『 While Himeko and Welt were busy preparing the enrollment materials, Stelle started chatting.
[ As the top university in Penacony, the strict examinations and expensive tuition have deterred many potential candidates. The people who are admitted to the school are either well-known wealthy merchants or exceptionally talented geniuses. ]
[ Because of this, I hear that the culture on campus has a truly Penaconian flavor. How intriguing. ]
Dan Heng shared what he had heard about Paperfold Academy with Stelle. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Makes sense when you think about it."
March 7th: "With Penacony being such a prime location where land is worth its weight in gold, it'd be a miracle if the tuition of a university built there wasn't sky-high."
March 7th: "But luckily, we probably don't have to pay!"
Stelle: "Lmao, so what if we had to pay?"
Stelle: "I'M A SHAREHOLDER OF PENACONY!!"
Stelle: "Even buying Paperfold Academy would be a piece of cake!"
Silver Wolf: "What a nouveau riche speech!"
Robin: "Paperfold Academy is currently co-managed by multiple Families. Buying it wouldn't actually be that easy."
March 7th: "Oh, don't listen to Stelle's nonsense!"
March 7th: "She wouldn't do something like that!"
March 7th: "Buying a university is pretty useless anyway."
Qingque: "Who says it's useless?"
Qingque: "If you buy the school, can't you become the principal?"
Paimon: "Wow!"
Paimon: "If Miss Stelle is the principal, could you let us enroll for free?"
Paimon: "Paimon really wants to experience what it's like to attend a world-renowned top academy!"
Stelle: "No problem, it's just a matter of a single word from me!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Speaking of which, even if Miss Stelle doesn't buy the school, wouldn't it still be easy for her to become the principal?"
Furina de Fontaine: "She's already a shareholder of Penacony, so she should at least have that much authority."
Silver Wolf: "Letting this girl be the principal… I dread to think how chaotic the school would become."
Hotaru: "Maybe Stelle actually has a knack for being a principal?"
....
『 [ Electives, extracurricular activities, campus parties... I want to try them all! ]
Stelle heard March 7th shouting excitedly nearby.
[ Take me with you. Actually, I've never been to school either. ]
Stelle leaned in close to March 7th.
[ Sigh, you and I are the only ones with ambiguous educational qualifications on the Express… Oh wait, there's also Pam. ]
[ Never mind. Let's just relax and enjoy ourselves on campus. I'll be in your care now, Stelle! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "The Conductor shouldn't be included, right?"
Stelle: "It doesn't need to go to school anyway?"
Paimon: "Even though Conductor Pam has never been to school, it seems to know so, so many things…"
Paimon: "Much more impressive than people who have gone to school."
Welt Yang: "Pam might have existed for an extremely long time."
Welt Yang: "With the accumulation of vast amounts of time, it naturally possesses very rich knowledge."
Pam: "Haha, you flatter me!"
Pam: "For many things, this Conductor actually only has a superficial understanding, pam!"
March 7th: "So, out of the entire Express Crew, only Stelle and I are illiterate?"
Stelle: "Objection!"
Stelle: "I'm an Honorary Researcher of the Herta Space Station!"
Stelle: "A distinguished figure who personally collaborates on research with the genius Madam Herta herself!"
Stelle: "I have nothing to do with the word 'illiterate'!"
Stelle: "You're the only uneducated one here!"
Dan Heng: "If you push it any further, March is going to have a breakdown."
March 7th: "AHHH!!"
March 7th: "No way!"
March 7th: "THIS LADY IS NOT ILLITERATE!!"
March 7th: "I MUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET MY OWN DIPLOMA!!"
....
『 After a while, Himeko and Welt prepared the enrollment materials for the three of them.
And so, the Express began to warp toward Penacony.
On the way, due to Stelle's sensitivity to Memory Zone Memoria, she predictably fell into a deep sleep again.
Then, in a daze, she heard a strange sound.
[ ♪Ba, na, na, na~ ]
[ (What is that ruckus?) ]
This strange sound left Stelle utterly bewildered.
[ ♪Ba, na, na, na~ ]
The sound rang out again, but Stelle's consciousness was too exhausted at that moment, so she drifted back into a deep sleep. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Damn."
Stelle: "Crap, I think I'm possessed again!"
Stelle: "What on earth was that noise just now??"
Paimon: "I heard it!"
Paimon: "It sounded like… ♪Ba, na, na, na~?"
Lumine: "It indeed sounded like banana…"
Lumine: "It was chanted with a strange melody."
Rappa: "Cursed fiends! That is the wicked sound that leads people into despair, emitted by the evil lackeys under the Evil Ninja Ape!"
Stelle: "???"
Stelle: "Sister, who are you again?"
Stelle: "What the hell is the Evil Ninja Ape?"
