—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Huh?"
March 7th: "Didn't they say there was no inheritance?"
March 7th: "How come there is one now?"
Stelle: "For anyone else, there is no inheritance."
Stelle: "Didn't you hear?"
Stelle: "This is a legacy that belongs solely to us, the descendants of the Trailblaze!"
Stelle: "Ha, truly a veteran senior, still thinking about leaving something behind for us juniors. How wonderful!"
Dan Heng: "Since it is an inheritance… it seems this person has also passed away…"
Pam: "Sigh… I never imagined that the moment they stepped off the Express would truly be the last time we ever saw them, pom…"
Pam: "I just wonder, did they all fulfill their respective wishes?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Judging by the current state of Penacony and the previous descriptions…"
Furina de Fontaine: "I'm afraid not."
Hu Tao: "Sigh. Three Nameless seniors struggled for Penacony their entire lives, only to meet such ends one after another."
Hu Tao: "And all of them passed away with regrets."
Hu Tao: "It really makes one feel it wasn't worth it."
Stelle: "It's okay. What our seniors couldn't finish, we juniors will continue and complete!"
Welt Yang: "Well said."
Welt Yang: "Inheritance is, in itself, a form of the Trailblaze spirit!"
Pam: "On behalf of those three past Nameless, I thank you all, Pam!"
Pam: "You are all the most outstanding Nameless!"
March 7th: "Hehe, praised by the Conductor! Heck yeah!"
Stelle: "Heck yeah! Praise me more, Conductor!!"
Stelle: "I love hearing it!"
Pam: "Mhm, mhm! Then from now on, this Conductor will praise you a few times every day."
Himeko: "Ha, Stelle's smile is going to stretch all the way to the sky."
....
『 [ Returning here once more… ]
The group followed Gallagher back to the three monuments.
[ Old friend, sometimes I forget you're already dead. It feels like you still have so much to say, so many roads left to walk… ]
[ Now, I have kept my promise. I've brought the descendants you worried about your entire life. ]
[ I don't know why you could never forget that train, but I still remember the last words you spoke before leaving this world… ]
[ Don't let us down, old man. ]
Gallagher looked at the nameless monument in the center, murmuring a few words with a complex expression.
He then directly activated the mechanism hidden there.
Instantly, the platform they were standing on began to shake violently and started to ascend.
[ Huh? What's happening? ]
This sudden turn of events left March 7th somewhat bewildered.
[ Go on ahead. His terminus… lies in the garden up ahead. ]
[ Penacony's first, and also last, Nameless… ]
[ The Watchmaker, Mikhail Char Legwork. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "Mikhail?"
Furina de Fontaine: "That mysterious Watchmaker was actually the final Nameless senior the Express Crew was looking for?!"
Hu Tao: "Uh… it feels a bit unexpected, yet entirely reasonable."
Pam: "The Watchmaker… The Watchmaker…"
Pam: "I never thought that the shy and introverted young man from back then would become the famous Watchmaker of Penacony, Pam…"
Pam: "That really doesn't match the impression I had of him…"
Pam: "It seems that after getting off the Express, he went through a lot too, pom…"
Himeko: "Mikhail Char Legwork…"
Himeko: "As expected, the name this senior left behind previously wasn't his full name."
Stelle: "The Watchmaker is the final Nameless senior."
Stelle: "Then wouldn't the inheritance he left us be ridiculously huge?!"
Stelle: "Could it be… enough credits to last several lifetimes?"
Stelle: "Or perhaps, ownership of Penacony itself?"
Stelle: "Anyway, I FEEL LIKE THE EXPRESS CREW IS ABOUT TO STRIKE IT RICH!!!"
Paimon: "WAH!!!"
Paimon: "It feels like loads and loads of treasure are already waving at Miss Stelle!"
Paimon: "Waaah, I'm so envious! Paimon wants treasure too!"
Qingque: "Stelle, if you become a rich person, don't forget us poor friends!!"
Guinaifen: "Yeah, yeah! I want to bask in the glory of a rich person, too!"
Stelle: "Don't worry, don't worry, we're all good sisters. How could I forget you?"
Stelle: "Once I inherit the legacy, I'll treat you all to the finest food and drink!"
Welt Yang: "Uh… I advise you not to be so optimistic."
Welt Yang: "Given the style of us Nameless…"
Welt Yang: "It's highly unlikely to be such a mundane inheritance…"
Amber: "Mundane?"
Amber: "So in the eyes of the Nameless, wealth is just the most mundane thing?"
