"Do remember to come back or I'll have to pay you a personal visit no matter where you are in the galaxy." Herta spoke in an even, matter-of-fact voice, staring at Simon unblinkingly.
They stood off to the side near the railway track in the supply zone, the Astral Express's whistle ringing out in the background to announce the imminent departure of the nameless.
"Is that...supposed to be a threat?" Simon looked at her back with amusement. A small smirk tugged at his lips. "Because I like the sound of it."
Herta had pulled him into this quieter corner for a private conversation before he left. The rest of the crew conversed with Asta and Arlan in the meantime, giving them a wide berth.
Herta deadpanned at him. "I mean it in the most literal sense, but don't think you can act so casually with me just because you're a little special, little blue mole."
"Mole...?" Simon muttered incredulously. The description left him wondering what his place truly was in her eyes. Something like Boota?
The thought made him slump a bit.
"What? Not satisfied?" Herta looked pleased with herself. "Most people would kill to be in your shoes."
Simon found himself speechless. Herta could be petty as hell..
"Fine, fine. I'm grateful to the inimitable Madam Herta for granting me a nickname," He conceded with a quiet laugh.
Herta snorted at the formality, her chin rising ever so slightly. "At least you know what to say."
Simon couldn't help the small smile on his face. As annoying as Herta could be, that thread of sincerity buried under her narcissism was worth fighting for.
"Naturally," Simon nodded, humouring her.
She shifted, flicking away the playful moment with a snap of her fingers and slipping back into business mode as if nothing had happened. "Now then, onto why I called you out here. I fitted the curios you selected into Lagann and even added a few extra features at no cost. Feel free to sing my praises."
She clapped her hands once and Simon's eyes widened as a few robots trundled forward with Lagann between them.
"No way...it looks incredible..." He gasped, closing the distance in a heartbeat for a closer inspection.
Herta had given it an immaculate new paint job. Streaks of black ran down its face like trails of ink and its arms glowed like molten rock, giving off a steady heat.
"I slotted the light deflecting field around the midsection, it sits behind the black panels you see." Herta closed her eyes with a self-satisfied nod. "And that's not all; I pride myself on user satisfaction, so I upgraded the shoddy curio into a fully realized cloaking system with parameters tied entirely to your energy input. Even at the baseline, it's still enough to resist an electromagnetic pulse on the planetary scale."
"That's...fucking awesome." Simon spoke with open admiration, caressing Lagann's shell lovingly.
He'd picked this specific curio—the one that once hid the Stellaron within Stelle—because he lacked better options. Still, he would never look a gift horse in the mouth.
"I knew you'd like it." Herta said, an almost imperceptible smile on her lips.
Simon didn't answer, admiring Lagann for a second longer before turning back to her. Impatience radiated from him like a child awaiting his holiday present. "So....about the second thing?"
"Hmm?" She tapped a finger against her lips and pretended to think, enjoying the way he held his breath eagerly. " Ah, yes. That broken blade? I figured you just wanted a flaming sword, so I melted it down and forged a second one from the materials for both arms. Young men like you love that sort of thing, right? Dual wielding? And what did you decide to name it again, Godslayer...something...?"
"Sutr." Simon anwered softly, pressing the dedicated switch to deploy the mounted swords. "An homage...to somebody."
Lagann's fists clenched and they shot out like Wolverine's claws. The flaming edge flared so close to him that it almost set his hair alight.
"They're detachable and mergeable, of course." The genius silently took relish in his amazement. 'I'd get into detail about how I integrated them to make sure you didn't break them, but that ridiculous power of yours could probably still make it work even if they were stuck on with cheap glue. Just know that the merged greatsword form is the true Godslayer something or other."
Simon ran finger along the blades, spiral energy protecting him from the heat and sharpness.
Among the many abilities granted the interaction between Lagann and the spiral, easy integration of foreign parts like weapons and armour counted as the most basic.
And as long as something became part of him and Lagann once, he could repair it endlessly as long as he still had a drop of willpower and a fragment of that original material.
