—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Is this… Mikhail in his youth?"
March 7th: "By this time, he had already boarded the Astral Express and become a Nameless."
March 7th: "And he was even highly regarded by the navigator of that era."
Furina de Fontaine: "It's truly something to reflect on."
Furina de Fontaine: "Who would have thought that the legendary Watchmaker of Penacony, in his younger days, was just a shy, reserved boy…"
Hu Tao: "That's what makes it a legend, isn't it?"
Stelle: "Come to think of it, this navigator named Falcon Amundsen seems like a big deal."
Stelle: "I feel like I've read about him somewhere."
Himeko: "As a fellow navigator of the Express, compared to me, this predecessor is a legend in the truest sense."
Dan Heng: "Falcon Amundsen was a navigator during the early days of the Cancer of All Worlds, codenamed 'The Morning Star'."
Dan Heng: "Records state that under his leadership, the Astral Express briefly regained its former glory, with passenger counts reaching hundreds."
Dan Heng: "Furthermore, he remained steadfast in his commitment to the Trailblaze, never wavering."
Dan Heng: "Inspired by his call, many from that era volunteered to join the Trailblaze and became Nameless."
Dan Heng: "It is a pity, however, that such a legendary Nameless sacrificed himself so early on the path of the Trailblaze."
Welt Yang: "This predecessor was like a morning star in the dark, bringing light to many during those dark times."
Xiangling: "Wow… he… he's a legendary hero!!"
Paimon: "Mm… even though it was just a brief introduction, Paimon can tell that this navigator must have been great!"
Lumine: "So, this navigator was the one who guided young Mikhail…"
....
『 Time ticks forward, Act Three of the story, arriving at Mikhail's youth.
[ Legwork, where are you going? ]
[ We should be leaving for the next stop. ]
On the train, watching Mikhail pack his luggage, the navigator named Granholm couldn't help but ask.
[ … ]
[ I... I'm staying in Asdana with Razalina and Tiernan. ]
After a moment of silence, Mikhail replied.
[ Oh… does this place remind you of home? ]
Granholm was somewhat surprised.
[ The people of Asdana have only won a small victory; there is still a long way to go before true freedom… ]
[ Hanunue needs us. ]
[ Don't worry, not all journeys must lead to the sea of stars. ]
[ Even if we leave the Express, our Trailblaze won't end. ]
Mikhail seemed to be comforting himself, and perhaps comforting Granholm as well.
[ It's alright, I knew from the start that I couldn't keep you few here. ]
[ Go in peace, friend. Take this with you. ]
Granholm chuckled and handed something to Mikhail.
[ This is… Mr. Amundsen's hat? ]
[ Why… ]
Mikhail stared at the hat Granholm handed him, lost in thought.
[ Before he left, he said he wanted to leave it to his best student. ]
[ I think, now is the time. ]
[ Goodbye, Legwork. Take care of Tiernan and Razalina. ]
[ Remember… to write to us. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Hu Tao: "Mikhail in his youth had already arrived in Penacony, or rather, the Frontier Prison."
Hu Tao: "And he decided to stay there."
Hu Tao: "Once he stayed, it became a lifetime…"
Stelle: "Whoa!"
Stelle: "Mikhail-senpai's hat… was it actually a legacy left by the legendary navigator?"
March 7th: "My goodness, the significance of this hat to the Astral Express is practically a priceless treasure!"
Welt Yang: "This is… the true legacy of the Nameless…"
Himeko: "By the time Mikhail left the Astral Express, the Morning Star was already gone."
Himeko: "Another legendary navigator had taken his place…"
Dan Heng: "Granholm, codenamed 'Light-Chasing Guileless'."
Dan Heng: "He was only seventeen when he became the navigator of the Express."
Dan Heng: "Yet he dedicated his entire life to navigating the Astral Express."
Dan Heng: "After the Swarm Disaster, during the era when all worlds were severed from one another, he was the one who took the initiative to extend a helping hand to countless worlds."
Dan Heng: "The reason the Astral Express enjoys such a good reputation across the universe today has a lot to do with him."
Amber: "Ah… another legendary hero!"
