Quyển 1 · Chương 917: Khởi hành ngày thứ tám (8)

「“Logic: An ordinary Pathstrider leaves no trace in the Garden's Mirror.”」

「Himeko nodded: “Precisely. That is why this matter most likely involves an Emanator, or perhaps even an Aeon. Which is why I wondered if the Genius Society might have any clues.”」

「“Regrettably, members of the Club rarely interact, and most have already perished at the hands of the Lord of Silence. I have never heard the name Amphoreus.”」

「“Lady Herta had not heard of it either. However, her interest was piqued, and she offered to investigate—likely because the Garden of Recollection is involved behind the scenes. She has always been quite fascinated by technologies related to [Remembrance],” Himeko said. “During that time, through her introduction, the Express also became acquainted with Ruan Mei, and retrieved the remains of an ancient beast from the [Ginnungagap Deep] for her. Though…”」

「“No one expected that at Ruan Mei's place, we would run into an old acquaintance.”」

「“The experience of that Foxian girl is indeed quite a miracle. Perhaps this is simply fate for organic life.”」

「Himeko could not help but sigh with emotion: “It truly is an indissoluble bond.”」

「“So the Astral Express voluntarily took on the duty of seeing her home out of moral obligation?”」

「Himeko smiled gently: “For a Nameless, does a clear line truly exist between official business and personal matters? This was her own request—she wished to find a station to dock at temporarily and gather her thoughts before returning to the Xianzhou. After all, to the Alliance… her identity is rather special.”」

「Screwllum: “Since this guest is so special, Miss Himeko, do you not need to accompany them?”」

「“I left it to my companions. After all, they know Miss Tingyun better, and young people are far better at vacations.” Himeko looked out the window at the brightly lit metropolis. “I assume… they must be having a wonderful time?”」

——

One-Punch Man.

The soup in the pot was bubbling away, sending up white clouds of steam that gathered into a blurred haze beneath the ceiling.

“Wrapped in three Paths—one of Erudition, one of Remembrance, and what would the third one be?” Saitama sat cross-legged by the low table, a slice of beef held between his chopsticks, swirling it in the hot pot while asking Genos.

“Mm… Sensei, there are many possible answers to this. If Amphoreus is a mysterious world that is difficult to observe, I am more inclined to believe that this world's third Path belongs to the masterless Paths left behind by Aeons who have vanished from history.”

Genos knelt on Saitama's left, his back straight as a board, hands placed neatly on his knees—whenever answering his master's questions, his posture was exceptionally rigid.

“The Realm of Eternity… does this eternity encompass [Permanence]? Though the Aeon has vanished, the masterless Path left behind should still remain, correct?” Genos speculated.

King picked up a piece of tofu, gently dipping it into the sauce: “Saitama, you seem pretty concerned about that place, Amphoreus?”

“Yeah.” Saitama nodded. “That place gives me a bad feeling. Since ordinary Pathstriders leave no trace in the Garden's Mirror, that means there might be an Emanator-level presence in Amphoreus.”

“An Emanator-level…”

Back in the day, the word “Emanator” would have sent a wave of terror through King. But now, following the Astral Express's perspective through the screen, he had seen plenty of Emanators, covering quite a few factions at that. As long as the aftermath of an Emanator's battle didn't collateral Earth, or present an extreme case like Acheron… the term couldn't scare him anymore.

Compared to an Emanator, he was actually more worried about mad scientists like Rupert II showing up. The kind of top-tier dangerous threat whose influence easily spanned the universe, capable of wiping out a galaxy in a microsecond with a flick of a scepter—wasn't that way more dangerous than an Emanator?

——

「“So, could someone explain this to me?” Welt turned his head. “March?”」

「“Ah, well… that… let Stelle do it! She speaks logically!” March 7 frantically pushed Stelle forward.」

「Stelle looked around, then stared earnestly at March 7: “I want to break your stereotype.”」

「“Don't choose this kind of time!” March sighed. “Sigh, I'll do it then… Earlier after we parted ways, we took Miss Tingyun out to look around, but then we ran into something bizarre.”」

「“Was there an issue with the Dreamscape?”」

「“You could call it man-made trouble… We met a Pepishi who claimed he was recording a Try Not to Laugh challenge—and offered us a candy that makes you burst into laughter.”」

「Vanweek curled his lip: “So it was that kind of Try Not to Laugh challenge.”」

「“I told her not to mess around, but she insisted on trying, and then things went wrong.”」

「“What happened?”」

「Stelle rested her hands on her hips: “Didn't get full.”」

「“Aiya—stop interrupting! Anyway, the two of us ate the candy and couldn't stop laughing. We rolled around on the ground for a good few turns before standing up, only to realize Miss Tingyun… after eating the candy, Miss Tingyun started sneezing nonstop! Achoo! Achoo!—just like that, and then right in front of our eyes, she split into several Tingyuns with a clatter!”」

「Welt looked toward Sunday, who was standing to the side: “…Do you have any idea about this?”」

「Sunday had not removed his disguise, still appearing as an Intellitron in the eyes of others: “The Dreamscape is a world of Memoria. This condition is likely due to her mind being overly sensitive. Upon being stimulated, scattered memory fragments detached and manifested as individuals. No need to worry; such occurrences are not uncommon in the Sweet Dream.”」

「March 7 looked at him curiously: “Mr. Yang, who is this?”」

「“You can drop your disguise now.”」

「“It was merely a precaution, otherwise we would have been stopped by the Hounds several times along the way.” Sunday lowered his head. “Vanweek, unmask me.”」

「As Vanweek activated his ability to tune, Sunday's familiar features finally reappeared before everyone.」

「“Long time no see, everyone.”」

——

Shaolin Wuzang.

“W-What is that? Miss Tingyun! And so many Miss Tingyuns!”

The night was as dark as ink. Inside the Shaolin Temple's meditation room, Tang Xiaolong, who had just woken up, rubbed his eyes. For a moment, he thought his vision was playing tricks on him, and quickly reached out for his glasses near his pillow.

However, instead of feeling his glasses, his finger poked right into Chen Xiaohu's nostril. Xiaohu instinctively swatted his hand away, mumbling groggily: “Xiaolong, don't make a racket… Tomorrow… tomorrow we still have to wake up early to practice martial arts…”

“Xiaohu! Hua! Get up, quick! Look! Miss Tingyun is alive!”

“Alive? What's alive?” Hua pulled off her blanket, eyes bleary with sleep. “The Black Fox King is alive?”

“Bah! Not the Black Fox King! Though it does have something to do with a fox… Anyway, it's that Miss Tingyun! The one you sobbed so hard for, praying with all your might that she wouldn't die, and even cried while wishing the Abbot would chant scriptures to transcend her soul after releasing the starskiff!”