Gambler

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised a finger, and with a whoosh, the notification sound for a successfully sent voice message rang out.

Lying on the large bed and hugging her cup, Stelle heard Dr. Ratio's voice message and excitedly rolled over three times.

She had always felt that these pots, pans, bowls, and utensils would be of great use. Deep down, she somehow felt she could bring them along to Amphoreus someday.

Anyway, her all-purpose storage backpack could fit them all.

Every time Dr. Ratio gave her gifts, he went all out. Stelle believed he would definitely include plenty of worthwhile little presents as well.

With that in mind, she tapped out a line on the keyboard and sent it over.

Stelle: Come to think of it, I haven't seen you in ages. Where's Director Dr. Ratio been making his fortune lately? I'll treat you to a meal. Let's go, let's go❛˓◞˂̵✧

Hmph, hmph. Though little Stellaron Spirit was young enough to count her age on one hand, she had picked up quite a bit about social etiquette from the Express Crew.

Since he was going to give her something, she naturally had to offer to treat him to a meal in return.

Based on what she knew about Dr. Ratio, he would probably agree to meet, but he would not let her spend any money.

"Ah, the most expensive and lavish meal I could afford with the little bit of Credits I have probably wouldn't even amount to a fraction of his appetizer. It's normal that he wouldn't think much of it."

Stelle muttered softly to herself.

If Stelle had the Elation Switch turned on, she would absolutely sneer at herself for saying something like that.

"If I treat Dr. Ratio to a meal, then even if it's Belobog Rock-Grilled Newt, he has to accept it gratefully and eat it! After all, I'm the famous Galaxy Bat Knight and an Emanator of Elation. Just getting glanced at by me should make anyone feel honored, okay?"

Aha: Isn't the Trailblazer's sense of deserving things a little too high in her Elation state?

Trailblazer Stelle: I think so too...

Elation Stelle: You actually criticized me, which means you're criticizing yourself?! Fine, fine, fine. Once we unlock the narcissus storyline, I'll pin you to the ground and *(censored).

Trailblazer Stelle: =͟͟͞͞ =͟͟͞͞ ﾍ( ´Д`)ﾉ

"Haha, I wonder what Miss Stellaron plans to treat me to? The company has been far too busy lately. Next time—when we're both free next time, I won't stand on ceremony."

Dr. Ratio's reply came very quickly.

The Trailblazer could practically imagine the expression on Dr. Ratio's face as he typed those words. He was surely looking quite pleased with himself.

What she had said about not seeing each other for a long time was not a lie.

Stelle silently counted on her fingers. Ever since leaving Penacony, she truly had not seen Dr. Ratio again. They had occasionally exchanged a few messages and mailed things to each other, but they had never met in person.

If they did not meet up and reconnect soon, she felt as though she might forget what he even looked like.

As it happened, her next stop was Penacony. Why not arrange to meet Dr. Ratio at Golden Hour?

With that thought, Stelle typed out a few words and sent them over.

Dr. Ratio replied quickly.

Dr. Ratio: All right, then I'll see you in the dream. I'm very much looking forward to seeing you, my friend.

Extinguishing his phone screen, Dr. Ratio glanced back. He had long since left the auction hall. The clamor of the Dreamscape was unceasing, and the sickly-sweet scent of Soolada filled his nose.

Dr. Ratio thought that he did not actually like Penacony's atmosphere very much. It was too glittering, too decadent.

He disliked it greatly.

But as soon as he thought of it as the place where he had first met the Trailblazer—

Dr. Ratio suddenly smiled.

He took an exquisite jewelry gift box from his pocket. Opening it, he found the very same pure-gold aventurine necklace that he had just won at auction for ten million.

Under the lights, the aventurine gleamed with a warm luster. In the eyes of outsiders, this necklace might be considered exceptionally beautiful.

But... Dr. Ratio's eyes darkened as he abruptly shut the box and slipped it into his pocket.

Whenever he thought of the girl's flower-like smile, even the most exquisite and gorgeous jewels placed before her would pale into insignificance.

Having this aventurine necklace worn around Stelle's neck would count as making the most of its value.

Those ten million had not been wasted.

Dr. Ratio still wore a self-satisfied expression as he lifted a leg and strolled deeper into Golden Hour.

Only Soolada's advertising slogan lingered by his ears.

"Drink this bottle of Soolada, and happy dreams will arrive in no time♪"

Stelle stopped before a vending machine.

She took a Clover Credit from her pocket, and with a crisp metallic clink, she finally got her wish—a chilled bottle of delicious soda from the dispensing slot.

In fact, only half an hour had passed since she and Dr. Ratio agreed to meet in Penacony.

She quickly got up and freshened herself up, then headed straight to Golden Hour without another word.

There was still plenty of time before their appointed meeting, so stirred by the familiar scenery, Stelle decided to sip some delicious local soda as she wandered through the old grounds where she had once run around searching for treasure chests, hoping to revisit them properly.

Before she knew it, her feet had carried her toward the arcade machines.

No one could resist becoming a gambler. No one!

Stelle was a complete devotee of leaving things to fate, and she had absolutely no resistance to games that depended on luck.

Lucky Wheel, activate!

Dreamy Slots, activate too!

Just as she spent the last Aidion Token in her wallet, she felt someone pat her on the shoulder.

Huh, who could it be?

The Trailblazer turned around and met Dr. Ratio's smiling face.

Ah, it was Dr. Ratio!

She hadn't gotten so caught up in the games that she lost track of time, had she? And her phone was on silent too. They had only agreed to meet at Golden Hour, not on any specific location. Surely Dr. Ratio hadn't searched all over the place just to find her?

Seeing Stelle's expression change more than a dozen times in a second, Dr. Ratio immediately knew what she was thinking.

She was definitely overthinking it.

"I just got here too. I happened to spot you as soon as I arrived." Dr. Ratio took the Trailblazer's wallet, stuffed it full of Aidion Tokens, and handed it back to her.

"I don't come to Penacony often, so I'll leave it to you to spend these game tokens for me. But if you win anything good, remember to split it with me fifty-fifty, friend."

The Trailblazer froze for half a beat. Only after accepting the now bulging wallet did she look at Dr. Ratio in disbelief.

"Dr. Ratio, I got so carried away playing that I lost track of time. You don't have to say things you don't mean to comfort me. You must have spent a long time looking for me. I'm really sorry."

Dr. Ratio touched his nose.

In truth, the moment he left the auction venue, he had headed straight for Aideen Park.

There was no other reason—he simply knew the Trailblazer well enough.

He knew that Stelle would never resist the temptation to gamble. She would definitely lose herself in the games and refuse to stop until she had spent every last Aidion Token.

(Because whenever Dr. Ratio passed through Golden Hour, he had seen Stelle lose everything more than once.)

So this time, he had deliberately picked a secluded corner, sat down on a bench, and leisurely watched the Trailblazer.

He watched her cheer one moment, then gloomily reach out and smack the machine the next—only to hop around in pain afterward.

So cute.

Dr. Ratio unconsciously narrowed his eyes in delight.

Once he saw that the Trailblazer had spent every last one of her game tokens—

Only then did Dr. Ratio straighten his clothes, slowly rise to his feet, and walk toward the Trailblazer step by step.

It was time for him to make his entrance.