Chapter 340: Penacony Arc 『 Part Thirty-five』, The Bottomless Pit of the Penacony
「 "Sinking? You mean... the Dreamscape is collapsing?" March 7th's eyes widened in shock.
"The incident at the Reverie Hotel was merely a harbinger."
"…I see. That explains the dissonance in the Family's rhetoric." Welt lowered his head, lost in thought. "Should this news reach the outside world, the reputation of the Planet of Festivities would be ruined, regardless of the guests' actual safety. With the Charmony Festival approaching, they have no choice but to suppress the truth."
"As for the guests' safety… perhaps even that can no longer be guaranteed. Is the monster she encountered not the ultimate proof? Shall I provide another hint? It is a Memory Zone Meme…"
Black Swan offered a faint, enigmatic smile. "How could a Meme—a metaphor for death and murder—manifest in a dream the Family claims is 'perfectly safe'? In Penacony, everyone is capable of lying… perhaps even the Family themselves?" 」
「 ..... 」
〜One Punch Man World〜
"So, that Sunday fellow… as the Family's representative, he's actually well aware of the security crisis looming over Penacony?"
Inside the Hero Association Headquarters, Fubuki knit her brows slightly.
"To think he carries himself with such composure in public, acting as if nothing is amiss… is this the psychological fortitude required of the Family's elite?"
"Is that really so surprising? To be the face of the Family, one must be a one-in-a-million talent at the very least."
Tatsumaki leaned back languidly against the leather sofa.
"That guy looks like a schemer with depths flatterers couldn't fathom. Besides… I don't think he's just a figurehead. He's likely the one who truly holds the 'rudder' of the Family's power."
"Power… it feels strange hearing that word from you, Sister."
Fubuki gave a soft smile, feeling as though she had gained a little more insight into her sister today.
"Fubuki, I'm capable of more than just using esper abilities."
Tatsumaki huffed, looking up at the elegant, veiled woman on the celestial screen.
"Furthermore, this Black Swan is no saint either. That woman knows far too many secrets, and besides… the way she talks rubs me the wrong way."
"Rubs you the wrong way? Can that really be a reason to dismiss someone, Sister?"
Fubuki's eyes went wide.
"Of course! In fact, it's the most important reason!"
Tatsumaki narrowed her emerald eyes.
"Black Swan's allegiance is a total mystery. In an environment like Penacony, where multiple factions are precariously balanced, someone with overwhelming strength and ambiguous motives is the most dangerous of all. If she actually had some overt design on the Express Crew… I might actually feel a bit more at ease about her."
"Then, in your opinion, Sister, who is the safest person for the Express Crew to team up with right now?"
"Hmm… probably that woman named Acheron. Her strength—"
Tatsumaki subconsciously swallowed hard.
"I may not be a master of the blade, but I can tell she's leagues beyond the likes of Atomic Samurai. I wonder how she'd fare against KING at full power. She's a speed-type swordswoman, maybe even faster than Flashy Flash? …Regardless, she is formidable."
"Shouldn't they team up with Hotaru? That girl might not be entirely forthcoming, but she is at least incredibly sincere."
"Ab-so-lutely not!"
Tatsumaki shook her head violently, her expression turning stern.
"Feelings don't translate into combat power. That girl has a nice personality, sure, but she's a total weakling! She was useless when Stelle was fighting that monster; Stelle even had to go out of her way to protect her! She's nothing but dead weight! Fubuki, you of all people should know that in battle… a teammate so weak they become a liability is more dangerous than a powerful enemy. That girl will become Stelle's blind spot and her Achilles' heel. They must not travel together—for her own preservation, and for Stelle's safety."
—
「 "Miss Black Swan, we have a firm grasp of the situation. Returning to your initial proposal…" Himeko paused. "Might I ask what reason the Garden of Recollection has for choosing to cooperate with the Astral Express?"
"Mmm, allow me to clarify… this is a personal request of mine, not one on behalf of the Garden. The answer is simple, Miss Himeko. I merely wish to make an exchange… an exchange of Memories."
"Beyond my duties, I have certain… personal aesthetic pursuits. I am a Memokeeper, yes, but I am also a collector. I wish to witness those crystalline, radiant, and precious memories myself. Such a desire is easy to understand, is it not?"
Black Swan turned her gaze toward the members of the Express. "And you, the Nameless of the Astral Express, practitioners of the Path of The Trailblaze… I believe in your potential. I believe in the unique brilliance you will radiate upon this stage. That is why I wish to be your friend. A place where nightmares and beautiful dreams intersect… it is the perfect cradle for memories."
Himeko nodded, indicating that the crew would need to deliberate together before answering.
Once Black Swan had departed, Welt turned to Himeko. "…Himeko, what do you think?"
"Her words are not to be fully trusted; there was a fair amount of deliberate steering in her narrative." Himeko frowned slightly. "But I fear the worst-case scenario. If the anomalies in the Dreamscape truly exist, and if they aren't occurring naturally but are being orchestrated from behind the scenes…"
"Then it most likely pertains to 'The Watchmaker's Invitation'." 」
「 ..... 」
〜Frieren: Beyond Journey's End World〜
"If the Dreamscape suffers an anomaly, it wouldn't benefit anyone, would it?"
Zenze tilted her head, her eyes filled with confusion.
"If every faction is dragged into the Primordial Dreamscape, how many could truly emerge unscathed?"
Lernen lowered his head in contemplation.
"Could it be Aventurine? Is he manipulating all of this from the shadows?"
"Aventurine? I doubt it… would he even be capable of triggering a Dreamscape anomaly? Besides, he and Dr. Ratio are also within the dream. If everyone falls into the Primordial Dreamscape, could he even handle it? I admit he's a bold gambler, but that Meme doesn't seem like the type to understand human speech, let alone agree to a wager…"
To be honest, aside from being a bit flashy and having a certain aura, Zenze couldn't see what combat capability Mr. Aventurine actually possessed.
If it came down to a real fight, he'd probably be about the same as that defenseless Miss Hotaru, wouldn't he?
"True. One's life is a gambler's final stake for a comeback; they wouldn't wager it regardless of the odds. No matter how mad he is, he would never bet his own life."
Lernen nodded in agreement.
"…We can rule out the IPC for now."
"Lernen, who do you think is the most likely mastermind?"
"Hmm…"
Lernen pulled a notebook from his robes, filled with detailed information on the various factions he had compiled since the celestial screen appeared—a task strictly mandated by Lady Serie.
His finger slid slowly down the page, finally stopping at the entry for 『 Destruction 』.
"Duke Inferno has a scion—Akash. Do you remember?"
Lernen read aloud:
"'You shall play the banquet's tune upon four strings, and strike the choir of The 『 Harmony 』 into silence.' Those were the Duke's exact words. I suspect this individual may have already infiltrated Penacony in secret, acting as a weapon against The 『 Harmony 』, using his abilities to dismantle the dream from within."
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