Velite sighed, "Hmph, you think I wanted this? This is called being beaten down by reality, got it?"
His gaze drifted melancholically to the window, "When I was a kid, I thought I'd have a protagonist's life, dreaming of becoming a pilot, soaring into space, exploring the cosmos in a fancy starship. But my parents tricked me, saying I had to make big money first to achieve my dreams, and to make big money, I had to work hard to get into a company."
"Did you make that big money, then?"
"Do I look like I did? Would a rich guy be working for the Interastral Peace Corporation, going on business trips, and swearing oaths in some cave? Later, I gave up on the flashy pilot dream and settled for working at the company. Maybe that's just the life of a side character?"
[Why so real?]
[Ugh, this…]
[Stop, bro, you're breaking me.]
[Isn't this just me?]
[Are all company people this real and grounded?]
Velite's rhetoric grew bolder. He even wanted to market Argenti, making currency itself a part of beauty. Finally, he posed a soul-searching question, "Once I get off this train, I'm contacting the Market Development Department to find a suitable business for him to be the company's product spokesperson! I could transform into an agent! Do you think this guy suits the idol route or the talent route?"
Stelle waved a hand in front of Velite's face, "Snap out of it."
"Hmph, this is me facing reality, embracing reality, and ultimately conquering reality." The next moment, Velite's tone softened, "So, when can we get off? I'm waiting for you guys to clear this traffic jam, galactic heroes."
Stelle smiled faintly, pitching her voice up eight degrees, "P~l~e~a~s~e, come help us."
"No, don't use that tone! That's moral blackmail, you know that?" He sighed, "Fine, I've got nowhere else to go, so I'll stick with you for now."
"Aaahhh!" Suddenly, Pom-Pom's voice echoed through the entire train carriage.
Velite jolted, "Huh? What was that? Who's screaming?"
Stelle also sensed something was off. After all, this was the Conductor, someone even Uncle Yang feared—how could they scream so desperately? She hurried to the group and saw Pom-Pom surrounded, physically sweating buckets.
Elysia pouted, "I really want to pet the adorable Pom-Pom♪ It's just too cute♪"
[Looks like the pink fairy lady really loves that bunny.]
[Pink fairy lady, there's actually a bunny like that in the Film Interactive City, though I only heard about it.]
[I heard that too. There's a bunny living on the train, otherwise how could Pom-Pom seem so real? It's not like it's CG.]
"Is that true? Looks like I need to put it on my schedule. I want to bring my best friend along too♪"
"There's—there's a weird sound—scary, scary, pa! Did you hear it?" Pom-Pom's voice trembled, "With how well I know this train… that was definitely not a sound the train would make, pa!"
Himeko held her forehead with one hand, "Could the earlier tremors have damaged the train somewhere, letting something unexpected slip in?"
Dan Heng's gaze shifted to Pom-Pom, "Have you located the source of the sound?"
"It's… maybe the passenger carriage… or maybe the Conductor's room, pa!"
March 7th clutched her chest, "Those are completely different directions! How about… we each check our own rooms?"
Stelle stepped behind March 7th, her tone icy, "Don't forget to check under the bed."
"Now's not the time for pranks! Read the room!" March 7th glared at Stelle, puffing her cheeks, "Ugh, a gentleman acts with their feet, not their mouth. I'll check my room first… I'll report back if I find anything."
So, the group decided to split up and inspect the train. The scene quickly shifted to March 7th's compartment.
March 7th stared at the room's scenery, shaking her head, "This is… Why is there another me here?! She's talking to me…"
As she spoke, the camera slowly panned inward, revealing another March 7th in the room. They were almost identical, except one had light in her eyes, while the other's were dull.
The lightless March 7th spoke with a teasing tone, "I know your past. What you want to see, touch, know… Your hometown, family, friends, emotions, love, and hate…"
March 7th, seeing this figure identical to her in both appearance and tone, took a step back, "W-Woah!"
"I am the complete March 7th, with all the memories you've forgotten…"
"Who… who are you? Why do you look like me?"
The fake March tilted her head slightly, silent.
Thankfully, Himeko's communication calmed March 7th's nerves.
Meanwhile, outside the carriage, the group learned something was wrong with March 7th. So, everyone rushed to her room.
And there, a Sting was right in front of March 7th.
[Yo? Another bug!]
[Bugs have been getting a lot of screen time lately. First the Trailblazer's movie had bugs, Simulated Universe had bugs, and now a character-exclusive story with bugs too?]
[Looks like there are quite a few types of Stings.]
Elysia studied the screen closely, "This is called a Sting, I think it's born from the Path of Propagation♪ It's caused indelible disasters across the universe♪ And, I feel like miHoYo's spending so much effort on Stings—maybe there's a deeper story hidden here♪ Oh, I'm getting excited again♪"
[Hearing Elysia say that, I'm starting to think so too.]
[Yeah, knowing miHoYo, they wouldn't put in this much effort for nothing. If it's just for plot progression, wouldn't that be too boring?]
"Speaking of that♪ I just remembered, there's a character who's always tied to bugs♪ It's Sam from the Stellaron Hunters—there's something unique about them♪"
Elysia didn't dwell on the topic, turning her attention back to March 7th on the screen, "March really wants to know her past, doesn't she? But she's such a cheerful girl, just like me. Girls who love to smile never have bad luck♪"
Seeing a bug acting so brazenly, everyone drew their weapons and attacked. In just one or two rounds, the Sting was obliterated by a two-dimensional foil strike, though its juices soaked the floor.
