"A-A Stelle, are you okay? Why do I feel like… right now you give off a vibe that's just a little… a little scary…"
Firefly, who was beside Stelle, suddenly sensed a burst of 'killing intent' radiating outward. This abrupt change startled the girl, causing her to speak up cautiously and tentatively.
"Huh? No, no—it's nothing. I just suddenly thought of something, that's all. Sorry for scaring you, Firefly."
Hearing Firefly's words, Stelle finally snapped out of her fantasies. Looking at the girl beside her—who resembled a 'startled little animal'—Stelle scratched her head in embarrassment.
"Oh…"
Though still a bit puzzled, Firefly reluctantly accepted Stelle's explanation. After all, in a certain sense, she had already known Stelle for quite some time.
"Then let's drop that topic. Stelle, this is your first time in Penacony, right? How about I act as your guide?"
"Guide? Sure! Then I'll be in your care, Firefly."
The gray-haired girl's eyes lit up. This really was like someone handing her a pillow the moment she felt sleepy. She had just been wondering what kind of excuse she could use to keep Firefly by her side a little longer.
She never expected Firefly to bring it up first. Could this truly be fate?
"In that case, thank you, Firefly. As repayment, I'll cover all the expenses from here on out. Don't worry—I'm not short on credit points."
Stelle placed her hands on her hips. When she mentioned credit points, a proud expression appeared on the girl's face, as though her confidence had been fully restored.
And truthfully, that made sense. Back when Asta had entrusted Stelle with an investigation mission, she had paid her a large sum of credit points in advance.
Yet up to now, Stelle still hadn't completed what Asta had asked of her. One had to wonder—when using those credit points, did Stelle ever feel even a little bit guilty?
...
"Perhaps we should reconsider the plan. Too many variables have already appeared on this Festival of Stars."
Dewlight Pavilion "Dreamscape"…
Having concluded his negotiations with the two Emanators of [Erudition], Sunday returned to the seat that belonged to him as head of the Oak Family.
Yet at this moment—even seated upon this chair forged from jade, gold, and diamonds—there was not the slightest trace of joy or glory in his heart.
On the contrary, as the wielder of [Order]'s power and the bearer of the 107,336 souls of the Oak Family, he now felt an overwhelming pressure.
Hearing the words of the Dreammaster Gopher Wood, Sunday gave a soft chuckle before speaking.
"Teacher, you too feel this bone-chilling pressure, don't you? This has far exceeded our expectations."
"Leaving aside the Nameless and the Corporation—even just those two Emanators of [Erudition] who unexpectedly appeared in Penacony are already beyond what we can handle."
"Although they have sworn not to interfere in the Family's internal affairs, both you and I know that if sufficient benefits are presented, these two bystanders will inevitably become participants in the events."
Sunday analyzed the situation methodically. Hearing this, Gopher Wood fell silent for a moment before gliding down from the rafters, flapping his wings and landing in front of Sunday.
"But as of today… the only path left before us is to press forward."
"Indeed. Right now, the only road available to us is to keep moving forward. The path we once walked behind us has already collapsed with the passage of time—there is no turning back."
The moment Sunday, Gopher Wood, and the more than 103,000 followers of [Order] within the Oak Family set foot on this path, their future fate was sealed.
[Harmony] and [Order]—on this Festival of Stars in Penacony, the two Paths would ultimately determine superiority and decide the victor.
Whether [Order] would reign supreme, or [Harmony] would maintain dominion.
"The plan may need to be advanced. Right now, by borrowing the great power of [Order], you and I have already obtained the strength of the 'Choral Choir.'"
"However, the fact that we have usurped [Harmony]'s incarnation cannot remain hidden forever. We must act swiftly—before the other factions within the Family realize what has happened—and complete the construction of 'Ena's Dream,' thereby achieving the unification of Penacony."
Sunday's words were resolute, his tone carrying a trace of grim determination. As a leader, he could clearly recognize the risks of this decision—calling it a path of ten deaths and no survival would not be an exaggeration.
Seeming to sense the complexity within Sunday's heart, the Dreammaster Gopher Wood said nothing more. He simply flapped his wings and quietly departed from Dewlight Pavilion.
Since Sunday had already made his decision, he too needed to begin making preparations in advance.
The beautiful dream of [Order] could not be created by one person alone. Naturally, it was also impossible for Sunday's will alone to construct Ena's Dream.
Gopher Wood flapped his wings, soaring through the sky beneath the dewlight, weaving between countless overlapping layers of architecture.
Tap tap! Tap tap! Tap…
After passing through who-knows-how-many grand and towering floors, Gopher Wood's figure arrived at the highest point of the dreamscape world—at the very seam where countless dream boundaries converged.
Transformed into a flying bird, Gopher Wood closed his eyes tightly. When he opened them again, an invisible wave spread outward from between his brows, sweeping across the entirety of Penacony.
'My kin of the Oak Family, children of [Order]—the time of change is upon us. To build together the paradise of our dreams, offer everything you have!'
...
'Offer everything you have!'
The magical voice infused with the power of [Order] echoed throughout the entire dreamscape world. At this moment—whether in the Dewlight Pavilion "Dreamscape," the White Daydream Hotel "Dreamscape," the Child's Dream, the Dreamweaving Frontier, or elsewhere—everywhere resounded with the Dreammaster Gopher Wood's declaration.
"Offer everything you have? Why does that sound so much like the line of a chuunibyou edgelord?"
White Daydream Hotel. After parting with Firefly, the idle Yun Fan had planned to go find Robin and cuddle up to her for a bit.
Unfortunately for Yun Fan, Miss Robin's resentment toward him had apparently not yet fully dissipated. She wouldn't even let her future partner through the door.
Thus, the dejected youth had no choice but to slink back to the White Daydream Hotel in defeat. Worth mentioning was that Yun Fan's room was quite close to the train crew's rooms—separated by only a single floor.
Stretching lazily, Yun Fan lay comfortably on the sofa, preparing to take a short nap and recharge his energy.
Although, as an energy-based being, the youth technically had no need for sleep, as a human who had surpassed human limits and ascended to the position of an Aeon, he still retained the habit of resting.
However, what infuriated Yun Fan was that just as he was in the middle of a wonderful dream—left arm around Firefly, right arm around March 7th, and Robin nestled in his embrace—
Suddenly, a chuunibyou-style declaration poured into his ears like Stelle swinging a spiked bat straight at his head, instantly shattering his beautiful dream into nothing.