Hu Tao: "If he is Mikhail's grandson, then surely he must know exactly what the Watchmaker left for the Express crew."
Qingque: "Hear me out, what if…"
Qingque: "What if the gift Mikhail left for the Express is actually Little Misha himself?"
Stelle: "What do you mean?"
Stelle: "Like, we're supposed to look after his grandson for him?"
Stelle: "Well… if that's the case, we really can't say no."
March 7th: "Ah… well, he is the descendant of a senior, so taking care of him is only right."
March 7th: "But… is that really all he left for us?"
Dan Heng: "There will be more. Knowing the Nameless, they would certainly have left something behind."
....
『 [ Grandfather? ]
[ What does that mean? Could it be that you are a descendant of the Watchmaker? ]
March 7th asks, filled with suspicion.
[ But the stories we've heard thus far haven't mentioned the Watchmaker having any descendants. ]
[ And that name isn't exactly rare; it might just be a coincidence. ]
[ Little Misha, could you tell us more about this 'Grandfather Mikhail'? ]
Himeko does not believe Misha is the Watchmaker's descendant.
She suspects there is more to Misha's identity than this.
[ Um, of course. ]
[ Mikhail was a navigator; no sea was too mysterious, no storm too treacherous for him. ]
[ He was always away, traveling with many friends. ]
[ Mikhail didn't like people calling him 'Grandfather.' He said it made him sound old, and he was still young. ]
[ Mikhail was the name his parents gave him—Mihaly and Elise, both renowned seafarers.
[ Every time he came back, he'd share his logbook with me and tell me about his adventures at sea. I want to become a great adventurer just like him. ]
Misha begins to recount the story of Grandfather Mikhail. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "What's going on?"
March 7th: "This 'Grandfather Mikhail' of his doesn't seem to have anything to do with the Watchmaker at all?"
Stelle: "No way?"
Stelle: "Could it really be just the same name?"
Stelle: "But that's too much of a coincidence, isn't it?"
Furina de Fontaine: "I don't believe in coincidences. There must be some misunderstanding here."
Furina de Fontaine: "Perhaps Little Misha's memories were tampered with by Mikhail."
Furina de Fontaine: "In Little Misha's memories, his grandfather isn't the legendary Watchmaker, but a navigator?"
Hu Tao: "Hmm, Lady Furina's theory is quite sound."
Hu Tao: "I think it's highly probable!"
Stelle: "That makes sense."
Stelle: "I just wonder if Misha can recover his true memories?"
Stelle: "If he can't, wouldn't our inheritance be gone for good?"
....
『 [ Doesn't sound like it has anything to do with the Watchmaker. Just a coincidence, then? ]
[ So, where is that grandfather of yours now? ]
March 7th presses further.
[ He set off on a new journey. We haven't seen him in a long time. ]
[ Come to think of it, where did Clockie go… is he off protecting the Dreamville? ]
Misha mutters to himself, then leads the group toward the rooms on either side to take a look.
[ A faint sound in the room… Origami Birds? ]
[ That's a friend of mine. ]
After entering the toy room, Misha hears the chirping of the Origami Birds.
[ Are you friends with the Origami Birds too? ]
March 7th asks curiously.
[ Yes, just like Clockie and Ms. Mirror, they are crew members of the Compass. ]
[ There's not just one Origami Bird! ]
[ They're a big family with many brothers and sisters who look exactly alike. ]
[ They follow Ms. Mirror's orders, handling various tasks on the ship. They're the best sailors. ]
Hearing March 7th's question, Misha explains with great enthusiasm.
[ Sailors? Do the Origami Birds have a backstory like that… ]
Hearing this, March 7th cannot help but scratch her head.
[ Little Misha, could you tell us more about the Compass? ]
Himeko is quite interested in the Compass that Misha mentions.
[ The Compass is a ship bound for the New World! ]
[ It guides Clockie and his friends through layers of fog, sailing into the depths of the sea. ]
[ Whenever there's danger, Clockie operates the compass to guide everyone in the right direction! ]
Misha recounts the gist of the story for Himeko.