"Tch, tch, tch, unbelievable. March 7th, you're sleeping on the sofa with me starting tomorrow," Stelle said, shaking her head at the Sting's corpse and the messy room.
"No way!" March 7th finally relaxed, "That scared me to death! I thought it was my long-lost twin sister showing up… turns out it's just a bug!"
Argenti, crouching by the Sting's body, slowly stood, his brows furrowed, "I didn't expect we'd meet again, 'True Sting.'"
"Huh?" March 7th and Stelle said in unison.
Velite scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, "Uh… when Argenti found me in that cave, I was being chased and stung by a swarm of these bugs."
Argenti exhaled heavily, his brows still tense, "I thought I'd driven them all off… but given the situation, it seems the True Sting is still pursuing us."
The next moment, his expression changed, "Could it be… Velite, could it be that you're carrying the insectoids' pheromones?"
Everyone's eyes turned to Velite.
Velite shuddered and stepped back, "What? Pheromones? I-I don't know anything about that…"
At that moment, Dan Heng, the Astral Express's knowledge bearer with a noble face, began to explain, Stings can induce hallucinations, and these creatures are highly elusive, possibly hiding in the shadows or roaming freely. They must be stopped from reproducing, or the consequences will be dire.
"Eek!" March 7th gasped, "I don't want a bunch of March 7ths running around the train! One of me is chaotic enough!"
Dan Heng nodded at her, "Your self-awareness is commendable."
Soon, the group began a thorough sweep of the train. Stelle, in particular, was acting abstractly, not just in her behavior but in her muttering, reaching a whole new level of absurdity.
Yet, this was only the beginning. When no more bugs could be found with the naked eye, Pom-Pom suggested using a mobile train cleaning machine to check farther compartments, pa.
Naturally, the task fell to Stelle. Her lips curled into a mischievous grin.
She began inspecting the train's seats, her inner monologue spilling out. "As always, smooth red leather cushions. Nothing special here. I can't help but want to touch its grooves—no one ever cares about the weight it bears daily, no one."
Pom-Pom grabbed Stelle, stopping her from lying down, "Snap out of it, passenger! Now's not the time to sink into it! Check somewhere else!"
Stelle then inspected under the train seats. In the dark underside, she imagined an eye staring back at her.
Fear crept in; she twisted internally, screamed silently, built mental defenses, managed her expressions, and planned an escape.
Pom-Pom patted her shoulder, interrupting, "Hmm… nothing special here either!"
Stelle shook her head, disappointed. Then she remembered her mission to hunt the bug swarm.
Finally, she reached a potted plant in the corridor. Argenti had said it was a thinking plant, and she began to wonder if it truly had the ability to think.
It took great effort to convince herself it was just an ordinary plant, with no traits distinguishing it from normal ones… But.
She still suspected the soil was actually edible chocolate powder. She reached out, scooping a bit of dirt, "Maybe I should taste it?"
"Passenger! What are you doing?!" Pom-Pom jumped in front of her, stopping her.
[Hahaha, how is this so abstract?]
[I'm done. I thought this was going to be an Alien-style plot, but it's this absurd.]
[I'm dying laughing. Stelle is both hilarious and adorable.]
"Exactly♪" Elysia's lips curved upward, "Stelle must be such a lively and cute girl in daily life. It'd be great to be friends with her♪"
As the story progressed, Stelle continued inspecting the train. When they reached Dan Heng's room, something was off—Argenti was face-to-face with a Sting, clearly under an illusion!
Without hesitation, everyone rushed into the room. Inside, Argenti was in full sincere-praise mode, "You must be the creature she spoke of. You're surely often described as 'cute'—has that ever troubled you? Believe me, your essence far exceeds that word. Round one, your name is—'Charm.'"
In Argenti's perspective, this was an adorable "Owlbert."
He continued without restraint, "No need for words; meeting a being like you moves me, but I won't forsake my spiritual discipline. If I cannot resolve this crisis, I'll stake my knightly honor on my life."
The Sting in front of him didn't attack, a question mark appearing above its head.
Bang! Stelle kicked the door open.
March 7th, about to draw her bow, froze at the sight, "What the—what? He's that invested in talking to a bug…"
Stelle pulled out her baseball bat, "Who cares? Let's just take it out!"
Clang, clang! After a few swings, unlike in March 7th's room, this Sting was smashed against the wall, its death spectacularly gruesome.
Argenti held his chin, regretful, "I'm deeply sorry—such a beautiful creature was merely an illusion. Its deception and threat are far more… 'ugly' than its appearance."
From Argenti's words, Dan Heng deduced the True Sting's illusions manifest as what a person desires.
March 7th sighed, "My illusion was finding my past, huh? Seems a bit unambitious… I actually have bigger dreams, you know…"
"No, that's a pure wish, something very precious," Argenti replied.
He then mentioned the Sting had spoken of a "Dominator" before dying.
Dan Heng stroked his chin, as if recalling something, and approached his databank. After some searching, he closed it, "I have bad news, and even worse news."
"No good news?" Stelle scratched her head.
Dan Heng shook his head slightly, "The bad news is, the 'Dominator' Argenti heard about is a giant bug capable of swallowing an entire starship whole. The worse news is… we're currently inside its stomach!"