She waddled over to the bar counter like a clumsy penguin, practically leaning on it, and looked up at the person, marveling, "Putting on colored contacts and changing outfits... Tsk, tsk, you definitely look much... smarter than before, huh?"
Stelle struggled to find the right adjective. Although she felt the outfit and demeanor were somewhat familiar, perhaps fleetingly glimpsed in a vague memory fragment from Belobog, her current chaotic thoughts prevented her from dwelling on it.
Long Night Moon listened to Stelle's nonsensical commentary, a flicker of helplessness and amusement passing through her crimson eyes.
She let out a soft "Hmph," her tone slightly playful, "How are you so sure that I am March 7th?"
"Eh?"
Stelle tilted her head, a simple movement that nearly made her lose her balance.
She held onto the edge of the bar counter, scrutinized the person again, and stated with increased certainty, "You... you're telling me this isn't March 7th?"
She pointed at the person's face, then collapsed onto the counter, groaning, "Stop messing around, March, find me something to eat! I'm starving... Herta practically tried to turn me into a Stellaron jerky using the simulated universe..."
Long Night Moon casually waved her hand, her tone light but leaving no room for negotiation: "There's nothing to eat, though."
"How could you do this—"
Stelle drew out the sound, sounding like a wronged large dog, "March—!"
Long Night Moon leaned in slightly, her crimson eyes gazing at Stelle up close, her voice carrying a strange magnetism: "You need to look closely. I am not March 7th."
"...Huh?"
Stelle looked utterly bewildered, her brain completely crashing. "Then... then who are you?"
"Me..." Long Night Moon straightened up, a mysterious curve forming on her lips, "I am March 7th's older sister."
"Older sister?"
Stelle repeated the word that made her heart skip a beat. Her drowsiness instantly vanished, replaced by an almost reflexive wariness.
She tentatively asked, "You... are March 7th's older sister?"
"That's right."
Long Night Moon answered cleanly and decisively, her gaze open.
"Are you sure?"
Stelle's voice rose an octave. Instantly, Herta's face flashed in her mind—the one that darkened like thunderclouds at the word "older sister"—along with the "wonderful" memory of being punched away and plastered onto the glass like a mural.
The shadow of that memory instantly overshadowed her hunger.
"Why... why is there another older sister?!"
She couldn't help but mutter under her breath, wondering if the world had some strange obsession with the word "older sister."
She even began to suspect that her extreme fatigue was causing hallucinations, or that the after-effects of the simulated universe were finally kicking in.
Stelle forcefully rubbed her face, trying to clear her head, and then adopted a "I'm not easily fooled" posture, though her pale complexion and swaying body made the claim unconvincing: "Proof! Do you have any proof? Empty words mean nothing!"
She felt she had learned her lesson this time and would never again be fooled by a few flimsy words, like she was by the Herta "older sister" previously.
However, Long Night Moon seemed to have been prepared.
There was no panic on her face from being questioned; instead, she displayed a composed smile that said, "I knew you would ask that."
Unhurriedly, she took a smooth photo of a group picture from a hidden pocket in her skirt and gently pushed it onto the bar counter in front of Stelle.
"Here, see for yourself."
Stelle picked up the photo skeptically. After just one look, she froze.
The photo clearly showed March 7th and the "older sister" in front of her, leaning close together in a snapshot!
Both of them were smiling brilliantly. March 7th looked carefree and happy as usual, while the "older sister" beside her wore a gentle yet mysterious smile.
The photo had clear resolution, natural lighting, and vivid expressions, with no obvious signs of splicing or modification!
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