Chapter 47: The Train Crew's Gift
The last time Dan Heng had ventured into the Outer Ring alone, the atmosphere on the Astral Express had remained relatively relaxed. At the very least, Stelle and March 7th had stayed behind in the parlor car, keeping a steady stream of updates flowing through the chat group to ensure everyone knew the archivist was safe.
But this time, the entire trailblazing trio had departed together, leaving the Express stranded as a complete information island.
Pom-Pom felt like an anxious parent guarding an empty nest. The small Conductor paced the length of the patterned rug, long ears drooping, occasionally pausing to needlessly adjust a perfectly straight potted plant.
Himeko sat gracefully on the velvet sofa, a porcelain cup of coffee resting in her hands. Her posture remained the picture of elegance, but the dark liquid inside her cup had long since gone cold. The subtle, frequent glances she cast toward the carriage's central teleporter betrayed her underlying worry.
By the window, Welt stood in quiet contemplation. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, his gaze steady behind the lenses, yet his knuckles tapped a restless, unconscious rhythm against the polished wooden frame.
Both of the older crew members had tried to reassure Pom-Pom multiple times over the past few hours. They insisted that the kids knew exactly what they were doing and that their strength was more than enough to handle whatever this new world threw at them. But logic did little to soothe the Conductor's frayed nerves. In the end, Himeko and Welt could only wait in solidarity, keeping the worried rabbit-like creature company in the heavy silence.
Just as Pom-Pom turned on their heel to begin yet another anxious lap around the coffee table—
Vwoom!
A sudden, resonant hum shattered the quiet. Three pillars of soft, azure light erupted without warning in the center of the parlor car. The blinding glow rapidly solidified, scattering into digital motes to reveal the familiar silhouettes of Stelle, Dan Heng, and March 7th.
"You're back!" Pom-Pom exclaimed, their voice pitching up in sheer relief. The Conductor rushed forward, their small body practically launching into the trio. Frantic paws patted at their clothes. "Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere, Pom-Pom?!"
Himeko and Welt immediately abandoned their posts, closing the distance with quick, relieved strides. The tension visibly melted from their shoulders.
"Welcome back," Himeko said, her voice carrying its usual warm, motherly cadence. "Was everything smooth?"
"You didn't encounter any trouble on the way, did you?" Welt asked calmly, though his sharp eyes had already swept over the three of them, confirming they were entirely unharmed.
March 7th beamed, her hands clasped behind her back as she rocked on her heels. "Oh, don't worry, Conductor! We're doing absolutely great!"
Dan Heng offered a slight, respectful nod. "Everything is peaceful," he reported, his tone as concise and grounded as ever.
As for Stelle?
Fresh off a multiversal adventure and riding the absolute high of winning a championship—even if her methods had been completely chaotic—the sight of her Express family caused her innate theatricality to explode.
She puffed out her chest, cleared her throat loudly, and plastered an exaggerated, triumphant smirk across her face.
"More than just smooth!" Stelle declared, throwing her arms wide. "Conductor, Himeko, Mr. Yang! Let me tell you, we played a super important role this time! We were exactly like heroes descending from the heavens in an epic fairy tale!"
She began pacing the floor, gesturing wildly as she spun her tale. "In that other world, there was a desolate wasteland called the Outer Ring. It was completely shrouded in this evil Ethereal mist, and the people were living in absolute dire straits..."
Stelle's narration jumped frantically from point to point, layering the entire experience in heavy, heroic fantasy tropes. She used the most bombastic rhetoric possible, painting every minor inconvenience as a life-or-death struggle. Naturally, she placed heavy emphasis on how she had brilliantly triumphed over everyone in the final 'Hero Race,' bravely seizing the championship crown through sheer tactical genius.
"...And then, amidst the deafening cheers of the masses, we received the sincere, tearful gratitude of the new Overlord! We waved goodbye to the reluctant citizens under the bleeding sunset, and gallantly began our journey home!"
Stelle finished her epic monologue by striking a dramatic pose, hands planted firmly on her hips. Her face radiated an obvious, blinding 'please praise me' energy.
Pom-Pom stared up at her, completely dumbfounded, their small mouth hanging slightly agape.
Himeko raised a hand to her lips, elegantly suppressing a laugh.
Welt pushed up his glasses again, the corner of his mouth twitching as he fought to maintain his stoic facade.
"Stop, stop, stop! Passenger Stelle! You're stretching the truth way too much, Pom-Pom!" the Conductor finally sputtered, breaking the spell.
"Exactly! Exactly!" March 7th groaned. Unable to stand the secondhand embarrassment a second longer, she lunged forward, slapping a hand over Stelle's mouth just as the Trailblazer drew breath to begin her 'aria.' March dragged her backward without mercy. "Conductor, Himeko, Mr. Yang, do not listen to a word of her nonsense! This guy got totally carried away after winning the race! Let Dan Heng tell it!"
