Chapter 347: Penacony Arc 『 Part Forty-two 』, The Eternal Limbo of the Penacony
〜Dragon Raja World〜
"I despise seeing women deceived or treated with such brutality… and such a lovely girl, at that. It seems Aventurine truly lacks the refinement to cherish a fragile flower."
Within the Takamagahara VIP lounge, the glow of the crystal chandelier stained the champagne in Caesar's hand a deep crimson. He let out a long, theatrical sigh.
"Aventurine?"
Chu Zihang looked at him, his expression remaining a mask of stoicism.
"What does he have to do with this?"
"Is it not glaringly obvious?"
Caesar set his flute down upon the crystal coffee table; the crushed ice within rattled ever so slightly.
"Hotaru and Aventurine collaborated to investigate the Primal Dreamscape, yet they were ambushed by both a Meme and Sam. Aventurine betrayed her, abandoning her to face that room alone… It is a perfectly logical deduction, is it not?"
"No, I disagree,"
Chu Zihang countered.
"Why would Aventurine cooperate with Hotaru in the first place? Does she possess any value that would warrant such a partnership?"
"Everyone harbors secrets. Perhaps Hotaru holds something that piqued Aventurine's curiosity."
Caesar's blue eyes narrowed slightly.
"It is the only explanation for how a frail, sickly girl could know the contents of the invitations. Either she was an invitee to Penacony herself, or someone disclosed the details to her. But she was unaware that by entering this dreamscape with Aventurine, only two fates awaited her death at the hands of a Meme, or execution by Sam. Furthermore, given Aventurine's nature, even if they had unearthed a trail leading to the Watchmaker's Legacy together, he would never have let her live. A pawn."
Caesar's voice suddenly dropped an octave.
"…That is the ultimate destiny of such a girl."
Chu Zihang's brow furrowed, a movement so slight it was nearly imperceptible.
"Of course, I do not intend to convince you. You are entitled to your own theories. Should the girl emerge unscathed, I would be more than delighted."
Caesar leaned deep into the sofa, crossing his legs. The tip of his handcrafted Italian leather shoe tapped rhythmically to the music echoing through Takamagahara.
"That girl is as pure as a gardenia. Do you like gardenias? Pure, white, flawless… She is the antithesis of someone like NoNo. She should never have been dragged into this vortex of slaughter. Her proper place, her best possible end, would be a blissful romance with Stelle. Looking at her reminds me of the love letters girls wrote to me when I first enrolled… as beautiful as a white petal encased in morning dew."
—
「 "Perhaps it was a desire to monopolize the legacy, or to eliminate one more witness. Or perhaps… it is because of a deeper 'secret' hidden within this Memory Zone. To catch a big fish… one needs live bait," Black Swan said.
"You mean… Hotaru?"
"It is merely a worst-case hypothesis. But consider this: if the mastermind were nearby, why would he allow us to search so freely? Unless… unless there is something else he cares for more, something he needs—or rather, is currently—confirming."
Black Swan pointed toward the side corridor. "She has no other path; she must leave through there."
Pushing open the doors to the side corridor, Hotaru was seen sprinting downward. "There's actually a way out here…"
Black Swan's tone carried a hint of regret. "The shifting paths lead only to wandering Memory Zone Memes… She is utterly lost within the Memory Zone."
Pushing open the final set of doors, she found the path leading back to the lobby. Hotaru let out a small sigh of relief. "Finally, back to the lobby. Now I can…"
Watching the girl run step by step toward her demise, Stelle's heart sank. Suddenly, Acheron's vigilant voice cut through the air: "Everyone, over there—"
"It seems someone has been waiting for us for quite some time. Finally deciding to step onto the stage, are we…" Black Swan said with piqued interest. "…Stellaron Hunter Sam."
The trio stepped into the lobby. The air was thick with the faint, acrid scent of scorched metal.
Sam stood with his back to them, the silhouette of the silver-white mechanical armor resembling a drawn blade in the dim light. He held the wreckage of a Dreamjolt Troupe member in his hand, the faint hum of hydraulic systems emanating from his joints.
"Careful," Acheron whispered, her hand tightening around her scabbard as she stepped unobtrusively in front of Stelle.
Sam turned slowly, his gaze locking onto them like a predator. "A Galaxy Ranger, and a… Memokeeper…" His voice possessed the cold, crystalline texture of pure machinery. "Leave now, and no one gets hurt."
Before the words could fully fade, a violent wave of heat erupted. The thermal backdraft swept through the lobby, distorting the air. His silhouette grew sharper amidst the flames, as if he might transform into a silver arc of light at any moment.
"Or else... All of you will die here." 」
「 .....」
〜Record of Ragnarok World〜
Inside the laboratory, Tesla's fingertips slid rapidly across the hovering holographic projections, countless streams of data flickering at his touch. His Super-Automated Machine—that yet-unfinished iron giant—stood silently within the experimental bay as several mechanical joints underwent adjustment.
"Tesla!"
The laboratory doors were suddenly thrown open as Brunhilde stormed in.
"Stop staring at your mech for a moment and look at the sky!"
Tesla looked up at the sound, his pupils shrinking instantly.
"This… this is…"
"The Molten Knight—Sam. A mechanical creation remarkably similar to your research."
Brunhilde arched an eyebrow with interest.
"What do you think?"
In the heavens above, the silver-white armor slowly rose. Its lines were as sharp as a scalpel, and the thrusters on its back erupted with brilliant plumes of flame. Every movement was precise to the point of elegance, yet carried a devastating power that could level mountains.
"It's… It's magnificent…"
A look of near-obsession flickered in Tesla's eyes.
"What, smitten by a machine?"
"It's more than just the armor…"
Tesla murmured.
"Its energy core, its kinetic logic, its structural plating… It's entirely different from my current technology! If we could use this to stand against the Gods—"
"Do we have a chance?"
Brunhilde asked.
Tesla remained silent for a moment before shaking his head.
"I don't know. I need more combat data… Who is the pilot? Where is the machine's limit? Is it tied to the pilot's own will?"
He stared intently at the sky, desperate to peel back the secrets beneath that steel skin.
"I truly wish… I could take it for a spin."
—
「 "The detective game is over. You shouldn't be here."
Sam's mechanical palm snapped open, blinding orange-red fissures erupting between the knuckles as if lava were flowing beneath the armor.
A moment later, a cataclysmic wave of fire exploded!
The scorching air swept through the lobby like a tidal wave, the heat so intense it created visible ripples in space.
Sam's chest plating retracted in layers, the core furnace emitting a blinding light—a flare as magnificent as butterfly wings bloomed across his chest.
The dancing tongues of fire reflected off his silver-white frame, making him appear like a god reborn in the heart of a star.
"I will… set the seas ablaze!" 」
「 .....」