『 After verifying that this doll was indeed just an ordinary doll, Stelle received another notification from the group chat.
⚠︎, 1111111
" /Boothill: Dadgum Wubbaboo! I give up "
" /Argenti: What is the matter, silver cowboy? "
" /Boothill: I found 217. "
" /Boothill: Talking dolls. "
" /Boothill: (Sparkle_Doll_Image.jpg)~ "
" /Boothill: Haha "
" /Black Swan: Haha "
" /March 7th: Haha "
" /Boothill: And that was with the Bloodhounds and that plaster-head dude helping me. "
" /Boothill: If we were looking for them on our own, how long would this have taken? "
" /Welt Yang: Unfortunately… given the habits of that Fool, I fear we have no choice but to continue eliminating the incorrect answers. "
" /Argenti: Do not lose heart—may Beauty guide us! " 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "?"
Stelle: "What is everyone laughing at?"
Stelle: "Why does it feel like everyone in this group chat is losing their minds?"
Stelle: "It's like they've all been infected by a virus."
Boothill: "Son of a Nice Lady, maybe it's because this doll is actually really hilarious?"
Boothill: "The way this doll bobs its head and talks is just so fudging ridiculous."
March 7th: "Two hundred and seventeen talking dolls?"
March 7th: "Hanabi, didn't you say you were too lazy to make that many talking ones?"
Hanabi: "That's right~"
Hanabi: "I was too lazy to do it, but I never said I didn't do it."
Hanabi: "Besides, Hanabi-sama has a whole bunch of loyal fans to help her out!"
Hanabi: "With helpers, it's naturally not that much of a hassle~"
Hu Tao: "Then I suppose Miss Stelle's doll was an exception."
Hu Tao: "It seems the majority of them still talk."
Furina de Fontaine: "Come to think of it, everyone is being quite efficient, aren't they?"
Furina de Fontaine: "They've already found over three hundred in just this short amount of time."
Qingque: "We have no choice. If we don't race against the clock, we might all go sky-high in a bit."
Qingque: "Don't be fooled by the three hundred we found; we're still a long way off from nine hundred and ninety-nine!"
Stelle: "Stay calm. There are many of us, so we'll definitely find them!"
....
『 Stelle put down her phone and began to search for the third doll.
A moment later, on a sofa in the lobby, she found the next Hanabi doll!
[ Heh, we meet again, Miss Stelle. I am Penacony's famous detective. ]
[ What kind of trouble have you run into? I'm more than happy to help, but unfortunately, I'm preoccupied with a couple of unsolved cases... So, you'll have to wait for your turn. ]
Obviously, this Hanabi Furmur doll could talk!
[ I need you to help me find a bomb. ]
Stelle scratched her head and spoke to the doll in front of her.
[ Bomb? Drat... It completely slipped my mind: Dr. Boom specializes in explosives! ]
[ I need your help, Miss Stelle. ]
[ You've had quite a few run-ins with Dr. Boom, and with the recent bomb situation, you're bound to find evidence that proves Dr. Boom is the killer. ]
[ The first case is the SoulGlad Factory Arson. ]
[ At the scene, we discovered a sledgehammer, a doll, and about half a liter of an unidentified liquid residue. ]
[ The lab tests just came back, indicating it was a red herring. ]
[ The second case is the Blue Hour Auction House Robbery. ]
[ A gang of masked thugs burst into the venue, stole fragments of the Astral Express, and left behind a sledgehammer, a doll, and a half-dead red herring. ]
[ That is the entirety of the case. ]
[ The way I see it, there must be a link between these two cases that will be key to exposing Dr. Boom. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Wasn't I looking for a bomb?"
Stelle: "Where is this taking me?"
Stelle: "I'M HERE TO FIND A BOMB, NOT TO SOLVE CRIMES!!"
Stelle: "By the way, is there really a red herring?"
Stelle: "What does it look like?"
Qingque: "What's with this hundred-and-eighty-degree turn?"
Qingque: "Aren't we discussing bombs?"
Qingque: "Why are we suddenly pondering red herrings?"
Silver Wolf: "To be fair, isn't a red herring just a herring that's red?"
Silver Wolf: "Color a normal herring, and you get a red herring."
Stelle: "Oh, so that's how it is!"
Stelle: "So what does it actually look like?"
March 7th: "Hey, is this really the time to be discussing red herrings?"
Paimon: "Uh… maybe it is."
Paimon: "Because there are red herrings in both of these cases!"
Paimon: "The red herring is the key to exposing Dr. Boom!"
Lumine: "So, who is Dr. Boom?"
Lumine: "Is it Miss Hanabi?"
Lumine: "Never mind, that's not important."
Lumine: "I think the sledgehammer is the key to exposing Dr. Boom."
Hu Tao: "But there were dolls at both scenes, too, right?"
Hu Tao: "The dolls are very suspicious as well!"
Furina de Fontaine: "I've got it!"
Furina de Fontaine: "All three of these are the keys to exposing Dr. Boom!"
