In the cafeteria of the Space Station, March leaned her elbows on the table, eyeing the others with a conspiratorial look.
"They say Ruan Mei is already on the brink of madness… Some even claim they've heard her muttering about horrible demons chasing her."
Aleph and Himeko, who were quietly enjoying their coffee, let out a brief laugh.
"Eh? And what's so funny to you two?" March asked, confused.
Welt calmly adjusted his glasses, though beads of cold sweat slid down his forehead. He wiped them away with a handkerchief, sighed, and answered gravely.
"March, there are things better left in the dark."
Dan Heng, beside him, nodded silently.
Deep inside, Welt recalled a certain incident years ago. Just once, by accident, he had embarrassed Himeko in front of a guy who had asked her out. The consequence had been months of cruel, unforgettable reprisals. A shiver ran down his spine.
His gaze returned to the two laughing with coffee in hand.
"Aleph… did you just wake a monster that was better left sleeping?" He thought uneasily.
**********
That night, when most were already asleep, Aleph remained awake in his room, checking the system's new options.
"Burroughs, what exactly is 'Variant-M'?"
[It is a high-risk experimental mechanic. It allows the creation of new demons through various methods… though the main one is DNA mixing. Extreme caution is advised when attempting to use it, Master.]
Aleph stayed thoughtful for a few seconds.
"…Let's give it a try."
With Bufudyne, he shaped ice into test tubes. He filled the first with his own blood, from an intentional cut. He stared at it with slight unease—pink-purple, the same as that time in the Simulated Universe when Tayzzyronth had slashed him.
Then, stealthily, he slipped into Stelle's room. The girl was sprawled across the bed, sound asleep, with Cupcake the raccoon snoring beside her. Carefully, he took a loose strand of her hair.
With what he needed in hand, he moved on to his next target.
March was murmuring strange things in her sleep.
"Dan Heng… stop fighting Mr. HappyMeal… And you, Aleph, don't eat him…"
Aleph raised an eyebrow, wondering what kind of image she had of him. Still, he took a couple strands of her hair and slipped away.
When it came to Himeko and Welt, he reconsidered.
"No… that would end really badly." He muttered, abandoning the idea of sneaking into their rooms.
So, he changed targets.
In the archive room, Dan Heng was sleeping on a futon. Aleph created an icy mist with Bufudyne.
His reasoning was fairly simple.
Vidyadhara are dragons, dragons are reptiles, and don't reptiles get more sluggish in the cold?
But just as the syringe pricked skin, Dan Heng's eyes snapped open and he launched a devastating frontal strike. Aleph barely had time to activate Illusionist, warping the vidyadhara's perception.
Dan Heng, who had struck with full force, blinked in confusion when he saw no one there, and after mumbling mid-yawn about how comfortable the cold was, drifted back to sleep.
Aleph staggered out, rubbing his forehead with tears in his eyes.
"The things one does for science…" He grumbled through clenched teeth, clutching the syringe now full of blood.
.....
Back in his room, Aleph took a deep breath before the holographic screen.
[Insert the ingredients]
One by one, he placed them in. They crystallized and dissolved into light.
[Do you wish to create a new demon?]
[Yes/No]
Aleph selected [Yes]. A surge of colors filled the room.
He swallowed hard, anxious about the results.
After exactly three minutes, the glow condensed. A small figure emerged: a lizard with purple scales, reflecting March's hair color, and golden eyes like Stelle's.
The little creature let out a soft chirp, hopped onto the bed, and then onto Aleph's head, settling there as if it belonged.
"…Not what I was expecting." He murmured, baffled. But soon he smiled, stroking it with a finger. The lizard chirped happily and rubbed its head against his touch.
"Though… this isn't bad. She's pretty cute and affectionate."
The interface appeared again.
[Assign a name.]
Aleph thought for a moment.
"…Corruid."
He confirmed the choice. The lizard chirped again, as if in approval, and curled up on him to sleep.
************
The afternoon arrived with a more relaxed air. After a hectic day, the Express members gathered for a snack. Welt and Dan Heng calmly enjoyed tea; Himeko and Aleph, steaming coffee; while Stelle and March delighted in cakes paired with fruit juice.
The quiet murmur was interrupted when Pom-Pom entered with a solemn demeanor.
"Attention, everyone!"
