Chapter 15: Taking Photos

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Hearing Bochang's response, Stelle softly sighed and said, "Alright then."

They fell back into silence once more.

The black-haired youth pondered for a moment.

"Um... how about we take a stroll around here?"

"You sure you're up to it?" Stelle questioned in return.

Bochang pushed himself off the floor, sitting upright. "Of course, I feel almost fully recovered now."

With the Dragon Talisman's magic power enhancing his physique by fifty percent and restoring thirty percent of his physical condition, followed by doubling his strength momentarily earlier, these successive boosts allowed Bochang to recover rapidly.

"That makes sense... Your injuries weren't severe; they were nearly healed on their own without even needing medication..." A smile appeared on Stelle's face. "Good thing I ended up treating you... If it had been a doctor, they would have surely commented on your quick recovery."

"I did feel some pain though..." Bochang gently touched his cheek.

Stelle reached out, steadying Bochang by the shoulder and helping him stand. "Alright, let's not dwell on that now. Since you want to walk around nearby, I'll assist you."

"Mm-hmm..." Bochang didn't refuse.

It might have been his imagination, but the black-haired youth felt that Stelle's attitude towards him had significantly improved after the recent events.

"Am I mistaken? After all, before this, we were either fleeing or on our way to escape... Stelle and I hardly had a chance to properly talk."

With Stelle supporting his arm, they moved forward together. Standing at 177 centimeters tall, Bochang wasn't much taller than Stelle, who seemed around 170 centimeters herself. As they walked side by side, they resembled a sweet young couple.

Neither of them spoke during their stroll, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

However, just as a few minutes passed, March 7th approached again.

"Bochang, you're already able to walk? Your recovery is impressive... Considering how exhausted you were earlier, I expected it would take at least a day or two for you to wake up..."

"Have you completed your tasks?"

Bochang's gaze shifted past March 7th, directly toward Dan Heng behind her. He responded, "Almost done. Just now, March and I took a quick tour, calmed down some researchers, and helped them with a few tasks..."

The black-haired youth nodded thoughtfully. He wasn't sure when the Doomsday Beast would strike, but since Dan Heng and March 7th's tasks were nearly completed, it was likely that the Doomsday Beast would arrive soon.

Bochang muttered to himself internally:

"But I've only rested for about ten minutes... Surely the Doomsday Beast won't come this early."

"Just now, we also went to see Arlan. He kept blaming himself for not detecting the Antimatter Legion earlier. It took quite some effort from Dan Heng and me to help him understand..." March 7th said, then glanced at the man beside him. "Right, Dan Heng?"

With arms crossed, Dan Heng replied, "I believe it should be credited mostly to my efforts."

Stelle remained silent, taken aback.

Bochang, equally speechless.

"Hey, Dan Heng, why can't you give me a bit of respect...?"

March 7th, feeling indignant, turned her head away.

"It's not about giving or withholding respect; I'm just stating the facts." Dan Heng shook his head. "Why don't you accompany Stelle and Bochang around instead? You could serve as their guide."

"What about you?" March 7th looked back at Dan Heng.

The black-haired man with azure eyes appeared ready to depart.

"I'll go explore other areas."

"Sure, go ahead then. Later, when it's almost time to wrap up, send me a message. I'll bring Stelle and Bochang over too."

March 7th waved goodbye.

Without responding, Dan Heng turned and left.

"Stelle, Bochang, where would you like to go? I know of a spot nearby that offers great views... Let's take some photos there for memories," suggested March 7th, gently taking Stelle's hand on the other side.

The gray-haired girl followed along, leaving Bochang no choice but to accompany them as well.

As they walked, Stelle remarked, "It seems like you really enjoy taking photographs."

"Absolutely! When you capture moments with photos, they can never be forgotten. So every day, I take lots of pictures! And... isn't it quite normal for girls like me to enjoy photography?" March 7th chattered enthusiastically.

Bochang couldn't help but feel that Dan Heng might have sent March 7th away precisely because she talked too much.

After all...

Dan Heng did not particularly enjoy small talk.

Having March 7th constantly chatting nearby could potentially bother him.

"Hmm... that makes sense," Stelle nodded. Having lost her own memories due to Removal, the concept of "never forgetting" resonated deeply with her.

Bochang quietly listened as the two girls conversed, following them without saying a word. He had no intention of interrupting their chat.

The trio walked side by side, displaying no signs of pessimism, starkly contrasting with the people in the Master Control Zone.

Soon, they arrived at the scenic spot that March 7th had mentioned.

Located near the edge of the space station, it featured thick glass walls offering unobstructed views of the boundless starry sky outside.

The shimmering stars formed a dazzling panorama across space.

Most prominent was the nearby Blue Planet, its vast blue sphere dominating the view and evoking a sense of one's own insignificance, along with a faint fear of such immense cosmic bodies.

Against this backdrop,

Stelle was pulled by the pink-haired girl to take numerous photos, with Bochang not escaping the photo session either.

Just accompanying March 7th for these pictures took over ten minutes; she truly loved taking photos.

Stelle's face began to ache from smiling continuously, while March 7th's grin remained as natural as ever.

Due to Bochang's reluctance and his status as an injured individual, he was somewhat spared from excessive posing. Otherwise...he would have ended up like Stelle, struggling to maintain a smile.

Most of the time, Bochang observed as the two girls took photos together.

Occasionally, he even helped them capture some shots.

However...

Due to his lackluster photography skills, March 7th rarely let him assist, preferring to handle it herself whenever possible.

Of course... Bochang was more than content with taking it easy.

The black-haired youth also seized an opportunity to secretly perform the blood bonding ritual for the "Teleportation Ring," using residual blood on his white T-shirt. Initially, he just tried dabbing it lightly, not expecting it to actually work.

This saved him from having to self-inflict a wound.

With that, Bochang slipped the white teleportation ring onto his left index finger.

"I can't do this anymore, really, I'm done taking photos..."

Feeling exhausted, Stelle signaled her unwillingness to continue further, and Bochang understood she had reached her limit.

The gray-haired girl naturally wore a somewhat indifferent expression.

To be precise, her face often appeared almost devoid of emotion.

Just moments ago, Stelle had tirelessly posed expressions for March 7th's photoshoot, leaving her feeling drained.

"Alright, let's call it a day for now." The pink-haired girl began flipping through the photographs. "Oh wow... we captured so many interesting shots today..."

Stelle walked over and sat next to Bochang, exhaling softly with a fragrant breath.

The black-haired youth said, "Thank you for all your hard work."

"Hmm... well, it wasn't really that much effort, just taking a few pictures..."

Stelle shook her head gently.

Bochang clarified, "What I meant is... earlier, when you carried me such a long distance and even helped apply medication, among other things. Thinking about it, I truly believe I should express my gratitude properly."

"That was simply what anyone would do; you don't need to worry about it." A natural smile spread across Stelle's face.

Seizing the moment, March 7th quickly snapped another photo.

"Yes, that expression!"