Despite the chaos caused by Phantylia, thanks to timely and proper control, the disturbance clearly didn't affect the ongoing Luminary Wardance being held aboard the Skirmish Starskiff.
"Wow, there are so many different species in the universe..."
Although it was still the qualifying stage, it was evident from the sweet, surprised, and emotional tone of the girl's voice that Miss Elysia was already thoroughly stunned by the sheer diversity of life.
Even though she had seen many things during her time...
Bizarre existences like the 'Automaton Direwolf', which resembled a trash can, clearly didn't fall into the common category.
"Hmph hmph, that just shows how little you've seen! The universe is huge, there's all sorts of things out there! Let me tell you, I've even seen things that look like ghosts!"
Humming with a touch of pride, the lively girl's voice made the former look up. It was none other than March 7th and her companions, whom they had met earlier in front of the Palace of Astrum. This outspoken girl, perhaps having overheard Elysia's exclamation, couldn't help but show off a little.
"...Isn't this your first time seeing this kind too?"
Beside her, Stelle, looking cool and detached but actually a bit goofy on the inside, retorted.
March 7th, caught trying to show off, attempted to argue, but likely feeling it wasn't right to lie, puffed out her cheeks and hummed sullenly, glaring back: "Pfft, no way, this isn't the first time for me... None of your business!"
"Judging by Miss March 7th's words, have you traveled to many places?" Eden, accompanying Elysia, asked curiously.
"Wow, such a beautiful and elegant big sister, just like Himeko... Cough cough, of course!" March 7th puffed up with pride. "We're the Nameless Trailblazers!"
"Hmm... Is this the first time you've heard of the Nameless and the Astral Express?"
"Not really, that naughty Jiang Qiao mentioned it a few times..." Elysia muttered.
The next moment, a familiar, lazy girlish voice spoke: "They are a group of like-minded people gathered by the path pioneered by Akivili, the Aeon of Trailblaze."
"Eh? Naughty Jiang Qiao?!"
"Ah, what are you doing here?" Qingque, who was with the group, looked equally surprised to see 'herself' appear.
"The Seat of the Divine Foresight doesn't need me over there anymore, so I came here to take a look," [Qingque] explained. "After all, it's the Luminary Wardance, a rare interstellar event for the Xianzhou. I was curious too."
"I didn't expect you all to be with the people from the Astral Express... Sigh."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean! What's with the sigh? Got a problem with the Astral Express?!" March 7th was clearly unhappy with [Qingque]'s reaction to mentioning the Astral Express, placing her hands on her hips indignantly.
"Uh... Please don't misunderstand. I've simply heard tales of the Express's exploits."
"Hmm? It seems this young lady has taken quite an interest in our Astral Express..."
"Not really, just heard things here and there..." [Qingque] replied. "Things like... the Nameless damaging the Taikiyan Stadium... or, a certain Nameless blowing up half the Express along with a planet into dust, that sort of thing."
"Cough cough..." Welt, who had been curious, started coughing violently upon hearing Jiang Qiao's words, subtly glancing at March 7th.
The latter looked embarrassed and annoyed, retorting: "That must be a misunderstanding! It's just rumors!"
"Besides, how could we Nameless blow up the Express?!"
"Forget blowing up the Express, Pom-Pom would probably flip out just from bringing dangerous explosives onboard."
"Regarding that matter, perhaps you could ask your conductor," the girl [Qingque] smiled.
Elysia whispered, "...They sound kind of like vandals."
"That's definitely fake, just rumors! Don't believe her!" Seeing the Express's reputation at stake, March 7th frantically tried to salvage its image in Elysia's mind.
"Exploring the unknown path often brings change, and change isn't always good," Eden commented with a smile regarding [Qingque]'s words. "Of course... things are always in motion, always changing. Having change is generally good."
"I guess if Mobius were here, she'd probably really like that statement."
"That's not surprising. After all, the infinity Mobius seeks is precisely such a path of constant change and exploration," [Qingque] added. "In that respect, she might find quite a bit of common ground with the Path of Trailblaze."
As [Qingque] chatted idly with Elysia and the others, she didn't notice the subtle expressions of Miss Qingque beside them. Qingque was still pondering Jiang Qiao's earlier words.
Namely, the Seat of the Divine Foresight didn't need [Qingque] anymore...
Could it be!?
He got fired?!
At this possibility, Qingque began to tremble—don't ask, it was out of excitement.
After all, what she longed for was a life of retirement, doing nothing, living off others.
Although the possibility seemed absurd, considering how that certain someone had previously annoyed the Generals, getting kicked out of the Seat of the Divine Foresight didn't seem entirely impossible.
With a pounding heart and trembling hands, Qingque, feeling ecstatic, grabbed onto the happy [Qingque] and planned to get the details.
However—
The result was clearly disappointing for Qingque.
[Qingque] looked puzzled: "...Fired? What are you talking about? It's just that the Seat of the Divine Foresight temporarily doesn't need me, so the General sent me over here to check out the Luminary Wardance."
"But... sigh..."
Qingque, initially crestfallen as her hopes were dashed, saw [Qingque]'s sighing appearance and instantly felt like she had grasped a lifeline. Is there a twist?
Bless the Reignbow Arbiter, onegai! Please let it be good news!
"What? What is it?"
"Although I helped catch a petty thief, I'm afraid this matter won't end so easily," the girl [Qingque] sighed softly, looking resigned.
Qingque's expression, however, soured somewhat.
What the heck? While I, Qingque, was away, you used my body to help catch thieves?
So you didn't screw things up, and even earned credit for me along the way?