All six looked at him curiously.
"As you know, the Carismonia Festival in Penacony is only a few days away, and you've all been invited."
March threw her arms up, thrilled.
"Finally, a real vacation! And hopefully this time without something weird interrupting it…"
Pom-Pom coughed loudly, demanding attention again.
"Sorry…" March muttered, embarrassed.
"Before thinking about festivals, it's time to take care of the Astral Express. Washtopia will handle the exterior cleaning… which means you, as passengers, must handle the interior."
Stelle shot up to her feet.
"I… I have something urgent to do." She said, trying to sneak away.
But she was quickly intercepted.
"Not a chance." Aleph grabbed her by the arm.
"This is a job for everyone." March added, crossing her arms.
With a defeated sigh, Stelle finally accepted her fate, tears welling in her eyes.
Satisfied, Pom-Pom began handing out chores. Once assigned, everyone went off to their designated sections.
...
Later, in the meeting car, Aleph was arranging books and collecting cups when Stelle entered, dragging a bucket behind her after scrubbing the bathrooms. Both noticed a scolding already in progress—Pom-Pom was yelling at Dan Heng.
"What happened here?" Aleph asked curiously.
Pom-Pom, broom in hand, pointed around them.
"Look at this mess!"
The floor was drenched, puddles reflecting the ceiling light.
Dan Heng scratched the back of his neck, uneasy.
"I thought using hymcloud magic to clean would be more efficient…"
Stelle facepalmed.
"Dan Heng, fix this immediately."
Aleph thought for a moment.
"With a mop it would take forever… you could just evaporate the water using the same technique."
Dan Heng nodded, finding it reasonable.
"Makes sense."
But before he could act, Pom-Pom shouted indignantly.
"Don't encourage him to do crazy things!"
A second later, Aleph and Stelle were thrown out of the car, Pom-Pom chasing after them with broom raised high.
....
Later, in the party car, March, Stelle, and Dan Heng chatted casually. Aleph joined them shortly after.
"Have you seen Welt? I need to talk to him."
Before he got an answer, March's eyes sparkled.
"Oh, by the way! Where did that cute lizard come from?"
With Corruid asleep on his head, Aleph smiled calmly.
"It's a bit complicated to explain… but let's just say she's my new friend, Corruid."
Dan Heng leaned closer.
"May I hold her?"
Aleph nodded and passed her over. As Dan Heng and the creature studied one another, March finally answered the pending question.
"Mr. Yang left a few hours ago, said he had important business to handle."
At that moment, Himeko appeared, wearing a white apron, carrying a steaming pot, smiling with satisfaction.
"Dinner's ready."
Stelle and March instantly paled.
"Mr. Yang… really is cunning." March muttered. "Is that normal for older people?"
Aleph raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
In a whisper, March explained their reaction.
"Himeko is… a rather peculiar cook."
When the pot was uncovered, they were hit with an indescribable smell—and an even worse sight: some kind of curry that couldn't possibly be classified as food.
"I worked really hard on this." Himeko said with a confident smile.
No one had the heart to reject her.
As everyone stared, unsure what to do, Aleph made a decision. He stepped forward. Under the incredulous gazes of the others, he lifted the pot and consumed all its contents.
"Aleph!" Himeko scolded him. "Now I'll have to order takeout."
The young man immediately collapsed unconscious.
Corruid let out a sad chirp, jumped down from Dan Heng's hands, and gently stroked her master's forehead with her tiny paw.
"What's wrong with him?" Himeko asked, puzzled.
Stelle opened her mouth to answer, but March quickly covered it, sweating nervously.
"He… lately he's had some energy issues. It's normal for him to faint, puberty stuff…"
Himeko widened her eyes in surprise, but soon nodded in understanding.
"Now that you mention it… considering his traits, Aleph was never exactly human. It makes sense his puberty would be rather peculiar."
March blinked, curious.
"Non-human traits?"
Himeko nodded.
"Yes. Do you remember when, right after leaving Jarilo-VI for the first time, he underwent some scans?" Seeing them nod, Himeko continued. "That's when we saw Aleph had two hearts. Along with some other… curious details."
"Like what?"
Himeko let out a soft chuckle and smiled at them.
"Why don't you ask him yourselves?"
