Chapter 185
[With a soft sigh from Misha, Stelle pushed open that great door and entered the [Clockmaker]'s past.
[Misha]:"Mikhail, where are you going?"
[Mikhail]:"Someone has to stand up and save Ruszka, little Misha. Why shouldn't it be me?"
[Misha]:"Don't go, okay? Or take me with you, please don't leave..."
Misha knew his grandfather might not return from this journey, tears of worry welling in his eyes. Mikhail gently patted his grandson's head: "Even without me, you should know how to move forward now. Brave Captain Misha, the [Compass] is waiting for you. Haven't you always wanted to become a greater adventurer than me?"
"Go, board that train, and then... begin your journey."
[Misha]:"Mikhail, where are you going?"
Mikhail said somewhat shyly: "I-I'm going to mop the observation car! I promised the conductor..."
Navigator Falken Amundsen stopped him: "First tell me, did you fix this watch?"
"Uh... y-yes."
...... "It's the hands, Mr. Amundsen. The hands are still good, they can still point in the right direction, so the rest can be fixed."
Amundsen remained silent for a moment before saying: "From now on, you'll work with me. I'll handle things with the conductor. Haven't you always wanted to tinker with the train? Starting today, you're the train's mechanic."
"B-but I only know how to fix watches..."
Amundsen said: "Don't worry, once you understand one thing, you understand them all. I'll teach you what you're missing."]
[Gallagher]:"So this was your past, old friend? Looking at this timid and shy version, I can hardly imagine his future would be so glorious - the future [Clockmaker]."
[March 7th]:"Yeah, completely unexpected! He feels just like us - a newbie just starting on the [Trailblaze] journey."
[Pom-Pom]:"Mikhail used to help me mop the floors! Later he became the mechanic after Amundsen, par."
[Dan Heng]:"I never thought we'd witness our seniors' growth like this."
[Silver Wolf]:"Wait, do you need to know how to fix trains to become a navigator on the Astral Express? The [Clockmaker]'s skills were taught by Navigator Amundsen, and Himeki personally repaired the train too."
[Dan Heng]:"This... probably isn't a requirement." ["Ragvok, where are you going? We should depart for the next station soon."
Navigator Granholm said to Mikhail. Mikhail hesitated, seeming unsure how to begin, then took a deep breath and said: *"I... might not be leaving.
I plan to stay on Asdana, with Razalina and Tiernan."*
Granholm's voice softened: "Oh... does this place remind you of home?"
Mikhail said: "The people of Asdana have only won a small victory. True freedom... is still a long way off. The Hanunu need us."
Mikhail also seemed sad, but forced a smile: "Don't worry, not all journeys need to lead to the stars. Even after leaving the train, our [Trailblazing] won't end."
"It's fine, I always knew I couldn't keep you all. Go in peace, friend. Take this with you too.""This is... Mr. Amundsen's hat? Why..."
"When he left, he said to leave it to his best student. I think now is the time.""Goodbye, Ragvok. Take care of Tiernan and Razalina. Remember... write to us."]
[March 7th]:"This is... did the train's navigator change again?"
[Dan Heng]:"Granholm became navigator at just 17 years old, yet spent his entire life guiding the Astral Express forward. The wheels traveled through world after world - new people arrived, old friends departed... No matter who came, Granholm always welcomed them gladly. He took personal initiative, actively extending help to unfamiliar worlds."
[Dan Heng]:"This is the record about Navigator Granholm I found in the 'Data Bank'."
[Jing Yuan]:"The famous [Light-Chasing Red Son], who reached out to countless worlds, making Nameless heroes synonymous with celestial heroes, while also inspiring many people's [Trailblazing]."
[Fu Xuan]:"Good heavens, the navigator's hat passed from [Beacon of Enlightenment] to [Light-Chasing Red Son] to [Clockmaker], and finally to the current Nameless."
[Dr. Ratio]:"Historically speaking, this hat has been through three Nameless who shook the universe - quite commemorative. But for the Nameless, this hat symbolizes the inheritance of [Trailblazing],可以说priceless treasure."
[Boothill]:"Damn, your Astral Express produced so many heroes and good men, how did it end up producing such a cute piece of scum?"
[Boothill]:"I won't say who the damn scum is, but everyone in the group knows." ["[Clockmaker], where are you going?"
"Don't worry, Mike. Just going on a long trip."
Mikhail gave Mike a gentle smile: "Someone has to go to the interstellar frontier for reclamation. Now I'm the only [former Nameless] left in Penacony, why shouldn't it be me?"
"That's exactly why we only have you left! Have you forgotten Tiernan? The galaxy isn't like before - it's too dangerous! If we lose you too, what will happen to Penacony?""If Penacony can't find a way forward, what should we do then?"
"A Nameless' footsteps never stop... Don't worry, Mike, I'm just returning to my old trade. Wait for me to come back safely. But if, I mean if...""If I don't make it back in one piece, then you'll become the next [Clockmaker]."]
[Robin]:"I knew Penacony's founding was quite brutal, but this is still..."
[Misha]:"The independence of the Asdana system wasn't simple at all - the Corporation, the Swarm, Memoria, and an unknown future. None of these were simple matters." ["Old man, where are you going?"
"So you're here."
Knowing his temper, Gallagher grew tense: "Answer my question. What are you trying to do?"
*"Don't be nervous, Gallagher.
I just thought of a brilliant idea. Want to hear it?"* "Come on, which of your ideas doesn't throw yourself into the fire? Old man, don't blame me for being blunt, but you're the only hero from Penacony's early days left now."
...... "Are you planning to go all out against the Family?"
"Isn't that why I have you, my friend? Haha, this is very difficult, but which part of our journey hasn't been hard? Oh right, no matter what method you use, remember...""You must deliver the invitation to the Astral Express."]
[March 7th]:"Even until the end, Mikhail unconditionally trusted us juniors."
[Stelle]:'Because I, the Galaxy Batting Champion, am invincible! We will definitely travel even further!'
[Gallagher]:'Old man, you really know how to put me to work. Not afraid I'll mess it up? Forget it, let's not talk about that. To celebrate both of us surviving, want to grab a drink sometime?'
[Misha]:"Ahem, I'm currently underage. I don't drink alcohol."
[Gallagher]:"...You're something else..." ["Misha! Where are you going?"
In his wheelchair, the now aged Mikhail said: "Well, Clockie, take me to Dreamflux Reef..."
*"Last night, I had a very long dream about the day we met.
I want to record that dream."* "To make sure I don't forget some things. Clockie, do you remember how you got your name?"
Mikhail said nostalgically: "Back when I was young, in my memory there was a special pocket watch. It always stayed by Grandpa's side, accompanying him on sea voyages, pointing the way for him in every adventure story."
"I wanted so much to have a pocket watch like that too. And then, you appeared in my dreams.""Yes! Every night we would board the [Compass] and set sail together!"
The [Clockmaker] laughed: "But you know what? It wasn't until Grandpa gave it to me that day that I suddenly realized - it wasn't a pocket watch at all..."
"But a [compass].""So your name should actually be Compass Boy..."
"And the [Clockmaker]... is a [Nameless]."]
[Qingque]:"So that's how it is. Clocks guide time, while compasses guide direction."
[Hi3rd·Himeko]:"[Clockmaker] is [Nameless]. Even after leaving the train, Mikhail never forgot about Trailblazing."
[Misha]:"Yes, Mikhail spent his entire life on the path of Trailblazing, never stopping his footsteps. Even I, born from his dream bubbles, continue moving forward on the [Trailblaze] journey."
[Hi3rd·Welt]:'This is precisely the romance of [Trailblazing].'