"We're going to speak with the researchers for a bit. None of us wants any more anomalies on the space station right now. By the way, have you tried contacting Herta?"
Asta sighed and shook her head.
"I've sent plenty of letters, but they've gone unanswered. As you know, the space station is basically Herta's archive for her followers and artifacts. She couldn't care less about it."
Himeko sighed in response, as if she had expected exactly that.
Though she's the station's true owner, Herta only gets interested in things that catch her attention—and loses interest just as quickly.
She commissioned the station out of curiosity, but the moment construction finished, she dropped it entirely.
"I know… It's fine. I'll tell Herta that we've brought the artifacts she wanted in my letter. At least that might pique her interest."
At least until she sees them. Then she'll show a flicker of interest before stashing them away in storage.
"Please do."
With that, their talk with Asta ended for the time being, and the Astral Express crew set off to meet the researchers, just as Himeko had suggested.
Stelle wasn't part of the Astral Express crew, and she didn't belong to the station either, so she hovered awkwardly until March 7th grabbed her arm and brought her along.
"Is that as far as our investigation goes?"
"That was more unexpected than I'd thought," Dan Heng said, folding his notebook.
"I never imagined they'd give it no thought," Bronie added, and everyone nodded.
"Doesn't that just mean our response was flawless?" March 7th asked.
Murata Himeko cracked a wry smile at March 7th's comment. "Well, the person themselves probably found it boring, but it's good we handled it well."
"Aww, you're embarrassing me with all that," Himeko teased.
"It's not praise," she added with a sigh, while Bronie scratched the back of her head, chuckling. Everyone was smiling at them when suddenly—
Every display screen and even the empty air flooded with urgent flashes reading: "WARNING!"
"What's happening?!"
Asta quickly tried to assess the situation. "Something's penetrating the station's barrier!"
"Energy readings… This energy is from a Doomsday Beast!"
"A Doomsday Beast!?"
"I'll bring up the feed!"
The floating viewport flickered to reveal the Antimatter Legion, using remnants of a Twilight Ancient Beast's carcass to forge countless deadly armaments, and the colossal Doomsday Beast—an enormous war engine designed to stand against celestial forces—ripping through the station's barrier with both massive arms.
"Himeko, get the others back on the train and get out of here!"
"What about you, Asta?"
"I'll stay!" Asta insisted.
"Even so…."
"Come on, let's go."
"What?"
"Huh?"
With that, Himeko cut off March 7th's protest, grabbed Stelle's hand, and dashed away. March 7th, rendered speechless by the sudden move, was grabbed by Bronie and pulled along behind Himeko, and Dan Heng ran after Bronie.
A distorted voice crackled through the comms: "The support cabin's barrier won't hold much longer... get away as fast as you can... entrust this place to... ... Hurry... please..."
As the transmission cut out, Bronie, forced into a run, called out to Himeko, who was sprinting ahead. "Hey, Murata Himeko, are you sure it's okay to just run like this?"
"Herta built this station. Unless the Apostles of Ruin—the Extermination Host—get involved, it'll be safe."
"Still, doesn't it feel a little off to just run like this?"
"Exactly—that's why we're acting like this."
"Bronie, what does that mean?"
March 7th looked puzzled, but Dan Heng suddenly seemed to realize something and spoke up. "Right now, without Herta, the station's defense grid is severely compromised. And the Legion has been blessed by the Aeons of Ruin—there's no way this place can be defended if they decide to attack."
"So that's why we have to help them—"
"No, it's the opposite. We're the ones helping them right now. And that's probably why taking Stelle with us is relevant."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Isn't that right? Himeko, Bronie?"
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