March 7th: Pillow Fight!

When they went to the Herta Space Station, Bai Tang went with Stelle. But upon reaching their destination, dear Bai Tang mercilessly abandoned Stelle and slipped away to see Herta.

"This is from the Reignbow Arbiter, and this is from the Plagues Author..."

Bai Tang took out quite a few things related to the Aeons and pushed them toward Herta.

"Wait, there's one from Them too."

"From the Aeon of 'Wish'?"

Herta was very interested in the blue flower, but even more interested in Bai Tang. "What's your relationship with the Aeon of 'Wish'?"

Herta was certain Bai Tang wasn't an Aeon. What Aeon couldn't draw on all the energy of their Path? Besides, Bai Tang still had all her emotions and wasn't single-mindedly following her Path.

Bai Tang: "What Aeon of 'Wish'? How come I don't know about that? Oh dear, my male dragon is pregnant, so I'd better go."

Dan Feng, who had inexplicably been forced to become pregnant: ...

Dan Heng, who was also a male dragon: ...

Bai Tang made herself scarce and successfully slipped away.

[Stelle: Bai Tang, the newcomer Veritas Ratio actually has "Wish" energy on him. Amazing!]

With Bai Tang as a reference, they could now recognize the energy of the Path of "Wish." Aside from Bai Tang, they hadn't met anyone else who possessed it!

Stelle gave him a few extra curious looks and sent Bai Tang a message.

[Bai Tang: I'm watching from a little corner. Don't give me away]

Bai Tang hid in a little corner and stealthily poked her head out, glancing at Dr. Ratio not far away. Before she was discovered, she quickly pulled her head back.

When she peeked out again, her gaze met a pair of emotionless golden eyes. Oh, they were Stelle's eyes.

She signaled for Stelle not to give her away, then pulled her head back again.

Stelle pretended not to have seen her.

But who was Professor Ratio? He could clearly tell someone was watching him, and he saw right through Stelle's attempt to cover for her. He simply didn't care.

However, the energy on the person watching him was "Wish."

Speaking of "Wish," Professor Ratio recalled what had happened in the past. Back then, he had been fixated on joining the Genius Society. Later, after he had come to terms with it and become Dr. Ratio, he discovered that "Erudition" had not chosen him. Instead, the most elusive "Wish" had sought him out.

The moment he obtained "Wish," his feelings had been complicated.

Recently, the Gambler had also possessed "Wish," but his was different from theirs. He should have been the sort who had received a blessing.

Only those who obtained it by following the Path of "Wish" would know this Path.

Whether they obtained it themselves or received it as a blessing, anyone who possessed it could be considered a Dreamchaser until it disappeared.

After peeking at Professor Ratio, Bai Tang went to wander around elsewhere. Once Stelle had finished the story, the two returned to the train together.

"Come on, pillow fight!"

The pillow fight March 7th had been longing for finally began.

The participants were Stelle, March 7th, Bai Tang, and Dan Heng.

Dan Heng—Dan Heng had been dragged over by March 7th.

Although he was said to be participating, he didn't actually join in. Instead, he sat to one side and watched them fight.

The room was bathed in soft, warm light, and pillows of all sizes were piled beside the bed. There were no soft mats on the floor. The people here could take a beating, and if they collided with the floor, the floor might be the one in trouble.

Bai Tang had sewn the pillows herself over the past few days, and March 7th had "requisitioned" them. Everyone was ready to go.

"Three, two, one—start!"

Holding a pillow, March 7th's eyes curved into little crescents. The moment she finished speaking, she swung it hard at Bai Tang beside her.

"Today, I'm the pillow king!"

Bai Tang reacted swiftly. She sidestepped the attack and caught the incoming pillow, then spun sharply and used its momentum to send it flying at March 7th.

"Oh, so you're ambushing me! Take this!"

The soft pillow struck March 7th's head with a muffled thump, sending a few feathers drifting into the air.

"You call yourself a king? I'm the real king!"

Stelle looked from side to side, then seized an opening and joined the battle. She grabbed pillows one after another and hurled them at Bai Tang and March 7th with all her might.

"Truce for now. Get Stelle!"

March 7th grabbed a pillow and threw it at Stelle. Bai Tang also picked up a pillow and threw it with pinpoint accuracy, knocking a pillow flying toward her out of the air.

The three fought as though they were in a martial arts match. Bai Tang was the strongest of them, capable of fighting at close range or from a distance, attacking or defending.

Stelle was the god of close combat, able to dodge nearly everything thrown at her.

March 7th was the god of ranged combat, striking people with precision and never missing.

In the three-way free-for-all, a few pillows inevitably slipped through and landed beside Dan Heng.

Given his abilities, he clearly could have dodged them. Instead, he simply watched them play. When a pillow hit him in the head, he merely reached up, pulled it off, and put it beside him, with no desire to dodge at all.

Out in the world, his body reacted before his mind, dodging to protect him.

Here, he sat perfectly still, as though his muscle memory had vanished. He made no move to dodge or join in, silently catching the pillows thrown at him and placing them beside him.

March 7th accidentally misstepped and landed on her backside, only to be hit by pillows from both of them at once.

Stelle planted her hands on her hips and laughed. "Do you surrender?"

March 7th raised her hands in surrender. "I give up, I give up! You two are ruthless!"

Soon, another round of play-fighting began.

The three girls were full of energy, while the only man stood there and wasn't forced to join in.

After who knew how many rounds, the three finally collapsed on the bed, laughing so hard they could barely breathe.

Bai Tang lay sprawled over a pillow. "I... My stomach hurts from laughing..."

Stelle wiped her face. "We'll fight again next time! I'll definitely win!"

March 7th said weakly, "Again... If we go again, I'm playing dead."

"Bai Tang, your skills really are cheating."

"You've got the nerve to say that about me? Your archery is cheating too."

"Uh... Dan Heng, why didn't you join us?"

"..."

Dan Heng: Silence was the only answer.

For certain unavoidable reasons, I no longer know the order of the companion missions, so I arranged them randomly (ಥ_ಥ).

I've realized the order is wrong now, but there's nothing I can do about it, so let's leave it at that. At least the main story is still in order, with the Luofu before Penacony. As long as that's right, it's fine. I'm tired. Let it all explode.

Anyway, the companion missions basically don't affect the main story. You can go through the main story without starting them and it's the same (probably). Let's leave it at that (ಥ_ಥ).