Entry inspection for Penacony was very strict, but since none of the three brought luggage, their entry procedures went by very quickly.
Technologies or abilities like storage space did exist in this universe, but something like a player's backpack, which completely ignored scientific rules and world settings, was unique to players.
After all, for players, the backpack was just a feature to improve gameplay experience. Some games might give an explanation, but most didn't, and players never thought there was anything strange about it.
Once they passed inspection and entered Penacony, March 7th relaxed completely.
"Finally~ The Family's entry process is way too complicated! But thanks to storage space, or else if we'd actually brought piles of luggage, who knows how long the inspection would've taken. But it was worth it! Just look at this hotel lobby: so grand! Are all those windows guest rooms? How many people live here?"
The three stood in the lobby, gazing up at the towering building. Even Pei Guang couldn't help but feel amazed at the scale of the Reverie Hotel.
Pei Guang: "It really is massive. This is the biggest hotel I've ever seen. Just the part visible to the eye must be hundreds of thousands of rooms. And if you count some kind of advanced tech, it could be tens of millions, even over a hundred million."
March 7th: "Come on, come on~ Uncle Yang and Himeko must be waiting in line at the front desk. Let's hurry and meet up!"
March 7th was already impatient.
She had her Penacony plans all laid out: dive into the Dreamscape for a shopping spree and then put on a beautiful dress to enjoy Robin's performance.
Just imagining it made life feel complete.
She took the lead, walking quickly ahead. But just as Pei Guang and Stelle were about to follow, a familiar voice made them both stop.
"Welcome to the Reverie Hotel. May you have an unforgettable vacation. If you need to check in, please proceed straight to the front desk."
Following the voice, they saw the child they had met in the dream.
Pei Guang: "You are?"
The boy introduced himself with a smile. "I'm Misha, a bellboy of The Reverie Hotel. Very pleased to serve you. If you need help with luggage—"
Before he could finish, Pei Guang leaned closer, studying him seriously. "Hello, I'm Pei Guang, the Galactic Swordsman."
Stelle had planned to introduce herself normally, but hearing Pei Guang's style made her suddenly serious too. "Hello Misha, I'm Stelle, the Galactic Baseballer!"
Pei Guang: "We are the Trailblazers, drifting through the galaxy."
Stelle: "Trailblazing! The path of exploration awaits us!"
Their energetic introductions brought a smile to Misha's face.
But just as he was smiling, Pei Guang suddenly leaned even closer.
"M-Mr. Pei Guang?"
With Pei Guang staring right into his eyes, Misha felt a nervous jolt. His face flushed, and he muttered shyly, "Mr. Pei Guang, I—I'm a male…"
Pei Guang: "All the better."
Stelle: "Exactly. If you weren't, we wouldn't be interested."
The two no longer even needed to coordinate, so perfectly in sync, they could say things that made others uneasy.
"?"
Misha had been happy to see the Trailblazers appear, but upon hearing their words, his pupils trembled in shock.
And while his eyes shook, Pei Guang's gaze only grew more serious.
"You…"
"I…"
Misha stammered nervously, but before Pei Guang could finish, Stelle leaned in curiously beside him.
The moment she did, the faint scent of her Stellaron caught Pei Guang's attention. The fragrance diverted his words into something strange.
"Brother, you smell so good~"
In Penacony, people could do anything they wanted in dreams, so long as it wasn't against the rules. As a bellboy and server, Misha had seen many things.
But when he heard "Brother, you smell so good," he instantly took it as a confession from Pei Guang.
His face went completely red. He hadn't expected Pei Guang to have such preferences.
Stammering, Misha whispered, "Um, sorry, Mr. Pei Guang…"
Blushing, he wanted to explain, but then noticed Pei Guang's gaze shift toward Stelle.
Stelle looked at him proudly and said, "Thanks for the compliment. I used March's special 'Final Victory' body wash. Smells good, right?"
Pei Guang: "It does! Ah, right, Misha, what were you just saying?"
When Pei Guang's eyes turned back to him, Misha froze completely.
He felt embarrassed but relieved, thinking he had misunderstood Pei Guang. Just as he was about to speak, Pei Guang held him still.
"Don't move. Let me look at your eyes again. A keyhole-shaped pupil… really rare."
Pei Guang had noticed that Misha's pupils resembled locks, with cores unlike ordinary eyes.
They glowed faintly, but also dazzlingly.
Stelle nodded earnestly. "That's true, that's true. But if I remember right, Huohuo's eyes also have unusual pupils?"
Pei Guang looked at Stelle and nodded. "That's right. Generally speaking, people with such special pupils are very unusual. Maybe Misha here has some great identity or a very unique power."
Misha: "I… I'm just an ordinary bellboy"
Pei Guang patted Misha's shoulder. "So what if you're ordinary? Even regular office workers can accomplish earth-shattering things. Who knows, maybe you'll become a living legend of Penacony."
Hearing Pei Guang's praise, Misha's eyes flickered with light as he blushed. "Thank you for your compliment…"
Being praised like that made Misha a little embarrassed.
A simple compliment was one thing, but coming from Pei Guang… it made his heartbeat quicken.
Especially with Pei Guang standing so close. Other than his family, this was the first time an outsider had approached him so directly.
Even though his words sounded like they could be misunderstood, Misha could feel the pure yet complex sincerity in Pei Guang and Stelle. Pei Guang truly was interested in him, looking at him with admiration: an admiration without any hidden desire.
As a server, he had encountered perverts who harbored twisted desires for him, and people who despised him after learning he was male—confusion, rejection, greed, lust.
He had seen all kinds of people driven by all kinds of wants; but someone like Pei Guang, so purely complicated, was the first.
In truth, Pei Guang's thoughts were exactly that: both pure and complicated.
When pure, he really only wanted to **.
When complicated, he'd try to find all kinds of reasons to justify whatever he wanted to do.
Just as Pei Guang was planning to learn more about this interesting NPC, March 7th's voice suddenly interrupted.
March 7th: "Ah Guang! Stelle! Come here, something feels off."
Misha also turned to Pei Guang. "Go ahead, don't keep your friends waiting. If you need anything, you can always come find me."
Misha, too, found Pei Guang interesting. If possible, he'd love to chat with him more.
His intuition told him Pei Guang surely had countless fascinating experiences…
Pei Guang: "Alright~ once I check into my room, I'll come find you~"
Stelle: "Ehh~ Ah Guang, don't you think that sounded super creepy?"
Pei Guang: "Haven't I been creepy for more than just a day or two? Anyway, don't you know me by now? I only like fragrant, pretty girls!"
Stelle: "I'm fragrant too, you know. Ehehe~ Want to give me a chance?"
The two teased and bantered with each other, but even while joking around, Pei Guang glanced at Misha again.
He noticed something: when March 7th interrupted their conversation earlier, she hadn't looked at Misha even once.
The mischievous and spirited March 7th could get flustered and panicked in unexpected situations, but when strangers were around, she would absolutely never ignore them.
Yet just now, from start to finish, she had completely overlooked Misha.
That was very strange and wrong…