Just as Asta suspected, Kai carried her straight through the protective barrier surrounding Herta Space Station and into open space.
Asta had traveled between the stars many times before.
However, she had always done so from inside a spacecraft.
This was her first time flying through the universe without a ship, spacesuit, or any other equipment.
As long as she remained close to Kai, there were no restraints or limitations.
She could circle the station from every possible angle and admire its entire structure at once.
She could even reach out and touch the station’s exterior plating with her own hands.
The experience felt almost unreal.
Asta became so absorbed in the view that she failed to notice Kai waving a hand in front of her face.
Kai covered her mouth and laughed softly.
Asta finally returned to her senses.
A faint blush immediately appeared across her cheeks.
Had she been making a strange expression?
How embarrassing.
“I am sorry.”
“You do not need to apologize.”
“This is your welcome gift.”
“You can react however you like.”
Kai smiled brightly.
“Besides, I thought you looked adorable just now.”
“Really.”
Asta pressed her lips together, clearly unconvinced.
How could someone look adorable while staring blankly into space?
Perhaps Kai could manage it.
Asta would have been satisfied merely to avoid looking ridiculous.
Kai was probably saying it to make her feel better.
She really was considerate.
“Of course.”
Kai stared at Asta with a completely serious expression.
Unable to endure such direct attention, Asta shyly lowered her head.
“Thank you for letting me experience what it feels like to fly through space.”
Kai’s smile slowly widened.
Asta was even more innocent than she had expected.
This was only the beginning, yet she was already expressing so much gratitude.
What would happen after Kai fulfilled her greatest dream?
Would Asta become so grateful that she insisted on taking care of Kai forever?
Hehe.
Kai took Asta’s hand again.
Her smile was radiant.
“Is it not a little early to thank me?”
“Our journey has only just begun.”
Asta looked up in surprise.
“There is more.”
“Of course.”
“Do you not want to explore the stars?”
“I do.”
Asta hesitated.
“But would that not be too much trouble for you?”
She had loved studying the stars since childhood.
Being able to travel freely through space and observe rare astronomical phenomena with her own eyes was one of her greatest dreams.
Still, Kai was an Emanator.
She was also Herta’s friend and an honored guest aboard the station.
Asta was supposed to be the one looking after her.
It felt wrong to continue asking their guest for favors.
“It is no trouble at all.”
“I already told you that this is your welcome gift.”
Kai placed one hand against her chest with exaggerated pride.
“I am an Emanator.”
“Showing you the same space station you see every day would be embarrassing.”
“People might think Kai cannot afford a proper gift.”
“Come on.”
“Let me show you the universe.”
Kai was completely serious.
If it meant securing Asta as her wealthy new bestie, a little interstellar sightseeing was nothing.
She would have been willing to take Asta to watch the IPC headquarters explode.
Actually, she had already done that part.
“All right.”
Since Kai insisted, Asta finally accepted.
The two of them began a journey beyond anything Asta had ever imagined.
Kai guided her across the endless sea of stars.
Together, they witnessed frozen planets covered in glittering glaciers.
They passed living worlds whose surfaces moved as though the planets themselves were breathing.
They observed formations of the Antimatter Legion from a safe distance.
Eventually, they reached one of the vast subspace barriers forged in the name of Qlipoth.
Beyond it stood an immeasurably grand presence.
The Amber Lord.
Asta had never imagined that she would one day observe an Aeon from such a remarkable distance.
She was even able to place her hand against the surface of the immense crystalline barrier.
After crossing countless star systems, Kai finally brought her to the sight she had dreamed of witnessing for years.
A stellar nursery in the middle of the division.
Asta watched in silence as enormous clouds of cosmic matter separated, collapsed, and began forming new stars.
For once, she could not find any words.
…
Herta Space Station.
Inside Asta’s office.
Only one day had passed.
Yet everything Asta had experienced made it feel as though she had returned from an entirely different life.
After finally calming down, she took both of Kai’s hands and looked at her with open gratitude.
“Thank you, Kai.”
“You made my dream come true.”
“You do not need to thank me, Asta.”
“We are friends.”
“Friends are supposed to help one another.”
Kai gave her a pure and gentle smile.
Asta nodded with complete sincerity.
“From now on, you are one of my closest friends.”
She then smiled awkwardly.
“Kai, I feel a little embarrassed.”
“You gave me such an incredible welcome gift, but I prepared nothing for you.”
“I do not know what you like, so perhaps this would be better.”
Asta produced a luxurious black and gold credit card.
“There are ten billion credits on this card.”
“You can use it to buy anything you want.”
Kai stared at the card.
How much.
Ten billion credits.
For several seconds, Kai forgot how to breathe.
She had always known that Asta was wealthy.
She had not realized that Asta was this wealthy.
Asta had casually offered ten billion credits as though she were handing over spending money for lunch.
Becoming friends with her had been the greatest financial decision of Kai’s life.
“Thank you, Asta.”
Kai accepted the card.
Overwhelmed by happiness, she immediately wrapped both arms around Asta’s leg.
Asta froze.
Her entire face turned bright red.
Kai looked up.
She then realized what she had done.
“Sorry.”
“I hugged the wrong place.”
Kai released Asta’s leg and instead wrapped her arms around Asta’s arm.
“It is fine.”
Asta lowered her head.
Her cheeks were still pink.
“If you enjoyed it, you could have continued a little longer.”
Her voice became quieter with every word.
By the end, it was barely audible.
“What?”
Kai stared at her.
She had not expected the normally reserved Asta to say something so bold.
“It was nothing.”
“I am simply glad that you like the gift.”
Asta did not have the courage to repeat herself.
She did not even understand why those words had escaped her mouth.
Perhaps she still felt guilty.
Kai had given her the experience of a lifetime.
Asta had only given Kai a credit card.
She had worried that Kai might be disappointed.
After all, the card contained only ten billion credits.
To an Emanator, that might not even qualify as a meaningful amount of money.
The Emanators associated with the IPC possessed fortunes that could influence entire worlds.
Compared with them, ten billion credits was probably insignificant.
Unfortunately, Asta had purchased too many things recently and reached the limits on several of her accounts.
Ten billion was all she could conveniently access at the moment.
Fortunately, Kai appeared happy.
No.
Money probably meant nothing to her.
Kai was most likely pretending to be excited because she did not want Asta to feel embarrassed.
Asta felt deeply moved.
Kai really was extraordinarily kind.
She opened her arms and pulled Kai into a tight embrace.
“From now on, you are my bestie.”
Kai blinked.
She was not entirely certain what had just happened.
Somehow, however, her friendship with Asta had become even stronger than planned.
Kai glanced at the black and gold card in her hand.
Her pale blue eyes immediately began to sparkle.
Ten billion credits.
Beautiful, wonderful credits.
Hehe.
◉◉◉◉◉
Save to library!