He lowered his head slightly, looked at Silver Wolf, who was still stunned, and said with a smile:
"Kafka just called you babe. Sounds like you two are pretty close. To show my goodwill, should I call you babe too?"
Are you sure you're not just taking liberties with me?
Silver Wolf thought Lingchen was definitely a-
"...No thanks. Just call me Silver Wolf."
Silver Wolf shook her head, showing neither embarrassment nor anger. Reality really was different from imagination.
Lingchen went along with her and nodded.
They had only just met. A single teasing remark had been let slide only because of his current strength; pushing it any further would spoil things.
After that, they headed toward the Stellaron together.
Kafka barely spoke along the way. At most, she occasionally responded to something Lingchen said, spending most of her time observing him.
Silver Wolf gradually began complaining about their past missions, and how Elio paid so little that she had to get money elsewhere.
Even Sam began chatting with Lingchen as they walked.
At that moment, Lingchen witnessed the powerful effect of the philosophical concept of [Affinity].
After all, these three were Stellaron Hunters.
Before he activated his Emanator powers, they had talked, but their sense of distance-or rather, wariness-had been very strong. Yet barely a dozen minutes after he activated them, things had already become like this.
"We're here."
Chapter 5: Because I like real women
Along the way, Lingchen had only used the power of [Death]. Silver Wolf just couldn't understand why he kept muttering things like "Embrace the Thorns" and "Wither, only to bloom more beautifully." Did reciting those lines somehow boost his combat power?
He had one little catchphrase after another.
Of course, the main thing was that Lingchen's weapon was an enormous black-and-red scythe. Silver Wolf felt her horizons had certainly been broadened, but she had to admit those lines were pretty cool. She would design a set for herself when she got back.
Sam, meanwhile, considered the possibility of using a scythe as her weapon.
Lingchen and the three women looked at the Stellaron glowing gold before them. Unexpectedly, this Stellaron had no will of its own.
"I thought all Stellarons had minds of their own~ Is this one a well-behaved newborn baby?"
Lingchen grabbed the Stellaron. Its golden light carried highly corrosive imaginary energy, but that power was still rather unimpressive before him.
"You actually called a Stellaron a baby."
Silver Wolf was already running out of energy to comment.
He had called the Antimatter Legion creatures they encountered along the way things like "ice fatty," "Ice bird," and "fire bird." He even said the bugs tasted like chicken and had a satisfying crunch, though he didn't look like someone who would actually sample one.
"What do you collect these things for? Are you planning to blow up Nanook's ass? I heard they used to sell it."
Lingchen tossed the Stellaron to Kafka, who quickly sealed it inside a special box.
Lingchen guessed the thing was meant for transporting it. Otherwise, wouldn't the Stellaron Hunters be even more capable than that genius Herta?
The three of them: "..."
Over the course of their journey, they had realized Lingchen wasn't an Emanator of [Elation], but they felt he would definitely get along with [Elation].
This time, even Sam was speechless. Even though she liked "fighting, hell yeah" and didn't care much about outside gossip, she knew an Aeon selling their ass was surely impossible.
"Hey, if they hear you say that, they might slap you into oblivion."
"What's there to be scared of?" Lingchen smiled indifferently at Silver Wolf's warning. "For one thing, we're just slightly bigger ants to an Aeon right now. They won't even look our way without a reason. Besides, do you think the universe is short on people cursing them? Some probably want to eat their flesh. And anyway, Aha said it."
"Aha never said that. You're slandering Aha."
"Boohoo, Aha's going to cry. (╥╯^╰╥)"
Aha had happened to be nearby the instant Lingchen arrived in this world, and had immediately detected the aura on him that didn't belong to this universe. More precisely, it was actually because of his body's extraordinary adaptability to imaginary energy.
As one of the foremost Aeons, Aha could clearly sense what was special about Lingchen's body. His constitution surpassed every life-form in this universe in its adaptability to imaginary energy, almost as if he were a creature born from the energy itself. Merely detecting that much had filled Aha with delight.
That was why they paid so much attention to Lingchen, and his behavior along the way had indeed been very much to their liking.
He was still some distance from the countless lunatics among the Masked Fools, but he was special. Special people always deserved special treatment.
But Aha wouldn't stand for being slandered for no reason. Aha had a reputation to maintain, too.
"The Aeon of [Elation]?!"
Kafka looked gravely at the reddish-brown mask that had suddenly appeared before them.
Sam and Silver Wolf quickly moved to Kafka's side as well.
They knew resisting an Aeon was pointless, but the reaction was entirely instinctive. Most importantly, this mask wasn't Aha in person, and it hadn't released much of [Elation]'s aura.
Otherwise, even remaining on their feet would have been a problem.
"You... you actually brought an Aeon here."
A little cold sweat seeped from Silver Wolf's forehead. Though it was useless, she still fully activated Aether Editing.
Aha paid no attention to the three women's movements.
Boring people simply couldn't attract their gaze.
Had these people not been beside Lingchen, they likely would never have seen Aha in their entire lives, even if it was only a mask avatar.
Looking at the floating, crying mask before him, Lingchen felt a little sheepish too.
Wasn't I supposed to just blame Aha for anything weird?
But now they're not buying it.
Still, since things have come to this, I might as well see whether I can check in first.
[Ding! Check-in successful. Congratulations, host. You have obtained the Herta Character Card.] [Herta Character Card: While inactive, grants the abilities of an Emanator of [Erudition] and Herta's knowledge.]
???
Getting an [Erudition] character card from checking in before [Elation] was certainly something.
Though Lingchen was happy he could check in before an Aeon too, the quality seemed a little lackluster.
Still, Herta's knowledge was an unexpected bonus. None of the previous three character cards had included anything like knowledge.
