"Do you have a name?"
Seeing Sora's face nearly pressed against her nose, the girl instinctively stepped back.
From that distance, she could practically see the pores on his face.
What exactly is this guy trying to do?
"Sora?" Robin asked curiously. She wasn't sure why he'd suddenly brought this up.
"We're heading to a medical planet anyway—it's only natural we treat her illness while we're there, right?"
Sora took out a SynesthesiaBeacon, gently placing one on her ear and another on his own.
"If someone's going in for treatment, they've got to have a name for registration."
"So, I just wanted to ask if you have one already?"
Even as he spoke, excitement stirred inside him.
If she doesn't have a name, then it's finally time for my naming talent to shine!
Countless potential names instantly flashed through his mind.
Hearing Sora's explanation, the girl nodded, then her expression became serious. Clearly, she was attempting to communicate through the Synesthesia Beacon.
A brief silence fell, the two of them staring awkwardly at each other.
Finally, Sora turned to Robin with confusion. "Is this thing broken? I'm not sensing anything."
"Eh? That can't be right…" Robin curiously tried the device herself, only to discover that no matter what she did, it seemed completely inactive.
Normally, the beacon would automatically translate communication once activated.
Was it really broken?
"This is the only set we have on the ship. We'll have to get replacements once we arrive."
Robin sighed helplessly. It appeared that communicating through the Synesthesia Beacon wasn't possible after all.
At this moment, Sora's lips curled into a slight smile. Seems it's time to rely on my special skill.
"How about this—just write your name down. No matter the language, I can read it."
Only then did Robin remember that Sora had linguistic expertise.
Upon hearing this, the girl took up a pen and carefully wrote a name in an ancient, unfamiliar script. Robin had never seen such characters anywhere in the galaxy's standard languages.
To Sora's eyes, the letters gradually twisted into a familiar character: "Hotaru."
"Hotaru as in firefly. That's quite a beautiful name," Sora complimented spontaneously.
In response, the girl made a series of gestures with her hands, though few present understood her meaning.
Only Argenti watched thoughtfully from the sidelines.
Sora's eyes widened in surprise. "You know sign language?"
Indeed, the girl was using Galactic Standard Sign Language. And as for how Sora knew it—
Wouldn't a rebuilt civilization naturally preserve books about sign language in its planetary library?
Thanks to that, Sora had an extensive knowledge of sign language used across the galaxy.
Hearing his words, the girl looked up in astonishment and quickly signed back, "You know it too?"
Without hesitation, Sora responded fluently in kind: "Of course. Although this sign language is quite old, the galactic standard remains unchanged."
Sign language had nearly vanished after the Synesthesia Beacons became widespread, relegating it to historical relic status. In all the vast galaxy, Sora thought he'd never actually use it with anyone. Yet here they were.
Argenti let out a sigh of admiration, visibly impressed. He'd initially been quite solemn, but he never imagined Sora would identify the language even faster than he could.
At this point, Argenti had lost his chance to intervene. Sora and Hotaru were already deeply engaged in a lively sign-language conversation.
It was plain to see that the previously timid girl was now genuinely smiling.
Being able to communicate clearly was clearly a delightful surprise for someone unable to speak.
As they continued chatting, Sora carefully inquired about how she'd emerged from the black hole. But the girl only responded that she remembered nothing clearly—most of her memories had vanished, leaving only her name intact.
Great, Sora thought wryly. Looks like she'll need treatment for amnesia on top of her voice.
Yet…
It intrigued him somewhat. He found it almost unbelievable that someone who was part of The Iron Cavalry could suffer memory loss.
But seeing the gentle innocence on her face, Sora chose not to press further.
Her past was clearly painful enough; perhaps forgetting was actually a mercy.
As they talked, the darkness of space outside gradually brightened.
Noticing the change, Sora moved closer to the ship's viewport and gazed outside.
There, he saw a pristine white planet glowing brightly in the void.
Their destination had finally appeared—The Cradle of Rebirth, Zieltworth.
Ironically, he was here to treat an illness that didn't even exist.
Yet, as he glanced at the girl beside him, a new thought occurred.
If he didn't need the treatment slot, maybe Robin could help transfer it to Hotaru instead.
