『 [ A talking clock? I must be losing my mind. ]
Stelle looked at Clockie's incessant chatter and found it a bit absurd.
[ A talking clock? ]
[ …Clockie? ]
[ Do you mean... you saw a cartoon character that doesn't exist in real life? ]
Hotaru listened to Stelle's mumbling and immediately asked in surprise.
[ You can't see it?? ]
Stelle rubbed the back of her head, a little confused. Clockie was clearly standing right in front of them, but Hotaru didn't notice?
[ Uh… where?? I don't see anything… ]
Hotaru carefully looked around, but found nothing.
[ Tick-tock! I guess only innocence, kindness, and honesty of a child, can see me! ]
[ Just like this gray friend! ]
Clockie heard Hotaru's words and then explained to Stelle.
[ Clockie says you're not innocence, kindness, or childlike enough. ]
[ So you can't see it. ]
Stelle relayed Clockie's words to Hotaru.
[ Uh… how am I not innocence, kindness, or childlike enough…! ]
Hotaru felt a pang in her heart, her tone sounding a little aggrieved.
[ Tick-tock, tick-tock! Gray friend! Since you can see me, you must be able to help me! ]
[ My good friend Misha, he's in trouble! Please, save him! ]
[ Otherwise, someone might die! ]
Clockie began to plead with Stelle.
[ It says someone might DIE!! ]
Stelle thoughtfully conveyed Clockie's words to Hotaru.
[ Eh… is it that serious…? ]
Hotaru was a little stunned after hearing that.
[ So, are you going to help this… uh… Clockie that only you can see first? ]
Hotaru asked.
[ I'm not doubting you, after all, anything can happen in a dream… The place I mentioned, it's fine to go there later… ]
After Hotaru finished her last sentence, she felt it was inappropriate and added an explanation.
[ Tick-tock, tick-tock! Hurry, hurry, gray friend! ]
[ Misha is in danger! He's right there, I'll take you! ]
Clockie shouted a few words to Stelle and then quickly left.
[ The name Misha is intriguing… I should go see what happened first. ]
Stelle hadn't forgotten Misha, so she thought about it and decided to follow Clockie to see what was going on.
So she pulled Hotaru along, and together they followed Clockie. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Amber: "Wow! Clockie actually came to life!"
Amber: "That's amazing!"
Collei: "From a fairy tale cartoon character to a real existence, that's so romantic!"
Hu Tao: "It's a dream after all, anything is possible!"
Lumine: "Speaking of which, there are conditions to see Clockie?"
Lumine: "You have to be kindness, innocent, and childlike?"
Paimon: "Uh… this condition, it feels so similar to the Aranara."
Venti: "Ehe, so Miss Stelle is very childlike?"
Stelle: "After all, I'm just a baby, of course I'm childlike."
Hotaru: "But… but I think I'm childlike too… but why can't I see Clockie? (sad.jpg)"
Silver Wolf: "Maybe your childlike heart is too strong."
March 7th: "Miss Hotaru, don't worry, haven't you noticed?"
March 7th: "It seems no one else can see Clockie except for Stelle. Oh, Misha should be able to see it too."
Furina: "And the origami bird before, it seems only Miss Stelle could see it."
Himeko: "Perhaps… this is something only specific people can see?"
Welt: "So what exactly is the origin of this Clockie?"
Stelle: "Oh no, after this analysis, I feel a hint of conspiracy again."
Stelle: "Could it be that even Clockie is plotting against me?"
Stelle: "Am I really that popular with villains?"
Fu Xuan: "Since you are unique, having this honor is reasonable."
Stelle: "I'd rather not have this honor!"
....
『 [ Faster, faster! As fast as a Hamster Ball Knight! ]
Clockie seemed very anxious.
[ Oh, there are so many people there, something really seems to be happening… ]
From a distance, Hotaru saw a large crowd gathered ahead.
[ Tick-tock! That's it, that's it! Clockie never brags! ]
Clockie pointed straight ahead, looking excited. Then it quickly led the two forward.
[ Everyone, please calm down… ]
As Stelle and Hotaru walked up, they saw Misha negotiating with a group of people in black suits.
[ You ignorant fool, let me show you what happens when you mess with me! ]
The leader of the men in black suits was a gang boss. He looked at the woman next to Misha, his tone very rude.
[ Alright! Boss! Give her a good LESSON!! ]
The gang members started egging him on!