**********
After saying goodbye to Asta and Arlan, the Astral Express set off once more. While Pom-Pom, Himeko, and Dan Heng discussed which route to take toward Lavatopia, a sudden jolt shook the carriage, throwing everyone to the floor.
"Hmm, that fall wasn't so bad, I've had worse." Stelle commented. "Although I do feel something very hard underneath me."
March, beside her, nodded.
"Yeah, it wasn't too bad, though… I think I saw a strange giant shadow outside."
"Of course you didn't feel the fall, you landed on me!" Aleph shouted, shoving Stelle and March off him.
Dazed, Pom-Pom blinked a few times before realizing.
"This isn't the marked route… looks like we got knocked off course."
Another tremor, lighter this time, rattled the Express. Pom-Pom gritted his teeth and snapped his broom against the floor.
"When those intruders come in, they'll learn what discipline means!"
"Intruders?" Aleph asked, raising a brow.
"Obviously." Pom-Pom replied. "That shake was from a ship ramming us."
The doors opened, and indeed, two figures appeared. First, a brown-haired man in a Corporation uniform. Behind him, a tall young man with red hair, clad in silver armor adorned with red and gold.
With solemn steps, the second man bowed.
"Greetings. I am Argenti, knight consecrated to the Path of Beauty and faithful servant of Idrila, our radiant Aeon."
Stelle and Aleph exchanged a look and sighed in unison.
"More mouths to feed…" They muttered with clear displeasure.
March puffed her cheeks, ready to scold them, but her words died in her throat when she noticed Argenti's fixed gaze.
"What a marvel, to behold three souls so beautiful." He said with a voice overflowing with warmth.
March retreated with an awkward giggle.
Stelle, bewildered, pointed at herself before smiling and puffing out her chest.
"Well, finally someone with good taste."
Aleph, however, was caught off guard when Argenti took his hand with a graceful bow and kissed it.
"But above all, it is a special honor to meet you, radiant youth." He said, winking.
Aleph immediately slipped away, hiding behind Dan Heng. Argenti had just revived certain memories he honestly thought were best left buried.
"May I at least know your illustrious names?" Argenti asked politely.
Glowing, Stelle stepped forward.
"I am the future intergalactic legend, a lone heroine whose feats are unmatched—the Galactic Bat!"
"Stelle!" March scolded. "Be serious…" She sighed before introducing herself properly. "I'm March 7th."
Aleph emerged from hiding to introduce them calmly.
"I'm Aleph, and this is Dan Heng." Though he kept a cautious distance.
Argenti inclined his head.
"Forgive my excesses. Asking and knowing is my custom, though my intent is never to offend."
Then, with solemn brightness in his eyes, he posed his question.
"Do you perhaps know Idrila, embodiment of Beauty that encompasses all—inside and out, soul and flesh, form and spirit?"
Stelle blinked, confused.
"What are you even talking about? And… wait, why are you here?"
With a vibrant voice, Argenti explained:
"We Knights of Beauty wander without rest, offering helping hands, professing devotion, and extending Idrila's grace to every corner of the vast cosmos. Where there are doubting hearts, there shall shine our lances, swords, and shields."
His companion, Vilite, calmly interrupted the oratory.
"Before anything else… can I crash on that sofa?"
Dan Heng gave him a brief look, then nodded. Vilite flopped down with a sigh and within seconds was softly snoring.
Soon after, Welt and Dan Heng also left with Himeko to check the Express's condition.
March frowned as she looked out the window.
"There's a lot of debris… and red. A lot of red."
When she turned back, she found Argenti passionately reciting the creed of his order, with Stelle and Aleph listening intently.
March sighed and, imitating Vilite, stretched out on another sofa, slipping into a short nap.
...
The rest didn't last. A dull thud woke her, and she let out a small groan as her face met the cold floor—she had rolled right off the couch.
Before her eyes, Aleph brandished his ice bat against Argenti, who stood tall, his lance raised with solemn serenity. Stelle cheered from behind, eyes shining with excitement.
"What is going on?!" March exclaimed.
Stelle explained eagerly.
"Argenti asked Aleph if he trusted Idrila. Aleph hesitated… so Argenti challenged him to a duel of honor! He's going to prove his faith through action!"
"A duel?!" March nearly tore her hair out.
Argenti inclined his head toward Aleph.
"Forgive my boldness. Yet I am unable to convey my faith with words alone; let my lance speak for me."
