After thanking Ryuga once more, March 7th played with the bracelet for a while. Before long, she suddenly slapped her forehead, looking like she'd just remembered something important.
"Ah ah ah! I suddenly forgot—Ryuga-sama, how long have I been here? I never went back. Aunt Himeko and Uncle Yang won't think I've disappeared, will they!"
She suddenly remembered she hadn't told those two before leaving.
If they discovered she wasn't on the train, wouldn't they think some paranormal event occurred?
A locked-room-level Astral Express, a suddenly vanishing beautiful girl, a mystery-filled case, the culprit among us...
Before she could continue her mental movie plot tangent, seeing her anxious expression, Jibril beside her revealed a mischievous smile, deliberately scaring her:
"This is a bit troublesome. Time flows differently between worlds. Though you've only been here about an hour, several thousand years might have passed there."
"Huh? Several thousand years?"
Hearing this, the not-too-bright March 7th immediately panicked.
"What do I do? When I go back, will I be the only one left from the crew?"
For her, the Astral Express was like home.
Who would've thought that just sneaking out for a bit would mean losing her home?
"That's just a possibility. Of course, it's also possible time flows normally—when you go back, only an hour has passed there too."
Jibril blinked, saying this.
Actually, this was the usual case. Worlds in frequent contact rarely had major time flow differences.
"That's a relief then."
March 7th immediately breathed easier.
At this point, Jibril changed her tone:
"However, according to what you said, when you came over the Astral Express was still moving. When you go back, if you're still at the same coordinates, you might just float in space, not even able to see the Astral Express's tail lights."
"Floating in space again? No way!"
Hearing this possibility, March 7th looked ready to cry.
According to Himeko, before being found, she was frozen in a big ice block floating in space. Now going back would be the same?
Would the Astral Express even find her this time?
Seeing March 7th's nervous expression, Jibril was about to continue when Ryuga lightly tapped her head.
She immediately stuck out her tongue and stopped her fear-mongering.
"Don't worry."
Ryuga looked at March 7th, explaining:
"By convention, when you return, you should still appear in your own room."
The chat group's teleportation didn't use cosmic coordinates, otherwise Ryuga would also appear in interstellar space when returning, since Earth was revolving and the Milky Way was also rotating.
"Is that so? That's great, thank you Ryuga-sama!"
Learning this wouldn't happen, March 7th was moved to tears, looking at Ryuga with gratitude.
Then she bit her lip slightly and glared at Jibril.
"You said before you wouldn't scare me—group members don't deceive group members!"
This Flügel girl had such a nasty personality!
"Sorry, but these situations aren't absolutely impossible. What if you're unlucky?"
Jibril held her head high and chest out, speaking righteously.
"Is that really possible?"
March 7th lost some confidence.
"If you're worried, you can go back now. If you encounter danger, notify us in the group and I'll invite you back."
Ryuga spoke to reassure her.
"With your power, surviving in space for a while isn't difficult."
"That makes sense, thank you Ryuga-sama!"
March 7th was moved once again.
"Then see you later! Next time I'll invite you to visit our crew!"
After saying goodbye, the pink-haired girl stood still on the ground, staring at Jibril.
Several dozen seconds later, the Flügel girl asked curiously:
"Why aren't you leaving?"
"Huh?"
March 7th tilted her head.
"Don't I need your permission to leave?"
Since she couldn't find the method to leave earlier when anxious, she subconsciously thought she couldn't leave without Ryuga and the others' permission.
"Pfft!"
Jibril didn't expect this girl to be innocent to this degree. Suppressing laughter, she immediately taught her the operation.
Only then did March 7th realize she'd been tricked by Jibril earlier. Her face immediately flushed red as she fled in embarrassment.
Right after returning, she excitedly reported to the group:
[March 7th: "@Ryuga @Jibril, Ryuga-sama, I'm back safely."]
[March 7th: "Still in my room, and only an hour passed!"]
