The crimson greatsword fell into everyone's eyes like a scarlet flame. Perhaps Uncle Welt knew the secret of this greatsword, knew the heavy past it carried. But at this moment, the moment Himeko decided to pass it on to Sāmu, he just closed his slightly sore and reddened eyes and took a deep breath.
When he opened his brown pupils again, Welt looked as composed as ever.
Did something happen?
Welt: No, nothing happened. Just as the collapsed past would be borne, remembered, and sealed by Welt alone. And Himeko just needed to ride the star-filled train and be a traveling scientist.
"Sword of Ruin - Surtr..." Sāmu murmured the slightly awkward weapon name.
Himeko looked at him with eyes full of earnest expectation. She changed from holding the sword with one hand to holding the blade with both hands, presenting it with the edge towards herself and the back towards Sāmu.
Although Sāmu was amazed by this greatsword, which was almost as tall as himself when stood upright, and doubted whether he could bear its weight, he still stepped forward and solemnly took the greatsword from Mother Himeko's hands.
The hilt of the Sword of Ruin was designed with a guard to prevent it from slipping. Everyone consciously took a step back, leaving space in the carriage for Sāmu to test the sword.
Himeko's only regret was that she was completely ignorant about greatswords and had no moves to teach Sāmu. But it seemed Sāmu didn't need anyone to teach him. As soon as the greatsword was in his hands, it was as if it had become the boy's signature weapon, and he swung it with ease.
"Block, charge... stop the dragon...?"
"Why would I have such a dream?" the boy wondered.
However, he liked this weapon very much. Not just because it was a trailblazing gift from Mother Himeko, but also because through this greatsword, Sāmu could vaguely feel the will of protection entwined around it. Perhaps the original owner of this Sword of Ruin had used it to protect something they cherished.
In that case, Sāmu would not disappoint this greatsword or its original owner.
Welt stared at Sāmu holding the crimson greatsword, his eyes softening for a rare moment. The usually silent man suddenly spoke. "I look forward to it."
"The story that you will begin."
"Thank you... Uncle Yang."
Welt nodded.
"Can we set off now!" March 7th was as lively as ever, looking eagerly at the ice and snow planet outside the window.
"You child, why are you in such a hurry?"
"If you don't prepare thoroughly, when you're in the ice and snow, you won't even have a place to cry."
"Here, Sāmu, take this that Mom prepared for you." Himeko took out a small storage pouch from her briefcase. If the briefcase was Miss Himeko's treasure chest, then this storage pouch would be Sāmu's future treasure bag.
It looked very light and small, but it actually contained a profound mystery. In an interstellar journey, the resources, materials, relics, and curios obtained along the way were countless. The space on the train alone was not enough to store them. At times like this, spatial storage curios were needed. The train had special spatial compartments for storing various materials, goods, etc., which was why the train appeared so spacious and bright. Each passenger also luxuriously had their own private bedroom.
The storage pouch was such a spatial curio. When he didn't need the "Sword of Ruin - Surtr," Sāmu could use it for storage. When he needed it for battle, he could summon it out, just like Dan Heng summoned his Cloud-Piercer spear.
"Inside, there are also winter clothes I prepared for you, instant food, some anti-freeze medicine, and..." Himeko chattered on, explaining and carefully reminding Sāmu.
March 7th was now dumbfounded. "It wasn't like this when we went on trailblazing missions before!"
Didn't they just get off the train when they arrived, and get back on after finishing the mission? Why was it different for Sāmu! The girl let out a cry of a dethroned favorite, although it seemed she had never received such favor to begin with.
Himeko had always treated March 7th and Dan Heng as young people who needed to grow and gain experience, so she was relatively strict with them. She was never as gentle, considerate, and worried as she was with Sāmu. She had practically packed the entire train for him! It was truly the treatment of a biological son!
The scene from the ancient Xianzhou poem "A mother worries when her child travels a thousand miles" was now being witnessed by the entire crew.
"Oh, right, take this Herta doll too." Himeko picked up the Herta fumo that Sāmu had placed on the windowsill to watch the planet with him. After examining it for a moment, she handed it to Sāmu.
Sāmu hugged the Herta doll tightly, blinking his long-lashed eyes.
"After all, it's a gift and a sentiment from your godmother. It wouldn't be good to let it gather dust on the train."
"Think of it as a protective charm."
