Ms.
Herta.
At night, the Astral Express traveled quietly along the tracks, and only a soft bedside lamp was lit in Kal’tsit’s room.
The silver-haired woman made her bed as usual to prepare for sleep, and mon3tr had long since transformed into a humanoid form, lying in the center of the bed like a guardian beast.
Suddenly, a gentle knock on the door broke the silence.
mon3tr raised its head alertly, its emerald eyes glowing slightly in the dark.
Kal’tsit got up and opened the door, only to see Himeko standing outside holding a pillow and a quilt, her red hair cascading over her shoulders, looking a bit less heroic and somewhat more frail than usual.
“Um… Can I come in?” Himeko’s voice carried a rare trace of nervousness.
Kal’tsit stepped aside: “Come in.” Their tones remained calm, as if they had anticipated this situation long ago.
Himeko walked into the room on tiptoe and placed her bedding on the other side of the bed.
mon3tr’s shadow unconsciously expanded a bit, blocking between the two like a possessive little kitten.
Kal’tsit gave it a warning glance, and only then did mon3tr reluctantly shrink back to its normal size.
The three of them lay down in a strange arrangement — Kal’tsit by the window, mon3tr in the middle, and Himeko on the other side.
Although Himeko found it somewhat odd, sleepiness quickly overcame her doubts.
As for mon3tr, it kept a vigilant eye on Himeko the entire time, fearing that this “patient” might harbor any improper thoughts toward its doctor.
Kal’tsit closed her eyes calmly.
In her eyes, Himeko was simply a patient who needed care, and nothing more.
But mon3tr obviously didn’t think so; it remained in a half-awake state all night, squirming gently from time to time to protect Kal’tsit more closely.
Early the next morning, sunlight spilled into the room through the porthole.
Himeko stretched, her pajamas outlining her graceful curves: “Aha~ I slept so comfortably, I didn’t have any nightmares at all! Good morning, Kal’tsit!”
“Morning.” Kal’tsit was already fully dressed and organizing her medical records, “It’s time for breakfast.”
Himeko jumped out of bed: “I’ll go back to my room to change clothes first!” Her energetic appearance was a completely different person from last night.
mon3tr transformed back into human form, pointing at the bedding on the bed and reminding, “Ms. Himeko, don’t forget your pillow and quilt.”
“Of course I won’t forget~” Himeko blinked playfully, picked up her bedding, and left the room.
After the door closed, mon3tr immediately rushed to Kal’tsit’s side: “She didn’t do anything strange to you, did she?”
Kal’tsit put down her data pad helplessly: “mon3tr, Himeko just came for psychological treatment for nightmares.”
“But…” mon3tr wanted to argue further, but was stopped by a single look from Kal’tsit.
“Go prepare breakfast.” Kal’tsit’s tone allowed no room for doubt.
mon3tr pouted and floated toward the door, then suddenly turned back and quickly kissed Kal’tsit on the cheek: “This is a morning kiss!” With that, it slipped away in a flash.
Kal’tsit stood in place, stunned for a few seconds, then sighed helplessly: “Sigh, whatever, I’ll hang it on the front of the Astral Express later.” She adjusted the collar of her white coat and stepped out of the room.
In the party car, the lights spilled over the dining table.
Dan Heng was reading a data pad and nodded politely after seeing Kal’tsit come in: “Good morning, Ms. Kaltsit.”
“Mm, good morning.” Kal’tsit responded briefly, her gaze sweeping toward the table in the corner — mon3tr had already obediently arranged two portions of breakfast and was waving at her excitedly. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
“Dr. Kal’tsit! Over here, over here!” mon3tr’s black hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and its emerald eyes sparkled, looking just like a little puppy waiting for its master’s praise.
Kal’tsit sat down at the dining table, just picked up her cutlery, and suddenly thought of something.
She raised her head, her pale green eyes staring straight at the expectant mon3tr opposite her: “In view of your performance this morning, I have decided—” She paused, “After you finish your breakfast, you will be hung on the front of the Astral Express for one system hour.”
“Snap” — the fork in mon3tr’s hand dropped onto the plate.
It seemed to turn to stone instantly, its emerald eyes wide open.
Immediately after, a miserable howl resounded throughout the Astral Express:
“No—!!!
I was wrong, Dr.
Kal’tsit!!!” mon3tr pounced onto Kal’tsit’s legs, hugging them like an abandoned kitten, “I won’t dare do it again!
I promise!
I swear!”
This commotion attracted the attention of other passengers.
Pom-Pom was so frightened that it almost dropped its tray: “What happened, pa?!”
Welt pushed up his glasses and wisely chose to continue drinking his coffee.
Himeko just walked into the carriage and saw this scene, unable to hold back a laugh.
Kal’tsit continued cutting her fried egg expressionless: “Add another half system hour.”
mon3tr’s crying stopped abruptly, and it let go aggrievedly, floating back to its seat with a drooping head: “Yes… Dr. Kal’tsit…”
Breakfast continued in an eerie silence.
mon3tr stole glances at Kal’tsit from time to time, trying to move her with pitiful eyes, but the doctor remained unmoved throughout.
When Kal’tsit finished her breakfast and stood up, mon3tr’s shadow involuntarily shrank back: “D-Dr. Kal’tsit… are we really hanging…”
Kal’tsit took a rope out of her pocket: “Transform back to your original form and tie yourself up.”
mon3tr despairingly transformed back into its shadow form, slowly wrapping itself around the rope.
