NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23 - A Hidden Ending on the Astral Express?
Chapter 23: A Hidden Ending on the Astral Express?
Walter’s Mysterious Past
“[The composed and steady former leader of Anti-Entropy, inheritor of the name ‘World,’ and a man who has saved the world from destruction countless times.]”
Reading Walter’s in-game character description, Himeko couldn’t help but smile.
Turning to the man beside her, she teased—
“Walter, who knew you had so many stories hidden away?”
“A former leader? Saving the world multiple times…? Such a fantastical past, and yet you never told us about it?”
Walter’s Unease
Walter’s expression grew slightly unnatural.
On one hand—
Having his past suddenly exposed left him at a loss for words.
On the other hand—
This game…
How did it know all of this?
These were memories he had never shared with anyone.
Not even his closest companions on the Astral Express.
And yet—
The game’s developer seemed to know his past in great detail.
If there was one person in this vast universe who could understand both him and the Astral Express crew so thoroughly—
Only one name came to mind.
The blond-haired man who disembarked early.
An Unlikely Answer?
“If it’s him… then maybe he really could create a game like this.”
But something still felt off to Walter.
It wasn’t a rational feeling, but rather—
An instinctive sense of wrongness.
Simply put—
The ‘art style’ didn’t match.
If that person had made a game, it definitely wouldn’t look like this.
“So then… who else could it be?”
“Well, I suppose we’ll find out if we keep playing. Let’s see what other information this game reveals.”
Deciding to shift the conversation, Walter spoke up—
“That last scene—Nanook, the Star God of Destruction, glanced at the Trailblazer, didn’t he?”
Himeko nodded.
“That’s what it looks like. And it aligns with what we suspected before.”
“That kid is… different.”
“Yeah. And now, I’m at the point in the game where I have to choose whether or not to let her board the train.”
Himeko held up her phone, smiling.
“I’m curious… if she had chosen to stay at the space station, what would’ve happened?”
“In reality, that choice was never an option. But in this game… maybe it is.”
A Hidden Path
Walter found himself intrigued as well.
With Herta’s and Asta’s approval, Himeko chose to leave the Trailblazer behind.
“Goodbye, Miss Himeko.”
On-screen, Himeko, Walter, Dan Heng, and March 7th prepared to board the train and depart, leaving the Trailblazer behind.
As the train’s whistle sounded, a subtitle appeared—
“[After careful consideration, you choose to decline Himeko’s invitation. The Astral Express is about to depart, and your traveling companions wave farewell. Departures, much like meetings, are both sudden and certain.]”
A Shocking Revelation
“Wait… that was an actual ending?”
Both Himeko and Walter were taken aback.
But the next scene left them completely speechless.
“[After the Astral Express departs, the space station begins its reconstruction. You, alongside Herta, study the Stellaron. However, Herta soon loses interest in both you and the Stellaron. Under Asta’s guidance, you become an ordinary station crew member.]”
“[At the Herta Space Station, you live out a quiet, uneventful life. The Astral Express returns several times, but never again for you. From passing travelers, you hear of the legendary clash between the Astral Express and the Stellaron Hunters—an event that shook the universe.]”
“[Sometimes, you wonder—if you had stepped aboard the train, would their fate have been different?]”
“[But… that no longer concerns you.]”
A Life Untraveled
Himeko and Walter exchanged stunned glances.
Neither of them had expected…
An entire alternate future to unfold before them.
For the journey to truly end at that moment.
With just a few lines of text, the game had perfectly captured the weight of missed opportunities and the passage of time.
A Moment of Reflection
If life could be lived again…
Both of them found themselves lost in thought.
Living peacefully as an ordinary worker on the space station—
Was that really such a bad ending?
Even for them, the weight of this alternative timeline left their emotions stirred.
The Unseen Future
But that last line—
“The legendary clash between the Astral Express and the Stellaron Hunters…”
What exactly was going to happen in the future?
As they gazed out the window at the endless sea of stars, lost in thought—
A Sudden Twist—The Credits Roll!
[Starring: The Trailblazer]
[Featuring: Dan Heng as Dan Heng]
[??? as March 7th]
[Himeko as Himeko]
[Achim Nokianvitanen as Walter]
Confusion and Shock!
Himeko’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Walter, on the other hand—
Felt a chill run down his spine.
The names made sense—
Except for one.
March 7th’s name was replaced with three question marks.
Did that mean…
The March 7th they knew… wasn’t really March 7th?!
The thought was deeply unsettling.
Walter’s Hidden Identity Exposed!
But what shook Walter the most—
Was his own name.
Not Walter Yang, but—
Achim Nokianvitanen.
That was his original name.
Before he had inherited the name Walter and the Herrscher core—
Before he had taken his mother’s surname.
Before he had become the new Herrscher of Reason.
This was a secret he had buried deeper than anything else.
How Did the Developer Know?!
Walter felt a cold sweat forming.
His voice was hoarse as he turned to Himeko—
“Himeko… I think we need to investigate this developer.”
“They know too much.”
Himeko, still staring at the screen, slowly nodded.
“You’re right. I’m looking into it right now.“