After a great many difficulties, Ye Yan and Stelle finally had their room settled.
It was the large storage room on the second floor of the [Party Car].
March 7th even brought out the Interastral Peace Corporation's latest invention, a [Soundproof, Light-Blocking, Windproof, Fleece-Lined, Extra-Thick Pro MAX Shower Curtain], which she had bought at some unknown point, to divide the space into separate room areas for Ye Yan and Stelle.
"Oh, let's just make do for today. Tomorrow, I'll definitely tidy things up properly and build myself a cozy bedroom!"
Stelle had no intention of decorating right then and ran off to the parlor car to play games again.
After a whole night of constant effort from Ye Yan and Dan Heng, the storage room was finally finished.
Only, our poor Miss March 7th now had just twelve of the twenty pillows originally in her room.
"I think I've figured it out. You don't need to sleep at all."
Dan Heng stared at Ye Yan and reached that conclusion.
"Don't say that. Whether you're an Aeon or an Emanator, you still need proper rest."
After seeing Dan Heng off, Ye Yan was just about to lie down on his bed and get some proper rest when...
Stelle furtively pulled open the dividing curtain and pounced onto the bed whose bedding and sheets he had just straightened.
"Want an exciting pillow fight? This room's so big, it'd be a waste not to play! We could even play ball in here!" Stelle said with a mischievous grin.
Looking at the soft bed that had become a mess in mere seconds, the corner of Ye Yan's mouth twitched.
Kafka, look at the child you raised.
Ah, but she seems to have lost her memory.
Whatever. Today, I, Ye Yan, am going to teach this Stellaron spirit how to behave!
"I thought you'd never ask."
After an intense pillow fight...
"Damn it, defeated just like that!" Stelle lay on the bed, unwilling to accept it!
"Why worry about winning or losing? The whole point of a pillow fight is to relax after a tiring day."
Ye Yan recalled the past. He had played pillow fights with Aha too.
However, they had used planets as pillows. Fortunately, there had been no organic life around that star system.
"Ah... Just thinking about how I have to do chores tomorrow to earn pocket money from Pom-Pom... We're all just miserable workers."
Stelle buried her head in a pillow. She didn't want to work!
Pocket money wasn't the same as the Express fund. The Express fund was for decorating rooms, and now that Dan Heng and Ye Yan had taken care of the room, what did she need that fund for?
That woman named Kafka hadn't even left her a check or anything before leaving.
"Easy enough."
Ye Yan transferred eight hundred million Credits to Stelle, who checked the amount over and over in disbelief.
Then, without even knowing whether she had any ancestors, Stelle made a decision that went against her ancestors.
"Honored godfather, accept your child's bow!" She slid to her knees behind Ye Yan and hugged his leg.
"No need for that." Ye Yan helped Stelle up. "The Aeon of Permanence treats everyone who sets foot on the Path of [Eternity] equally."
"Did you know? As long as you step onto the Path of [Eternity], they'll appear and grant you one wish."
Looking thoughtful, Stelle pulled open the curtains and gazed at the vast starry sky. "Honored Aeon of Permanence, please accept your child's-"
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!" Before Stelle could finish, Ye Yan hauled her up.
"At least bow to the right person..."
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
Ye Yan gave a slight nod and looked at his bed.
It was covered in scattered fluff. He and Dan Heng had only just finished setting it up.
Ye Yan and Stelle exchanged a look. Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
Astral Express, parlor car
"I didn't expect you to like little animals so much."
March 7th had gotten up especially early that day. She was taking commemorative photos of Ye Yan holding Peppy, and went over to rub Peppy's belly while she was at it.
Because Asta and Arlan were too busy, Peppy could only switch on [Automatic Dog-Walking] mode every day on the space station.
But whenever the Astral Express arrived, Peppy had somewhere to play. March 7th, in particular, fed it a huge pile of dog food every time.
"It's so cute. I'll take another picture of Peppy. Move aside a little, Ye Yan."
March 7th grew interested and took Peppy from Ye Yan's arms.
"Woof, woof... Woof? Woof, woof, woof!" Peppy wagged its tail. It clearly liked March 7th.
From Peppy's constantly wagging tail, March 7th could feel its enthusiasm for her.
"Wow! Could we buy one to keep on the Express too?"
"Pom-Pom would get jealous."
"Passenger Ye Yan, what do you mean by that, pom?! Are you treating the Conductor like a pet dog?!"
Pom-Pom pushed over a dining cart, then jumped up and smacked Ye Yan upon hearing that.
"I wouldn't dare. Our Conductor is the cutest in the universe!"
"Good morning, Uncle Yang!"
March 7th greeted Welt, who had just finished washing up. Welt went over to the radio, ready to listen to that day's interastral morning news.
[Ladies and gentlemen, whether or not your world has a concept of day and night, let me first wish you a good morning, afternoon, and evening. Welcome to Interastral News, sponsored by the Interastral Peace Corporation. I'm your good friend, Jimi!]
