Chapter 23: The Astral Express's Secret Ending? These Credits Reveal Too Much!
Himeko's lips curled into an amused smile as she read Welt's in-game character profile aloud:
"[Welt, the sagacious former leader of Anti-Entropy, inheritor of the title 'World,' has repeatedly rescued humanity from extinction-level crises.]"
She nudged her companion playfully. "My, my, Welt. I never took you for such a storied individual."
"'Sovereign'? 'Savior of worlds'? You've been holding out on us with these remarkable adventures."
Old Yang's expression grew increasingly uncomfortable. The sudden exposure of his past left him unsettled—but more disturbingly, it raised alarming questions about the game itself.
These were secrets he'd never shared. Not with his closest comrades aboard the Express. Not with anyone.
Yet the game's developers seemed to know everything.
Only one being in the cosmos possessed such intimate knowledge of both him and the Express crew:
That golden-haired man who'd departed prematurely.
If it's his work, creating this game would certainly be within his capabilities...
Yet something felt fundamentally wrong. The style was completely off—that man would never craft something like this.
"Then who else could—"
Welt cut short his own thoughts. "Let's focus on advancing the plot first. The game may yield more clues."
He needed to redirect Himeko's attention from his exposed history.
"Earlier, didn't Stelle get intercepted by Nanook at the critical moment?" he pointed out.
"Correct. The presentation aligns with our earlier hypotheses," Himeko agreed, then brightened. "Right now, I'm deciding whether Stelle boards the train. What if she stayed at the space station instead?"
"Reality can't be changed, but the game might show us that alternate path."
Intrigued, Welt nodded. With Herta and Asta's permissions, Himeko manipulated the choices to keep Stelle grounded.
The screen displayed a poignant farewell:
"Goodbye, Ms. Himeko."
Himeko, Welt, Dan Heng and March 7th boarding the Express while waving to the solitary Trailblazer. Text appeared:
After careful consideration, you decline Himeko's invitation. The Astral Express departs with a whistle, your newfound friends waving goodbye. This parting mirrors your sudden yet meaningful encounter.
"It actually triggered this ending?" Both veterans stared in shock.
What followed left them utterly unprepared.
The narrative continued:
With the Express gone, the space station begins reconstruction. You study the Stellaron under Herta... until she loses interest in both. Asta arranges your position as a researcher. At [Herta Space Station], life grows tranquil. The Express returns occasionally before vanishing permanently. From passing travelers, you hear tales of the Astral Express and Stellaron Hunters' universe-shaking finale. Sometimes, you wonder if boarding that train might have changed their fate.
But that is no longer your concern.
Himeko and Welt exchanged stunned glances.
The game had genuinely crafted a fully-realized alternate ending! With sparse yet masterful strokes, it conveyed decades of melancholy and roads not taken.
If life offered second chances...
The thought lingered. A quiet existence as station researchers—was that truly so terrible? Even these seasoned trailblazers found themselves moved by the path untraveled.
That "universe-shaking finale" between the Express and Stellaron Hunters...
What exactly awaits in our future?
As they gazed pensively at the stars, the credits began rolling:
[Leading Actor: Stelle]
[Dan Heng as Dan Heng]
[??? as March 7th]
[Himeko as Himeko]
[Joachim Nokian-Virtanen as Welt Yang]
Himeko's breath caught.
Welt felt ice water trickle down his spine.
Stelle and Dan Heng's credits were expected. Himeko voicing herself made sense. But—
Three question marks for March 7th?
Did this imply their March wasn't the original? The implication chilled them to the core.
As for Welt...
Seeing his birth name—the one he'd abandoned after inheriting Welt Joyce's title and Core—left him equal parts nostalgic and horrified. That information was buried deeper than any other secret.
"Himeko," Welt rasped, sweat beading on his forehead, "we need to investigate these developers immediately."
"The sheer depth of their knowledge... It's unacceptable."
Himeko nodded grimly, already pulling up search algorithms. "I'm on it. Whoever they are, we'll find them."