Setting Out on a Journey (Continued)

He stopped in his tracks.

Lin Nai looked back at the place where he had lived for many years.

Suddenly heading off on a long journey...

He still was not quite used to it.

But, oh well. It was not like he could not come back.

It might just take a little longer.

"I'm leaving, Herta." Lin Nai said this to the puppet by the door.

He did not know whether that person could hear him.

But—

Goodbyes still had to be said.

That person was probably still holed up in her office, revising her Simulated Universe, right?

She probably would not come to see him off when the time came.

Shaking his head, Lin Nai put on a cowboy hat and headed toward the platform.

He arrived at the Supply Zone.

From afar, Lin Nai could see Kizuna and Stelle standing in front of the Stellar Express.

Stelle spotted Lin Nai immediately and excitedly raised a hand to wave!

Lin Nai waved back, then used Gauss Acceleration to rush toward the platform.

In the blink of an eye—

Lin Nai stopped in front of Stelle and Kizuna.

"Looks like I'm not late."

"Of course not." Kizuna smiled. "Are you ready to depart?"

"I've been ready for a while. Time to embark on a journey, explore new worlds, and blaze trails through new regions."

"Is that so...? Well, there's still time. Would you like to talk to them?"

Kizuna pointed into the distance.

Turning around, Lin Nai saw a large crowd jogging toward him.

The road from the Supply Zone to the platform seemed to have been blocked by the crowd in an instant.

Lin Nai was completely stunned.

"Whew... Sorry, Lin Nai. We're a little late." Arlan panted heavily.

"No, rather than that... why are all of you here?"

Lin Nai asked in confusion.

He had figured that he would probably be back after a while, so there was no need for a farewell.

That was why he had not told anyone anything.

He had planned to leave today.

He had not expected so many people to come.

Besides, it was not as if he had never gone on a long trip before.

Arlan seemed to understand what Lin Nai was thinking and said, "What are you talking about? You're our friend, of course we should see you off."

"Besides, this is different from when you ran away from the Space Station before. This is more official."

"Is it?"

Lin Nai did not understand. Was this not just another long trip?

A Security Department staffer shouted, "Big Bro Lin Nai! You're going on a long trip without telling us in advance? That's not cool!"

"Exactly! Oh, right! Big Bro Lin Nai, look at the gift I bought! It keeps you safe! I spent a fortune on it! It's been blessed!"

"Hiss... Didn't you buy that wholesale for a few credits on Pinduoduo?"

"What are you saying?! A master blessed this! I specifically spent five thousand credits on it!"

"You got scammed! The blessed ones on Pinduoduo only cost twenty!"

"...No way, right? Gah! Not that! Please, anything but that!"

"There's a crazy guy! Everyone, retreat!!"

"Ah, Lin Nai, ignore them. This is something our department made. Here, take it!"

Lin Nai smiled as he accepted the staffers' gifts one by one, thanking each of them in turn.

Good thing he had the System Space.

Otherwise, he would not have been able to carry so many things...

Too many people had come.

There were even people in the back holding up a banner: Farewell, Lin Nai.

Why did that feel a little strange?

"Woof!"

"Oh, Peppy, did you come to see me off too?" Lin Nai crouched down and reached out to pet the little dog.

Peppy howled twice, trotted away, then came back with a frisbee in his mouth.

How should he put it?

Lin Nai froze for a moment when he saw the frisbee.

Mainly because, for all this time, he and Arlan had mostly played with Peppy using electronic frisbees.

This was the first physical one he had seen.

"Thanks, Peppy." Lin Nai took the frisbee. "When I come back next time, I'll play with you."

"Arf!"

"Lin Nai, here."

Arlan took out a box and handed it to him.

Lin Nai accepted it with both hands, his face full of curiosity. "What is this?"

"A weapon... You might not need one, but take it. It's a small token from me."

"I didn't know what to give you, but be careful out there."

Arlan patted Lin Nai on the shoulder. "And remember to come back often. I'll miss you."

"Thank you."

Lin Nai planned to carefully store the weapon in his room on the train later.

Maybe he could make a display case and put all the things they had given him inside.

Uh...

Would his room be big enough?

"Oh, right. Miss Asta is on her way over. I'll take them back first."

Arlan coughed twice and began directing the staffers in the distance to leave in an orderly manner.

After all the staffers had left—

Lin Nai finally saw Asta.

"Lin Nai..."

"Yo, Asta. Do you need me to bring you any souvenirs?"

"Sure." Asta paused, then smiled. "Then I'll have to ask you to bring back something interesting."

"Haha, definitely. Oh... right, don't say that line from the dream."

That line about being happy and finding happiness.

That memory was not exactly a good one for Lin Nai, because he had nearly had his mouth washed out with cement.

"Mm... I kind of want to say it." Asta reached out and touched Lin Nai's face.

He was only leaving for a while.

It was not like this was a final farewell.

Still, she was a little reluctant to let him go...

"Be safe on the road. You can come back to the Space Station whenever you want. This is your home."

"I know. After all, I've lived here for a long time."

After that—

Asta said many more things.

It made Lin Nai feel as though a mother was worried about her child going far away from home.

"Mm... Well, that's it. I still need to get back to work..."

Asta took two steps away, then suddenly turned back and hugged him.

"Asta?"

"Be careful on the road. I'll wait for you to come back."

"Mm... Okay."

Letting go, Asta gave him a playful wink and quickly left the platform.

Lin Nai watched Asta depart until she disappeared from sight.

But when he turned back, he found Kizuna standing to one side with a teasing smile.

"Uwah..."

"What youthful days~" Kizuna remarked with a sigh.

Lin Nai could only smile, not knowing what to say in response.

"So, are you ready to depart?"

"Uh... Sister Kizuna, give me a few more minutes."

"No problem. I'll go aboard first." Kizuna nodded and boarded the train.

Lin Nai, meanwhile, walked over to a Herta puppet.

"Herta, I don't know whether you're listening, or whether you came..."

"But none of that matters."

Lin Nai pressed his lips together. It still felt a little awkward.

Shaking his head, Lin Nai pushed those distracting thoughts aside and continued, "Herta, thank you for taking care of me all these years."

"Even though you often left me there without a care, and threatened me every now and then, acting like a complete jerk."

"But I'll miss you, every moment of every day. And... I love you?"

After saying it hesitantly, Lin Nai adjusted his hat and muttered, "It still feels weird. Good thing Herta can't hear it. Hopefully there won't be a next time."

He boarded the train and stood at the doorway.

Lin Nai still turned back to look at the place where he had lived for years.

Starting today...

He would embark on a new journey.

Random Skill: Trolley Slash (the ultimate move of Kamen Rider Den-O's Climax Form)

Mm...