“If the truth of the universe is cruel and boring, do you still crave answers?
The seeker neither confirms nor denies, for his machine core has been cold and indifferent since birth…
just like the end of the Path it pursues.”
—Adrian Spencer Smith, A Collection of Fables About the Starry Sky
…
The universe is vast and mysterious, just as it always has been.
From the moment the first intelligent life looked up at the starry sky, the Path of [Erudition] was born.
On a distant frontier planet, a monkey excitedly showed its companions the stone tool it had polished.
Ten planetary days later, every monkey in that troop was equipped with sharpened stone knives.
They left the trees and began to hunt, migrate, and reproduce.
The power of [Erudition] began to spread and grow, gradually affecting the entire planet, and eventually the entire universe.
It was like a winding stream, weaving into rivers, gathering into a great river, and finally rushing into the sea, never to return.
Knowledge does not disappear because of collisions between ideas.
On the contrary, precisely because of the clash of intellectual currents, the sparks of civilization strike and burst forth, and the total amount of knowledge held by intelligent life in the universe begins to grow geometrically.
And because of its broad transmissibility, this constantly expanding body of knowledge is passed down endlessly, vast as a sea of smoke.
But people soon realized a problem.
[Erudition] is always bound by laws and truth, while the [Enigmata] and Mythus are boundless.
The more a person understands the “knowledge” of this world, the more “questions” and “unknowns” they discover.
That is: the more you know, the less you know.
Omniscience and omnipotence are a fallacy.
Even if there existed a demon called “Laplace’s demon,” who knew the exact position and momentum of every atom in the universe and could use Newton’s laws to reveal the entire course of cosmic events, past and future…
But its existence, its very birth, is the best refutation of “omniscience.”
This world certainly has no “Laplace’s demon.”
In order to solve the mysteries of all things and seek the truth behind the unknown of the universe, a genius named “Zandar One Kuwabara” created an astral computer that attempted to comprehend the universe.
Later, this astral computer ascended to become an Aeon.
People called it [Nous].
—An eternally existing machine intelligence, endlessly calculating the essence of the universe and its ultimate solution.
And later still—
Amber Era 2158.
[Nous] disconnected.
All members of the Genius Society (Emanators of Erudition) lost their sense of the Aeon’s existence.
In a remote corner of the universe, in an unmanned starry sky, hundreds of astral computer units of the [Scepter System] roared in unison.
A brown-haired woman wearing a pointed magic hat held a key-shaped staff and rudely knocked open the door of the Aeon.
Then, she raised her head and chest, gazing at the giant machine head that had fallen silent, and slowly spoke:
“Omniscient existence, I ask you…”
…
Beep beep beep beep
The urgent electronic notification sound interrupted Ye Cang’s thoughts.
He sat on a metal high stool in front of the bar in the party car, wearing a newly changed suit identical to Mr.
Yang’s, holding a cup of steaming hot coffee freshly brewed by Himeko.
Under March 7th’s admiring gaze, he raised the coffee and took a sip, letting the bitter richness spread across his tongue, wantonly assaulting every one of his taste buds.
His gaze fell on Himeko’s communication terminal, and he raised an eyebrow: “Navigator, you have a call.”
Himeko put down the hand-cranked coffee grinder, casually picked up the communication terminal, and glanced at it.
Her originally languid expression instantly became serious.
She said in a low voice, “It’s a message from the Conductor.
He says to gather in the observation car.”
March 7th also picked up her communication terminal and said in surprise, “Really!
I got a message too!
Is it time to vote on the next destination?”
Ye Cang looked at March, then at Himeko.
“Why didn’t my communication terminal ring?”
Then, under the two’s looks that said “are you an idiot,” he shrugged and spread his hands: “Oh, right, I don’t have a communication terminal.
Never mind then.”
“Hey!” March 7th slapped Ye Cang squarely on the back, pretending to be angry: “If you keep being sarcastic, I’ll really hit you!”
“Alright, once we reach the next stop, we’ll buy Ye Cang a communication terminal…
Of course, the credits will be deducted from your temporary wages.” Himeko stood up with a smile, beckoned to the two, and took the lead toward the observation car.
“Wait!”
Ye Cang quickly stood up, caught up in a few steps, and walked side by side with the red-haired woman.
He said with a grin, “Wages?
I have wages?
How much?
When do I get paid?
Is there insurance and paid leave?
Also, what are the benefits for a Nameless?”
Himeko: “…”
The three arrived in the observation car, where Mr.
Yang and Dan Heng had already been waiting.
Ye Cang smiled and greeted them, then walked up to Conductor Pom-Pom.
He subconsciously reached out both hands, about to vigorously rub the little guy’s furry, soft cheeks.
“You…
don’t come closer, pom!”
