『 [ Should be all taken care of, right? ]
After bombing the third wave of the Villain Legion into ash, Hotaru looked at the now-empty space, saying with a hint of uncertainty.
[ My goodness, Brother Hanu is simply invincible! ]
[ Everyone, stage complete! Quickly, pass through the television to the next level! ]
The guide's voice followed immediately, and Stelle and Hotaru began maneuvering Brother Hanu toward the television set.
Shortly thereafter, they reverted to their original forms.
[ Finally over. ]
[ Though, the handling on this rocket launcher is superb; I'm almost reluctant to let it go… ]
[ ....er, no, never mind. ]
[ Let's hurry to the next stage. ]
Thinking of the feel of that rocket launcher just moments ago, Hotaru's expression was one of lingering satisfaction.
But when she noticed Stelle's surprised gaze, she hurriedly chuckled a couple of times and ceased speaking on the subject. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Is the handling of that rocket launcher really that good?"
Stelle: "You're making me want to try it myself…"
Hotaru: "There are many models of rocket launchers, but there are only a few that I find truly intuitive and easy to use."
Hotaru: "When I have the chance, how about I bring one of the ones I like for you?"
Stelle: "That would be fantastic, it's a deal!!"
March 7th: "Er… isn't this thing… dangerous?"
Hotaru: "It's alright. Modern rocket launchers are quite advanced; they have plenty of safety measures, so they don't misfire easily."
Stelle: "This thing looks way more useful than a baseball bat or a fire lance!"
Stelle: "March, don't you want to try it?"
Stelle: "Isn't this firepower more intense than your bow?"
March 7th: "Well, put that way… alright!"
March 7th: "Honestly, I do want to experience the thrill of such suppression fire!"
March 7th: "If we run into the Antimatter Legion again, a single shot would surely blast them all to ash, right?"
Klee: "Rocket launcher… rocket launcher… wuu, Klee wants a rocket launcher too!!"
Paimon: "???"
Paimon: "Such a dangerous thing, little Klee must not get her hands on it!!"
Li Sushang: "Huh? This thing can even attract children?"
Guinaifen: "Hehe, isn't that normal?"
Guinaifen: "When we were little, didn't we love playing with exciting things like this?"
Guinaifen: "And never mind when we were little, watching Miss Hotaru blast away so satisfyingly makes my blood boil—I'm tempted to get a rocket launcher to play with too!"
Qingque: "Private possession of heavy weaponry, is it?"
Qingque: "The Cloud Knights will be knocking on your door soon. (Trollface.jpg)"
Guinaifen: "Ah, well… I was just saying, I don't even have the channels to acquire a rocket launcher, do I?"
Chevreuse: "Hmm… looking strictly at the destructive power, this is indeed stronger than a musket!"
Chevreuse: "Perhaps we could try researching it."
Furina de Fontaine: "Good, research away, I fully support you."
Furina de Fontaine: "When it's developed, remember to call me to test it out!"
Ningguang: "The Millelith are not well-versed in firearms; researching such a thing likely won't be easy…"
Cloud Retainer: "And why would that be difficult?"
Cloud Retainer: "Once this Adeptus makes a move, I guarantee a reproduction that is seven or eight parts faithful!"
Paimon: "Ah… then… Adeptus Cloud Retainer… if you really make a rocket launcher, can you give us one!! (Expectantly rubbing hands.jpg)."
Traveler: "Paimon, you're interested in rocket launchers too?"
Paimon: "Of course!"
Paimon: "If I had a rocket launcher, wouldn't my combat effectiveness increase greatly?"
Paimon: "Then I could truly fight side-by-side with you!"
Cloud Retainer: "Very well. Once this Adeptus has finished the research, I shall send word to you two."
Welt Yang: "As expected… no matter where they are from, people simply cannot resist the allure of heavy weaponry…"
....
『 [ Congratulations to both contestants! ]
[ You have cut through the thorns and proven your strength. ]
[ But alas… There can only be one to become the next Superstar of the Penacony festival. ]
[ In the final stage, you will face a champion who has held the arena until now. ]
[ Failure means losing the crown of the Superstar! ]
[ Welcome to the 20th Annual 33rd Hot Sand Festival, 3rd Stage—sponsored by The Soda Company—the Superstar Peak Battle! ]
Hotaru and Stelle arrived at the entrance of the third stage.
