"Could you please stop being so terrifying?"
On Penacony's Dreamscape Reef, Lumina held a sphere pulsing with terrifying energy. Her eyes lowered slightly as she glanced speechlessly at Madam Herta, who seemed utterly unconcerned, as if this had nothing to do with her.
"What's the rush? Didn't scare anyone, did I?" Herta retorted, her expression indifferent as she observed the Astral Express crew and Sunday's group chatting normally, unaffected by the incident.
"That's only because I reacted so quickly," Lumina retorted, tossing the sphere into the air. A green glow enveloped it before it dissipated without releasing even a ripple of energy.
"If I'd been even a split second slower, Dreamscape Reef—and all of Penacony—would have been wiped off the map!" Lumina huffed, clearly displeased with Herta's reckless behavior.
"Well, Dreamscape Reef is still here, isn't it? If it's still standing, stop nagging," Herta gestured toward the intact reef before her, signaling Lumina to shut up.
"Alright, alright~" Lumina thought, watching Little Herta's mischievous antics. As her older sister, what choice do I have but to indulge her?
Outwardly, Lumina suppressed her earlier indulgent expression, nodding calmly to prevent Little Herta from overreacting again. She spread her hands in a gesture of surrender.
"Hmph." Seeing Lumina finally drop that loathsome, overly doting look, Madam Herta crossed her arms, clearly pleased.
Finally, I've managed to outmaneuver that wretched Little Lumina!
Madam Herta gloated inwardly, while Lumina, oblivious to Herta's thoughts, was already scheming furiously about how to get her revenge.
Though she hadn't snapped when Herta patted her head earlier, Lumina had undoubtedly noted the offense in her mental notebook.
She took such matters very seriously. After all, if Herta dared touch her head today, what liberties might she take tomorrow?
To prevent further transgressions, Lumina needed to devise a counterattack—she absolutely couldn't let Little Herta continue to act so arrogantly!
"Miss Lumina, Madam Herta, might I ask...?" Just as Lumina and Herta were each lost in their own thoughts, the Astral Express crew's conversation with Sunday came to an end.
Having agreed on a strategy, everyone turned their attention to the two individuals on the field who could decisively influence the situation.
"Hmm? Oh, what's the deal?" Sensing the collective gaze, Herta instinctively shifted her gaze to Lumina, deferring to her to handle the matter.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Startled back from her inner musings, Lumina blinked, a confused expression spreading across her face as she registered the expectant stares.
"Miss Lumina, it's like this..." Realizing Lumina hadn't been following the conversation, Himeko stepped forward and briefly explained the situation.
"Oh, I see. You all just do what you need to do. I'll protect the innocent bystanders."
"And if things truly escalate beyond resolution and innocent lives are threatened, rest assured, I'll step in and settle everything."
Without overthinking, Lumina expressed her stance with remarkable clarity and conciseness:
What does the conflict between Harmony and Order have to do with Abundance?
"You've suddenly changed your tune, you bleeding heart?" Herta asked, surprised by Lumina's response.
Herta had assumed Lumina would agree to join them in opposing the so-called "God Lord's Day."
"I'm here on vacation, not to fight," Lumina said in a voice only Herta could hear. "These Path-related disputes are none of my business, and I have no intention of getting involved."
Lumina's primary purpose in coming to Penacony was indeed to relax and meet people from across the Galaxy. She had absolutely no interest in the so-called Path conflicts.
[You've got that backwards. The main goal is to make new friends, the secondary goal is to vacation with them,] the System corrected.
"Hmm... close enough," Lumina muttered.
Lumina didn't deny it. Her true motive for coming to Penacony was to meet new friends and enjoy a vacation with them on the Planet of Festivities!
Just try and stop me.
"Understood, Miss Lumina," Himeko replied, unsurprised by this outcome.
Penacony had been jointly built by the Trailblazers of the Astral Express, so as members of the Astral Express, they naturally felt obligated to offer assistance.
However, as a follower of the Path of Abundance, Lumina had no reason to intervene in Penacony's current situation.
"Come on, Little Herta, let's go~"
Having made her stance clear, Lumina didn't linger. Before leaving, she patted Herta on the back as if patting a small dog, signaling her to hurry up.
"Are you trying to get killed?!" Herta, the genius, immediately understood the meaning behind Lumina's gesture.
She's treating me like a pet dog!
Herta's eyes flashed with fury as she stormed after Lumina, raising her hand to slap Lumina's back—only for Lumina to easily dodge the blow.
"Aiya, Little Herta, can't you keep up? Why are you getting so worked up again?"
"Say 'Little Herta' one more time, and you'll regret it!"
"Li~ttle~ Her~ta~"
Under the yearning, envious gazes of Robin, March 7th, and Stelle, the two figures slowly vanished from sight...