Paimon: "The… the Lord Ravager did that…!"
Paimon: "Then doesn't that mean the living beings on those planets!"
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "When a Lord Ravager acts personally, generally speaking, if no other Emanator intervenes, there are few survivors."
Navia Caspar: "Ah?!!"
Navia Caspar: "Suddenly… suddenly this Glass Belt feels blood-drenched…. Not dreamy at all anymore."
Boothill: "Those forking shirt-bags, one day, I'LL SEND 'EM ALL TO H—!"
....
『 [ Whoa… there are so many choices, I feel like I'm getting dizzy picking. ]
March 7th felt a bit dazed upon hearing so many options.
[ Next up, everyone will select the destination that they wish to visit. And then, we'll put it to a vote. ]
Himeko suggested everyone vote.
[ I pick Edo Star! ]
Stelle chose Edo Star, the one in most need of help, without a second thought.
[ Although the sudden interruption of the distress signal means we're likely too late… ]
[ But I think it's better to go and confirm first. ]
Dan Heng nodded, agreeing that they should go to Edo Star.
[ Mhm, I agree too! ]
[ As Nameless, shouldn't we reach out to them? ]
March 7th, also agreed to head to Edo Star.
[ Stelle and Dan Heng's judgment is sound. I also cast my vote for Edo Star. ]
Welt was no exception.
[ Since everyone says so, let's go check out the situation. ]
[ I vote for Edo Star as well. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "Wow, such a unified opinion!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Should I say it's expected of the helpful Astral Express Crew?"
March 7th: "Huh, Stelle, you didn't play devil's advocate this time!"
March 7th: "That's not like you at all?"
Stelle: "Damn!"
Stelle: "Who's playing devil's advocate?"
Stelle: "I was just livening up the atmosphere!"
Stelle: "There's no need to liven things up right now, so of course I wouldn't do that."
Lumine: "A planet invaded by the Antimatter Legion…"
Lumine: "Now even the distress signal has disappeared."
Lumine: "It seems the Express Crew's next stop is going to be quite dangerous!"
Stelle: "Holy crap! We won't run into a Lord Ravager at our next stop, will we??"
March 7th: "Don't jinx it!"
March 7th: "We can't possibly keep running into Emanators endlessly, right?"
Hu Tao: "I can see that being a Nameless is truly a high-risk profession…"
Paimon: "It feels like walking on the edge of a knife!"
....
『 [ Edo Star passes unanimously… ]
[ Looks like we have a result—the next stop is Edo Star, Pam! ]
[ Then, the navigation meeting is adjourned. ]
[ I'll go calibrate the route's warp parameters. Passengers may rest for now. ]
[ When we're ready to warp, the Conductor will make an announcement, Pam! ]
After Pam finished speaking, they began preparations for the jump.
[ While waiting for the warp… what should I do? ]
[ Might as well go chat with everyone. ]
Feeling a bit bored, Stelle started wandering around to talk to people.
[ I hope this trip is safe and sound, I hope this trip is safe and sound… ]
Stelle walked up to March 7th and heard her repeatedly muttering that phrase under her breath.
[ I hope this trip is safe and sound… ]
Stelle mimicked her.
[ Why do you like copying me so much! ]
[ Sigh, the last few Trailblazing expeditions were too scary. Life-threatening dangers at every turn… ]
[ It's about time for a lighthearted, heartwarming, and cute adventure! ]
[ Come on, pray with me! ]
[ Please let this trip be uneventful. Please let this trip be uneventful. Please let this trip be uneventful... ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Nilou: "It's clear that Miss March 7th has been traumatized by the recent Trailblazing expeditions."
March 7th: "You bet!"
March 7th: "The last few trips haven't been fit for humans!"
March 7th: "And adding Penacony this time…"
March 7th: "Directly fighting Emanators twice in a row!"
March 7th: "And here I thought coming to Penacony was just for pure fun!"
March 7th: "I never would've guessed in a million years that there was something this big going on here!"
Stelle: "Sigh, don't mention it. We're born to be workaholics."
Stelle: "Maybe this is just the treatment for being the protagonist?"
Qingque: "Hehe, then it's better to be an ordinary person."
Qingque: "Even if life is plain, at least there aren't so many troublesome things."
Guinaifen: "But this kind of exciting adventure life is indeed quite aspirational."
