"Tell me, what is it?"
Caelus waved his hand generously. "From now on, we're all companions on the same Express. Whether it's a big or small matter, your bro will get it done for you!"
Glancing at Caelus's hand resting on her shoulder, Haxxor Bunny felt a slight strangeness in her heart. Aside from Theresa, she had almost no friends.
Bronie, however, could often see gang members putting their arms around each other's shoulders on the streets. Considering that Caelus's personality was naturally overly familiar, this level of intimacy between teammates seemed quite normal, right?
Good bros~!
"Last night, I looked up information about the Stellaron Hunter Silver Wolf on the Interastral Peace Network. It's said that she comes from Punklorde. I remember you mentioning that you know her..."
When she first arrived, she was completely ignorant of this world and its famous figures. After frantically surfing the net to gather intelligence, Miss Haxxor Bunny highly doubted Caelus and Stelle's previous claim of knowing Haxxor Bunny.
Given their personalities, they were absolutely capable of spouting complete nonsense.
After all, the Astral Express was a well-known positive faction in the Galaxy. Most of the Nameless were good-natured people with an adventurous spirit, enjoying an excellent reputation among various factions.
The Stellaron Hunters, on the other hand, were wanted criminals who ran all over the universe chasing after that Star-something-Stellaron thing.
People from a Neutral Good faction and a Lawful Evil faction were relatives?
But since her other self had said so, Haxxor Bunny felt she had to at least ask. What if there was some hidden circumstance she didn't know about?
"Do you know about Aether Editing?"
"I know."
"Then do you understand the principles of Aether Editing? Do you know how to learn it?"
Bronie used a silver spoon to stir the osmanthus honey on the surface of the soy milk.
"Well, about that, Bronie, every companion on the Express possesses unique skills, each with their own strengths and weaknesses," Caelus said, revealing a smile.
"Then what about you, Caelus?"
"I know a little bit about everything."
Caelus finished the last bite of his egg tart, casually pulled out a napkin, and reservedly wiped the corners of his mouth.
"Really?"
Her eyes lighting up, Haxxor Bunny slightly paused her stirring motion and cast an inquiring glance at the others.
The cute Little Seele's eyes seemed to have stars twinkling in them, looking exactly like a little fangirl.
Stelle frowned, her gaze solemn, casually slapping down a meme of a husky's wise stare, alongside March 7th, who blinked without concealing her skepticism.
What was this situation?
How could three people have three different attitudes?
"Since when did you know Aether Editing?"
Little March looked at Caelus in astonishment, directly tearing down half of his stage, though not completely. Given Caelus and Stelle's eccentricities and Crystals, maybe he really did know it?
"Ah Qi, there are still many things I know. You will slowly discover them in the future."
Caelus proudly raised his head and gave a thumbs-up pointing to himself; everything was understood without needing to be said.
"Tch, give me a break!" Stelle curled her lips.
Caelus ignored her. He slightly curled the corners of his mouth, narrowing his eyes as he revealed a hint of a smile toward Haxxor Bunny.
"Coming back to the topic, do you want to learn Aether Editing?"
Seele and Stelle's attitudes could both be seen as votes of acknowledgment. Could this guy really be a genius? Someone who could make her other future parallel world isotope fall in love must be very outstanding, so Caelus really did know how?!
"Yes!"
Haxxor Bunny was instantly energized, her eyes shining. The excitement on her face gradually turned into embarrassment, and her tone became implicit and somewhat shy: "C-Can you teach me?"
Having been proud since childhood, she had rarely even bowed her head to speak to Cioara with such a submissive attitude. Haxxor Bunny was very unaccustomed to asking others for help.
But she had no choice; Aether Editing was just too enticing!
Although it wasn't a now-or-never situation—she could choose to act alone and go exploring on Punklorde by herself.
But as a newcomer, rather than running around blindly like a headless fly, wouldn't it be much more convenient to travel with the Astral Express?
"This... It's possible, I suppose."
Caelus pretended to ponder, revealing a slightly stunned expression. "But that is a technology unique to Punklorde..."
Next, Caelus explained the principles of Aether Editing he had learned from Silver Wolf to Haxxor Bunny, in order to show he had the real deal.
"Is that so... It can only be learned at the boundary between data and reality." Haxxor Bunny lowered her eyes, looking slightly disappointed.
She had looked up many worldview settings last night. Between galaxies, there existed unknown Imaginary spaces that were difficult to cross; apart from certain special existences, no one could easily traverse them.
Worlds that had already been connected by the silver rails laid down by the[Trailblaze] achieved mutual communication, but how could the [Known] be as interesting as the [Unknown]?
Trailblazing alongside the Astral Express while also being able to learn Aether Editing was the number one best option.
Haxxor Bunny, who was no longer a child, wanted it all.
"Wanting to learn Aether Editing without being on Punklorde isn't completely impossible."
Just as Miss Haxxor Bunny's heart was caught in an intense struggle and conflict.
"You have a way!?"
Haxxor Bunny abruptly raised her head, her small hands tightly holding the glass cup, not noticing that her emotions were falling right into Caelus's grasp.
"Do you know about Curios?"
Raising his hand to push up non-existent glasses, Caelus revealed a refined and amiable smile, laying down the trap he had prepared for this little white rabbit.
"Those rare and mysterious items that possess special effects?"
This was also something that greatly interested Haxxor Bunny. Smart as she was, she quickly realized: "There's a Curio that can help learn Aether Editing?"
"That Curio is called Punklorde Mentality, and it is located on the Herta Space Station."
