"Hmm..."
"Since March and the others are already back on the Train, let's save the farewell surprise for when we reach the Luofu."
After leaving Dreamscape Reef and snapping out of the Sweet Dream, Lumina found herself back in her room at The Reverie Hotel. She first sensed the conditions aboard the Astral Express, then decided to save her goodbyes for when they reached the Luofu.
Lumina searched the room for her room card, quickly tidied up, and restored the room to its original state before she had entered. She then pushed open the door, ready to head to the lobby to check out.
"Hmm? Why... isn't there a single staff member here?"
Upon reaching the lobby of The Reverie Hotel, Lumina immediately noticed something strange.
Although it wasn't peak hours and this was typically the slowest time of day, it was still odd that all the staff were on break, leaving the lobby completely deserted.
Wait... no, there's one left.
From a distance, Lumina spotted a familiar gray-haired figure behind the front desk. Her lips twitched, and a dawning realization settled in.
Lumina had only a faint recollection of this storyline, nothing concrete. She knew it was a side quest she hadn't paid much attention to.
Shaking her head, she dismissed the thought. Lumina gripped the room card between her fingertips and walked over.
Whether it was Lumina's presence or something else entirely, just as she approached Stelle, Stelle suddenly grabbed the SoulGlad bottle from the table and began gulping it down in large mouthfuls.
Perhaps another episode was coming on, as Stelle drained the entire bottle in one go.
Her face gradually contorted into a grimace, and she clutched her stomach, looking visibly uncomfortable.
Seeing this, Lumina quickened her pace, eager to check on her condition.
Gag...
But the very next moment, just as Lumina was about to reach her, Stelle suddenly doubled over, vomiting a stream of rainbow-colored bile.
Lumina: ...
Seeing this, the corner of Lumina's mouth twitched again.
Nevertheless, she hurried over and quickly examined Stelle's condition.
-
It was clear that after examining Stelle's body and finding she had simply drunk too much, Lumina's lips twitched uncontrollably.
What a talent...
Lumina struggled to find the right words to describe Stelle's behavior. After a moment's thought, she finally settled on a fitting term.
She knew people who drank so much they vomited, and even those who drank water until they threw up, but this was the first time she'd ever seen someone throw up from being too full...
And considering Stelle's superhuman constitution, just how much had she drunk?
No need to dwell on it further. She's a Stellaron Spirit, after all. A little exuberance is to be expected. Though still astonished and amazed, Lumina had grown somewhat accustomed to such eccentricities.
A faint green light emanated from her palm as she performed a quick healing spell. Then, turning to Stelle, who was gradually recovering, she asked:
"Stelle, why did you drink so much SoulGlad?"
"Ah, Sister Lumina!" Once fully recovered, Stelle immediately reverted to her usual arrogant demeanor as Lobby Manager.
But the moment Stelle heard that familiar, gentle voice and saw the familiar face before her, her arrogant demeanor vanished instantly.
Like a child who had found their mother, a wave of pure joy flooded her face.
Yet in the next moment, realizing her current behavior, Stelle wore an expression as awkward as someone caught doing something naughty by their mother.
This awkwardness, however, lasted only a brief moment. Stelle quickly reverted to her earlier joyful demeanor, her face shifting several times within a single second. It was unclear who she had learned this from, but she seemed to have mastered the art of facial mimicry.
"It's just... so boring," Stelle stammered, scratching the back of her head and offering a sheepish grin in response to Lumina's earlier question.
Hearing this, Lumina nodded slightly without pressing further. Glancing around curiously, she asked, "Stelle, where is everyone else? Why are you the only one here?"
"I gave them all the day off!" Stelle declared proudly, hands on her hips.
"Um..." Lumina's face flickered with exasperation. After a moment of speechless hesitation, she asked, "What about you? What's your role here?"
"I'm the Lobby Manager of The Reverie Hotel now! Everything here goes by my word!" Stelle boasted, her pride swelling again.
