『 8 system hours before the opening of the Charmony Festival, Dreamflux Reef.
[ You returned faster than I imagined… Did you get a result? ]
In front of the monument, Gallagher looked at the three members of the Astral Express and Hotaru as they returned, and asked.
[ Yes… Now, it's our turn to blaze a trail forward. ]
Himeko nodded solemnly.
[ Hmph, since his dying wish has been delivered, my final task is complete. ]
[ However, don't take it the wrong way, having fighting spirit is a good thing, but the path Mikhail left for you won't be easy to walk… ]
[ Otherwise, why would he have had to fall asleep in loneliness, betting everything on your group of future Nameless? ]
[ But there are many of you. ]
[ Heh, at least there's a chance to lose a bit more slowly. ]
Gallagher smiled slightly, cracking a joke.
[ You're quite the motivator, aren't you… ]
March 7th couldn't help but retort to Gallagher.
[ In my opinion, relying solely on Welt to participate in negotiations is definitely not enough. ]
[ Regardless of whether the other party will obediently comply, the act of negotiation itself can only create an opportunity for us to stand on equal footing; it cannot bring any real advantage. ]
[ Penacony is the opponent's home field, and we have very few chips to play with. ]
[ Rather than sitting and waiting for death under the Family's blockade, it's better to choose to take the initiative. ]
[ We are familiar with the properties of the Stellarons, and as the core that stabilizes the sweet dream, the Stellaron is crucial to the Family. ]
[ Once we touch their core interests, they will inevitably rush to counterattack… ]
[ And "rushing" precisely implies flaws. ]
Himeko pondered for a moment, feeling that her group should take the initiative to seek opportunities.
Only then would the odds of winning be higher.
[ That's right. ]
[ As long as we can threaten the Stellaron, whether it's through negotiation or combat, we have a chance to gain the upper hand. ]
[ But the problem is, with the Charmony Festival on the eve of opening, how can we get close to the Grand Theater? ]
[ The Family will surely set up heavy defenses; forcing a breakthrough… even if we could do it, the risk is too high. ]
Hotaru agreed with Himeko's view, but couldn't think of a good way to get close to the Grand Theater.
[ ... ]
Hearing this, everyone fell silent.
[ Eh… is no one going to say anything? ]
[ Then I'll raise my hand! ]
[ I know this one! ]
Seeing that everyone was silent, March 7th spoke up immediately.
[ Looks like we have one more ace up our sleeves. Time for the masterstroke! ]
Hearing March 7th's voice, Stelle immediately said in Jing Yuan's tone.
[ Why do you talk like that, Luofu General… ]
[ It's like this, I heard that before the start of the Charmony Festival, a talent show venue for the festival's warm-up will be opened. ]
[ What's it called… The SoulGlad Festival Auditions, right at the Moment of Scorchsand. ]
[ As long as we take first place, we can win the title of Festival Superstar and be received in person by Miss Robin… ]
[ But that's not important, the important thing is that we can enter the Grand Theater earlier than ordinary spectators! ]
March 7th stated the information she knew. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "What, stuck in a dead end?"
Stelle: "Hmm… then…"
Stelle: "It's time to bring out the surprise force!! (Jing Yuan's voice)."
Qingque: "Audacious!"
Qingque: "How dare you plagiarize our General's catchphrase? I won't spare you!"
Qingque: "You stay home, honestly, the Cloud Knights will be there to arrest you soon."
Jing Yuan: "Hahaha, never thought that this phrase I often mutter would be learned by Stelle."
Jing Yuan: "It seems my usual performance is still a bit too distinct."
Stelle: "Hey, with your usual performance, General, I've long since understood it by heart."
Stelle: "As long as you lend me the Divine Foresight, I can even act as General in your place."
Fu Xuan: "What a joke, I haven't even made it to Luofu General yet, would it ever be your turn?"
Stelle: "You're not suitable to be General, you're more suitable to be the Diviner."
Stelle: "Let me be this General, with both our efforts, I guarantee the Luofu will be unstoppable!"
Guinaifen: "Disasters in the world are endless, only General Stelle can suppress the firmament."
Guinaifen: "Haha, if it were in a storytelling session, would it be said like that?"
March 7th: "Stelle, give it a rest."
March 7th: "If you became the Luofu General, I'm afraid the Luofu Xianzhou would be completely erased from the universe…"
Qingque: "General Stelle?"
Qingque: "Doesn't sound as good as General Qing!"
