"Hey, hey, Clara, what's Belobog like as a city?"
"Are there other cute little girls like you in the city?"
"Clara, you're so adorable—you must be a young lady from some big, important family, right?"
Clara: …
Clara walked ahead of the group, leading the way, while March 7th kept chattering nonstop in her ear. If Clara weren't currently playing the part of an ordinary commoner, she would've slapped March 7th into a nice, long nap already.
"Belobog is the City of Preservation, built by the Architects."
"I don't know. Maybe there are, but I haven't met any."
"I'm not. I'm just an ordinary commoner."
Biting back the urge to knock March 7th out with one slap, Clara patiently answered her questions one by one.
"Oh, okay."
March 7th nodded, completely missing the odd edge in Clara's tone. She opened her mouth, ready to fire off another question:
"Then, Clara, you—"
"Mmph… mmph… what are you doing?"
But before March 7th could finish, Stelle—who had caught a look from Dan Heng—clamped a hand over her mouth.
March 7th squirmed free and glared at Stelle, not understanding why she'd done that.
"Alright, March, I know you have a lot of questions," Welt stepped in, seeing the situation.
"But let's save those for when we actually reach Belobog."
"Mmm… fine." Hearing the respected Mr. Yang speak up, March 7th reluctantly gave up. She shot Stelle another glare and stopped questioning Clara.
"Clara, aren't they just the Astral Express crew…?" Firefly, who had mostly recovered by now, glanced at the Express group and asked Clara softly.
"Yep." Clara nodded and left it at that.
"So… they're the so-called 'audience'?"
Firefly was quite sharp. Remembering what Clara had said earlier about an 'audience,' she connected the dots to the Astral Express group.
"Correct." Clara nodded, not hiding it from her.
"What's a grand, spectacular play without an audience?"
"Then what do I need to do?"
"When the time comes, just use your identity as 'Firefly' to set the sea ablaze."
"Huh?" Firefly blinked, confused.
How was she supposed to set the sea on fire as Firefly?
Sure, her true form wasn't weak, but asking her to light the ocean on fire with a sword? Impossible. No way. There was just no way…
Walking ahead, Clara tilted her head slightly and cast a faint glance at Firefly, seeing right through her thoughts. She spoke calmly:
"I know you're eager, but let me say this: don't be."
"Because it won't help."
Firefly: ?
"Ahem, wrong script." Clara coughed a few times, then continued:
"What I mean is, don't rush. If I say you'll set the sea on fire, then you'll have a way to do it."
"Understand now?"
"All you have to do is wait."
"Ohh." Firefly nodded, only half-getting it.
Even if she didn't fully understand, that didn't stop her from going along with Clara.
Clara: …
Alright, Clara decided to take back what she'd just thought. Firefly and March 7th were the same—both single-celled organisms with no brains.
"Um, Clara…" Firefly's face suddenly flushed red as she leaned close to Clara's ear and whispered.
"?" Sensing the shift in Firefly's mood, Clara looked at her, puzzled.
"It's about… that…" Firefly fidgeted, seeming almost shy.
"That…"
"Which 'that'?"
"Just… that…" Firefly's face stayed red, but she couldn't spit it out.
Clara: …
"Goodbye." Clara couldn't be bothered to waste time. If Firefly wasn't going to say it, then fine. She quickened her pace.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Seeing this, Firefly hurried to catch up, then took a deep breath and said in a tiny voice:
"Can I… sleep with you again tonight, like yesterday?"
"No."
The moment Firefly finished, Clara's answer came instantly—clearly without a single thought.
Firefly: …
Hearing that immediate refusal, Firefly was speechless. But inwardly, she didn't feel the slightest bit dejected.
Hmph, if you say no, then no? Where would that leave my pride?
You say don't, but I'll do it anyway~
Firefly hummed lightly to herself. Since you're being difficult, don't blame me for not holding back! Hehehe~
Evil chuckle~ Evil chuckle~ Evil chuckle~
Clara, walking ahead, suddenly felt a full-body shiver run down her spine.
"Weird?"
Clara scratched her head, puzzled. A cold? No way—with her Emanator-level constitution, how could she catch a common cold? And this feeling… it didn't seem like a cold. It was more like… more like… being watched by something terrifying…
"Hmph."
Clara snorted inwardly. Something scary had its eyes on her? She didn't know what it was, but if it dared to have any ideas about her—whoever it was—little Clara would make sure they regretted it!
Firefly: Hehehe~ Then I'll dig in~
…
"Everyone, we're here."
"This is the City of Preservation—Belobog."
It didn't take long before Clara brought the group to Belobog.
"Wow."
Taking in the architecture and the sights around them, the Astral Express crew all looked on with curiosity.
"Hey, I notice it's not as cold anymore!"
As soon as they entered Belobog, March 7th felt the biting cold that had surrounded them gradually fade away.
"That's because you're inside Belobog now," Clara said, stretching and letting out a yawn.
"Under the protection of Preservation, even though Belobog is eroded by snow and wind, it forever remains warm."
"Ohh, I see." Hearing this, everyone nodded. If it was the power of an Aeon at work, there wasn't much else to say.
"I'm going to take this wanted criminal to the Silvermane Guards first. Do you want to come along, or wait here?" Clara walked over to Sampo, gave him a kick, then addressed the Astral Express group.
"After this, I'll take you to meet Belobog's Supreme Guardian."
"Uh, we'll come along," March 7th said, glancing back at Welt and Dan Heng. Seeing their nods, she decided to follow Clara.
"Mm." Clara nodded, not saying anything more.
"Then stay close. Don't get too distracted by the street scenes, or I won't be responsible if you get lost."
Clara offered the warning, then delivered another kick to Sampo.
Sampo: ?
Seriously, lady?
…
I have completed the author to TL pipeline, 2 chapters per day. Advanced chapters available on patreon.
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