Chapter 67: Trashcan Kingdom! Here I F*cking Come!
After finishing the Hanu Brothers game, Sampo brought them back to the Dream Emporium. Using materials he had prepared, Sampo crafted a special dream bubble for Stelle to experience.
Stelle pressed her head against the dream bubble and entered its world.
When she opened her eyes, Stelle found herself in Belobog's Underworld clinic, but strangely, there wasn't a soul in sight. Proceeding cautiously through the clinic, Stelle discovered a note on the table:
"Become the King of Trash, even if the trash bags have long been torn!"
Following Sampo's advice, Stelle didn't dwell on the note's meaning and chose to head outside to explore.
Upon leaving the clinic, Stelle and Firefly were stunned — outside, golden, silver, and even bronze trashcans with bulging muscles and sturdy limbs patrolled the streets.
"You've finally arrived..."
Stelle instinctively turned to find a massive silver trashcan standing beside her.
"Well met, deep diver of dreams..."
"My name is Shatana — I wish to propose a deal."
[Stelle]: "What's your relationship with Natasha?"
Stelle asked curiously upon hearing the familiar name.
[Stelle]: "Huff... huff... huff... So many trashcans!"
[Kafka]: "How long has this condition persisted?"
[March 7th]: "Sigh... Ever since seeing Belobog's trashcans, her existing symptoms have gotten worse."
[Stelle]: "Philistines! You don't understand the beauty of trashcans!"
[Hook]: "Look! That silver trashcan's name is 'Old Witch' spelled backwards!"
[Natasha]: "Hook!"
"Natasha... who? I don't believe we've met."
Soon, the trashcan adopted a serious expression and solemnly declared:
"Let us get to business — have you... heard of [The King of Trash Tatalov]?"
"He was our king, the shepherd of all waste in this world. Upon his throne, he lifted up humble cans and humbled proud ones; he was Belobog's foundation, steadying our lids and straightening our frames..."
"But when extraterrestrial beings arrived with the Eternal Freeze, his vision was clouded — he no longer heeded our pleas, allowing poor cans to suffer abuse while loyal ones were shamed without cause..."
"We could endure no more, swearing to raise the banner of heavenly fire and make the King of Trash repent. But we were no match for that wicked king... He spread vicious rumors, divided our cans, severed the connection between trash bags..."
"I beg you, restore peace to these trash bags, reconnect our cans — so we may strike back against the false king."
[March 7th]: "What the hell is this? Haha, I can't stop laughing!"
[Kiana]: "I'm curious too — how is Stelle keeping a straight face while listening to this trashcan's speech? We're all cracking up down here."
[Stelle]: "How can you laugh at such grand, solemn matters?"
[Raiden Mei]: "Truthfully, we're all wondering how you're taking this so seriously."
[March 7th]: "Is there really anyone else in the universe who loves trashcans as much as Stelle?"
[Argenti]: "Behold! That solemn expression, those athletic limbs, those muscular arms, and that barrel body containing endless trash — silver trashcan, I recognize your purity!"
[Stelle]: "Argenti! My friend!"
[Silver Wolf]: "LMAO March 7th, say something!"
[March 7th]: "This... uh... does Argenti count? Doesn't he praise everything he sees?"
Since Dr. Edward didn't have time to create multiple branches, Stelle had no choice but to accept the quest.
After Stelle agreed, Shatana explained that by completing tasks to obtain three Proofs of Trust, she could become the new king and lead them against the false ruler.
"Go forth, deep diver of dreams... Your mission calls you!"
(What kind of nonsense is this?) Stelle felt like this was some poorly designed game scenario.
To quickly complete her mission and become King of Trash, Stelle successively helped the Brave Can, Trashcan Prince, and Junk-Junk-Spunk. She also served as judge to determine whether the Serious Can, Beautiful Can, or Wise Can most deserved the Golden Trash. Additionally, she helped Archimedes-can lift his punishment by counting the final three barrels of trash.
The assembled can audience witnessed Stelle overcoming all challenges to obtain three Proofs of Trust!
[Qingque]: "Haha, what joyous madness! If I keep laughing like this, I might trigger my Mara-struck state. Hahaha... need to catch my breath."
[Silver Wolf]: "Why does this feel so familiar? Like this dream bubble stitched together elements from multiple games."
[Seele · HSR]: "Watching this makes me feel like we're about to be ruled by trashcans."
[Gepard]: "That would actually be terrifying!"
[Bronya Rand]: "Whether this Sampo is real or not, he certainly understands us well."
[Hook]: "Why don't our trashcans move like that?"
[Natasha]: "Wait, Hook — have you been digging through trashcans again?!"
Stelle presented the three Proofs of Trust she'd earned to Shatana.
"...The day has finally come. Then let us depart — I shall escort you to the [Pillar of Creation] before the throne, where our clan's future will be decided..."
Shatana's tone became reverent as he sincerely told Stelle:
"May you succeed!"
Soon, Stelle arrived at the final battlefield — a place littered with countless war remnants, an endless road paved with fallen trashcan corpses.
After traversing this path, Stelle reached its end only to find several ordinary trashcans waiting. The King of Trash was nowhere to be seen.
Just as confusion set in, a giant lifted Stelle up — the giant was Sampo! Sampo was the King of Trash!
Under Sampo's explosive attacks, the trashcan army that accompanied Stelle suffered heavy casualties.
As their newly crowned king, Stelle couldn't bear their deaths. Ignoring her subordinates' attempts to stop her, she charged at the gigantic Sampo!
At the critical moment, Stelle activated her inner King of Trash power, transforming into a massive silver trashcan before charging at Sampo!
"This is too ridiculous—!"
Watching from outside, Firefly couldn't take any more of this absurd plot and forcibly ejected Stelle from the dream.
[Kiana]: "Forget about your abstract nonsense — that forced disconnection at the end seems awfully familiar?"
[Bronya Zaychik]: "Isn't that exactly how Mei-san pulls Kiana away from gaming binges?"
[Silver Wolf]: "Firefly pulling the plug is way too recognizable!"
[Stelle]: "So cool! I became a giant trashcan!"
[March 7th]: "Whatever... I'm used to it by now. Though I do wonder who would've won between you and Sampo."
[Welt · HSR]: "I'd like to know too."
Though undeniably abstract, this scenario gave Welt an unexpected nostalgic feeling — wasn't it just a transforming trashcan? Perfectly acceptable... right?