He wasn't quite at the level of being able to create matter from nothing at will yet. Thus, Lagann still required basic maintenance, something he could entrust to either Herta, Himeko, or even Welt.
Another thing, he almost asked Herta to upgrade the wind glider next, but gave up on it after a second thought. They were a little too lame...
Instead, he'd seek out the true 'mechanical emperor' of this era, Screwllum, for a super advanced ship to combine with.
That man's arsenal was legendary. Rumour said he had planet-sized mechs...
"I don't have all day, you know," Herta said sharply, interrupting his train of thought. "One last thing, I'll have Asta send you the rewards I promised. I don't know how much you need, but it should be enough credits to book several of the best luxury rooms in Penacony."
Simon gawked a little. "Wait, seriously?"
"You can always say so if you don't want it." Herta scoffed with playful disdain.
"No, no! I want it!" He clapped his hands together in a exaggerated gesture of gratitude. "Thank you, Herta! You're my favourite genius ever, I love you!"
Simon screamed internally. Operation sugar mommy...succeeded in less than a day...? He'd always known Herta to be a straightforward, no nonsense woman, but this truly shed some light on his perspective of her...
She clearly spared no expense on someone she valued, to the point where he could now impulse buy anything he wanted.
The thought warmed him more than the heat radiating from Lagann's arms.
"As you should." Herta's smug expression betrayed her nonchalant act. "You clearly underestimate your own value if this much easily impresses you. Now go on, your companions are waiting for you."
Simon chuckled at her tone, glancing back to see everyone waiting for him.
"I'll give you the biggest hug when we finally meet." He promised brightly as he waved and walked away.
"Only if you have a death wish." Herta said sternly from behind, earning another laugh from him.
He would get that hug eventually, even if she was as flat as a board....
...
"Just what were you guys talking about that took so long, hmm?" March jogged up ahead, leaning over Lagann until she was only an inch from his face. She stared at him suspicion.
Simon flicked her forehead, sending her back a step with a startled yelp. "She just finished adding those curios I asked for. Look."
He activated the stealth field and swords to demonstrate. The display spoke for itself.
March grumbled, holding her forehead with teary eyes. "Alright, fine. I guess I can forgive you. It is pretty cool..."
"Forgive me...?" Simon asked with visible confusion, but he quickly caught on from the way her cheeks turned redder than the bump on her forehead. "Ah, I see..."
He pulled her gently back into his personal space before she could resist. March stumbled forward, feeling the ground drop out beneath her.
She threw her arms up and managed to catch herself on his shoulders, leaving them in a compromising position, however.
"I-I, you...huh?" March's thoughts melted as Simon's face filled her entire field of vision.
He looked into her eyes with utmost seriousness. "If you were feeling neglected...you could've just told me."
"Wha-" Steam might as well have been rising out of her head. "I-I didn't mean-"
"Ahem..." A loud cough cut her off.
She and Simon turned toward the source of the noise.
Welt had caught up, the rest of the crew arriving right behind him.
"My, my~" Himeko murmured with a soft, amused smile. "What's going on here?"
Asta let out an awkward laugh, while Dan Heng and Arlan at the back found more interest in the ceiling, busying themselves with anything but the scene unfolding in front of them.
Stelle...well, she couldn't quite make sense of what she was supposed to be feeling after seeing Simon and March so close, choosing to observe quietly as always.
March tied to form a coherent response, her eyes darting staring between everyone and Simon, who she still held onto.
"Uh...um, " She tore her ams off him and stepped back as if he had suddenly become hazardous. "I...I fell, yeah...I fell and...he caught me."
"Oh dear. Is your foot alright?" Himeko asked with feigned concerned, the teasing smile on her lips making her intentions perfectly clear.
"It's fine, really!" She said, her voice rising an otave in her attempt to sound casual. "I am completely fine. No pain at all. I heal fast! "
She added a quick nod, then another, and then a third for good measure.
Himeko arched an eyebrow with leisurely amusement that only made Marc's panic worse.
The woman's lips curled, but she said nothing more, waiting to see whether March would dig her own grave or simply leap into it.