Boothill: "Holy muddle-fudger, Sis Rappa, you're here too?"
Boothill: "Well, there's all kinds of folks in this group, so it ain't that surprising."
Hu Tao: "Eh? You two know each other?"
Boothill: "Yeah, this sister is also a member of our Galaxy Rangers."
Boothill: "Cough, cough, it's just that the way she talks might be a bit peculiar."
Boothill: "Don't mind her."
Rappa: "Silver-Gun Asura-dono, this is not peculiar, but Ninja Jargon!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Silver-Gun… Shura-dono???"
Boothill: "See, that's the kind of peculiar I'm talkin' about."
Boothill: "Sigh, it might be hard to understand at first, but once you hear it enough, you'll get used to it."
Boothill: "I say, Sis Rappa, since you're here, why haven't I seen you post anything?"
Rappa: "This one was previously tracking the traces of the evil lackeys under the Evil Ninja Ape."
Rappa: "I had to focus with all my soul, so I truly could not spare any attention to converse with everyone."
Rappa: "But now this one understands. The target of these evil lackeys is actually Pinokoni!"
Qingque: "Pinokoni??"
Qingque: "Is she talking about Penacony?"
Silver Wolf: "Uh… do Galaxy Rangers all talk with their own accents?"
Boothill: "Don't mind it, she's just like this; you'll get used to it."
(Author uses the Japanese puns here)
....
『 The screen transitioned, and Dan Heng, March 7th, and Stelle
had already arrived in Penacony.
[ We've arrived. Stelle, why do you always fall asleep when we're warping? I couldn't even wake you up. ]
Looking at Stelle's dazed state, March 7th complained helplessly.
[ Uh, what do you mean I fell asleep!?]
Stelle showed a pained expression.
[ Never mind. Just don't look so lost when we're in class later, or you might just sleep yourself to Dreamflux Reef. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "I also want to know why I fell asleep again."
Stelle: "I must be physically weak, right?"
Stelle: "I have to find time to let Bailu check me out!"
Black Swan: "Do not worry, you are simply overly sensitive to Memoria."
Black Swan: "Perhaps, if you get used to it over time, you will be fine?"
Stelle: "By the way, what was that wicked sound Miss Rappa said I heard just now??"
Stelle: "Am I really possessed?"
Rappa: "The words you heard are indeed the wicked sounds of the evil lackeys under the Evil Ninja Ape."
Rappa: "Strictly speaking, it can be considered a form of possession."
Stelle: "Holy crap, what should I do?!"
Stelle: "Should I go find a master somewhere to exorcise me?!"
Rappa: "Do not panic. If you happen to meet me, I shall teach you a few Ninja Chants, and the evil spirits shall be dispelled!"
Li Sushang: "What is all this gibberish…"
Li Sushang: "My head hurts just listening to it!"
Furina de Fontaine: "What exactly is the Evil Ninja Ape?"
Paimon: "I really wanted to ask that too…"
Boothill: "Well… let me explain it for her."
Boothill: "The 'Evil Ninja Ape' she's talkin' about is that dumbass Dr. Primitive."
Dan Heng: "Dr. Primitive?!"
Dan Heng: "Which means… traces of Dr. Primitive have appeared in Penacony!"
Dan Heng: "This could be a bit troublesome…"
Lumine: "Dr. Primitive?"
Lumine: "Sounds familiar."
Lumine: "I think I heard Mr. Boothill mention him before."
Nahida: "He is a member of the Genius Society."
Nahida: "Because he committed a great crime, he is being hunted by the entire Galaxy Rangers."
Black Swan: "Miss Nahida has a truly wonderful memory."
Black Swan: "You really have a talent for being a Memokeeper~"
Nahida: "You flatter me."
Nahida: "For me, remembering these details is indeed not very difficult."
....
『 [ Alright, let's go check in. ]
Dan Heng called out to the two of them and started leading them toward the front desk.
[ Himeko and Uncle Yang still have to attend social gatherings. Adults really have it hard. ]
Walking along the way, March 7th couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
[ Welcome to the Reverie Hotel, distinguished shareholders. ]
At the hotel front desk was still the receptionist named Alley.
When she saw the three of them approaching, she immediately welcomed them in a respectful tone.
[ Ah—almost forgot, we're shareholders of Penacony now! ]
Hearing Alley say this, March 7th smiled. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "The last time I came to the hotel, I stood there like a nobody!"
Stelle: "Even my room depended on others' charity!"
Stelle: "But this time, I have become a high-and-mighty shareholder!"
Stelle: "I(Stelle) NO LONGER NEED TO RELY ON OTHERS' PITY!!"
Stelle: "This is a classic 'thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west, do not look down on a young girl's poverty' story!"