Saving one life was worthwhile enough.
He certainly didn't need it anyway.
...
"Are you kidding me?! How can you just casually give away your treatment slot?"
Robin snapped irritably upon hearing Sora's idea. "This was a spot Anna fought hard to secure for you! Shouldn't you focus on healing yourself first?"
"But I'm not sick," Sora protested helplessly. Who better to understand his own body than himself?
Clearly, the so-called illness was just misdiagnosed due to the primitive medical technology of planet Promia.
Sure, he was physically a bit weak, but Entropy Loss Syndrome? No way.
Had he known earlier, he'd have written more about advanced medicine when remaking that planet. It would've spared him from this long interstellar journey.
"You're really that sure?" Robin hesitated, seeing his confidence.
"Of course. Trust me, I'd know if something was wrong."
Robin tapped her chin thoughtfully, still uncertain.
"That's simple enough," Argenti chimed in. "Why not have our valiant hero undergo a thorough medical check? Some remote planets do occasionally misdiagnose trivial issues as serious illnesses, but that's impossible here."
"If the checkup reveals no disease, we can still transfer the treatment slot to Lady Hotaru afterward."
Robin nodded, conceding Argenti's point, while Sora wondered silently how he had suddenly become a "hero" in Argenti's mind. Apparently, Argenti's perception of him was continually evolving.
The spacecraft soon landed on the planet. Due to their pre-booked appointment, Sora and his group smoothly exited the port.
Even at the starport, however, Sora gawked like a rural visitor encountering a metropolis for the first time.
Zieltworth's technological advancement exceeded his imagination, with floating structures gracefully hovering in mid-air. Spaceships constantly arrived and departed, and small hovercraft zipped around ferrying passengers.
The strange, futuristic atmosphere made Sora truly appreciate the marvels of advanced technology.
Beside him, Hotaru seemed equally fascinated, though her reaction was notably more reserved.
Robin, being a galactic celebrity, was unfazed, having grown accustomed to such sights.
Argenti, having traveled extensively across countless star systems, was similarly unimpressed by such common sights.
However, just as they were about to leave the starport, they noticed the exit ahead surrounded by armored soldiers clad entirely in silvery-white suits.
"What's going on?" Sora felt his heart skip. The formation resembled a blockade meant to apprehend criminals.
"I'm not sure. Perhaps some important dignitary is arriving?" Argenti speculated, equally unsure. After all, there was no bounty on his head in the galaxy.
Behind Sora, Hotaru instinctively shrank back, hiding herself behind the group.
Moments later, as their group reached the exit, the armored soldiers parted.
A mechanical being stepped forward, addressing them with a synthesized voice:
"Welcome to Zieltworth. I am this planet's ruler—Serus Zieltworth."
Huh?!
Shock rippled through everyone present.
Why was Zieltworth's leader personally welcoming them?
Serus then turned to Robin, continuing, "Miss Robin, upon learning of your arrival, the Dreammaster specifically asked me to treat you with the utmost care."
"You know…the Dreammaster?" Robin asked uncertainly. She'd indeed informed her family but intended to resolve Sora's issue first before returning home. Never had she expected the planet's leader to be acquainted with Penacony's Dreammaster.
"Naturally. The Dreammaster and I often converse on important matters. Even your elder brother, Sunday, frequently joins these discussions."
Hearing her brother mentioned, Robin immediately relaxed. She trusted her brother implicitly—he was the family's impeccable representative. Even if she trusted no one else, she'd believe him without question.
Yet Sora sharply sensed something amiss…
Surrounding them, the previously motionless silver-armored guards suddenly flashed with a sinister red glow.
Without hesitation, they broke formation and quickly encircled the group.
"Is this your idea of a welcome ceremony?"
Sora instinctively shielded Robin and Hotaru behind him, eyeing the guards warily while quipping dryly. Already, the [Ixa Knuckle] materialized in his hand, and his transformation belt emerged around his waist.
"No, shining hero," Argenti interjected gravely, gripping his spear tightly. "It seems they're under someone's control."
Standing silently behind Sora, Hotaru's eyes now glowed—one red, one yellow—as she thought quietly to herself:
All of them… are my kin.