March's mouth opened again, but what came out was more of a fragmented breath. "I just...I mean it was...you know..."
She trailed off and seemed ready to dissolve into a puff of steam.
Thankfully, Welt mercifully stepped in. "March, it is quite alright. I'm sure there was nothing unusual about it. There's something more important I want to ask about. "
The pink haired girl's shoulders sagged in relief. She mouthed a silent 'thank you' toward him, though her embarrassment was still painted all over her face.
Welt turned toward Simon, his eyes softening when he saw the flaming blades still extended from Lagann's arms.
"Simon, about the swords..." His voice lowered, growing more somber. "they are well-crafted, they remind me of...fragments I have seen before, long ago..."
Simom met his gaze, understanding the unspoken meaning behind his words. He gave March a quick glance that said clearly: this isn't over.
March's face immediately flamed red, yet beneath the surface, her chest fluttered with excitement.
Himeko, too, listened quietly, confused about why she was so captivated by the flames emitting from the blades.
"They were forged from the same fragments Herta kept in her collection." Simon clarified with a little pride.
The memory visibly hit Welt.
"So, she still fights." Welt whispered to himself. "Even if only through remnants. But at least those remnants found a capable steward. That brings me comfort."
The sadness that touched him was quiet, visible only in the subtle downward tilt of his shoulders and the distant look in his eyes.
Before the moment could deepen further, Arlan stepped forward earnestly.
"Sorry," He murmured. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to thank everyone again. Especially you, Mr. Simon. After seeing what you've done and hearing of your actions, I...I wanted to express my gratitude directly."
Asta, standing beside him, nodded and added warmly. "The whole station was buzzing about it. We owe you a lot. So thank you. Thank you so much."
Simon gave a confident, relaxed shrug, a playful smirk hovering on his lips. "It's no problem at all. Just glad everyone is safe."
"Yeah..." March let out an strained laugh, almost embarrassed by their sincerity, while still recovering her composure. "He is...helpful like that."
Dan Heng nodded, simple and calm as always. "We are grateful."
Welt and Himeko smiled politely. They had seen gratitude like this from countless worlds before, but it never lost its meaning.
Asta gave a small sigh at their modest reactions. "No need to be so humble. If anything, we should be prepared. After all, Madam Herta has taken a very keen interest in Simon. The station and express will definitely be cooperating a lot more often. We might even establish a permanent partnership."
Himeko gave Simon a sly look, her voice filled with amusement."If that happens, I suppose it makes Simon our luckiest find ever. Don't you agree, Welt?"
She did not bother hiding the glance she shot at March while saying it.
Welt caught caught the cue instantly. "Indeed...it would be difficult to dispute."
March's eyes widened. "What does that mean? Why would you say it like that?!"
Her voice jumped again, higher than intended, and she squinted accusingly at Himeko, who simply smiled gracefully.
"Whatever!" She muttered, cheeks puffing up in mild frustration as she redirected her energy. "Anyway! I managed to take some individual pictures of everyone, but we're still missing one thing."
"And that is?" Simon asked, smiling at her cute attempt to look unfazed.
She pointed at Simon, then Stelle, then herself and Dan Heng, effectively stopping the latter from slipping away. "A group photo with the four of us. The adventure team. The tralblazing team. No excuses!"
"And what about us?" Himeko asked teasingly.
March replied quickly, her resentment still visible. "You two are adults. Adults have adult responsibilities. This is our moment."
Welt just nodded, letting out a wry sigh alongside Himeko. "We will leave you to it then."
They moved aside together with Asta and Arlan, presumably discussing their future cooperations in greater detail.
The four trailblazers made their way toward the edge of the railway platform, where the stars stretched endlessly.
The cosmos was breathtaking from here, the kind of of view that made even someone as easily excited as March go quiet for a second.
While the view was something she saw almost everyday, the presence of people dear to her made it all the more special.
She suddenly turned to Stelle. "Oh, right! Here!"
Stelle blinked as March pressed something into her hands. A brand new smartphone.
"Where did this come from? Do you just carry spare phones on you all the time?" Simon asked skeptically.
