"How come you've lost all your clothes after being gone for only a little while?"
Lucian walked over to Black Swan and looked her up and down with an amused smile, casually teasing her about her current state.
Black Swan could not even bring herself to answer.
Her entire body was trembling, and her eyes were filled with fear, regret, and the lingering terror of what had just happened.
Moreover, the usual composure and mysterious elegance she carried with her had completely vanished, leaving behind a woman who had only narrowly escaped death.
Lucian bent down and scooped Black Swan up without much effort, tucking her securely beneath his arm as though she were nothing more than a briefcase.
"Look at you. You've got no backbone. You told me you wouldn't dare make a move, and then you went and did it anyway."
If Lucian had not returned in time, Black Swan would have been finished.
Evernight was no kindhearted person.
If she said she was going to kill someone, she truly meant to finish the job, and the fact that she had been willing to stand there and exchange a few words with Black Swan was already a fortune.
If another Memokeeper had appeared in her place, they probably would not even have had the chance to speak, since they would have been left with nothing more than the final glimpse of whoever had attacked them before being completely erased.
Black Swan finally believed Lucian completely this time.
Needless to say, the price of her mistake had not merely been high; it had nearly cost her life.
Black Swan cautiously glanced toward Evernight, only to find her quietly watching her with an amused glint in her eyes. Evernight even gave her a faint smile, as though she were silently reminding her of what had nearly happened.
In that instant, Black Swan immediately shuddered and hurriedly averted her gaze.
'Devil!'
Compared to Evernight, Black Swan found herself much more willing to stay around Lucian. After all, she had seen his memories and understood that he was normally gentle toward those he considered his own, while also being extremely protective of them.
He was particularly indulgent toward his women, to the point that even Black Swan could not help feeling envious of them.
As long as she did not oppose him, she would be safe.
In fact, if she tried to curry favor with him, perhaps she might even receive some unexpected benefits.
Upon having that thought, Black Swan gained an inexplicable sense of security, and much of the fear that had gripped her moments ago gradually faded. At the very least, she felt that remaining by Lucian's side was considerably safer than provoking Evernight again.
It could be said that this was precisely why she enjoyed observing other people's memories. It allowed her to understand a person's character in a matter of minutes.
Just as she had done now, she could confidently say that she had gained a fairly good understanding of Lucian, at least when it came to his personality and the way he treated those close to him.
As for why he was so powerful, where the so-called Earth was located within the universe, or what that mysterious existence within him actually was, she knew absolutely nothing.
It was only natural, given that she had nearly died inside Lucian's Memory Zone back then, and that experience alone had been enough to make her extremely cautious about probing too deeply into the secrets surrounding him.
"Um, Lucian, could you hold me differently? It's... kind of embarrassing..."
At this point, Black Swan no longer seemed nearly as mysterious and unfathomable as she usually did.
Once the veil surrounding the mysterious Memokeeper had been stripped away, she was little more than a plucked swan who did not even dare complain, someone who could still blush, feel shy, and become embarrassed just like any other woman.
"We're still in the Memory Zone anyway," Lucian said with a faint smile. "Once we're out, you can reshape your body yourself, so what's there to be embarrassed about?"
Black Swan's reaction had been entirely within his expectations.
In truth, letting her see his past had never simply been about showing off his strength; it was also meant to make her understand exactly what kind of person he was. By allowing her to witness those memories firsthand, he had essentially given her a glimpse of the boundaries she should not cross.
Lucian's principle had always been simple: those who followed him prospered, and those who opposed him perished. If you couldn't win him over, at least you shouldn't be looking for trouble.
As for the memories related to his transmigration, the Godly Script System, and other matters of that nature, those remained absolute secrets. Even Nous could not see them, so there was no chance that Black Swan would discover them.
In the end, the results had already proven that his approach worked quite well, as shown by how Black Swan was currently tucked beneath his arm without making the slightest fuss, behaving herself remarkably well despite the fact that her body was still trembling.
After experiencing the terror of nearly losing her life, she clearly had no intention of provoking him again anytime soon.
Hearing Lucian's answer, Black Swan's soft body trembled slightly, and with every tremor, the sensation against his arm was surprisingly comfortable.
"Stop trembling. You didn't actually die. Just learn your lesson next time and don't go looking for trouble."
"I understand..."
Black Swan curled up beneath his arm and answered in a small voice.
Undoubtedly, she had truly been frightened into submission this time.
At the same time, however, she was filled with genuine gratitude toward Lucian for saving her life.
It was something she would never forget.
If he had not arrived in time, she would have already become an empty shell.
As for Evernight, all that remained was a deep and indelible fear that had been firmly etched into her heart.
