『 [ ...As you wish then. They never went anywhere. They're right where they belong... ]
[ …Right here, amidst this pile of cheap jewelry. ]
Aventurine opened the bag, revealing the contents—shattered fragments of aventurine stone!
[ You smashed the Aventurine stone before you even set off… ]
[ …Look at it. Tsk tsk. How much it resembles your own shattered life. ]
[ No matter how glamorous the exterior, inside it remains a lowly pebble… ]
[ This thing is worth far more than your life. ]
[ You know the consequences of this perfectly well. Defiling the sacred body of Qlipoth… do you think the IPC will let you off? ]
After the Harmony Aventurine finished his mockery, he began to question Aventurine's methods.
[ Diamond has always valued results. ]
[ As long as the value I create far exceeds the cost… ]
[ The process and means are not an issue. ]
[ Without paying a price, how could I deceive The Family? ]
[ It doesn't matter. Even shattered into fragments, a Cornerstone of Preservation can still function. Though its efficacy will be greatly discounted, for me… it is enough. ]
Aventurine did not feel there was any issue with his approach.
[ I am genuinely curious. ]
[ Why is every step you take a walk on a tightrope? Why do the options you prepare for yourself always come with a strong impulse for self-destruction? ]
[ Do you really believe that 'the greater the risk, the higher the reward'? ]
[ I can't see that you're all that loyal to the IPC. ]
The Harmony Aventurine asked with curiosity.
[ Hmph, there's plenty you can't see… ]
[ That is why you also cannot see how I intend to win it all. ]
Aventurine let out a cold laugh.
[ Premised on the assumption that you can actually pull it off. ]
The Harmony Aventurine offered a correction.
[ …We shall see. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Friend, isn't that a bit too hardcore?!"
Stelle: "Smashing the Cornerstone and mixing it into a pile of jewelry to smuggle it in?"
Stelle: "I mean, what are you thinking?"
Stelle: "Is Penacony really that important? More important than the Cornerstone itself by many times over?"
Furina de Fontaine: "It's outrageous."
Furina de Fontaine: "When Aventurine opened that bag, I was stunned for a moment."
Furina de Fontaine: "I didn't even react in time to realize those fragments were the Cornerstone!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Aventurine, this plan of yours is absolutely insane!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Using two Cornerstones as a cover wasn't enough; you even had to smash your own Cornerstone and disguise it as ordinary jewelry…"
Furina de Fontaine: "With that kind of nerve, it seems only right that you'd win the gamble!"
Hu Tao: "The question is, is all of this really worth it?"
Hu Tao: "And, what if he actually loses the bet this time?"
Hu Tao: "Aventurine's life would really be forfeit, right?"
Hu Tao: "If that happens, all the wealth and status he possesses now will vanish like smoke!"
Ningguang: "I believe Mr. Aventurine does not care about any of that…"
Ningguang: "All, or nothing!"
Ningguang: "In every gamble Mr. Aventurine undertakes, he likely stakes his everything!"
Ningguang: "To be honest, on this point, I quite admire him."
March 7th: "I suddenly feel like… is Aventurine doing this on purpose?"
March 7th: "Harmony Aventurine said that every choice Aventurine makes carries a strong tendency for self-destruction!"
March 7th: "In other words, every time he gambles, does he have this mindset of 'if I lose, I might as well just not live anymore'?"
March 7th: "That's why when he bets, he bets everything, including his own life."
March 7th: "Because he doesn't care much about anything in this world anymore, so he's a bit self-abandoning?"
Amber: "I think so too."
Amber: "Otherwise, why would Mr. Aventurine seek to destroy himself?"
Paimon: "Couldn't it just be that Aventurine is super loyal to the IPC?"
Lumine: "Uh… I don't get the vibe that he's that kind of person."
Lumine: "The only ones he cares about in his heart are his family."
Lumine: "He wouldn't go to these lengths just for the company, right?"
Lumine: "Of course, it's hard to say."
Lumine: "Maybe Mr. Aventurine is also a man of sentiment and loyalty?"
Li Sushang: "Uh… at least so far, aside from his family, he hasn't shown much sentimentality."
....
『 [ The Cornerstone disappeared… another hallucination of the Harmony. ]
[ …Huh? ]
Aventurine suddenly spotted the figure of Kakavasha.
He couldn't help but let out a soft sound of surprise.
[ Hello. We meet again, Mr. Beautiful Eyes. ]
Aventurine walked up to Kakavasha, and Kakavasha immediately greeted him.