Hotaru: "Ahem, with all due respect, everyone seems to have been led astray by the doll…"
Hotaru: "We are actually here to find the bomb…"
Stelle: "Oh no, this doll of Hanabi's is toxic!"
Stelle: "It makes you involuntarily start thinking about these absurd questions!"
Li Sushang: "So, did Dr. Boom actually commit these two crimes or not?"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "…."
....
『 [ I trust in your deduction. Which piece of evidence do you think is the deciding one? ]
The detective Hanabi doll provided all the details and began to question Stelle.
[ … ]
[ It's you, the person who has been to both crime scenes! ]
Stelle pondered for a moment, and a sharp gleam suddenly flashed in her eyes!
Then, she delivered her answer!
[ Ding-dong, ding-dong—correct answer! ]
[ As expected of the Little Gray Hair, you've got a pretty sharp brain~ ]
[ For working so hard, I'll let you in on a little secret. ]
[ The bomb isn't here. All that's here is my carefully prepared prank—time is running out, so hurry up and find the real bomb~ ]
The doll's voice abruptly cut off, leaving behind only buzzing, chaotic static. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Oh!"
Stelle: "As expected of me!"
Stelle: "I actually figured out the correct answer in an instant!"
Paimon: "Uh… so that was the answer…"
Paimon: "Those three choices were just a smoke screen."
Furina de Fontaine: "Curse it, I really got led astray!"
March 7th: "I have to say, it really was a carefully prepared prank."
March 7th: "By the way, this doll is basically just a walkie-talkie, right?"
March 7th: "You could tell from the voice just now, the one speaking was clearly Hanabi herself!"
Hu Tao: "Unfortunately, this one isn't the bomb either."
Hu Tao: "Where on earth is the real bomb?"
....
『 The phone vibrated again, and Stelle quickly picked it up to check.
⚠︎, 1111111
" /Argenti: My friends, I bring unfortunate news. "
" /Topaz: Tell us about it "
" /Argenti: This trial of Beauty is particularly perilous. "
" /Argenti: I found 145 adorable dolls, but mistakenly believed them to be the Fool's bombs. "
" /March 7th: Is this really not a trial of Elation… "
" /Argenti: In any case, please remain patient. "
" /Argenti: I have a premonition that as long as our virtue of patience wins over Idrila, the problem will be resolved. "
" /Himeko: Mr. Argenti is right. Everyone, do not let your guard down! " 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Navia Caspar: "Another hundred or so dolls eliminated…"
Navia Caspar: "Added together, that's already five hundred."
Navia Caspar: "And still no sign of the bomb?"
Charlotte: "Since it's a bomb, it must be placed in a more hidden location."
Charlotte: "It couldn't possibly be this easy to find!"
Lumine: "It doesn't seem like a big deal. In just this short time, everyone has already found half of them!"
Lumine: "I feel like in another short while, we'll have found them all."
Paimon: "Uh… Miss Hanabi didn't make this simple on purpose just to liven up the atmosphere, did she?"
Qingque: "Well, this way of livening up the atmosphere is certainly hardcore!"
Hanabi: "Thrilling, isn't it?"
Hanabi: "Hanabi-sama's games are always this fun~"
Sampo Koski: "You call this thrilling?"
Sampo Koski: "This is clearly terrifying!"
Sampo Koski: "Even old Sampo here is getting goosebumps watching this!"
Hanabi: "Beat it, Sampo. Who are you trying to fool?"
Hanabi: "Don't I know your true colors?"
Hanabi: "Keep playing dumb, and next time I'll put a neutron bomb right on your pillow!"
Sampo Koski: "Don't!!"
Sampo Koski: "I'll shut up, alright!"
Hanabi: "Hmph, that's more like it."
Stelle: "Tsk tsk tsk, as a fellow Fool, Sampo, you're really slacking!"
....
『 Stelle began to follow the map's instructions without pause, searching for the fourth doll.
Soon, she discovered the fourth doll on a table.
[ Hello, dear actor. ]
[ You can call me the Director Doll. This is the credit I usually use at the end of a film. ]
[ You might not know this, but I am actually the one who directed this entire farce in Penacony. ]
[ As the female lead of the play, what are your thoughts right now? ]
[ Feel free to speak your mind… ]
[ …Well, actually, according to the script, you can only say one sentence right now, so please try your best to restrain your urge to speak freely. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Only one sentence?"
Stelle: "What kind of interview is this?"
Hanabi: "I told you, it's what the script requires~"
Hanabi: "You have to restrain yourself, Little Gray Hair~"
Stelle: "I refuse. I'm going to say whatever I want!"
March 7th: "No… Hanabi, why does this doll of yours have so much drama?"
March 7th: "Is there literally every profession available?"
March 7th: "It's a waste of talent for you not to be an actress!"
Yunli: "Is it possible that she is already an actress?"
Yunli: "Did you forget her previous disguises?"
