『 Along the way, the two first encountered a tipsy Pepeshi. He had sold all his belongings to join the sweet dream of Penacony, even claiming that the Penacony Grand Theater was more beautiful than the moon of his homeland.
Robin felt that dreamchasers indulging in illusory happiness could not be considered living. Sunday, however, believed that humans trapped in the obsession with self-actualization would inevitably breed plunder and oppression, resulting in the tragedy of the survival of the fittest.
"Survival of the fittest, the strong preying on the weak… All tragedies in the world stem from this. And the reason Penacony is a sweet dream is precisely that it provides a place of peaceful slumber for anyone who wishes to escape from it…"
"There is no tragedy here, only happiness—though it is only in its infancy, isn't this exactly what the paradise in our minds looks like?"
Robin fell silent for a moment, then suggested the gentleman might be an exception. Before drawing her own conclusion, she wanted to see it with her own eyes, just like when she was in Dreamflux Reef.
Sunday nodded, and the two continued their walk. They stopped in front of a cheerful guest. In the conversation, Robin learned that she could not bear the boredom of real life and preferred to devote her entire short life to the pleasures of the dreamscape.
Seeing the guest leave, Robin couldn't help but sigh.
Seeing this, Sunday said, "It seems the words of that guest just now did not satisfy you either."
Robin raised her head. "No, what she said makes sense, and I can feel that she is happy from the bottom of her heart. It's just…"
Sunday took over the words. "You want to say… she thinks she has become the master of her life, but she has merely abandoned reality to flee into a sweet dream. Once she loses its protection, she will instantly be reduced to her original state."
Robin nodded and replied softly, "Yes. After all, she also mentioned the 'room fee'… didn't she?"
"But the paradise in our minds… shouldn't have an end."
Robin looked in the direction where the guest had just left, her tone disappointed. "The paradise in our minds… shouldn't just be an ephemeral dream, either."
Then the two continued. This time, they met a quiet old man. From his mouth, they learned that he had lost everything in a war. Now, his body was fixed in a Dreampool, surviving on life-support equipment.
No matter how false the dream was, it was a paradise to him.
Leaving the old man's side, Robin lamented, "That old man's story… is too sad. Fortunately, this sweet dream has indeed left him with happy thoughts for the rest of his life."
Sunday nodded. "This is the meaning of the existence of Penacony's sweet dream."
"But a sweet dream ultimately has its limitations. It is only a safe harbor for the frustrated; it cannot eradicate pain from the source of reality."
"There will always be a way—Penacony is already on the right path." Sunday slowly raised his head, looking toward the Grand Theater. 』
『 ....』
〘·HSR· Welt Yang〙: Three people, three ways of living in Penacony, and the two have different views on this.
〘March 7th〙: It's so contradictory. For the first two, I hope they can see through the falsehood of the dream and return to reality. But for the last one, I don't know what should be done.
〘Belle〙: Yeah, for that old man, a false sweet dream is far better than that broken reality.
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: My head hurts so much, I won't think about it anymore.
〘Sushang〙: + 1
〘Soukaku〙: + 1, Sis Yanagi, I don't understand anymore. Also, I'm hungry ┭┮﹏┭┮
〘Gallagher〙: Penacony's path is far from correct. People live and die in a drunken stupor here. When the dream wakes up, they are often crushed by the cold reality.
〘Sunday〙: Yes, the dream will wake up one day…
....
『 After bidding farewell to the old man, the next person Sunday and Robin met was actually 'Robin'.
They saw that 'Robin' was waving to Sunday with a smile, "Brother! What a coincidence, we meet again."
"Reveal your true form. Your tricks are useless against us," Sunday said, putting one hand on his hip as he looked at 'Robin'.
"I heard that a Masked Fool skilled in deception also received an invitation… It seems it's you. Are you having fun?" Robin asked.
Hanabi reverted to her original form, sighed softly, and spread her hands. "Just so-so. The people here are too easy to fool. Give them a little sweetness, and they'll bite. When there's danger, they shrink back incredibly fast—simply put, they're foolish, wealthy, and afraid of death!"
"Now that you've had your fill, it'd be wise to leave before it's too late. The music of the Harmony doesn't tolerate discord." Robin warned Hanabi.
"What? Now that the real one is back, I'm useless? And here I was, helping the Family so much. It really breaks my heart." Hanabi covered her chest as if in pain. 』
『 ....』
〘Hanabi〙: Heartbroken. Real heartbreak isn't about throwing a tantrum.
〘Sampo〙: You've been cast aside after serving your purpose.
〘Hanabi〙: No need for you to remind me!
....
『 "You should thank me. If I hadn't been willing to clean up this mess… Penacony would have been in utter chaos by now, you know?"
"That was a private request from the head of the Iris Family, and has nothing to do with us. Step down, and do not cause any more trouble for the Charmony Festival."
"Char-mo-ny Fes-ti-val? Hmph, who are you trying to scare? Do you think I don't know what you all are planning?" Hanabi stared intently at Sunday, who had just spoken, as if trying to see right through him. Then she smiled, shook her head, and looked at Robin.
"Setting aside what you think, Chicken Wing Boy, our lovely Miss Robin here should have made up her mind not to take the stage now, right? After all, you've seen how ugly this sweet dream looks under the operation of the Harmony…"
"The 'Land of the Dreams' Penacony~ Is the paradise you siblings want shaped like this?"
"Silence!" Sunday barked.
"Hehehe, getting anxious, Chicken Wing Boy? Did I hit a sore spot?" Hanabi's tone was playful. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: It's not without reason that you were cast aside.
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: She brought it entirely on herself.
....
『 "Our agreement has nothing to do with you, Fool. Leave immediately, or don't blame the Family for being impolite," Robin warned again, only this time her tone was a bit heavier.
Hanabi nodded, drawing out her words, "Okay, okay~ I'll leave."
She put her hands on her hips and looked at Robin, "But, Miss Robin, I must advise you to think about it carefully again—"
"—Can people living in a dream really stay away from pain and reap true happiness?"
Robin was choked by Hanabi's words, not knowing how to respond.
Seeing this, Hanabi smiled. "Hehe, I've done everything I need to do. Next, I'll just wait to watch the fireworks."
"I'll give you the last two gifts. If the Charmony Festival is unfortunately held… make sure to use them at the performance venue. Don't lose them."
"And it'll be thrilling! Bang!"
After giving the buttons to the two, Hanabi skipped away, seemingly looking for the best spot to watch the fireworks. 』
『 ....』