[ That's quite a tale. ]
[ However, in the Penacony animations, Clockie and his friends have always lived in Dreamville, and it seems they have never left. ]
Himeko raises her doubt.
[ Huh, I suppose that is true. ]
[ Strange, but I clearly remember… that Clockie finally arrived at the New World… ]
Misha looks perplexed.
[ Perhaps Clockie has a past we know nothing about. ]
Himeko remarks. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Nahida: "Misha's story of Clockie is different from the mainstream version in Penacony."
Nahida: "Is there some hidden meaning here?"
Lumine: "Clockie… is a cartoon character Mikhail created based on himself…"
Lumine: "Perhaps… Clockie's story is actually his own experience?"
Himeko: "That must be it."
Himeko: "Even when turned into a fairy tale, you can still see the shadows of reality."
Stelle: "Then the plot Misha is talking about is very much up for debate."
....
『 [ I think I hear the sound of water… ]
Suddenly, Misha seems to hear the rushing sound of water.
This makes him quite curious.
[ I remember Stelle saying there was a spectacular fountain ahead. ]
March 7th, guess the source of the sound.
Immediately, the group begins to walk toward where the sound is coming from.
[ Look, it's right here. ]
After arriving at the massive fountain, March 7th is filled with excitement.
[ The pool water is like a gemstone, embedded in the dreams of all who set sail. ]
[ In every wandering day, gazing at the light beneath the waves, I feel as if I have returned here, returned to your side… ]
Gazing at this fountain, Misha's expression gradually becomes complex.
He cannot help but recite lines of poetry.
[ Misha, have you remembered something else? ]
Seeing Misha like this, Himeko quickly asks.
[ These are words Mikhail wrote in his navigation log. ]
[ Grandfather said that although sailing meant facing many dangers, whenever he stood on the deck in the afternoon, gazing at the shimmering light on the sea, he would always think of this fountain at home. ]
[ He often said that, at that moment, it felt like returning to his family's side, and no matter how bitter life at sea was, it never felt too hard to endure. ]
Misha explains to the group.
[ Sigh, I can certainly understand that sentiment… ]
March 7th sighs along with him.
[ Don't sigh, you'll get gray hairs… ]
Stelle, seeing March 7th like this, cannot help but tease her.
[ Wh-where? Stop it! ]
[ I'm just speaking from the heart! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Paimon: "Is Miss March 7th afraid of gray hair?"
Paimon: "But what's wrong with gray hair?"
Lumine: "Because gray hair probably doesn't go well with Miss March 7th's pink hair."
Lumine: "Don't assume that just because you have white hair, everyone thinks it's a good look."
Paimon: "That's true too!"
Paimon: "For instance, if I were to grow black hair, I'd be quite distressed."
Stelle: "Doesn't matter, with March's hair color, you wouldn't even notice a few gray hairs."
March 7th: "Hmph, I am naturally gifted, it is impossible for me to grow gray hair!!"
....
『 [ Perhaps every adventurer far from home has such a fountain in their heart. ]
[ Even if the other side of the sea is full of the unknown. ]
[ The fountain at home is Grandfather's compass, always able to lead him back to the loved ones he misses. ]
Himeko sighs with emotion.
[ Yes, when Mikhail was home, we would stand by the fountain and set the Compass—the toy ship I made myself—into the pool! ]
[ Back then, I would ask him when I could embark on an adventure just like him. ]
[ Mikhail would always smile and say that a child is still too young. ]
Misha recalls the distant past.
[ Looking at it this way, this Mikhail really was a navigator, and has nothing to do with the Watchmaker we know. ]
By now, March 7th is clear that the Mikhail Misha speaks of is not the Watchmaker they are looking for.
[ Yes, judging by Misha's description, the scenes in the dream bubbles are all memories from his childhood. ]
Himeko nods, but feels a bit confused.
[ But this just adds more to the mystery. ]
[ According to Little Misha, he is clearly a child born on an ocean planet, living an ordinary life, and has absolutely nothing to do with Penacony… ]
[ Could this be some kind of metaphor? ]
[ Does the 'sea' refer to the Memory Zone? ]
March 7th guesses are uncertain.
