"Forgive my untimely actions. Though our acquaintance is brief, we have already forged a bond through combat… I only regret that it remains unfinished! I wish to resolve this regret before departing."
"I will prove my will with spear and blade, defending my honor through the rites of martial courtesy. Win or lose, I will accept the outcome—and bid you farewell with this…"
"Dear friend… it is my honor to cross blades with you!"
Watching Stelle and Argenti suddenly start fighting again, March 7th was completely baffled.
Wait, what? How did talking turn back into fighting?
March was about to step in and stop them when she suddenly sensed something and whipped around.
The door to the passenger car slowly opened. Adrian appeared with Freesna in tow, stepping into everyone's view.
After a moment of stunned silence, March 7th and Pom-Pom rushed toward Adrian like they'd seen their savior.
The next instant, Adrian pulled Freesna in front of HIM as a shield against March 7th's impact.
"Waaah~ Thank goodness—Teacher Adrian and big sis priestess! We're saved!"
"Saintess." Freesna clearly minded that title.
"Passenger Adrian, Pom-Pom missed you so much pa! Huh… where's passenger Bertnis?"
"He drank too much… That commotion in the party car earlier was just helping him sober up."
Freesna explained, "Give him a moment. As for the Express's predicament… no need to worry."
"Huh? Big sis priestess, you don't mean…"
March 7th immediately thought of the church's signature "beating therapy" and felt a second of pity for Bertnis.
In the center of the car, the duel reached its conclusion—Stelle emerged victorious.
When she spotted Adrian, she immediately poked Argenti, who was about to launch into a speech.
"This true Tayzzyronth wing dust is insane—it's giving me hallucinations. Quick, snap me back to reality."
"Sigh~ No wonder Tayzzyronth are such a menace. This wing dust is basically Masked Fools lite—half truth, half lie. You can never tell illusion from reality."
Adrian said helplessly, greeting Argenti.
"Wait, you two know each other?" Stelle wedged herself between them.
"I never imagined I would meet Mr. Adrian here… Is this what people call fate?"
Argenti smoothly changed the subject. Adrian's appearance had genuinely surprised him—he'd thought the man was simply a fellow Pathstrider of Eternity with shared interests, not a member of the Express.
But now, Argenti had no time to probe why Adrian had joined the crew.
"Stelle… your demeanor, your strength, the etiquette of our duel… you have my complete admiration. If I were to rate this contest—magnificent, exhilarating! To meet an opponent like you has allowed me to prove Beauty's existence with my own body."
"Forgive my earlier aggression. I knew that once this battle ended, it would mark my departure from the Express's story—and now that moment has come."
Stelle double-checked: "You're sure you can get out safely?"
"I guarantee it. I am no reckless fool. I will prepare thoroughly and escape at the perfect moment."
"Do not worry about our parting. I came aboard to resolve your crisis. Once my duty is done, I return to the galaxy. But… the galaxy is vast. We may meet again."
As a knight, Argenti bore the conviction of certain victory and the weight of honor. His body, forged through countless trials, would not break easily.
"So brief… so chance an encounter. To know the Express crew—your bonds… are truly magnificent."
The long crimson night of illusions had not yet ended.
Even the grandest knighting ceremony in history would be nothing more than a cosmic hymn that blooms and fades.
"My mind is made up. No need to persuade me."
Seeing Argenti's resolve, Welt was unsurprised… He had to admit, watching this reminded him occasionally of his younger self.
"Do not fear. I will shout: 'The goddess of Beauty, Idrila, is unrivaled in HER splendor!'"
"After ensuring the Express escapes safely, I will find my own way out and return unharmed—to await our next meeting."
"If you witness all this… you will understand my fervent ideal."
With that, Argenti resolutely left the Express, leaving only a dashing silhouette behind.
Freesna grabbed the disheveled Bertnis by the collar and called out to Argenti: "Pathstrider of Beauty, no need for such sacrifice… Let this guy test the waters first."
Bertnis was flung out in a daze. The side effects of overdrinking vanished instantly—he frantically pulled out his two bars of bath soap and hurled them at the dark mass nearby.
"Wait… why did completely harmless soap just explode?!"
...
Penacony, Daydream Hotel
The front-desk clerk looked up at the blond, green-eyed man in church robes and hurriedly explained.
"I'm terribly sorry, sir, but your name really isn't in the system. You arrived without warning—we're in a tough spot…"
No reservation at all—was he a stowaway?!
Blake pulled out a bar of soap. "Then… how about this as payment?"
"Huh? Sir… no need for a return gift…"
...
Having escaped the Mega True Tayzzyronth's stomach, Argenti and Bertnis soon reported they were safe. A happy ending for all.
"Those two soaps were bath-grade—how did they explode?!"
"March, you wouldn't understand… Every bar has hidden energy."
"The Knights of Beauty—a group of lone wanderers across the stars, hard for others to comprehend. They have their own beliefs and burdens, searching for the Beauty Aeon Idrila, who may have already fallen."
"Ah? The Idrila Argenti kept mentioning? Didn't he say he had to find Idrila and fulfill his knightly duty to protect HER?"
"Most Knights of Beauty accept that Idrila has fallen. Of course, some refuse to believe it—like the one you just met… He probably thinks Idrila is merely missing, hidden somewhere mortals cannot reach."
Himeko gazed at the crew still savoring the "car bug extermination" adventure. "This crisis is over, and our chance guests have departed. I have a question for you."
"For example… what do you think Beauty is?"
"The bonds between the Express crew… or obsessively watching little cats and Quantum Pussycat eat." Stelle answered with utmost seriousness.
"Oh? Excellent answer. Beauty takes countless forms—everyone's heart holds a different truth… I wonder what exactly the Knights of Beauty chase across the galaxy?"
"Suppose Argenti found the 'missing' Idrila—with human eyes, could he recognize HER? Or would he stand before the object of his obsession yet remain blind, unable to see or even sense…"
"Yeah, he really seems like the type to blindfold himself, then fight a training dummy under self-imposed harsh rules just to temper himself."