Qingque: "OH MY GOD!! This is so touching, I'm tearing up!"
March 7th: "Uh… I can see you've definitely vindicated yourself."
March 7th: "If nothing else, at least after becoming a shareholder, you don't have to worry about not having a hotel room to stay in."
Silver Wolf: "What an inspirational story!"
....
『 [ Hearing that the shareholders have returned to Penacony, the hotel has prepared six Platinum Suites in advance, ready for check-in at any time. ]
Alley said to everyone.
[ Six? ]
Hearing this number, Dan Heng frowned.
[ Yes, in addition to the three of you present, Miss Himeko, and Mr. Welt, there is also Mr. Pam, who checked in three days ago. ]
Alley nodded and explained.
[ Pam?? ]
Hearing this name from Alley's mouth, Stelle was a bit bewildered.
[ Pam? ]
[ What are you talking about… ]
March 7th scratched her head, feeling lost.
[ …I see. ]
[ Thank you for the Family's hospitality; please check the three of us in. ]
Dan Heng seemed to figure out what was going on, so he nodded to Alley.
[ Of course. ]
[ Your Dreamscape Passes have been activated. We hope Penacony can bring everyone another pleasant time! ]
Alley finished the check-in procedures for the three of them.
[ The last time wasn't very pleasant… ]
Thinking of their last experience in Penacony, March 7th shook her head. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Pam: "???"
Pam: "This Conductor didn't even get off the train; why did you prepare a room for me, Pam?"
March 7th: "They already checked in."
March 7th: "IT'S OBVIOUSLY AN IMPOSTOR!!"
Stelle: "Boothill!"
Stelle: "SPEAK, WHY DID YOU IMPERSONATE OUR CONDUCTOR!!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Sure enough, the first person everyone thought of was Mr. Boothill."
Boothill: "Uh…"
Boothill: "Holy muddle-fudger, how are you guys so sure it was me?"
Boothill: "Logically speaking, so much time has passed; there's no reason for me to go back to Penacony?"
Dan Heng: "Because you are the only one with a history of impersonating the Conductor."
Dan Heng: "And this receptionist happens to have seen you before."
Hu Tao: "It must be Mr. Boothill, no doubt about it!"
Hu Tao: "After all, in the hotel system, he was probably registered as a member of the Astral Express."
Boothill: "Tsk, to be fair, I don't know what happened either."
Boothill: "But we can be considered comrades who fought side by side, so don't be so stranger-like."
Boothill: "Platinum Suites! If I didn't borrow your identity, I holy muddle-fudging couldn't afford to stay there."
....
『 [ Sorry for interrupting you guys just now. ]
After walking to a secluded area, Dan Heng apologized to the two of them.
[ Dan Heng, do you know something? ]
[ What's with the front desk saying Pam also checked into the hotel? ]
March 7th asked curiously.
[ If I'm not mistaken, this impostor… is most likely Boothill. ]
Dan Heng voiced his suspicion.
[ You mean Mr. Holy Forkeroni!? ]
Hearing Dan Heng's words, Stelle understood.
[ Yes. When we acted together in Penacony before, he also used Pam's name. ]
[ He's the only one I can think of who would do that. ]
Dan Heng explained.
[ Boothill? What is he here for? ]
March 7th couldn't think of a reason for Boothill to be here.
[ I don't know. ]
[ Galaxy Rangers have always traveled alone, but Boothill shouldn't do anything harmful to the Express. ]
[ Since this 'Pam' checked in three days ago, we will likely find him in the dream. ]
[ We'll ask him in detail then. ]
Dan Heng couldn't figure out Boothill's intentions either, so he could only keep this matter in mind for now.
[ Then let's set off. ]
[ Paperfold University is located in the Moment of Sol. The hotel has set the entrance to the dream near the school, so let's meet at the gates! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Are we going straight to school as soon as we arrive?"
Stelle: "It's actually quite exciting."
March 7th: "This lady is also very excited!"
March 7th: "I hope this time, I can get a diploma from Paperfold Academy, so this lady will be a highly educated person in the future!"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Hmph, Paperfold Academy…"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Although it is a magnificent place, in my opinion, it can hardly be considered a place that nurtures scholars."
Aventurine: "It's an art and business school, after all."
Aventurine: "The goal is only to train big stars or outstanding entrepreneurs."
Aventurine: "If you want to become a scholar, you'd most likely have to go to the University of Veritas Prime."
Paimon: "University of Veritas Prime?"
Paimon: "Just hearing this name… I seem to know what kind of school it is."
Paimon: "Absolutely a school that is highly unsuitable for Paimon!"
Lumine: "Yes, Paimon is indeed more suited for Paperfold Academy."
Lumine: "As for becoming a scholar, don't even think about it."
....