Jarilo-VI, Rivet Town
This was a small town in the Underworld, responsible for the trade and production of mining machinery. More or less, it used to be the economic hub of the lower districts.
A few years ago, it was consumed by the Fragmentum.
The locals were forced to evacuate. Over time, the place became a dead town inhabited only by Fragmentum creatures.
Drinking water, food, medicine. When the townspeople fled, they left behind plenty of daily necessities.
Even now.
Members of Wildfire still had to risk their lives to sneak inside and scavenge supplies.
But after the arrival of the Astral Express crew, things changed a little.
Because while March 7th was resting, Stelle went around rummaging through trash cans, nearly looting every single one in the Underworld.
Stelle ended up summoning things like the Pope's Can, the Temple's Can, the Priest's Can, all sorts of trash cans belonging to the Path of Order.
And Order had a subtle suppressive effect on disasters across the universe. With the trash cans' help, the Express crew and Wildfire reclaimed Rivet Town from the Fragmentum.
Of course.
Rivet Town was now a name of the past. The area had become a gathering ground for trash cans, and all the resources inside were handed over to Wildfire, greatly improving life in the Underworld.
This place was now called the Settlement of Cans.
Settlement of Cans, Stelle Plaza
At the center of the town, a colorful trash can forged from various rare ores was slowly taking shape under the hammering of several particularly burly trash can craftsmen.
Misshapen cans stood in a wide circle around them.
They looked strange because they were not naturally born trash cans, but ones crafted by trash can artisans.
The Trash Can Artisans were actually former Nameless who had switched careers. Their early skills were limited, so every creation was oddly shaped, not a single one meeting the standard of a perfectly round, chubby trash can.
The Pointy-Headed Can
Where the lid should have been was hammered into a sharp spike. It looked abstract, but the spike was made of extremely hard rare metal. The people of the Underworld respectfully called it the Grand Mining Can.
The Brown Battle Wagon
The bottom of this can had been modified into tank-like treads. The body mounted discarded twin-barrel heavy cannons. As long as it sneezed hard enough, it could fire trash straight out of itself. It made outstanding contributions when fighting Fragmentum monsters and earned the title Brown Battle Wagon.
And so on.
At this moment, the heroes of the trash cans had gathered together to witness the birth of the ultimate trash can of the Settlement of Cans.
"Uh… Dan Heng and the others already went to the Machine Settlement to look for Svarog. Shouldn't we hurry up and leave too?"
March 7th said stiffly.
This delicate tone was something she had only recently learned. In the past, people often used it on her when she acted silly. Now she finally understood how the senior members of the Express crew felt.
Right, right…
Having a clueless junior really did make you feel like this. You did not even know where to start complaining. Your throat just dried up on its own. Taking care of a troublemaking kid was exhausting.
Especially when that kid had hidden power.
"I have a feeling this time I am definitely pulling something good!"
The gray-haired girl wore an expression of unwavering determination.
"So far I have rummaged through eighty-three trash cans. Statistically speaking, even with terrible luck I should have pulled a legendary SSR by now. That's right, the legendary King of Trash, Tatalov, and the Sage of Cans, Jin Lajitzde. This time, I am pulling the strongest card!"
March 7th: Huh? What even is that? Are you playing some kind of gacha game? Your trash can lore is way too weird!
"The problem is," March emphasized, "we do not have much time. Dan Heng said the surface tremors might be related to the Stellaron. That bad Great Guardian might have done something. We have to stop her as soon as possible!"
"Hmph. That is exactly why we need the strongest card."
Stelle explained calmly.
"King of Trash Tatalov and the Sage of Cans Jin Lajitzde are the two strongest cans in the History of Trash Can Heroes. As long as we get their help, a Stellaron is nothing to worry about!"
March 7th: History of Trash Can Heroes? What even is that? Stop saying bizarre things so seriously. There is no way something like that really exists, right? What is going on with this chaotic world?
March 7th was starting to feel dizzy.
"It's finished!" said the trash can craftsman.
As Stelle approached the trash can, a faint scorched smell drifted into her nose. This was the unique scent of a freshly forged trash can. A truly good can, tempered by fire.
Ash-like material seemed to dust the area around it. Under the orange lights, the floating particles looked like they were dancing.
"I proclaim! Your body shall serve under my banner, and my fate shall rest upon your blade. If you follow the destiny of a trash can hero, if you heed this will and this truth, then answer me!"
Silence.
Stelle recited lines from the Memoirs of Jin Lajitzde. In short, this was the method that allowed trash can heroes to appear directly, no waiting required.
As the chanting continued, imaginary energy surged violently. Fierce winds and lightning erupted. Even March 7th, who had a blessing of Trailblaze resistance to hostile environments, was forced to squint against the gale.
Within the pressure of the storm, the can's body gleamed brilliantly.
"Hahaha!"
After the strange laughter, an odd die fell to the ground. Every trash can present suddenly displayed a question mark pattern on its body. March 7th could not help but grin.
"Hello, my dear little friend."
The radiant trash can spoke. "I have been watching you. You are quite the trash can expert. Can you tell me who gave you that book? Oh my goodness, they are a genius!"
Stelle stared blankly.
"Hey now, do not make that face," the trash can laughed, clapping its hands as juggling balls and playing cards floated around it. "You know, the Sage of Cans Jin Lajitzde has always loved helping others. Helping people is my joy. Since you are in trouble, I have to step in. Let's go!"
"You really are the Sage of Cans Jin Lajitzde?" Stelle asked, confused. This was not how he was described in the book. The Jin Lajitzde in the text was a highly intelligent, scheming can.
"Then answer me this," Stelle said. "When Jin Lajitzde and Tatalov went on adventures together, what was the line they said most often?"
"Oh, my dear little friend, what a clever question. That makes me very happy," the trash can replied wistfully. "The answer is simple. Jin Lajitzde claps his hands and asks, 'Ready to start a new adventure?' Tatalov jumps high and shouts, 'I'm ready!' 'Who's ready?' 'I'm ready!'"
Stelle: Whoa, it really is you!
Jin Lajitzde: Whoa, it really is me!
March 7th wore an expression of utter disbelief. How should she put it? It was her favorite kind of lively atmosphere, but the liveliness was between Stelle and the trash cans. She could not join in at all.
Then again, not being able to join was normal.
Why on earth would you get excited with a trash can?
…
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Let me know if I got a name wrong. I know basically nothing about MyGO.