Aleph, respectful, nodded.
"Don't worry, I get it."
Their weapons rose—the icy bat glimmered faintly with electricity.
Argenti's grip tightened on his lance, their eyes gleaming with excitement and the thrill of battle.
But before their duel could even begin, Pom-Pom burst in furiously, swinging his broom with masterful precision to smack them both on the head.
"ENOUGH! This is not a battle arena!"
Welt appeared behind him.
"The Express is stuck." He said, glancing at Aleph with mild reproach, making him retreat slightly, embarrassed. "Himeko is looking for a solution, but we need to stay calm."
Vilite stretched with a groan while March complained from the floor.
"We couldn't even sleep in peace!" Vilite shouted.
"I need my beauty naps!" March growled.
...
March, still irritated by recent events, headed straight to her room with only one goal: reclaim her lost nap. But when she opened the door, what she found left her speechless.
Sitting on her bed, smiling at her with a sly, mischievous grin, was… herself.
"Hello~" The newcomer greeted in a playful tone. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
March blinked several times, struggling to process it.
"W-what… who are you?"
The other winked.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm March 7th. You."
"That's impossible!" she protested.
"Impossible? Please… in a universe full of paradoxes, fractured worlds, and unspeakable horrors, you're surprised by something this small?"
Her words carried an unsettling logic. March opened her mouth, closed it, then pointed indignantly.
"Stop trying to confuse me!"
Her reflection burst out laughing, mocking her outrage. Then she leaned forward with a dangerous smile.
"I already told you, I'm you. Only I have what you're missing—your memories, your real name, your family, your friends… everything you've forgotten."
March took a step forward, ready to confront her, but at that moment the door burst open. Dan Heng entered and, without hesitation, pierced the imposter with his spear.
"What are you doing?!" March shrieked, horrified.
"Behind you." He replied calmly.
She turned, and her blood ran cold. A grotesque insect, like a beetle the size of a human, writhed as it was impaled.
Dan Heng withdrew his weapon and the creature collapsed with a piercing shriek before dissolving into shadows.
"What… was that?" March asked.
"A broodling of the Stinger Insects." He explained. "According to records, they produce hallucinogenic dust with their wings. They force victims to see what they most desire in order to weaken them before attacking."
March swallowed hard.
"Are you saying… the others too…?"
Dan Heng nodded, his expression darkening.
"Most likely the others are also facing similar visions in their rooms."
******
In another room, Aleph lay on his bed, absentmindedly stroking Corruid's scales.
A faint flutter caught his attention. He quickly tucked his companion into his pocket, though the little lizard poked her head out curiously to watch.
Floating before him was a young Stinger.
But unlike the ones he had faced before, this one didn't seem particularly eager to attack.
Instead, it timidly extended a leg toward him.
"What…?" Aleph muttered, baffled.
Hesitantly, he reached out his hand. The moment they touched, a joyful screech escaped the insect.
Suddenly, its body began to dissolve into glowing fragments that clung to Aleph, merging with the skin of the arm he had stretched out.
"Hey, wait…!"
The process was swift. Instead of pain, Aleph felt a torrent of foreign emotions—satisfaction, joy, devotion.
The insect wanted this.
When it was over, Aleph stared in bewilderment at his left arm.
Much of it was covered in a retractable exoskeletal armor, hard and gleaming. Corruid watched him closely, as if sharing his confusion.
"What the hell just happened…?"
******
Meanwhile, in the main carriage, Argenti was engaged in conversation with a passenger fascinated by the creed of the Knights of Beauty. His tone was solemn and lyrical, passionately describing the vows of his order.
"Beauty is flame and beacon, ladies and gentlemen, not mere ornament. It is inner truth, reflected in the soul and in every gesture."
Before he could continue, Dan Heng and March burst in, swiftly destroying the insect that had been stalking him.
Argenti, with dignity, did not hide what he had seen—the illusion of a man listening to him with genuine fascination.
"You arrived at the perfect moment, dear companions." Argenti said with a bow.
Later, they came across Stelle, absorbed in conversation with Kafka. Or rather, her illusion.
When the creature was destroyed, Stelle was left with a dim, hollow expression.
"So… it wasn't real." She murmured sadly.
Noticing Aleph's absence, she asked with confusion,
"Where is he? Wasn't he with you?"