Guinaifen: "The only downside is… it seems a bit too exciting?"
Guinaifen: "Not really suitable for an ordinary person like me who only knows acrobatics."
Li Sushang: "Kei-chan, they are professional Nameless."
Li Sushang: "They have solid skills."
Li Sushang: "It's not something we can compare to."
Stelle: "Solid skills?"
Stelle: "Mhm… my baseball bat is indeed solid."
Stelle: "It's a Curio, after all!"
Stelle: "Also, my flaming lance has the blessing of Preservation. It's very solid too!"
....
『 [ Somehow, I suddenly have a… long time no see feeling with you. ]
After talking to March 7th, Stelle strolled over to Dan Heng.
She heard Dan Heng say those words.
[ It has indeed been a long time. ]
Stelle nodded.
[ Perhaps… the joy of a reunion is also a part of Trailblazing. ]
Dan Heng said, rubbing his chin.
[ When we reach the destination, you have to get off the train too! ]
Stelle reminded him.
[ Understood. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Dan Heng is finally willing to get off the train!"
Stelle: "If you had gotten off earlier in Penacony, would we have run into so much trouble?"
Stelle: "We probably could have started our vacation long ago."
Dan Heng: "Mhm… precisely because I thought you were just on vacation and wouldn't encounter any danger, I chose to stay behind on the Express."
Dan Heng: "I can only say that things are unpredictable. What one thinks and the reality can be quite different."
March 7th: "Dan Heng, you're the Express's top-tier combat power."
March 7th: "Without you, we'd get beaten up when we run into tough enemies!"
March 7th: "So you'd better follow us from now on. It gives us a better sense of security."
Dan Heng: "Sure, I have no objection."
Stelle: "Ahem, if you have an objection, you can just pass the High Elder's inheritance to me."
Stelle: "That way you won't have to step out personally!"
Dan Heng: "Fine. You just need to reincarnate as a Vidyadhara first."
Stelle: "Ah… that…"
Stelle: "How do I even reincarnate???"
Dan Heng: "No idea."
Stelle: "…"
....
『 [ This Astral Express is actually quite comfortable… But I have one small suggestion. How come there ain't no potent drinks on this ride? ]
[ I can live without malt juice, but at least stock somethin' else! Like that "White Gem," common as dirt and not too pricey. ]
Stelle wandered over to Boothill and heard him complaining about the lack of kick-ass drinks on the train.
[ No way! Our express is only rated 12+! ]
Stelle indicated that the train only served healthy drinks suitable for children and adolescents.
[ You can't use that 12-years-of-age rule against a mighty Ranger like me! ]
[ Ha, all these years out in the wild, and now I'm bunkin' in luxury... Gotta say, it's quite the treat. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Paimon: "Potent drinks?"
Paimon: "He means alcohol!"
Venti: "Ehe, fine wine is indeed a potent drink!"
Lumine: "Venti always pops up involuntarily the moment he sees the word 'wine'."
Stelle: "Wait, Boothill, you still drink alcohol?"
Stelle: "Shouldn't you be drinking engine oil?"
Boothill: "Meow!"
Boothill: "I'm not some Wubbaboo's machine, why the fork would I drink engine oil?"
Boothill: "Alcohol has much more kick than oil!"
Boothill: "It fits my image as a free-spirited Ranger better!"
Pam: "Drinking interferes with work, so the Express doesn't keep a constant stock of alcohol, Pam!"
Pam: "If passengers need it, they can apply in advance."
Boothill: "Applying in advance… what a pain."
Boothill: "Better to just bring my own…"
....
『 [ Stelle, you've become an increasingly excellent Trailblazer. ]
[ I'm very gratified to witness your growth. ]
When Stelle strolled past Welt, she suddenly heard praise.
This made her eyes light up, and she immediately walked over to him.
[ I'm super amazing! ]
Stelle didn't know the meaning of the word 'modesty'.
[ Yes, you are super amazing. ]
[ I knew many warriors before. Someone who can grow like you… Back in my home world, they would at least be ranked S-class. ]
[ You've worked hard during this time. ]
[ Take a good rest. I look forward to your performance in the next journey. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Oh yeah, Uncle Yang praised me!"
Stelle: "I'm so amazing!"
