"Um... I think we should go this way..."
March 7th stood before two paths, her eyes flitting between them and the sign overhead. After a moment's deliberation, she finally chose the left path.
Watching March 7th's haphazard navigation, Lumina could no longer restrain herself. It seemed March 7th had been blindly leading them from the start, simply getting lucky by choosing the correct path each time.
But now, March 7th had taken a wrong turn. Lumina called out, "March, are you sure this is the right way? It's the path on the right, you know!"
"Huh?" March 7th stopped in her tracks and glanced up at the sign above. Confirming Lumina's words, she realized her mistake.
"Oh, sorry, sorry! I got a little confused there," March 7th quickly apologized.
She immediately turned around and led them down the correct right-hand passage.
Seeing March 7th standing there looking utterly bewildered, Lumina sighed in exasperation. She walked up to March and said, "March, let me take the lead."
"I can sense traces of Voidranger presence on some of the paths. We should avoid those areas."
"So, leave the navigation to me."
Lumina smiled gently, like a spring breeze caressing one's face, making it impossible to refuse her.
"Okay," March nodded without hesitation.
After all...
She really couldn't find her way. Who designed these signs in this space station? Come out here so I can beat you to a pulp!
March 7th mentally cursed the sign designer, completely oblivious to the fact that her navigational woes stemmed from her own poor sense of direction.
Any signage within Herta Space Station should be easily understandable for most people.
Unfortunately, March 7th happened to be one of the rare exceptions.
"Over here!"
The trio had just reached the upper level when they heard a voice.
All eyes turned to see a handsome man with a cool expression waving them over.
"Wow~ We finally found Dan Heng!" March 7th exclaimed, grinning as she skipped toward him.
"Let's go. That's just March 7th—she's always so lively," Lumina murmured to Stelle beside her, watching March 7th's cheerful antics with amusement before slowly following.
Stelle trailed closely behind Lumina, like a loyal puppy.
"Hmm? And who might this be?" Dan Heng asked, eyeing Stelle curiously.
"She's someone Sister Lumina found in a storage room. She's lost her memory," March 7th explained briefly.
"Hmm," Dan Heng hummed noncommittally. He turned and pointed behind him. "Let's go. Arlan's over there. He's a bit injured, but thankfully it's nothing serious."
The group followed Dan Heng's gaze and saw a gray-haired youth sitting on the ground, with several visible wounds on his hands and feet.
"Let me take a look," Lumina said softly, realizing it was her turn to step in. She approached Arlan and carefully examined his injuries.
Lumina's arrival startled Arlan awake. He opened his eyes and froze, staring in awe at the radiant young girl before him, her aura of purity and beauty leaving him speechless.
"Relax," Lumina assured him. "It'll be over quickly."
After confirming that the wounds were merely superficial scratches, Lumina summoned a surge of energy into her palm. The energy detached from her hand and flowed into Arlan's body.
In an instant, all of Arlan's wounds healed completely, leaving no scars behind.
"Amazing..." March 7th murmured in awe, watching Arlan's injuries vanish in the blink of an eye.
"Y-You're Miss Lumina!" Arlan stammered.
Feeling a warm aura spreading through his body, Arlan snapped out of his daze and recognized the woman before him. He hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply, his face brimming with respect.
"I'm just a wandering physician, not some great personage. There's no need for such formalities," Lumina said gently, waving her hand dismissively.
"No... no, I couldn't possibly..." Arlan shook his head vigorously. While it was true that Lumina was merely an unaffiliated practitioner without any official status, her reputation and prestige far surpassed even those of Madam Herta. He could never afford to be disrespectful.
Stelle observed the scene silently, lowering her head in contemplation. It seems Lumina's position might be quite lofty after all...I wonder just how high it is...
"In any case, let's take the elevator and get out of here quickly," Stelle urged. "If we stay here too long and the Voidrangers find us, we'll be surrounded and in real trouble."
Seeing the determination in Arlan's eyes, Lumina didn't press the matter further.
She was used to this sort of thing, and didn't mind it at all—in fact, she rather enjoyed it. Her high reputation and prestige made it much easier to get close to girls without causing a fuss.
"Right," Arlan nodded, feeling his wounds completely vanish. His respect for Lumina grew considerably.
He glanced at the elevator in the distance and breathed a sigh of relief. "Fortunately, the elevator to the top floor is still functioning. We just need to reach it and take it back to the Master Control Zone."
"Let's hurry," Lumina said. "We shouldn't keep Asta waiting."
She briefly sensed the environment around the space station. The Doomsday Beasts seemed to be growing restless.
"Okay," Arlan nodded in agreement. He turned to the group and said, "Follow me from here."
The others nodded without objection.
They followed Arlan in silence, encountering no monsters along the way, and soon arrived at a room.
"Is that... a Light Cone?" March 7th exclaimed in surprise, staring at the shimmering object in the center of the room. "I thought those were exclusive to the Interastral Peace Corporation! I never expected to find one on a space station."
Hearing her words, Lumina explained gently, "Light Cones have nothing to do with the Corporation. They're crafted by the Garden of Recollection. The Corporation merely purchases usage rights."
"As for this particular Light Cone, we'd have to ask Herta about its origins."
"But the fact that it's openly displayed here suggests Herta acquired it through legitimate channels."
Lumina approached the Light Cone, detached it, and handed it to the group.
"Light Cones can greatly enhance your abilities. You should take it."
"I know it's wrong to take someone else's belongings without permission..."
"But this is an emergency. We can't afford to be too scrupulous right now."
"If we encounter any monsters along the way, this will give us an extra edge."
"Sister Lumina, don't you need one?" March 7th asked, puzzled, as she accepted the Light Cone Lumina offered.
Lumina was undoubtedly the strongest among them. If there were enhancements available, shouldn't she get them first?
"I already have my own Light Cone," Lumina replied, winking mischievously at March 7th.
"Anyway, we still have a ways to go. Let's hope we won't need these Light Cones," Lumina added.
Hearing this, March 7th felt a sudden sense of foreboding. Now that you've said that, I'm sure we'll run into monsters along the way, she thought silently, glaring at Lumina.
Lumina: ...
Lumina bristled at March 7th's remark. Sensing the monsters within the Master Control Zone, she flicked her finger. Instantly, every creature dissolved into ash, their essence mingling seamlessly with the air.
Monsters: So?
Satisfied that no trace of the monsters remained, Lumina nodded contentedly and turned to March 7th with a sweet smile.
Just you wait, kid. I'll wipe that smug look off your face later.