Chapter 452

Himeko: "Do you remember what you said before Sunday?"

Himeko: "After the Dream Master brought the family... the five major lineages submitted one after another..."

Himeko: "The word 'submitted' is used rather cleverly."

Potio: "He damn well got brainwashed—what else would you call it but submission?"

Potio: "Families usually don't use force to suppress."

Potio: "But that doesn't mean they lack even more sinister methods."

Stelle: "That makes perfect sense."

Stelle: "The process I'm currently executing is essentially forcibly brainwashing these five lineages."

Stelle: "Washing them until they're loyal to the family—then everything will be settled."

March 7th: "That's why I said this new master isn't anything good."

March 7th: "Because he's here to strip these people of their freedom."

The video continues.

Stelle arrived before the last puppet.

This puppet is called the Butler.

【I am either my own master, or I return to my old master—there is no way I will submit to a new one!】

Silver Wolf: "Oh? Still got some backbone?"

Silver Wolf: "That's unexpected!"

Stelle: "Don't be fooled by his iron will right now."

Stelle: "Once I give him a good brainwashing, he'll be screaming 'I was wrong!'"

March 7th: "Come to think of it... the role you're playing now is the family."

March 7th: "But you're using the Clockwork Trick."

March 7th: "It somehow feels like an insult to the Clockwork Trick."

Flowing Fire: "The Clockwork Trick represents a positive, uplifting spirit."

Flowing Fire: "It's not evil arts meant for brainwashing."

Flowing Fire: "Using it in this context does feel inappropriate."

Sunday: "I didn't consider it carefully enough."

Sunday: "If you weren't given props..."

Sunday: "I can only alter people's emotions through this method."

Sunday: "You're right."

Sunday: "This noble spirit truly shouldn't be defiled."

Sunday: "Even if it doesn't align with my own ideals..."

The video continues.

Stelle repeats her old trick,

casting the Clockwork Trick upon the last puppet.

【If I have no master, who else can grant me freedom?】

Stelle: "Alright, now all five lineages have submitted to me!"

Stelle: "I declare that from now on, I am the new Empress of Penacony!"

March 7th: "You? An empress?"

March 7th: "You're a crazy nut..."

Silver Wolf: "It's just acting—don't get too lost in the role."

Stelle: "What?"

Stelle: "I'm so wise and mighty, beautiful as a flower—don't I deserve to be Penacony's Empress?"

Spark: "Hey, little gray-hair~"

Spark: "I think you'd be better off as King of the Trash Can in my Dream Bubble~"

Spark: "What do you think?"

Stelle: "You're right."

Stelle: "Who'd want to be Empress when they can be King of the Trash Can?"

Paimon: "Uh..."

Paimon: "In Young Lady Stelle's eyes, King of the Trash Can ranks higher than Empress of Penacony..."

Paimon: "Paimon truly can't understand."

Lumine: "Say it another way and you'll understand."

Lumine: "Between Queen of the Food Kingdom and Queen of Teyvat—which one would you rather be?"

Paimon: "Definitely Queen of the Food Kingdom!"

Paimon: "Because I dream of endless delicious food!"

Lumine: "So just like you love food, Young Lady Stelle loves trash cans."

Herta: "I can only say—unusual taste."

Herta: "Probably the Star Core's power is too strong and accidentally damaged some of her cognitive functions."

Stelle: "My cognition is perfectly normal!"

Stelle: "Don't you dare look down on trash cans!"

Stelle: "Trash cans have souls!"

Stelle: "It's just that you can't sense it."

March 7th: "Oh no, looks like you've developed a hallucination from being obsessed with trash bins..."

March 7th: "I just can't understand—what soul could there possibly be in a cold trash bin?"

Stelle: "So you're doomed to never become the King of Trash Bins..."

The video continued.

【Thank you, honored guests from afar!】

【Now the servants have regained their reason.】

【People! Your former master will never return; only those who aid one another through the True Dao and inspire each other with truth may find fulfillment within each other!】

【Defeat the false illusions—embrace one another!】

The lead master puppet,

began Gao Ang's speech.

【Get ready—I suppose another battle is about to begin...】

Himeko saw this scene,

and warned the two.

【Is this an immersive drama...?】

Stelle had just opened her mouth to complain,

when the group of puppets lunged at them with clawing hands and snarling mouths.

Stelle: "Well then, just a moment ago we were representatives of the family that reprogrammed the puppets."

Stelle: "Now we're the false illusions."

Stelle: "March 7th, don't you think this sudden shift in identity makes us feel deeply immersed?"

March 7th: "Apologies—it seems I prepared too hastily, and the details weren't handled well."

March 7th: "It has spoiled your experience somewhat."

Huahuo: "Hey, Chicken Wing Boy, your directing skills are terrible!"

Huahuo: "You don't even reach one-tenth of my level~"

Huahuo: "This dull, boring plot is making me fall asleep."

Stelle: "I agree—my directing skills as Flower Director are far superior!"

March 7th: "Why do I always feel like you're constantly flattering Huahuo now?"

Stelle: "Cough... cough..."

Stelle: "These are heartfelt compliments!"

Miss Qingque: "I bet she's put a mind-altering spell on you."