[ I'm sorry, I don't know either. ]
[ But the memories are welling up uncontrollably, like the water in the fountain… ]
[ Perhaps… perhaps if we keep walking, I can remember more… ]
Drawn by the memories in his mind, Misha begins to lead the group forward.
[ We're going to the other side, right? ]
Arriving at an intersection, March 7th asks.
[ No, we should go left here… ]
Misha shakes his head and leads the group to the left.
[ Huh, does the path feel different? ]
Walking on the maze-like path, March 7th, is surprised.
[ This is it, I remember this corridor. ]
[ Ahead is… Mikhail's study. ]
[ The last time I saw Grandfather, it was there. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Seeing Misha so familiar with the place."
Stelle: "Clearly, he spent quite some time here!"
March 7th: "For sure."
March 7th: "But I wonder, how did a child like him survive here?"
March 7th: "I remember this place being crawling with frenzied Memory Zone Memes, after all."
Qingque: "Did you all forget?"
Qingque: "Misha is a good friend of Sleepie."
Qingque: "No matter how strong those Memory Zone Memes are, can they be stronger than Sleepie?"
Li Sushang: "Are you saying that when Misha encounters Memory Zone Memes, he summons Sleepie to beat them up?"
Guinaifen: "Haha, that's actually quite possible."
Stelle: "So, is Sleepie a traitor to the Memory Zone Meme clan?"
Stelle: "Sigh, why must memes make things difficult for other memes…"
Furina de Fontaine: "Speaking of which, we're about to reach Mikhail's study."
Furina de Fontaine: "Do you think we'll find the truth here?"
Hu Tao: "I have a feeling, we definitely will!"
Hu Tao: "In the study, there must be a wealth of clues left behind."
Collei: "Maybe Mikhail left an entire diary in the study?"
Collei: "If so, we'd surely know his origins then…"
....
『 [ The atmosphere in this room is so different. ]
Upon arriving at the study, March 7th feels that the atmosphere here is a bit strange.
[ Misha, you've finally come! ]
Suddenly, Clockie's voice rings out.
[ Clockie, so you're here. ]
[ Yes, it seems our first meeting was also in this room… ]
Misha looks at Clockie and seems to recall something else.
[ Are these walls lined with books, the logs left by that navigator, Mikhail? ]
Himeko scans the bookshelves filled to the brim and asks curiously.
[ Every time Mikhail returned from the sea, he would place a navigation log on the bookshelf in this room. ]
[ This is a record of his exploration of every corner of the world. ]
[ He said our world is like that fountain—at some point, the seawater began to swallow everything. ]
[ To give everyone a place to settle, Mikhail had to keep sailing to find the source of the water. ]
[ That day, he called me into the study and said he was going to sea as usual. ]
[ But I could tell that Grandfather's expression was very serious. I saw the same expression on my father's face before his last voyage. ]
[ I begged him to take me along, but he said my adventure was not here, and told me to stay home and wait patiently for the voice outside the door. ]
Speaking to this point, Misha pauses slightly.
[ What voice? ]
March 7th, hurriedly asks, full of curiosity.
[ Mikhail said there is a vaster ocean above—the ocean of stars. ]
[ There is a train carrying children who want to go far away, crossing the sea of stars without end. ]
[ He knows the people on that train, and he will ask them to take me with them. The journey I've always dreamed of… will start here. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "???"
Stelle: "What did he say?"
Stelle: "A train?!"
Stelle: "Could it be that he is…!!"
March 7th: "Mikhail!"
March 7th: "Misha is Mikhail!!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Although we guessed this possibility before, no one took it seriously."
Furina de Fontaine: "After all, Misha looks more like Mikhail's descendant."
Furina de Fontaine: "But I didn't expect… he is Mikhail himself."
Furina de Fontaine: "Or rather, he is Mikhail as a child?"
Hu Tao: "But… isn't Mikhail dead?"
Hu Tao: "In what form does Misha exist?"
Gallagher: "Heh, this old man really knows how to play these riddles."
Gallagher: "It's been hard on him, indeed…"
....