"Herta..."
Haxxor Bunny furrowed her brows. She didn't know what the Herta Space Station was, but she could infer from the name that it was related to that 'Genius'. She was well aware of the weight the word 'Genius' carried...
That was a big shot who held immense significance across the entire Galaxy.
"Actually, we have some scientific project dealings with Herta."
Caelus wrapped his arm around Stelle's shoulder, boosting her up along with him, and the Stellaron spirit cooperatively puffed out her chest.
"Really? Are you guys that amazing?"
Haxxor Bunny directly executed a tactical lean-back. It was just like randomly joining an allied team by chance at a county internet cafe, only for your teammate to tell you that he frequently solo-killed Faker during his prime.
"You guys..."
Listening from the side, March 7th rested her cheek on one hand, looking quite speechless on the surface. Well...
Being researched definitely counted as project dealings.
"I have a way to trade for that Curio for you."
Caelus appropriately revealed a look of difficulty. After Haxxor Bunny caught sight of it, he quickly covered it up, putting on a casual and indifferent posture.
"N-No, I..."
Haxxor Bunny's words stuttered, her face turning conflicted.
Asking Caelus to teach her Aether Editing was already enough to make her feel embarrassed. It was already a huge favor, and now it seemed there was no end to it.
Her tsundere personality made Haxxor Bunny personally practice a principle from childhood to adulthood: never ask others for help if you can solve the problem yourself, and absolutely avoid owing favors if possible.
When Haxxor Bunny was making her way in Arc City, unless a situation reached a point of absolute necessity, she would never do such a thing.
She understood the preciousness of Curios, and understood even more that trading a Curio with a Genius would definitely not be a simple matter for Caelus. He would surely have to pay a very expensive price, right?
Even if he had an overly familiar personality, Caelus shouldn't be this good to her, a newcomer. Was it because of her future parallel world isotope, Bronya?
Love me, love my dog?
Or was it something else?
As Haxxor Bunny stammered, unable to clearly articulate her feelings, a voice that seemed to be born from the bottom of her heart softly whispered, mixing emotions of melancholy and joy.
[Mmm... It's been a long time since I've had such a sound sleep. How is the situation?]
Bronie's consciousness woke up from her 'deep sleep' right on time.
[My other self, you're finally awake!]
Like a person spinning in a vortex grabbing onto a stabilizing reed, Haxxor Bunny got straight to the point and concisely recounted the entire sequence of events to Bronie.
[I'm sorry. It was clearly me who wanted to learn, but the result is...]
As she spoke, Haxxor Bunny felt more and more apologetic.
That's right, this was Bronie's body. It was out of the other's goodwill that she was given temporary usage rights. The one owing the favor was Bronie, but she was the biggest beneficiary.
In the end, Haxxor Bunny simply couldn't continue speaking. No, she couldn't do this.
Her 'other self' treated her so well; she, Haxxor Bunny, had to be principled!
Just as Haxxor Bunny planned to open her mouth and reject Caelus, she found that she had lost control of the body. She heard an incredibly familiar voice speak up crisply:
"Caelus-sensei, take me as your student and teach me Aether Editing!"
Amidst the blank and dumbfounded expressions of Stelle, March 7th, and Haxxor Bunny, Bronie suddenly stood up and bowed like an outstanding student of the year from Kivotos Academy.
"Ah, this... Bronie... are you serious?"
March 7th's expression was strange.
Upon hearing the title 'sensei', Stelle was hard-controlled by a sense of familiarity welling up from her subconscious, and her gaze slowly fell onto Haxxor Bunny's chest.
This is the vibe!
This is the vibe!
This is exactly the vibe!
[My other self, what are you doing?]
Haxxor Bunny couldn't help but ask in her mind.
[You have to broaden your thinking. Learn Aether Editing first, and slowly repay the favor in the future. Besides, if we formally acknowledge Caelus as our teacher, wouldn't the situation be much better if the Curio is a gift from a teacher to a student?]
Haxxor Bunny blanked for a moment, pondering in silence, and leaned back slightly.
Her other self's words made sense!
She might be proud, but those who are accomplished become teachers. Haxxor Bunny definitely didn't have any resistance to acknowledging a teacher to learn things.
Many things were taught to her by Cioara. Cioara was her mom... Ahem, anyway, as long as the relationship was close enough, she could accept it with peace of mind. But Haxxor Bunny still felt something was a bit off.
However, in the blink of an eye, this was washed away by emotion and guilt. Bronie was doing all this just so she could learn Aether Editing!
Even though the other party kept claiming it was 'for herself'...
"Are you serious?"
Caelus raised an eyebrow. That's right, it really was for himself~!
"Mhm, Caelus-sensei!"
"Then... alright. I have some introductory knowledge on Aether Editing here. Take a look at it first. Later, I'll go get the Curio for you."
Listening to the conversation between her 'other self' and Caelus, through Bronie's perspective, Haxxor Bunny saw technical documents popping up on the phone screen.
Haxxor Bunny remained silent and made up her mind, further binding herself and Bronie together, viewing them as a single entity.
I must work hard!
I must properly thank my 'other self'!
"What about me, what about me? Do I count as Bronie's sensei too?"
Stelle-cat poked her head out, excitedly pointing a finger at herself.
"Why are you blindly joining the fun? You, Hachi-Stelle, want to be a hacker too? Can you teach? You can't. Don't you know you lack the ability?"
Caelus cast a sidelong glance at the Stellaron spirit.
Unlike me, who has Sister Silver Wolf~!
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