Chapter 32

The video continued.

[Let's eat while we walk, to the next stop~]

Firefly held the cake roll in her hand,

and began to lead Stelle toward the next place,

[This is the luxury store I mentioned earlier.]

[Further down is Glaux Avenue—the main road of the Golden Hour.]

Passing by the entrance of a luxury store,

Firefly introduced it casually.

[Come—here! Keep up.]

The two came to an intersection,

Firefly crossed the road first,

and called out to Stelle.

And when Stelle was crossing the road,

she was hit hard by a car!

Stelle: "Damn! Daring to drive and hit me! Don't want your wheels anymore, right!!"

March 7th: "It was clearly you who didn't look where you were walking... and... you didn't use the crosswalk."

Stelle: "I'm a pedestrian!! Do you know what it means to yield to pedestrians!"

Stelle: "Let me tell you, it's only because he hit me, if it were someone else, they would have been lying on the ground already!"

Stelle: "By then, he wouldn't even have a place to cry!"

Dan Heng: "You can't die in a dream."

Stelle: "......"

In the video.

[This way, this way, let me show you something interesting~]

[Look, this statue is Penacony's famous cartoon character—"Clockie"!]

[From Penacony's longest-running and most famous cartoon, it tells the adventure story of the protagonist Clockie and his friends living in the Dream Town—it has been serialized for over ten thousand episodes so far!]

Firefly took Stelle to a strange statue,

and began to speak with interest.

[What an abstract clock.]

Stelle looked at Clockie and felt it was somewhat funny.

[Uh... because the animation style is more retro.]

[But do you know? It is said that the prototype of Clockie is that famous—"Clockmaker".]

Firefly first replied to Stelle, then changed the subject.

[Clockmaker, is this person very famous?]

Hearing the name Clockmaker again,

Stelle became interested and prepared to probe Firefly for information.

[You actually don't know? He is a legendary tycoon in Penacony's history, the founder of the dream world, the "person who turned dreams into reality"! ]

[People have different opinions about the Clockmaker's background: some say he was a merchant from beyond the sky, some say he was a prisoner on a prison planet, and others say the Clockmaker is just a symbol, and this person doesn't actually exist...]

[No one knows what his background is, but everyone wants to replicate his success and become the next Clockmaker!]

[His deeds spread across the galaxy, causing those with dreams to flock here, and one banquet after another created today's Planet of Festivities. In Penacony, this name is known to everyone.]

[Although "Clockie" in the animation is just a reckless braggart... however, I still believe the most in the theory that the Clockmaker was a Nameless! After all, reclaiming a dream sounds very "Trailblazing"!]

Speaking of the Clockmaker,

Firefly began to talk eloquently.

[Ah! I just realized—if the Clockmaker was really a Nameless, wouldn't he be your senior? Hey, do you want to take a photo with him? I can help you.]

As she spoke, Firefly suddenly looked at Stelle.

[Take a photo? Sure, then I'll trouble you.]

Stelle didn't refuse, smiling and nodding in agreement.

[Small matter~ Come, give me your phone.]

Stelle took out her phone,

and handed it to Firefly.

Subsequently, she began to walk to the front of the Clockie statue,

preparing to strike a pose.

However, just as she walked over, she heard a strange sound.

[Hi! Hi-hi-hi!]

[Help! Help, chirp!]

These two sounds were thin and sharp.

They came from the eyes of the Clockie statue,

making Stelle observe for a moment.

[Eh, what's wrong? Is there something on Clockie's face?]

Firefly looked at Stelle's line of sight, somewhat puzzled.

[Help! Help, chirp! Pull me out, chirp! Help, chirp!]

The cry for help came again,

but Stelle didn't pay attention for the time being.

She found a suitable position,

and began to prepare for the photo.

Subsequently, only a click was heard,

and the photo was taken.

[Alright! It looks really good, you're so photogenic.]

Firefly saw Stelle in the photo,

and couldn't help but praise her.

[Help! Help me, chirp! Pull me out, chirp! Chirp!]

After taking the photo, the cry for help came again.

This time, Stelle discovered the abnormality.

She saw that on Clockie's eyes,

there was a colorful feather.

So she didn't even think about it,

and jumped up directly,

pulling the feather out from the gap in Clockie's eyes.

[Hi! Hi-hi-hi! Thank you, you! Beautiful, person!]

[I will, repay you! Go to the tree, go! Go to the tree, go! I will, give, you something good!]

[Ehehe.. chirp~]

The thing Stelle pulled out from Clockie's eyes was a strange bird with sharp corners,

after it was pulled out,

it chirped a few things to Stelle in a strange and cute voice.

And then it flew toward the distance.

[Clockie's statue... what's wrong? Why did you suddenly jump up just now?]

Stelle's inexplicable behavior just now,

made Firefly very puzzled.

[I saved a bird with sharp corners.]

Stelle explained.

[A bird with sharp corners? But I didn't see anything?]

[However... since you're fine, let's set off for the next stop. It's not far from here, follow me~]

Firefly was slightly puzzled, but didn't care,

and directly pulled Stelle to the next place.

Barbara: "The dream world is really interesting, even paper-folded cute birds have life."

