Chapter 97

Stelle: "So I can properly nourish my body!"

Furina: "Using that terrifying Stellaron for a drink?!"

Furina: "Is this really drinkable?"

Venti: "This is a dream; everything is possible!"

Venti: "Hmm... I also really want to taste it..."

Paimon: "Lumine, don't you think this place is very suitable for little Diona?"

Paimon: "With her drink-mixing skills, she should be very popular in this bar, right?"

Diona: "Hmph, I don't want to be popular at all!!"

Diona: "One day, I will mix the most disgusting drink ever, so that those hateful drunks will vomit as soon as they drink it, and never want to drink again!"

Lumine: "Uh... it feels like this goal is very difficult to achieve..."

Venti: "Ehehe, then before that, let me be the test subject for your drinks!"

Paimon: "Bard, your abacus beads are about to pop onto my face!"

The video continues.

March 7th and Stelle went to find materials together.

【Eh?】

【It's SoulGlad!】

【Didn't that sister say they don't sell this in the shop?】

【Hehehe, I'll shake it!】

【Hmm, it's still fizzy, and the expiration date is safe too!】

March 7th found a bottle of SoulGlad on a table,

and then shook it happily.

【Perhaps it's placed here as a decoration.】

Stelle looked at the SoulGlad March 7th was shaking,

and guessed casually.

【Maybe, Penacony's classic drink; it's a bit strange for a bar to be missing it.】

March 7th nodded,

feeling that Stelle's words made sense.

【However, why doesn't this bar sell SoulGlad...】

【Is there some hidden reason?】

March 7th couldn't figure it out.

【It's the mixologist's pride.】

【If customers coming here could still order drinks that are everywhere else, it would be too boring.】

【I have similar thoughts when I brew coffee.】

Himeko sat on the sofa,

and explained with a light smile.

【Uh... haha, Himeko-sister is right.】

March 7th recalled Himeko's coffee,

and could only smile helplessly.

Stelle: "It feels like if they don't sell SoulGlad here, it has no soul!"

Amber: "That's true, no matter what, SoulGlad is Penacony's signature drink; it should be very popular, right?"

Himeko: "This Miss Shuo-weng clearly has her own pride as a mixologist and is unwilling to sell drinks that can be seen everywhere in her bar."

Himeko: "Because that would be a denial of herself."

Lumine: "From the video, it seems Miss Himeko is also such a person?"

Paimon: "Coffee... what would Miss Himeko's coffee taste like?"

March 7th: "Ahahahahaha... that..."

March 7th: "Himeko-sister's coffee, it might not be something an ordinary person can drink..."

Furina: "Wow! Is it limited edition?"

Furina: "It sounds like something only a master would do!"

Himeko: "Hehe, Miss Furina misunderstood; it's just a small personal hobby, not something a master would do."

Himeko: "Limited edition or anything like that is out of the question; if there's a chance, I can brew some for you to taste."

Welt: "Ahem... Miss Furina, if you don't like coffee, I suggest you don't try it casually..."

Hu Tao: "Oh my... the more you say that, the more people want to try it, right?"

Stelle: "Those who don't fear for their lives, go ahead; if anyone can drink a cup without falling, I'll call them a boss!"

Paimon: "Eh??"

Paimon: "Could it be so good that you'd faint?"

Lumine: "Uh... I just feel... it's not that simple..."

Himeko: "(Helpless.jpg)"

The video continues.

【Eh?】

【There are chips scattered here...】

Himeko stayed on the sofa to rest.

While March 7th and Stelle continued to look for materials they liked.

The two of them walked around,

and then found some chips in a corner.

【A few days ago, an actor from the Iris Family came to cause trouble and had a dispute with Shuo-weng... I guess they were dropped then.】

Gallagher heard March 7th's surprised voice,

and explained.

【Good grief, can someone drop coins in a dream?】

Stelle couldn't help but make a snide remark.

【Haha, that's a clever metaphor.】

Gallagher was amused by Stelle's words.

【Having said that, it's quite incredible to be able to open a bar in this area... where there are monsters everywhere.】

【Shuo-weng-sister must be a very powerful person, right?】

March 7th developed some curiosity about Shuo-weng.

【You'll have to ask her yourself.】

【But I guess she won't let it slip, unless you can mix a drink that makes her convinced.】

March 7th: "Drop coins?"

March 7th: "Stelle, you really know how to describe things!"

Stelle: "Why? Isn't that vivid enough?"

March 7th: "Vivid, incredibly vivid!"

Stelle: "It's just a pity that these are only some chips."

