NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Galactic Bat
-March, you go back with the two of them. Arlan, from the Security Department, lost contact nearby. I have to find him.
-Oh, okay. Be careful.
That said, Dan Heng turns his back on us and leaves the place.
Before we leave, for some reason I find a baseball bat lying on the ground. Why the hell is this here? Rather, whose is this...? Of course, Nadie could answer my question. But, if I had to give my opinion, plot armor.
-Have this Stelle. At least it'll serve as a self-defense weapon.
-Oh~ Nadie's stick, so hard and thick~
-Please don't say it in such a misunderstanding way~ And stop stroking the bat so strangely, you're getting on my nerves!
-But what about you Nadie? If I take your stick, how will you defend yourself?
-First of all, it's not a stick, it's a bat; secondly, it's not mine! And don't worry about me, I have my own means of defense.
My goodness, talking to this girl is exhausting. In a way, she's just like her mother....
-Fufufu~ You two are so funny! But you have nothing to worry about, with me here, you'll be safe!
--Oh~
Stelle and I clapped our hands at March's bold statement.
-Hehehe~ You don't need to exaggerate so much, I'm just doing what any member of the Astral Express would do! Come on, let's not waste any more time in such a dangerous place, let's go!
Following in the footsteps of March 7, we leave the room and run down the corridor.
In no time, we run into a small group of enemies.
-Look, it's the Antimatter Legion! Those monsters came all the way here...! I'll take care of them...!
Even before March could finish speaking, Stelle lunges forward and slaughters all the enemies with his bat. Even dead, she kept hitting them until their bodies decomposed.
-Phew~
Wiping off the non-existent sweat, Stelle turned to me and gave me a thumbs up.
-Ah, I looked so pretty.
-Wow! That was awesome!
Unlike March, I felt unable to react properly. Is she trying to impress me...?
-Eh... yeah, you were great...
-Umu. Yeah, I looked great. Did you fall in love?
-I don't think love works that fast.
Of course, Firefly is always the exception.
-So you don't?
-Well... I like you, as a friend.
-Ugh!
Out of nowhere, Stelle dropped her bat, clutched her heart in pain and fell to her knees. Inexplicably, the number 999,999,999,999 floated over his body.
-How quickly was I... friendzoned?
Was that a critical hit?
-All right, get up Stelle, I admit that was my fault.
-Charge me.
-...
For some reason, sitting there on the floor, Stelle stretched out both arms towards me asking me to carry her as if she were a princess.
-Charge me, it's your punishment for hurting my feelings in such a cruel and merciless way.
-You only talk a lot when it suits you, don't you?
-Charge me.
-All right...
With no other choice, I carried Stelle in my arms and lifted her up as if she were a princess.
-Are they really going to move forward like that?
March was perplexed, she thought we were just joking but no, Stelle was serious.
-There's no other way, this girl refuses to walk on her own.
-Hmph!
-I-I see, if it's all right with you two....
In a short time we arrived at the elevator, taking it would take us directly to the Main Command Zone. Unfortunately, as it happened in the game, it doesn't work.
-It seems to be broken.
I commented while trying to force the elevator to work.
-There's no other way, I'll have to try to repair it.
-Oh! Can you really fix it, Nadie?
-Of course I can, didn't I make it clear that I work at the Space Station?
-It's just that, now that I'm looking at you more closely, neither of you are wearing a Space Station uniform. Are you sure you're employees here?
Now I understand where March's doubt comes from.
-I have a special position, that's why I dress the way I want; as for Stelle, ask her.
March looked in Stelle's direction for an answer.
-I don't remember.
Of course, with his lack of memory, there is no way Stelle could answer March's question satisfactorily; and if he answered for Stelle, that would be too suspicious.
-What are they doing?
-Dan Heng?! When did you get here?!
Dan Heng's sudden appearance made March jump in surprise.
-I took another path and went to the top floor, and I saw them from up there. Arlan is in the surveillance room. He's injured, but he'll survive.
-Well done, Dan Heng. Guys, could you escort Arlan here? I'll finish repairing the elevator in a little while.
-Sure.
-No problem.
Dan Heng and March accept my request immediately, but Stelle...
-I'll stay to protect you.
-I don't really need protection...
-But if you do?
-... All right, then stay by my side.
Damn Kafka, that last piece of advice you gave Stelle was really unnecessary. Now she doesn't even want to part with me.
After Dan Heng and March left, I closed my eyes and made a call through an internal channel. In a short time, my consciousness was taken to the mental plane of a certain Aeon.
-Long time no see Nous.
(What do you need Nadie? I'm kind of busy right now, sum it up in a nutshell).
-Always so busy. But that's okay, I need you to help me repair an elevator.
(... Are you kidding?)
-Nope.
(You called me just to get me to give you instructions on how to repair an elevator?)
-Well, that's what I said. Will you help me?
I mean, there's no way I could repair an elevator by myself without anyone's help. I can barely use Analytical without giving myself a headache every time I use it.
(*Sigh*. Okay, let's make this quick.)
-Yay~
With Nous' precise instructions, in less than a minute I managed to repair the elevator so that it works normally and even better than before.
-Phew~ Good as new.
This way I'll be able to skip unnecessary plot of the game, it's annoying to have to listen to all those dialogues again.
-Good job, Nadie. Let me wipe off your sweat.
-I didn't sweat.
-It's okay, let me wipe my clothes on your face anyway. -Hey, back off.
-Hey, back off. -Why do you want to make physical contact with me so bad?
This is serious, Stelle is getting more and more like Kafka. I just hope Stelle doesn't inherit any weird quirks from her.
Before long, Dan Heng and March arrived with Arlan somewhat wounded at their side. Luckily, this time Stelle and I were not in any strange pose to scare them.
-Mr. Nadie, you are safe.
-As good as new, I'd say, but you look bad, Arlan. Are you okay?
-Don't worry, they are only minor injuries.
-Of course, minor injuries... let me treat you.
-I'm sorry.
-Don't apologize.
Using the Way of Plenty, Drop of Life falls on Arlan and all his wounds are healed instantly. This display of power surprises March 7 and Stelle, but Dan Heng, he looks completely stunned.
-Unbelievable! That healing power is awesome!
-Fufufu~ Did you see March? That's how awesome Nadie is!
-Stelle, why are you the one who's showing off?
-The two of you over there, stop wasting time and get on the elevator.
With Dan Heng's reminder, both girls rush to the elevator and we finally head off to meet another important member of the Astral Express: mommy Himeko.
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Somewhere far away from Herta Space Station...
*Bang!
-Don't give me those scares Kafka! Why did you do that?! Don't kill the hostage just like that! How will we infiltrate Xianzhou Luofu now?! We'll have to find another one to replace him and it'll be a headache!
-I'm sorry Silver Wolf, but my mother's instinct tells me that some bitch is trying to steal my beloved son. Let's get back to the Space Station right away.
-Again?! You've got to be kidding me! First Jade and now who?! You've got me exhausted!
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Note from the author:
Truth be told, I don't even know why I'm telling this but I'll say it anyway.
Yesterday I actually had planned to upload this chapter as well, but something unforeseen happened that prevented me from finishing writing it. I stayed playing Honkai Impact 3's story mode and I had finally reached the tragic "Final Lesson" chapter already knowing what was going to happen because of spoilers. The thing is, even knowing what was going to happen, after playing that part, I got so depressed that I was unable to continue writing and went straight to sleep early.
Any HI3 players, did they also get as emotional as me?
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