Here, after listening to the guide's explanation, the two boarded the railcar, heading toward the third stage, which was the final one.
[ No way, I think I see… a very formidable figure. ]
Upon arriving at the third stage, Stelle saw the red silhouette on the arena from afar, and her expression gradually turned to one of shock. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Wow! It really is you!!"
Stelle: "Argenti, my dearest friend, why are you here acting as the final boss?"
March 7th: "Er… this guy, appearing in a place like this…"
March 7th: "Should I say I'm surprised, or completely unsurprised?"
Argenti: "To think the one defending the arena is truly me… then there must be the path of Beauty I seek here!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Is this Mr. Argenti?"
Furina de Fontaine: "What an elegant knight!"
Hu Tao: "Knight of Beauty?"
Hu Tao: "Hmm… I can certainly feel his unique temperament."
Amber: "Oh no, we are also a knightly organization, so why is Mr. Argenti so noble and handsome?"
Amber: "Compared to our Knights of Favonius… why do we feel like a knock-off?"
Diluc Ragnvindr: "Likely because the Knights of Beauty follow an Aeon."
Diluc Ragnvindr: "The Knights of Favonius only follow some unreliable Anemo Archon."
Venti: "Ehe… I think that's true too!"
Venti: "How about you all model yourselves after the Knights of Beauty and make some changes?"
Eula Lawrence: "But wouldn't that… just be plagiarism?"
Argenti: "It matters not. In my view, being imitated is also a form of recognition for the path of Beauty!"
March 7th: "You can rest easy."
March 7th: "This guy desperately wants everyone in the universe to study the aesthetics of the Knights of Beauty…"
....
『 [ Hold! Two fair maidens— ]
[ By the glory of Beauty, to think we meet again. ]
[ Your warm faces are like a spring breeze in this turbulent moment, caressing my heart like hot sand! ]
Just as Hotaru and Stelle walked up to Argenti, he began to spout praises.
[ Are you… a Knight of Beauty? ]
Hotaru looked at Argenti, seemingly recognizing his identity.
[ Huh?? ]
Stelle still hadn't quite processed the situation; seeing Argenti appear here, she only felt it was somewhat surreal.
[ Listen! The rose-colored Beauty has left everyone speechless—what an honor! ]
[ I learned the festival was imminent, so I pushed the Rare-in-the-World to its limit, guiding me to Penacony. ]
[ However, the galaxy without the gaze of Beauty is turbid; I was delayed saving lives along the way..... ]
[ Fortunately, the Mini Rabbit Mech Pilot, Stray Cat Duelist, Galactic Ninja, and Quad-drive Intellitron, along with thirty-two other souls in distress, all emerged from their predicaments safe and sound... I then led them all here to revel in the harmony with the countless other splendid beings. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "???"
Stelle: "What kind of cosmic philanthropist is this?"
Stelle: "You picked up this many people on your way here?"
Stelle: "Are you an ambulance?"
Boothill: "Hahaha, you sure know how to use a metaphor, the ambulance of the Aeon of HooH."
Argenti: "Dearest friend, I must correct you on one point."
Argenti: "The vessel I rode is not an ambulance, but the Rare-in-the-World."
Furina de Fontaine: "This name… why is there such an indescribable sense of oddity?"
Beidou: "Haha, I can't appreciate this name; I feel like our Alcor sounds better."
Kazuha: "Captain, sounding good isn't enough. His Rare-in-the-World can actually roam the cosmos."
Beidou: "Er… that is true."
Beidou: "A ship that can roam the cosmos could leave the Alcor in the dust!"
Beidou: "Hey, I really wish that one day, my Alcor could sail into the cosmos too!"
Ningguang: "Heh, don't worry about sailing into the cosmos just yet."
Ningguang: "If you could just get it to fly, that would be an achievement."
Hu Tao: "Tsk, it seems Mr. Argenti really is a super philanthropist."
Hu Tao: "He doesn't even forget to perform good deeds while on the road!"
Argenti: "A good deed is also a manifestation of Beauty; for this, I am duty-bound!"
Paimon: "So 'Beauty' refers to all the good things in the world?"
Paimon: "Suddenly, the path of Beauty feels so great."
Argenti: "Then, lovely young lady, do you acknowledge that the Goddess of Beauty, Idrila, is peerless in her beauty!!"