Amber: "And this Clockie cartoon story, it has already been serialized for over ten thousand episodes, I really want to watch it with Collei."

Collei: "Am... Amber! Thank you for still thinking about sharing it with me!"

Collei: "I am also willing to watch it with you!"

"Amber hasn't forgotten me, it's so good."

Gandharva Ville, Collei's home.

She was recuperating at home, looking at Amber's words,

feeling very warm.

Even the pain brought by the Eleazar disease felt much lighter.

In the video.

[See that building in the distance? That is the famous "Grand Theater"—another important landmark of Penacony!]

[Do you find its silhouette unique? Because in reality, it was once the central prison of Asdana. The Family renovated it in the dream and transformed it into today's radiant Penacony Grand Theater.]

[From the moment it was built, the Grand Theater has continuously played the "Harmonic Hymn" for the entire dream world.]

[And at the once-an-era Charmony Festival, members of the Family will gather in the theater to welcome the descent of the "Order," bringing the blessing of eternal peace to Penacony.]

[Where we are is the best viewing spot in the Golden Hour! Look, there's even a telescope set up here! The Charmony Festival of this era is about to open, remember to come here early to grab a spot.]

Firefly took Stelle to a viewing platform,

the two looked at the Grand Theater in the distance for a while,

and then went to another place.

[Next, I'll take you to a place where you can have a good time.]

Firefly said with a smile, and crossed the road.

And this time, because Stelle honestly followed Firefly on the crosswalk,

she wasn't hit by a car.

[Ahead is the SoulGlad theme leisure area—"Aiden Park". It's crowded here, so keep up with me.]

Firefly reminded Stelle, and started jogging all the way.

Soon, they arrived at a very lively park.

[This is the largest park in the Golden Hour, and also the symbol of Penacony's soda culture—that super huge soda bottle is the headquarters building of the SoulGlad enterprise!]

[It is said that SoulGlad originated from a sweet medicinal water popular during the prison period, invented by Mr. Susa, hence the name Susa Water. Later, interstellar merchant Aiden discovered the business opportunity in it and bought the formula for Susa Water.]

[He injected a large amount of bubbles into it, renamed it "SoulGlad," and also created "Syrupism"—claiming that drinking SoulGlad is a brand new lifestyle, and used this to create today's commercial miracle.]

[Do you know? In the original formula of Susa Water, a raw material called Dream Grass went completely extinct. So now you can only taste the flavor of "Year One SoulGlad" in Penacony's dream.]

[Only here can you fully understand the true core of "Syrupism"...]

[Hmm... ?]

Firefly pointed to the SoulGlad headquarters building,

and popularized it for Stelle.

However, as she spoke,

her eyes suddenly became sharp,

and she looked at the place behind Stelle.

[What's wrong? What are you looking at?]

Firefly's appearance made Stelle somewhat surprised.

She began to feel faintly in her heart that Firefly might not be simple.

And after Firefly heard Stelle's words,

her expression immediately returned to normal,

and she became that harmless, cute girl again.

[...No time to lose, let me take you around!]

Firefly didn't explain anything,

but continued to take Stelle around.

[These musical instruments that are playing themselves are called the "Dreamjolt Troupe".]

[In the dream of Penacony, many objects and facilities are affected by memory substance and have self-awareness. They were tamed by the Family and became the Dreamjolt Troupe serving guests.]

[However, these little things can also be affected by dangerous emotions or memories, turning into the "Dreamjolt Troupe" that destroys everywhere... If you accidentally run into them, be sure to ask for help from nearby security personnel.]

They came to a circular stage.

On it, the strange creatures called the Dreamjolt Troupe were performing an ensemble.

Furina: "SoulGlad... why does it feel so much like Fontaine's Fonta?"

Lynette: "I have the same feeling."

Navia: "Maybe it's a collision of inspiration? That's also normal."

Wriothesley: "You guys say, between Fonta and SoulGlad, which one tastes better?"

Sigewinne: "I think the milkshake I make for you tastes better."

Wriothesley: "Uh... thank you for your kindness, Head Nurse, but I prefer drinking tea."

"The Head Nurse's milkshake, that thing, I really can't swallow it."

Fortress of Meropide,

Wriothesley looked at Sigewinne's message,

and couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.

Nahida: "Dreamjolt Troupe, these little guys seem very interesting."

Paimon: "I always feel like they are somewhat similar to the Aranara we encountered."

Aether: "There's still a difference, right? Aranara can also live in reality."

Stelle: "What about the Dreamjolt Troupe? Can they come out in reality?"

Firefly: "I'm afraid not, they can only live in dreams."

Stelle: "Then the Aranara are still more powerful."

Welt: "Having said that, Firefly-san, are you really just an ordinary artist?"

Firefly: "Ah??? I am! Why ask that suddenly?"

Welt: "Nothing, just feel that Firefly-san's knowledge is very high, and you seem to know Penacony very well."

Firefly: "Hehe, that's nothing, after all, I live here. Through constant exposure, I just know these things."

Stelle: "Tsk, my second wife is just smart!"

"...."

"This Firefly-san... seems a bit wrong."

In the carriage,

Welt looked at Firefly's message,

his expression somewhat heavy.

"Welt, you noticed it too?"

Himeko came to Welt's side,

and asked.