The subtle misunderstanding that had arisen in Gallagher's mind became even harder for him to maintain his composure because of something Himeko said.
But now that things had come this far, how could he allow himself to waver because of that?
Gallagher looked at Himeko in silence for a while, the expression on his face still firmly shaped into calmness.
"I'm someone who follows the Path of Enigmata. My philosophy in life is to believe in nothing."
"...So I also understand what believing means to the Trailblaze. I want to know what exactly he left behind too. Heh, it's up to you now."
Nero looked at Gallagher through narrowed eyes.
'You really got to say all the nice things.'
'This uncle is just putting on a brave front, definitely putting on a brave front.'
Himeko thought for a moment, then said to Gallagher, "Could I borrow your pet for a while? I need to return to the Golden Hour and go to the Dream Bubble sales shop to confirm a few things... For Mikhail, and also for Penacony's future."
———
Ten System Hours before the Charmony Festival opened, the real-world Reverie Hotel.
"Welcome to the Reverie Hotel. How may I assist you?"
As a lobby attendant, Ellie wore a professional smile as she looked at the two men standing in front of her, along with three little creatures whose species she could not identify.
These two men... the taller one, the guy with black-and-white hair dressed like a cowboy, clearly did not look easy to deal with, while the handsome young man beside him also seemed to be the cold, quiet type who did not like talking much.
However, as a service worker for the Festival Planet, Ellie received countless guests from all over the universe every day. What kind of people had she not seen?
Compared with the two handsome men standing in front of her, she was more interested in the three creatures that looked like pastries or perhaps cats. Their bodies looked so bouncy, they were simply too cute.
"Hello, we're Nameless from the Astral Express. We'd like to check in."
"The Astral Express... I remember that you already..." Ellie clearly remembered that the Astral Express had already checked in, especially because there was a cute child among them whom Mr. Sunday and Miss Robin had personally brought in.
"Yes, our companions checked in ahead of us. My name is Dan Heng. My personal information should be in the hotel system." Dan Heng maintained the steadiness befitting an adult dragon.
"I see. However, your companions said at the time that your plans had changed and you wouldn't be able to check in," Ellie said.
"Ha, well, the plan changed again, didn't it?" Boothill was starting to lose patience.
"May I ask who you are...?" Ellie looked at the cowboy-dressed guest.
"I'm Pam, a new Nameless who just boarded the Astral Express." Like a steady adult dragon, the experienced Galaxy Ranger also possessed his own unique communication skills. His steel-like thick skin and careless way of doing things allowed him to lie without batting an eye.
Dan Heng kept his face straight and glanced at Boothill.
Even someone as steady as him was caught off guard by that statement. Fortunately, the people he usually spent time with were the wildly imaginative March, the oddball Stelle, and the decisive Nero, all of whom were on that level. With the support of his wealth of experience, he could still hold himself together.
"...He's my companion." After a brief silence, Dan Heng looked at Ellie and nodded expressionlessly, vouching for Boothill's identity.
"Before he boarded the train, we had already replied to the Family's invitation. So there shouldn't be any record of him in the system. Is there any way you could make an exception?"
Ellie smiled. "Among the Nameless who checked in earlier, there were also people in the same situation. It seems that more and more people have been embarking on the Trailblaze recently."
"However, this is not allowed in principle. But your situation is somewhat special. With the special consideration of Mr. Sunday and Miss Robin, I'll register both of you right away."
Ellie, or rather, the Family, seemed quite easy to talk to. She immediately went to register Dan Heng and Boothill's identities.
"Ha, that easy? Didn't you say the Family keeps a pretty tight rein on Penacony?" Boothill said.
"They do keep a tight rein on it. You should have heard her. She said that, in principle, your situation isn't allowed. This is because of the special consideration of Sunday and Robin."
"So what?"
"It means you received a favor from someone else." Dan Heng narrowed his eyes.
"I think I have an idea now. Although the Astral Express is well-known throughout the universe, it clearly isn't worth the Family treating it this way. The person who could let you enjoy this kind of privilege should be Nero."
"Nero? Who's that? Is he also a member of your Astral Express?"
"Yes. And he's a real Nameless, unlike you, who's only borrowing the name. If anyone could make the Family compromise, I think it could only be him. And that child happens to have a good relationship with Robin too."
As he said this, Dan Heng suddenly narrowed his eyes, revealing a smile that did not fit his dragon persona at all.
"Anyway, the reason things have gone so smoothly is all thanks to that child. I imagine that the righteous heroes under the Hunt shouldn't easily ignore help from others, right?"
"Tsk, quit speaking in riddles. Just say what you mean, Brother Dan Heng. When I meet that precious little Nero you're talking about later, I'll personally thank him. How about that?"
Dan Heng smiled. "Yes, we'll remember that."
"You guys?" Boothill was stunned.
Dan Heng looked at the three Cat Cakes that had followed them over. "These three are that child's pets."
"..." Boothill said, "So that's what he treasures. I was wondering why these three cuties had to tag along with us like precious little treasures."
At this point, Boothill suddenly noticed something and looked at Dan Heng with some confusion.
"I say, Brother Dan Heng, back on the train, before we set off, it looked like every attempt you made to contact our companions failed. Aren't you worried? And you've still got the leisure to ask someone for benefits for me?"
Dan Heng was silent for a moment before asking, "Have you ever been to a planet called Jarilo-VI?"
Boothill shook his head.
"If you've ever looked at that planet from close up, or looked up at the sky while standing on that planet, then you'll understand why I'm not particularly worried," Dan Heng said.
Although the "Emanator of Nihility" was indeed dangerous, in Dan Heng's eyes, Nero was even more dangerous. There were simply too many secrets surrounding this child.
Even if things jumped straight to a situation where they had no choice but to clash with the "Emanator of Nihility," Dan Heng even felt that Nero had the better odds.
After all, that child was not only absurdly powerful himself, he also had things standing behind him that ordinary people would not even dare imagine.
So... the "Emanator of Nihility" was not necessarily more dangerous than this child.
Dan Heng did not say this out loud, because if he did, the cowboy in front of him would definitely be shocked and start speaking at the top of his voice. Looking at Boothill's completely bewildered expression, Dan Heng did not continue.
Boothill was dying of impatience inside.
"You've got to keep going. What's wrong with that planet? What happened to that planet's sky? Damn it, this cute little riddler is driving me crazy!"
Little Aha: "Looks good. I like watching."
However, the "Emanator of Nihility" was indeed a little dangerous. Although Black Marshal would not peer at others, there were inevitably mortals who would become trapped in too much shadow.
'Damn it, Aha, why am I suddenly so worried?'
'Not long ago, when Fuli said that Idrila was a little too indulgent, I didn't think much of it. Now that I think about it, she really might have been a little... Jarilo's sky is still split in two even now, after all, and the "Valley of Death of the Stars" that remained in the universe back then was also very clear.'
'Damn Aha, why did the Intelligentsia Guild give it such a name? The Valley of Death sounds so scary. Wouldn't Valley of Joy have been better?'
'That slash didn't cause any negative impact on the universe's ecology anyway. Didn't it just blow up one, two, three... too many planets to count?'
'Oh, I know why I didn't think Idrila was too indulgent. It's because she gave too much the first time. Compared with that, the restraint she showed afterward looked quite normal.'
'Anyway... hang in there, Idrila!'
'If you really end up facing that Pepper-Egg's Emanator, make sure you keep the restrictions within the scope of your own abilities!'
The real Aha, staying inside Little Aha's body, was silently muttering to himself...