Pela~ Sis~ter~

Serval came back to her senses. "No, I was just thinking about something."

That song...

Was it symbolizing something?

Serval shook her head, deciding not to think too much about it for now.

Of course.

She had no intention of letting Pela see the lyrics, either.

It would be a little awkward.

"Alright, time to rest!" Serval got to her feet and changed the subject. "Want to stay the night?"

"No, I'm heading back. I only have a little left of Snow Country Adventure Tales."

Pela walked to the door as well.

"You really do like Snow Country Adventure Tales."

Serval smiled. "Want me to walk you out?"

"No need. The Silvermane Guard is still patrolling outside. Nothing dangerous will happen."

With that, Pela left the workshop.

Serval picked up the sheet music and carefully put it away.

What a strange person.

It was just a shame she hadn't been able to invite her band. That probably would have been interesting.

They should be able to meet again someday, right?

Meanwhile.

Lin Nai, who was returning to the Goethe Hotel from the Mirror World, sneezed.

Lin Nai: Am I catching a cold?

Pela~ Big Sis~

The next day.

The four members of the Astral Express crew began their exploration of Belobog, just as they had discussed yesterday!

However...

They had failed before they even began.

Their original plan—investigate secretly, no shooting—was forced to a halt.

But there was a problem now...

Whenever Stelle saw a trash can, her DNA stirred.

Lin Nai dragged Stelle away from a trash can she was trying to rummage through, his face dark.

Damn it!

Did she seriously like trash cans that much, Trailblazer?!

The moment they stepped out of the Goethe Hotel, Stelle sprinted a hundred meters straight toward a trash can.

If Lin Nai had not spotted her in time—

If he had not used Gauss Acceleration to move at Mach speed and haul her back—

Stelle would have climbed into the trash can by now.

For the rest of the time.

Whenever she saw a trash can, Stelle would itch to go over and inspect it.

How should he put this...

Lin Nai had gradually gone from socially anxious to getting used to the strange looks people around them gave him.

March Seven and Dan Heng had retreated dozens of meters away long ago, wearing expressions as if they did not know them.

Hey!

Shouldn't they share hardships together?!

Weren't they members of the Astral Express crew?!

Why were they just standing there and watching?! Had they betrayed their sincere friendship?!

Dan Heng: OMO

March Seven: IMO

"So why exactly are trash cans so appealing to you? This is already the third one."

Stelle puffed out her cheeks and said aggrievedly, "But I can't help it..."

"Why can't you help it?!"

Lin Nai complained, "Are trash cans really that enticing? This isn't some open-world RPG!"

"Uh..." Stelle scratched her head. "But... but... they really are attractive!"

"..." *3

"Stelle, are you okay?"

March Seven was beginning to worry about Stelle's mental state. How could trash cans possibly be appealing?

There was no so-called treasure inside them.

"Really!" Stelle grabbed Lin Nai's hand and pointed at the trash can. "Look!"

"Look at what?"

Lin Nai asked in confusion, "It won't change no matter how much you look at it."

"It's a trash can. It's a trash can today, and it'll be a trash can for the rest of its life!!"

Stelle stretched out both hands, pressed them to Lin Nai's cheeks, and forced him to stare at the trash can.

"Lin Nai, listen to me..."

"You stare at the trash can for a long time, and it seems to have changed. The ice-cold bin is no longer covered in rust, and the dents on its body have smoothed out considerably."

"A golden glow faintly spills from beneath the lid, sweet and tempting."

"Now..."

"I think it's a treasure chest?"

"Impossible." Lin Nai slapped Stelle's hands away. "That level of temptation can't possibly fool me."

After all, even Kafka's Word of Power had no effect on him.

Why did Stelle think she could trick him?

"Sigh... It failed." Stelle sighed. "I was thinking that if it worked, I'd have Lin Nai serve me tonight."

"Don't say weird things." Lin Nai raised a hand and flicked Stelle on the forehead.

"Mm..."

Stelle rubbed her forehead and revealed an innocent smile.

But only the Astral Express crew knew.

She was absolutely not as honest as she looked.

"Come to think of it, we haven't gathered any information since coming out. We've just been stopping Stelle the whole time."

March Seven sighed.

How was that girl even more restless than she was...

Wait.

Could it be that this was how Dan Heng, Kizuna, Uncle Yang, and the others usually saw her?!

Dan Heng wore a helpless expression.

He rubbed his temples. Becoming the center of attention was far too troublesome.

But never mind. Stelle was merely curious about everything. Maybe she would get over it after a while.

Besides.

When things truly became dangerous, the girl was still quite steady.

There was no need to deliberately suppress her curiosity and nature... except when it came to rummaging through trash cans.

"Um... Lin Nai, what are you doing?"

March Seven watched with a complicated expression as Lin Nai pulled a rope from who knew where and tied one end around Stelle's wrist.

"I was worried Stelle might run off, so I made an energy rope and tied it to her clothes."

Lin Nai tugged on the blue energy cord.

"I'm Lin Nai's..."

"Don't say it!" Lin Nai was so startled that he decisively covered Stelle's mouth.

What the hell...

If she shouted that, the Silvermane Guard would probably toss him into prison for a while.

Then he would really be done for.

"..."

March Seven's expression had gone blank. She suddenly felt that she should have stayed curled up on the train.

Dan Heng?

Dan Heng had already gone numb.

Later, though, Lin Nai felt that the situation looked rather bad, so he simply untied Stelle and took her by the hand as they strolled through the streets.

And under March Seven's guidance, they avoided one trash can after another.

After wandering around for a while.

The four of them took a short rest near the fountain in front of the Belobog Museum.

"Whew... We've searched for so long, but we haven't found a single clue." March Seven sat on a bench and glanced at Stelle, who was counting the coins in the fountain.

It was the first time she had felt tired.

Dan Heng said nothing and merely stood quietly to one side.

Taking care of children was exhausting.

Especially when the number of children multiplied by two.

Still, ever since Stelle arrived, March Seven had become much better behaved.

Lin Nai took a sip of the canned soda he had bought from a vending machine and said,

"Take it slow. Look on the bright side: thanks to Stelle, we've already gone all the way around the Administrative District. At least we're familiar with the terrain now."

"Besides, we have plenty of time, so there's no need to worry." Lin Nai finished his drink in one gulp and tossed the can into a trash can. "Nice! Three points!"

"Nice! I'll do it too!" March Seven copied Lin Nai and tossed her bottle inside. "Three points!"

The two looked at Dan Heng.

Dan Heng was silent for several seconds. After finishing his drink, he made a three-pointer as well.

"Nice!" *2

Lin Nai and March Seven shouted, then slapped their hands together in celebration.

Dan Heng looked helplessly at the two of them, playing around like children.

Wait.

Speaking of children...