[ How did it come to this... ]
The woman next to Misha was actually Acheron. She looked at the scene before her, her expression very helpless.
[ How come they are all people I know!? ]
Behind the gang members, Stelle looked at the scene, a little surprised.
[ Huh? What do you mean by "all"…? ]
Hotaru was a little confused. She only saw one woman, so why use the word "all"?
[ Oh, see, see! I wasn't lying! Misha is in danger! ]
[ Tick-tock! Please, gray friend! Help Misha! ]
At this moment, Clockie began to beg Stelle for help again.
[ My baseball bat can't wait to show its might! ]
Stelle nodded and prepared to pull out her incredibly hard big stick!
[ But a baseball bat is too inefficient… Oh no, that's not RIGHT!! ]
[ I mean is, we can't solve the problem with violence... ]
Hotaru heard Stelle wanting to use a baseball bat and instinctively wanted to retort.
But remembering that she was just an ordinary girl now, she quickly changed her words.
[ Tick-tock, tick-tock! This chaotic scene is all Boss Stone's fault! ]
[ Boss Stone is the worst villain in Sweet Dream Town—he's a greedy guy who wants to drive all the residents of Sweet Dream Town away and monopolize the precious stone materials… ]
[ So, he ordered his subordinates to stir up the dream and drain everyone's good emotions! ]
[ Sweet Dream Town has been filled with anxiety and conflict ever since, and everyone is no longer a family! ]
Clockie suddenly got angry and started cursing Boss Stone.
[ But! As the guardian of Sweet Dream Town, Clockie cannot stand by and do nothing! ]
[ By using the power of Clockwork, I can direct the flow of positive emotions in the Dreamscape back into people's hearts — that way everyone can patch up their differences and get along again! ]
[ My gray friend, I require your assistance! I have a feeling you'll be able to master the power of Clockwork! After all, you're the special one who can see me! ]
[ And you're a guest of Sweet Dream Town, Boss Stone didn't anticipate your existence! If you act, that big villain will definitely be caught off guard! ]
Clockie's tone changed, wanting to teach Stelle the amazing Clockwork.
[ Why don't you do it yourself? You want me to learn? ]
Stelle scratched her head, confused.
[ I can't use Clockwork by myself because they can't see me! ]
[ So please, close your eyes— ]
Clockie explained and asked Stelle to close her eyes to cooperate.
Stelle nodded and began to do so.
[ Tick-tock! Now we are one, do you feel power flowing within you! ]
[ Come on, now go find that angry gang boss—use Clockwork, pour all the good emotions into him, bang, mission accomplished! ]
[ Please bear in mind that you should never use Clockwork with malicious intent. We're the guardians of Dream Town, after all, tick-tock! ]
After teaching Stelle Clockwork, Clockie gave some instructions and then led Stelle and Hotaru to the side of the gang boss.
[ Get lost, little girl, don't get in the way! ]
[ I'm going to make that woman understand she messed with the wrong person! ]
As soon as Stelle walked over, she was severely scolded by the arrogant gang boss.
Stelle couldn't stand it anymore and immediately used Clockwork on him, adjusting his emotions to joy.
Immediately, the gang boss was silent for a moment, and then…
[ …Hahahahahahaha! ]
The gang boss suddenly clutched his stomach and burst into laughter! This made his surrounding subordinates jump in fright!
[ You succeeded! But why did he become like this? ]
Clockie's face lit up, then he asked in confusion.
[ I don't know… Did I really do this? ]
Stelle was also a little bewildered.
[ Probably… yes? Otherwise, why would he suddenly start laughing? ]
[ It's just… oh, he looks really scary—just like the real, temperamental Boss Stone. ]
Clockie observed carefully and felt that Clockwork must have worked.
[ Oh, hi, everyone! Please excuse my presumptuousness, welcome to Penacony, the Land of Dreams! ]
[ Minions, line up! Give our distinguished guests a proper welcome! ]
The gang boss began to act out of character, his attitude making a complete 180-degree turn, becoming incredibly enthusiastic.
[ Ah… yes, yes! ]
Although they felt their boss was acting a little crazy and something was off, the subordinates dared not disobey their boss's orders and quickly agreed.
[ Ready—begin! ]
[ Welcome to Penacony, the Land of DREAMS!!! ]
Led by their boss, the gang members began to bow to Stelle and her companions, showing the utmost respect.
[ You may rise! ]
Seeing this, Stelle directly ordered them in an imperious tone, as if she were commanding her servants.
