“I’m truly sorry.
I never wanted to leave you with a bad impression.
After all, when facing someone like Miss Columbina, anyone would want to maintain a bit more dignity.” Celenova’s tone was laced with a deliberately softened sense of grievance.
Columbina could hear it.
She was playing the part of a well-behaved child: “But you’ve always been unwilling to see me.
I’ve already chased you through several star systems, and in the end, I could only resort to this last resort.
Please don’t take offense.” Columbina’s fingers, hanging by her side, curled slightly.
Her tone was neither warm nor cold: “What business do you have with me?
This isn’t a wishing well for people to make demands.
Besides, if you can’t achieve it, I might not be able to either.” But Columbina had actually heard the wishes of an Emanator.
They were very faint, perhaps because a portion of the wish-fulfillment mechanism had been satisfied.
“The Moon Goddess who responds to wishes, how sacred she is.” Celenova suddenly moved, gently flying in a circle around Columbina.
Her laughter was soft and fragmented, yet carried a hint of playfulness.
“Just like a god who is high and mighty, untainted by dust.
But they must never have imagined that the Goddess also has her own troubles.” At this point, she abruptly stopped in front of Columbina, gently opened her mouth, but made no sound.
Then she leaned forward slightly, the smile in her eyes deepening as her tone grew even softer: “Why don’t you guess how much I know about those troubles of yours?” “…” Columbina fell silent.
After a moment, she slowly turned her gaze to Celenova, her voice a bit heavier than before: “How do you know about this?” “Does that matter?” Celenova waved her hand dismissively, her tone utterly casual, as if the secret she had just dropped was nothing more than a trivial matter.
“Instead of that, why don’t we make an exchange, Miss Columbina?” She extended her hand, fingertips reaching toward Columbina, a smile still gracing her face.
But that smile was different from the gentle sanctity in Columbina’s eyes.
It contained a danger akin to a viper’s flicking tongue, yet was wrapped in a heart-stirring temptation.
“I can bring you that one’s gaze, and give you a hand when you need it most.” “All you have to do is simple.
Just show your allegiance to us with any single planet.” “I refuse.” Columbina’s answer came without the slightest hesitation, and she didn’t even glance at the hand Celenova had offered.
Celenova was right.
The gaze of the “Destruction” could indeed help her, but she simply didn’t want it.
“What a shame.” Celenova wasn’t annoyed, simply withdrawing her hand.
“Actually, I expected you to refuse.
After all, you’re the type of person who would rather bear the burden alone than trade others’ safety for your own convenience.
Unlike those hypocrites who crumble before true temptation, you’re someone I respect.” She leaned back, her form gliding effortlessly behind Columbina, her voice drifting from behind her.
“But there’s no rush.
This offer will always be on the table.
Whenever you change your mind, you can always find me.” Just as the words left her lips, she floated back in front of Columbina, the amusement in her eyes softening slightly.
“Since the exchange is off, may I ask for a small favor, Miss Columbina?
Could you leave me your contact information?” “That way, I won’t have to travel across the entire Cosmos just to find you.
It’s tiring, and I always end up coming back empty-handed.
How inconvenient.” She paused deliberately here, her tone laced with teasing yet carrying an undeniable truth.
“Speaking of which, those planets really ought to thank you properly.
If I hadn’t halted my original plans halfway just to find you, their time of destruction would have arrived much sooner.
You’re truly as kind as you are beautiful, Miss Columbina.” – “Host, are you alright?
You haven’t said a word since Celenova left.
You don’t seem to be in a very good state…” The System’s voice was laced with obvious concern.
Having her inner thoughts exposed by Celenova, Columbina felt a suffocating sensation, as if she were slowly being swallowed whole.
The faint, constant prayers of living beings that always lingered in her ears had grown much quieter now, turning intermittent.
They were like flickering candles in the wind, on the verge of being extinguished.
It was truly a contradiction.