Dan Heng blinked.
"…We forgot."
********
When they entered, they found him sitting on his bed, playing with Corruid while retracting and extending the strange armor on his arm. Seeing them, Aleph quickly pulled it back, greeting them with a nervous smile.
"Ah… hey."
Later, as Stelle and March left with Argenti to rejoin Himeko, Welt, Pom-Pom, and Vilite, Aleph stopped Dan Heng.
"I need to talk to you."
He told him what had happened with the insect, his voice grave.
"I know I downplayed it earlier, but… this worries me. You're always the one who keeps track of the Archives and important information, so I thought it'd be right to ask you this. Is there any recorded precedent of something like this happening?"
Dan Heng studied him seriously.
"I've never seen anything like it. I'll look into it, but don't get your hopes up. If something similar happened in the past, it probably wasn't recorded at all… most likely it was eradicated immediately, leaving no trace in the archives." He met Aleph's eyes, making sure his words sank in. "And listen carefully, Aleph—never show this in front of anyone. The Plague is still a raw wound in many people's memory. If anyone even suspects a connection with you… they won't hesitate to hunt you down. Any link to the Plague can be a death sentence."
Aleph lowered his gaze, stroking Corruid, who had climbed onto his shoulder.
"Understood."
**********
An hour later, everyone gathered in the main carriage.
Himeko sat in her seat, legs elegantly crossed, waiting for the others to settle on the sofas.
"We have news to share." She began calmly. "Welt and I already have an idea of what's happening. But before we think about leaving this place, the priority right now is—"
The rest of her sentence died in the air.
A harsh buzzing filled the room as several Stinger Insects crawled out from the corners of the carriage, their legs scraping against the metallic floor.
"Protect me, Argenti!" Vilite cried, trembling as he hid behind him.
Argenti, standing tall like a statue, nodded solemnly, placing himself between his companion and the beasts.
Stelle, however, didn't wait for an invitation. With her bat in hand, she stepped forward.
"Perfect. I needed a warm-up."
The insects spread their wings.
Aleph raised a hand. A Bufudyne cracked through the air with an icy snap, and the creatures were instantly trapped in bluish blocks of ice, frozen in place.
The only sound left was the faint creaking of frost.
"…Good." Himeko straightened once more, as if nothing had happened. "That illustrates the point I was trying to make. These insects have infiltrated the Express. We must eliminate them as quickly as possible—and most importantly, destroy their eggs before they hatch."
Pom-Pom, who had been fidgeting nervously all this time, suddenly yelped.
"M-my tail… it itches!"
March hurried over.
Up close, she paled. A whitish, sticky egg was attached to his fur. Without hesitation, she yanked it off and hurled it to the ground, stomping on it over and over until it burst into a nauseating mess.
"Ugh!" She exclaimed, shaking her boot.
Pom-Pom frowned at the mess.
"…Cleaning that will be a nightmare."
One by one, everyone spread out across the carriage, searching for more eggs.
As Aleph froze the hatched insects, he discovered with growing unease that he could also absorb them into his body.
Apparently, this absorption boosted his stats. It wasn't anywhere near the level of a Stellaron, but the improvement was undeniable.
*********
After destroying the last of the eggs, hidden beneath a plant in the carriage, they regrouped.
Welt leaned toward the group.
"There may be a way out. We could force the Express into hyperspeed… but doing so without a clear route carries enormous risks."
Himeko rose again.
"Before we decide, we need to understand our situation. Welt and I are nearly certain of what happened. The Express was swallowed. We're inside a remnant of the Swarm… a Great Stinger Insect. Judging by its size, we believe it's very close to maturity."
Argenti's eyes widened.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"That… explains far too much." Argenti said gravely.
"What do you mean?" Dan Heng asked.
Vilite stepped forward.
"As you can tell from my uniform, I'm a member of the Corporation. I was on my way to Penacony as part of the executive support teams. It was my first time in this sector… and I ended up lost, trapped in what I thought was a cave. Argenti rescued me. But when we left, after we loaded my belongings onto his ship… something went wrong, and we crashed into the Express."
Himeko fixed her eyes on him.
"Vilite, there's a strong chance that what you were trapped in wasn't a cave, but the jaws of the Insect."
Vilite went pale as the memories came back.
