How could she have guessed? Was it because of that chat group...
Before she could ponder further, March 7th shook her head. "Never mind, it's nothing."
"Oh."
Ahuan, seeing this, immediately realized she had been exposed. However, she didn't make a fuss and simply responded before continuing to play with Pom-Pom.
'Nothing seems off here. Well, if everyone says so, I'll keep an eye out. They're right—after all, this is a Masked Fool we're talking about. It's never a bad idea to be cautious.'
After secretly observing for a while and finding nothing amiss, March 7th relaxed and let her consciousness sink back into the chat group.
Still, she couldn't help but feel a heightened sense of wariness toward Ahuan.
Ahuan—no, by now, everyone should have figured it out—this so-called "Sampo's Aunt·Ahuan" was none other than the Aeon of Elation, Aha, who had created a new identity to avoid being recognized by Pom-Pom.
Admittedly, Aha had excellent taste. The form they had taken was that of a Lolita-style little girl—a petite, adorable face paired with large, sparkling eyes, making them the very picture of a moe character.
Though small and frail, this delicate appearance only made it easier for others to feel protective of them.
When they first met, Aha had been dressed in nothing but tattered rags. That pitiful sight would have moved anyone with a shred of compassion, let alone March 7th—provided, of course, their true identity remained hidden.
This fragile facade had earned Aha quite a few points when March 7th invited them aboard the train.
Ahem—let's get back on track.
After learning of March 7th's unique circumstances not long ago, Aha had been overjoyed and decided to tag along in search of amusement.
After all, with March 7th's chat group connecting countless worlds, the potential for entertainment was endless. As long as Aha stuck close, there would never be a shortage of fun to be had.
With this in mind, Aha had disguised themself as a Nameless and boarded the Astral Express to explore other worlds.
To secure a spot on the train, Aha had even collaborated with Sampo to stage an elaborate act for the crew.
Unsurprisingly, thanks to meticulous planning and flawless execution, Aha successfully earned March 7th's invitation and rejoined the Astral Express as one of the Nameless.
'Hahaha! Looks like Aha's been caught red-handed! How amusing! Who would've thought little March would figure it out? Aha's embarrassed—ahahaha!'
While playing with Pom-Pom, Aha sensed March 7th's growing vigilance and burst into silent laughter.
To think their impeccable disguise had been uncovered by a not-so-bright girl—now that was truly hilarious.
Ahahahaha!
(March 7th: Who's not-so-bright? You and your whole family are not-so-bright!)
Still, Aha wasn't worried about being ostracized. After spending time with March 7th, they understood her well enough.
As long as they didn't harm the train or its crew, March 7th likely wouldn't kick them out even if their identity was exposed.
Though unable to mess with the Nameless for now, Aha consoled themself with the thought of endless future amusement.
They knew the difference between a one-time feast and a lifetime of meals.
Chat Group
Camera Princess: Ahuan doesn't seem suspicious right now, but I'll keep a close eye on her. Whatever her intentions, I won't let her hurt Miss Himeko or the others.
Passerby: Just stay alert, but don't overthink it. If things go south, we've got your back.
Slime King: Yeah, we'll help you out.
Slime King: But Ahuan might not be a bad person.
Slime King: Some Masked Fools are chaotic, but not all are malicious. Maybe she just wants to see other worlds?
Camera Princess: Got it. Thanks, everyone.
Just as March 7th was touched by their concern, the mood was abruptly ruined.
No-Shamelessness: Alright, guys, hurry up and get over here if you're ready.
Truth-Seeker: Chulan, you've been acting weird today. Why the rush?
Truth-Seeker: Feels like you're up to no good…
Truth-Seeker: Death Glare.jpg
No-Shamelessness: Uh…
No-Shamelessness: Was I that obvious?
Dragon King Sprays Water: Extremely obvious.
Fallen Lazy Angel: Painfully obvious.
Leisurely Stroll in the Mortal World: Glaringly obvious.
Passerby: Unbearably obvious.
Don't Bully the Poor Youth: Embarrassingly obvious.
…
Zhang Chulan nearly cried reading their replies.
He didn't want to do this either, but his grandmaster and grandfather had given him an ultimatum: win first place in the upcoming Luotian Grand Ritual, or face the consequences afterward.
The problem was, Zhang Chulan had zero confidence in securing the top spot.
While he was strong, battles weren't decided by strength alone.
He had personally awakened the Martial Souls of the Lu and Longhu Mountain juniors—and as their awakener, he knew exactly how terrifying those abilities were.
Even if he were twice as strong, victory wasn't guaranteed.
This Luotian Grand Ritual was shaping up to be a battle of gods.
Take Zhang Lingyu's "Blank Divine Tome," for example. It was inscribed with every secret technique from Longhu Mountain and other sects. During their spar, Zhang Lingyu had bombarded him with those techniques like they were free samples.
How was anyone supposed to handle that?
...
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(End of Chapter)