["Hello there, how are you feeling?" Welt Yang asked with concern.]
["Full of energy!" Stelle's voice was as firm as someone about to pilot a warship.]
["That's good." Welt Yang adjusted his glasses. "It seems your constitution is truly special. In any case, thank you for saving March earlier."]
["You saved me too." Stelle recalled the surging energy within her and said with lingering fear, "If you hadn't intervened, I'm afraid..." ]
["I merely temporarily calmed the thing inside you. I don't mean to scare you, but honestly, as long as it remains within you, you can't truly consider yourself saved." Welt Yang cautiously advised, "As long as the Stellaron is inside you, you must tread carefully. Himeko and I can't guarantee we'll always be able to suppress it in time."]
[The mood grew heavier at the mention of this, and Welt, not wanting to make the atmosphere too tense, smiled and said, "Alright, let's end the gloomy talk here. Feel free to walk around and familiarize yourself with the place. You can go find March and Dan Heng later—young people probably have more to talk about."]
[Indeed, Stelle realized she hadn't properly explored the train since arriving.]
[Looking around, the interior of the train wasn't lavish, but everything was neatly arranged. Potted plants adorned the space, and items like a chessboard and a gramophone were readily available.]
[Arriving at the passenger cabin, Stelle stopped at the first room's door when she suddenly heard the sound of electronic devices inside. Just as she raised her hand to knock, Dan Heng's alert voice came from within: "Who's there?"]
["I haven't even knocked yet?"]
["After having your door broken down enough times, you learn to sense presences." Dan Heng's tone turned slightly weary, as if recalling unpleasant memories. "Come in."]
[Stelle pushed the door open and was surprised by the simplicity of Dan Heng's room...]
[It was as if a sleeping area had been moved into a library. The modest space was filled with electronic devices and books, with a blue blanket and pillow casually placed on a navy-blue tatami mat... Clearly, Dan Heng didn't have high standards for where he slept.]
[Not wanting to disturb Dan Heng's work, Stelle quietly tiptoed out and arrived outside March 7th's door.]
[She knocked, but there was no response.]
["March 7th isn't in? Should I go in and take a look?" Stelle pondered, stroking her chin.]
"Go! Of course you should go!"
Outside the Celestial Screen, Stark and Sein stared eagerly at Stelle, devoutly hoping she would fulfill their deepest desire... After all, they'd never seen a girl's bedroom in their lives! Especially not one belonging to a cute girl like March 7th!
Meanwhile, the little purple mushroom's face darkened as she let out a "Tch."
Her gaze... was practically scrutinizing human scum.
[In the end, Stelle obliged and slid March 7th's door open with a "swish."]
The moment she stepped inside, what greeted her eyes made Frieren's heart twinge with envy.
It was simply too beautiful, especially compared to Dan Heng's makeshift bed from a moment ago. The contrast was downright tragic... Just what kind of miserable life are you living, Dan Heng?!
Girly decorations were everywhere: pink bunny stickers on the walls, a cute little bear placed on a rabbit-shaped lounge chair, and a crystal chandelier stretching from the window to a striking photo wall. The photos on the wall cycled through a slideshow, each one capturing memories of Stelle and the others.
"So pretty..." Fern's eyes sparkled as if stars were popping out. "It's just like a princess's room."
Fern had never been in a princess's room, only glimpsing simple depictions in childhood fairy tales. Now, seeing March 7th's room felt like imagination brought to life.
And the giant Pom plush by the window completely captured her attention.
No girl could possibly resist feeling envious...
"Such exquisite pictures! They're even more lifelike than the best painter in Visaste could manage... I never expected March 7th to be such an artist."
As Stelle's gaze lingered on the photo wall, everyone could see the images more clearly. The near-perfect recreations of reality left even Fern sighing in admiration.
"Wait, these aren't paintings. See those two objects on the table?" Sein pointed at the pink and blue cameras beneath the photo wall. "I remember March carrying one of these on her waist. These pictures must have been made using that machine."
"I think they're called 'cameras'?"
"If we could get our hands on one and take pictures of everyone's heroic moments during monster hunts, then spread them around, I bet tons of adventurer ladies would fight to team up with me!" Sein sprawled on the table, lost in fantasy.
"You'd use such a miraculous invention for that? You're hopeless." Fern sighed in exasperation.
["How were these photos even taken? March 7th could snap pictures in such dangerous situations? And from these bizarre angles?"]
[Maybe her head suddenly turned into a camera at some point?]
[No point dwelling on unsolvable mysteries. After wandering around March 7th's room a bit more, Stelle eventually made her way back to the observation car—only now, March 7th and Dan Heng were there, making the place livelier.]
["You're here!" March 7th, completely unaware that Stelle had snooped through her bedroom in her absence, waved excitedly at her. "We're about to head to the next stop! Aren't you excited? Oh right, this is your first trip, so... double the excitement?"]
[Stelle did her best SpongeBob impression: "I'm ready, I'm ready!"]
["Nice, that's the spirit!" March 7th was thoroughly pleased by Stelle's enthusiasm and proudly declared, "Hehe, I was super pumped during my first warp too, but now I'm way calmer!"]
["Calmer?" Stelle's expression was full of disbelief.]
["What's with that look... I'm way more composed now." March 7th pouted in mock anger. "Once you get used to it, you'll become as reliable and mature a passenger as me."]
["Alright, passengers March 7th and Stelle, stop running around. Please find a suitable spot and hold on tight—the train will warp soon." Pom arrived just in time to remind them, "Once we leave the space station's range, we'll warp! Make sure to grab onto something stable!"]