Kal’tsit deftly tied a knot and carried it toward the hook at the front of the train.
“Dr.
Kal’tsit…” mon3tr struggled one last time, “I-I get motion-sickness…”
Kal’tsit’s movements paused for a moment: “Lying adds another system hour.”
mon3tr immediately shut its mouth and obediently got hung outside the Astral Express.
In the universe, its shadow form drifted pathetically like a small black flag.
Pom-Pom pressed against the porthole, its rabbit ears twitching anxiously: “Is this really okay, pa…”
Welt calmly took a sip of coffee: “You’ll get used to it slowly.”
Outside the Astral Express, mon3tr was reflecting on its life facing the starry sky.
Suddenly, it noticed Kal’tsit standing by the porthole, shaking a box of its favorite candies in her hand.
“Dr. Kal’tsit is the best!!!” mon3tr instantly revived at full health, twisting happily in space.
Kal’tsit nodded, turned around, and left the porthole.
mon3tr, hanging at the front of the train, continued to sway happily, completely forgetting the previous “punishment” — after all, for mon3tr who had lived for so many years, this little bit of time was nothing at all. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
As long as it could exchange for the doctor’s care, hanging for a whole day would be worth it.
One and a half system hours later, Kal’tsit stood in front of the porthole, looking at mon3tr drifting outside the Astral Express traveling at high speed in the universe.
She gently raised her hand, and with a flash of pale green light, mon3tr’s shadow form was instantly recalled into the Memory Spirit Space.
“Alright, everyone is here.” Himeko clapped her hands, her red hair particularly striking under the light, “I have an announcement to make. Just now, Ms. Herta of the Genius Society contacted me, hoping that we can auction a Curio on our next planet.”
She paused, looking around at everyone: “Of course, the auction funds will be sponsored by Ms. Herta, and she will provide us with corresponding remuneration, as well as long-term free resplenishments from the Herta Space Station. What do you all think?”
Welt pushed up his glasses, his lenses reflecting a calm glow: “Agreed. This Ms. Herta has an excellent reputation in the universe, and cooperating with her is a good choice.”
Kal’tsit crossed her arms, her silver-white cat ears twitching slightly: “She is indeed arrogant, but she also has the capital to be arrogant. This proposal is feasible.”
Dan Heng nodded, his eyes under his black hair as calm as water: “I have no objections.”
“Alright!” Himeko clapped happily, “Then it’s settled.
Everyone get ready, the Astral Express will be making a jump shortly.” She pointed to the broadcast overhead, “There will be an announcement when the time comes, everyone remember to gather in the Observation Car.”
After the meeting ended, Kal’tsit walked toward the infirmary alone.
As soon as the door closed, mon3tr crawled out from her shadow, its emerald eyes filled with grievance: “Dr. Kal’tsit… hanging was so uncomfortable…”
Kal’tsit organized the medicine cabinet without even lifting her head: “Do you know you were wrong?”
mon3tr immediately transformed back into human form, rubbing against Kal’tsit like a puppy that did something wrong: “I know, I know!
I won’t kiss Dr.
Kal’tsit casually ever again!” It paused, then added in a low voice, “Unless Dr.
Kal’tsit agrees…”
Kal’tsit’s hand paused for a moment, and she picked up the cup placed aside and handed it to mon3tr: “Drink your coffee.”
“I was wrong, I was wrong!” mon3tr immediately raised its hands in surrender: “Huh? Is it really for me?” Originally, mon3tr was already prepared to be hung on the front of the Astral Express by Dr.
Kal’tsit again, but it didn’t expect…
Just as mon3tr took the coffee cup and drank the first sip of coffee, it felt something was wrong.
“Bang!” mon3tr collapsed to the ground convulsing all over once again, vomiting a mixture of coffee and saliva from its mouth.
5 seconds later, mon3tr turned into memory essence and burrowed back into Kal’tsit’s body: “Mmm… Dr. Kal’tsit! You’re mean!” mon3tr complained in an aggrieved tone.
After recovering a bit in the Memory Spirit Space, mon3tr came out again.
Just then, the broadcast of the Astral Express rang out: “Attention passengers, the jump is about to begin, please proceed immediately to the Observation Car to gather. I repeat…”
Kal’tsit put away her medical kit: “Let’s go.” She glanced at mon3tr, which was still lingering in place, “Or do you want to keep hanging outside?”
mon3tr immediately transformed back into its shadow form, floating obediently behind Kal’tsit: “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go! I love jumping most of all!”
When everyone gathered in the Observation Car, Pom-Pom was busy in front of the control console: “Prepare for the jump, pa! Please sit tight and hold on, passengers, pa!”
As the countdown ended, the entire Astral Express was surrounded by gorgeous blue light.
mon3tr leaned excitedly against the porthole, its shadow form constantly changing shapes: “Dr. Kal’tsit, look quickly! The starlight outside has turned colorful!”
Kal’tsit stood behind it, her pale green eyes reflecting the brilliant galaxy.
In an unobserved corner, the corners of her mouth ticked up slightly: “Mm, very pretty.”
The Astral Express thus carried everyone’s expectations, passed through the gorgeous stellar gate, and sailed toward a new destination…