Chapter 72 Set off again

At noon, on the streets of Belobog.

"Lord Orion, you're welcome to visit us anytime!"

"Come back often!"

"The front row has autographed photos of Master Orion. If you want one, come quickly!"

"Don't push! I can't see the front."

The usually lively streets were even more crowded today. It was the day the Astral Express was leaving, and the entrance to the Goethe Hotel and the city's exit were packed with people.

"Orion is really popular. I bet we can eat, drink, and have fun for free whenever we come to this planet in the future," March 7th said as she stretched, trying to relax after yesterday's battle.

Even though they only stayed for two days, the experience left March 7th feeling more tired than usual.

They should have stayed longer, but everywhere they went, people recognized them. Soon, crowds formed, and their interest in exploring dropped.

"If you want to come back, you can do it later." Dan Heng put on his headphones and went into "do not disturb" mode.

The Astral Express leaves a space beacon on every planet it visits, known as a "Space anchor." Using their powers, the crew can travel between these beacons.

While they can't teleport instantly like in the game, they can still travel to places quickly.

The Express's route isn't fixed. Sometimes it revisits places like Herta's space station to resupply or complete missions.

So, it's common for the crew to get involved in adventures suddenly. Most of these incidents get resolved quickly, but cases like Orion Astra's are rare.

Stelle seemed to be in good spirits. It was unclear if she slept well or if it was because she got a new, cool weapon.

While wandering that morning, she would wave her hands in the air, startling passersby who thought she might be a "punk psycho" and considered reporting her to the Silvermane Guard.

While playing around, something ordinary caught her eye.

A metal trash can stood on an ordinary street. Whether it was the dark, mysterious vibe or Stelle's natural curiosity, she couldn't resist its pull.

"You're not going to dig through that, are you?" March 7th asked, giving Stelle a strange look.

"Once you start, you can't stop," Dan Heng commented, staying true to his usual role.

But to Stelle, this trash can was anything but ordinary. It transformed in her eyes, morphing into a treasure chest brimming with possibility. The rust that marred its surface seemed to vanish, replaced by a gleam that hinted at hidden wonders. Underneath the lid, she imagined secrets waiting to be uncovered, treasures long forgotten that whispered tales of adventure and mystery.

The mundane, gray metal took on a golden hue in her mind, glistening under the soft light as if it were adorned with intricate carvings of swirling designs that told stories of lost kingdoms. Stelle could almost hear the echoes of laughter and the rustle of treasures shifting within. Each dent and scratch on the surface spoke of the can's journey, hinting at a rich history that belied its current state.

To her, it was more than just a receptacle for refuse; it was a portal to a world of imagination, a relic of hidden pasts and undiscovered fortunes. 

Ignoring the odd looks from March 7th and Dan Heng, Stelle reached into the trash can and found something surprising. Maybe it was her knack for finding treasures, but she pulled out two strange items.

One was a slightly damaged but still functional medical device. The other was a sealed wheat soda drink with unknown writing on it. It didn't look like something most people would want to drink.

Stelle looked thrilled with her finds. Though she had a habit of picking up random things from the space station, she never expected to find something valuable in a trash can.

In the short time they had, Stelle rummaged through every fixed trash can in the upper area. If she had more time, she probably would have searched the lower area too.

Orion walked ahead, occasionally shaking hands and saying goodbye to people. The farewell line was long, but no matter how long, it had to end eventually.

They arrived at another city gate in Belobog, not the one closer to Everwinter Ridge. Though the city wall here was slightly damaged, it was in better shape than the almost-broken ice front.

At the end of the farewell procession, Cocolia, Serval, Geppard, Bronya, Natasha, Seele, Pela, and many others, whether Orion knew them or not, came to say goodbye.

"Remember to come back," Cocolia said softly, her fingers delicately fixing Orion's collar. The gesture was more than just a simple adjustment; it held a deeper meaning, a silent promise that lingered in the air between them.

"I will." Orion met her gaze, his voice steady yet warm. With everyone watching, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug.

This made the friends and family smile warmly. Seele even nudged Bronya with her elbow, whispering something that made Bronya's face turn red.

As they pulled away, March 7th's teasing voice came from behind.

"Himeko did say you could bring family on the Express~"

"Cut it out." Orion playfully swatted March 7th's back. March 7th pretended to be in extreme pain, bending over and acting as if it was serious.

Of course, this was just a joke among friends. Dan Heng stayed silent as usual, while Stelle walked past them with a smile, thinking, "The good friends I know have finally grown up."

"Okay, let's go when you're ready." Welt Yang stood in front of everyone, smiling.

Orion joined the crew, and they left the planet to the enthusiastic waves of the citizens of Belobog and their friends.

After Orion and the others had been gone for a while, the people still watched the sky where they had disappeared.

The familiar feeling of space teleportation came over them again. This time, Orion wrapped himself in power, ready to activate it at any moment. He was fully prepared for any strange situation during the teleportation.

But nothing went wrong. After stepping onto the familiar gray carpet, Orion was back on the Astral Express.

"Orion, welcome back."

Himeko sat quietly by the window, her eyes full of relief.

A small figure suddenly jumped into Orion's arms, surprising him.

"Orion ~ Astra ~ I thought you'd never come back!" The owner of the voice had soft fur that was impossible to resist, and the fluff on their ears made you want to pet them.

"Pom Pom?"

Orion was surprised; he hadn't expected it to be this little guy.

Himeko smiled and explained, "Orion, you didn't know, but during your absence, Pom Pom cared deeply about every crew member. Even though you two didn't spend much time together, when you left, everyone on the Express, including Pom Pom, missed you."

"Himeko, everyone." Orion hugged Pom Pom, spinning him around. His eyes showed how touched he was, and the other crew members also looked at him with concern.

For a "passenger" he hadn't known long, he had risked his life to help. Such simple values and humanitarian spirit made Orion confident in his decision.

Though Orion spent more time in Belobog than on the Astral Express, he was still a traveler. To see more of the universe and find his way home, he had to visit many places and find his purpose in the journey.

On Belobog, Orion had done everything right. The gap between the upper and lower classes had been addressed, the people learned the lesson that "they need to help themselves," and they started to move away from old myths.

With the crisis caused by the stellaron gone, the whole planet was in a tough spot, waiting for the people of Belobog to rebuild. Orion Astra believed that in the near future, Jarilo-VI would return to a lush green land with blue skies.

Standing in front of the observation car window on the Astral Express, Orion quietly looked at Jarilo-VI from space, and all his thoughts merged into one sentence.

"It's great to be back."