[ …Yes. We meet again. ]
[ Did you find your mom and dad? ]
Aventurine asked, his tone gentle.
[ Of course! Big sister is here too. The four of us just played hide-and-seek. ]
[ It was so fun! On the way here, Dad even showed me 'peel movies'. ]
Kakavasha spoke happily.
[ You mean film movies. ]
Aventurine smiled and corrected him.
[ Right, that's it. ]
[ Putting lots and lots of cardboard drawings together, and they become a moving mural. ]
[ Putting me, Dad, Mom, and Big Sister together, and we become a family. ]
[ You try it too, Mister! ]
[ You look so frown-y all the time. You should be happy in the amusement park! ]
Kakavasha invited Aventurine to play the film movie game together.
[ …Okay. ]
Aventurine paused in a daze for a moment, then nodded.
Subsequently, he followed Kakavasha to the side of the film movie prop, and began to play with him.
[ How about that? This score isn't low, right? ]
[ … ]
[ …Boring. ]
Aventurine had grinded out a very high score in the film movie game, and wanted to find Kakavasha to share it.
However, when he came back to his senses, he realized, kakavasha's figure, at some unknown point in time, had already disappeared. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Collei: "Little Kakavasha is really so cute."
Collei: "Especially those big eyes, like gems…"
Collei: "I seemed to see light in those eyes!"
Collei: "But the current Mr. Aventurine… the light in his eyes is gone."
Tighnari: "Having experienced so many hardships and tribulations, the last gleam in his eyes has likely been worn away…"
Furina de Fontaine: "Kakavasha has so many scars on his body."
Furina de Fontaine: "His clothes are tattered too…"
Furina de Fontaine: "You can tell his life was really bitter."
Furina de Fontaine: "But on his face, there is still an expression of happiness and satisfaction."
Furina de Fontaine: "Is it because his parents and sister are with him?"
Nahida: "I think so."
Nahida: "For Kakavasha, as long as his parents and sister are there, that is enough."
Nahida: "Everything else, to him, is unimportant."
March 7th: "Sigh… it's a pity this is all a hallucination created by the Harmony."
March 7th: "But I really wish this scene had actually happened!"
March 7th: "Because this Kakavasha has a mom and a sister, and even a dad!"
March 7th: "The original Kakavasha never even met his dad…"
Stelle: "This power of Harmony is just here to constantly strike blows at him, isn't it?"
Stelle: "That's more or less a bit despicable!"
Stelle: "I hope Aventurine can hold on under these blows. Don't actually do something rash!"
....
『 [ ... ]
Harmony Aventurine appeared once again, but this time, he was somewhat silent.
[ Why aren't you talking? ]
Aventurine looked at this scene, and asked in return.
[ You have indeed piqued my interest… ]
[ I admit there are parts of you I do not fully understand. ]
The words spoken by Harmony Aventurine, were uncharacteristic.
[ You're being quite sincere this time. ]
Aventurine smiled faintly.
[ Sincerity is one of my few precious qualities; no need to emphasize it. ]
[ See that maze? ]
[ Before you walk out of there, I will understand you completely. ]
[ Our tour of the studios is not yet over, and your life flashing before your eyes continues… ]
[ And I don't mind dragging this process out very, very long. ]
After Harmony Aventurine finished speaking, he disappeared once again.
Aventurine paid it no mind, continuing to chase after Kakavasha's figure.
[ Wow, it's so high here—higher than the tallest rocks in the desert— ]
[ And so many flowers—Sister, this purple one is for you— ]
Aventurine walked into the maze garden, faintly hearing Kakavasha's voice.
[ Dead end? ]
[ Did I go the wrong way? ]
[ Hmm? This is… ]
In a cul-de-sac, aventurine discovered a set of shackles.
[ Remember something? ]
Harmony Aventurine came out again.
[ None of your business. ]
Aventurine had a headache, and was in no mood to speak with Harmony Aventurine.
[ Need a little hint? ]
[ These are shackles, worn by you. ]
[ The first job that man gave you, the first pot of gold you earned… ]
[ I remember it clearly. ]
[ You wrapped these iron chains around your fist; it was the only tool you could find. ]
[ Then, in that maze, you… ]
Harmony Aventurine revealed a playful smile.
[ …Shut up! ]
Aventurine shouted a rebuke.
[ Oh… unwilling to face that past? ]
[ Don't want to admit your life was only worth sixty Tambas? ]
[ As I see it, neither is the correct answer… ]
[ You refuse to face it, simply because it proves your weakness. ]
Harmony Aventurine began to continue his psychological assault.