[I'm sure you've all heard about the major incident that shook the universe a few days ago. Nanook, the Aeon of [Destruction], got into a fight with a trash can!]
[The Interastral Peace Corporation went to investigate, but found no traces of a battle at the scene. According to reports from the relevant planets, a few seconds after their system observatories detected the Aeon of [Destruction] and the Antimatter Legion, they saw that terrifying trash-can monster god appear, blotting out the sky...]
[As everyone knows, the Masked Fools will stop at nothing in their pursuit of amusement. An unnamed Fool sent in a submission: they have jointly published a simple comic, which has yet to be released, and hope all our viewers will enjoy it.]
[Oh, dear viewers, we've just received an update. Another Masked Fool has sent in a submission, claiming to be an eyewitness and providing a lead. They say the muscular trash can is the true form of the Aeon of [Eternity]! Please look at this picture!]
A holographic projection appeared above the radio. It was precisely the trash can Ye Yan had disguised himself as that day.
[Look closely, everyone. There's a large "∞" symbol in the middle of this metal can! There's even a bar of soap drawn on its right arm! My goodness, could it really be as that Masked Fool said? The Aeon of [Eternity] is trash...]
The radio suddenly emitted a piercing burst of static, and March 7th covered her ears.
"Ow! Is this thing broken?!"
"It shouldn't be. It's brand-new."
Only after several minutes did the radio return to normal.
[Ahem... Sorry, dear viewers. We had a slight mishap. Just now, Blake, the current presiding bishop of the Church of Eternity, suddenly appeared and provided us with valid evidence. He has already apprehended the Masked Fool who claimed to be an eyewitness. After verifying their identity, we discovered that they were actually a History Fictionologist.]
[Is that so? The Aeon of [Eternity] enjoys dressing up as trash cans? All right, all right...] Jimi could still be heard talking to someone over the radio.
[Dear viewers, it seems this mystery has been completely solved. The trash can seen that day was indeed the Aeon of [Eternity], but it was not their true form. According to Mr. Blake, they have recently become fascinated with roleplaying as objects, with trash cans being their first choice.]
[I see. That settles the rumor, then. Trash cans aren't intelligent life-forms and lack the potential to ascend into Aeons. Please enjoy the gossip rationally. Rumors stop with the wise.]
"Hey, hey, hey... Why are there History Fictionologists everywhere?!" March 7th's excitement was instantly extinguished. She had thought she would get to hear some juicy gossip.
"These people are just as annoying as the Riddlers."
Ye Yan crossed his legs. Peppy was back in his arms.
"Chair Blake. I know him."
Dan Heng's voice came from behind March 7th.
"Whoa... Why did you suddenly appear?!" March 7th hastily stepped back, clearly startled.
"It was him. He suddenly appeared on the Mourning Actors' ship that day and gave each of us a bar of soap."
"Wow, Teacher Dan Heng, why are you still thinking about the soap? Does that bar of soap really matter that much to you?"
"No. March 7th, it isn't the soap I'm thinking about. It's his ability to warp at high speed and conceal his presence."
"He had been hiding aboard that ship from the very beginning, yet not a single person noticed him. His strength is unfathomable."
"As the Church of Eternity's current highest authority, there's nothing wrong with him being a little strong, is there?"
[In addition, Chair Blake sincerely welcomes everyone to the Church's Car Wash Planet, the hot spring capital countless people long to visit. All who come are guests, and he promises to treat everyone equally... except the [Destruction] faction. Of course, all you need for admission is a heart that loves the Aeon of [Eternity]!]
[Huh? So you're here to find someone. All right, all right, we'll broadcast that right away! We now interrupt with a missing-person notice: if you see an elven girl with silver-gray hair, eyes as dazzling as emeralds, and a magic staff, please contact the Church immediately.]
[Hmm? Please say plenty of things praising the Aeon of [Eternity] in front of her, and add an appropriate amount of chuunibyou terminology, or you may be blasted to smithereens by a single spell... Eek! How terrifying! I don't dare read any further!]
"Is she really a bishop of [Eternity]?! Isn't blasting someone to smithereens with one spell just violent destruction?!" March 7th took on the role of commentator.
[Ah... Those countless Antimatter Legion remains found in a certain star system a few days ago, along with Lord Ravager Zephyro's severed arm. Could that have been...]
[Wait! Chair Blake, where are you going? What... You're going to catch a few more History Fictionologists and torture them to find out whether they've said anything else bad about the Aeon of [Eternity], and avenge the historians? You mustn't, Chair Blake...]
The audio cut off abruptly there, and no further sound came through.
"So, what was this radio talking about at the start?" March 7th had been so busy commenting that she had completely forgotten the original topic.
"A trash can fighting Nanook."
That was the only thing Stelle remembered. She hadn't listened to anything after that, having spent the whole time gaming.