A moment later, Lin Chen joined a group called "Apprenticeship."
It seemed to have been created on the spot.
Including Lin Chen, the group had only three members.
[Unbeatable Wolf: Master's here...]
After he entered the group, Wolf Girl, its owner, sent a message.
In a good mood, Lin Chen promptly replied.
[Invincible Cheng Ge: You accepted that pretty readily.]
[Unbeatable Wolf: Of course... a bet's a bet.]
[Invincible Cheng Ge: I was a little rude earlier. Sorry about that, Little Wolf.]
[Unbeatable Wolf: It's fine... I'm not bothered.]
[Unbeatable Wolf: Your skills really are outstanding. You deserve the Crown of Aeons.]
[Unbeatable Wolf: Master... do you have time now? Teach me how to play Magical Girl Iris.]
Reading the messages in the group, Lin Chen felt a little surprised.
Wolf Girl's way of speaking really wasn't like that of an ordinary girl.
And judging by her attitude, she seemed unusually devoted to the game.
He casually opened the match history for the player ID [Unbeatable Wolf].
Lin Chen became even more certain of his assessment.
"8,988 hours of total playtime. That's terrifying!"
"Just how much does this woman love this game?"
Lin Chen froze on the spot, stunned by her stats.
Honkai: Star Rail Glory had only been out for two and a half years.
And she had accumulated 8,988 hours of playtime.
That worked out to roughly ten hours of gaming a day for Wolf Girl.
"Grind King" was probably the only title that could describe her.
[Unbeatable Wolf: Master? Are you still online?]
[Invincible Cheng Ge: Yeah... I'm tired tonight. Let's talk tomorrow.]
[Invincible Cheng Ge: By the way, Little Wolf, are you a girl? Human?]
After typing his message, Lin Chen deliberately emphasized the word "human."
Because he knew.
Honkai: Star Rail Glory had players from all sorts of species.
Who knew? Wolf Girl might actually be a werewolf in real life.
It wasn't impossible.
[Unbeatable Wolf: That's right!]
Wolf Girl's reply finally put Lin Chen's mind at ease.
Granted, when taking on an apprentice in a game, it didn't really matter who the other person was.
But Lin Chen naturally had a preference for pretty girls.
He couldn't help it. That was just his nature, and he probably couldn't change it.
After confirming a few things, Lin Chen suddenly found himself wondering about Wolf Girl's actual appearance.
An instinctive curiosity stirred within him.
[Invincible Cheng Ge: Got a photo?]
[Unbeatable Wolf: ????]
[Invincible Cheng Ge: Don't get the wrong idea, Little Wolf. I was just thinking, even though the sea of stars is so vast...]
[Who knows? We might happen to meet someday. Then we could have a proper get-together.]
Looking at the string of question marks on the screen, Lin Chen's face twitched slightly.
Wolf Girl really wasn't an ordinary girl.
She was actually surprised by such a common pickup line.
The next moment, the group chat screen shifted.
An exceptionally high-resolution image came through.
In the picture, beneath a pair of tight leather hot pants.
Long, shapely legs with flawless contours were wrapped in burgundy stockings.
Clinging snugly to the body, the hot pants outlined full, rounded curves.
The photo had been taken on a snow-white bed.
Although the picture only showed half the body, Lin Chen, seasoned lecher that he was.
Admired the beautiful sight before him and felt its distinctly mature, seductive charm.
"That outfit actually has quite a bit of appeal."
"She's a mature beauty? She's been hiding that well..."
"But... is this really Wolf Girl herself?"
As an ambitious young man well acquainted with online social habits in his previous life.
Lin Chen remembered that plenty of people stole pictures from the internet.
But before Lin Chen could voice his doubts.
The other apprentice, who had remained silent in the group chat, suddenly spoke up.
[Not Kaka: You little brat, that's going too far. Why are you posting my photo?]
[Unbeatable Wolf: I snapped it and posted it. Is there a problem?]
[Besides, your face isn't even in it. What are you so nervous about?]
[Not Kaka: Don't you have legs of your own?]
[Take a picture of yourself and post that! Let your beloved master have a look.]
[Unbeatable Wolf: Ka... shut up! Don't talk nonsense!]
After that, the group chat turned into an all-out meme war.
Lin Chen, who had been watching from the sidelines all along.
Felt a headache coming on.
How had a perfectly pleasant conversation suddenly taken such a wild turn?
Still, judging by Kaka's reply, Wolf Girl seemed to have a pretty good impression of him?
Well... that was an unexpected pleasant surprise.
It was just a shame that Wolf Girl was ultimately only a stranger he had met.
She was completely different from Astral Express members like March 7th and Himeko.
No matter how close they became, he couldn't get any rewards from the system.
Also, Kaka's figure really was smoking hot.
Lin Chen couldn't help lingering over the sight.
[Invincible Cheng Ge: You two keep chatting. I'm logging off...]
He switched off his phone and tossed it aside.
Looking at the somewhat unfamiliar ceiling, Lin Chen felt drowsiness creep over him.
Behind him, March 7th's soft snores were already audible.
It seemed that after tonight's ordeal, March 7th really was exhausted.
"If the source of The Uncanny at Herta Space Station is what I expect it to be."
"I'll have to find a way to prepare for everything tomorrow."
Listening to the mournful singing that still drifted endlessly outside the window.
Lin Chen's thoughts wandered.
He had encountered an uncanny creation beyond his abilities almost as soon as he entered this situation.
Rather than risk facing it alone.
The more sensible strategy was to find more powerful allies.
March 7th was strong, but she tended to falter at crucial moments.
Perhaps there were other formidable human fighters aboard Herta Space Station?
He still had ten [Low-Quality Sanity Pills] on hand.
Restoring some of those people's sanity might also be a workable strategy?
"Forget it. Everything can wait until morning..."
"There are probably a few things I'll have to ask March 7th first."
He let out a soft sigh.
His heavy eyelids closed, and Lin Chen, who was genuinely feeling sleepy.
Soon drifted off to sleep.
In the central lounge of the Astral Express.
The mature red-haired beauty stood with her hands clasped behind her back.
Her gaze reached beyond the window toward the timeless beauty of the stars.
Although she was constantly traveling through the vast cosmos.
Himeko still retained her original sense of time.
The starry sky seemed especially tranquil and enchanting late at night.
"That girl, March 7th... just what is she trying to hide?"
"Is she already sharing a room with Lin Chen?"
"Lin Chen's arrival seems to have changed so many things..."
She murmured softly to herself.
A trace of complicated emotion appeared in Himeko's beautiful amber eyes.
During the video call not long ago.
The observant Himeko had already noticed.
The jacket Lin Chen usually wore, hanging over the back of a chair.
Combined with March 7th's evasive attitude.
Even the normally composed Himeko couldn't help letting her imagination wander.
"Oh well... let her be."
"To find somewhere her heart belongs."
"For that girl, wouldn't that be a kind of salvation?"
Her eyes closed, their curved lids like crescent moons in the sky.
After a thoughtful murmur, Himeko turned and left.
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