Chapter 177: Sparkle: Yes, I Did It All!
"Stop, stop! I saved you, and not only do you not kneel in gratitude, you're trying to repay kindness with enmity."
Caelus spread his five fingers, pressing Stelle's soft, delicate face, pushing away the Stellaron spirit who was attacking madly like a husky.
"I don't care, saving me is one thing, but making me eat saliva is another, you have to let me give it back!"
Her cheeks flushed, Stelle puffed out her cheeks to express her dissatisfaction, wiping the glistening, fragrant saliva from the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief. She reached her arms around Caelus's neck, wanting to lock his head in her embrace.
"Are you sure you want to return it?"
"Less talk!"
"Alright."
Caelus no longer resisted the Stellaron spirit's headlock. When Stelle fiercely pressed her red lips to Caelus's mouth, intending to inject her saliva, her eyes suddenly widened.
She hadn't expected Caelus to be faster, counterattacking before she could move her mouth and even actively plundering.
"Oh, this…"
Seeing this, March 7th quickly covered her mouth in surprise, and even Dan Heng's eye twitched.
Especially thinking back to Caelus's previous solution.
Even though everyone knew the fact that the two were originally one, it was precisely because they knew that it felt strange!
This wasn't the first time Stelle and Caelus had kissed each other; before, it was just lip-to-lip contact. This time, it was a tongue kiss that made onlookers feel… March 7th's youthful, beautiful face slowly flushed pink.
"I've taken it back, is that enough now?"
"No, that doesn't count!"
The softness of their lips touching and the confusion of fluid exchange did briefly erode Stelle's rationality, but by now, she had already measured Caelus's Flaming Lance with her hands, so how could she be shy about something like this?
Although she had indeed taken back a little bit, she wouldn't let Caelus off easily, instead continuing to shout:
"You make me so mad, Caelus, just you wait, I'll definitely get you back fiercely later!"
"You're just being unreasonable, A-Qi, Dan Heng, you two be the judges."
Not taking the Stellaron spirit's threat to heart at all, Caelus lowered his head and wiped the fluid from the corner of his mouth onto Stelle's T-shirt, righteously inviting his companions to side with him.
Stelle subconsciously looked at the two.
Dan Heng's expression remained calm, but Stelle felt that he was clearly mocking her childish behavior, as if reading the words "That's so you" from his gaze.
"How can you blame me?"
Stelle used her move—tit for tat—wiping the rosy, glistening mark from her lips onto Caelus's T-shirt. She couldn't help but puff out her chest indignantly again, pointing to the iron railing beside her:
"It's clearly its fault."
"During my time on Jarilo-VI, I often heard adults tell their children, 'Don't lick the railings, don't lick the railings.' I used to wonder, what kind of idiot would lick it?"
March 7th, who had been holding back her laughter for a long time, finally let out a sigh of relief.
Hearing March 7th's teasing, Stelle grinned:
"But it really was sweet when I first licked it! Can a Trailblazer's actions be called 'licking'? That's called 'practice'!"
Following that were phrases like "spirit of Trailblazing" and "Will to Trailblaze Across the Cosmos," which made everyone laugh, and the snow-covered field was temporarily filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
"Alright, let's go."
"Wait!"
Stelle dramatically extended her hand, calling out to the trio. She spun her small head, looking left and right, then ran to a deserted area, pulled off a piece of iron sheet, summoned her Flaming Lance, and began carving on the iron sheet with its tip.
[The railing is sweet, but do not lick.]
Finally, she carved a warning sign, powerfully stuck it next to the railing, and Stelle nodded with satisfaction, as if she had somehow heard commendation from lofty morality.
"Pfft!"
March 7th, who had been holding back for a long time, finally couldn't resist after seeing the sign, covering her mouth and laughing.
"…It rhymes." Dan Heng commented.
"Oho~ I didn't expect A-Xing to have grown so much." Caelus said in surprise, crossing his arms.
As is well known, a significant portion of humanity has a rebellious psychology; the more they are forbidden from doing something, the more they will do it.
Combined with the temptation of the word "sweet," people who originally ignored the iron railing would very likely be attracted to it and take a lick. This warning sign would most likely have the opposite effect.
"Next destination~ the Underworld!"
The reconnection between the upper and lower layers allowed many people to return to the surface. After the ice and snow melted, a significant portion of people came to the surface to build new homes.
With the Fourth Divine Key, Belobog no longer needed much Geomarrow to support the city's heating. In the future, Geomarrow as a mineral would be put into industrial development.
Jarilo-VI, having rejoined the embrace of the stars, could completely enter inter-galactic trade with Geomarrow, and thus did not relax its Geomarrow mining operations.
Currently, most of those remaining in the Underworld were miners, and very few felt attached to the Underworld or were reluctant to leave, even though they had lived there for over a decade, their memories were only of money and hardship.
With enough space on the surface, who would want to stay underground?
"Indeed, quite a few people are gone! It's nice to have some quiet too."
While Caelus was accompanying March 7th to take souvenir photos, in a corner of a dilapidated town in the Underworld, a blue-haired person, whose demeanor was slightly different from the ordinary, cheerfully pulled open an old door.
