『 Aventurine looked at Acheron, who had suddenly arrived and claimed this was her room, and asked: "Your room?"
Then he fell into silence. After a moment, he seemed to have figured something out, turned around, and praised Stelle.
"Impressive, friend. You haven't been in Penacony for long, but you've already learned how to invite people to join you."
"Don't misunderstand, I just wanted to remind you—this place is a mixed bag, there are too many ill-intentioned fellows. Remember to keep your wits about you, for example… remember to close the door."
After saying this, Aventurine looked at the door that had been left wide open. 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: I think you're one of those ill-intentioned fellows.
〘Hook〙: Although I don't understand what they're talking about, Brother Aventurine seems like a bad guy.
〘Topaz〙: Hahaha, Aventurine, your 'friendship fee' isn't working out; your popularity is still pretty low.
〘Aventurine〙: It was a situational necessity, please understand. I'm not usually like this…
....
『 "Then I'll take my leave, Miss Stelle. I wish you a pleasant stay." Aventurine left, while Acheron remained standing in front of Stelle.
Looking at Acheron, Stelle asked the question she had wanted to ask since she first saw her. "Have we met somewhere before?"
Acheron didn't answer. Instead, she asked Stelle a question that confused her. "Why haven't you left yet?"
"This is my room," Stelle replied matter-of-factly.
Acheron's response left Stelle stunned.
"This is my room," Acheron said, seemingly believing this truly was her room.
"…Could I have gone to the wrong place? That shouldn't be. Before I spoke and disturbed you, I double-checked the room number…" Acheron murmured.
"Could it be the wing… no, did I get the floor wrong too? My apologies, this hotel is too large, and the hallways are laid out so similarly. If one isn't careful, they'll lose their way…"
As Acheron spoke, Stelle felt an indescribable, strange sensation.
"Anyway, it's good that you are safe. I should return to my own room as well."
Acheron looked at Stelle and once again asked the question she had posed in the dream.
"But before I go, may I ask you one more question? To you, it might sound a bit odd, even rude, but I want to know…"
"…Have we met somewhere?" 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Such a sense of déjà vu.
〘Hanabi〙: You say she's asking you this in reality because you met in a dream. Then why did she ask you that question while you were in the dream?
〘March 7th〙: You're making my head spin…
....
『 Stelle clutched her head, which started to ache upon hearing the question. "Maybe in a dream… but I don't remember clearly."
Acheron nodded, agreeing with Stelle's statement.
"Right, a 'dream.' I had a dream on my way here. Your figure seemed to be in that dream… it's like a thought flashed through my mind…"
"Stelle—that is your name, right? It's a pleasure to meet you." Acheron gave Stelle a gentle smile.
"You remember me?" Stelle asked, puzzled. 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: Are you acting dumb or are you actually dumb? Aventurine said your name before he left.
〘Stelle〙: Maybe my brain didn't process it because of the headache?
〘Dan Heng〙: No need to make excuses for your future self. We all know what kind of person you are.
〘Stelle〙: Oh.
....
『 Acheron smiled at the question and then explained how she knew Stelle's name.
"You've forgotten; that gentleman said it before he left. My memory isn't great, but I haven't reached the point of forgetting what happened a few minutes ago."
She paused for a moment and continued: "Galaxy Ranger, Acheron… that is how they refer to me. Feel free to use it. We shall likely meet again."
"Finally, just a small piece of advice… there is a certain type of person who possesses unwavering will and conviction, yet does not intend to use them for the right path. On that gentleman's face, I saw a familiar expression. If one carries a blade, it must eventually be used to cut something down. And a gambler, before losing everything, will surely burn their bridges and stake it all on one final throw… I can only say this much."
This was Acheron's warning. After saying this, she turned toward the door.
"Before making a choice, you should know these things. Farewell." With that, Acheron walked out. 』
『 ....』
〘Fu Xuan〙: She's a good judge of character. She could see through that man's essence after only a brief encounter.
〘Acheron〙: After experiencing enough, the people you meet always start to look similar.
〘Aventurine〙: Truly a terrifying ability to read people.
....
『 Stelle watched Acheron leave and thought to herself: Acheron is gone… Strange, I felt a subtle sensation the whole time. Whatever. Although there were many twists and turns, I can finally enter the dream in peace now… Eh?
Acheron appeared before Stelle once again. Stelle remarked: "The reunion came so fast."
Acheron nodded awkwardly. "Um…"
"I'm sorry, could you tell me how to get back to the lobby? The hallways around here look far too similar…" 』
『 ....』
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: Hahahahahahaha, this is killing me.
〘Hanabi〙: The invincible Lady Acheron is actually have directional dyslexia? If the Duke knew, he could have just turned the Ever-Flame Mansion into a maze and he wouldn't have had to die, right? Hahahaha~.
〘Acheron〙: …..
....
『 Stelle stepped out and showed Acheron the way. Acheron thanked her repeatedly.
After returning to the room, Stelle looked at the Dreampool and sighed: "Finally, it's over. March and the others must be getting impatient. It's time for me to enter the dream too."
Stelle stepped into the pool and lay down in the center. A gentle female voice whispered in her ear.
"Please relax. Feel the rise and fall of your body…"
Stelle slowly closed her eyes.
"Focus on your breathing. Imagine a paradise…"
"Imagine… a land of dreams."
The scene first showed a large platform under a warm light, then a whale soaring through the sky.
But just as the image of the whale appeared, scenes of a distorted clock kept flashing in between. After the whale came a grand theater standing in the sky.
In the voiceover, someone was crying, murmuring a name.
"Mikhail…"
After the theater, a rotating giant dice-like artifact appeared, followed by a TV screen flashing static. The TV slowly opened a pair of purple eyes. Before everyone could react in surprise, the scene shifted to a massive fountain.
"Come back…"
"Mikhail…!"
A scene of Misha shouting flashed by, but only the lower half of his face was visible, his eyes hidden.
The final image was of Stelle opening her eyes, falling downward from a high altitude.
The screen went black, and the scene shifted to what happened after Aventurine left Stelle's room. He walked into another room, where Dr. Ratio—representing the Intelligentsia Guild from the promotional video—was waiting. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: ??? Are you just going to ignore me and let me fall like that? Am I a goner?
〘Silver Wolf〙: Dummy, the game is starting its dual-narrative structure. Once Aventurine's segment is over, it'll go back to you.
〘March 7th〙: I'm actually quite curious what happens when Stelle falls.
〘·HSR· Welt Yang〙: Since it's a dream, the worst that can happen is just waking up.
〘Stelle〙: Waking up right after entering? Isn't that a waste of time?
〘Hanabi〙: Look at it this way: you get a free experience of free-falling from such a height. Isn't that cool?
〘Stelle〙: True.
〘Hanabi〙: Then come to the Tavern~! We can let you experience cool things like that every day~!
〘March 7th〙: You really are tireless when it comes to recruiting people.
....