—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Is this big keyboard instrument a piano?"
Stelle: "Does the Aeon of Order like playing the piano?"
Stelle: "It's actually quite artistic."
Dan Heng: "Ahem, it's merely a metaphor."
Dan Heng: "The forms of Aeons are ever-changing; they aren't truly bound to any single physical manifestation."
March 7th: "Sunday's metaphors are a bit too… divine."
March 7th: "It's enough to make one's head spin."
Paimon: "It sounds all fancy and academic, even if I don't get it."
Paimon: "But it definitely gives off a 'wow, this guy is powerful' vibe."
Silver Wolf: "That's exactly the 'I don't know what's going on, but it seems powerful' effect."
Silver Wolf: "And that's exactly the effect Sunday is going for."
Furina de Fontaine: "I can't help but feel it's a bit ostentatious."
Furina de Fontaine: "But then again, when you remember it's describing an Aeon, I suppose it's only natural?"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "In truth, an Aeon is far more magnificent than his descriptions suggest."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Mortal vocabulary can hardly provide an accurate or comprehensive summary of an Aeon."
Stelle: "I just realized, Sunday is praising the Aeon of Order during the transitions…"
Stelle: "…but the plays themselves are about Penacony's past."
Stelle: "Is he trying to draw a comparison between the two?"
Stelle: "To show that Order is better than Harmony?"
March 7th: "That's probably the gist of it."
March 7th: "Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to all this trouble to put on a show for us."
....
『 [ This guy is really into these puppets. ]
The trio arrives in front of a picture frame leading to the final play.
There, a puppet is kneeling, acting as a guide.
Without much hesitation, the three step inside.
[ Stage Play Act III: Ode to Order ]
The narrator's voice rings out, revealing the content of this final act. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Hu Tao: "Ode to Order?"
Hu Tao: "So the play about Order was saved for the grand finale by Sunday!"
Furina de Fontaine: "I thought all three acts were going to be about Penacony's history."
Furina de Fontaine: "Now it seems the first two acts were just a setup Sunday used to pave the way for the third act's plot."
March 7th: "If I'm not mistaken…"
March 7th: "Sunday is going to go all out in this act, shamelessly singing the praises of the Aeon of Order, isn't he?"
....
『 [ I finally get it now. This last act is all about glorifying Order. ]
Listening to the narration, March 7th understands the theme of this final play.
[ And the atmosphere here… It's completely different from the previous two scenes. ]
Himeko glances around, feeling that the setting here is much more solemn than before.
[ This is the final act. ]
[ I have shown you Penacony's past and present, and I sincerely hope you understand why I must change the status quo. ]
[ And now, I shall reveal to you—the future of Penacony. ]
Sunday's voice echoes, guiding the group forward.
Without a king.
Who shall bear responsibility for the people?
The trio approaches the first pair of talking puppets. Text begins to manifest beside them.
[ Chancellor: If the people lack the vision to see afar, then we must make their choices for them, and bear the responsibility. ]
As the text fades, the puppet named the Chancellor gives his answer. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Wait, are they picking a king?"
Stelle: "What?"
Stelle: "In Sunday's eyes, the future of Penacony is just picking a king to rule the place?"
Stelle: "How about picking me?"
Stelle: "Me! The successor of Mikhail, the Father of Penacony! The legitimate heir to Penacony!"
Stelle: "No one is more fit to be the Sovereign of Penacony than I am!"
March 7th: "Uh… but isn't Mikhail considered the leader of the rebels in modern Penacony?"
March 7th: "With that identity, you'd just be arrested and have your whole lineage wiped out!"
March 7th: "Pah! Why am I letting you lead me on? This so-called 'Sovereign' is obviously Sunday himself!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Styling himself as a Sovereign…"
Furina de Fontaine: "I couldn't tell before, but Mr. Sunday has quite the ambition."
Sunday: "I have no intention of being any sort of king."
Sunday: "It is simply that what I wish to accomplish forces me to become this so-called Sovereign."
Sunday: "And the duties of a qualified Sovereign are far more difficult than any of you imagine…"
Stelle: "I don't believe it. Unless you let me try the job for a bit."