"The one I gave you was the only spare I had lying around. This one came from Asta!" March puffed her chest proudly.
Stelle stared at the gift, unsure how to express her surprise. She settled for the simplest reaction possible. "...Thank you."
"You're welcome! Now you get to take our first real group selfie as the newest member!" She bounced eagerly. "Come on! You take the lead and we'll join in!"
Stelle hesitated only a moment before lifting the phone. When she turned the camera around and saw Simon standing beside her, smiling softly, something stirred in her chest.
But she could only ignore it, not yet understanding what it meant.
March squeezed in on the opposite side, and Dan Heng stood patiently behind them, tilting his head so he'd fit in the frame.
"Say cheese!" March exclaimed with a bright smile.
Stelle tapped the screen with the stars shining behind them.
...
They bid farewell to Asta and Arlan, boarding the Express.
Pompom puffed up proudly at the entrance. "Welcome aboard! As per tradition, here's your ticket, passenger Stelle!"
Stelle accepted it, her eyes tracing the golden shimmer. Somehow, it felt awfully familiar...but she couldn't quite remember why.
Pompom turned to Simon next. "And here's yours! I didn't have time to give you one because I was cleaning your room earlier!"
The moment Simon touched the ticket, a pulse of warm energy radiated outward, resonating through the walls of the Express.
Pompom stumbled back in shock. "T-this is...I have never seen anyone so compatible with the blessing of trailblaze since Akivili themselves..."
The car fell into silence, making even the distant hum of the engines feel muted. But besides the conductor, no one reacted dramatically.
They had already begun to understand that Simon was just like that.
Pompom swallowed, realizing it was the only one stunned. It cleared its throat loudly. "A-hem! W-well, since you all already rested at the station, the express will be departing immediately! Any objections?"
No one answered.
"Good! Then everyone please take your seats while I prepare for the warp jump!" Pompom vanished deeper into the cabin.
Dan Heng also left shortly, excusing himself to the Archives without a word.
Himeko folded her arms gently, looking at Simon and Stelle with a warm smile. "Our next destination is a planet called Jarilo-VI. It's been millenia since the express last visited it. So much must have changed, it's wise to prepare ourselves mentally."
"Yup, it wouldn't be the first time a planet turned out to be way different from the records. Trust me." March nodded energetically.
"Indeed," Welt added quietly. "The last recorded contact with that world was around seven hundred years ago. It's our duty as trailblazers to revisit the footsteps of Akivili and light up another corner of the star chart."
"I see...I will do my best." Stelle nodded, fascination stirring inside her.
The idea of adventuring as a trailblazer sounded dangerous and full of hard work, yet it carried the same weight of excitement.
She wondered quietly what kind of sci-fi story waited for her this time.
"By the way, I'm curious." Simon asked casually. "If the planet we're visiting is barren or almost barren, and I conquer it. How do I proclaim ownership over it?"
"...Why do you ask?" Welt was dumbfounded. But the hungry look in Simon's eyes spelled bad news to him. "Just so you know...in the eyes of the galaxy, we're considered the good guys."
"Ahaha...it's nothing, really. I'm just curious about the galactic framework on stuff like that." He slipped a hand behind his back, shoving the giant team Dai-Gurren flag back into Lagann's cockpit.
Himeko sighed at his mischievous streak, finding it hard to believe that this was the same man who fought so valiantly and made her lonely heart beat again after so long.
"Well, in your case, you could easily get it registered under your name with the help of Herta or the guarantee of the express."
"I see, I see. Thanks, Himeko. You're the best." Simon beamed, already plotting.
Now he knew exactly how to handle Jarilo-VI.
As mankind once stepped on the moon and claimed it, he too would step forward and take Jarilo-VI under his wing.
Becoming its supreme guardian felt small compared to saving an entire planet, even if it would be in name only since he could not always be present.
Honestly, he just wanted to be worshipped for fun.
"...You kids take a seat on the sofa and have fun." Himeko turned away, hiding the small blush creeping up her face. No one needed to see that, and she certainly could not explain it. "I'll go ahead and help the conductor with the coordinates and navigation."
