"Hmm?"
Hearing Welt Yang's words, Bai Ming looked at him with confusion.
Couldn't figure out how to use a phone? Was he some sort of legendary-level old-timer?
However—
This seemed like a good opportunity to interact with him? No matter what, she had to figure out if he was really from that world or not.
So, before March 7th could speak, Bai Ming raised her hand and said directly, "Uncle Yang, let me help you with that!" The title 'Uncle Yang' wasn't something she threw out randomly; it was what she'd heard Himeko call him.
But she seemed to have forgotten something: for the people on the Astral Express, even if time on the space station couldn't be measured normally, Bai Ming had still only known them for a relatively short while. The title 'Uncle Yang' was a bit too familiar for such a short acquaintance.
The looks that March 7th and Himeko gave Bai Ming were mixed with varying degrees of puzzlement. Especially March 7th. As the person currently closest to Bai Ming, she could say with certainty that Bai Ming and Welt Yang shouldn't have met before. Even if they had, it was only that moment when Welt Yang knocked Bai Ming out with his cane. But if it was just that... it still didn't quite add up.
Could it be... the two of them had really met somewhere before?
While March was pondering this unsolvable mystery, Welt Yang turned around and looked at Bai Ming, who had offered to help him. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Hmm, that would be best. Then come over here."
With Welt Yang's agreement, Bai Ming grew bolder. She took out her phone and began to teach him how to add friends. The process itself wasn't complicated. Plus, Welt Yang was no fool. In no time, he understood the whole process from Bai Ming's demonstration and successfully added her as a friend.
During this, Bai Ming also realized something: although Welt Yang looked a bit stern on the outside, he was actually quite polite when conversing. To some extent, his bespectacled appearance seemed to create a bit of a bias in how others perceived him. It also made it hard for Bai Ming to figure out whether this man was just another case like Navigator Himeko, or the more concerning possibility of being the actual person from that world crossing over.
Regardless, this move was effective. At least Bai Ming now knew Welt Yang was approachable. However—
This conversation seemed to be just the beginning. After confirming he had added Bai Ming as a friend, Welt Yang adjusted his glasses and addressed Himeko and March 7th beside him. "Himeko, Little March. There are a few more things regarding... friends... I'd like to discuss with our new member privately. Could you spare me a few minutes?"
"Eh?!" Welt Yang's request made March 7th even more nervous. Bai Ming wasn't the only one who knew how to use a phone. March also knew how to add friends. So she knew perfectly well the process wasn't difficult at all—in fact, it was incredibly simple. The credibility of Welt Yang's earlier statement was quite low.
There really was some connection between them!
Hearing Welt Yang's words, Himeko's bright golden eyes also showed a hint of concern. However, in the end, she instead said, "Understood. I just happen to have something I need to discuss with Little March as well. Little March," Himeko looked at March 7th, "would you give me that opportunity?"
"Well..." With Himeko putting it that way, March didn't have a good way to refuse. She could only nod and follow Himeko to the side to chat about some trivial matters.
On the other side, with Himeko leading March away, Bai Ming and Welt Yang entered a one-on-one battle state. The atmosphere became somewhat quiet for a moment.
In the end, it was Bai Ming herself who broke the silence. She spoke somewhat awkwardly, "Um, Uncle Yang, what kind of problem did you have in mind?"
"Oh." Welt Yang looked at his phone. "I've already figured it out. No need to trouble you further."
"Uh, I see..." So awkward! Way too awkward! It was even more awkward than going up to a counter and shouting, "A meeting of worlds, enjoy deliciousness!" Bai Ming hugged her face, making a distressed expression. She really wanted to end this conversation quickly but couldn't find a way to wrap it up!
However, this feeling didn't last long. Because Welt Yang soon pocketed his phone and spoke. "How... are you feeling now?"
"Eh?" Bai Ming scratched her cheek. "Feeling now?"
"That's right." Welt Yang nodded. "You took a direct hit from the Doomsday Beast with your body, didn't you? It shouldn't be possible that you feel nothing at all?"
"Well, if you put it that way, Uncle Yang..." Bai Ming thought for a moment. "...there actually is some lingering effect."
"Oh?" Welt Yang's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze directly on Bai Ming. "An effect? You mean..."
"Ah!" Bai Ming raised a finger. "It's like the feeling of suddenly having a very, very bright light shine in your eyes!"
"Is that all?"
"Mhm, mhm!" Bai Ming nodded.
"You..." Welt Yang seemed to want to say more but held back, then spoke again. "That's good then. It seems your body is quite sturdy. Not surprising, I suppose, for a body capable of containing a Stellaron. Its resilience far exceeds imagination."
"Stellaron..." Hearing this "word," Bai Ming also became serious. "Speaking of which, what exactly is it? You mention it, Miss Himeko mentions it... It just seems very dangerous."
"Not 'seems,'" Welt Yang adjusted his glasses. "It is dangerous. It's something created by the Destruction Aeon, Nanook. Each one possesses the power to destroy a planet. So—" Welt Yang looked at Bai Ming before him. "—you, being able to withstand such a thing, are a rather unique existence."
"Wha—?!" Hearing Welt Yang's words, Bai Ming looked at her own hands in disbelief. "So I'm actually that amazing?! I had no idea! Hehe, that means I can be a bit bolder when barging into March's room from now on. After all, she can't possibly be more powerful than a Stellaron, right? Hiss..." Bai Ming pursed her lips in thought. "Well, maybe I shouldn't say that. After all, March's hand chops really hurt!"
