["What's with that look? Does March 7th look like this?" Stelle said irritably.]
["…My name is Firefly. I'm a performer from the Iris Family." Firefly gave a simple self-introduction.]
["Oh! So that's how it is. I was wondering — it hasn't been that long, but Miss March has changed quite a lot." Sampo laughed heartily. After introducing himself, he enthusiastically wanted to take the two of them to experience "adult entertainment."]
["…Adult entertainment?" Firefly didn't react for a moment.]
["Looks like I hit the mark? Come on, you two — let old Sampo show you the adult world properly!"]
——
KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!
"Ohhh, it's finally coming—!"
Beer foam was spilled all over the wooden table in the Adventurers Guild. Kazuma suddenly slammed the table with a bang and stood up, staring fixedly at Sampo's oily smile on the Celestial Screen.
"A-D-U-L-T E-N-T-E-R-T-A-I-N-M-E-N-T!"
Each syllable trembled as he spoke, his fingers squeezing the wooden mug handle until it creaked. "This is exactly the kind of dream you should have in a dream! As expected of Sampo, he really knows how to live! And he even remembered to call Stelle along for this kind of activity. What a great buddy from their Belobog days together!"
"Heh~"
Aqua covered her mouth and suddenly let out a long, cold laugh. Her slightly contemptuous gaze traveled up and down Kazuma: "You really… can only vent like this in dreams."
"T-This is critical appreciation!" Kazuma wiped the beer foam from the corner of his mouth. "As the leader, of course I need to understand the current state of Penacony's entertainment industry…"
But before he could finish, Sampo on the Celestial Screen added: "Don't worry, Miss Firefly. They are all projects that fully comply with public order and good morals!"
"…"
The heated atmosphere that had just ignited in the guild instantly dropped to freezing point.
"—D-Damn it!" With immense grief, Kazuma slammed the table again with a bang and roared: "Sampo, how does Stelle have such a decent friend like you!? This is too disappointing!"
——
[The three arrived at the lower level of Penacony's commercial district. Sampo also told the two their destination for this trip — "Peppy Peppy West's Salon."]
[Sampo was a regular here and wanted to take Stelle and Firefly inside to have some fun, but unfortunately entry to the salon required a VIP card. Stelle was unsurprisingly blocked outside.]
["What the hell?" Stelle looked at Sampo with dissatisfaction.]
["Don't panic, don't panic! Let old Sampo think of a way… Oh, got it!" Sampo had a sudden idea and asked the security guard brother from Peppy West to help fetch a few items: "The Moment of Choosing Betrayal," "The Dark Clouds of Doubt," and "Hatred Unto Death."]
[What these items were, Sampo kept it a secret for now. After the other party brought the items back, Sampo led them to a television set and said he wanted to show them something fun.]
[Sampo smiled as he shifted his gaze toward Stelle. "Hey, sis, wanna try touching it and see what happens?"]
["Are you trying to harm me?" Stelle stared at him warily.]
[Firefly also felt something was off and was about to stop her, but Sampo countered: "This is something from the Family. What could be wrong with it? But if you don't want to try, it's fine. I'll do it instead—"]
[The two looked at Stelle in unison — to be precise, three people — including the cool guy with the big nose and sunglasses who was shaking vigorously on the screen.]
[With no other choice, Stelle touched the television.]
[In a burst of dazzling white light…]
[Stelle disappeared. In her place, a cool guy with sunglasses only knee-high appeared on the ground and let out a very cool "Hmph."]
——
No Game No Life.
"…Ah."
Inside the inn in Elkia, Shiro slightly widened her red eyes and let out a small exclamation.
On the Celestial Screen, the Q-version anime chibi that Stelle had become was pacing back and forth. With short limbs and exaggerated sunglasses, its movements were jerky, just like a character in an old-school fighting game.
"Ohhh!" Sora's eyes widened excitedly. "This effect is amazing! This has completely surpassed motion-controlled games! Are they turning into chibis for fighting? Or adventure? It can't be an MMORPG, right?"
"Sampo… is a bad guy… has a scheme."
"You're overthinking it, Shiro." Sora ruffled his sister's hair and grinned. "What scheme could the Masked Fools have in Penacony? At most they prank others or themselves for fun, but they won't do anything too outrageous."
Sora rested his chin in thought: "Speaking of which, this Sampo always feels a bit off. Not only did he not recognize March 7th, he even called Stelle 'sis'? Did he call her that back in Belobog?"
——
[Sampo immediately couldn't hold it in anymore. The corners of his mouth twitched harder than an AK: "…Oh my god!"]
["Oh my god…" Firefly was also shocked. "How did you become like this?!"]
[Although Stelle could only make a very cool "Hmph," she could fortunately turn back through the television. Sampo asked her to clear the game inside, saying she could get a mysterious prize.]
[The game wasn't difficult. By the time Stelle turned back into human form, she was already holding a donut-shaped handcuff called — "Momentary Freedom."]
[This was the last material Sampo mentioned. The three went to Dr. Edward's place to experience the dreamscape Sampo had tried the night before — a personalized dream bubble customized with various emotional archetypes.]
[The things Sampo had the security guard fetch were just right for use here.]
[After the dream bubble was generated, Stelle and Firefly entered the dream together and arrived at a clinic in the lower level of Belobog.]
[The clinic was empty, with only a note on the table: Become the King of Trash, even if the trash bag has long been broken.]
["This advice feels so familiar…"]
[Sampo's voice sounded in the dream: "Don't mind these details — I say, you should go outside and take a look. Be careful not to get scared!"]
[Upon hearing this, Stelle walked out of the room. The streets of the lower level were filled with densely packed trash can… people.]
——
A Certain Scientific Railgun.
"Pfft—!!"
Shirai Kuroko sprayed all her red tea onto the dorm carpet. She desperately grabbed Misaka Mikoto's pajama sleeve, her shoulders shaking wildly.
"S-Sister-sama!" Kuroko's voice trembled with laughter. "Hahaha… Why do the trash cans have hands and feet? And there are gold, silver, and copper colors, hahaha… Sampo's dream is way too interesting, isn't it!?"
Misaka Mikoto's mouth was also twitching: "Could this be related to Stelle's subconscious? I remember back in Belobog, Stelle really liked rummaging through trash cans… Maybe in her subconscious she really wants to rule all the trash cans in Belobog?"
"Not sure, but this dreamscape unexpectedly has an epic feel to it."
Kuroko teleported in an instant. The next second her head was already resting on Mikoto's lap, rubbing against it enjoyably: "Sister-sama, how about we watch this tonight? It's way more fun than those boring third-rate movies~"
"It's fine."
Sparks of electricity flickered near Mikoto's bangs: "But only if you get off my lap first."