"You seem to be thinking about something else. What are you thinking about? Can you tell Aha?"
The reddish-brown mask floated a little closer to Lingchen.
"No. Only my wife gets to know things like that."
Of course Lingchen couldn't reveal the check-in system.
Even Kafka and the others, though they said nothing, were looking curious now.
Perhaps they were wondering what he could possibly be thinking about with an Aeon right in front of him.
"Aha can be your wife. Aha has no gender and can change at will."
Silver Wolf's eyes widened at Aha's words. Did this Aeon not care about their dignity at all?
Could they really not know what 'wife' means?
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I like real women. Like the one over there."
Lingchen spoke frankly, pointing "at random" toward Silver Wolf.
Silver Wolf froze, tilted her head, and pointed at herself with a little finger, seemingly unable to believe it.
As for him liking her, who said something like that on their first meeting? She found the idea that Lingchen was diverting attention far more believable than him falling for her at first sight.
"Aha can become much more womanly than her."
Aha's voice carried disdain. Silver Wolf gritted her teeth, but ultimately said nothing.
Elio hadn't predicted that they would encounter an Aeon today, and Silver Wolf didn't want Aha turning her into entertainment over a comparison of their figures.
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Chapter 6: Crush them
"Yes, yes, yes. But even if you can become more womanly, it's still impossible."
Lingchen pointed at Sam again.
"There, see that? Shiny mecha. My absolute favorite. And you? You're just a mask right now. I wouldn't wear you even to a masquerade ball. Too shabby."
Rather than getting angry, Aha let out a piercing laugh.
The frozen Antimatter Legion nearby turned into pink bubbles amid the laughter, while the bugs in the sky burst one after another into orange juice.
The laughter carried the aura of [Elation]. The three women's expressions instantly turned ugly, and hallucinations seemed to appear in their minds.
No matter how much an Aeon restrained themselves, they were not something ordinary people could withstand.
Lingchen's expression changed too. As the Aeon of [Elation], Aha truly was mercurial. Even he felt the urge to laugh along now.
He extended his right hand, and a lantern radiating a quiet, gentle aura flew out. Verdant branches twisted and coiled around it, with blue-purple flowers blooming upon them.
"Spirits of the Sea, please listen to the Melody of Life."
The power of [Purification] unfolded. The ground beneath Lingchen's feet instantly became grassland, pure white flowers blossoming across it. The next instant, [Purification] broke through the cage of [Elation] and spread over ten thousand miles in every direction.
The three women beside him also escaped [Elation]'s influence at that moment.
Kafka felt no fear. She merely looked at Lingchen in surprise.
Perhaps Aha could easily instill fear in her, but clearly they wouldn't grant Kafka's wish.
Silver Wolf gulped down air. The little camisole underneath her clothes was probably soaked through. This was definitely the first time in her life she had been caught in an Aeon's power, but she truly hadn't expected Lingchen to possess an ability like this.
Sam pressed her lips tightly together. [Purification] brought her the greatest feeling of relief, and she could clearly sense that her Entropy Syndrome had improved considerably.
Unfortunately, Entropy Syndrome was a genetic problem, not some external negative effect that could be purified away. Thus, she only felt considerably better, but even that was enough to excite her.
She had been searching for a treatment for a very long time. Though she never said so, she had essentially given up on the chance of being treated.
After all, the Genius Society on the Interastral Peace Corporation's side might be able to treat it, but there was no way she would go there. Members of the Genius Society probably could too, but as a Stellaron Hunter, she knew where she stood.
Now, however, she saw hope again. The situation before her simply didn't allow her to say anything yet.
"Hahahaha!" Aha laughed again, only this time without any aura of [Elation]. Still, even Sam could sense the joy in it. "Aha was right about you. You're not from here. Your constitution doesn't belong here, and neither does the power you just used."
Aha's mask circled Lingchen twice, examining him once more.
"Just as expected, you're special. Aha likes you very much. Consider this mask a greeting gift. But Aha can't give it to you for nothing. Wouldn't that leave Aha with no dignity?"
"Then I don't want it."
"Don't say that." The mask sidled closer to Lingchen. Who knew what Aha was thinking? After all, they could observe Lingchen anytime. "This mask contains Emanator-level power of [Elation]. If Aha is happy in the future, Aha can even strengthen it for you. Most importantly, the power inside belongs entirely to you. Even Aha can't take it back."
Lingchen frowned. He didn't quite understand Aha's intentions, but since the power was being offered for free, he might as well take it.
Besides, he had already asked the system. Aha was telling the truth, and the mask's power of [Elation] couldn't influence him either.
Silver Wolf watched with some envy. Look at him-an Aeon was practically begging to give him Emanator powers. Meanwhile, she still had to do missions.
"What's the condition?"
"Let Aha see your other powers. You still have powers you haven't used, don't you?"
"Sure."
Honestly, Lingchen had realized by now that outside certain plot situations or encounters with specific people, it was difficult for him to act more closely in character even if he wanted to.
Take the current situation: he simply couldn't act more like Seele. All he could do was recite a few combat lines. There was no way to deliver her usual "scripted" lines. He couldn't just say them to thin air; the system wouldn't acknowledge that either.
The same went for the other two. The Herrscher of Fire was clearly from the previous era; the current era only had the Herrscher of Flamescion. Himeko wore the Key of Blankness, and the previous era's Herrscher of Flamescion barely had any lines.
The Herrscher of Domination was even more bitter and resentful. Expecting Lingchen to launch into a "the world isn't beautiful at all" speech on the way to the Stellaron... that wouldn't just be awkward. It would be downright stupid.
So Lingchen had actually been considering simply using the powers of [Fire] and [Domination]. At the very least, the rewards would definitely be better than if he didn't use them.