『 "We are executing the officer's orders! You, you what do you want!" the Male Hound said, looking at the three people who had suddenly blocked him and his companion.
"We made a mistake before, and we're trying to make amends; we don't have time for anything else! Monitoring the IPC executive Topaz, making sure she stays at The Reverie throughout her stay in Penacony—hehe, didn't pick the wrong person this time!" the Female Hound added from the side. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: I said I looked familiar; aren't these the two Hounds who were chasing Hotaru before?
〘March 7th〙: You really have a fate with them, huh.
〘Male Hound〙: A CURSED FATE!!!
....
『 Recognizing the two, Stelle waved at them and said, "Remember me?"
Hearing this question, the Female Hound looked Stelle up and down, and after realizing who was in front of her, she covered her mouth in shock.
The Male Hound also recognized her, and he took a step back.
"Wh, why is it you again… Trying to pick a fight again? We're not afraid of you this time!" 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: If you're not afraid, why did you take a step back?
〘Male Hound〙: What do you know, that's called retreating to charge up!
....
『 The Female Hound recovered from her shock, lowered her hand covering her mouth, looked at Stelle, and said, "Speak if you have something to say, otherwise don't get in our way!"
Watching this reaction from the two, March 7th looked at Stelle speechlessly and said, "So you know them… Hey, how do you manage to meet people you've beaten up everywhere you go?"
Stelle ignored March 7th's jab and looked at the two Hounds, asking, "I have business with your officer, where is he?"
March 7th nodded and picked up Stelle's thread, "That's right, we're investigating a murder case for The Family. Can we talk to your officer about the case?"
The Male Hound looked at the Female Hound and hesitated, "This…"
"Hey! The officer warned us, before he gets back from Dream's Edge, no information is to be revealed!" the Female Hound warned in a low voice, but her words just revealed where the officer was… 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: This must be the reason Gallagher arranged these two clowns here…
〘Stelle〙: I don't even know what to say.
....
『 After the Female Hound finished speaking, she coughed and cleared her throat, "Wh, what murder case? Don't talk nonsense."
"Yes, yes! We have nothing to say, please go back!" The male hound quickly nodded in agreement.
Himeko turned her head to look at Stelle and said, "It seems they aren't willing to cooperate. However, they directly gave away that their officer is at Dream's Edge…"
There was a hint of speechlessness in her tone; it seems Himeko was also a bit confused by this situation.
"Then shouldn't we just go find that officer directly… It should be the Gallagher she mentioned, right?"
After March 7th finished speaking, Stelle and Himeko nodded, and the three made their way to Dream's Edge, where they ran into another acquaintance, a youthful guy. 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: Did I experience the same path and people you met when you were on a date with Hotaru?
〘Stelle〙: Except for Misha and Acheron, pretty much…
〘Silver Wolf〙: Hard to handle.
....
『 "You two, excuse me. The Bloodhound Family is investigating ahead, no unauthorized personnel."
Youthful Guy turned his head and saw Stelle. He hesitated, "Wait, I think I've seen you, gray hair."
March 7th listened and complained speechlessly, "Uh… exactly how much trouble have you caused in Penacony?"
Stelle looked at Youthful Guy and scratched her head awkwardly, "That… you recognized the wrong person… probably."
Youthful Guy shook his head firmly, "I didn't recognize the wrong person! Last time it was you, shouting 'friendship, effort, clockwork tricks' while beating me up with that little silver-haired girl!" 』
『 ....』
〘Hanabi〙: They come rushing in, shouting about friendship and bonds~
....
『 March 7th, and Himeko fell silent after hearing this, silently looking at Stelle.
"This time I absolutely cannot let you pass… Please go back, or I might have to kneel and beg you!" 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: Now that's what you call being able to bend and stretch.
〘Belle〙: This is when we need to use our magical handy tool.
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: What is that?
〘Stelle〙: Shout with me, Misha…
{Stop! I DON'T HAVE THE COPYRIGHT!!!!! I DON'T WANT TO GET SUED!!!!!!}
....
『 March 7th looked at the humble Youthful Guy in front of her and quickly poked Stelle, "Hey, hey, just how many heinous things have you done…"
"Wait, sir…" Himeko drew Youthful Guy's attention to herself, "We have documents granted by The Family, we will assist you all in the investigation, could you please make it convenient for us and let us see Mr. Gallagher?"
