[Is the halo really like some kind of organ for Sunday? For real?]
[This is him wanting to punish himself for the sins in his heart—at least it proves Sunday really is a good person.]
[Don't Laugh Challenge, hahaha I couldn't hold it in.]
[It reeks of Joy.]
[I can't imagine Sunday rolling around on the floor.]
[He actually went and tried it, though.]
[I'm convinced it's all Aha's doing.]
[Don't blame every problem on Aha—look for your own faults too, okay? Oh? It's Sunday? Then it must be Aha's fault!]
[The Don't Laugh Challenge carried through to the end.]
—
Sunday continued, "I wandered about as an ordinary person and unfortunately fell into the Pepesians' trap. That same prank which tore Miss Tingyun into pieces also split the weakened me in two."
"You mean he's a part of you?" Welt Yang carefully examined the frivolous Oneweek. "That's quite unexpected—you two look completely different."
Sunday let out a heavy sigh. "Or perhaps another possibility.
I was once a child too, with all sorts of thoughts buried deep in my heart. Those childish voices accompanied me as I grew, gradually worn smooth by time until they were barely audible.
Maybe if the child I was had made one tiny change, I would have become no different from him."
["Robin, I'm your fan too!"]
[One frank, one restrained—they're way too perfect together.]
Oneweek said with some regret, "Then you're pretty unlucky—not becoming a better version of yourself."
[Seeing Sunday's face say that makes me want to laugh.]
[Same here, sorry—my sense of humor is way too low, but it's hilarious.]
—
Sunday gave a faint smile. "So my final farewell is the same as Miss Tingyun's: I will attune myself and return to a complete self.
And that means Oneweek will disappear completely. That's why I said this is the last stop."
Oneweek raised an eyebrow. "Isn't there a possibility that you'll be the one who disappears?"
"No possibility—we settled that long ago. But even now, who can guarantee there won't be any variables? Perhaps deep down, I'm actually looking forward to that possibility."
"No matter the outcome, someone will bear witness for you. I'll be waiting in the audience seats." With that, Welt Yang slowly walked toward the audience area.
"Thank you so much."
Sunday watched Welt Yang's figure gradually recede into the distance, then turned to Oneweek. "Shall we begin?"
"『Looking forward to that possibility』…" Oneweek paused. "You've really changed. The old you couldn't have tolerated dissonance at all."
"After all, I'm about to embark on an unknown journey—I can no longer maintain a perfectly ordered life. Like today, I'll have to travel alongside the unexpected."
"You haven't prepared yourself at all, have you?"
Sunday didn't deny it. "Yes. I feel uneasy—even terrified. After leaving Penacony, I won't be able to control everything anymore."
"You're overthinking it. Nothing will be under control anymore. But isn't that how most people live?"
"Fearing the unknown too much may be my flaw. But your existence proves that the unexpected isn't always bad. Meeting you has benefited me greatly. I'm glad I could encounter this other side of myself in this form, and I'm grateful for the chance to say to you personally…"
Sunday smiled at Oneweek, fell silent for a moment, then finally spoke. "I really do hate you."
[Hahahaha, is this the power of character contrast?]
[These two are actually killing me with laughter.]
[Sunday, you've changed—you're not quite yourself anymore.]
"What? Are you sure you didn't mean the opposite?" Oneweek stared wide-eyed at Sunday.
[What were you even expecting?]
[I thought he said it backwards too.]
[Oneweek looks kinda disappointed?]
—
"The many traits you possess do indeed lurk within me. In many situations, I've wanted to crack a witty remark, express my thoughts directly, or show unreserved dislike—or affection—toward someone. I also want to tell her I like every single one of her songs."
Oneweek shrugged. "Then just do it, Old Sunday. You always talk about keeping Little Bird in a cage, but you're the one who's been imprisoned all along.
Take a good look in the mirror—self-discipline, overthinking—what's left of your life besides those two? You live like a block of marble; when you fall, you just shatter into pieces."
"But I won't become you. I can't." Sunday shook his head. "I detest frivolous people—even imitating them makes me uncomfortable. Even after failure, I won't easily let go of certain principles, like 'propriety' or 'nobility.'
