Chapter 455

【I have shown you all the past and present of Pneumonia, and I sincerely hope you can understand why I wish to change the current state.】

【And now, I shall reveal to you all—the future of Pneumonia.】

Sunday's voice rang out, guiding everyone forward.

【If there were no monarch...】

【Who would be responsible for the people?】

The three arrived before the first puppet engaged in conversation.

Characters gradually emerged beside it.

【Chancellor: If the people lack the vision to see far ahead, we must make their choices and bear responsibility for them.】

After the characters faded,

the puppet named Chancellor gave its reply.

Star: "Is this about choosing a monarch?"

Star: "How so?"

Star: "Is Sunday's vision of Pneumonia's future about selecting a monarch to rule Pneumonia?"

Star: "Then how about I take the role?"

Star: "I! The heir of Mikhail, Father of Pneumonia, the legitimate successor of Pneumonia!"

Star: "No one is more suited to be Pneumonia's monarch than I!"

March 7th: "Uh... but Master Mikhail has been branded the leader of rebels in today's Pneumonia, hasn't he?"

March 7th: "Your identity would get you arrested and your whole family executed!"

March 7th: "Pfft, how did I get dragged into this?"

March 7th: "This so-called monarch clearly refers to Sunday himself!"

Furina: "To proclaim oneself a monarch..."

Furina: "I didn't realize Sunday Mr. had such ambition."

Sunday: I have no intention of becoming a monarch.

Sunday: "But the things I wish to accomplish have forced me to become what is called a monarch."

Sunday: "And the duties of a competent monarch are far more difficult than you all imagine..."

Star: "I don't believe you—unless you let me try it."

Sunday: "...."

Miss Qingque: "Laughable—you're impossible to reason with; even Sunday Brother fell silent."

Sunday: "You've misunderstood."

Sunday: "I am not seeking to become a monarch."

Sunday: "Rather..."

Sunday: "Never mind. Keep watching—you'll understand."

The video continued.

【If there were no monarch, who would protect the weak?】

【Who would stand against the tyrants?】

The two walked to the second puppet.

They began observing the characters that appeared beside it.

【Chancellor: We must aid one another to protect the weak, just as we must aid one another to resist the tyrants.】

The Chancellor's reply voice followed.

Star: "I'd like to raise an objection."

Star: "It's clearly a dialogue between two puppets."

Star: "Why must the questioner's lines appear as floating text instead?"

Star: "Why not give it a voice, like the Chancellor puppet?"

Star: "Is that really so hard?"

Furina: "This was clearly intentional on Sunday Mr.'s part, wasn't it?"

Furina: "Probably to emphasize the Chancellor's words?"

Hu Tao: "Hehe, in my view, a drama with incomplete voice acting is just shoddy production~"

Hu Tao: "Unlike me—I spent hours personally voicing every single trash can line in 'Trash Can Dream Bubble'~"

March 7th: "Uh... so you voiced the trash can language yourself?"

March 7th: "But isn't that language just made up?"

Star: "Of course not!"

Star: "That's the trash can's heartfelt words!"

Star: "It's pure Trash Can language!"

Star: "Clearly, Director Hu Tao has deep affection for trash cans."

Hu Tao: "Suddenly I realize—if we replaced all three puppets in these plays with the old trash can puppet..."

Hu Tao: "Star Young Lady would be thrilled."

Star: "Then I'd instantly feel immersed!"

Star: "Right now, I'll say frankly—these three plays are incredibly boring."

Star: "Not lively at all."

Ying: "True—even the earlier 'Trash Can Dream Bubble' was highly abstract."

Lumine: "But if we're talking purely about the effect of the performance, it's far more vivid than these three plays."

Sunday: "Time is limited, so as to allow the three of you to finish this story."

Sunday: "I must shorten the process."

March 7th: "Time is limited?"

March 7th: "You mean... the Harmonic Rite is about to begin?"

Himeko: "Yes, the Harmonic Rite is about to begin."

Himeko: "At that moment, Sunday will put the plan into action."

The video continues.

【If no monarch exists...】

【Who can make the stars revolve, the tides rise and fall, and all things grow?】

Star and the others walked to the third puppet in the dialogue.

【Chancellor: Before the monarch appeared, they each followed their own path; after the monarch left, they still each followed their own path.】

Miss Sushang: "If having one is the same as not having one."

Miss Sushang: "Then what use is this monarch?"

Miss Sushang: "Hmm... truly hard to understand."

Gui Nai Fen: "Sushang, it's fine if you don't understand—we won't laugh at you."

Gui Nai Fen: "Because I don't understand either."

Huo Huo: "I thought I was the only fool who couldn't understand... "

Huo Huo: "Since nobody understands, I feel relieved..."

The video continues.

The three continued walking,

arriving before the next puppet.

【But after bidding farewell to the monarch, who will become the new monarch?】

One of the puppets asked.

【We no longer need a monarch.】

【We ourselves are the supreme monarchs above all things.】

The chancellor's tone grew increasingly passionate as he answered the question.

Himeko: "I see."

Himeko: "The meaning of this play is not to choose a monarch for Pinnacol."

Himeko: "But to completely eliminate the concept of a monarch, so that each person becomes their own monarch, master of their own life."