Astral Express, Parlor Car.
After reading the message from Bronya, March 7th's fingertips unconsciously pressed against the cool window, as if yearning to pierce that thin barrier and touch the unreachable brilliance.
"Dan Heng and Teacher Adrian, at least acknowledge Bronya a little..."
"Come on, let's check their rooms."
March 7th and Stelle split up. The former headed first to the Archive, inquiring about Dan Heng's intentions:
"Dan Heng! Bronya just messaged us—did you see?"
"Mm, I saw."
"Then why didn't you reply? Bronya's our old friend!"
Dan Heng's voice remained steady, explaining word by word: "Sorry, I just wasn't in the mood for chit-chat. After the [Luofu], I've been reflecting and pondering... It's quite draining."
"I'm sorry—I got too worked up just now. Yeah, after everything on the Xianzhou, you definitely need time to readjust... You stay on the Express and rest up."
One trip to the Luofu, and Dan Heng felt even more withdrawn than before.
"Thanks for understanding. Belobog ushering in a festival is great news—wish you all a worthwhile trip. Remember to pass my regards to our old friends."
"Got it! And you rest well too—don't miss the next [Trailblaze]!"
"Mm, I won't."
...
Meanwhile, in the Party Car
Watching Adrian try to teach the [Shut Up] robot how to make milk tea, Stelle lapsed into thought.
"Welcome to the [Party Car], dear Nameless Guest. Would you like a drink, a snack, or shall we start the [Party Time]?"
"I choose to activate [Eternity Time]!"
"What the heck?!"
An unheard-of term—now the Galactic Baseballer's curiosity was fully piqued!
"Lock a whole area in absolute [Eternity]—wanna learn?" Adrian sipped his milk tea. HE hadn't pulled this move in ages.
"Oh~ Esteemed Guest Adrian, before you trigger [Eternity Time], I have a very ancient joke from a particularly dreadful Nameless Guest in the past. It goes like this..."
Without waiting for Stelle or Adrian to respond, [Shut Up] launched right in:
"In an era older than the Aeons, people wielded [magic] to command all of nature. The less one understood nature, the more they could manipulate."
"For instance, someone ignorant of atmospheric motion could command the winds. Someone clueless about tidal ebbs and flows could rule the seas."
"Damn, it's unleashing its signature [Cold Joke Time]!"
No helping it—now that [Shut Up] had started, Stelle and Adrian had no choice but to listen. It was like getting yanked into a side quest mid-main storyline in a game.
"Among those humans, there was the greatest mage of all. He didn't just command nature... He commanded every [fate]."
"Because he was born with an incomplete brain yet miraculously survived. Utterly ignorant and chaotic toward the world, yet able to weave fate's loom."
"So... Inevitably, those who hear this tale ask: If he's so ignorant, how do people harness his power over [fate]?"
"The answer: Leave it to the heavens."
"Ah, I know it's not a very funny joke. As I said, it's extremely ancient—but quite enlightening, isn't it?"
"Leaving it to the heavens is his way of mastering [fate]—not bad."
"Sigh~ Odds of it whipping up a milk tea are higher than it skipping the cold jokes."
With [Shut Up]'s cold joke hour wrapped, Stelle cut to the chase: "Oh neih gae—come with us to Belobog for [Dawnfest]!"
"Mm~ Normally, I'd say yes, but sorry... Not today."
Adrian outright refused Stelle. HE'd specially consulted Qingque for a reading that morning: Prime for slacking, not traveling.
And intuition told HIM—heading to Jarilo-VI without precautions would get HIM played by Aha for sure.
Zhongshan from the [Releasers Inc.] mess, the [Tavern] bombing from the Interastral broadcast... [Eternity] fingerprints all over. Knowing Aha like HE did, that Elation fool wouldn't let it slide without a comeback.
Better safe than sorry.
"R-Re-Refused?!" Stelle was floored. "[Eternity] doesn't love crashing the party?!"
"That was then—this is now... Being an Aeon ain't easy these days. Cut ME some slack."
Adrian walked Stelle back to the Passenger Car, just in time to spot March 7th emerging from the Archive.
"Can't budge either of 'em... Guess it's just us two? What a shame—finally a trip without the baggage." March 7th bowed her head, her disappointed words drifting lightly.
Stelle didn't get it—this Aeon was plenty strong, yet overly cautious. First time she'd seen a god this slothful.
"Don't jinx it..." Stelle recalled an unpleasant memory.
"Jarilo-VI survived even a Stellaron Core— what's the worst that could happen now? Come on, quit worrying over nothing."
How could a celebration go wrong? If it were a fresh planet drop, she'd own the crow's mouth label.
"Mm, if only Himeko could join us..."
"Mr. Yang's already forgotten?" Stelle snarked.
"Uncle Yang? After all the Luofu chaos, he talks with all that coughing and wheezing—looks more the senior than Adrian. Didn't you notice?"
March 7th listed why Welt wouldn't tag along: "And this morning, wasn't he sipping Himeko's new coffee brew? Folks our age don't dig the hustle anymore..."
"Sigh~ How about we ask Himeko? She might wanna come! Y'know, you've been aboard forever and never teamed up for a trip with her? Not on my watch... Come on, let's chat her up!"
...
Passenger Car, Himeko's Room
"What's up, little March? That smile on your face—something fun?"
Himeko sipped her coffee, inviting March 7th and Stelle to sit.
"Himeko! Listen, Belobog's Supreme Guardian's prepping a festival bash—she invited us to soak in the vibes."
"Dan Heng's in seclusion, not budging, and Teacher Adrian's slacking off... So, wanna join us two for it?"
A smile flickered across Himeko's lips: "No wonder you're beaming—gearing up for good times, huh."
"Thanks for the invite, but I've got affairs tying me down—can't shake free just yet. Pass my regards to that [Supreme Guardian] girl."
"The Trailblaze mark on Jarilo-VI was forged by you four firsthand... You all deserve to savor the locals' gratitude."
"Next time, next time I'll clear my schedule and go with you."