Pfft! Isn't catching thieves the job of the Realm-Keeping Commission? What business is it of yours from the Seat of the Divine Foresight! If you're so helpful, why don't you do all my work for me?
With a long face, learning that she apparently hadn't messed things up but had instead gained merit, Miss Qingque's mood shifted like the weather from sunny to cloudy.
Fortunately, the only consolation was that although it was a merit, it was only a small one.
Qingque sighed internally, feeling indignant. Fine, just consider it earning some extra cash... Speaking of which, being a Good Samaritan should earn a few Strale from the Realm-Keeping Commission.
Thinking this, Miss Qingque, adept at self-consolation, instantly felt much relieved.
At the same time, she gave up pondering this issue—after all, this was a rare vacation. If she didn't make good use of it and just moped around, wouldn't she be losing out...
Although she tried to think this way, seeing [Qingque] nearby left Miss Qingque with a bitter taste.
After all, having been tormented by the duties at the Seat of the Divine Foresight, she had swapped bodies intending for that someone to work for her while she enjoyed the Luminary Wardance. But now, this guy was here too... Kuso! I, Qingque, swapped bodies for a happy vacation, but the person whose body was swapped is also having a happy vacation! Didn't I swap for nothing then?
The sullen Miss Qingque could only accept the Mengmo Roll offered by that someone, channeling her grief into appetite.
Meanwhile, during the conversation with the Astral Express crew, rapport between the two groups was rapidly increasing.
Although initially awkward, after learning more about the Astral Express, Eden and Aponia were fine, but Vill-V and Elysia naturally took a strong liking to the Trailblaze faction.
After all, unlike the former's pursuit of art and faith, both Vill-V and Elysia were types who loved traveling everywhere. The latter, especially, was the Previous Era's number one Gaijin (wanderer/vagabond), a god-like being who completed a world tour in her youth.
Wanderers always find common language with other wanderers.
Therefore, the Astral Express, arguably the number one interstellar wanderers, felt like kindred spirits they had met too late.
This was especially true for Miss March 7th.
Her relationship with Elysia, who also had pink hair, transformed from initial awkwardness into becoming best friends who could talk about anything.
March had already started sharing photos from her journeys with Elysia, who showed great interest.
Welt retreated to a corner to rest, giving the younger ones space.
Just then, a girl's voice sounded beside him. Looking up, he saw the girl called [Qingque]. He was about to greet her, but her words stunned him.
"Mr. Welt, are you still searching for the way home?"
"...Did Little March tell you?"
Puzzled, he thought he hadn't mentioned this himself. But after thinking, Welt figured March 7th might have let it slip.
He didn't mind too much, though, as it wasn't exactly a secret worth keeping.
On the contrary, because he was searching for home, Welt often tried to make contact with various factions, hoping to find clues.
"Nope."
The girl in green clothes ([Qingque]) smiled, casually tapping lightly. Before Welt's stunned eyes, zero and one intertwined, points of light weaving together. A Celestial Jade tile materialized in her hand, tossed high, and caught again.
Object construction isn't an overly advanced technique for the powers in the universe. Cruder methods involve material accumulation, while higher-end ones include the Aether Editing technique mastered by Silver Wolf, originating from Punklorde.
However, staring at that Celestial Jade tile, Welt, who hadn't missed a single detail, felt his gaze sharpen.
His keen eyes recognized the true nature of this technique at once.
"...Comprehension and Reconstruction?!"
Using the authority of Imaginary energy to manifest understood knowledge through Imaginary power—undoubtedly, this was the authority belonging to the Herrscher of Reason.
As a former Herrscher of Reason, Welt was certain he couldn't mistake this authority.
Of course, similar abilities weren't unheard of in the universe; after all, many flowers bloom alike.
But the method of using the power ultimately differed.
And from the way [Qingque] wielded this authority, Welt vaguely saw the shadow of his own successor.
"Displaying this authority before me..."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Hmm~ Don't misunderstand, Mr. Welt. I just wanted to express that if you're simply looking for the way home, perhaps I can help you."
"...The universe is vast. There are many similar worlds, many similar people... Perhaps the place you know isn't my hometown." Welt's expression softened considerably, a wry, resigned smile on his face as he shook his head.
"Indeed, many flowers bloom alike."
"But Mr. Welt, I am quite certain that the flower I know is your hometown."
"After all, Dr. Tesla is still waiting for you to return, isn't she?"
Welt, initially indifferent and about to politely decline, instantly broke into a sweat upon hearing that name.
Looking at the girl before him, his gaze became complex.
While the existence of Tesla wasn't necessarily unique either... mentioning this name proactively could only mean that this young girl called [Qingque] indeed knew a lot about him—perhaps even more than the Express crew.
"...I'm curious, how exactly do you know?"
[Qingque] smiled without answering. He lightly beckoned with his index finger, and a Jade Abacus landed in Welt's hand: "Contact me when you're ready to go home."
"There's no need to rush. I suspect you wouldn't want your journey of Trailblaze to end so abruptly."
"Apologies, I need to go welcome some uninvited guests now."
Leaving these words, the girl turned and departed. Before Welt could voice the questions in his heart and stop her, a rift opened, and she vanished on the spot.
Standing rooted to the spot, watching where she disappeared, Welt fell into deep thought.
Until a voice echoed from the Skirmish Starskiff's communication system—an announcement from the organizers.
"Due to special circumstances, all contestants and guests are requested to remain aboard the Luminary Wardance Skirmish Starskiff. Repeat, due to special circumstances, all contestants and guests are requested to remain aboard the Luminary Wardance Skirmish Starskiff."