The biggest worry in her heart gone, March 7th breathed a major sigh of relief.
[Tohsaka Rin: "The newbie encountered such a big scene but went back so quickly?"]
[Erica: "Maybe for the newbie, her world is also special and she's seen similar scenes often!"]
If it were them, after witnessing creation, they definitely couldn't calm down this fast.
[March 7th: "Not at all! Even in my world, what Ryuga-sama did before is legendary stuff!"]
March 7th argued her case.
[March 7th: "Actually even in my world, most people are around first-tier ordinary humans. Even large factions' combat personnel are generally only second or third-tier. I'm actually pretty capable!"]
As the Astral Express's young generation combat floor, March 7th's strength wasn't weak in interstellar space—just not as good as famous powerhouses.
[Tohsaka Rin: "Only second or third-tier... this 'only' is quite something."]
In their worlds, second and third-tier were nearly ceiling level. In March 7th's world, they were just mooks.
[Kanae: "The word 'envious' has been written a thousand times."]
[Madoka: "+1"]
[March 7th: "I didn't mean it that way! What I'm saying is, fourth-tier is already rare strength in our world. Aunt Himeko and Uncle Yang should be fifth-tier, but they're also super famous. They basically never fight, but even when fighting, it doesn't feel as impactful as Ryuga-sama."]
[March 7th: "Forget the creation before—even battles where aftershocks can destroy planets, in the legends I've heard only the Lords of Extinction have done similar things... Good thing Ryuga-sama isn't a Lord of Extinction, otherwise the whole world might really be destroyed."]
Lords of Extinction were the title for the Destruction Aeon's Emanators. Those were terrifying existences constantly burning civilizations and destroying worlds, returning the universe to silence.
Their infamy throughout the Honkai: Star Rail universe was enough to stop children from crying.
[Tohsaka Rin: "Lords of Extinction? Hiss... sounds formidable. Seems like the higher the power level, the bigger the troubles encountered!"]
[March 7th: "Exactly! Forget the Destruction Legion—even their Anti-Matter Legion is notoriously terrible, destroying countless planets and civilizations."]
[March 7th: "Fortunately this young lady is lucky and won't encounter those guys!"]
Chatting like this, March 7th thankfully patted her chest, then remembered something.
[March 7th: "Wait! I'm not chatting anymore—I need to check if Aunt Himeko and Uncle Yang got old, otherwise I still feel uneasy!"]
Being scared by Jibril left her feeling uncertain.
[Tohsaka Rin: "?"]
[Kanae: "?"]
[Madoka: "?"]
[Jibril: "It wasn't my fault!"]
[Tohsaka Rin: "Case solved—you were scaring the newbie again!"]
[Kanae: "Makes sense."]
[Madoka: "Jibril-neesan isn't bad, but she is a bit naughty!"]
[Jibril: "?"]
[Tohsaka Rin: "Agreed."]
[Kanae: "Agreed."]
[Ryuga: "Agreed."]
[Jibril: "Wah wah wah, you're all bullying me! I'm going to tell Ryuga-sama on you!"]
[Jibril: "Wait! Ryuga-sama?! Even you abandoned me?!"]
Seeing Ryuga's repetition, Jibril was completely stunned.
She immediately switched to loli form and pounced with teary eyes, trying to reclaim her lord's favor.
Though Ryuga had no particular dissatisfaction with her.
Watching the chaos in the group, March 7th laughed gleefully, then jumped down from her bed, planning to go out.
Just then, as if hearing sounds from inside the room, urgent knocking came from outside the door.
"Little March, are you in your room? Nothing happened, right?"
Himeko's urgent and concerned voice came through, sounding tense about something.
"Eh? I'm fine! What's wrong, Aunt Himeko?"
March 7th opened the door, puzzled.
Then she found Himeko, Uncle Yang, Dan Heng, and Pom-Pom all standing at the door. Dan Heng had even brought his weapon, looking vigilant.
