After Kallen said that Bianka was dead, the entire room fell into silence.
Whether it was Pom-Pom, who had been looking forward to this the most, or the other Nameless, every one of them froze.
Because this was an answer none of them had expected.
Back on Penacony, things had clearly not been like this. Back then, Kallen had even shown a clear yearning for the Astral Express.
Yet now, when the conductor wanted to ask further about Bianka—
She told them that Bianka was already dead?
Moreover, as an old veteran of the Astral Express, Welt had seen at a glance that the relationship between Kallen and Bianka was not ordinary.
He even suspected that Kallen's goodwill toward the Astral Express, as well as her yearning for it, had very likely come from Bianka.
And now, after all this time, they had met again.
Not only that, they had met aboard the Astral Express.
Although certain unexpected circumstances had occurred, this could still count as a somewhat romantic reunion.
Yet now, Kallen was saying that Bianka had already died.
"Miss Kallen, you… you must be joking, right?"
March 7th's voice rang through the quiet room, carrying a cautious, probing quality.
She gave two dry laughs, trying to break the sudden heaviness in the air.
"Haha, that joke isn't funny at all… Look, even Pom-Pom got scared by you…"
As she spoke, she could not help sneaking a glance at Pom-Pom.
The tiny rabbit stood beside the bed, one small paw still held out in the handshake posture, the whole creature frozen in place.
March 7th's heart clenched violently.
She understood far too well how much Pom-Pom cared about this matter.
Ever since they had learned about Akivili's orphaned daughter on Penacony, Pom-Pom had begun collecting every piece of information it could find.
It had gone through every navigation log from the Akivili era stored aboard the Express, flipping through each page until the edges had become frayed.
March 7th looked at Pom-Pom again.
Pom-Pom's current state was truly worrying.
Then Kallen continued,
"Bianka Kaslana. That was her full name."
"All of you Nameless are the orthodox successors of Trailblaze. I know you wanted very much to meet her."
"But I am sorry. As of today, Bianka has long since left this world."
After she finished saying those words, it was as if all the air had been drained out of the room.
Kallen leaned against the pillow, her gaze falling upon the gray-black chaos outside the window, her eyes looking especially melancholy.
But naturally, the Nameless could not possibly remain as calm as she was.
Especially Pom-Pom, the conductor.
For some reason, when Pom-Pom learned from Kallen that Bianka was dead, its heart inexplicably clenched as well.
Although Pom-Pom had never met this Bianka that Kallen spoke of.
As the conductor of the Astral Express, Pom-Pom held the sincerest feelings toward everything related to Trailblaze.
Moreover, this was Akivili's daughter.
If that child truly existed, then as Akivili's old friend, Pom-Pom even felt that it could be considered her uncle.
Yet now, before it could even confirm whether this information was true or false, it had already received news of her death.
In fact, before Kallen had awakened, Pom-Pom had already built an image of her in its mind.
That image was very vague, like looking through glass blurred by mist.
But Pom-Pom could feel that she was a blond girl.
Her hair was probably very long, falling over her shoulders, glinting gold beneath the sunlight.
She was probably quite tall, not much shorter than Akivili.
She was probably very stubborn, just like Akivili. Once she decided on something, she would never turn back.
She was probably…
Just like Akivili, someone who could never sit still. Someone who liked running everywhere, liked adventure, liked leaving her footprints in every corner of the galaxy.
Pom-Pom had even imagined what it would do if that child one day came aboard the Astral Express.
It thought it would brew a pot of black tea.
And not with ordinary tea leaves, but with Akivili's favorite tea bag.
The tea bag it had never been willing to use, the one it had hidden away for thousands of years.
It would take her to Akivili's favorite seat, beside the window in the observation car, where one could see the most beautiful view of the galaxy.
It would tell that child how many stupid things her father had done back then.
But now, all those imaginings, all those expectations, all those emotions that had been brewing in its heart for so long—
All of them shattered across the floor the instant Kallen said the word "dead."
But…
There was nothing that could be done about it, right?
After all, whether people or Aeons, their lives were finite.
During its time as conductor, Pom-Pom had already said goodbye to who knew how many old friends.
And if Akivili truly had once had a daughter, then if she had lived until now, she would probably be very old too.
Pom-Pom just felt a little regretful that it had never been able to meet her even once.
Pom-Pom's ears trembled. It took a deep breath, raised its head, and looked at Kallen again.
"Passenger Kallen, that child… when did she leave this world?"
"Two thousand years ago," Kallen answered.