"And if Sāmu is scared of the dark or being alone at night, you can hug it to sleep~"
Sāmu's cheeks turned red, and he argued in a low voice, "I'm not a child..."
"Do you think adults don't need dolls?" Himeko smiled slightly. "Besides, in my eyes, Sāmu is a child who needs to be taken care of."
"Unless... you can successfully complete this 'Stellaron Recovery' mission!"
"Only then will Mom admit that you are an adult."
Sāmu was instantly filled with a strong sense of motivation. He quietly clenched his fist and nodded seriously. "Mhm, I will do it."
March 7th: "..."
Is this what a mature older sister is like? So scary. She had manipulated him with just a few words. Looking at Sāmu, he was probably a lost cause.
So March 7th turned to look at Stelle beside her and said with a very complicated expression, "Stelle, don't be like Sāmu and get tricked by a mature woman!"
"0.o?"
"What about little boys?"
"Don't get tricked by little boys either!"
But looking at Stelle's current state, this advice was probably too late. She had already fallen for Sāmu's pure beauty! Tragic!
Finally, Himeko finished her reminders and watched as Sāmu, March 7th, Dan Heng, and Stelle entered the landing craft. With the activation of the craft, the group of four detached from the Astral Express, which was in low-earth orbit, and descended towards the vast white, snowy land.
...
Jarilo-VI, landing point of the craft.
Dan Heng pushed open the cabin door with force and was the first to step out. Following closely behind was the tall Stelle, and Sāmu, whom she was helping down. Last was March 7th, who couldn't help but shiver just by looking at the icy scene outside. "Pretty girls aren't very resistant to the cold!" she couldn't help but mutter, but finally gritted her teeth and stepped into the snow.
It turned out it wasn't as cold as she had imagined. Only then did March 7th remember that as the Nameless of the Astral Express, after being recognized by the train and Pom-Pom, they had naturally received the blessing of the Trailblaze. So it wasn't strange that they would be a bit more resistant to the cold than ordinary people.
Sāmu had seen snow before, accompanying that woman's plum blossoms, full of aggression and repulsive. But the snow in this world was different, fluttering down like goose feathers. Sāmu reached out his hand, letting a snowflake land in his palm, then be gradually melted by his warmth, leaving only a cool, wet touch.
The whole world was covered in silver. Silent black rocks stood like silent giants on both sides and behind them, forming a single one-way path for them.
March 7th, though the last to leave the landing craft, was now full of energy, standing in front of Sāmu and the others with her hands on her hips. "Let's go! To bravely explore the unknown—this is the spirit of the 'Trailblaze'!"
"Does Sister March 7th know which way to go?" Sāmu asked curiously.
"Ah, about that..."
In the end, it was the reliable Dan Heng who stepped forward. "According to the coordinates, the target is not far ahead." The target Dan Heng referred to was the city recorded in the train's databank, Belobog.
Hopefully, it had withstood thousands of years of wind and snow and was still standing. Otherwise, this trailblazing journey might turn into a thrilling snowfield survival adventure.
While it was still early and not yet night, the group began their, for now, very novel trek.
"Is this... an ice sculpture?" Sāmu suddenly stopped at the sight before him. It was a strange "statue," kneeling on the ground, its arms stretched forward as if begging for something.
Gazing at it, Sāmu felt an inexplicable pull. In a daze, he reached out his hand, wanting to touch it, but was stopped by Dan Heng, who grabbed his wrist.
"When you're out and about, it's best not to touch things of unknown origin," the handsome young man, who looked slightly older than Sāmu, warned seriously.
"Yes, Brother Dan Heng. But what are they..." Sāmu observed and found that on the road not far ahead, such ice sculptures were almost everywhere, only in different forms, some kneeling, some standing.
"They're just ice sculptures," Dan Heng's eyes deepened, but he replied without changing his expression.
"..." He walked forward, and after a moment of silence, Sāmu followed. But for the rest of the way, he kept a much greater distance from these strange ice sculptures.
Suddenly, the fox mask on Sāmu's head trembled. The sweet, giggling voice of the System Sister came from his mind.
[Hey, little fool, see that snowdrift not far ahead!]
[Listen to me, take out that whatchamacallit greatsword of yours, and give that part that's sticking up a good hard whack!]
[Heeheehee! I guarantee you'll have a surprise!]
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