Chapter 181
[A while ago... Welt and the others met with the Dreammaster; "You mean to tell me that all this time, there have been villains using our Harmonious Festival—a blessing bestowed upon the people—as a tool to fulfill their ambitions?"
"Exactly, Dreammaster.
Once the Harmonious Festival begins, the Stellaron's power will spread throughout Penacony along with the song... At that time, everyone in the dream will be unable to wake up."
Robin explained the severity of the situation to the Dreammaster. The Dreammaster seemed quite puzzled: "This is rather surprising to me. The dreamscape is the result of the joint maintenance by the five families. If someone is using the Harmonious Festival to wantonly spread the Stellaron's power, this person must undoubtedly hold a high position..."
"Do you have any suspects?"
Welt interjected: "May I ask, are you truly unaware of the Stellaron's existence?"
"Hah... I never expected this Nameless to directly point the spear at me. It's truly astonishing."
"If we have offended you, the Astral Express offers you our sincere apologies. But given the urgent situation, there's no time for meticulous investigation. This is also for the stability of the dreamscape, so please dispel our doubts."
The Dreammaster had no objections, so under the witness of Welt and Robin, Sunday used the Harmony's ability to initiate a lie detection on the Dreammaster.]
[March 7th]:"This... doesn't this mean the Dreammaster is completely fine?"
[Kiana]:"Did we really suspect the wrong person?"
[Theresa]:"It seems so. Even Aventurine fell for this ability. Even if it was acting, Robin should have been able to tell. It appears the Dreammaster truly hasn't betrayed [Harmony]."
[Otto]:"Little Theresa, you're mistaken. This is just a small play on words. The Dreammaster and Sunday never said the god they referred to was [Harmony]."
[Honkai: Star Rail·Seele]:"Right, it's always been 'your god', 'your god'. With wording like that, couldn't they answer however they want? After all, we don't know who they truly believe in."
[March 7th]:"So close, so close! I almost got fooled!"
[...... "Then, one final question—"
"Can you swear that you will definitely fulfill all promises, whether past, present, or future?"
The Dreammaster still answered frankly: "By the Aeon above, if my words are false or I break my promises, may I suffer curses according to the Edict."
Sunday revealed a faint smile: "...He has seen your faith and acknowledges it.
Thus, it can be proven—"
"Please wait a moment."
Welt frowned and interrupted: "Everyone, I have one more question that needs answering."
"As far as I know, the family's harmony and shared prosperity has never relied on so-called [Edicts]..."
"Is the [god] you two just mentioned truly that Xipe?"
Sunday remained silent. The Dreammaster said devoutly: "Mr. Welt should know that the family's people are as close as siblings, embracing unity and being of one mind under His light. All duplicity is exposed before [Harmony]."
"Such an exquisite and complex movement—if not the Lord Xipe, which other deity could perfectly harmonize it?"
"Perfectly harmonize?"
Welt walked toward the girl possessed by the Dreammaster, speaking unhurriedly: "...That's precisely the problem. What's subtly changing [Harmony] in the shadows isn't an external enemy, but... a dissonant note secretly born from within this very movement."
Welt easily recognized the Dreammaster's true faith—[Order] Tayzzyronth! "Mr. Welt, being overly perceptive is hardly beneficial, especially when you're isolated and without support."
Thus, under the Dreammaster's orders, Sunday took control of Welt and Robin.]
[March 7th]:"Uncle Yang is so sharp! He saw right through a trick even Robin didn't notice."
[Stelle]:"And then he went straight to confront the mastermind himself, almost having to compete in the revival tournament again."
[Herrscher of Sentience]:"Welt: He's playing the 'I didn't lie' game. This flavor is all too familiar to me!!"
[Honkai: Star Rail·Welt]:"It's all past experience. In a way, I'm quite sensitive to lies."
[Herrscher of Sentience]:"If Welt couldn't even detect lies of this level, then all those times Otto screwed him over would have been for nothing."
[Tesla]:"Now you mention it, I'm getting angry ****** Otto!"
[Honkai Impact 3rd·Welt]:"I think future me wouldn't exactly appreciate this kind of experience either."
[Back at the audition venue: "Unbelievable. Penacony actually has... remnants of [Order]."
March 7th put her hands on her hips and glared angrily at
Sunday: "What did you do to Uncle Yang and Miss Robin?!"
"Rest assured, I've merely given them some time alone to contemplate fate."
Himeko's tone carried a faint threat: "You should understand that doing this means making enemies of the Nameless."
"Even if it must come to opposing you Nameless, it would only be me and the Oak Family. But we haven't reached that point yet, have we?"
"Everyone has seen how you've been running around for Penacony's justice."
To help the Nameless understand his perspective, Sunday used attunement on them, bringing them into his inner world. The first choice was about a little harmony dove. The second choice was a story about a dreamseeker selling children. The third choice was... Sunday himself. Robin was seriously injured on the warfront—should he stop her from continuing her journey? Stelle still chose to discuss ideas with her friends first. She went to Himeko, who said: "I feel like I've dreamed of similar scenes on certain nights. In the dream, I saw a group of blurry faces. Though I don't know who they are, we were as close as family. Constantly fighting against some transcendent existence..."
"I clearly remember their confusion, their fear... but I also remember that in that dream, they never chose to give up—just like Miss Robin."
"If you feel lost about Mr. Sunday's question, seek your answer from your own experiences."]
[Fu Xuan]:"Isn't this just sophistry? Even his inner world is full of various induction. Isn't Sunday doing this precisely to make the Astral Express arrive at the answer he wants?"
[Otto]:"The two sides are hostile at this point anyway. This is nothing suprising."
[Honkai: Star Rail·Welt]:"...Himeko, when did you dream about these things?"
[Honkai: Star Rail·Himeko]:"I can't remember clearly. I had suspicions before—could the things in my dreams actually be your homeland?"
[Kiana]:"So you're saying another world's Himeko dreamed about us?"
[Murata Himeko]:"Such a thing is truly incredible."
[Honkai: Star Rail·Himeko]:"Yes. If we could find Welt's homeland, I'd really like to meet them."
[Kiana]:"Can I call you Teacher Himeko too?"
[Honkai: Star Rail·Himeko]:"Though I've never been a teacher before, you may."
Burned out. Next chapter in the afternoon. Had fun making PPTs by hand today!