Two thousand years…
After receiving that answer, Pom-Pom's mood sank once more.
Two thousand years ago, the Astral Express had not yet stopped traveling.
Although, because of Akivili's fall, the Path of Trailblaze was destined to decline.
At that time, there had still been a group of Nameless aboard the Astral Express, spreading the flame of Trailblaze to every corner of the galaxy.
Then why had that child not come to the Astral Express?
The Express's routes spanned the galaxy. As long as she wished, she could have boarded the train at any time.
As long as she had said one sentence, said that she was Akivili's daughter, Pom-Pom would have personally gone to pick her up. It would have reached her side at the fastest speed and treated her as the closest family member aboard this train.
But she had not come.
Not only that, Pom-Pom had only learned of her existence recently, and could not even confirm whether this information was true.
Why?
Pom-Pom could not understand.
Did she not know of the Astral Express's existence?
Impossible. How could Akivili not tell His own daughter about the Astral Express?
Did she not like the Astral Express?
That was impossible too. Pom-Pom did not believe a child of Trailblaze would dislike the Astral Express.
Pom-Pom's ears suddenly stood upright.
A thought flashed through its mind, causing its heart to tighten sharply.
Could that child have been on bad terms with Akivili?
The moment this thought appeared, it grew wildly through Pom-Pom's mind like weeds.
The more Pom-Pom thought about it, the more possible it seemed.
After all, Akivili…
Although Pom-Pom did not want to speak ill of an old friend behind His back, Akivili truly had not been the type who knew how to take care of other people's feelings.
He was always in a rush, always doing whatever came to mind, never considering how others felt.
Someone like that, as a father…
Pom-Pom's ears drooped again.
Actually, it still wanted to ask much more about that child.
It even wanted to ask how that child had died.
But looking at Kallen's melancholy expression, all the words Pom-Pom wanted to say became stuck in its mouth.
In the end, it said,
"I see… That really is a pity."
"But it is all right. Passenger Kallen being able to come aboard the Express already makes Pom-Pom very happy."
Its tone was deliberately light, as though it were trying hard to drive the heavy atmosphere from the room.
"Let the past remain in the past. People must always look forward, after all."
Three days had passed since Kallen came aboard the Astral Express.
Although, with Kallen's control over the Path of Nihility, if she wanted, the Astral Express should already have been able to leave this stretch of Nihility.
However, in the Express crew's current impression, Kallen had absolutely nothing to do with Nihility.
So, for the time being, Kallen did not intend to use that power.
Therefore, during this dull period, it seemed Kallen could only wait aboard the Astral Express together with the crew.
However, Kallen's recent behavior had given the Express crew a somewhat different impression of her.
"Stelle, do you think… Miss Kallen has changed a lot?"
At this moment, on a sofa in a corner of the observation car, March 7th was secretly watching Kallen while whispering to Stelle.
Hearing this, Stelle was also drawn in by the topic.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean… her personality!"
March 7th kept her voice very low, but the confusion in her tone was practically overflowing.
"Do you still remember when we were on Penacony? Back then, my first impression of Miss Kallen was that she was a really warm, really kind big sister. You know, the kind of…"
March 7th thought for a long while before finally finding a description she felt was relatively fitting.
"The big sister next door!"
"Yes! That's it! The big sister next door!"
As if convincing herself, she nodded forcefully.
"The kind where you move to a new place, and there's this super amazing person living next door."
"At first, you think someone that important must be cold and hard to approach. But then she takes the initiative to help you move your luggage, treats you to snacks, and tells you to come find her anytime you have trouble."
"Exactly. That's the feeling!"
Stelle listened expressionlessly as March 7th enthusiastically described the impression of Kallen she had in her mind.
"And she's so strong!"
March 7th's eyes lit up for an instant.
"Although we didn't see it ourselves, I heard Miss Kallen solo-killed a demigod!"
When March 7th got to this point, her voice suddenly lowered.
"But now…"
She secretly glanced toward the window, then quickly withdrew her gaze, shrinking back into the sofa.
"Miss Kallen now is practically like a different person."
"Melancholy. Super melancholy. The kind where… just looking at her makes you feel like she might shatter at any moment."
March 7th lowered her voice even further, as though sharing some incredible secret.
"Ahem. Anyway, it's just really strange. Back on Penacony, Miss Kallen was so sunny, so cheerful. She spoke and acted with so much energy."
"But Miss Kallen now… You know, she feels like…"
March 7th got stuck.
