"The situation's bad… All these traces of the swarm. Some eggs are already showing signs of hatching."
"They haven't turned from embryos into larvae yet, but they're probably growing faster than we think."
Everyone regrouped in the parlor car. In just a few minutes, they'd gotten a firsthand taste of Propagation's terror.
Stelle spotted an egg by the radio. Sometimes she wished the universe had fewer confusing materials.
Even if she didn't need them, no point letting someone else snag them.
Come forth, hourglass necklace!
By now Stelle had lost count of everything inside this necklace. A few more eggs wouldn't hurt.
The next second, she stared down at the egg the necklace had spat back out and fell deep into thought.
Hey, this necklace is picky?
Besides that, she noticed the eggs here had started humming softly—like beautiful music that made passersby sink into it.
Some guys really could sing better than they talked. A sense of justice compelled Stelle to smash the eggs.
Now for the potted plant in the corridor. Argenti had called it a thinking plant. Stelle couldn't help wondering—did it really think?
Nope, just an ordinary plant. At most it had been collateral damage from March's ice lance. Nothing mutated to set it apart from normal flora.
It took massive effort for Stelle to convince herself, but she still suspected the soil was actually tasty chocolate powder. Maybe try it next time…
No! The eggs could be hidden somewhere she hadn't thought of! Like Mr. Welt's hair!
After inspection, nothing unusual—except one streak that looked dyed… probably dyed?
Couldn't be totally sure… Anyway, Mr. Welt's hair was flawless!
Welt turned around, staring at Stelle who had been examining him up close. "Uh… Stelle, what are you doing?"
Ah, this Mr. Welt was definitely real… Better back off before he got upset. No eggs here.
Next up—the adorable conductor! Stelle scooped up Pom-Pom and discovered her tail was perfectly groomed: neat, fluffy, and fragrant. No abnormalities.
Faced with such plush fluff, Stelle couldn't resist and gave it a good ruffle.
"Passenger Stelle! You don't seriously suspect eggs on Pom-Pom, do you?" Pom-Pom glared at her. Impossible—Adrian groomed her every day.
Looks like none of them were at risk of parasitism. Stelle stroked her chin, carefully thinking if she'd missed anywhere.
She pulled out her ever-present milk tea. Honestly… she had reason to suspect this drink. Not that she doubted the milk tea Aeon, just worried Propagation had gotten to HIM.
Hm… sweet but not cloying. Whoever made this was a genius.
"Hey, aren't we looking for eggs? Why're you drinking milk tea now?" March 7th walked over. "Sigh~ I know you miss Teacher Adrian. Trying to summon HIM this way…"
"Summon?"
Stelle slapped her forehead. How had she forgotten that trick?
"March, with the situation like this… we need the all-purpose Teacher Adrian!"
"You're right, but where is Teacher Adrian?"
Stelle dragged over Bertnis, who was slacking off nearby. "You forgot? The church can summon the Aeon of Eternity anytime, anywhere."
"Huh?" Bertnis looked baffled, then sank into self-reproach. Because of his big mouth, the Astral Express now knew Adrian's identity. He'd failed Lord Ite!
"Here! Summoning Teacher Adrian is all on you now. Don't let us down!"
Stelle patted Bertnis with a half-smile that somehow sounded like a threat.
"Can't do it."
March 7th & Stelle: …
"Are you kidding?! Are you sure you're not a church mole?!"
Stelle's mouth twitched. As fellow Pathstriders of Eternity, even she was more reliable than Bertnis!
"Too much true Tayzzyronth wing dust and blood on me, plus all the drinking… I can't calm my mind at all right now."
"And you have the nerve to say that out loud!"
March 7th shook her head. Her filter on church knights was completely shattered. There really were unreliable people everywhere—good thing the Express only had one like her.
"Didn't you two know? At the church they call me 'The Unreliable Crimson Knight-Captain'… haha~"
"Then… how do we get Teacher Adrian here?"
"Ah, afraid I'll have to disappoint you again. Only if you join the Eternal Church and get certified by Pontiff Blake can you…"
Before Bertnis could finish, Stelle shoved him up to the second-floor storage room.
"This guy's hopeless. Later I'm filing a complaint with the church—saying their Knight-Captain slacks off all day, loafs around, and doesn't care about danger!"
"I refuse to believe it. With the Express crew's relationship with Teacher Adrian, a sincere prayer won't bring HIM?"
March 7th wasn't having it. She clasped her hands, closed her eyes, and launched an on-the-spot prayer.
"We need… hm, this might actually help! Portable Express Cleaner!" Pom-Pom pulled out a gadget. "Originally Pom-Pom's backup for this big cleaning day—meant for scrubbing the roof!"
"It's got a detection camera with super wide view. Remote-control it up high and you can see everything in range… plus all the nooks and crannies!"
"Though it's Pom-Pom's cleaning tool, no choice now… Passenger Stelle!"
Pom-Pom looked at Stelle. "Passenger March 7th seems to be performing some mysterious summoning ritual. This mission's yours pa!"
"If you think it's worth a try, Pom-Pom will remote-control it now pa. Watch carefully—Pom-Pom will clean the corners while we're at it… Here comes the Portable Express Cleaner!"
They checked the parlor car—nothing unusual.
"Seems clear. Pom-Pom thinks we gotta send the Portable Express Cleaner farther down the cars pa…"
Stelle switched the view to Dan Heng's room. Argenti was locked in a soulful stare-down with a true Tayzzyronth.
Knight… and his bug knight. Nothing special.
Wait…
Stelle grabbed her bat and bolted to Dan Heng's room.
"You must be the creature Stelle spoke of. You are surely often described as 'cute'—has that ever troubled you? Rest assured, your essence far exceeds that single word."
"Round one, your name shall be—Charm."
From Argenti's perspective, he was sincerely praising and proclaiming the Beauty of a Mr. Svarog bug.
"No further words are needed. Meeting a life such as yours moves me deeply, yet I will never abandon my ascetic spiritual discipline. Should we fail to resolve this crisis, I shall die to vindicate honor."
Stelle rolled her eyes so hard they nearly vanished. This guy… was beyond saving…
Actually, both knights who'd come aboard the Express were hopeless!
Sigh~ Destruction it is. Tired…
Meanwhile, party car second floor
Inside the big storage room, Bertnis tossed away his bottle and stared dead at the Freesna in front of him.
"Not good. Too much wing dust… This true Tayzzyronth illusion is way too realistic."