"…That would explain why the air was so hot… and that nauseating stench that came with it."
Argenti nodded solemnly.
"Now everything fits."
Time was uncertain, and if the digestion process began, they were finished.
"Perhaps the mouth is closed." Vilite added with a grim expression. "That would explain why we didn't notice anything before. There was no view of outer space."
Argenti stepped forward, placing a hand on his chest.
"If you'll allow me… I have a proposal. I'll use an ejection capsule. I'll launch myself toward the lower part of the insect and strike it with my lance from inside. The pain will force it to open its mouth. Then, you'll all be able to escape at hyperspeed."
The group reacted instantly.
"Are you insane?!" Stelle exclaimed, before glancing at Aleph.
"…Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.
"Honestly, I would've expected you to be the one suggesting something like this."
"…?" For a moment Aleph was at a loss for words. "What kind of impression do you even have of me?"
"And why would you commit to such a sacrifice?" Himeko pressed firmly, her gaze sharp.
Argenti chuckled softly.
"Because it is my duty as a Knight of Beauty. Every soul present here… each of you shines with such pure, sweet radiance that even if I dedicated my entire life to finding the words to describe you, I would never come close to the truth of what you are."
Welt regarded him sternly.
"No." He replied. "We'll find another way. No one needs to sacrifice themselves."
"Even in a hypothetical case where we considered your plan… how sure are you that you could actually pull it off? Don't throw your life away on something so uncertain." Himeko added, her tone harsh.
"Exactly!" Vilite shouted with unusual fury. "You have to live! You promised to become an idol, and I your manager! We'd earn credits, fame, recognition across the stars. You can't leave me with a half-signed contract!"
March blinked, indignant.
"That's all you care about?"
Vilite crossed his arms and turned away to leave.
"Hmph." He shot March a glance. "Yeah, so what? What's it to you?"
March followed him with her eyes, frustrated.
"What's wrong with that guy…?"
Dan Heng shook his head.
"Don't judge a book by its cover, March."
Meanwhile, Argenti approached Aleph.
"Before fate forces our hand…" His voice lowered, but his tone remained as lively as ever. "Let us finish our unresolved duel, my esteemed friend."
The silence lasted barely a blink.
Before anyone could react, Argenti stepped forward.
From between his fingers bloomed a red rose, rising gracefully into the air, slowly spinning under the carriage's light.
Aleph snapped his fingers. The air turned frigid, and with a sharp crack, an ice bat materialized in his hand. Argenti, in response, lowered his lance before him and took a combat stance.
They lunged at the same time.
The spear's edge aimed to pierce Aleph, but he deflected the strike with a twist of his bat. A second bat appeared in his other hand and came crashing down toward the knight, ready to exploit the opening.
Argenti reacted instantly, raising his leg and kicking Aleph in the chest, pushing him back. The blow was blocked with the second bat, but it still forced Aleph several steps away.
The initial clash was brief—but enough for them to study each other.
Argenti realized immediately that his opponent surpassed him in raw strength and speed. Aleph fought like a beast, driven by sharp instincts—fast and devastating… but lacking refined technique.
Aleph, on the other hand, understood that Argenti didn't wield his lance as a mere ornament. His style was beautiful, yes, but beneath that beauty lay steel, discipline, and dangerous versatility.
Both smiled, acknowledging the strength hidden in the other.
The second round began.
Argenti raised his lance above his head and struck downward. Aleph hurled his bat, which mid-flight transformed into an icy shield. The blow was stopped, lodged in the frozen surface.
Aleph didn't stop. He leapt onto his own shield, imitating the knight's approach, and summoned a war hammer of ice, glowing with a bluish radiance.
Argenti, unfaltering, stepped onto the same shield, yanked his lance free, and executed a sweeping arc.
The blade forced Aleph to abandon his offensive and duck. The slash clipped a few strands of his hair.
Discarding the hammer, Aleph let out a growl and charged his leg with electricity. A Zionga thundered through the floor, sending a surge of red lightning at Argenti.
The knight leapt aside, narrowly evading the strike.
But Aleph was already upon him. His fist, infused with the force of both Zan and Garu, exploded against Argenti's torso in a devastating blow.
The impact sent the knight flying several meters back. Argenti landed on one knee, smiling even as pain burned through his ribs.