Lumina: ...This hotel is doomed.
Hearing Stelle's current position, Lumina silently assessed The Reverie Hotel's future prospects.
Putting Stelle in charge? The Reverie Hotel, you've got some serious guts! (Thumbs up.jpg)
"I see. Then can you check me out, please?" Though Lumina was mentally roasting Stelle, she maintained a polite smile, nodded, and handed over her room card.
"Sure thing!"
Energized by Sister Lumina's request, Stelle grabbed the card, slapped it on the desk, and began furiously tapping the screen.
Tapping...
Tapping...
Tapping...
Tapping...
Lumina: "?"
Seeing the Stellaron Spirit's every move, Lumina seemed to understand something anew.
Well, she hadn't really expected this Stellaron Spirit to actually complete the checkout process.
So, just how big were the egos of the Reverie Hotel's executives, daring to leave a Stellaron Spirit alone at the front desk to handle procedures?
Lumina mentally scoffed once more, but her outward demeanor remained unchanged: a warm smile plastered across her face as she waited, refraining from correcting Stelle's actions.
Because Lumina herself had no idea how to check out...
Better to let Stelle embarrass herself alone than both of them making a fool of themselves.
Though, honestly, there wasn't even much embarrassment to be had.
"Oh? Miss Lumina, and... Stelle?"
Just as Lumina's thoughts faded, a familiar female voice rang out from behind.
Lumina and Stelle both turned to see Topaz and Aventurine from the Interastral Peace Corporation approaching, waving in greeting.
"Director Topaz, Mr. Aventurine, it's good to see you again," Lumina said.
"Hello to you both," Stelle added.
Seeing the newcomers, Stelle's mind seemed to shift. Her fingers, which had been tapping incessantly on the screen, instantly withdrew, and her expression became noticeably more serious, as if she had been possessed by the daughter of some great family.
"Hmm... what seems to be the trouble here?" Topaz glanced at the room key on the table, then at the remarkably composed Stelle, recalling how the pair had been here all day.
"Well, there's been a slight... complication," Lumina replied with a smile, turning her gaze to Stelle.
"Stelle has earned the Family's favor and been appointed Lobby Manager of The Reverie Hotel."
"And the very moment she assumed her new position, to demonstrate her leadership flair, she granted all the hotel staff a day off."
"Oho... Partner, it seems you have a natural talent for leadership," Aventurine remarked, a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips as he shot a surprised glance at Stelle.
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Stelle immediately straightened her back, puffed out her chest, and tilted her head with a proud air. Aventurine's words had clearly filled her with immense pride.
Did she actually think Aventurine was complimenting her?
Watching Stelle's demeanor, Lumina sighed inwardly.
It was like the feeling a weary mother gets when she returns home after a long day, only to find her eccentric daughter perched on the sofa, nose in the air, hands on her hips, and her sanity instantly slipping away.
"Is the Astral Express really that strapped for cash these days?" Aventurine asked, his smile unwavering despite Stelle's complete misunderstanding of his meaning and her proud acceptance of his "compliment." "To the point where the Trailblazer has to take on two jobs at once?"
"Oh~ I get it now," Topaz interjected before Stelle could respond. "Has the journey been too bumpy lately? Are you just trying to experience the joys of a desk job?"
"If that's the case, you should have said so sooner! The Strategic Investment Department is currently recruiting talents from across the Cosmos. Just come over here, and I'll get you a project manager position right away!"
"With your qualifications, we can start you at P30 right away. You'd immediately join Pierpoint's headquarters, with lodging, three meals a day, afternoon tea, midnight snacks, and all travel expenses covered by the company."
"Your daily routine would be simple: sit in your office, sip tea, play games, chat with your subordinates, and dangle carrots—it's a breeze. What do you say? Want to give it a try?"
Topaz's words made Stelle waver inwardly.
