Express Crew

The Trailblazer returned to her room and, without another word, flopped onto the soft bed.

Huff... so tired...

It had to be the overwhelming information Aha had brought her. Her brain probably couldn't process it all, which was why she was so sleepy.

Stelle hugged the blanket and turned over. Even in her dreams, her brows remained tightly furrowed, as though she were being tormented by nightmares.

And that was indeed the case, because the ever-persistent Aha had chased the poor Trailblazer straight into her dreams.

They leaned close to Stelle with a beaming smile, their gaze fervent and lingering—the very same look they had once given the Aeon of Trailblaze, Akivili.

"Believe it now? You and I are nothing but a string of virtual code."

"I believe you, Aha. I really believe you now. I'm already yours—do I even have the option not to?"

"Hahahaha."

Aha's voice was brimming with elation. They truly had placed some of their longing for Akivili upon this Trailblazer, perhaps recalling the memories of teasing Akivili long ago.

"But what I need to tell you is this: from the moment you embraced the Path of Elation, you awakened your self-awareness and became a real person, one of flesh and blood.

"From now on, you can do anything you want. Follow your heart in all things. No so-called players from the third dimension will control you ever again."

This was Aha's compensation for blowing up the Star Rail all those years ago. They were willing to grant the Trailblazer a little freedom. Whatever she chose to do was fine, because they believed that no one could create more fun than Stelle!

Not even all the Masked Fools put together could compare.

Stelle: It had been a long time since she'd slept this badly.

She felt like she'd had a very strange dream.

When the Trailblazer woke up, her mind had never felt clearer.

She laughed inwardly for no reason. She must have had too much Scorching Tea—she had actually dreamed of the Aeon of Elation, and of becoming an Emanator or something.

With that thought, she stretched, and her gaze happened to fall upon the clown face in her palm.

What was this?

Wasn't she awake? Why was this damned mark still on her hand?

So it hadn't been a dream.

No amount of brainwashing herself could make it a dream.

Sigh, she should just accept reality.

Stelle let out a heavy sigh. So what if she had become an Emanator of Elation? Life still had to go on.

Enough. She should just accept this absurd reality.

After washing up and getting herself dressed, she prepared to head downstairs.

Come to think of it.

Aha had said that after awakening her self-awareness, this world had become real, and she could do whatever she wanted.

When she had been a Nameless, she naturally had to carry out the will of Trailblaze.

But now that she was an Emanator of Elation, what should she do?

Stelle stopped at her door and pondered for a long time.

Elation... if it was Elation...

A spark flashed through Stelle's mind.

Hadn't she always wanted to get close to every attractive man and woman she saw, but never had the chance?

Now that she was no longer bound by the rules of the game, couldn't she pursue the characters anytime, anywhere, and do all sorts of things with them?

Thinking of holding Gepard on her left and old Sampo on her right, kissing Kafka on the left and giving Himeko a big smooch on the right, Stelle rubbed her hands together excitedly.

Mm~ wasn't that elating enough?

That was incredibly elating.

Stelle: Aha, you really picked the right person to be your Emanator!

Hehe, now that she had settled on her goal in life, she wouldn't hold back!

Stelle walked out of her room and stopped at the top of the stairs. With a crooked, wicked grin, she rolled up her sleeves with both hands, looking ready to make a grand move.

"Stelle, you're energetic this early in the morning too. Good morning."

The sudden voice beside her gave her a fright. Stelle turned around and saw the red-haired Himeko adjusting her coat as she stood behind her, smiling warmly.

"Ah, Miss Himeko. Morning."

Stelle glanced at Himeko, and as if possessed, her body moved before her mind did. Before she had even issued herself the command to walk, her feet had already carried her toward Himeko.

Her eyes fixed on Himeko's exposed, snow-white arm, and she naturally reached out to loop her arm through it.

Like an oversized gray Pom-Pom, she leaned bonelessly against the woman.

Seeing this passenger—the last to board the train—acting spoiled with her like never before, Himeko opened her arms and gently drew Stelle into an embrace.

Stelle buried her face in Himeko's chest, and her thoughts grew more and more chaotic.

Ah, happiness. Such overwhelming happiness.

Come to think of it, she really had never done something like this to anyone before.

She truly had a mind of her own now and could freely control her body.

The train's next warp was imminent. While there was still time before they boarded Amphoreus, she might as well say goodbye to everyone else.

No sooner said than done.

Stelle took a deep breath of Himeko's coffee-scented fragrance, its bitter sweetness pulling her mind back from one wild fantasy after another.

"Such a cute child."

Himeko patted Stelle's head. Seeing her little face flush, seemingly from embarrassment, she smiled and watched her walk away.

"Going out to play again today?"

"That's right, that's right."

Stelle turned back and flashed Himeko a smile. Under the woman's gentle gaze, she turned and headed for the Parlor Car.

The moment she disappeared from Himeko's sight, before she had even left the Passenger Car, she ran straight into someone at a corner.