Fu Xuan: "Hmm? Qingque, showing your true colors, are you?"
Fu Xuan: "Didn't you say you weren't interested in the position of General?"
Qingque: "Aiya, I was just… giving an example!!"
Qingque: "Diviner Master, you know me, I'm just a salted fish who's too lazy to even flip over!"
Qingque: "How could I possibly be interested in some General position?"
March 7th: "Compared to the position of General, I still think the Celestial Jade is more attractive to her."
Cyno: "What is Celestial Jade?"
Cyno: "Is it fun?"
Cyno: "How does it compare to Genius Invokation TCG?"
Qingque: "It's fun, not just ordinarily fun!"
Qingque: "As for Genius Invokation TCG… what's that?"
Cyno: "It is the newest and most popular competitive game in Sumeru."
Cyno: "Those who play this game must have superb skills and the wisdom to devise strategies!"
Cyno: "More importantly, they must have the conviction to win!"
Qingque: "Sounds about the same as Celestial Jade?"
Qingque: "Then if there's a chance later, I'll teach you Celestial Jade, and you teach me this Genius Invokation TCG!"
Qingque: "Let's see which of these two games is actually more fun."
Cyno: "It's a deal."
Lumine: "....."
Paimon: "Addicted to Genius Invokation TCG… so this is what the General Mahamatra is like daily?"
Paimon: "That's really surprising…"
....
『 [ Then… how can we participate in this festival audition? ]
Hotaru asked.
[ Hehe, actually, I got a few special invitation tickets from Miss Robin's fan group! ]
[ To tell you the truth, I've been preparing to participate in this talent show. ]
[ But now it seems that even if I can stand out, I probably won't have a chance to shake hands with Miss Robin… ]
March 7th showed everyone the tickets she had gone to great lengths to get.
[ So this thing is still being held… ]
[ Even though it was originally just a gimmick, Mikhail made it to attract attention. ]
[ It is worth a try. ]
Gallagher nodded, feeling that this method might be feasible. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "Haha, Miss March 7th is really a loyal fan of Miss Robin."
Guinaifen: "Sister, sister, where did you join that fan group?"
Guinaifen: "Can you pull me in, too?"
Guinaifen: "I also want to be a die-hard fan of Miss Robin!"
Stelle: "Laughing to death, what's so good about being a die-hard fan?"
Stelle: "I want to be Miss Robin's dog!!"
Robin: "Ah…..?!"
Robin: "Miss Stelle…. this… this isn't very good, is it?!"
Silver Wolf: "Sigh, completely let yourself go, haven't you?"
Silver Wolf: "Your thick-skinned nature is simply unparalleled."
Aventurine: "I suspect the Preservation power she obtained was all added to her face."
Aventurine: "With this thickness, perhaps even a slash of Nihility couldn't cut it."
Acheron: "I don't think so, the human face is a very fragile part, if one uses a blade, one doesn't even need too much force to destroy it…"
Hu Tao: "Uh… Miss Acheron… Aventurine is just joking, right?"
Hu Tao: "You don't need to explain it so seriously!"
March 7th: "Stelle, these remarks of yours, you learned them from those fanatical fans in the group, right?"
March 7th: "They also clamor every day that they want to be Miss Robin's dog!"
Lumine: "...."
Lumine: "What a bizarre mental state."
Lumine: "Miss Robin probably never dreamed that she would have so many dogs without even knowing it, right?"
Robin: "Uh, haha…. thank these fans for their support for me… but I still hope… they can be more rational."
Robin: "Don't be anyone's… dog anymor…."
Boothill: "Son of a biscuit, these fans are really fanatical, they've actually started being dogs."
Boothill: "If I had such fanatical fans, I would absolutely love them to death!"
Stelle: "I don't care, I'm going to be Miss Robin's dog!"
Stelle: "March, hurry up and pull me into the group, I want to be the Dog King and lead the other Robin dogs!"
Silver Wolf: "Ha, amazing, you've really mastered the internet."
....
『 [ Let's do as little March says. ]
[ Mr. Gallagher, will you be coming with us? ]
Himeko asked Gallagher.
[ ....I'm afraid I don't have that time. ]
[ As a fictional character… I have completed my final task. Whether Penacony can wake up from the dream depends entirely on you. ]
Gallagher shook his head, his expression carrying a hint of regret.
[ If we can meet again… please be sure to come and sit on the Express. ]
Himeko knew, after they left, perhaps they would never see Gallagher again, but she couldn't help but extend such an invitation.