Youthful Guy put his hands on his hips and asked suspiciously, "Who is this Gallagher you're all talking about? Several people have mentioned this name to me already, and this gray-haired one mentioned it last time, too." 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Huh?
〘March 7th〙: Huh?
〘Male Hound〙: Huh?
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: Huh?
....
『 March 7th also became confused, she scratched her head and asked, "Huh? Wasn't it he who sent you here?"
"It was the officer who sent us here. I can't say anything else." Youthful Guy shook his head, indicating he could only say this much.
"Doesn't that settle it? He's exactly who we're looking for." March 7th nodded.
"Really can't. The boss said, it concerns the face of The Family, no one is allowed to pass." Youthful Guy looked at the three and begged, "Please go back, everyone, there's really no need to make things difficult for each other, right?"
"I'm very sorry to cause you trouble." Himeko bowed to Youthful Guy, then whispered to the two, "Let's go, let's think of other ways."
"Other ways… Right! Didn't you say that last time you relied on that… Clockwork trick to change this guy's mind." March 7th, thought for a moment and looked at Stelle.
"Can you perform it again? That one—Clockie's magical trick!"
"I was waiting for you to say that!"
"Hehe, I'm counting on you."
Youthful Guy watched Stelle reappear in front of him and sighed, "Are we going to repeat the same result again… It seems both you and I are trapped in this desperate cycle."
"What is he saying?" March 7th whispered.
"But, this time, I will cut the chains of this tragedy—you cannot pass no matter what, unless you step over my corpse!" 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: It's just guarding a gate, is it necessary?
〘Hanabi〙: Exactly, how much does The Family pay you, you're risking your life at the drop of a hat? Do you think you have a System?
〘Silver Wolf〙: Reborn as a gatekeeper in Dream's Edge, unlocked the Death-Seeking System?
〘Stelle〙: Random.
....
『 "This guy's mindset is too heavy…"
Stelle looked at Youthful Guy in front of her and decided to use the emotion she had adjusted when she passed through before, setting his emotion to 'Anger'.
Youthful Guy glared at Stelle and roared, "You gray-haired… why can't you listen to what I'm saying?!"
"The officer's order is a death order, let me tell you, this piece of land in front, wind can't enter, rain can't enter, not even the Dreammaster can enter!"
"Really? Not even the Dreammaster?" Stelle smirked.
"Nonsense! Not even the Dreammaster can… "
"…Uh, we'll talk if the Dreammaster comes! And, that's just a metaphor, a metaphor! Understand?!" 』
『 ....』
〘Hanabi〙: I am a person who follows the rules, but the Dreammaster is the one who makes the rules.
〘Stelle〙: Hmph, rules are made to be broken!
....
『 "I'm warning you, if you keep being so persistent, I'm going to show my true strength!"
"Um, she seems a bit angry, shall we…" March 7th pulled Stelle's sleeve, signaling her to calm down.
Ignoring March 7th, Stelle pulled out her baseball bat and pointed it at Youthful Guy, shouting, "Bring it on, who's afraid of whom!"
Seeing this, Youthful Guy sighed and said a very philosophical line.
"Sigh, humans always repeat the same mistakes…"
"...Great, even if Qlipoth were here, THEY wouldn't be able to protect him." March 7th looked at the brave Youthful Guy in front of her and shook her head, feeling sorry for him.
"Resistance will only lead to death. Why can't you understand—Go, Dreamjolt Troupe! Teach them a lesson!" 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Such a familiar line and scene.
〘March 7th〙: Uh oh, I've really become Hotaru's substitute.
〘Silver Wolf〙: Damn, the 'destined childhood friend' trope can't beat 'substitute literature.'
〘Hanabi〙: Hmm? Then what if I…
〘Hotaru〙: Hmm? (Sam attack·jpg)
〘Silver Wolf〙: Hmm? (Silver Wolf blowing bubbles·jpg)
〘Kafka〙: Hmm? (Kafka shaking wine glass·jpg)
〘Blade〙: Hmm? (Blade red eyes raising sword·jpg)
〘Sampo〙: As expected of Big Sis Hanabi, offending the entire Stellaron Hunter group by herself, Big Sis Hanabi is mighty! (Sampo scattering flowers·jpg)
....