Chapter 116

[Because only in this way can you touch that secret which is even more unspeakable than the serial murders...]

[Only then can you go there through death in the dream, the promised land that people are constantly seeking in this grand festival...]

[...The Watchmaker's legacy, the true Penacony.]

Acheron states the reason.

[...]

[...How did you find out?]

Acheron guessed his purpose correctly,

which makes Aventurine very curious,

how did she know?

[I also didn't expect that something I accidentally learned would become the key to connecting everything.]

Acheron says quietly.

[It's that person's identity, right?]

Aventurine interjects.

[It seems you are also in the know.]

Acheron nods.

[I can't be sure, but I'm willing to bet on that possibility.]

[...The murder case is a good excuse, but it's far from enough.]

[Even if there really were one or two murders in Penacony, they would only affect a very small number of people and wouldn't cause a stir.]

[This dream is not a vast ocean, but an isolated island.]

[The Family uses Harmony to build embankments and high walls, isolating the outside world, protecting people from drowning in the ocean...]

[...And at the same time, using this barrier that isolates death to bury unknown secrets in the deep sea.]

[In a dream without pain and casualties, those secrets will never see the light of day.]

[Unless...]

Aventurine pauses here.

[Unless someone goes to the other side of the barrier...]

[...And can return alive.]

Acheron adds.

[Someone has already done it.]

[I received a hint a long time ago: if the mute is not pointing to someone who cannot speak, then it can only be someone who cannot speak...]

[The person who has survived from the deep sea but can no longer walk to the front and speak—I am very happy to learn that she is still in Penacony, and safe and sound.]

Aventurine says with a smile.

[A hint... isn't that evidence?]

Acheron asks back.

[I'm sorry, I don't have evidence.]

[The only thing that can corroborate these conjectures is the Family's honesty when facing death.]

[They are too generous to outsiders, which instead makes it seem like they are trying to cover something up.]

[But doubting something doesn't require evidence, uncovering the truth does—for me, the former is enough.]

[I also don't need to find that Memory Zone Meme, as long as someone can kill me like it did, that's enough.]

Aventurine lays out his entire plan.

[In my opinion, you actually don't have full certainty.]

[Specially conducting a city-wide broadcast, trying to pull more people into the game...]

[It's also because you are betting on the possibility that someone can break the barrier.]

[You are indeed very lucky, fate made our paths intersect, and I happen to have a sharp blade—sharp enough to slash the curtain of the dream, and at the same time sever the brand of Harmony on you...]

[You are also very cunning, deliberately designing for us to stand on opposite sides, constantly repeating the rhetoric of an Emanator in front of others, leaving me with no retreat, only to draw my blade.]

[That's why you can win.]

[Timing and strategy, both are indispensable.]

[And in your layout, the IPC is always the winner, even if you lost the bet in the end...]

[For the Family, the life of an envoy is expensive enough.]

Acheron is somewhat impressed by Aventurine's strategy.

[A high-stakes gamble, isn't it?]

[But allow me to point out one error: the IPC is not holding a winning hand, in one crucial matter, I indeed have no backup plan.]

[Detonating a Stellaron... I can't do it.]

[The Aventurine stone is already too shattered, it can't even protect me from retreating from the stage unscathed.]

[If you hadn't drawn that blade in the end... I would have lost everything.]

Aventurine corrects an error in Acheron's words.

[Discussing 'what if' is meaningless.]

[You won, you won yourself an admission ticket to that deep sea.]

[And after this, whether you can return from the abyss... is another high-stakes gamble of yours.]

[...Have you never hesitated?]

Acheron asks curiously.

[Hesitate... of course.]

[But I can only believe in my good luck.]

[Because apart from that, I have nothing.]

March 7th: "What does that mean?"

March 7th: "Aventurine had already sensed the truth of the dream?"

March 7th: "But how did Miss Acheron know?"

Furina: "It seems to be because of that person's identity..."

Furina: "But that person, who is that person?"

Zhongli: "Probably... Miss Firefly."

Stelle: "Eh, Firefly?"

Welt: "That's right, it's Miss Firefly."

Himeko: "Remember?"

Himeko: "Aventurine learned from Sparkle's hint that there was a mute who couldn't speak, who was still staying in Penacony."

Himeko: "That mute who couldn't speak refers to Miss Firefly, who should have been killed by the Memory Zone Meme."