[ Alright. ]
[ I'll add a few more notes to your Express data bank. ]
Gallagher said with a smile.
[ And Miss Hotaru, thank you for the help you provided earlier. ]
[ With the enemy at the gates, as long as the Stellaron Hunters and the Astral Express have the same goal, we are willing to cooperate with you. ]
After Himeko finished speaking with Gallagher, she turned to Hotaru and said.
[ We've come so far, so let me walk the rest of the Penacony journey with you. ]
[ I'm glad we could stand side by side in the end. This is indeed the best ending. ]
Hotaru accepted readily.
There was some joy on her face.
[ This is also the meaning of the Trailblazing journey. ]
[ Then let's set off, everyone. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "The Stellaron Hunters and the Astral Express walking side by side."
Furina de Fontaine: "Such a scene must be rare, right?"
March 7th: "This isn't a question of whether it's rare or not."
March 7th: "This is something that has never happened before, you understand?"
Welt Yang: "The Astral Express and the Stellaron Hunters are inherently opposed."
Welt Yang: "Therefore, there is no possibility of walking together."
Welt Yang: "And this scene… I have to say, it's also quite surprising to us."
Dan Heng: "As long as our positions align, it's not impossible to cooperate."
Himeko: "That's right, in such a complex situation in Penacony, cooperating with the Stellaron Hunters is undoubtedly a correct choice."
Himeko: "Moreover, Miss Hotaru has also shown her sincerity."
Hu Tao: "This scene gives me a feeling."
Hu Tao: "If the Stellaron Hunters and the Astral Express truly joined forces, it feels like they would be invincible."
Stelle: "You're right."
Stelle: "The Express crew doesn't raise idlers, and the Stellaron Hunters are no slouches either."
Stelle: "If we joined forces to fight the enemy, it wouldn't be a one plus one equals two effect!"
Stelle: "At the very least, it would be a one plus one is greater than ten effect."
March 7th: "Too bad, what you're saying isn't very realistic, we are destined to only walk together briefly."
March 7th: "But it doesn't matter, my camera will record this moment forever!"
Hotaru: "Being able to walk with the Astral Express briefly is already a very precious experience for me."
Hotaru: "I, on the contrary, won't ask for too much more."
Amber: "Actually… did you notice?"
Amber: "When Miss Hotaru was standing in the line with the members of the Astral Express just now, there was no sense of incongruity…"
Amber: "If someone who didn't know her identity came along, they would definitely mistake her for a Nameless."
Silver Wolf: "Yeah…. looking at this scene just now, I even felt that this Hotaru character was about to defect."
Stelle: "Defecting is good!"
Stelle: "Come straight to our Astral Express!"
Stelle: "Then I can snuggle with two pairs of wings!!"
March 7th: "Hey, what kind of lecherous talk is that!!"
March 7th: "Speaking of which, no one is paying attention to Mr. Gallagher?"
March 7th: "With his tone, is he… going to be gone?"
Hanabi: "Hehe…. task completed… so it's time to wrap up, right~"
Hanabi: "Not bad, not bad, Director Hanabi is very satisfied with his performance, he is an excellent actor!"
Hanabi: "Looking forward to working with him next time~."
Gallagher: "I'm afraid that will disappoint you, Miss Fool."
Gallagher: "After a fictional thing completes its task, it loses its meaning for existence."
Hanabi: "But…. aren't you still existing perfectly fine right now?"
Gallagher: "Hmm…. although I don't understand why, this live stream room has indeed saved my fictional life."
Gallagher: "As for how long it will last, I don't know."
Stelle: "Why worry about so much?"
Stelle: "Live for one day, enjoy for one day."
Stelle: "I'm still waiting to drink the beverage you mix."
Stelle: "If you kick the bucket now, who am I going to drink from?"
Gallagher: "Haha, don't worry, just come, order whatever you want, it's all on me."
Venti: "WOOOOO... I WANT TO GO TOO AHHHH!!!"
Paimon: "Aiya, a certain bard is so heartbroken because he can't drink the fine wine mixed by Mr. Gallagher, crying and making a scene, woo woo woo... so pitiful~."
Jean Gunnhildr: "....."
Diluc Ragnvindr: "...…"
....
『 [ Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Scorchsand sub-venue! ]
[ This is a feast for challengers, a grand ceremony for dream-chasers, the center of the universe's attention! ]
[ As long as you have ambition, have dreams, and are willing to strive—my dear friends, the next Penacony Festival Superstar is you! ] 』
『 ....』