Entering the crumbling, old house, they walked to a device that looked like an old-fashioned big-screen television.
"O, launch~!"
"Yo, isn't that Sampo? What makes you have time today, is the show over?"
The television screen displayed a masked figure. From the background, it could be seen that the person was in a peculiarly decorated tavern. The patrons were of various builds and races, but without exception, all wore masks.
The World's End Tavern, a gathering place for the Masked Fools.
"What were the results? Hurry and tell us, let's have a good laugh!"
The atmosphere in the tavern was very lively, with noise and laughter coming through the television. Soon, many Fools noticed Sampo's communication and gathered around to join the fun and listen to the gossip.
"Brothers and sisters, long time no see!"
Sampo greeted the Masked Fools gathered around the camera familiarly, blending into the cheerful atmosphere like a fish in water.
"Brothers and sisters, let me tell you, although this show was a bit less spectacular than old Sampo's performance, after watching it from the audience, I have to say."
"Miss Sparkle is truly Miss Sparkle!"
"Old Sampo is ashamed of himself! This was truly a rare masterpiece! Absolutely brilliant!"
Sampo clapped his hands and, in a cadence-filled tone, recounted the entire story of Jarilo-VI, vividly and emotionally describing everything "Sparkle" had done in it, praising the great figure's brilliant maneuvers.
Listening to Sampo narrate the grand play staged on Jarilo-VI, the numerous Fools on the other side fell silent for a moment.
They all looked at the girl sitting at the tavern bar, wearing a half-white, half-red fox mask.
Her dress was in the style of a classical kimono with cherry blossom patterns, primarily deep red and light pink, her snow-jade shoulders exposed to the air.
Her waist-length black-to-reddish-brown gradient long hair was tied into two twin ponytails, complementing her delicate and petite figure. Her beautiful feet, like mutton-fat jade, wore wooden clogs, and small bells hung from her ankles, making crisp sounds as she swayed.
At this moment, a glass of wine sat before the girl, and she rested her hands on her cheeks, smiling as she listened to Sampo describe "her own actions."
When Sampo finished speaking, the Fools all burst into laughter, and the tavern atmosphere immediately became noisy. Many Fools clapped and cheered, exclaiming their admiration.
"Hey, infiltrating the Astral Express, is this an attempt to replicate the God of Amusement's moves? Truly a master, Sparkle!"
"Driving a planet to the brink, then saving it as a savior, pulling a switcheroo—the masters truly play with flair!"
In the circle of Masked Fools, the name Sparkle was legendary.
Ordinary Fools play and joke, but they don't joke with their lives and fortunes. Everyone understood how they should pursue amusement; life and wealth were often necessities on this path,
But this one was different; when she went wild, she made most Fools feel insane.
Thus, a small number of Fools who understood Sparkle's path of amusement cast suspicious glances at the girl.
The play was undoubtedly a rare good show.
But the style seemed somewhat different from Sparkle's usual approach, though if considering the need to continue lurking on the Astral Express, it was understandable.
"Hahahaha~!"
Listening to the Fools' praises and compliments, the fox-masked girl's delicate brows furrowed subtly, then she laughed so hard her body trembled, and tears unconsciously welled up in the corners of her eyes.
Jumping down from the bar stool with crisp bell sounds, Sparkle trotted to the stage. She spread her arms as if dancing, bowing elegantly to the Fools in the tavern.
Like an actor taking a curtain call after a brilliant performance.
"Hehehe~ Dear audience, I wonder if you all gained a little amusement from this drama?"
Sparkle touched the corner of her mouth, her eyes sparkling with cunning, red like cherry blossoms, radiant in their splendor.
"Good! That was absolutely hilarious!"
"Brilliant!"
"Miss Sparkle is amazing!"
"Thank you~ Thank you~!"
Amidst the "audience's" applause and feedback, Sparkle placed her right hand on her chest, gracefully bowed to the "audience," then walked off the stage with joyful steps, a look of excited delight on her face.
Interesting!
Truly very interesting~!
By the God of Amusement, this was the first time she had encountered someone daring to usurp her name!
And they even fooled Sampo!
So what's the harm in playing along with the other party to fool Sampo and the many Fools in the tavern?
Look, look~ Everyone believes it now~!
Hehehe~ Hahaha~!
Now, the Jarilo-VI incident, it's her, Lady Sparkle, who did it~!
Reaping a little amusement from the deceived Masked Fools,
As for being seemingly used as a proxy for fun by the other party?
But, that's quite nice, isn't it?
"Astral Express… Caelus, is that right?"
Her smile grew even more joyous, Sparkle's delicate body couldn't help but tremble, it was the excitement of finding a new source of amusement.
Fluttering her long eyelashes, Sparkle slowly opened her eyes, which bloomed like five-petaled cherry blossoms, emitting an eerie glow, like a kaleidoscope.
"Since you've taken the stage~ then~ you're not allowed to leave~ until you satisfy me~!"
"Heehee hahahaha~!"
Departing to find the Astral Express!
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