Sunday: "…"
Qingque: "LOL, this kid is so stubborn she's managed to stun Sunday into silence."
Sunday: "You are still misunderstanding."
Sunday: "I am not trying to become a king."
Sunday: "Rather…"
Sunday: "Never mind. Continue watching, and you will understand."
....
『
Without a king,who shall protect the weak?
Who shall stand against the tyrannical?
The two walk to the second pair of puppets and observe the text appearing beside them.
[ Chancellor: We must help one another to protect the weak, just as we must help one another to oppose the tyrannical. ]
The Chancellor's voice follows. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Hey, I have a suggestion."
Stelle: "There are clearly two puppets talking."
Stelle: "Why do you insist on making the questioner's words float as text on the side?"
Stelle: "Wouldn't it be better to give it a voice actor like the Chancellor puppet?"
Stelle: "Is it really that hard?"
Furina de Fontaine: "This must be intentional on Mr. Sunday's part, right?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Likely to emphasize the words of the Chancellor?"
Hanabi: "Heh~ a play with incomplete voice acting? In my eyes, that's just a shoddy production~"
Hanabi: "Unlike me~ even for a Trashcan Dream Bubble, I personally voice the trashcan's lines for ages~"
March 7th: "Uh… you voiced the trashcan language?"
March 7th: "The real question is, wasn't that 'language' just made up on the spot?"
Stelle: "Of course not!"
Stelle: "Those were the heartfelt words of the trashcan!"
Stelle: "Pure, authentic Trashcanese!"
Stelle: "It's clear that Director Hanabi has a deep, profound love for trashcans."
Hu Tao: "I just realized, if all the puppets in these three acts were replaced with those Trashcan from before…"
Hu Tao: "Miss Stelle would probably be very excited."
Stelle: "I'd be immersed instantly!"
Stelle: "Unlike now. To be honest, these three acts are just too boring."
Stelle: "Not vivid at all."
Lumine: "True. Even though that trashcan dream bubble was quite abstract…"
Lumine: "…in terms of pure performance effect, it was way more lively than these three acts."
Sunday: "Time is limited. To ensure you three finish this story…"
Sunday: "…I had to shorten the process."
March 7th: "Time is limited?"
March 7th: "Do you mean… the Charmony Festival is about to begin?"
Himeko: "Yes, the Charmony Festival is starting."
Himeko: "That will be the moment Sunday puts his plan into motion."
....
『
Without a king.
Who shall govern the movement of stars, the ebb and flow of tides, and the growth of all things?
Stelle and the others walk to the third pair of puppets.
[ Chancellor: Before the arrival of a king, everything followed its natural course, and so it shall continue even after the king's departure. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Li Sushang: "If it's the same whether there's a king or not…"
Li Sushang: "…then why do we even need a king?"
Li Sushang: "Ugh… this is so hard to understand."
Guinaifen: "Shangshang, it's okay if you don't get it. We won't laugh at you."
Guinaifen: "Because I don't get it either."
March 7th: "I thought I was the only dummy who didn't understand…"
March 7th: "Now that I know everyone is confused, I feel much better…"
....
『 The trio moves forward to the next puppet scene.
But after the king's departure.
Who shall become the new king?
One of the puppets asks.
[ We no longer have need for a king, for we have become kings of all things. ]
The Chancellor's tone grows fervent as he answers the question. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Himeko: "I see."
Himeko: "The meaning of this play isn't to choose a king for Penacony."
Himeko: "It's to completely abolish the concept of a sovereign, allowing everyone to be their own king and master of their own lives."
Furina de Fontaine: "So that's what Mr. Sunday is planning."
Furina de Fontaine: "No wonder he said he had no intention of becoming a king."
March 7th: "But doesn't the prerequisite for all of this rely on him?"
March 7th: "How is that any different from being a king?"
Sunday: "That is what I said before."
Sunday: "I have no desire to be a king, but the things I must do have turned me into one."
Sunday: "But if this is a necessary step, then I have no other choice."