Himeko: "Combined with the current situation, Miss Firefly should have entered the world outside the barrier after being killed."

Himeko: "But she can't walk to the front and speak again..."

Himeko: "Does this mean Miss Firefly is trapped in the world outside the barrier?"

Hu Tao: "It's possible, but how did Miss Acheron know Miss Firefly was okay?"

Himeko: "I'm also puzzled by this question."

Lumine: "Actually, I'm more curious about how Miss Sparkle could know so many things."

Lumine: "It feels like to her, Penacony has no secrets at all!"

Paimon: "Uh... speaking of this, I suddenly have a bold guess!!"

Paimon: "Do you think... Miss Sparkle might be the biggest mastermind behind Penacony!!"

Paimon: "Otherwise why does she know everything?"

Paimon: "And she deliberately contacted many people!"

Guinaifen: "Ah, this possibility is very high!"

Guinaifen: "As a Masked Fool, Miss Sparkle should like doing this kind of thing, right?"

Guinaifen: "Making Penacony completely chaotic, and then watching the show from behind the scenes..."

Sparkle: "Nah, you really guessed it right~"

Sparkle: "That's right, I am the mastermind~"

Sparkle: "All these conspiracies were led by me~"

Navia: "With this tone... it seems the mastermind is not Miss Sparkle."

Paimon: "Then who is the big villain, seeing it until now, I haven't seen any clues."

Miss Qingque: "I personally tend to favor the Dreammaster of the Family who hasn't appeared yet."

Miss Qingque: "High position and great power, sounds like a very suitable villain boss."

Miss Sushang: "If you say that, I think that Watchmaker Mikhail is also very suspicious."

Amber: "Speaking of Mikhail..."

Amber: "Mr. Gallagher's identity also seems unclear, and that little Little Misha."

Amber: "In short, there are still many mysteries that haven't been solved."

Stelle: "It's okay, from the video, the truth is about to be revealed!"

Stelle: "By then, our questions will definitely be answered!"

March 7th: "Then watch the video carefully."

The video continues.

[...Wake up from this dream, and go to the place you should go.]

[Your gamble... has not ended yet.]

After Acheron says this,

she turns to leave.

[...]

[...Before we part, can you answer one more question for me?]

[As someone walking on that path, can you tell me...]

[Why were we born into this world for the sake of death?]

Aventurine stops Acheron,

and asks this ultimate question.

[I never thought so.]

[You are the same.]

Acheron turns around again, looking at Aventurine.

[But Nihility does indeed envelop you and me... and everyone else.]

Aventurine's tone is deep.

[And precisely because of that, it has no meaning.]

Acheron replies.

[...]

[—But it is still there.]

Aventurine turns to gaze at the boundless black hole.

[If the dice of fate have always been loaded, that is our destined destination, why... must we resist it?]

Aventurine's tone is somewhat lost.

[...My answer may not resolve your confusion, because it has accompanied you all the way, and has long been a part of your life.]

[But you said, sleep is a rehearsal for death, why does life fall into slumber?]

[Because we are not yet prepared to welcome death.]

[So you must also understand why we 'want' to be prepared.]

[Even if the ending is already destined, that's fine, there are too many things people cannot change.]

[But before that, on the road to the ending, there are still many things people can do.]

[And the ending... will also show a completely different meaning because of this.]

[Look at your pocket, your friend has already given you the answer.]

[...Good luck.]

Acheron turns and leaves.

And Aventurine took out the medical instructions Ratio had left for him from his pocket,

and opens it.

[The impossible in a dream is not death, but slumber.]

[Live on. Good luck.]

This is the content of the medical advice.

[Heh...]

[...Then I should go too.]

Aventurine finally reveals a smile of relief.

Stelle: "Tsk, what a sharp tongue but a soft heart!"

Stelle: "Ratio, admit it quickly, you and Aventurine are best buddies!"

March 7th: "So the thing Dr. Ratio left for Aventurine was a word of guidance and encouragement?"

March 7th: "This is really unexpected!"

Furina: "I knew Dr. Ratio was a person with a cold exterior but a warm heart..."

Furina: "Don't look at how he squeezes and mocks Aventurine on the surface, but in his heart, he actually cares about him!"

Hu Tao: "Haha, after all, they are good partners who have a tacit understanding even when acting!"

Aventurine: "Professor, I have to say, this medical advice of yours really moved me!"

Aventurine: "It makes me feel all warm inside now."