"..." Welt Yang wasn't sure how to respond to Bai Ming for a moment. Although Himeko had already warned him that this girl's way of thinking was a bit... unusual, upon actually interacting with her, Welt Yang found her thought process seemed even more exaggerated than Himeko had described. This made him somewhat doubt what he had seen back then. Could she really have wielded [Vermilion Knight: Eclipse]? Had he himself reached the age where his eyesight was failing?
Welt Yang couldn't come to a definite conclusion right away. "Regardless, I still want to sincerely thank you for protecting Little March back then. Otherwise, we might be telling a different story now."
"Hehe~ No need to thank me!" Having broken the ice, Bai Ming wasn't as worried anymore. She laughed brightly and said, "For March, these are things I should do! And besides, didn't you all save me too? Ah! Speaking of which, the person who saved me, I heard from March, was you, Uncle Yang, right? Thank you so much!"
"..." It had to be said. Although her way of thinking was a bit off, Bai Ming was still quite polite. Welt Yang generally had a more favorable attitude towards people who paid attention to courtesy.
However—
He still couldn't forget everything he saw on the platform. After all, that Valkyrie Battlesuit wasn't just a name to Welt Yang. It was his student, Murata Himeko's...
Welt Yang gently adjusted his breathing. "No thanks needed. It was merely a simple act. However... I'd like to ask you a question as well."
"Ask away, Uncle Yang!" Bai Ming, having completely let her guard down, spoke more casually, as if the person before her was just a slightly older senior.
But this state of hers didn't last long. Because Welt Yang's next question soon struck at the heart of Bai Ming's concerns.
"Then, Bai Ming... do you know of... the 'Honkai'?" Welt Yang's tone carried clear hesitation. Obviously, for him, actively asking such a question wasn't a simple matter either. But after some consideration, Welt Yang concluded this was the only way. It was better to face the issue directly rather than observing indirectly. Humanity cannot be defeated by the Honkai. Even in this world, Welt Yang still firmly believed that.
However, Welt Yang's question was a bit sharp for Bai Ming. Judging from their conversation so far, Bai Ming had initially thought Welt Yang might be in a situation similar to Himeko's. But now it seemed... that might not be the case.
"This..." Bai Ming wasn't sure how to answer this question for the moment. Seeing her like this, Welt Yang felt a bit more uneasy certainty about the guess in his heart. He spoke again, "If that question is difficult to answer, then I'll change the approach. Change it to a way you can answer." Welt Yang looked directly at Bai Ming. "[Vermilion Knight: Eclipse]... where did you get it?"
Oh no... This Welt Yang before her really was from that world! Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to name the Valkyrie Battlesuit so precisely! How should she answer him...? A few drops of cold sweat appeared on Bai Ming's forehead, and she looked very nervous.
And just then, the tightly closed carriage door slowly opened. Pom-Pom walked in, carrying juice. Dan Heng followed behind, holding the cut cake (actually the parting gift Bai Ming received from Asta).
"We're back, Pom! That was exhausting, Pom!" Pom-Pom's gaze swept across the Parlor Car and immediately landed on March and Bai Ming, who were separated. Instantly, as the biggest supporter of their pairing, Pom-Pom grew anxious. It hurriedly placed the juice it was carrying on the table, then raised its voice. "Hey, hey, hey! What's going on here?! The moment Pom-Pom is gone, the atmosphere just disappears, is that it?! Everyone, sit back in your original spots, Pom!"
Pom-Pom's shouting immediately drew everyone's attention. Although Pom-Pom was small, its influence on the Astral Express was no small matter. At its command, everyone began moving back to their originally assigned seats.
Everyone except Welt Yang. He still wanted to know the answer to his question.
Seeing Welt Yang like this, Bai Ming hesitated for a moment, then said, "Uncle Yang, that question is a bit complicated to answer. I'd like to prepare a proper explanation for you later. But before that, I promise you, I won't cause you any trouble!"
All eyes shifted once again, landing on Welt Yang and Bai Ming.
"..." Welt Yang remained silent for a good while before speaking in a voice only Bai Ming could hear, "Then I will be watching. Until I deem there is no issue." Having said that, Welt Yang adjusted his glasses, stood up, and returned to his seat.
Seeing this, March 7th sat back down beside Bai Ming with a worried look, then tightly took Bai Ming's hand. March was now truly certain there was some unknown conflict between Bai Ming and Welt Yang.
However, what Pom-Pom said next gave March an even greater shock.
Pom-Pom stood on a small stool, sweeping its gaze over everyone present like a leader. Dan Heng wore a look of resignation—he seemed to know what Pom-Pom was about to say.
Then, Pom-Pom cleared its throat and spoke. "This Conductor has just completed a full inspection of our Passenger Carriage. Bai Ming!"
"Here!" Bai Ming immediately replied.
"It is with great regret that Pom-Pom informs you: there are no suitable individual resting quarters for you in the Passenger Carriage, Pom!"
"Ah—?" Bai Ming hadn't expected this at all, but she quickly accepted it. "So, do I sleep on the floor or the sofa?"
"No, no, no~" Pom-Pom wagged a little finger. "Pom-Pom has already thought of a solution."
"What solution?"
"Simple." Pom-Pom looked towards where March 7th and Bai Ming were sitting. "You two... will just have to make do and share a room."
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
Honkai Impact 3rd, I Can Transform into a Valkyrie!
patreon.com/deadlygoober