"If we can't tell which one is the real Lumina, let's just knock them both unconscious, stuff them in burlap sacks, and take them both!"
"Wouldn't that solve the problem completely?"
Stelle's eyes sparkled, a confident grin stretching across her exquisite features as she believed she had solved this cosmic conundrum.
March 7th and Little Swarm: [ ? ]
Lumina: [ ... ]
Whether it was March 7th, Little Swarm, or the two Luminas locked in a standoff, all stared at Stelle with expressions of utter shock.
Wait, sis? Did I, Lumina, do something really terrible to you? Last time on the Xianzhou, you wanted to claim me as a trophy, and now you want to knock me out, stuff me in a sack, and kidnap me...
Though Lumina knew this was just Stelle's way of expressing affection—or at least, her version of it—she couldn't help but grumble...
I've been working my butt off, treating you so well, and this is how you repay me?! With a baseball bat and a burlap sack?!
That's so unfair!
Lumina grumbled, feeling utterly wronged.
"What kind of 'good idea' is that...? Even if we set aside whether we're strong enough to break through Sister Lumina's defenses, even if we could, I couldn't bring myself to do it!"
March 7th was speechless, itching to punch Stelle. What's wrong with her? Why is she acting up now of all times?!
But just as March 7th was about to land her fist, she realized Stelle had vanished from her side.
As March 7th looked around in confusion, she spotted Stelle out of the corner of her eye, crouching low, baseball bat clutched in both hands, stealthily approaching one of the Luminas from behind.
?
Wait... you're actually going through with this?!
March 7th was stunned. She'd assumed Stelle was just talking big, never expecting her to actually follow through.
Amidst her shock, March 7th couldn't help but worry. What if Stelle actually manages to hit Lumina?!
Huff... huff... huff... Stelle moved with perfect stealth, her footsteps silent as she slowly approached one of the Luminas from behind, her gaze fixed intently on the back of her head.
Lumina: ...
Stelle's actions didn't escape Lumina's notice, but she made no move to stop her.
A baseball bat that can't even break my defenses at full force? Let her swing away.
But Lumina had underestimated Stelle. In battle mode, Stelle's intellect far surpassed her usual level. She knew that even if she struck the back of Lumina's head hundreds of times, she couldn't break her defense with her own strength alone.
So, as Stelle reached behind one of the Luminas, raising her baseball bat to swing, she activated the power Sister Lumina had stored in her ring.
"Shit!"
Only then did Lumina realize she'd forgotten about that. She tried to dodge, but at such close range, it was too late. She could only watch helplessly as the Emanator-infused bat came crashing down.
Whack!
The bat slammed into the back of Lumina's head, instantly overwhelming her with dizziness. The world flipped upside down before her eyes, replaced by a dazzling constellation of stars.
This revenge... I'll remember it!
Lumina silently vowed to avenge Stelle's strike, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed to the ground with a thud.
As expected of me! Stelle thought, a smug grin spreading across her face as she basked in her immediate success.
Hee hee hee~ Hee hee hee~ Hee hee hee~
But Stelle's celebration was premature. As soon as the first Lumina was knocked unconscious, the other Lumina suddenly erupted into a sinister, villainous laughter.
The moment everyone heard that laughter, two words flashed through their minds:
Bad omen!
I think I hit the wrong one!
Under the hostile gazes of March 7th and the others, Lumina smiled faintly, her voice brimming with gratitude. "Thank you so much! If not for you, I'd have been stuck in this stalemate with Lumina for who knows how much longer."
"As a token of my gratitude, I'll allow you to become my personal attendants!"
Lumina clasped her hands together and produced three collars. The situation wasn't unfolding as March 7th and her companions had anticipated; instead, it was veering off in an entirely unexpected direction.
"Huh? Is that really appropriate...?"
"Seriously?"
"P-personal attendants...? Me...?!"
Upon hearing this declaration and seeing the collars in Lumina's hands, March 7th, Stelle, and Little Swarm reacted in three distinctly different ways.
March 7th thought the proposal was utterly inappropriate, but the blush creeping up her cheeks betrayed her true feelings.
Stelle, on the other hand, lit up the moment she heard the words and saw the collars. Her body began to twitch with eagerness, as if she couldn't wait any longer.
As for Little Swarm, she wore an expression of stunned delight, as if overwhelmed by this sudden blessing.
Though their reactions varied, the underlying sentiment remained consistent:
"Could such a good thing actually exist?!"
The three girls stared at Lumina with burning desire in their eyes, as if they couldn't wait to put on the collar and become her personal attendants.
Lumina: ?
Feeling their fiery gazes, Lumina couldn't help but shiver.
Wait, putting on a collar and becoming someone's personal attendant—isn't that utterly humiliating? Why are their eyes filled with such longing...?
Lumina was bewildered, baffled, and utterly shocked.
Realizing that becoming her personal attendant with a collar was actually a reward for them, Lumina silently retracted the collar under their crestfallen stares.
"Stop fooling around. We don't have much time left."
Just as Lumina had stowed the collar and was about to tease them further, another Lumina materialized before them.
"Th-Three... three Sister Luminas?!" The sight of this new Lumina once again filled their eyes with astonishment.
However, this third Sister Lumina was clearly different from the previous two.
While the first two still retained traces of Lumina's original form, this newcomer showed no resemblance whatsoever.
An aura of chilling indifference permeated her entire being. Her jade-green eyes were devoid of emotion, like those of a marionette, lacking any trace of warmth or affection.
March 7th and her companions had never sensed such a demeanor from their own Sister Lumina, making this third Lumina's appearance deeply unsettling and alien.
"Come with me. Bring her along," Indifferent Lumina said, glancing at the dazed Lumina lying on the ground before addressing March 7th and the others.
Without waiting for their questions, she turned and strode off in a certain direction, seemingly leading the way.
"This..."
March 7th, Stelle, and Little Swarm exchanged wary glances, hesitating to act.
"Come on, we're all Lumina here. We mean no harm." Teasing Lumina scooped up the dazed Lumina and winked at the group.
"Umm... alright, let's go then."
Having received Teasing Lumina's wink, March 7th and Little Swarm couldn't help but blush slightly, while Galactic Baseballer remained impassive.
Nodding to each other, they followed the Lumina variants into the unknown.