March 7th: "Yes, yes, you're amazing."
March 7th: "But what does this S-class mean?"
March 7th: "Uncle Yang's home world… ranks people?"
Welt Yang: "Little March, you've misunderstood."
Welt Yang: "It's not a rank for people, but for warriors… or rather, Valkyries."
Furina de Fontaine: "Valkyries??"
Furina de Fontaine: "Wow! What a cool title!"
Hu Tao: "That title sounds like a group of heroic and valiant big sisters!"
Welt Yang: "Heroic and valiant?"
Welt Yang: "Haha, some of them were indeed heroic and valiant, but the personalities of others… were quite different."
Welt Yang: "But without a doubt, they were all heroes who protected their home."
Qingque: "Earlier, Mr. Welt mistook Miss Acheron for an old acquaintance."
Qingque: "Does that mean in Mr. Welt's home world, there's also a… Valkyrie similar to Miss Acheron?"
Welt Yang: "Correct."
Welt Yang: "Her name is Mei, and she is an extremely outstanding Valkyrie."
Acheron: "Mei…?!"
Nahida: "What's wrong?"
Nahida: "Did Miss Acheron notice something unusual?"
Acheron: "No… nothing… I just feel that name is very… familiar."
Black Swan: "Oh?"
Black Swan: "Just… familiar?"
....
『 [ Speaking of which, Stelle, Penacony was the first time you and I went on a Trailblazing expedition together, wasn't it? ]
After chatting with Welt for a bit, Stelle went to chat with Himeko.
[ I hope to go on more expeditions with you in the future! ]
Stelle said with a grin.
[ Don't worry. ]
[ We'll have plenty of time together on the Express, and there will be no shortage of such opportunities. ]
[ Rest early today. ]
[ You've been too tired lately. If you don't take this chance to recuperate, it might leave lasting health issues… ]
[ You're fine while you're young, but you'll suffer for it when you're older. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Health issues when I'm older?"
Stelle: "But I'm a Stellaron essence, I shouldn't have that concern, right?"
Stelle: "Maybe I won't even age?"
March 7th: "You, your body is weird."
March 7th: "It really can't be judged by common sense."
Qingque: "I'm afraid Stelle might be a long-life species too."
Qingque: "After all, the power of a Stellaron is so vast. If it acts as her power bank, won't she live until the end of time?"
Stelle: "Tsk, living for a few tens of thousands of years is enough."
Stelle: "Living until the end of time isn't necessary."
Hu Tao: "A few tens of thousands of years is 'enough'???"
Hu Tao: "I doubt our Teyvat has even existed for tens of thousands of years??"
Paimon: "If a person can live for tens of thousands of years, they'd really become an old monster…"
Paimon: "Paimon finds it hard to imagine…"
....
『 [ Stelle, interested in a chat? Over here. ]
Suddenly, Black Swan's voice rang in Stelle's ear.
So, Stelle began walking toward Black Swan.
[ … ]
[ Oh? You're here, Stelle. Your reflection in the stars through the porthole… Hehe, it's a bit hard to see clearly. ]
[ So, how was it? This journey through a beautiful dream… was it to your satisfaction? ]
Black Swan asked with a smile.
[ I feel like many things haven't been cleared up yet? ]
Stelle always felt this journey was a bit hazy.
Many riddles remained unsolved, yet it ended abruptly.
[ The scent of curiosity is very strong… This kind of memory can be addictive. ]
[ Then… give me back that little parting gift, shall we? ]
[ I can't wait any longer. ]
After Black Swan finished speaking, Stelle fumbled around her person, took out the card Black Swan had given her earlier, and handed it to her.
[ Hmm… ]
[ …Oh? ]
As Black Swan looked at the card, her expression gradually turned to surprise.
[ I… I didn't break it… ]
Seeing Black Swan's expression, Stelle quickly explained.
[ No, it's nothing… ]
[ I just… discovered a very interesting place in your memory. ]
[ Before I tell you why… I must apologize to you, Stelle. ]
[ Actually, the parting gift I gave you wasn't a compass for the Memory Zone… but merely an empty Light Cone. ]
[ Do you remember when we first entered the dream hotel? I asked your companions for a few accessories. Their function was similar. ]
[ This way, I could sense you at any time, so I could step in promptly if you were in danger. ] 』
『 ....』