With Welt's gravity field control lightening the load, the group quickly tidied up Stelle's room, making it clean and organized with all the necessary amenities. It wasn't much different from the original game in this regard.
"Ahh~ Finally, a bed of my own."
Stelle let out a cheer and flopped onto the bed, exclaiming, "Thank you all so much."
No more worrying about someone rolling over onto her in the middle of the night.
Dan Heng said calmly, "Actually, March did most of the room setup. Uncle Yang and I basically just helped move things, and it didn't take much effort."
"Sigh, I'll never be able to repay March's kindness…" Stelle glanced at March, tilting her head and winking.
March 7th's heart skipped a beat, though she maintained her composure on the surface. "Mm, no need to thank me. It was nothing."
"Oh, right, I forgot to mention—my room's shower is broken. If you really want to thank me, can I borrow yours tonight?"
Stelle's expression froze for a moment. "…Isn't there a public shower?"
"No bathtub, and the water temperature's hard to adjust."
"Well… fine."
Having spent so much time together, Stelle had unknowingly grown accustomed to March 7th taking the lead while she followed. At first, she'd felt uneasy about the psychological gender dynamics, but now… it didn't matter anymore.
Accept reality, live in the moment, and face the future—that's how simple it was.
At that moment, Welt glanced at a message from Shush on his phone and waved. "You three, our lunch is here. I had Shush bring it up. Let's just eat in Stelle's room so Himeko doesn't find out."
Dan Heng nodded in full agreement. "I concur."
Seeing their reactions, Stelle was a bit confused. Was Himeko's cooking really as bad as they made it out to be? It couldn't be that bad, could it? Himeko's coffee… it was actually quite comforting.
Knock, knock, knock—
Someone knocked on the door. Welt opened it with a smile, took the tray, and his expression instantly froze.
Because the one delivering their lunch was none other than Himeko, wearing a polite smile.
"Welt, didn't you say you all had already eaten?" Himeko asked with a gentle, melodic tone, though it carried a hint of danger.
"This is… afternoon tea," Welt managed, forcing a smile.
"Passenger Welt, did you just say you're having afternoon tea, pa?"
Pom-pom suddenly popped out from behind Himeko, balancing a tray on its head. "Great, pa! The Conductor prepared tiramisu with coffee for you all. Enjoy~"
"Himeko, let us take that steak." Welt gripped the tray, but no matter how much strength he applied, he couldn't budge it from Himeko's hands.
The quick-witted Stelle and March 7th had already silently slipped away, even dragging the doomed Dan Heng along with them.
By the time Welt realized, he was the only one left in the room.
"Make sure to finish it all, Welt~"
Himeko smiled, but her voice was laced with menace.
Welt: I've been betrayed time and again…
…
"Hey, by the way, where's the Domain Anchor on our train? I suddenly want to try teleporting back."
After the three slipped out of the Parlor Car, Stelle asked.
"Um… there's no such thing on the train," March 7th explained. "This is the Astral Express. The Domain Anchor function is built into every car. You just touch the car and imagine the place you want to go."
Stelle was stunned. "It's that simple?"
After getting confirmation, Stelle, under the watchful eyes of the other two, reached out and placed her hand on the wall—
—I want to go to the anchor point in Belobog's Administrative District.
Whoosh—
Stelle felt a dizzying whirl, and when she opened her eyes again, she was standing in the grand plaza of the Administrative District.
The temperature dropped sharply, and the clamor of voices flooded her senses. The familiar scene unfolded before her—it was as if she'd never left.
"Stelle?"
As Stelle stood dazed by the miraculous moment, a familiar voice called from behind. "Didn't you leave?"
Stelle turned around to see the Supreme Guardian standing not far away, looking puzzled.
To others, it must have seemed like Stelle had appeared out of thin air.
Gepard thought for a moment and then had a realization. "Oh, I remember now. This is that teleportation point you mentioned before, right? You're already back in the cosmos?"
Stelle nodded. "I'm experimenting."
"Experimenting… with what?"
The next second, Stelle touched the anchor point and vanished, leaving a bewildered Gepard behind.
"It really works!"
Stelle looked around and realized she was back on the train.
She placed her hand on the car again, thought for a moment, and reappeared in front of Gepard.
Gepard: ?
"Come on!" Stelle pointed a finger at Gepard. "Let me take you for a ride."
Gepard considered it, thinking it wouldn't hurt to try. His expression shifted slightly, and he said, "I'm fine with experiencing it, but… could you change the way we make contact?"
Stelle casually flicked her hair. "Psh, you don't get it. This is galactic art, called The Creation of Adam. Be bold, come on!"
Gepard covered his face, letting out a slow sigh. He extended a finger, touching Stelle's—
And in that very second, a paparazzo hidden in the shadows raised their camera, snapping away furiously.
Whoosh—
In an instant, Gepard felt the surroundings blur rapidly, the light and colors shifting. When he came to, he was standing in a dimly lit town.
The infrastructure here was far less advanced than the Overworld, but the streets were bustling with people, filled with a lively, thriving atmosphere.
"This is… the Underworld?"
Gepard quickly realized where he was, feeling a surge of novelty. From his previous location, it would've taken at least two hours to reach the Underworld, but with this so-called "Domain Anchor," the entire process took less than a second.
What an incredible device—worthy of extraterrestrial technology. If they could use these anchors, the relocation and aid efforts for the Underworld would surely proceed much more smoothly…
"Stelle, I wanted to ask you…"
Just as Gepard was about to share his thoughts, he heard Stelle muttering excitedly to herself, "Hahaha, I can really teleport anywhere! This is too cool. I'm gonna check out the Space Station—maybe I can even catch a wild Herta!"
Gepard felt a sinking premonition. "Stelle, hold on a second—"
Whoosh—
Before Gepard could finish, Stelle's figure vanished, leaving him standing alone.
Gepard: …I knew it.