[ We will obey your every command! You are our most honored guests— ]
[ You! Just be happy! ]
The gang members shouted in unison, their expressions even more respectful.
[ Oh, my! It seems you hold quite a bit of sway in their hearts! ]
[ In that case, can you also tell them to leave? ]
Clockie's expression became agitated upon seeing this scene.
[ Thank you for your kindness… but could you give us some private space? ]
Stelle began to try and make them leave.
[ Of course, of course! Everything is up to you, esteemed guests—Minions, disperse! Don't disturb our honored guests from enjoying their leisure time! ]
[ Yes, Boss! ]
The gang members were obedient and immediately disappeared from the spot. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Holy cow, awesome!"
Stelle: "This Clockwork is too powerful, isn't it?"
Stelle: "It can actually turn people into this!"
Stelle: "Isn't this much better than my stick?"
Stelle was shocked by the exaggerated effect of Clockwork in the video.
March 7th: "This is simply a divine skill!"
March 7th: "If we learned this, wouldn't we never have to worry about people's attitudes towards us wherever we go?"
Nahida: "…But manipulating other people's emotions so freely is wrong, isn't it?"
Himeko: "Exactly, this ability must not be abused!"
Welt: "This ability… it feels a bit too absurd. How is it done?"
Dan Heng: "It seems to rely on the ability of that Clockie."
Hu Tao: "So what exactly is the origin of that Clockie?"
Robin: "Brother, do you have any idea about this Clockie?"
Sunday: "…No. From my observation, it doesn't seem like a creature from the Sweet Dream Theater."
Gallagher: "Then maybe it's some kind of mutated creature. Anyway, this is a dream, anything can happen. No need to make a fuss."
Paimon: "Anyway, seeing that group of gang members get a good lesson is really a comforting thing."
Xiangling: "Exactly, they were so fierce and arrogant just now! They totally deserved it!"
....
『 [ We meet again, guest! ]
[ Did you help us resolve the crisis? ]
Misha looked at Stelle, very grateful.
[ Misha, what's wrong? Do you know this gray friend? ]
Clockie was a little surprised by Misha's tone.
[ She is a distinguished guest—we became friends not long ago. I mentioned her to you, remember? ]
Misha explained to Clockie.
[ Oh, so it's her! ]
Clockie suddenly realized.
[ Anyway, thank you! If you hadn't arrived in time, it would have been chaos here… ]
Misha thanked her sincerely.
[ Thank you, Stelle. I didn't expect to meet again so soon. ]
At this moment, Acheron's voice sounded.
[ I didn't expect it so soon either. ]
Stelle sighed with emotion.
[ The confusion just now… I heard there was a group of Masked Fools causing trouble on the street, disrupting order. ]
[ I passed by here and was subjected to a search, during which some… misunderstandings occurred. ]
[ As a result, I've caused you trouble again. ]
Acheron explained, looking a little embarrassed.
[ This lady… is she also an acquaintance of yours? ]
Hotaru looked at Acheron and asked Stelle.
[ Not an acquaintance, but we met once. She helped me at the hotel before; she's a kind person. ]
[ And it's a pleasure to meet you too, beautiful lady. ]
Before Stelle could speak, Acheron explained herself.
[ B—Beautiful, beautiful lady… ]
Hotaru blushed slightly when she heard Acheron call her a beautiful lady.
[ However, what did you do to that gentleman just now? ]
[ His sudden change in emotion… was a bit incredible. ]
Acheron asked curiously.
[ I wanted to ask that too… what exactly happened? ]
Hotaru was equally curious.
[ It was talk therapy, I used talk therapy. ]
Stelle made a joke.
[ What are you saying! It wasn't talk therapy, it was Clockwork! ]
Clockie was a little displeased that Stelle called Clockwork "talk therapy."
[ I'm afraid it's not that simple, is it? ]
Acheron clearly didn't believe it.
[ I guess, is it related to that… Clockie that only you can see? ]
Hotaru thought for a moment and guessed the reason.
[ …Clockie? ]
Acheron was confused.
[ Yes, that cartoon character… it seems to have appeared in reality—I mean—in the dream. ]
[ Although I haven't quite figured out the situation… Stelle said that it seems only kindness, innocent, and childlike children can see it… ]
Hotaru nodded, explaining to Acheron.
[ …Ha. chuckle ]
[ …It seems I've also passed that age. ]
[ But if this Clockie truly exists, many things would make sense. ] 』
『 ....』