She opened her mouth. The word was right there at her throat, but she felt it might be somewhat inappropriate to say.
She held back for a long time.
In the end, she still could not help herself.
"Like a wife who lost her husband."
Stelle froze as well. She turned her head and looked expressionlessly at March 7th.
Hey, was that something she was allowed to say?
"If Miss Kallen hears that…"
"That's why I said it quietly!"
March 7th panicked. She pounced forward and reached out to cover Stelle's mouth.
"And I'm not wrong! Look at her yourself! Look at that expression! That melancholy, that silence, that feeling of sitting beside the window for an entire day like she's about to pull herself out of the world…"
"Isn't that the standard symptom of losing a spouse?"
The more March 7th spoke, the more she felt she was right. Her voice unconsciously grew a little louder, then she hurriedly lowered it again.
"I'm not saying Miss Kallen really lost a spouse. I'm talking about the feeling, the aura. You get it, right?"
In response, Stelle was silent for a moment.
Then she slowly said,
"I think… it might be because of the IPC."
"The IPC?"
"Yeah."
Stelle nodded again.
"Think about it. Miss Kallen is an Emanator of Preservation, and the IPC is the largest practitioner of Preservation. In a sense, the IPC is her own kind."
"She was willing to accept the IPC's livestream invitation and willing to show the whole galaxy the process of her returning to Preservation. That alone proves she trusted the IPC enough."
"Otherwise, who would agree to something like that? Exposing all your secrets in front of the whole galaxy?"
March 7th thought about it and felt Stelle's words seemed to make sense.
Stelle continued,
"But what happened now? The IPC ambushed her and wounded her severely."
"Think about it. If you were betrayed by the person you trusted most, wouldn't you be sad? Wouldn't you be melancholy? Could you still laugh and joke around with others?"
March 7th opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but felt that Stelle did indeed have a point.
Yet she still felt something was off.
"But… if it were because of the IPC, Miss Kallen should have already been depressed when she first woke up. But do you remember? On the day she first woke up, she could still joke around with us."
March 7th felt she had caught the key point.
"So it definitely isn't the IPC. If it were the IPC, that emotion should have erupted the moment she woke up, instead of waiting until later."
"And think about it. When exactly did she start becoming like this?"
Stelle thought for a moment, then her brow moved slightly.
March 7th saw her reaction and knew she was right.
"So it's because of Miss Bianka!"
The car fell quiet for a moment.
Both of them turned toward the window at the same time.
Kallen still sat there in the same posture.
But no matter how one looked at it, there was an indescribable sadness in that scene.
March 7th watched for a few seconds, then quickly withdrew her gaze.
"Stelle, do you think… Miss Kallen and Miss Bianka were really, really close?"
Although it was a question, after already becoming convinced of her own theory, March 7th had essentially affirmed the answer in her heart.
"If that's the case…"
"Then Miss Bianka's death must have been an especially, especially heavy blow to Miss Kallen."
After saying that, Stelle looked at March 7th, while March 7th looked toward the window.
Then both of them fell silent at the same time.
Because they both remembered something.
Over these three days, it was not only Kallen's state that had been strange. Pom-Pom's state had also been poor.
The conductor, who was always energetic and loud-voiced, had clearly become much quieter these past few days.
It still appeared in the observation car on time. It still brewed black tea for everyone. It still announced the Express's latest status in that formal tone.
But everyone could feel that Pom-Pom smiled much less now.
Moreover, Pom-Pom no longer mentioned the name Bianka.
After that day, everyone in the Express crew tacitly avoided the topic.
No one asked Kallen about Bianka again. No one mentioned Akivili's daughter again. No one even dared to say the word "daughter" in front of Pom-Pom.
They were afraid Pom-Pom would be sad.
March 7th and Stelle exchanged a glance, then stood up with simultaneous tacit understanding.
"Um… Miss Kallen looks like she needs some quiet."
March 7th lowered her voice and gave Stelle a look.
"Why don't we withdraw first?"
Stelle nodded. Clearly, she thought the same thing.
Only then did the two of them crawl out from behind the sofa.
However, just as they were planning to sneak away quietly, two hands separately grabbed them by the backs of their shoulders.
"What are you two doing?"
Kallen's voice came from behind them.
The two of them were lifted up at the same time, their feet leaving the ground.
"Mi-Miss Kallen!"
March 7th's voice changed pitch.
"When did you—"
"You two were muttering behind me for ten minutes. I've been listening since ten minutes ago."
Kallen's voice revealed no emotion.
