"Allow me to reintroduce myself—I am the founder of Dreamscape Reef, the Watchmaker's deputy, and the sender of that invitation..."
"History Fictionologist Gallagher, at your service."
Within Dreamscape Reef, Gallagher's self-introduction echoed in the ears of everyone present, as well as every Player in the real world.
"Holy History Fictionologist! ! !"
"So everything you said before was just made-up history?"
In Little Bear's live stream on Bilibili, the revelation of Gallagher's identity left viewers utterly speechless.
Little Bear had speculated that Gallagher was either the mastermind behind Penacony's schemes or a model citizen, but never imagined he would turn out to be a History Fictionologist!
[ Holy History Fictionologist! So all that talk earlier was just made-up history? (facepalm) ]
[ Could this so-called "Watchmaker's Legacy" also be a fabrication by Gallagher? ]
[ Why is everyone so focused on Gallagher's identity? Am I the only one noticing Lumina and Herta interacting so closely again? ]
[Their actions are completely irrelevant. The sweet, sweet scent of love is so strong, I can practically smell it from the Third Dimension! (Covers face)]
[You're right, but this is Lumina and Herta we're talking about! I forgot what happened in the middle and at the end, but anyway... congratulations on your wedding! ! !]
[Congratulations on your wedding! ! !]
"Goddamn it, congratulations on your wedding!" Little Bear's lips twitched involuntarily as he watched the Comment Section smoothly transition from a brief discussion about Gallagher's identity as a History Fictionologist to a full-blown Lumina and Herta wedding celebration.
Haven't you Lumina-Herta shippers had enough?! If you have time to go wild here, why not hurry up and draw doujinshi of them?! ! !
Oh, you can't draw doujinshi...? Then write a novel! Just because you can't draw doujinshi doesn't mean you can't write a novel! ! !
A novel brimming with intricate details is just as good as a doujinshi!
Right, and after you finish writing it, remember to send me a copy...
Little Bear thought all this to himself, of course, never daring to voice these thoughts aloud. Instead, he silently hoped that one day in the Future, a romance novel with Lumina as the protagonist and Herta as the heroine would grace his eyes.
Given the immense popularity of these two characters, such a work was undoubtedly inevitable. As for when it would actually appear, that remained a mystery...
-
"You sneaky History Fictionologist! So everything you told us earlier was just made up, huh?" March 7th lowered her gaze, her face a picture of speechless exasperation.
"Don't worry, I can vouch for this much: every story I told you earlier was true... well, mostly true. Except for the part about the Family reaccepting me."
"So it was all a lie?!" March 7th's exasperation only deepened at this explanation.
"At least the part about Mr. Gallagher being thirteen years old is true," Lumina said with a smile, looking Gallagher up and down.
"Huh?!"
"You're really thirteen?!"
Hearing this, both March 7th and Stelle couldn't help but feel shocked, their eyes narrowed suspiciously as they scrutinized the History Fictionologist before them. The only thing remotely connecting him to the number thirteen seemed to be the "三" in his name—the character for "three."
This Gallagher looks more like a thirty-year-old man...
"Surprised? March 7th, Stelle."
"Could you not use such a nonchalant tone, while wearing that middle-aged man's face, to say such things to two beautiful girls?!"
Under March 7th and Stelle's suspicious gazes, Gallagher remained impassive, his expression and tone flat. Speaking with the detached air of a middle-aged man who had weathered great trials and grown indifferent to the world, he called them "sisters," sending goosebumps crawling across their skin.
"Um... sorry. I just wanted to assure you I wasn't lying," Gallagher apologized after a brief pause, realizing his actions had backfired.
"March, Stelle, Gallagher isn't lying. Well... at least the events concerning the Family, the Watchmaker, and Mikhail are all true," Himeko interjected. She made no mention of the "thirteen years old" claim.
After all, even Himeko found it hard to see Gallagher—who looked even older than Welt—as a thirteen-year-old child.
"Alright, stop obsessing over whether I'm really thirteen. If it bothers you, just pretend I'm a hundred and thirty."
"Makes no difference."
"I think there's a slight difference..." March 7th muttered under her breath. Despite all the explanations, she still couldn't quite bring herself to fully accept the idea of the thirteen-year-old Gallagher.
"Enough with this. We have plenty of time, but we shouldn't waste it on such trivialities."
Observing their expressions, Gallagher's voice carried the weary resignation of a middle-aged man who had weathered countless storms and now saw only darkness ahead. A hint of regret crept into his tone—he seemed to be wondering why he had told them the truth in the first place. If he had known this generation of Astral Express travelers would fixate on the matter, he would have simply claimed to be thirty years old.
"Mr. Gallagher is a product of the Imaginary. He has genuinely only lived for thirteen years, from birth to the present."
Seeing the conversation gradually drifting toward Herta's eccentric tangents, Lumina quickly interjected, halting the digression.
Turning to Gallagher, she asked, "Mr. Gallagher, you've gone to such great lengths to gather us all here. I imagine you have some crucial matter to address?"
Lumina's direct question yanked the conversation back to the core issue, finally easing the odd looks directed at Gallagher.
"Phew, thank you," Gallagher sighed in relief as the topic shifted. He offered Lumina a grateful nod before continuing, "I imagine you're all eager to know why I orchestrated this elaborate inheritance battle, invited so many factions, and stirred up such chaos across Penacony, aren't you?"
"The answer is quite simple—and one you're all likely very familiar with."
"The root of everything lies in... the Stellaron."