Stelle: "Wow. If those high-sounding words hadn't come from a straight-laced guy like you with a terrifyingly high moral compass, I would have started roasting you hard by now!"
....
『 The three continue forward, finally arriving at the location of the last puppet performance.
[ Hey? Aren't we supposed to kick off a short story and have a fight here just like we did in the previous acts? Why aren't any of these puppets saying anything? ]
March 7th looks at the motionless puppets, confused.
[ Perhaps, like the previous act, we need to complete the script ourselves. ]
Himeko muses before answering.
[ Then… Stelle, come take a look. See if they need their emotions adjusted or something. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Tsk, this family really can't move an inch without me!"
Stelle: "I can't even watch a play without having to push the plot forward myself."
March 7th: "What are you so smug about?"
March 7th: "Once I learn Clockwork, we won't need you for this kind of work anymore."
Stelle: "You?"
Stelle: "You're a bit of a klutz; I doubt you could learn it."
March 7th: "How dare you! YOU'RE LOOKING DOWN ON ME!!"
Hu Tao: "Ahem… speaking of which."
Hu Tao: "This ability doesn't seem like something you can just 'learn,' right?"
Hu Tao: "It's more like whoever Clockie shares the power with can use it."
Stelle: "True. In that case, I'd better hide Clockie away."
Stelle: "Can't let others steal my signature move!"
Silver Wolf: "???"
Silver Wolf: "What's with the sudden villainous thoughts?"
....
『 Stelle steps forward and tries to use the power of Clockwork on the puppets.
But as she exerts this magical power, she feels a sense of being restrained.
She cannot influence the puppets' emotions at all.
[ How is it? Any luck? ]
March 7th asks after watching Stelle fiddle with them for a while.
[ I can't change their emotions… ]
Stelle's expression turns solemn.
[ You can't change them? What does that mean...? ]
March 7th is surprised.
[ My apologies for my negligence. I forgot to inform you that the final part... was scripted long ago. ]
Sunday's voice suddenly appears, explaining to the three. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Damn, I was busy for nothing. You're telling me the script is already finished?"
Stelle: "Are you making a fool out of me?"
March 7th: "Pfft—! Look at you acting all high and mighty, only to get played!"
Himeko: "A script already written…"
Himeko: "It seems Mr. Sunday has long since decided the path for Penacony's future."
Himeko: "But isn't this a bit too autocratic?"
Sunday: "These are unavoidable details."
Sunday: "I can only do my best to ensure perfection."
Dan Heng: "But that is only perfection in your own mind, and nothing more."
Sunday: "…"
....
『 [ Let our previous king recount it to you. Now, it is time for the final rite. ]
As soon as Sunday finishes speaking, the puppets find their voices again.
[ Prepare for battle. It seems we have another fight on our hands. ]
After the puppet speaks, Himeko takes a stance, ready for combat. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "I knew it! I knew a fight was unavoidable!"
March 7th: "Seriously, it's just a play. Is it really necessary to go at it with real blades and guns?"
March 7th: "Aren't you afraid of killing the audience?"
Stelle: "If he pushes me too far, I'm just gonna lie down on the ground. If Sunday doesn't pay me half the Oak Family's assets, I'm not getting up!"
Hu Tao: "Hehe, I actually see a lot of business potential in this kind of play."
Hu Tao: "If there were a theater like this in reality, I'd definitely open a branch right next door."
Hu Tao: "Business would be booming!"
Guinaifen: "Watching a play where your life is on the line, so you have to buy a coffin in advance…"
Guinaifen: "Heavens, what kind of horror show is this?"
Qingque: "This isn't horror; this is lethal!"
Qingque: "To be fair, the strength of these puppets isn't weak."
Qingque: "A normal person would probably be crushed in two or three hits."
Sunday: "There is no need for alarm."
Sunday: "This is, in essence, still within the Dreamscape."
Sunday: "Naturally, there is no real danger to one's life."
Sunday: "I did this only to provide the trio from the Express with a more immersive, first-hand experience."
Stelle: "Yeah, an 'immersive experience' of getting beaten up. That pain is definitely immersive."
Stelle: "It was great. Don't do it again next time."
....