『 [ (I'm staying in the same room as the last time I was here... Time to enter the dream.) ]
Everyone dispersed, and Stelle also began to return to her guest room, preparing to enter the dream.
[ Hurry up! I hear that the major shareholders have already arrived at the lobby. Don't alarm them! ]
[ I know! But that fella was running in this direction. How did he disappear so quickly...? ]
[ Shh, someone broke in—who are you? ]
Just as Stelle walked into her room, she spotted two members of the Hound Family. They were acting sneakily, up to who knows what.
[ I'm a VIP. ]
Stelle put her hands on her hips.
[ Oh, cut it out. Everyone who comes here calls themselves a VIP. It doesn't mean anything to me at this point. ]
[I don't care who you are. The Bloodhound Family is investigating a case here. Please make way. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Uh…"
Stelle: "It's my second time here. Why are the Hound Family members still so dim-witted?"
Stelle: "Do they not even need training before they start working?"
Stelle: "I've already become a major shareholder, and these two haven't even seen my photo?"
March 7th: "The Hound Family's security personnel indeed give off a very unprofessional feeling."
March 7th: "Could they all have gotten in through connections?"
Robin: "My apologies, making everyone laugh at us again."
Robin: "I will urge the head of the Hound Family to strengthen personnel training in the future."
Silver Wolf: "It really is time to strengthen training. Otherwise, it's simply embarrassing for Penacony."
Paimon: "Hehe, daring to be arrogant in front of a genuine big shot, she'll be crying in a moment!"
Lumine: "So, in their line of work, having a good eye is very important!"
....
『 [ Wait a second! Gray hair, yellow eyes, and some weird straps hanging on her clothes… She seems to be that major shareholder! ]
The male Hound member next to her, after carefully sizing up Stelle's appearance, hurriedly said to his companion in a panic.
[ What?! ]
[ For the love of... Couldn't you have said that earlier!? ]
[ —Oh, distinguished guest, I spoke a bit too loudly just now; please forgive me! ]
[ The Hounds are just conducting a routine inspection. Everything in the guest room is normal now; please rest assured and check in. ]
Upon hearing this, the female Hound member was shocked at first, then instantly switched to a flattering face.
[ But the culprit… ]
The male Hound member next to her, hearing his companion say this, immediately showed a hesitant expression.
[ Culprit? ]
Hearing these words, Stelle raised an eyebrow.
[ You—ah, right, right, annoying, indeed annoying! ]
[ But these procedures are all for the safety of the guests. The Hounds never mind the trouble! ]
[ We'll leave right now, please have a good rest. ]
The female Hound Family member frantically gave her companion a look.
[ Um… you must pay attention to safety in the dream, please be careful… ]
The male Hound member looked at his companion, hesitated for a moment, and then advised Stelle.
[ That's enough, hurry up and follow me! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "What on earth are these two Hounds doing?"
Stelle: "They came to my room to catch a culprit, right?"
Stelle: "Why are they covering it up?"
March 7th: "Probably because they didn't catch them, and they're afraid of angering you?"
Furina de Fontaine: "This room is so bright, it doesn't look like a place where a culprit could hide."
Furina de Fontaine: "By the way, what culprit are they catching?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Are there illegal immigrants in Penacony again?"
Lumine: "Could it be Miss Hotaru??"
Hotaru: "Eh?"
Hotaru: "It shouldn't be me…"
Hotaru: "Unless Elio has a script for me in Penacony later on."
Hu Tao: "Maybe it's just a coincidence."
Hu Tao: "But as soon as Miss Stelle arrives, she encounters this kind of situation. I feel like it's an unfavorable start?"
Stelle: "Then it feels right!"
Stelle: "Wherever we are, things can't be calm and peaceful!"
....
『 [ What is all this… Should I check again before entering the dream? ]
Watching the two Hounds leave, Stelle closed the door, then began to inspect the room suspiciously.
She walked to the exquisite table and saw a film reel placed on it. The title reads: Remastered — Top 10 Slumbernana Monkey Classic Shots. It even has a limited edition serial number labeled on it in embossed gold lettering.
"Is this a gift prepared by the hotel?"
"But having film without a projector, that's really thoughtful…"
Stelle shook her head, put down the film, and continued to observe the room.
This time, on the soft, luxurious sofa, she found a strange monkey doll.
The workmanship of this monkey doll was quite exquisite, but its smug, "intellectual" look was hard to appreciate.
The monkey's appearance made Stelle's hands itch, and she couldn't resist giving it a punch. However, it didn't do anything. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Uh… what kind of things are in my room?"
Stelle: "An abstract little monkey?"