"Magnificent…" He murmured between labored breaths, caught between joy and agony.
"Are you two out of your minds?!"
March burst in with her hands on her hips, glaring at them like children caught brawling in the middle of the living room.
Both combatants turned at once. Stelle's eyes shone like stars, unable to hide her excitement. Pom-Pom, on the other hand, looked on the verge of collapse, clutching his broom as though ready to unleash it on them at any second.
Welt rubbed the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
Dan Heng, expressionless, merely crossed his arms.
"Good luck in your next life." He said.
Argenti and Aleph exchanged confused glances.
Until a pointed cough made them turn again…
Himeko, standing with arms crossed, still wore her usual calm smile—but the look in her eyes sent shivers down Aleph's spine.
"Aleph, didn't Pom-Pom tell you? No fighting aboard the Astral Express." She remarked with a tranquility that only made Aleph pale even more.
Beside her, Vilite shot Argenti an unreadable look.
Both duelists swallowed hard.
With a swift gesture, Aleph extended a hand and summoned Nappea to heal Argenti.
.....
Himeko and Vilite's scolding felt eternal. Or at least, that's how it seemed to Aleph and Argenti, who stood with their heads lowered, the room transformed into what felt like a courtroom.
When they were finally released, Aleph collapsed into a seat with a sigh, rubbing his temples. His punishment had been particularly harsh… yet he didn't regret it.
"Tell me, Aleph." Argenti broke the silence, his voice solemn. "What do you think of my plan?"
Aleph frowned at him. The plan was ridiculous. Reckless. Potentially suicidal. Nothing guaranteed it would work. And yet…
He let out a snort.
"I think it's stupid." He admitted bluntly. "But maybe that suits me. I was never a genius… so even if it makes no sense, I'll believe in you."
The knight stared at him in silence for a moment, then smiled, touched.
"I knew you'd understand. Behind your roughness beats a noble heart… an inner beauty you try to hide, but that shines all the same. And yes, say what you want… but nothing brings two men closer than a good clash of fists."
Aleph looked away, embarrassed, scratching the back of his neck.
"Quit saying such cheesy things…"
Argenti laughed heartily and extended his hand.
"Then, will you help me?"
Aleph hesitated, then nodded.
"Yes."
The knight bowed his head in gratitude and withdrew to make preparations.
...
Once the door closed behind him, Aleph slumped against the chair's backrest.
"What the hell am I doing…?" He muttered.
Was it really okay to let him throw himself into certain death?
The doubt gnawed at him until he finally decided to seek advice from the wisest, most level-headed person he knew.
He found Welt Yang reviewing data in the command room. The man looked up as soon as he entered.
"Let me guess… this is about Argenti, isn't it?"
Aleph scratched his head and nodded. He explained his doubts, his mistrust of the plan, and at the same time his inability to refuse helping him.
Welt listened in silence, then sighed.
"I don't like his idea, but… it's the only viable one. Himeko and I went over alternatives. They're just as risky, if not worse."
Aleph lowered his head in frustration.
"But look…" Welt added. "If you support him, at least you can improve his chances. Sometimes it's not about stopping madness, but making sure it has the smallest chance of succeeding."
Aleph's eyes widened as something suddenly clicked in his mind.
"Of course…! My demons don't truly die. Even if they're defeated, they return to the COMP. Maybe I can't replace him, but I can reinforce him… I can send them with him! Even if Argenti insists on going, at least he won't go alone."
Welt smiled and calmly ruffled the boy's hair.
"That's better. But don't forget this, Aleph. Empathy is fine… what's dangerous is letting emotions drown your judgment. Don't lose sight of your reason."
Aleph nodded, still smiling.
"I'll remember."
And he ran off to catch up with Argenti.
***********
The time of truth soon arrived.
Everyone watched as the capsule shot into the darkness of the insect's stomach.
Aleph clenched his fists. In the end, he hadn't managed to convince Argenti to let the demons go in his place—but he had persuaded him to take Oni and Nappea along. On top of that, Aleph had imbued his lance with his own spells, raising the chance of piercing the monster's defenses.
Vilite stood stiff, forcing himself to watch as the capsule grew smaller and smaller.
March noticed and asked softly,
"Do you really care that much? You've barely known him a couple of days…"
Vilite let out a long sigh and dropped into a nearby sofa. He pulled off his jacket and tossed it aside, leaning forward with his hands on his knees.
