Chapter 227: Is Himeko a Coffee Master?
Stelle's excitement had barely ignited before a glaring problem doused the flames. Before she could even voice it, Wise had already typed it out for her.
[Wise]: "If the time flow rate is truly different, then how do we explain Mr. Welt having a near real-time conversation with us right now? The Chat Group's information delivery doesn't seem to be affected by the time difference."
The question struck the very heart of the matter. The theory of differing time flows could explain their week-long experience, but it fell apart when faced with the reality of instant messaging. The puzzle had just become exponentially more complex and mind-bending.
It was clear that Stelle was not built for pondering the complex paradoxes of spacetime; she could practically feel her brain threatening to short-circuit.
Instead, she latched onto the most immediate and practical issue at hand.
[Stelle]: "Stop, stop, stop! Let's not worry about things we can't figure out right now! Uncle Yang, why hasn't Himeko joined yet? It's been... hmm, it feels like almost half a day for us since you joined! Could something have changed on her end? What if the invitation has a time limit and expires? That would be such a waste!"
Her sudden panic was contagious, immediately reigniting March 7th's anxiety.
[March 7th]: "Yeah, yeah! Uncle Yang, hurry up and give her a nudge!"
Everyone's attention snapped back to the matter of Himeko joining the group. They awaited Welt's response, their minds still buzzing with deep questions about this clearly abnormal temporal phenomenon.
Stelle's prodding in the chat served as a timely reminder for Welt. He quickly pulled his focus from the baffling discussion about time dilation and reopened the video call with Himeko.
Sunday, standing nearby, watched this with a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
From his perspective, Mr. Welt had just been staring into the void, silent and motionless for a moment. Now, he was suddenly contacting Himeko again. It seemed some form of communication, one he couldn't perceive, had just taken place.
However, out of politeness and his trust in his companion, Sunday didn't press the matter. He simply refocused his concentration on controlling the Harmony puppet, his senses remaining sharp against the unknown darkness of the Herta Space Station.
The call connected almost instantly. Himeko's face appeared on the light screen again, the familiar backdrop of the Astral Express's observation car behind her. The drone swarm had been retracted, but her eyes held a sharp, scrutinizing glint.
"Welt? We just ended the call a moment ago. Did you find something new?" Himeko asked, a hint of imperceptible vigilance coloring her tone. Contacting her again so quickly didn't align with Welt's usually composed and methodical style.
Welt dispensed with the pleasantries, getting straight to the point. "Himeko, long story short, accept that Chat Group invitation first. We can discuss the details in depth after you join. I don't want you to miss the opportunity."
His speaking pace was a fraction faster than usual, betraying the urgency of the situation.
Himeko's brow furrowed slightly. "Welt, this isn't like you. In the span of a few minutes, you've decided that this invitation of unknown origin is completely safe? I'm going to need a more substantial reason than that."
Her suspicion hadn't faded; if anything, it had sharpened. She even began to consider the possibility that this was some kind of trap, a sophisticated simulation of Welt's voice and appearance.
Welt understood her caution and immediately clarified, "It's not that I confirmed its safety so quickly, but that the situation is unique. I just contacted Stelle and the others through that very Chat Group."
"What?" Himeko was stunned. "But... didn't they lose contact in Amphoreus?"
"We did indeed make contact, and that's precisely where the problem lies," Welt said, adjusting his glasses. His gaze was heavy behind the lenses. "According to Stelle and March 7th, they've been active in Amphoreus for about a week, going through several battles and explorations. But according to our time, only a single standard system hour has passed since we lost their signal."
"...A difference in the rate of time flow?" Himeko immediately grasped the key point. As a veteran navigator of the stars, she was no stranger to the theory, but this was the first time she had encountered such a drastic, firsthand example.
Welt confirmed her suspicion. "It's the most reasonable explanation we have at the moment. And it's precisely because I discovered this anomaly that I'm so eager for you to join as well."
He continued, "The invitation mechanism might have a time limit or other unknown restrictions. Stelle and the others are very worried you might miss this chance. Besides, you can talk to them directly in the group to understand the situation in Amphoreus. That's far more reliable than us guessing from out here."
The sheer volume of information was staggering, but Himeko processed it with practiced efficiency: the time dilation, the sudden restoration of contact with the missing team members, the proven authenticity of the Cross-Dimensional Chat Group...
When pieced together, the narrative, though bizarre, was logically self-consistent.
Most, the details about the Chat Group were something only Stelle and the others had mentioned repeatedly, making it exceedingly difficult for an outside party to imitate. Welt's behavior also perfectly matched the reaction he would have after learning his trailblazers were safe.
After a moment of consideration, Himeko made her decision.
She first turned to Black Swan and Pom-Pom, who had been watching the exchange intently. "It's tentatively confirmed that there's no direct danger. It should indeed be the 'Chat Group' that Stelle and the others mentioned."
Then, she cast her gaze back to the shimmering blue light screen hovering before her, where the [Yes] option still glowed softly.
Though she still harbored doubts, the need to confirm the safety of Stelle and the others as soon as possible overrode her hesitation. With a decisive mental command, she selected 'confirm'.
In the short time Himeko had spent hesitating and communicating with Welt, the Chat Group had been anything but idle.
Venti and Hu Tao, using their superb social skills, had already managed to hit it off with everyone.
Venti used his poetic flair to describe the sea of dandelions at Windrise and the simple joy of drinking apple cider, which prompted Lumine and Paimon, who knew Mondstadt well, to chime in with their own fond details.
Hu Tao, meanwhile, was fully embracing her eccentric nature. While peppering everyone with curious questions about the customs of their various worlds, she seized every opportunity to promote her newly conceived "Cross-Dimensional Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Discount Package." Though the sales pitch sounded somewhat ridiculous, her frankness and infectious vitality were surprisingly endearing.
Overall, the two newcomers displayed incredibly approachable personalities and were integrating into the group with remarkable speed.
Just then, the long-awaited system prompt finally chimed through the chat.
[System: Stelle has invited 'Coffee Master' to join the group. Let's give the newcomer a warm welcome!]
A wave of welcome messages instantly flooded the screen.
[Stelle]: "Himeko! You're finally here!"
[March 7th]: "Himeko! Welcome, welcome! We were worried sick!"
[Paimon]: "Ooh! It's another elder of the Astral Express Crew! Welcome, Himeko!"
[Wise]: "Welcome!"
[Hu Tao]: "Welcome, welcome! Another new friend!"
However, for the members of the Astral Express crew, including Welt who had just joined himself, Himeko's default group nickname sent a subtle, amusing ripple through their hearts.
'Coffee Master'.
If one were judging by the actual taste of her coffee, Himeko might still be a considerable distance away from earning the title of "Master."
But if one considered the uniquely "refreshing" effect of her brew—a shock to the system potent enough to leave an indelible impression on anyone who dared to taste it—as well as her own unwavering obsession with the brewing process, then calling her a "Master" in an alternative sense... didn't seem entirely inaccurate.
[Inorin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me!
Want to read ahead on our official home, or unlock 50 advanced chapters (plus an Ad-Free experience) to feed your addiction? Help keep this shameless translator alive here:
(P.S. Replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
🌐 Official Website: elysianreads[.]com
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters & Ad-Free): patreon[.]com/InorinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/InorinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]