Stelle: "Instead of real credits."

Stelle: "It feels inferior to... Aventurine!"

Aventurine: "Ay, in your eyes, am I just someone who drops coins?"

Silver Wolf: "Otherwise?"

Silver Wolf: "Aren't you already scattering money all the time?"

Stelle: "Friend, next time you drop coins, let me know."

Stelle: "I'll have a sack ready to catch them."

Aventurine: "Hahaha... that's truly..."

Aventurine: "Fine... it's a deal."

Dr. Ratio: "A deal?"

Dr. Ratio: "Tsk, foolish gambler, it seems you really like dropping coins..."

The video continues.

【Well, quite a harvest!】

【I don't know if this is enough...】

March 7th and Stelle had finished collecting the materials they liked,

and were ready to return to Gallagher.

【—Move aside! I want to find Shuo-weng!】

Suddenly, a dispute broke out in the bar.

【Eh, what's that noise?】

March 7th and Stelle heard this voice,

looked at each other,

and both felt puzzled.

【...Didn't I make myself clear enough before, Miss Amike?】

【The Dreamjolt Bar only welcomes guests who want to enjoy drinks to the fullest.】

【Sorry... I'm not interested in your proposal.】

As soon as Stelle and March 7th walked over,

they saw Shuo-weng speaking to a strange woman named Amike.

【But you clearly have that talent!】

【You can definitely attract everyone's attention...】

【You were born for the stage of the Iris, not this broken wooden platform!】

【Come with me!】

【We can definitely become the most eye-catching stars in Penacony, spreading light into every corner of the dream!】

【Please, Shuo-weng, I need you...】

Amike's expression was somewhat emotional.

【...】

【...As you can see, I am entertaining guests.】

【Don't make me repeat myself a second time.】

Shuo-weng was somewhat impatient.

【Fine... if you don't agree, I'll just sit here and go nowhere!】

【Give me a drink with bubbles.】

【Sweet, with extra ice.】

Seeing that Shuo-weng didn't agree,

Amike just stayed there.

【...Wait a moment.】

Shuo-weng nodded helplessly.

【What's going on...】

【If this person keeps occupying the bar, we won't be able to talk about the case.】

March 7th looked at this scene,

her brows furrowed slightly.

【Stelle, the Clockwork trick you used before... can you try it one more time?】

Himeko suddenly walked over,

and asked Stelle.

【Uh... why even Himeko-sister...】

Stelle looked at Himeko, feeling a bit surprised.

【Time is limited, we have to hurry.】

Himeko explained.

【Yes, please.】

March 7th also echoed.

【Fine, I'll go try.】

Seeing that both of them said so,

Stelle had no choice but to go and try.

【You're Shuo-weng's guest, right? What's the matter?】

【If you want to persuade me to leave, forget it, unless she agrees to my request...】

【Why exactly?】

【Why is she just unwilling to leave this place...】

【This cold, broken bar?】

Stelle walked up to Amike,

wanting to see if she could persuade her to leave directly.

However, as soon as she walked over,

before she could even speak, she failed directly.

Helpless, she had no choice but to start using the Clockwork trick to try.

According to habit, she first adjusted Shuo-weng to a resentful emotion to test the waters.

【—It's all the fault of those "bastard Iris"!】

【They forced Shuo-weng into a dead end, leaving her no choice but to hide here and run a monster bar... it's all calculations and conspiracies!】

【Ah... I understand, she's not unwilling to leave, she just doesn't want to face those villains anymore!】

【I... I can help her pave the way—I can help her!】

【I'll write a letter to the Watchmaker when I go back, accusing the Iris Family of their crimes...】

【Shuo-weng will definitely thank me!】

After being subjected to the Clockwork trick,

Amike began to fantasize wildly,

and indignantly cursed some people from the Iris Family.

【If I let her continue to vent, it will be a disaster...】

【It seems I have to change an emotion.】

Stelle felt that Amike's appearance was somewhat dangerous,

so she quickly changed her to a melancholic emotion,

hoping to dampen her anger.

【...】

【Heh, funny, right?】

【Even though I know our lives are just two parallel lines, I still hold on to her tightly...】

【I am timid, cowardly, yearning for a place that shines, but I dare not walk into the spotlight.】

【I need her guidance, because I can't do anything myself...】

【You don't know Shuo-weng's past, you don't know she was...】

【Such a shining person.】

【Even in the Iris Family, where superstars gather, her talent was unmatched.】

【I know...】

【Shuo-weng must think I want to use her reputation to get ahead.】

【But all I want is for her to be able to return there...】