My attitude toward 'Harmony' is largely the same. Whether it's you or the Path—if the things I've once questioned or resisted turn out to be the very forces I'll rely on in the future…
Then this time, I will entrust the 'attunement' to my true heart. I will ask you to complete it."
[Stop talking, Sunday—I'm scared you'll board the train and end up even more frivolous than Oneweek.]
[Board what?]
[Sunday boarding the Astral Express has already been officially confirmed—the Express will briefly welcome a Nameless guest.]
[Could it be Acheron?]
[I doubt the Express has enough energy to pick up Acheron.]
[The train's full of weirdos, plus one abstract leader—Sunday's definitely getting assimilated.]
[Feels like Sunday joining would overlap with Dan Heng's character.]
[Ever since boarding the Express, Dan Heng's already changed—he's developed some roasting ability now.]
—
"What is this?" Oneweek frowned slightly. "Tossing a coin into the sky and leaving your fate to it? You're not that kind of person—did the Express crash fry your brain? Or did some IPC gambler possess you?"
[Hahaha, spot-on roast.]
[I can't take it anymore—I want Oneweek on the train.]
[I love Oneweek too, but I still hope Sunday brings a bit of his frivolity along.]
[I have reason to suspect it wasn't actually a Don't Laugh Challenge—it was the Express crash causing internal injuries.]
"Failure is always the best teacher. To save more people, you must first understand why they live and why they die. The best way is to experience it personally."
Sunday smiled with relief. "See? I'm already trying to change. Whether we merge into one or one side vanishes, I'll leave the result of this attunement to fate—and use it to prove whether I can open my arms and embrace everything I once detested.
Only then can I truly step into the human world and walk the earth alongside all living beings."
"And if you can't?"
"Then there's no helping it. It would mean I'm still the same as before… just someone who can only disappoint his little sister."
—
"Falling to one's death is merely another name for flight. That's why I'm grateful for my broken wings. To go among the people, to see the mortal world. Then live as a human, and die as a human."
As Sunday walked to the center of the stage, he began to recite poetry.
"Until the very end, I will join the weak… and stretch my hands toward the heavens. In this Festival of Stars, whatever identities I've held no longer matter. What answers us will not be the gods, but the selves of tomorrow."
"I don't really have much to say. But since it's goodbye, here's my last piece of advice: tell jokes with heart, not technique—and definitely don't explain them every time."
Oneweek saw Sunday's face fall. "Though honestly, for you, it's better not to try at all."
Sunday nodded. "I can't deny that."
"That's exactly what's so infuriating—how did I end up becoming such a boring person?" Oneweek dropped his teasing tone. "But even like this, don't make things too hard on yourself. Someone will always feel sad if you do."
Sunday replied softly, "Mm."
[Advice from his childhood self: don't live too harshly in the future!]
[Self-pitying himself!]
[He still has a little sister who worries about him and cares for him—Oneweek, you can go in peace.]
—
Oneweek walked to the center of the stage. His body turned into golden dust and slowly dissipated. "Festival of Stars, land of dreams. At this moment, I bid farewell to my homeland. If one wishes to end the show here…"
Suddenly, the Choir of Harmony—Dominicus—appeared once more before Sunday. "…they must take the stage again."
[Why is Dominicus back again?]
[It was mentioned before—Sunday needs to purge the remnants of Order. This is where he fought the Express crew; obviously there are traces left.]
"As expected, attuning oneself is the most difficult task. This dissonance is truly grating." Sunday's body floated into the air as he recited lines filled with divinity. "Echoes of the old days, you need not vanish. Come with me toward the stars. The time has come—reveal it… to me, is it 'undoubted'?"
The embrace of Harmony seemed not far away, but this battle was not particularly difficult.
Or rather, it was merely a lingering trace. In the end, beneath Sunday's radiance, he defeated Dominicus.
Dominicus stretched out a single finger with all its might.
In the next instant, it transformed into Oneweek's form.
Sunday did not refuse—he extended his own finger as well.
A golden light flashed, and the two merged into one.