Paimon: "Ah??"
Paimon: "What… what kind of question is that?!"
Paimon: "But I… I've never even seen what the Aeon of Beauty looks like…"
March 7th: "I'll teach you. When a Knight of Beauty asks this question, you just mindlessly answer 'I acknowledge' and be done with it."
March 7th: "No need to worry about anything else."
Stelle: "Don't ask, just say I acknowledge that the beauty of the Goddess Idrila is peerless!"
Paimon: "Is… is that so?"
Paimon: "Alright then, I acknowledge!"
Argenti: "Excellent, lovely young lady. Thank you for your praise; may the glory of Beauty protect you."
Silver Wolf: "As expected… the Knights of Beauty are all a bunch of characters with distinct personalities…"
....
『 [ You certainly saved a lot of people... ]
Hearing Argenti say this, Stelle was absolutely floored with admiration.
[ I dare not take the credit! ]
[ It is only a pity that the envoy from the IPC, as magnificent and dazzling as a peacock, is still in poor condition... ]
[ How I wish he could have joined in the celebration. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "What?"
Stelle: "You even picked up Aventurine along the way?"
March 7th: "No… that's not right, is it?"
March 7th: "Isn't Aventurine in Penacony?"
March 7th: "How could Argenti have saved him?"
Aventurine: "Is there a possibility…"
Aventurine: "That Acheron's slash was so fierce it cleaved me right out of Penacony??"
Hu Tao: "My goodness, I have to say, my goodness!!"
Hu Tao: "Pfft, hahaha, excuse me, I can't help but laugh."
Furina de Fontaine: "Heavens, Aventurine is so miserable; was he really slashed right out of Penacony?"
Silver Wolf: "I'm dying, you really are the unluckiest guy."
Acheron: "Apologies… it seems I still couldn't constrain the power of that slash enough."
Acheron: "If I encounter such a scene again, I will try to be a bit gentler when drawing my blade."
Aventurine: "There's a next time??"
Aventurine: No, no, I don't want to be slashed again!
Aventurine: "Also, thank you for your generous rescue, Knight Argenti; you really are a great person!"
Argenti: "Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda; this is what I, as a Knight of Beauty, ought to do."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "You shouldn't just thank this knight; you should also thank the Amber Lord."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "If not for the power of Preservation, you would likely have been completely buried by that slash."
Aventurine: "I'll keep the Amber Lord in my heart; no need to mention it aloud."
Stelle: "It really comes down to Preservation; it is truly hard as rock!"
....
『 [ Alright, let me get to the point. ]
[ Since we are gathered here, you two must be here to compete for the championship, right? ]
[ Although upon arrival I was briefly mistaken for a tall, silver-armored, red-hot, blazing wanted criminal due to my lack of eloquence... ]
[ But it is fine; this is all a trial of Beauty from the Land of Dreams. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Silver Wolf: "Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter…"
Silver Wolf: "What a supreme scapegoat."
Silver Wolf: "So you were the one taking the blame for Hotaru, huh?"
Stelle: "Don't say it, don't you dare say it!"
Stelle: "The description of the wanted criminal they gave was practically etched from Argenti!"
Stelle: "After all, while Sam burns, he isn't red at all!!"
Hotaru: "Er….. so…. the Bloodhound Family actually misidentified Sam's appearance?"
Hotaru: "I worried for so long for nothing…"
Hotaru: "However, my apologies, Mr. Argenti, for making you take the fall for me."
Argenti: "It is of no consequence. Carrying the blame for a beautiful lady is no great burden."
Argenti: "Besides, all of this is just a trial for me from the Goddess of Beauty…"
Lumine: "He is truly a Knight of Beauty…"
Lumine: "This magnanimity and grace are simply unmatched!"
Guinaifen: "If you were friends with a Knight of Beauty, you would definitely feel very safe, right?"
Stelle: "You just have to agree that Idrila's beauty is peerless, and you'll gain a good-natured person willing to help you for free."
Qingque: "So just how beautiful is the Goddess of Beauty?"
Qingque: "Is she worth the Knight of Beauty promoting and praising her so strenuously?"
March 7th: "She's an Aeon of Beauty; could her looks be anything less than perfect?"
March 7th: "It's just a pity that the Aeon of Beauty has long since disappeared; I'm afraid we won't have the fortune to see her peerless beauty for ourselves…"
....