Amber: "The Astral Express really is a place that produces heroes."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "These people, they were legends while they lived."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "But after death, few remember them."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Sigh… this world is just that ignorant."
Robin: "Heroes should not be forgotten, and certainly not slandered."
Robin: "Just like Penacony—if those three Nameless predecessors hadn't been willing to stay back then, how could the Penacony of today even exist?"
Stelle: "Exactly. No matter what, our Express Crew will get justice for those three predecessors!"
Stelle: "We absolutely cannot let them die in obscurity!"
....
『 Time flows on, Act Four of the story, arriving at Mikhail's middle age.
At this time, he had become the Watchmaker.
[ Watchmaker, where are you going? ]
Micah looked at Mikhail, who was about to leave, looking very flustered.
[ Don't worry, Micah. ]
[ I'm just going on a long trip. ]
[ Someone has to be at the forefront of the interstellar frontier, and I'm the only former Nameless in Penacony. So, why can't it be me? ]
Mikhail's voice sounded very calm.
[ Because you're all we have! Have you forgotten about Tiernan? The Cosmos is way more dangerous now! What will happen to Penacony if we lose you, too? ]
Micah didn't want to let Mikhail leave.
[ But what will happen to Penacony if we don't find a way out? ]
[ Tiernan... How could I ever forget him? I've spent countless sleepless nights asking myself why I didn't go with him back then. ]
[ We Nameless won't stop... Don't worry, Micah, it's just a matter of getting back to my old profession. Just wait for me to come back. But if, and it's a big if... ]
[ If I don't make it back, then you will be the next Watchmaker. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Nahida: "Mikhail in his youth had to personally rush to the front lines of exploration for the sake of Penacony."
Nahida: "And at this moment, he also understood the resolve of the navigator Mikhail back then."
Welt Yang: "If I'm not mistaken, the Family was sought out by Mikhail during this period while he was out, right?"
Welt Yang: "Under the circumstances at the time, only by seeking foreign aid could Penacony be truly preserved."
Stelle: "Sigh, a lone hand cannot clap, and a single pillar cannot support a building."
Stelle: "If the other two Nameless predecessors were still here, it wouldn't have come to such a desperate situation."
Stelle: "If Mikhail-senpai could have held on for a while longer, until we arrived, it wouldn't have ended up like this."
March 7th: "He held on for too long…"
March 7th: "He just couldn't hold on anymore, right?"
March 7th: "After all… the safety of an entire galaxy was tied almost entirely to him alone."
Fu Xuan: "A legendary hero who sacrificed himself for others is truly respectable."
Silver Wolf: "Actually, it was just bad timing."
Silver Wolf: "It just so happened that during his most difficult days, the Astral Express suffered a major catastrophe, and the Nameless were effectively gone."
Silver Wolf: "Otherwise, as long as the Express was running normally, if he had sent a message, the Nameless would have definitely gone to help him."
Venti: "Always hacking through thorns in the most dangerous environments, moving forward bravely, never retreating…"
Venti: "Sigh… this is the Trailblaze!"
Venti: "Great, yet tragic…"
....
『 Time is ruthless. Act Five of the story, Mikhail has reached the final stage of his life, his twilight years.
[ Old man, where are you going? ]
Gallagher's voice suddenly rang out.
[ Oh, so you're here. ]
Mikhail's voice was very aged.
[ Answer my question, what are you trying to do? ]
Gallagher looked at Mikhail gravely.
[ Don't be nervous, Gallagher. I just thought of a brilliant idea, want to hear it? ]
Mikhail said with a chuckle.
[ Forget it! ]
[ Which of your ideas hasn't been about throwing yourself into the fire? ]
[ Old man, don't blame me for being blunt, but of all the heroes of Penacony from back then, you're the only one left now. ]
[ If you die, then the secret of the Stellaron… ]
[ Will never see the light of day again. ]
Gallagher tried to persuade Mikhail earnestly.
[ That's right. In Penacony, I'm afraid we've run out of options. ]
[ So we can only turn our gaze outside of Asdana… ]
[ We are going to hold a grand event, and the reason will be the Watchmaker's legacy. ]
[ Then… send out invitations to the entire galaxy, and gather everyone here. ]
Mikhail revealed his idea.