Those ceaseless wishes, which had been a constant source of unrest for her day after day, were also her only way to perceive the vitality of this world and confirm that she did not exist in isolation.
Now that the voices had faded, she felt as if she had lost her support, leaving her feeling empty.
“I’m fine,” Columbina said, lifting a hand to cover her chest.
Her complexion was still far from good, but the gravity in her eyes had lessened.
“I’ll be fine in a bit.
By the way, what about my brand new entertainment venture we discussed earlier?” “They just finished dealing with a Doomsday Beast outside the Space Station.
The situation was a bit precarious; the Stellaron inside Stelle went berserk.” “But thankfully, Welt Yang of the Astral Express intervened just in time.
Stelle is fine for now.
If you’re worried, it’s the perfect time to go check on them.” The System hastily reported the latest situation.
“Alright.” Columbina nodded gently and turned to fly toward Herta Space Station.
As soon as she landed at the Space Station, a lively figure quickly ran over, her face full of genuine concern: “Miss Columbina!
Are you alright!?
I was so worried you might have been injured!” Asta’s face was filled with sincere worry.
After all, if Columbina hadn’t intervened back then, the entire Herta Space Station would have likely collapsed long ago.
In her heart, Columbina was already the Space Station’s benefactor.
Columbina stopped in her tracks and gently shook her head at Asta, her tone softening slightly: “I’m fine.
Are you all alright?” “We’re all fine, but Stelle just passed out.” March 7th leaned in, bluntly telling the whole truth.
As soon as she finished speaking, Dan Heng, who was beside her, gently poked her arm.
March 7th was instantly bewildered.
She turned to Dan Heng, her eyes full of confusion.
“Dan Heng, why are you poking me?” Dan Heng didn’t answer directly, only giving a soft cough.
He could tell that Columbina was already in a poor state.
Mentioning Stelle’s fainting spell again would likely only make her feel more self-blame.
Sure enough, before Dan Heng could even speak, Columbina lowered her head, her voice filled with guilt.
“I’m sorry.
The Antimatter Legion’s arrival this time was likely because they were looking for me.” “Yet the Space Station and you all had to endure such a great disaster, and Stelle even got injured…
Truly, I’m very sorry.” In the script the System had initially provided, the Antimatter Legion was lured in by the Stellaron Hunter and had nothing to do with her.
But Celenova’s appearance just now had already proven that this wave of the Antimatter Legion had clearly been brought along with Celenova when she followed her here.
So no matter how you looked at it, she was not without blame.
This guilt felt exceptionally real.
“Miss Columbina, there is no need for guilt.” Welt Yang walked over slowly.
“You didn’t do this on purpose, so you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself.
No one was injured at the Space Station this time.” “And you’ve defeated the Space Station’s greatest enemy.
Reason and sentiment alike dictate you have no need to apologize.” With just a few words, he had both comforted Columbina and considered everyone’s feelings, demonstrating a masterful sense of tact and warmth.
Columbina looked up at the composed middle-aged man, a hint of unfamiliarity in her eyes.
She didn’t know Welt Yang.
To be honest, of the entire Trailblaze faction, she only knew of the Astral Express.
As for the people on board…
She could only say she’d get to know them as she met them.
But even though he was a stranger, she could feel the sincerity in his words.
Her tone softened as she continued, “Where is Stelle?
Can I go see her?
Although…
what you said makes sense, sir.
But this incident ultimately started because of me.
I am indeed to blame, and seeing her would put my mind at ease.” Welt observed the genuine guilt in her expression.
This Moon Goddess truly possesses a very gentle heart, he thought.
And she doesn’t recognize me.
But that was to be expected.
After all, he and Columbina had never formally introduced themselves.
Not knowing him was the norm.
Thus, he gave Columbina a slight nod, his tone still gentle yet steady: “Just call me Welt.
March, take Miss Columbina to see Stelle.”