Seeing March 7th open the door, Himeko immediately looked the pink-haired girl up and down. After confirming nothing was wrong, everyone finally relaxed.
"What's going on, everyone? Why so tense?"
March 7th asked, confused.
"We knocked on your door earlier but got no response. We thought something happened to you!"
Himeko looked concernedly into March 7th's eyes, asking once more:
"Little March, you're sure nothing happened? If something did, you must tell everyone. Don't try to handle it alone."
Hearing this, March 7th scratched her head.
"Really nothing happened! Though there is something I want to share with everyone—something you definitely won't expect! Let me prepare—it'll blow Uncle Yang's mind for sure!"
Regarding the chat group, she didn't plan to hide it.
For her, this was just another pioneering journey. No need to hide it from family-like people.
Hearing March 7th say this, Himeko finally completely relaxed.
For adults, things children were willing to talk about weren't big problems.
Little March didn't lie. Seeing her so relaxed, she truly hadn't encountered anything bad.
After relaxing, watching March 7th prepare her words to shock everyone with her cute performance, Himeko shook her head:
"If it's a story you want to tell, save it for later. We just received an urgent mission that Little March and everyone needs to handle together."
Hearing this, March 7th paused, quite surprised.
"Even Aunt Himeko and Uncle Yang? What mission is so serious?"
She'd just said these two rarely took action, and now suddenly encountered a crisis requiring both?
"The Herta Space Station was attacked by the Anti-Matter Legion. They're asking us for help."
Mentioning business, Himeko's expression became very serious.
"This Anti-Matter Legion's scale isn't small—there may even be a Doomsday Beast. As Nameless ones, we can't stand by at a time like this."
The Destruction Aeon's faction with the goal of destroying all civilizations was basically universally despised. Dealing with such evil usually meant fighting together, no reason to watch allies be destroyed.
"Doomsday Beast?"
Hearing this name, even March 7th realized the severity.
Doomsday Beasts were the Anti-Matter Legion's anti-planet weapons. Ordinary factions couldn't handle monsters of this level. If Himeko and Uncle Yang didn't act, she really wasn't a match for such creatures.
"Current intel says so. There might even be Harbingers of Calamity appearing later. The Anti-Matter Legion's invasion must have reasons behind it."
Himeko shook her head, her expression not optimistic.
"No more talk—pack up and go quickly. Every minute delayed, someone might be in danger."
Hearing this, March 7th's previously wavering eyes immediately became determined.
Though she felt this might trouble Ryuga-sama too much, facing disaster right before her eyes, she really couldn't ignore it.
Even if Himeko and Uncle Yang could handle the Doomsday Beast, what if the Anti-Matter Legion sent even more terrifying enemies?
She could repay debts owed slowly—worst case, mortgage herself. But the dead couldn't come back to life.
No wait—Ryuga-sama seemed capable of reviving the dead... What was there to hesitate about then?
Thinking this, she immediately looked up at Himeko:
"Aunt Himeko, wait a moment! I might have a way to deal with the enemy."
After speaking, ignoring Himeko's shocked expression, she immediately dove back into her room, closed the door, and entered the chat group.
[March 7th: "Help me, Ryuga-sama! Suddenly encountered a huge crisis—the Anti-Matter Legion is invading!"]
[Tohsaka Rin: "?"]
[Tohsaka Rin: "Didn't you just say you were lucky and wouldn't encounter the Anti-Matter Legion?"]
[Jibril: "?"]
[Jibril: "Didn't you just say the Astral Express wouldn't encounter danger and we didn't need to worry?"]
[March 7th: "Sorry, I was too overconfident!"]
[March 7th: "Anyway, the situation is complicated. To reduce casualties, I have to ask Ryuga-sama for help... I wonder if Ryuga-sama has time?"]
Her pretty face looked bitter—she obviously didn't expect the boomerang to come back so fast.
To be continued…