Zhongli: "Speaking from general rationality, those who walk the Path of the Trailblaze likely do not care much for material possessions."
Venti: "Of course! What they value most must be the spirit of the Trailblaze!"
Venti: "So I guess… the legacy left by this Senior Watchmaker must also be related to the Trailblaze spirit, right?"
March 7th: "Ah, this…"
March 7th: "But how can something as ethereal as spirit be left as an inheritance?"
Black Swan: "Hehe, Miss March 7th, have you forgotten?"
Black Swan: "In the dreamscape, anything is possible."
Black Swan: "Even spirit can be materialized."
Dan Heng: "Indeed… by borrowing the hand of the dreamscape, many things can certainly be accomplished."
....
『 Stelle and the other two stepped forward, coming face to face with the Watchmaker, Mikhail.
At this moment, Mikhail, in the garden closest to the full moon reflected in the water, reclined in an easy chair, silent and still.
He had already stepped into that endless, long dream, and no voice could ever wake him again.
[ Sure enough… the Watchmaker is the third Nameless. I even guessed that. ]
Looking at Mikhail's peaceful face, March 7th's expression was somewhat complicated.
[ The legacy he left behind is a Dream Bubble. I'm guessing inside it lies something meaningful only to the Nameless. ]
[ After all, when I checked its contents, I found nothing inside… ]
[ It's probably some kind of Trailblaze code again, even more mysterious than me. ]
Gallagher pointed to the Dream Bubble cradled in Mikhail's arms, explaining a few things to the trio.
[ Mm, let's take a look. ]
Himeko nodded, then gave Stelle a signal with her eyes.
Seeing this, Stelle understood Himeko's meaning.
She took a deep breath, started walking toward Mikhail, and reached out to touch the Dream Bubble he held.
However, she saw absolutely nothing from within this Dream Bubble.
This surprised Stelle, but she immediately adjusted her state of mind, focused her attention, and tried again.
But still, nothing.
This led her to conclude: this was an empty Dream Bubble!
[ Eh? ]
[ What's going on… ]
[ Is there really… nothing inside this Dream Bubble?! ]
Seeing this scene, March 7th couldn't help but reveal a look of shock and doubt.
[ … ]
Himeko fell into a brief silence.
[ How could this be? ]
March 7th couldn't understand.
[ Hmph. Or rather, just as I expected. ]
[ He always had this inexplicable confidence in the Nameless. ]
[ In his arrangements, the Trailblaze always held a seat. I don't know where this confidence came from… ]
[ When he was still alive, he never successfully contacted the Express. ]
[ I never understood what that old man was thinking, but this empty Dream Bubble really fits his style. ]
[ Filled with nonsensical fantasies… and incomprehensible romanticism. ]
[ That old rascal… I didn't expect him to leave any contingency plan anyway. ]
Gallagher watched this scene, and although his words feigned indifference, he was more or less disappointed.
[ That's not it, Mr. Gallagher. ]
[ I believe Mikhail would definitely leave the most precious thing to us. ]
Himeko pondered for a moment, then spoke to Gallagher.
[ Heh, you're not going to start preaching some grand philosophy, too, are you? ]
Gallagher felt Himeko was likely overthinking it.
[ Just as Mikhail believed in the future Nameless, we will unconditionally believe in the past Nameless. ]
[ They were willing to dedicate their lives to the land they loved; how could they leave in a hurry with regrets for the future? ]
[ This Dream Bubble must have content; we just haven't deciphered it yet. ]
[ Mr. Gallagher, when it comes to trusting the Watchmaker, you are the same, aren't you? ]
Himeko smiled, then asked a rhetorical question.
[ I'm a guy who follows the Path of Enigmata; my philosophy of life is to trust nothing. ]
[ …So I also understand what trust means to the Trailblaze. ]
[ I also want to know what exactly he left behind. ]
[ Heh, it's up to you guys. ]
Gallagher shook his head, then looked at the three of them with anticipation in his eyes.
[ … ]
[ Please lend me your pet for a moment. ]
[ I need to return to Golden Hour and go to the Dreamscape Sales Store to confirm something… ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "What? It's actually empty?"
Stelle: "I say… is this inheritance something Gallagher made up to trick us?"
Stelle: "But if you're going to make something up, do a complete job!"
Stelle: "Giving us an empty Dream Bubble to fool us…Do you think we're stupid?"
Gallagher: "Hey now, you're really accusing an innocent man!"