The symbol of the Halovian race—the halo—returned to Sunday's side.
"On this eighth day, I bestow upon myself—"
"『Setting Off』."
[That segment was so cool, especially the Genesis visuals.]
[Sunday's always had that religious vibe—nice, nice!]
[Still a bit of a shame about Oneweek.]
[Old Sunday with the halo is still the handsomest.]
—
Welt Yang approached Sunday with a smile. "Now, how should I address you? Mr. Sunday, or Mr. Oneweek?"
[Weekday Sir.]
[Old Sunday Sir.]
[Sunday Bro Sir.]
[Chicken Wing Sir.]
[Sunday Eight Sir.]
[Holy crap, I didn't realize Sunday had so many titles?]
Sunday's tone of voice seemed slightly altered. "As you prefer. Perhaps he's mocking me coldly from somewhere in my heart right now. Thank you for accompanying me this far, Mr. Yang. This farewell journey ends here."
Welt Yang adjusted his glasses. "After leaving Penacony, what are your plans?"
"At this point, there's no need to hide it from you any longer. I believe there's more to the Penacony Stellaron incident than meets the eye."
Welt Yang was visibly startled. "You mean the one manipulating the Stellaron wasn't the Dreammaster?"
"Please don't worry. The one who usurped the Stellaron and attempted to revive a dead Aeon under the guise of the Charmony Festival—the true mastermind—was indeed the Oak Family lineage. You've already defeated the one pulling the strings.
But Mr. Gopher Wood once told me that everything 'Order' is doing now is to avoid repeating the mistakes of 'Harmony'…
The families of the Montour system are surely involved somehow.
Unfortunately, centuries have passed, and the matter is beyond verification. Penacony is, after all, merely a small territory. The Family heads, as its managers, have no authority to set foot in Harmony's sacred grounds or inquire into the true intentions of the Divine Lord.
In the worst case, if Xipe turns a blind eye to it all, how could one speak of 'aiding the weak with strength'?
Mr. Yang, I only wish to tell you one thing: 'Harmony' has far more than one face. THEY can be the Astral Express's staunchest ally—or its most terrifying enemy."
[What? There's still a bigger player?]
[So the Penacony story isn't over yet!]
[Will we see Firefly again?]
[Damn, planting foreshadowing for the final divine war everywhere.]
—
Welt Yang let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief. "Thank you for your candor. The Express crew did everything we could to bring about the current situation out of the same concern.
After this battle, the Festival of Stars will be balanced and jointly overseen by 'Harmony' and 'Preservation.' With the aid of 'Trailblaze,' more factions will come here, and Penacony will gradually become a public domain in the galaxy.
'Freedom'—that's the only answer the Nameless can give. I'm glad Penacony needs it right now."
"Even if our motivations differ, you're walking the same path of saving and benefiting the people—and you've gone farther than I have. If not for the Paths, perhaps you and I wouldn't have ended up opposed."
Welt Yang shook his head. "No need to belittle yourself. We're not irreconcilable enemies. Otherwise, you wouldn't have shown mercy to me in front of the Dreammaster. This journey together is my personal reciprocation. No matter what—
You're one of the people I Trailblaze toward as well."
[Old Yang never disappoints.]
[This is the true meaning of Trailblaze. It talks about Harmony and Order on the surface, but the core idea is still Trailblaze.]
[Trailblaze runs through everything.]
[The object of Trailblaze has never been fixed people, and the definition of Trailblaze has never been narrow. Too many people and things are worth Trailblazing toward—that's the true significance.]
Hearing Welt Yang's words, Sunday visibly paused for a few seconds. "On that point, you've given me a great deal of inspiration as well. Humanity is the measure of all things—no one is the sole savior.
Creating paradise remains my lifelong aspiration, but on the journey ahead, I must build it brick by brick. So I have a rather difficult request to make…
I certainly lack the will of 'Trailblaze' and cannot become a true Nameless.
But I admire your beliefs. Rather than ascetic practice, perhaps what I need more is to learn.
So, after leaving Penacony… would you allow me to…
board the Astral Express and travel with everyone for a time?"