Stelle thrashed lightly, letting out muffled protests against March's palm, but made no real effort to escape.
Dan Heng released a long, long sigh. He cast a helpless glance at the struggling Trailblazer before turning his attention back to the adults. In his usual calm, clear, and objective tone, he stripped away the theatrical fluff and recounted the actual events of their trip to Zenless Zone Zero.
He detailed the World Commission they received to rescue Wise, the escalating crisis at Blazewood's Fire Lake, and the exposure of Lucius's underlying conspiracy. He explained how Paimon had miraculously purified Pompey, completely reversing the lethal Ethereal corruption, and how Caesar had ultimately ignited the Fire Lake to claim her rightful title as the new Overlord. Finally, he outlined the chat group's championship finals and the bizarre methods each member used to complete it.
For the sake of absolute accuracy, Dan Heng specifically noted that when Stelle rescued Caesar, her chat-group-purchased bamboo-copter had been accidentally destroyed. To participate in the final race, she had stubbornly spent another five hundred points to buy a brand-new one.
Listening to Dan Heng's grounded report, Pom-Pom's racing heart finally settled back into its proper rhythm. "So that's how it really was... Although it still sounds very thrilling, it's much more reliable than that demon king story Stelle was trying to sell, Pom-Pom! It's just good that you're all alright. I'm glad you came back safely!"
Himeko smiled, her eyes softening. "It sounds like a very rich experience. You managed to help new friends in another world, and you did it together. You all did very well."
Welt nodded in agreement, a faint smile touching his lips. "You've resolved yet another potential disaster. Good work."
Freed from March's grip, Stelle scratched the back of her head, offering a goofy, unrepentant grin.
Seeing that the parental alarm had been fully lifted and the atmosphere had returned to its usual cozy warmth, March 7th clapped her hands together. "Ta-da! Now for the best part! Look, we brought souvenirs back!"
She reached into her spatial storage and pulled out a beautifully packaged, matte-black tin can, presenting it to Himeko like a grand prize. "Himeko, this is for you! High-quality coffee beans, personally roasted by Tin Master! Belle said this is one of New Eridu's absolute most popular coffee brands. See if you like it!"
Himeko accepted the tin, her eyes lighting up as she traced the elegant logo. "How thoughtful. I can't wait to brew a pot."
Next, March produced an exquisite, transparent display case. Inside sat a carefully crafted, highly articulated robot model boasting a rugged, industrial mechanical aesthetic. She handed it straight to Welt.
"Mr. Yang, this one's yours! It's a limited collectible figure of the Defense Force's newest 'Typhon' mech from Belle's world! I thought its design had a really cool, heavy-duty technological feel to it. I figured it'd be right up your alley!"
Welt took the display case with both hands. His stoic expression cracked just a fraction as his eyes locked onto the complex gunmetal joints and heavy armor plating of the Typhon model. "This is... remarkably detailed," he murmured, his inner mecha-nerd clearly thrilled. "Thank you, March. I will display it carefully."
Finally, March 7th grinned mischievously. As if performing a magic trick, she hauled out a massive, bulging shopping bag. She squatted down to meet the Conductor's eye level and pushed the heavy bag forward.
"Conductor! This is the main event! New Eridu is the hometown of these little guys called Bangboos! And let me tell you, there are so many super-cute clothes specially designed for them over there!"
March began pulling out garments, holding them up one by one. "I picked out a ton of styles! Now, a Bangboo's physique is slightly different from yours, Conductor, but Belle promised it's perfectly fine. We just need to find a tailor to slightly alter the dimensions! Look—there are little formal suits, rugged adventure outfits, and even a tiny chef's hat and apron! From now on, the Conductor can wear a brand-new outfit every single day!"
Pom-Pom stared at the mountain of premium fabrics, tiny brass buttons, and adorable accessories spilling out of the bag. The Conductor's eyes instantly transformed into massive, sparkling stars. Overcome with joy, they threw their arms around the bag, hugging it tightly.
"Wow! Thank you, Passenger March 7th! Pom-Pom loves it very much, Pom-Pom!"
But a second later, the Conductor stiffened. As if recalling some deeply unpleasant past experiences involving forced dress-up sessions, Pom-Pom quickly cleared their throat, puffed out their chest, and pointed a stern finger at the girls.
"But—but you can't force me to wear them! If I want to change my clothes, I'll do it myself, on my own schedule! Understood?!"
Watching their companions happily receive their gifts and bicker over tiny outfits, Stelle, Dan Heng, and March 7th exchanged warm smiles. The observation car of the Astral Express was once again filled with the bright, comforting sounds of laughter and home.
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