Chapter 317: Penacony Arc 『 Part Twelve 』, The Interstellar Trailblaze Forges On
「 Acheron admitted that her memory was somewhat unreliable. After a brief introduction, she prepared to depart, but before leaving, she offered a final word of caution: "There is a certain class of people who possess an unyielding will and conviction, yet have no intention of applying them to a righteous path. And upon that gentleman's face, I saw a familiar expression."
"If one carries a blade, it must eventually be used to cut something down. And a gambler, before losing everything, will surely burn his bridges and stake it all on a single throw… That is all I can say. Finally, I suspect we shall meet again soon."
With those words, Acheron turned and vanished into the corridor.
Stelle watched her depart, a subtle, lingering sensation tugging at the back of her mind…
Regardless, despite the twists and turns, she could finally enter the dreamscape properly… Hm?
Stelle saw Acheron doubling back.
"..."
Stelle: "That was a very fast reunion."
"Um…" Acheron struggled to find the right words, the atmosphere turning instantly awkward. She remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "My apologies, but could you tell me the way back to the lobby? These corridors all look far too similar…" 」
「 ..... 」
〜Honkai: Impact 3rd World〜
"Pffft—hahaha!"
Kiana suddenly collapsed onto the sofa, clutching her stomach as she erupted into laughter, her silvery-white twin tails swaying with her movements.
"Look, Mei! That 'you' actually got lost!"
She pointed at the screen where Acheron was sheepishly returning to Stelle's room, tears of mirth pricking her eyes.
"Who knew Mei's variant could have such a cute side?"
A small vein pulsed on Mei's forehead.
"Kiana… I've told you many times that it's Miss Acheron, not me."
She sighed helplessly, reaching out to steady the white-haired tuna who was still rolling around on the cushions.
Himeko held her coffee cup, watching the interaction between the two girls with amusement.
"In all seriousness, though, with Miss Acheron's memory… It's hard to imagine how she's managed to travel alone all these years as a Galaxy Ranger."
"Maybe she has Galaxy Ranger companions?"
Kiana suggested, a sudden spark of inspiration hitting her.
"Oh! Right! I had a question earlier! The Family has invited various factions to Penacony, and the invitees all seem quite famous, right?"
"The Nameless of the 『 Trailblaze 』, the IPC of 『 Preservation 』, the Duke of Inferno from 『 Destruction 』, the Galaxy Rangers of 『 Hunt 』… Since Miss Acheron represents the entirety of the Galaxy Rangers at Penacony, does that mean she's exceptionally famous within their ranks?"
Himeko nodded in agreement.
"It's possible. The single strike Miss Acheron displayed in the dreamscape is proof enough of her extraordinary strength—she is likely one of the most formidable warriors among the Galaxy Rangers."
"Ah! As expected of Mei! So cool!"
Kiana suddenly sat bolt upright and threw her arms around Mei's neck.
"Ki—Kiana! What are you saying all of a sudden!"
Mei's face flushed crimson instantly. She scrambled to push Kiana away, but the girl clung to her like an octopus.
"—That's Miss Acheron! It's not me!"
—
「 After seeing Acheron off, you lie down in the center of the Dreampool. The cold fluid rises past your waist as a soft female voice whispers in your ear, accompanied by the tolling of evening bells, the whistling of wild winds across the wasteland, and a recitative of robins, gulls, swans, and ravens…
The gentle voice ripples like water against your ears. Stelle feels her consciousness fragmenting into countless shimmering bubbles, floating lightly within the void. Each bubble reflects a different shadow of light—
"Mikhail…"
A tearful cry suddenly erupts, heavy with sobbing and grief: "…Come back."
The bubbles begin to burst one by one. Stelle feels herself falling rapidly; the images of the library stretch into distorted ribbons of color as pods of whales scatter in panic. That weeping voice grows more distant until it vanishes entirely.
....
Elsewhere, Aventurine returns to his room, glancing at the disgruntled Professor. "What's the matter, Ratio? Don't look so grim… Hey, I just noticed—where's that handsome plaster head of yours?"
Dr. Ratio didn't bother with the banter, his tone stern: "You are late. Exactly four minutes and sixteen seconds. I trust you spent that time solving the mystery of Akivili's fall—if not, then I advise you to stop causing trouble for the Nameless." 」
「 ..... 」
〜Fullmetal Alchemist World〜
Roy Mustang rested his chin on his hand, his military boots propped casually on his desk.
"Interesting."
He stared at the screen where Aventurine and Ratio were bickering.
"The Interastral Peace Corporation actually paired two people with such diametrically opposed styles. Aren't they worried these two will trip each other up while handling Penacony?"
Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye briskly placed a stack of documents in front of him, swatting his boots off the desk in the process.
"Colonel, please maintain basic military decorum."
"Don't be so stiff."
Roy chuckled, snapping his fingers.
"I'd wager that within three days, this gambler named Aventurine will drive the Professor insane."
"If Aventurine were an idiot like you, it might not even take three days. But the problem is… he isn't,"
Riza said flatly.
"The IPC's arrangement isn't without reason. To me, this setup suggests at least one thing."
"Oh?"
"As a gambler, he is highly likely to be someone who will use any means necessary to achieve his goals—means that could very well include his own life or the Corporation's reputation… The IPC sent him because they acknowledge his methods, but they also fear them."
Roy rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Fear? That seems unlikely. He's formidable, but above him are the likes of Diamond at P46 or P47."
"It's just a hunch."
Riza shrugged.
"To me, Aventurine is like a wild horse—unruly, yet possessed of explosive power. He needs a rein. And Dr. Ratio, as a luminary of the Intelligentsia Guild, is undoubtedly the best rein available. When the wild horse bolts, someone needs to pull back at the right moment to keep him from losing his mind and plunging over the cliff."
—
「 Aventurine laughed. "Causing trouble? Even you say that? Does nobody believe I truly just want to make friends with them?"
Ratio gave a cold snort. "Noisy fellows don't make friends. A bit of trivia: the Ardini Peacock is one of the foulest-sounding birds in the universe, and your current attire makes you look exactly like a gaudy peacock…"
"…It seems this peacock has had its feathers plucked—was your luggage confiscated by the Family?"
Aventurine shrugged his shoulders with a touch of grievance. "Yeah, seized by those guys in the grey suits. All the gift money and the box containing the Cornerstone… Hm? Where are you going?"
Ratio paused at the door, turning his head slightly. "Back home, to tell the Corporation that an idiot has ruined everything." 」
「 ..... 」