March 7th: "Ah…"
March 7th: "Oh right, Hanabi does seem to be an actress…"
March 7th: "Then she really is… something else…"
Hu Tao: "Unbelievable. Someone actually went through all the trouble, just for a bit of fun, to create so many dolls with such distinct personalities and various professions!"
Hu Tao: "Seriously, with that kind of time, isn't there anything better to do?"
Lumine: "But her profession is a Fool, and she follows the Path of Elation."
Lumine: "Isn't this exactly what she's supposed to be doing?"
Hanabi: "Not bad, not bad. It seems you've already grasped the basic nature of a Fool."
Hanabi: "Exactly. As an Emanator of Elation, if I don't look for fun, what else am I supposed to do?"
Hanabi: "Am I supposed to wait for fun to find me?"
Hanabi: "How long would that even take?"
Paimon: "Unable to refute…"
....
『 [ You're the director? ]
[ Then what about Acheron's action scene escaping the Family's pursuit? ]
Stelle stared at the Director Doll in front of her and asked out of the blue.
[ Acheron? Who's that? ]
[ Since you've finished asking, and I've answered… ]
[ Then, as required by the script, I will tell you the fact that there is no bomb here at all, making you regret wasting half your day listening to my nonsense, and then we shall part ways. ]
[ But don't be sad! ]
[ I've also prepared a wonderful gift for you—a Dream Bubble—recording a life-and-death chase between myself and a beautiful Memokeeper! ]
[ If you haven't seen it yet, hurry up and find Dr. Edward. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Qingque: "Acheron's action scene escaping the Family's pursuit?"
Qingque: "Stelle, I didn't expect you to still be thinking about that."
Silver Wolf: "It seems you were very disappointed that the Dreammaster and Acheron didn't end up fighting."
Stelle: "What?"
Stelle: "Aren't you guys interested?"
Stelle: "That scene would definitely have been mind-blowing, right?"
Acheron: "…."
Acheron: "I can only say, this is not a movie."
Acheron: "The scene might be entirely different from what you imagine."
Hu Tao: "With one slash from Miss Acheron, the Family's people would all be finished."
Hu Tao: "What's so exciting about that?"
Hu Tao: "If anything, it would be much more exciting to watch Mr. Boothill being pursued by the Family and then calmly escaping from the midst of an army."
Hu Tao: "After all, at least both sides would be evenly matched!"
Boothill: "Son of a Nice… for a moment, I can't tell if you're subtly calling me weak, or saying my martial skills are superb?"
Qingque: "She's saying you're more professional at performing action scenes."
Stelle: "Coming back to the topic…"
Stelle: "Director Hanabi, do you really think it's okay for your doll to be this perfunctory?"
Stelle: "I ask you a question, and you just answer me with 'Who's that??' and that's it?"
Stelle: "Are you treating me like an idiot?"
Hanabi: "Oh dear, Little Gray Hair, you shouldn't call yourself an idiot~"
Hanabi: "You're not stupid, not stupid at all… hehe, as if~"
Stelle: "Curse it… THIS IS PURE GRAY-HAIR DISCRIMINATION!!"
March 7th: "How about you dye your hair pink too?"
Stelle: "No way, that doesn't fit my style!"
Asta: "For some reason, this conversation is getting more and more derailed."
Guinaifen: "We can't help it. The dolls Miss Hanabi made are just too abstract."
Guinaifen: "It's really hard to keep a straight face..."
....
『 After this, Director Doll finished speaking, it actually did something unusual and stood up, gave Stelle a deep, affectionate bow, and blew her a kiss.
Then, under Stelle's dumbfounded expression, it jumped off the table and skipped away. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Whoa, this doll is high-tech!"
Stelle: "It can actually stand up and run away?"
Stelle: "How did you do that?"
March 7th: "What kind of bizarre doll is this?"
March 7th: "IT'S PRACTICALLY AS ABSTRACT AS THAT PILE OF TRASH CANS IN THE DREAM BUBBLE FROM BEFORE!!"
Hanabi: "Hehe, interesting, right~"
Hanabi: "Do you like it?"
Paimon: "Mm-hmm, I like it!"
Paimon: "The doll is so cute, I really want one!"
Hanabi: "Hehe, that's easy."
Hanabi: "Contact me later, and I'll send you one for free~"
Lumine: "Uh… there won't be an Imaginary Neutron Bomb hidden inside, will there?"
Lumine: "I wouldn't dare accept it, absolutely not!"
Amber: "Seeing these dolls, I'm starting to lose track of whether Miss Hanabi is playing a prank, or if she really wants to blow up Penacony…"
Amber: "It's just… too abstract."
....
(Hanabi being an Emanator is just the author's headcanon 2 years ago, and I'm leaning into that idea too. It could be either Hanabi or Sampo as the Emanator of Elation, or maybe both of them. Especially when the Improv Tour Trailer: "Beginner's Guide" (@2:20) releases, there are four silhouettes—Hanabi, Sampo, Giovanni, and an unnamed woman (possibly Zero?)—shown before Silver Wolf, where Silver Wolf is confirmed as an Emanator of Elation in v4. )