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Herta Space Station, Ruan Mei's laboratory.
Bang!!!
Stelle brought her bat down with a resounding crack, and the True Sting she hit was instantly flattened into a neon-colored pulp. Seeing the result, Stelle beamed and looked back at Hiroshi, her golden eyes seeking approval.
"How about it, I—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Hiroshi's sixth sense screamed. He rushed forward, wrapping his arm around her soft lower abdomen and yanking her back just as he activated a Preservation shield.
The next second, the flattened bug underwent a violent post-mortem reaction and exploded. The blast triggered a chain reaction among the other nearby True Stings. For a moment, the confined corridor was filled with incessant fire and thunder, as festive and chaotic as a Chinese New Year display.
Under the continuous barrage, Hiroshi's light-orange shield groaned and developed spiderweb cracks. With a final crash, the barrier shattered like glass. The massive concussive force sent both of them flying backward.
Thump!!! Ugh!!!
A dull thud and Stelle's soft cry echoed together. Hiroshi, having cushioned her fall by landing on top of her, felt his hands press against something remarkably soft and warm as he tried to push himself up.
"Hmm?"
Noticing the unusual texture, Hiroshi looked down. He froze. Stelle was pinned beneath him, her cute, innocent face flushed a deep crimson. It was as if an electric current had passed from his palms, through her body, and struck her brain directly.
Hiroshi could feel her heart hammering against his hands like a trapped bird. Stelle looked up at him with wide, confused eyes, silently asking him for the reason behind the strange, pleasant melting sensation she was feeling.
"I'm... I'm so sorry!"
Hiroshi scrambled off her as if he'd been burned, apologizing repeatedly. Damn it! How did this happen? if Kafka or Firefly found out, one would incinerate me in the Star Sea, and the other would use her threads to turn me into confetti!
Stelle sat up slowly, looking at him blankly. Why was he so flustered? She didn't dislike what happened at all. In fact... it felt quite nice. She savored the lingering warmth of his hands in her mind. A sudden, bold curiosity sparked in her eyes.
She walked up to the trembling Hiroshi, her watery golden eyes blinking. "That..."
Hiroshi's forehead was beaded with cold sweat. It's over. She's going to hit me with the bat, isn't she? Even if it was an accident, I've crossed a line... Then, under his anxious gaze, Stelle reached out, grabbed his slender wrist, and deliberately placed his hand back exactly where it had been moments ago.
Immediately, the flutter returned. A jolt of electricity shot through her heart, making her feel light-headed and hazy. A faint voice deep inside her tempted her to want more of this "protection."
Hiroshi's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He abruptly pulled his hand back, his face so red it looked ready to drip blood. What is she doing?! Does she not even know what this implies? Sigh... I'm a beast, taking advantage of her blank-slate mind. I have to make it up to her!
"Ahem, well... let's keep going," Hiroshi squeaked, his voice cracking.
"Oh, okay," Stelle responded, though a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes. She thought he liked it too.
"Um... could you please not tell anyone about what just happened?" Hiroshi lowered his head, his expression pained. "As compensation, I can promise you anything..."
He imagined the fallout. March 7th looking at him like he was cosmic trash. Dan Heng calling him "scum." Asta crying a river of disappointed tears. And Madam Herta... she'd probably stomp on his lower back until he was part of the floor tiling. Just the thought made his spine tingle with terror.
Stelle tilted her head, tapping her chin. He seemed to dislike the touching, but he didn't seem to mind the hugging or the sleeping. "Then... I want to sleep with you from now on."
"Ah!?"
Hiroshi hesitated. He had to return to the Stellaron Hunters eventually. But to save his reputation and keep her quiet... "F-fine..."
Stelle beamed like a child who just won a prize, dancing excitedly around him.
After more trekking through the bio-hazard zones, they finally reached the cultivation chamber of the Emanator of Propagation. Hiroshi scanned the area. If the timeline held, a certain scholar should be here.
Sure enough, a man with a sculpted physique and a literal plaster head appeared ahead, calmly playing international chess against himself.
Stelle gasped and instinctively clutched Hiroshi's arm, hiding behind him. "W-what's that? Is it another one of Ruan Mei's creations?"
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