After getting Star settled, everyone except Himeko and Tian An went to see Asta. The two conscious individuals remaining sat quietly on chairs. Although they exchanged glances, they didn't speak.
Originally, Dan Heng was supposed to be here keeping Star company. However, due to the increased damage throughout the space station, he chose to go help March 7th and also check on the Express. Otherwise, in the original story, only Dan Heng would be here, boredly reading a book.
The two sat there before Star, silently watching her sleep.
This continued for some time.
It wasn't that neither wanted to talk. Tian An was in a state of deep thought, while Himeko assumed Tian An wasn't feeling well and thus didn't strike up a conversation.
Their assumptions were completely off.
As for what Tian An was thinking about in her deep thought mode...
Her abilities, of course. Whenever she encountered something new and strange, she would ponder it in her mind for ages. Even if it was useless, exercising the brain was always good.
"You've met Herta already, right?" Himeko suddenly asked.
"Ah? How did you know?"
"It's my intuition," Himeko shook her head, speaking mysteriously.
"But speaking of which, since she's back, she didn't even help us," Himeko added with a hint of complaint.
Although she knew Herta's personality, she still wanted to grumble a bit.
"Exactly! Exactly!"
Huh? I don't remember saying anything.
Tian An looked around, only to find Star had opened her eyes and was looking at her.
"She actually didn't help us!" Star shot right up with a duang.
As expected of the Little Stellaron Spirit, recovering so quickly.
"Star, how are you feeling? Any discomfort? The threat from the Legion has been eliminated. This time, it was all thanks to you guys," Himeko asked with concern. After all, Star's pained cries in the air earlier had worried Himeko sick.
"Nope, I feel great right now! I could take on ten Doomsday Beasts!" Star clenched her fists, speaking confidently.
Ten... you should probably just rest.
"This time, you really need to thank Miss Theresia properly. She helped absorb a lot of energy for you, which allowed you to be safe," Himeko said, rubbing her forehead as she looked at Star's unserious demeanor.
"Theresia? I knew you could do it!" Star gave Tian An a thumbs-up in appreciation.
"It was what I should do," Tian An wasn't ready for praise yet; she felt she hadn't done enough.
"Right, that Herta you guys mentioned... who is she?" Star asked after thinking for a moment.
Himeko didn't answer immediately. She tilted her head towards a nearby corridor.
"Why don't you ask her yourself?"
As she finished speaking, a short, purple-haired puppet girl walked over.
"Little kid... who are you?" Star asked, clueless.
"You're the little kid, little grey-hair! This genius has eaten more salt than you've walked roads!" Herta said dismissively.
Your tastes must be quite heavy then, huh.
"Alright, Herta, why don't you two get acquainted? You are both trustworthy people," Himeko interrupted the strange atmosphere with a smile.
"Tsk, I was only gone for a few months, and the space station ends up in this state," Herta remarked.
Seeing Herta had no intention of introducing herself, Himeko did it for her.
"This is the true master of the space station, Member #83 of the Genius Society, Herta."
"If you're going to introduce me, introduce me properly. Why mention the club? I have so many extraordinary achievements, any one of them sounds better than '#83'," Herta stated calmly, looking like an exquisite doll herself.
"Pfft... Genius Society," Star couldn't help but stifle a laugh.
Tian An continued to listen from the side.
For a dunce like her, members of the Genius Society felt too sci-fi.
"Laugh if you want. It's the name that old ghost Zandar came up with. You think I like it?" Herta gestured dismissively.
"So the Stellaron is in this kid now?" Herta looked at Himeko, then glanced towards Tian An.
Himeko didn't speak, just nodded. Tian An, realizing Herta was looking at her, also nodded.
"And you, little pink-hair. I noticed you back when you were messing with that puppet of mine," Herta said with her arms crossed.
"Uh..." Tian An scratched her head with a smile. She really hadn't expected Herta to know about that too.
"Being able to absorb that kind of energy, and possessing that suspicious power within you... you're quite something," Herta's lips curved slightly upwards, like a predator locking onto its prey.
"You two... I'll have to study you carefully."
Herta began circling around the pair.
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Meanwhile, elsewhere, Dan Heng and March 7th were moving debris near the Express.
The recent battle had caused considerable damage around the platform. They were currently helping the station staff clear the fragments and checking the condition of the Express at the same time.
"Dan Heng! Over here, over here! Let's lift this steel plate!" March 7th waved from a distance, signaling Dan Heng to come over quickly.
"What, testing the limits of your strength?" Dan Heng asked as he walked closer.
"No! I saw this steel plate is slightly propped up. Feels like something's crushed underneath. It's pitch black inside, I can't see," March 7th tapped the heavy steel plate. The light taps sent sound waves across the white surface, producing dull thuds.
Fortunately, Dan Heng was strong. The two easily lifted the steel plate and flipped it over.
It looked like building material that had fallen from higher up in the space station.
Dan Heng used his spear to clear the debris and large dust particles from the pit. What came into view was an exquisite little plush doll.
"This doll... why does it look so familiar?" March 7th picked the doll up from the ground and dusted it off.
"Isn't this Theresia?" March 7th looked at the doll's features in surprise. It perfectly matched Theresia's characteristics, looking like a proportionally shrunk version.
Some indistinct particulate matter still floated around the doll.
"Do you think Theresia might have dropped it here?" March 7th asked Dan Heng.
"Unlikely. I watched Miss Theresia's entire battle and didn't see her drop anything," Dan Heng replied, ever observant.
"That's strange then..." March mused.
"Don't dwell on it for now. Let's finish the task first. We can ask her directly later."
"Right, let's continue."
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The only true heroism in the world is to bravely face life.