[ How would a weak person walk the tightrope? ]
Aventurine retorted.
[ True, you like to walk the tightrope… ]
[ Yet you stubbornly refuse to let go of certain superfluous things. ]
[ Even in this beautiful dream, you only dare to attempt "death" on yourself. ]
[ Those entourage members could have become the Jokers in your hand, serving a greater purpose. ]
[ There are plenty of stains on The Family; you only needed to make some small sacrifices… If it were Opal, this would have been solved long ago. ]
[ Pity, you are not him. ]
[ If you had done it, you wouldn't be in this state… ]
[ Why didn't you do it? ]
[ Surely not out of some professional ethics? ]
Harmony Aventurine attempted to shatter Aventurine's psychological defenses.
[ The techniques you mention are highly efficient, but it's not that I can't use them, I disdain to use them, get it? ]
[ If the game isn't fair, where's the fun? ]
Aventurine asked calmly.
[ Fairness… heh, as if your opponents are fair to you. ]
[ The situation is clearly against you, why are you still so at ease? ]
[ What exactly did that Masked Fool's words awaken in you? ]
Harmony Aventurine asked.
[ She gave me an answer sufficient to overturn everything. ]
Aventurine replied.
[ Hmph, overturn everything? ]
[ You mean—make everything on the table disappear? ]
Harmony Aventurine disappeared once again.
[ … ]
[ This is cheating… ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Lumine: "Uh… here it is."
Lumine: "Proof of Aventurine's sentimental and righteous persona."
Lumine: "As a merchant who seemingly stops at nothing, Aventurine actually still retains a bottom line."
Lumine: "And he preserves his kindness."
Lumine: "From this, we can see that Aventurine is fundamentally a good person."
Kamisato Ayaka: "This point isn't actually too surprising."
Kamisato Ayaka: "Because from Kakavasha, we can see that in Aventurine's heart, he has always retained goodwill toward the world."
Kamisato Ayaka: "Even if this world, to him, may not be fair…"
Hu Tao: "Watching up to now, I can only say, Aventurine is truly too tragic…"
Hu Tao: "If not for those childhood experiences being too miserable,"
Hu Tao: "Aventurine wouldn't have added such a layer of tough camouflage to his exterior."
Hu Tao: "The Aventurine of today looks like a uniquely successful individual from the outside, a dragon among men!"
Hu Tao: "But his heart has always been lonely."
Nahida: "No one understands him, and no one truly knows him."
Nahida: "The one who understands him best… is ironically this Harmony Aventurine fighting for ownership of his body."
Nahida: "I have to say, that really is a form of irony."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "A gambler who still retains a bottom line."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "I must say, as a gambler, you are somewhat of a failure."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "But, it is undeniable that this makes you much more pleasing to the eye."
Aventurine: "Heh, Professor, being able to hear you say I'm pleasing to the eye, that is truly my blessing."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Heh, don't get too happy, it is only a little bit!"
Qingque: "Hey, that tsundere tone really fits Dr. Ratio's persona."
Robin: "Mr. Aventurine is also an upright person. If possible, I really do not wish to become enemies with you."
Aventurine: "Enemies?"
Aventurine: "Ha, I wouldn't say enemies."
Aventurine: "At most, just opponents!"
Sunday: "Regrettably, Mr. Aventurine, I have never considered you an opponent."
Hu Tao: "Good lord, is Mr. Sunday nakedly insulting Aventurine?"
Sunday: "Not at all. My meaning is,"
Sunday: "I have never regarded anyone as an opponent, including Mr. Aventurine."
Sunday: "Everything I do is merely to practice the ideal within my heart."
Sunday: "It is not to plot against anyone."
Aventurine: "Sounds nice enough, but how do you explain your actions in the video?"
Sunday: "Regrettably, Mr. Aventurine, what you did stood in the way of the path to realizing my ideal!"
Sunday: "Therefore, I had to use some small means to kindly remove you."
Aventurine: "You call that small means?"
Aventurine: "I almost lost my life!"
Sunday: "Hehe, you won't die!"
Sunday: "I think Mr. Aventurine understood that point long ago, correct?"
Aventurine: "…"
Aventurine: "To be honest, I am genuinely curious, what exactly do you want to do?"
Sunday: "I said… simply to realize that sole ideal in my heart!"
Aventurine: "I suddenly feel that perhaps you are the real lunatic."
Aventurine: "Fine then, let me see just what your ideal is."
....