"Do you think anyone could be indifferent toward the man who saved their life?" He said in a gentler tone.
He fell silent for a few seconds, running a hand across his forehead.
"My dream was never this damned position in the Corporation. I always wanted to be a racing pilot… but my family never took me seriously. They forced me into something 'safe.'" He chuckled bitterly. "Look at me now, stuck inside the stomach of a giant monster. Some safe job…"
March opened her mouth, but Vilite cut her off with a gesture.
"Argenti was the only one who didn't laugh. He listened, encouraged me, believed in me. He treated me like a real friend… in so little time. How could I not care?"
March watched him quietly, then lowered her head.
"I'm sorry… I was rude to you before."
"Forget it." He replied, waving it off. "I think I'd have been the same as you if our places were reversed."
A thunderous roar shook the room.
From the depths erupted a surge of crimson electricity, lighting up the darkness, accompanied by the insect's roar of pain.
"Now!" Himeko commanded, activating hyperspeed.
The Astral Express surged forward, seizing the chance to escape through the monster's open maw at last.
...
Finally emerging from within the Giant Stinger Insect.
A notification lit up on Aleph's phone.
"Oni and Nappea have returned." He murmured with regret. His silence about Argenti's situation said more than he intended.
Vilite clicked his tongue.
"No. I refuse to accept that he died like this." He stood abruptly, turning toward the door. "I'll search every corner of this sector if I have to."
"Wait." Stelle's voice stopped him.
Everyone turned toward her as she tried to—
"Uh… guys. Did any of you do this?"
On the screen, a notification of a new group chat was glowing.
The members were all of those present.
Almost instantly, a message appeared in the window:
[Argenti: "I'm fine."]
[Argenti: "Thank you for the help, Aleph. Your peculiar friends made the difference."]
Aleph nodded silently, deeply relieved.
Without a shred of tact, Stelle immediately typed:
[Stelle: "How the hell are you still alive?"]
"Stelle!" March exclaimed, glaring at her in exasperation. Vilite also shot her a sharp look, but the girl just shrugged, unbothered.
[Argenti: "I'm not entirely sure. The capsule opened, and with all my strength I drove the charged spear in. Mr. Oni helped me push with even greater force."]
[Argenti: "Floating rocks struck us, but Miss Nappea deflected them with something similar to what Aleph used in his duel."]
[Aleph: "That's called Zan."]
[Argenti: "Is that so? Very well."]
[Argenti: "After that, my memories blur a little. I was wounded, and Miss Nappea healed me. And when I thought it was all over… a strange and beautiful figure appeared and saved us at the very last moment before I lost consciousness."]
[Argenti: "I just woke up. The first thing I wanted was to show you all that I'm alive."]
A photograph accompanied the message.
Argenti, injured but standing tall, smiling faintly as he stood atop the capsule floating beside the colossus's dying body.
Vilite let out a short, weary laugh. He ran a hand over his face, shaking his head—though a smile curved his lips.
"That damned knight…" He muttered.
He stood, picked his jacket up from the back of the chair, and put it on.
"What will you do now?" Dan Heng asked, watching him.
Vilite calmly fastened the buttons, then looked at the group with a serious expression.
"I'm going to find him. He's my friend. I won't leave him out there alone."
He turned toward them, and with a slight bow of his head, added:
"It's been a pleasure meeting you."
Without another word, he left for his ship.
....
Later, the group watched bursts of fireworks.
"…What's going on now?" Aleph murmured in confusion.
Dan Heng shook his head.
"It must be a hallucinogenic effect from the Giant Stinger Insect." He commented.
After a few minutes, as the Astral Express was about to depart, one last message from Argenti arrived.
[Argenti: "I hope that someday we'll meet again, my dear friends."]
Attached to the message was a photo of him with Vilite inside his ship.
Everyone smiled, wishing them a safe journey.
"All right then!" Pom-Pom clapped their paws, drawing everyone's attention. "It's time to resume course to Washtopia!"
Soon, their reproachful gaze fell on Aleph.
"Hmph." Despite looking rather adorable, Pom-Pom's face showed clear annoyance. "Since you were one of the main causes of this carriage becoming a disaster, it'll be your duty to clean it up!" They said, placing a broom in Aleph's hands.