Stelle: "Is this the taste of the Reverie Hotel?"
March 7th: "Hahaha, I actually think this little monkey is quite interesting."
March 7th: "As for you, it was sitting nicely on the sofa, why did you punch it!"
Stelle: "It looks too smug, I couldn't help myself."
Furina de Fontaine: "Indeed, what was the designer of this doll thinking?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Why design such a smug monkey doll?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Isn't a cute style better?"
Qingque: "Perhaps, because they wanted to target a different market?"
Qingque: "This kind of smug doll might unexpectedly become popular."
Paimon: "Seeing Miss Stelle's punch just now, I think it might be a stress-relief toy?"
Paimon: "Just for people to vent their emotions?"
Li Sushang: "Makes sense."
Li Sushang: "If a stress-relief doll is made too cute, people might hesitate to hit it."
Li Sushang: "But with this kind of appearance, people won't have any reservations!"
....
『 Stelle stopped caring about this strange monkey doll. Instead, she looked at a treasure chest next to the Dreampool, her eyes lighting up!
She walked up to this treasure chest, placed both hands on the lid, and wanted to pry it open.
However, the chest was tightly locked and didn't budge. This made Stelle frown deeply. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "?"
Stelle: "Who put a treasure chest here?!"
Stelle: "Why can't it be opened!"
Lumine: "It's actually an unopenable treasure chest!"
Lumine: "Oh no, my blood pressure is starting to rise."
March 7th: "Uh… who would put a treasure chest in a guest room?"
March 7th: "Is it possible that this is actually just an unopenable decoration?"
Paimon: "Ah…"
Paimon: "Then the person who put this treasure chest decoration here must be a devil!"
Paimon: "They have no idea how painful an unopenable treasure chest is for some people!"
Qingque: "You guys really are cut from the same cloth."
Qingque: "Your obsession with treasure chests is exactly the same."
....
『 [ (I can't open the box... Something just doesn't feel right...) ]
[ (But I can't keep March 7th and Dan Heng waiting. Never mind, I'll head to sleep for now.) ]
Having exhausted all her efforts and still failing to open the chest, Stelle had no choice but to give up temporarily. She entered the Dreampool to dream.
After all, March 7th and Dan Heng were still waiting for her to meet up at the entrance of Paperfold University.
A moment later, Stelle fell asleep in the Dreampool. The unmovable treasure chest, however, made a muffled sound and turned into a puff of smoke.
Immediately after, an unfamiliar young girl stepped out of the smoke.
[ Well, this place sure is sealed off. ]
[ No other way... ]
[ I have to borrow your bed... ]
[ Please forgive me, guest! ]
As soon as this unfamiliar girl came out, she entered the Dreampool where Stelle was and lay down next to her. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "HOLY CRAP!!"
Stelle: "Did you guys see that?!"
Stelle: "THE TREASURE CHEST BECAME A SPIRIT!!"
Stelle: "With a whoosh, a girl appeared, and she's sleeping next to me??"
Stelle: "I thought I hadn't entered the dream yet?"
Stelle: "How did I encounter such a magical thing?"
Guinaifen: "Uh… is this some kind of magic trick?"
Guinaifen: "Or is the treasure chest really a spirit??"
Guinaifen: "I've never heard of such a thing."
March 7th: "I haven't heard of such a thing either…"
March 7th: "Maybe this is just a case of 'the world is wide and full of wonders'?"
Dan Heng: "…"
Dan Heng: "There is no treasure chest spirit."
Dan Heng: "It's obvious that this unknown lady used some kind of illusion."
Dan Heng: "What is her purpose?"
Boothill: "Rappa, you really have your ways!"
Boothill: "When I went to Penacony, I had to assume someone else's identity just to enter the dream."
Boothill: "But you, you just slipped in so easily."
Furina de Fontaine: "Ah?"
Furina de Fontaine: "So, this is Miss Rappa?!"
Rappa: "My apologies, everyone."
Rappa: "My way of appearance might be a bit hard for you to accept."
Rappa: "But this is Ninjutsu!"
Stelle: "After all that, it wasn't a treasure chest spirit?"
Stelle: "Sigh, how disappointing."
Silver Wolf: "Anyone with a brain would know that's impossible!"
Stelle: "Miss Rappa, although I don't mind sleeping with a beautiful girl, you didn't even say hello and even turned into a treasure chest to trick me. That's a bit unreasonable!"
Rappa: "A thousand apologies! The barrier guarding this sacred sanctuary proved exceptionally formidable, leaving this ninja with no recourse but to deploy the Art of Memetic Concealment to breach the dream."