'Not a single normal person exists on this train!'
Black Swan had no intention of letting her curiosity get the better of her again.
From now on, she would obediently lead the way and focus on keeping herself alive. Her achievement might have been excellent, but she still needed to be alive to enjoy the benefits she had gained from it.
Evernight eventually dispelled the Memory Zone, and the three of them returned to reality inside March's room.
"You're back? Huh? Lucian, what's that you're carrying—wait, isn't that Ms. Black Swan?! What happened to her...?"
March stared at Black Swan, whose clothes were now so tattered and disheveled that she was barely covered at all—the sight was so striking that even her exposed body seemed to be practically glowing beneath the light.
'What exactly had he done to her?'
'Why does she look so miserable?'
'Could it be... Lucian actually ignored her wishes and forced his way onto her?'
As soon as March had that thought, Lucian immediately flicked her on the forehead.
"Quit imagining things," Lucian said, rolling his eyes. "Seeing your eyes shift like that, I knew you were thinking something weird."
"Uhh, with you two looking like this, how am I supposed to not think something weird?"
March rubbed her forehead and pointed at Black Swan while complaining.
Of course, she was not entirely unreasonable, either.
A handsome man carrying a barely dressed beauty was naturally going to invite all sorts of assumptions, especially when said beauty looked as though she had just survived some kind of disaster.
Lucian could only laugh helplessly at March's reaction before tossing Black Swan onto the sofa.
"Get some rest. Once you're all recovered, get back to work."
After saying that, Lucian turned around and walked straight out of March's room.
Black Swan remained curled up in the corner of the sofa with her knees pulled against her chest, looking small, pitiful, and helpless as she watched Lucian's departing figure for a moment.
She then secretly glanced at Evernight, who remained quiet, as though nothing had happened.
Now, only one thought occupied her mind.
'This place is way too scary... I want to go back to the Garden of Recollection... No, wait. Staying beside Lucian is safer right now.'
As that thought crossed her mind, Black Swan hurriedly got to her feet and reshaped her body, creating a new set of clothes for herself before quickly chasing after Lucian.
"Lucian, wait for me!"
Once she caught up with him, Black Swan linked her arm with Lucian's as though afraid he might disappear if she allowed him to get too far ahead.
"Th-Thank you... You saved me again..."
Hearing that, Lucian gave a chuckle.
"How are you gonna thank me?"
"A-Anything you want..." Black Swan's face immediately reddened. "As long as you don't go too far..."
She had genuinely been frightened this time, and she was equally genuine in her gratitude.
Understanding that, Lucian reached over and gently pinched her cheek, yet Black Swan did not even try to dodge him. Instead, she simply allowed him to do as he pleased, seemingly having become much more docile after what had just happened.
"Well, just put it on my tab for now. After seeing my memories, you should know that following me's gonna bring you way more benefits than drawbacks."
As he spoke, Lucian released his linked arm, casually draped it around Black Swan's shoulders, and headed toward the Parlor Car.
Black Swan, meanwhile, quietly leaned against him, staying close without any resistance.
'Could a memetic entity really become dependent on a man?'
For the first time in her life, Black Swan realized that a man's embrace could actually make her feel this safe. Honestly, the warmth and sense of security it brought were completely different from anything she had experienced before.
As for Evernight, Black Swan no longer dared to spare her even a second glance, since that woman had already become a nightmare that would remain with her forever.
===
Inside the Astral Express's Parlor Car, the atmosphere was exceptionally lively, with the stars outside the windows shining brilliantly and the gathering inside featuring a lineup of people so impressive that it almost seemed excessive.
Among them were two heavyweight guests who had just arrived from Screwllum's home planet: Herta and Screwllum.
Herta still wore the same arrogant expression that seemed to proclaim, 'I'm the greatest in the entire universe.'
With her arms folded across her chest and her chin slightly raised, she surveyed the interior of the car as though she were inspecting someone else's property. In fact, there was a faintly critical look in her eyes, as if she were thinking, 'Hmm, not bad. Barely good enough for me.'
Screwllum, by comparison, appeared considerably more elegant.
As he stood there, his metallic body reflected the soft light of the carriage, while his electronic eyes swept over everyone with a calm and friendly warmth.
"Greetings: It's a pleasure to meet you all. I am Screwllum, Lucian's good friend."
As he spoke, Screwllum's voice carried a pleasant, magnetic quality that was surprisingly human despite his mechanical body.
"I have detected more than one Emanator aboard the Astral Express."
"Conclusion: Our journey is destined to be extraordinary."
===
[A bonus chapter for reaching 400 Power Stones]
[Support and get early access to upcoming chapters at: patreon.com/VALRRR]