The red head walked away surprisingly fast.
"Ah, there she goes." Welt murmured. "Well then, I will also go and draw something to relax until the jump. Goodbye, kids."
The man went ahead and sat down on the sofa near the stairs leading to the party car.
"Ah? Why were they both in such a hurry?" March tilted her head. "Well, whatever. Let's go too."
They followed her to the other side, and Simon and Stelle sat down beside each other.
"Are you scared?" Simon leaned back and asked.
Stelle glanced at him for a split second before staring forward. "I don't know...should I be?"
"Honestly, I don't know." Simon admitted. "This is my first time being awake for a warp. Last time, I was out of commission..."
He shuddered at the resurfacing memory of Himeko's coffee...
Stelled looked at him, confused.
March, standing nearby and bracing herself, called out. "Just avoid Himeko's coffee if you can. Trust me."
Her attention switched to her. "Okay...but what exactly are you doing?"
"I'm preparing!" March said proudly. "I'm going to try and not fall during the warp this time."
Stelle blinked slowly. "Why?"
"Because I want to!" March beamed. "Wanna join me? Although, you might get injured from the lack of experience!"
"No." Stelle answered calmly and sat even closer to Simon.
March deflated a little, pouting at their closeness, but quickly refocused on her mission to stand strong.
Pompom's voice soon echoed from the speakers. "Preparing for warp jump. Please secure yourselves, especially you, passenger March 7th! Warp in five...four..."
Simon sighed at the girl who ignored the conductor's instructions. Stelle held onto her seat nearby.
"three...two...one...!"
The floor lurched with a crackling burst of light.
March did not merely stumble, she launched forward like a projectile missile, her legs slipping from under her in the exact same pattern as before, as though the universe itself conspired to keep her streak alive.
She yelped as her balance vanished.
Simon reacted instantly, already prepared for this. He catched her reflexively as she crashed into him, momentum dragging them downward in a heap.
March landed sprawled across him, her hands pressed against his chest and their faces close enough that she could see her reflection in his eyes.
The girl froze, literally and metaphorically. Ice had formed on the parts of her body that struck the floor.
Every colour imaginable flooded her face as she processed their intimate pose. She shot to her feet like a startled cat. "T-that was..I-I mean...you...!"
"..."
Simon pushed himself up calmly, dusting his shoulders. He waited for her words patiently.
March tried to say something coherent, but nothing came out. She took several deep breaths, head whipping around to see if anyone saw.
Himeko and Welt appeared completely focused on the planet outside, already standing by the window.
Only Stelle was left, but she let out a sigh of relief as it didn't seem like she cared much.
Stelle, meanwhile, touched her chest lightly. Her face may have been emotionless, but her heart was beating harder than ever.
It puzzled her, so she said nothing again.
"Okay...okay, good. No one saw anything." March inhaled, latching on to the next immediate topic she could find like a lifeline. "A-anyway, let's see what that planet looks like!"
But immediately, she noticed something wrong with Simon. His cheek sported a fresh cut and a small bruise.
"That...did...did I do that...?" Her voice wavered. She stepped forward unconsciously, one hand cupping his face with horror.
Simon smiled reassuringly and took her wrist, lowering it gently. "It's no big deal. I'd do it again if it meant saving you."
Green embers flickered to life at his words, licking away the wounds.
"See?"
"I..." March hesitated, torn between guilt and embarrassment. The former quickly eclipsed the latter. "Sorry..."
"Didn't I already say it's nothing?" Simon patted her head lightly. "More importantly, let's take a look."
He tugged her arm playfully and turned toward the window.
Stelle glanced at March once, before following him.
March shook off the last of her panic and went with them.
And there, suspended beneath a blanket of endless stars, lay a frozen world wrapped in ice and shadow.
Her voice softened to a whisper as she spotted the view, forgetting everything that had just happened for a second. "Is that...Jarilo-VI? So much snow..."
She couldn't help but relate it to her origin...could this planet contain the answer she'd been looking for...?