"Your voices were loud enough for the whole car to hear. Did you really not notice?"
March 7th's face turned red at once.
Because she genuinely had not noticed!
Stelle, on the other hand, was very calm. Even while being held by the back of her collar, she maintained an expressionless face.
"Miss Kallen, are your injuries all right? Won't lifting two people like this pull your wounds?"
"Stop changing the subject."
Kallen carried the two of them over to the sofa and let go.
March 7th and Stelle fell into the sofa one after the other. One clutched the back of her neck, while the other rubbed her waist. Neither dared to raise their head.
"Speak. What were you two sneaking around for?"
Kallen walked around to the opposite side of the sofa, sat down on a chair, and swept her gaze over them.
March 7th's lips moved. Her eyes drifted everywhere—toward the ceiling, toward the floor, toward the sesame paste outside the window—anywhere but at Kallen.
"Miss March, pretending to be stupid won't work."
Kallen directly called her out, then leaned a little closer to March 7th.
With no other choice, March 7th braced herself and said,
"We… we were just taking a casual stroll!"
Her voice was hurried and guilty, like someone whose tail had been stepped on.
"Yes, just taking a stroll! Now we're done strolling, so we're going back to our rooms to rest!"
"Miss Kallen, you should rest early too. Stelle and I won't disturb you anymore!"
As she spoke, March 7th grabbed Stelle and tried to stand.
"Sit down."
March 7th sat back down.
Kallen leaned against the chair and watched the two of them squirm in embarrassment. After a moment of silence, she said,
"Actually, I heard everything."
March 7th's body visibly stiffened.
"From 'Has Miss Kallen changed a lot?' all the way to 'like a wife who lost her husband.'"
"I didn't miss a single word."
March 7th's face was already completely red. She wanted nothing more than to find a crack in the floor and crawl into it.
Stelle remained calm, but she silently sank deeper into the sofa, trying to lower her presence.
"However, you did guess some things correctly."
"I indeed became like this… because of Bianka."
The car fell silent for a moment.
March 7th cautiously raised her head and stole a glance at Kallen.
That figure leaned against the chair, her side profile outlined softly by the faint light outside the window.
There was no sorrow on that long, pale face now, only a calmness like fatigue that had been washed over by time countless times.
"Miss Kallen…"
March 7th's lips moved. She wanted to say something, but did not know what she should say.
Then she realized her eyes were beginning to sting.
Kallen continued,
"So you don't need to act like this. You don't need to be so cautious around me, hiding from me like children who did something wrong."
She turned her head, her gaze landing on March 7th's face.
"I may be sad, but I'm not so fragile."
Now March 7th was the one who felt embarrassed.
"Then… Miss Kallen. So what I guessed just now… was all correct?"
The car was quiet for a moment.
Then Kallen merely gave a soft sound of acknowledgment and did not say anything more.
But that one sound was enough.
March 7th's eyes instantly lit up, and her whole body seemed to ignite.
Although she knew that in this situation, in this atmosphere, she really should not be happy—
She truly could not help herself!
She guessed right!
She had actually guessed everything right!
Things like "melancholy like a wife who lost her husband" and "Miss Bianka's death must have been a huge blow to Miss Kallen"…
All correct!
The corners of March 7th's mouth began to rise uncontrollably. She desperately tried to press them down, but could not.
So she could only lower her head, pretending to tidy her clothes while hiding the face that was almost grinning to her ears.
Hmph. Let's see who dares call her stupid in the future!
She was a woman who could even guess Miss Kallen's thoughts!
And just then, Stelle suddenly spoke.
"…Miss Kallen."
"So, are you really a wife who lost her husband?"
The car fell silent.
Completely silent.
March 7th's smile froze on her face.
What are you trying to do?!!!!
Join here to read ahead.
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 180)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
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From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 255
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 210
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 305
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
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I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 130
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 155
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 120
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Supernatural Multiverse 155
My Harem Is Indescribable 105
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 110
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The Most Filial Son Under Heav 95
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Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 105
Checking In in Demon Slayer 95
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 105
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 95
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel (This matter is completely finished.)
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 95
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 90
Why did they assign me to Uma 80
MYGO Beauties 75
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 80
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 100
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Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 65
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I'm Definitely Not the King of 105
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Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 75
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 86
An Anime Heroine Darkened 60
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links 70
Honkai: The Fire Devil 70
Honkai Transformation Cards Volume2/30
Age of Heroes, I'm Just a Back 60
Uma Musume Has No Weird Fan Le 36
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