Gallagher: "That Dream Bubble is the legacy the old man left for you."
Gallagher: "As for what's actually inside, I don't know either!"
March 7th: "Uh… could this be a joke played by that Nameless senior?"
March 7th: "Or maybe… this Dream Bubble has expired?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Huh?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Do Dream Bubbles have expiration dates?"
Lumine: "Mm… they probably do, right?"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Logically speaking, there is no specific expiration date."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "However, the contents within are not immune to fading away."
Guinaifen: "So… the inheritance is just gone?"
Li Sushang: "…Not necessarily. Didn't Miss Himeko guess that maybe a special method is needed?"
Paimon: "Just as I thought… getting an inheritance isn't that easy at all."
Paimon: "We still can't avoid the classic puzzle-solving segment…"
Stelle: "Whatever, if it's a puzzle, it's a puzzle."
Stelle: "As long as there's something there!"
Stelle: "But if there's nothing, that would be a huge loss!!"
Silver Wolf: "If there's nothing, won't you just swipe something from Penacony?"
Silver Wolf: "You can't go back empty-handed, right?"
Stelle: "You're right. Going back empty-handed isn't my style."
Stelle: "I gotta bring something back to feel satisfied!"
Madam Herta: "LOL. What is this, 'a thief never leaves empty-handed'?"
Stelle: "? Are you calling me a thief?"
Stelle: "You're done for. Watch me next time I go into the Simulated Universe; if I don't empty everything inside, I'll write my name backward!"
March 7th: "..."
March 7th: "Wouldn't that still be Stelle?"
Aventurine: "Friend, you certainly know how to leave yourself a way out."
....
『 The scene shifts. 10 system hours before the Charmony Festival begins, inside the Reality Reverie Hotel.
Boothill and Dan Heng
Arrived together at the hotel front desk.
[ Welcome to The Reverie. How may I be of service? ]
The hotel receptionist, Alley, came before the two of them, asking with a warm expression.
[ Hello. We are Nameless from the Astral Express. We would like to check in. ]
Dan Heng replied politely.
[ The Astral Express? ]
[ But earlier… ]
Hearing Dan Heng's words, Alley's expression became hesitant.
[ Yes, our companions have already checked in ahead of us. ]
[ My name is Dan Heng. My personal information should be in the hotel system. ]
To dispel Alley's doubts, Dan Heng explained first.
[ I see… ]
[ However, your companions said at the time that your itinerary had changed and you wouldn't be able to check in. ]
Alley still felt something was amiss.
[ Ha! ]
[ Plans change again, don't they? ]
Boothill remarked casually.
[ May I ask who you are? ]
Alley looked at Boothill, inquiring.
[ I'm a rookie Nameless who just boarded the Astral Express. My name is Pam. ]
Without blushing or skipping a beat, Boothill directly usurped Pam's name.
[ …He is my companion. ]
[ Before he boarded the Express, we had already replied to the Family's invitation. ]
[ So there probably isn't a record of him in the system. Is there any way to make an exception? ]
Hearing Boothill's words, Dan Heng was stunned for a moment, then began to negotiate with Alley.
[ Oh! ]
[ Among the Nameless who checked in earlier, there seemed to be one with a similar situation. ]
[ It seems more and more people are embarking on the Trailblaze recently. ]
[ Since there is a precedent, in principle, it shouldn't be a problem. ]
[ Please allow me to contact your companions… ]
Alley nodded and began attempting to contact the Express Crew members in the dreamscape.
[ … ]
[ …Uh, my apologies. ]
[ Gentlemen, I seem unable to reach the guests from the Astral Express. ]
A moment later, Alley replied to the two with an apologetic look.
[ What do you mean, unable to reach them? ]
Dan Heng couldn't help but frown.
[ I am very sorry. This is the first time I've encountered such a situation. ]
[ However, the system shows that the guests are still within the dreamscape. ]
Alley explained.
[ …How about this? You give us a room number, and the two of us will go check it out. ]
Boothill suggested.
[ I'm afraid that's not possible. I can only disclose guest information after verifying your identities. ]
Alley shook her head and refused directly.
[ Then just pick one at random—make it Welt—and forcibly wake him up, how about that? ]
Boothill said nonchalantly.
[ That is also not allowed. Forced awakening has strict usage regulations; it is absolutely not to be performed casually. ]
Alley still did not agree.
[ This won't work, that won't work. What exactly do you want? Make us brothers sleep on the floor in the lobby? Muddle-fudger. ] 』
『 ....』