Chapter 454: The World Needs a Seven-Day Holiday! Sunday: I Joined Elation?!
Penacony.
The Oti Shopping Center.
In front of a certain shop, although it wasn't yet time to open, it was already packed with waiting customers.
This seemed completely different from Penacony's usual "service-first" style!
The customers were more eager than the owner!
The crowd had spontaneously formed a long queue at the door.
Not only were there no complaints, but these strange customers were chatting and laughing together; even though they came from different planets, they had endless common topics to discuss.
The area in front of the shop was filled with laughter!
This stood in stark contrast to the desolate appearance of some of the luxury stores nearby!
The shop's sign was composed of roses.
On it was written: [ Envision a Rose Forthcoming ]
This was the shop managed by Cocona.
Due to the influence of the side quest "Envision a Rose Forthcoming," she had been reborn with the encouragement of many players.
Now, Cocona was the manager of this store.
She had removed all the luxury goods she previously dealt in.
Instead, she turned it into a shop specializing in Honkai: Star Rail merchandise.
One could see through the window outside.
There were life-sized Sam armors, Astral Express models, Architects' lance models, and so on…
They were produced with great fidelity and sold at fair prices!
It had become a must-visit check-in spot for Star Rail players in Penacony!
Inside the store, songs from Honkai: Star Rail were playing on a loop.
At this moment, "Hope is the Thing with Featheres" happened to be playing.
The shop owner, Cocona, finally arrived to open for business.
"Cocona is here! It was worth queuing up so early!"
"Finally seeing her in person, she's much more beautiful than in the side quest!"
"Hi hi hi, Miss Cocona, I'm back! You must save a set of Sam mechs for me today!"
"Boss, how can you be lazier than us customers? I strongly suggest moving the daily start time up by two hours!"
Cocona greeted these player-customers with a smile.
Previously, she had lost her dreams and lived in depression.
But now, her face was constantly brimming with a sincere, sunny smile.
A profound experience can often completely change a person.
"Friends, I didn't come to work today."
"I want to tell everyone that today, [ Envision a Rose Forthcoming ] is on holiday!"
The scene instantly erupted into an uproar!
Cocona explained: "Because today is Sunday…!"
"Isn't today Monday? I'm poorly educated, don't trick me!"
"Did Miss Cocona spend the last two nights pulling through the story and forget the date?"
"Since we're already here, why not open the door before we leave!"
Cocona burst into laughter.
"It seems you all were too busy chatting. Just now, Feathered Spirit released a new character splash art."
"Once you've seen it, you'll know why I said today is a holiday."
As she spoke, she turned on the large screen at the door.
Along with a burst of divine music, Sunday's image leapt onto the screen!
"Huh?"
"No way! What am I seeing?"
"Miss Cocona, are you sure this isn't your own fan art?"
"Holy crap! It really was just released!"
"Thank goodness Miss Cocona reminded me, I almost missed out on a fortune!"
"Old Sun! Is he really entering the banner?"
"No mistake, this is Extraterrestrial Satellite Communication! He's definitely entering the banner!"
The real-time bullet chat situation was similar to the people present!
They had clicked in the moment they received the notification!
…
"!!!"
"The Heavenly Emperor!"
"Great, it's Sunday, we're saved!"
"Huh? He's actually coming out!"
"Finally arriving! [ Crying ]"
"I can't believe my eyes! What am I seeing!"
"Brother Sun is reaching his hand up; is he about to cast 'Order'?"
"I genuinely love this!"
"For the Seven-Day Holiday! I shall lead the charge!"
"Signature Light Cone: Forever on Holiday"
…
Just as everyone was marveling, on the streets of the Oti Shopping Center.
All the advertisements switched at the same time!
It seemed someone had bought them all out instantly.
Everything had been replaced by Sunday's splash art!
The employees of other shops were stunned!
Soon, someone reacted.
"Today really is Sunday, my friend!"
"This magnificent image, this merciful posture! I voluntarily join the Church of Sunday!"
"To respond to the philosophy of the Seven-Day Holiday, I quit right now!"
"Look at Cocona's shop, so humane, so free and happy! Yet I have to be a shopping guide here like a dog for a damn store owner; I'm done!"
"I've been unable to endure this for a long time! There's no hope in this life! Now that Lord Sunday has entered the banner, it means we must also make a change!"
"Lord Sunday, please come back soon, your devout followers are waiting for your return!"
The appearance of Sunday seemed to ignite the inner souls of many laborers in an instant!
In the Oti Shopping Center, many workers went on strike one after another!
And this trend was gradually spreading throughout all of Penacony!
Employees of various shops directly closed the doors on behalf of their bosses.
They gave themselves a holiday!
Joining the crowds celebrating in the streets!
On a bench outside the park, a mechanical being sat there, quietly watching all of this.
Of course, this was only the image in the eyes of others.
His true identity was the very person everyone was chanting.
——Sunday.
Even he himself had not anticipated that the mere release of a piece of splash art would cause such a significant reaction in Penacony.
"It seems there are still many people living in pain."
"People need holidays, they need freedom, and they need more space to release their true selves."
"…This trip is indeed of extraordinary significance."
"I should come into contact with the vision of ordinary people more often to better find the path to the future."
Sunday took out his phone.
He opened the Honkai: Star Rail forum.
In the past, he would not have wasted time scrolling through these posts.
But now, he understood.
This was a strange place of exchange where players from all over the universe gathered.
Different voices could all be manifested here.
However, very soon, the corner of Sunday's mouth twitched slightly!
The moment he entered, he saw something he found utterly abstract.
Sunday was quite satisfied with the splash art released by the Astral Spirit.
The details of the clothing, the imagery of the surrounding objects, and even the light in the background were well-researched and aligned with Sunday's perception of himself.
However, within the Honkai: Star Rail community, the splash art that had just been released had changed its flavor.
In the painting, he was originally in mid-air with one hand raised to receive golden feathers.
But he had been photoshopped by some enthusiastic netizen into an air conditioner repairman!
If it had been a private joke, it would have been fine.
Unfortunately, the click count for this parody image was exceptionally high!
It was almost rushing to the front page!
Scrolling down.
In the next image, he had become a lightbulb repairman!
Sunday took a deep breath, attempting to let himself accept this "corporate culture shock."
Continuing to scroll down, even more ridiculous images appeared.
Playing basketball, playing baseball, playing badminton…
Wait, right?
How long had it been since this splash art was released?
There were actually so many Pathstriders of Elation online.
Was there no Order left?
Someone unaware might think he had already joined the Elation.
The most ridiculous part was…
His image had been replaced by a president who was assassinated on a certain planet.
According to the player comments below, he had actually become a candidate for that country.
The former Sunday lived entirely within order and rules.
Without a single deviation, he would never have come into contact with such absurd online content.
And now, he felt as if he had opened the door to a new world.
This content was simply dazzling to him.