"Hey, don't say weird things at a time like this!"
"March, how could you think that... These are Ye Yan's dying words!" The corners of Stelle's mouth lifted. She was now a loyal follower of [Eternity], and no one could stop her!
"Eternity...?"
Cocolia froze, recalling the Stellaron's earlier whispers despite herself. Unfortunately, Jarilo-VI was far too backward, and she had never heard of the Aeon of [Eternity].
As the Supreme Guardian, she was fairly familiar with Belobog's general history. The reason they had struggled to hold on for over seven hundred years was all thanks to the Stellaron!
Could the Aeon of [Eternity] have planted the Stellaron?
Stelle and the other two walked out of Kliperburg and saw Gepard, who had been waiting there all along.
"The Supreme Guardian seems to favor you greatly. I've received orders that there's no longer any need to restrict your movements."
"Honestly, I didn't expect things to go this smoothly." Seeing the innocent looks in March 7th's and Stelle's eyes, Dan Heng shook his head.
When Dan Heng had mentioned the [Stellaron] to the Supreme Guardian, he had caught the fleeting darkness in her expression.
On the way there, Dan Heng had heard from Captain Gepard that the Supreme Guardian had always been known for her composure and decisiveness. For her emotions to waver at a moment like that, there was probably more to the story.
"Haha, I still have official duties to attend to and must return to my garrison shortly. I hope you enjoy your time in Belobog."
"Wait, where did Ye Yan run off to?" March 7th looked around but couldn't spot Ye Yan anywhere.
"Mr. Ye Yan is by the Everwinter Monument, chatting with the Guards' intelligence officer and some children. I didn't listen to the details. Incidentally, the Everwinter Monument is Belobog's most symbolic landmark."
"Oh, then could you recommend some other sights for us? I'd like to look around some more."
"For places worth seeing, the Golden Theater and the History Museum are good choices, though the museum requires identification for entry..."
"If you're interested in music, you can visit the [Neverwinter] Workshop. They occasionally hold outdoor performances there. As for the performer... hmm, you can find out for yourselves."
After giving March 7th his recommendations, Gepard took his leave first due to issues with Fragmentum corrosion.
"Let's go find Ye Yan at that ice sculpture first! We can tell him what happened," March 7th suggested.
"That's not an ice sculpture, March."
While Dan Heng and March 7th were still discussing it, Stelle had already hurried over to the Everwinter Monument and begun openly eavesdropping.
"Now that we've finished with Qlipoth the [Preservation], let me tell you about Aha the [Elation]..."
"So Qlipoth is far from the only Aeon in the universe. You know so much, Mr. Ye Yan!" Pela was writing furiously, recording every word Ye Yan said for fear of missing anything.
"I'm just an ordinary Nameless, here to make a modest contribution to Jarilo-VI." Ye Yan took several bottles of milk tea from his pocket and handed them out to the children listening to his stories.
"Would you like a bottle too, Miss Pela?"
"I'm not interested in desserts or sweet drinks. I prefer my own pour-over coffee. As an intelligence officer of the Silvermane Guards, I need to stay alert at all times outside my breaks! Too much sugar is harmful to the body."
"I feel like she'd be really interested in Himeko's coffee," said March 7th, who had followed them over.
"I know that feeling all too well."
As Stelle recalled, the night before they set off, she had been thirsty and wanted to go downstairs for a glass of water. It had been pitch-black, and she couldn't see anything. Even the robot called [Shut Up] had been set to sleep mode, so Stelle could only feel around for a cup.
Then she had found the cup Himeko used specifically for making coffee. There had even been some unfinished coffee inside.
"Wow, you poor thing!" A touch of sympathy entered March 7th's gaze as she looked at Stelle.
"Anyway, when you're staying up late, you need a cup of coffee to perk yourself up!"
Pela adjusted her glasses. She had originally intended to thoroughly probe Ye Yan's background, but the more she listened, the more fascinated she became, and she had gotten drawn in before she knew it.
Everything Ye Yan spoke of was unfamiliar yet fascinating to Pela, from the Swarm Disaster and the Glamoth Iron Cavalry to the Borisin and the Xianzhou Alliance...
So Qlipoth was far from the only Aeon in the universe. She had learned something new.
"Miss Pela, remember! The culprit behind this planet's decline is the Antimatter Legion! The brats of Nanook the [Destruction]." Ye Yan got to the point.
"Ah, the alien invaders who attacked Belobog seven hundred years ago."
Pela's expression grew grave. Monsters from beyond the sky had set the planet ablaze. The land back then had become scorched earth, with burning molten fire and churning black smoke as far as the eye could see.
At that moment of life and death, the Eternal Freeze had suddenly descended. Fierce winds swept in without warning, and the invading Legion was buried beneath blizzards. Only Belobog remained.
After hearing Ye Yan's stories, Pela's worldview had been overturned. The vast universe abounded with remarkable individuals, and she had come to understand one truth deeply: across the universe, enormous numbers of lives were lost every second, with most of the credit going to the [Antimatter Legion].
Before the mighty power wielded by Pathstriders, ordinary people were like insignificant specks of dust, swept along by the wind and waves, unable to control their own fate.
Pela couldn't figure Ye Yan out. With relations between the Aeons of [Eternity] and [Destruction] so poor, why did he still belittle the deity he worshipped? That seemed a little contradictory.
"Ugh, there he goes again..."
March 7th didn't understand. Are all you Emanators of [Eternity] this disrespectful toward your own Aeon?
I think you're the Aeon of [Eternity]'s number one hater!
After finishing his conversation with Pela, Ye Yan returned to the three of them, finally ready to discuss business.
"So, did you put in a few good words for the Aeon of [Eternity] in front of the Supreme Guardian?"
"Is that really the point?! I can't figure out how your mind works, Teacher Ye Yan. You tell us to praise the Aeon of [Eternity] in front of the Guardian, then turn around and badmouth them to other people."
"No matter what you've done, or whether you're one of their people, as long as you believe in the Aeon of [Eternity], they will forgive you."
"This is one of the Aeon of [Eternity]'s eight great virtues. They will always forgive your actions." Ye Yan raised both arms, as though a holy light were shining upon his handsome face.
"Ah... then I was ignorant. I apologize to Teacher Ye Yan and the Aeon of [Eternity]." March 7th first bowed deeply to Ye Yan, then pressed her palms together and looked up at the sky.
Ye Yan gave a kindly smile. They were all on the same side, so a little badmouthing was no big deal.
But if some outsider carelessly passed judgment on the Aeon of [Eternity], then the church's members would have to come reason with them.
"What about the other seven virtues?" Stelle asked curiously.
"You'll find out when we visit Car Wash Planet someday."
"Don't you hate Riddlers? Why have you become one yourself?" Stelle didn't understand. Do you Emanators of [Eternity] change your tune this quickly?
"I hate Riddlers. I never said I couldn't be one myself."
"Stelle, this is what's called [the dragon-slaying youth becoming the evil dragon in the end]. Don't learn from Teacher Ye Yan," March 7th said earnestly.