The latter immediately bristled, instinctively hiding behind Mr.
Yang.
It poked its head out from behind his pant leg, staring warily at Ye Cang: “This temporary passenger, if you disrespect the Conductor again…
Pom-Pom will kick you off the train, pom!”
Ye Cang withdrew his hands in disappointment and shrugged: “Alright, alright, my bad.”
Dan Heng took the initiative to break the awkward atmosphere.
He spoke to Himeko and March 7th: “Let’s take a look at this communication from the Herta Space Station first…
Prepare yourselves.
The situation may be more complicated than we imagined.”
“The Herta Space Station?
Wasn’t that already decided as our next stop?” March 7th lowered her head, looking at the public communication terminal Pom-Pom had placed on the low table, slightly puzzled.
“You’ll understand once you see it.”
Dan Heng bent slightly and pressed the play button on the communication terminal.
A blurry holographic image projected from the top of the spherical terminal.
“Hi!
Nameless of the Astral Express, I’m Asta, the lead researcher of the Herta Space Station.”
A holographic figure of a girl with light pink semi-long straight hair appeared before everyone, wearing a polite and sunny smile.
The girl wore a clean, proper researcher’s coat over a white ruffled button-up shirt with a black butterfly bow tie.
Below was a black-and-purple pleated pencil skirt with white lace trim, complementing a pair of smooth, slender legs beneath.
She was bright and beautiful, making it hard to look away.
“The Herta Space Station is currently under attack by the Antimatter Legion.
With the station’s armed forces, we cannot resist the invasion.
I sincerely invite all allies to come to the station’s aid…”
Ye Cang frowned, looking at the girl’s sunny, brilliant smile in the hologram.
No matter how he looked at it, it did not seem like her space station was being invaded by the Antimatter Legion.
“Why can she still smile so happily when her home is about to be destroyed?”
March 7th, worthy of being the strongest mouthpiece of Star Rail, dumped out all the questions Ye Cang wanted to ask as soon as she opened her mouth.
“Don’t rush, keep watching.” Mr.
Yang pressed his hands down, signaling March 7th not to be impatient.
“Oh.” March responded.
Ye Cang also suppressed his doubts and unease and continued watching.
Bzzt bzzt bzzt
The holographic image twisted.
The girl who had been smiling brightly suddenly distorted and blurred.
Then, Asta appeared covered in blood.
Her expensive, clean clothes were torn and tattered, almost dyed red with blood.
“It’s not just the Antimatter Legion…
The station has been contaminated…
It’s…
an unknown…
meme…”
“Everything…
started when…
Lady Herta…
had an audience…
with Nous…”
“…Everyone…”
Finally, the girl’s bloody figure blurred again.
Only shrill, desperate, and resolute cries suddenly exploded from the speaker, like a thunderclap in clear sky:
“Do not approach!”
“Do not answer!”
“Stay away from here!
Stay away from this star zone!”
Bzzt bzzt bzzt
The communication cut off abruptly.
The entire car fell into an eerie silence.
Everyone looked at each other, only the sound of breathing echoing in the dead silence.
Huff…
huff…
March 7th subconsciously took a step back, seemingly frightened by the images in the hologram.
Without paying attention, her entire back bumped into Ye Cang’s chest behind her.
“Ah, sorry.”
March exclaimed and was about to turn around to apologize.
Ye Cang, who had snapped back to his senses, steadily supported her shoulders and said softly: “Be careful.
I’m fine.”
She turned her head in surprise, but saw the youth behind her had already stepped in front of her.
He reached for the public communication terminal on the low table, looked up at everyone: “Can I watch this hologram again?”
“Oh?
Did you notice something?” Mr.
Yang gave Ye Cang a deep look and gestured for him to go ahead.
Ye Cang nodded, then pressed the play button again.
“One thing, not sure.
Let me check again.”
The hologram played again.
Ye Cang’s expression was grave.
He slowly straightened up.
“What did you find?” Dan Heng glanced sideways.
Under everyone’s gaze, Ye Cang hesitated for a moment, then slowly spoke: “It’s white.”
Dan Heng: “?”
“Asta’s panties’ color.” Ye Cang grinned and gave a thumbs-up.
“And these legs, probably longer than my life.”
Dan Heng: “…”
“You idiot, don’t just stare at her underwear!” March 7th attacked from behind, kicking the back of Ye Cang’s knee, almost making the youth in front stagger to his knees.
“Ow, March, you’re really ruthless…” Ye Cang sucked in a breath of cold air.
The power of a Pathstrider was truly not something an ordinary person could contend with.
He barely steadied himself, reached out to hold Dan Heng’s shoulder, and said helplessly, “Just a joke.
You all looked so tense, I wanted to lighten the mood.”
“It’s just a hologram.
How could you possibly see her underwear?”