Rappa: "I beseech thee, forgive this humble one's transgression!"
Stelle: "How about this, you teach me how to turn into a treasure chest, and I'll let it slide!"
Qingque: "Hah, I knew you had some scheme!"
Rappa: "You wish to learn my art of transformation?"
Rappa: "That is easy to say!"
Rappa: "When you have time, you are welcome to contact me."
Stelle: "Yay! I can turn into a treasure chest now!!"
Paimon: "WOW!!! SO JEALOUS!!!"
Dan Heng: "…"
....
『 [ Focus on your breathing and imagine you're in paradise... Imagine... an... island... ]
[ An... island... island... island... island... island... ]
As Stelle slept deeply, the voice of the Dreampool echoed in her mind.
However, for some reason, as the voice echoed, it began to stutter!
Gradually, another strange sound began to ring in Stelle's head.
Along with it came an abstract and demonic animation!
It was a group of monkeys jumping up and down, holding bananas in their hands, constantly twisting and emerging from a rainbow-like background in all directions.
[ An island full of bananas, a lovely nest for Slumbernanas! ]
[ Ba na na na~ ]
[ Eat bananas, nap the day away! ]
[ Worry no more, be happy every day! ]
[ Slumbernana Monkey is the very best ♪ ]
[ He's the monkey living life without a stress ♪ ]
[ … ]
The demonic melody constantly echoed in her mind, almost brainwashing Stelle. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "???"
Stelle: "Ah! What did I see?!"
Stelle: "What did I hear?!"
Stelle: "Help!"
Stelle: "Did I catch a cyber virus?!"
Stelle: "Silver Wolf, hurry up and check it for me!"
Silver Wolf: "Hmm… this level of abstraction is indeed a bit like a cyber virus."
Silver Wolf: "Did someone drug you in the Dreampool?"
Stelle: "Could it be Miss Rappa who was sleeping next to me?!"
Stelle: "Miss Rappa, you and I have no grudges, why would you use such a thing to harm me?!"
Rappa: "You misunderstand; this is not my doing."
Rappa: "This is actually the work of the evil faction under the Evil Ninja Osaru."
March 7th: "Eh??"
March 7th: "Are the people under the Dr. Primitive so abstract?"
March 7th: "This strange image, and this demonic melody…"
Paimon: "Ba na na na~"
Paimon: "An island full of bananas!"
Hu Tao: "Slumbernana Monkey is the very best ♪"
Lumine: "Ba na na na~… uh…"
Lumine: "This song is toxic. Why do I feel like singing along after hearing it a few times??"
Furina de Fontaine: "To be fair, although this song sounds weird… it really is brainwashing!"
Furina de Fontaine: "When I heard it just now, I couldn't help but hum along."
Qingque: "What a bizarre cyber virus!"
Hotaru: "I don't really feel that way…"
Hotaru: "For me, maybe the melody of the SoulGlad commercial is more brainwashing?"
Mualani: "Drink this bottle of SoulGlad~ Happy dreams arrive fast!"
Mualani: "Is that how it goes? Hehe, I still remember!"
....
『 [ (Did I... just see something strange?) ]
After a dizzy spell, Stelle gradually woke up.
[ (Is this Paperfold University? It doesn't look much like a school, but it does look somewhat familiar.) ]
[ (Also, what's that?) ]
Stelle looked around and found herself on a rooftop, and near the flowerbed in the distance, there was a strange monkey.
[ Bana, bana! ]
Stelle approached the monkey and heard it make a strange banana sound.
[ Where did the Dreampool send me? ]
Looking at this strange monkey, Stelle couldn't help but scratch her head.
[ Baaaananana! ]
The monkey in front of Stelle kept making banana sounds, making her recall the demonic melody from just now.
[ ♪ Ba na na na~ Ba na na na~ ♪ ]
The strange monkey began to hum this melody, and a strange urge enveloped Stelle, making her unable to resist singing along.
[ ♪ Ba na na na~ Ba na na na~ ♪ ]
Stelle couldn't hold back and sang this banan sound. Then, more monkeys came upon hearing the sound, gathering around her. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Ba na na na~ ♪"
Stelle: "Ba na na~ ♪… ah, PAH, PAH!!"
Stelle: "Why can't I help but sing along even while watching the video?"
Stelle: "It's over, I'm deeply poisoned!"
March 7th: "Didn't we agree that the teleportation point of the Dreampool had been set to the university entrance?"
March 7th: "Where was Stelle sent??"
Hanabi: "Tsk tsk tsk, Dr. Primitive is still obsessed with turning things into monkeys~"
Hanabi: "Next, there's going to be a good show to watch~"
....