Isn't this exactly the kind of ideal life Sunday envisioned? I never imagined it could become reality, even in a dream...
"What's the salary?" Whether genuine or feigned, Stelle's eyes glittered, as if she'd jump ship on the spot if the salary met her expectations.
Of course, this was all a charade. Otherwise, the screen would have faded to black, followed by the words: May this journey ultimately reach the stars.
"Salary is a minor detail. Rather than focus on that minor issue, shouldn't you consult Miss Himeko first?"
Seeing Stelle's apparent interest, Topaz was slightly surprised. She waved her hand dismissively, abruptly changing the subject.
Although Topaz wasn't lying—she genuinely intended to recruit Stelle—her unreliable demeanor made Aventurine retract his offer for now.
"Partner, see? Director Topaz was just joking. She has no real intention of bringing you into the Strategic Investment Department."
"But I'm different."
Aventurine glanced at Topaz before stepping directly on her face, continuing her line of thought.
"Work for me, and you'll start at the P35 level. Plus, all the resources at my disposal are yours to command, whenever you want. What do you say?"
"Oh, and a little reminder: I'm not like Director Topaz, all talk and no action."
"If you nod, I'll arrange your onboarding right now."
Aventurine laid out an even better offer for Stelle.
"Heh heh heh... So, Director Aventurine wants to steal my recruit right in front of me?" Topaz bristled at Aventurine's words, planting her hands on her hips, her expression sharp with challenge.
"..."
"..."
As Topaz's challenge hung in the air, the two directors of the Strategic Investment Department devolved into a childish squabble, bickering like children playing house.
"Stop."
"Miss Lumina, you're right," they said in unison.
The argument had been raging for some time, seemingly without end. If they continued trading insults, every scandalous secret between them would surely be exposed.
Fortunately, Lumina's soft interjection was like a bucket of cold water splashed on their heads, instantly calming them down. They adopted the deferential posture of subordinates awaiting their leader's instructions.
"Instead of squabbling with each other, why don't you compete for Miss Himeko's attention?" Lumina suggested. "After all, Stelle still belongs to the Astral Express."
Though Lumina would have relished watching their scandals unravel, she couldn't let them continue bickering in her presence. What would that say about her authority?
"Miss Lumina is right. We were being presumptuous," Topaz and Aventurine both said, bowing their heads in apology.
"You're here to check out too, aren't you?" Lumina asked. "Then let's resolve this matter."
Her gaze shifted back to Stelle, delivering a slightly awkward remark: "Even though Stelle is the Lobby Manager, she's still a bit unfamiliar with The Reverie Hotel's checkout procedures and operating the machines."
"Let's help her out."
"Oh, I see," Topaz and Aventurine nodded in understanding, proceeding to guide Stelle through the steps of operating the front desk terminal to complete the checkout process.
After a while, they finally completed the check-out process.
Notably, during Stelle's operation of the front desk terminal, another executive from the Strategic Investment Department, Jade, arrived. After understanding the situation, she also began guiding Stelle.
"Phew... finally done! I didn't expect it would take so long. I guess I'll have to retract my earlier statement," Aventurine quipped with a grin, relieved to see the room finally checked out.
"I must say, the management of this hotel has excellent taste in choosing personnel," Lumina remarked, observing their interactions and "praising" Stelle.
"Hmph," Stelle puffed up with pride at the compliment.
"Miss Lumina, Stelle, how about we take a group photo?" Jade suggested, as if offering a parting memento between friends.
"I don't mind," Lumina nodded, keeping her response concise.
Though Jade's suggestion might not have been entirely innocent, so what? Lumina wasn't petty enough to care.
In Penacony, her interactions with Jade, Topaz, and the others hadn't developed into anything substantial—a minor regret, perhaps.
Click!
Without overthinking it, they found an open space, Lumina stood beside Stelle, and with a single click, a brand-new photo appeared in everyone's hands.