[ Are you planning on burning bridges with the Family? ]
Gallagher was somewhat suspicious.
[ Isn't that what you're for, my friend? ]
[ Haha, this is very difficult, but looking back at our journey, which part hasn't been difficult? ]
[ Oh right, no matter what method you use, remember… ]
[ You must ensure the invitation is delivered to the Astral Express. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Furina de Fontaine: "In his twilight years, Mikhail was already feeling unable to do what he wanted."
Furina de Fontaine: "So, was he only able to pin his hopes on the future Nameless?"
Furina de Fontaine: "That really is… heartbreaking."
Lumine: "This is the very beginning of everything. It was this plan that created the situation in Penacony right now."
Lumine: "And it also brought new hope to Penacony."
Ningguang: "Truly a legendary tycoon, a legendary Nameless."
Ningguang: "Even when facing the Family, which is like a behemoth, all alone, he could still deal them a heavy blow and find a way to break the deadlock."
Aventurine: "Unfortunately, time waits for no one; he was already too old."
Aventurine: "Too old to even carry out this plan himself."
Paimon: "But Mr. Gallagher didn't let him down, did he?"
Gallagher: "Heh, this was the one thing that old man couldn't stop thinking about before he died; how could I dare to let him down?"
Gallagher: "But he and I could only do this much."
Gallagher: "As for the final result, it ultimately depends on the efforts of this generation of Nameless."
Gallagher: "But I think, since even that old man could do this much, there's no reason the Nameless of the future would be any worse than him, right?"
Himeko: "We dare not compare ourselves to Mikhail-senpai, but as the new generation of Nameless, we will definitely inherit the spirit of our predecessors!"
Stelle: "Heh, joking. I'm willing to issue a military order right here!"
Stelle: "If we can't fulfill Mikhail-senpai's wish and save Penacony…"
Stelle: "Then deduct all of March's train expense allowance!"
March 7th: "??? Are you crazy?"
March 7th: "You're the one issuing the military order; why deduct my money if it fails?!"
Stelle: "Aren't we besties?"
Stelle: "Isn't the most basic thing about being besties sharing the burden?"
March 7th: "What about the benefits?"
March 7th: "Did you eat the 'share the joy' part?"
Stelle: "There are benefits."
Stelle: "If I succeed, won't we both become great heroes of Penacony?"
Stelle: "Isn't that sharing the joy?"
March 7th: "Ah, this…"
March 7th: "It seems that's actually the case?"
....
『 The final act of the story, happening at the moment Mikhail was about to reach the end of his life.
[ Misha! Where are you going? ]
In front of Mikhail was the figure of Clockie.
[ Hmm, Clockie, take me to the Dreamflux Reef… ]
[ Last night, I had a very long dream, dreaming of the day we met. ]
[ I want to record that dream. ]
Mikhail's tone was already somewhat weak.
[ Record it… what for? ]
Clockie asked curiously.
[ So that I don't forget some things. ]
[ Clockie, do you still remember where your name came from? ]
Mikhail asked Clockie.
[ Of course I remember! ]
[ You told me that when you were little, you lived in the clock room, and those wall clocks and pocket watches grew up with you—they were your best friends! ]
Clockie said without hesitation.
[ That's right, but I didn't tell you, behind this story… There was a wonderful misunderstanding. ]
[ I was small then. In my memory, there was a special pocket watch. ]
[ It always accompanied Grandfather, followed him on voyages, and pointed the way for him in every adventure story. ]
[ I wanted so much to have a pocket watch like that, and then, you appeared in my dream. ]
Mikhail's voice was somewhat emotional.
[ That's right, every night, we would board the Compass and set sail together! ]
Clockie said excitedly.
[ But do you know? It wasn't until the day Grandfather gave it to me that I suddenly realized that wasn't a pocket watch at all… ]
[ It was a compass. ]
[ So your name should have been Compassie… ]
[ And the Watchmaker... is just a Nameless. ] 』
『 ....』