Stelle staggered back two steps, rubbing the tip of her reddened nose. She looked up with teary eyes, only to discover that it was Welt.

"Waaah, Uncle Welt."

Stelle looked at Uncle Welt, covering her nose as her voice trembled.

"I'm sorry."

Welt looked at Stelle apologetically. He wanted to check on her but did not know where to start. After floundering in place for a while, he seemed to have a sudden inspiration and immediately lowered his head to rummage through his pockets. After a long while, he finally pulled out a set of top-tier double-crit relics.

The man offered them to her with both hands, earnestly meeting Stelle's pair of golden eyes, shimmering like moonlight.

"I didn't expect you to get up so early today. Ah, no, I didn't mean that you usually get up very late."

Stelle picked up a CRIT DMG body piece and inspected it. Whoa, 12.8% CRIT Rate? This was insanely good.

Her nose immediately did not hurt quite as much anymore.

Stelle hugged the heavy pile of relics in her arms, blinking as she looked at Uncle Welt innocently.

A world that had strayed from the original plot was truly wondrous.

So wondrous that she had not heard a word Welt had said. If she had, she definitely would have puffed up her cheeks and stomped her feet in protest: "I only sleep until two in the afternoon. Does that count as late?!"

Stelle stuffed the relics into her backpack, no trace of her previous teary-eyed appearance remaining.

"Wow, Uncle Welt, that's quite the gift. You're so nice."

Stelle waggled her eyebrows at Uncle Welt, signaling that if he ever farmed relics this good again, he should please keep giving them to her!

Having received Uncle Welt's gift, Stelle happily skipped away.

Her nose?

After receiving relics this good, it had stopped hurting ages ago!

Elsewhere.

Inside the Parlor Car.

Today, it was March 7th's turn to do chores.

The pink-haired girl pressed her hands together and bowed devoutly to Dan Heng.

"Help me, Mr. Dan Heng! This child stayed up all night reading novels yesterday, and now I have absolutely no energy. Use your Cloud-Weaving Technique to help me clean up."

Dan Heng wore an expression that said, What else could I do? He silently nodded. "Got it. Last time."

"Mhm, mhm!" Stars appeared in March 7th's eyes. Then she turned and spotted Stelle, who had just arrived and witnessed the whole process. "Stelle, you're awake! Good morning!"

Sigh, this kind of thing was already nothing unusual.

Stelle thought that throughout their journey, she and March 7th had always troubled Dan Heng from time to time. Though he maintained his usual taciturn manner and always said, "Last time."

In truth, he never refused to help. Every time, he would stubbornly insist that it was the last time.

Hmm... should she engage in some Elation antics with the two of them?

Better not for now.

After all, rabbits did not eat the grass around their own burrows.

Stelle scratched her head, but seeing Dan Heng about to use the Cloud-Weaving Technique, she and March 7th consciously walked over to sit by the sofa.

When someone else was cleaning, you did not have to help, but you definitely could not get in the way.

March 7th put her legs together. Seeing Stelle's bleary, half-awake look, she patted her own lap.

"Are you still sleepy, or does your head hurt? Your complexion didn't look too good when you came back yesterday. Want me to give you a massage?"

"How could I impose?"

Stelle waved her hand.

Though she put on a show of refusing, her body obediently lay down anyway.

With her head resting on March 7th's lap, all she had to do was open her eyes to see the girl's gentle gaze.

"Is this pressure okay?"

March 7th's fingers pressed against Stelle's temples, massaging them with just the right amount of force.

Stelle blissfully closed her eyes and let out a deep breath, her entire body relaxing at once.

Dan Heng, who had just finished cleaning the train, came over and saw this scene.

He pursed his lips. Subconsciously, he felt that something had changed, yet he could not figure out where this sense of discord came from.

"Heading out again today, Stelle?"

Stelle opened her eyes. Seeing Dan Heng approach, she answered without hesitation, "Yeah. Before we head to Amphoreus, I'm planning to revisit the previous warp destinations. I'm going to Jarilo first."

"Then..."

Dan Heng pondered for a moment before sitting down beside Stelle.

His gaze casually traveled upward from the soles of Stelle's shoes. Her slender ankles and fair legs reflected in his eyes, and the emerald Leg Ring matched the color of his coat exactly.

"When you go to the Xianzhou Luofu, take me with you. I happen to want to go back and take a look too."

As far as Stelle remembered, Dan Heng had never said he wanted to return to the Luofu. Since such an opportunity was rare, she naturally had to cherish it.

"Sure! Of course!"

Stelle smiled as she got up from March 7th's lap. She stood, waved to everyone, then turned and headed for the door.

"I'm off to have fun in Belobog. I'll bring back souvenirs for everyone."

March 7th nodded, watching Stelle disappear through the train door before turning to Dan Heng with starry eyes.

"Dan Heng, you cleaned so well! Can I learn the Cloud-Weaving Technique? Teach me, teach me—"

Dan Heng rubbed his forehead. "You're not from the Vidya Clan."