"The Party Car?"
"Yeah, the name change was actually suggested by a Nameless who's already left the train. Though, later on, Himeko ended up kicking that guy off…"
March 7th explained as she led the way ahead.
"Y'know, I've always been kinda curious. What in the world did that guy do to make someone as gentle as Sister Himeko so mad…"
"Hmm… My guess? He probably started mimicking some of his former master's… particular way of speaking again."
"Eh? Lynelle, you know him?"
"Hard to say for sure. But I did get some intel about him from Uncle Yang."
Lynelle smiled and said, "So strictly speaking, you could say I know him. After all, if we're lucky enough later, you might even see me summon him—in weapon form."
"Weapon? Summon?"
March 7th was more confused than ever. But seeing Lynelle's mysterious smirk, she had a feeling that even if she pressed further, Lynelle would probably just keep speaking in riddles.
"Alright, Shush, just mix us two glasses of…"
"Would you like a [Wrench-Tossed Salad]?"
The drink-mixing robot at the bar immediately began promoting its bizarre creation.
"Wait a second! Not even a robot would eat that stuff!"
March 7th huffed, pressing down on the wrench Shush was about to pull out. "Two [At Least We're Together Now]. Lynelle's still new here, don't you go giving her a bad impression."
"Ah, a newbie."
Shush compliantly put the wrench away and picked up its mixing tools. "Now that is rare. Fancy the Astral Express taking on two new passengers at once. The Party Car might finally get a bit livelier."
"Though, too many people wouldn't be great either. If there are too many passengers on the train, our [Party Car] might just turn into a [Queue Car]. Party, queue—get it? Hilarious."
"Shush, no one wants your lame jokes…"
"Uh, is he always like this?"
Lynelle watched March 7th, who looked completely accustomed to it all, and couldn't help her curiosity.
"Yep. Who knows what his former master was thinking. He's a drink-mixing bot, but he's loaded with a huge library of lame jokes, and it even updates in real-time…"
"Probably because his former master was a bit of a joker himself."
Lynelle thought for a moment and said, "Let me tell you a little secret. Shush's former master, Void Archives, once spent ages painstakingly navigating his way out of a 'desert'—while in the form of a tiny cube, flipping himself along edge by edge."
"Not only that, he was terrified of his own creator. He even tried to manipulate a teenage boy, attempting to seize his body by parasitizing him."
"And the result of all that? He got completely outplayed instead and ended up working for the guy for a good five hundred years."
"Logged to folder [Master's Embarrassing Past]. Thank you, Passenger Lynelle, for the intel. As thanks, I will record my master's reaction when I play this data for him upon our next meeting and share it with you."
Let's just say, it truly was a robot trained by Void Archives. The tradition of subordinates overthrowing their masters ran strong in its code.
"Lynelle, Lynelle, how do you know so much!"
March 7th took small, squirrel-like sips of her drink while listening to Lynelle's gossip with shining eyes. "Did Uncle Yang tell you all this too?"
"Mm, Uncle Yang has probably already told you all that I travel between two worlds."
Lynelle nodded. "In fact, the other world I'm connected to is highly similar to Uncle Yang's former home."
"This similarity extends to the people, the course of historical development, and even some hidden settings… Speaking of which, not long ago, I was even on a mission with Uncle Yang from that other world."
"Really?"
March 7th perked up. "What was the other Uncle Yang doing?"
"He was a history teacher… at an all-girls school."
"...Huh?"
--+--
"Achoo!"
Welt, who had just returned to the train from the space station, sneezed violently.
"I've got a feeling someone's talking about me today…"
"Passenger Welt, you're back."
Pom-Pom put down his broom and immediately pattered over.
"That Passenger Lynelle you kept mentioning is visiting the train today! She should be touring the Party Car with Passenger March 7th right now. Would you like to go see them?"
"Oh?"
Welt's spirits lifted immediately.
After his last conversation with Lynelle, he'd been too stirred up to sleep properly.
He'd ended up staying up all night meticulously charting a complete timeline of his world's history up until its confrontation with the Finality.
"Perfect timing, I'll go give these materials to her… Is there anything else you need, Conductor? Like me projecting a few cleaning robots for you or something…"
"No, no need! Sweeping with a broom has its own ceremonial feel!"
"Alright then. But did Lynelle come up today just to tour the train?"
"Of course not. She seemed to be here to ask about the departure time, but Pom-Pom forgot to tell her earlier."
Pom-Pom only just remembered this detail and hastily waved his little hands to add, "Could you go tell Passenger Lynelle that the train will remain here for about another week? There's no need to rush!"
"Sure. Stelle and Madam Herta have also finalized their collaboration agreement for the Simulated Universe. We can use this week to complete the initial tests."
Welt nodded upon hearing this and headed towards the Party Car.
However, the moment he reached the entrance, he overheard some rather precarious topics.
"Uncle Yang's wife? Well… I think he does have a wife and kids, but he's never gone into detail about them. Why do you ask, Lynelle?"
"No reason, really. It's just that the Uncle Yang from my world, before a dangerous mission once, mustered up the courage to ask a lady with red twin tails to dance. I was just curious if they ended up together in the end."
"Ooooh! Lynelle, details, please!"
"Ahem…"
Welt, his face darkening slightly, cleared his throat softly.
"Ah, Uncle Yang's here!"
March 7th's face flushed slightly red as she awkwardly turned away.
"Don't worry, I'm not angry… I'm just a bit surprised you'd be interested in that sort of thing."
Looking at the flustered young women before him, Welt shook his head with some amusement.
For an old-timer like him, these things were far from being unspeakable secrets anymore. If anything, this gossip brought back a sense of nostalgia.
So, he casually picked up a mixed drink from the bar and sat down beside them.
"But, since you seem to enjoy hearing these stories, why not get the juicy details straight from the source? For instance, that red twin-tailed lady Lynelle mentioned did indeed later become my wife. But back then, you could also loosely consider her as having another role… my adoptive mother."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.