a reason that surprised everyone.
[ A Stellaron? Penacony is unobstructed, a hub connecting the stars in all directions. It doesn't appear to show any signs of contamination. How could it be related to a Stellaron? ]
Welt felt that Gallagher's claim seemed somewhat untenable.
[ You are absolutely correct. So why not take a guess? What does this imply? ]
Gallagher kept them in suspense, letting the group guess.
[ Someone is controlling the Stellaron? ]
Stelle thought for a moment, guessing casually.
[ Very sharp. ]
[ What can I say? Worthy of being the one most familiar with Stellarons here? ]
[ A sweet dream cannot be conjured out of thin air. ]
[ If we compare the Memoria Zone to an ocean, establishing a land of dreams is like reclaiming land from the turbulent sea. ]
[ To achieve such a feat, unless an Emanator of Remembrance or Enigmata intervenes, the only path is to use a Stellaron… ]
[ Moreover, this isn't something that can be settled with a simple wish. It requires a considerable degree of knowledge, plus vast amounts of time and manpower, to be done so flawlessly. ]
[ Having said this much, you should understand… ]
[ The current Planet of Festivities is Asdana's Stellaron Disaster. ]
Gallagher's tone was eerie, as he narrated the truth.
[ The Planet of Festivities… is a Stellaron Disaster? ]
After hearing this, March 7th couldn't help but cover her mouth and exclaim!
[ The story begins a long time ago. After the Watchmaker and his group liberated the Frontier Prison, they were at a loss on how to build Penacony from scratch, and the internal and external troubles were endless. ]
[ It was then that someone set their sights on the Stellaron. ]
[ This Stellaron had fallen onto Asdana during the war years. At the time, under the appeal of the Nameless, people dismissed the idea of tampering with such power. ]
[ But there were always those with ulterior motives stirring in the shadows… ]
[ The turning point for everything occurred after Tiernan's sacrifice… ]
[ The successive passing of two Nameless companions forced the Watchmaker to rush to the front lines of pioneering. ]
[ And this long journey gave his opponents an opportunity. ]
[ By the time a representative from the Montour system's Family arrived at the Watchmaker's call, the Stellaron had already been activated and was seeping into the primordial Synesthesia Dreamscape. ]
Gallagher slowly recounted the detailed sequence of events.
[ I'm guessing the Family happened to possess the knowledge to seal the Stellaron? ]
Himeko couldn't help but interject.
[ More than that! ]
[ Not just that! They knew far more about the Stellaron than the average person. They helped Mikhail swiftly quell the civil unrest and played a part in building Penacony, under the disguise of the Harmony. ]
[ Those three eras were known as the Age of Dreaming. The Watchmaker, who had been left in the dark, sent out invitations across the universe, spreading the hype around the land of the dreams. ]
Gallagher continued his narration.
[ Then later… how did they turn against each other? ]
March 7th scratched her head and asked.
[ Do you remember that metaphor about reclaiming land from the sea? ]
[ The truth is, the Stellaron was never sealed. It simply existed in the dream in a different form. ]
[ Think carefully. To construct and maintain such a colossal sweet dream, what is the cost? ]
[ It's people's lives, little girl. ]
[ The magnificent sweet dream is built upon spiritual death. Poisoned wine named 'happiness' flows through the dreamscape, causing people to indulge in it, their minds slowly flowing toward the same destination, eventually becoming the placenta of the sweet dream… ]
[ Confusion, sloth, cowardice… these weaknesses found everywhere in human nature were amplified and nourished by the Family, turning Penacony into another kind of prison, one far more indestructible than the one in the past. ]
[ We discovered it too late. ]
[ By then, the Family's influence reached the heavens, and dissenters were quickly controlled and expelled. ]
[ With no way out, I had to borrow the power of the Enigmata to hide in this chaotic Memoria Zone, spending several years fabricating a meme within the dream for our use… ]
[ 'Dormancy,' that is its true name. ]
[ Ordinary people cannot fall asleep again within the dreamscape; that is the loophole we had the chance to exploit. ]
Gallagher answered all the group's questions in detail.
[ So that is the true meaning of 'The Impossible.' ]
[ Therefore, you sent out the invitations in the Watchmaker's name to find a faction capable of resolving the Stellaron crisis, attracting them to come to Penacony and discover the truth? ]
Himeko came to a realization, then asked in return.
[ Not only that. What I wanted to see even more was the major factions fighting constantly over the legacy. Coupled with the Watchmaker speaking for the first time after vanishing for over a decade, the 'traitor' within the Family would surely show their tail. ]
Gallagher shook his head and said.
[ So, the legacy really is just a front… ]
March 7th appeared somewhat disappointed.
[ If you want to treat the Stellaron as the legacy, I have no objections. ]
Gallagher cracked a joke.
[ In that case, where is that Stellaron now? ]
Himeko inquired about the Stellaron's whereabouts.
[ That's a question for Mr. Winghead. ]
[ The Stellaron has always been under the Family's control, and since he is the face of the Oak Family, he certainly knows it inside out. ]
Gallagher glanced at Sunday in the distance, answering Himeko. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Welt Yang: "A Stellaron?!"
Welt Yang: "I truly didn't expect that the upheaval in Penacony would actually be related to a Stellaron."
March 7th: "Oh my, why are there Stellarons everywhere?"
March 7th: "Is there no end to this!!"
Stelle: "What did the Stellaron ever do to you?"
Stelle: "You look down on Stellarons?"
Stelle: "Did we Stellarons provoke you or something?"
March 7th: "???"
Furina de Fontaine: "Hahaha, Miss Stelle is just a walking Stellaron!"
Qingque: "She's a Stellaron Spirit, the only one in the universe, unique."
Qingque: "Different from those ordinary, coquettish Stellarons."
Himeko: "However, since a Stellaron is at work, the problem here is quite significant."
Aventurine: "The Family deliberately utilized the power of the Stellaron to maintain Penacony's operation."
Aventurine: "In my view, this is digging their own grave!"
Fu Xuan: "The power of the Ruin Author… that is not something so easily used."
Fu Xuan: "The Family has indeed been somewhat arrogant in this move."
Xiangling: "But having said that, a Stellaron can be artificially utilized?"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "There are no shortage of entities who research Stellarons."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Therefore, there are always some major factions that have researched certain characteristics of Stellarons."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "And from this, derived some methods to utilize the Stellaron's power."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Of course, this also contains immense hidden dangers."
....