After Kafka's departure, March 7th had called Dan Heng out for a stroll, with Stelle following closely behind. For a while, the Astral Express was left in the hands of the elders alone.
Felicity had intended to take a moment of rest, but she couldn't ignore the way Welt kept glancing at her from time to time. With a faint frown, she turned her head, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"Is something the matter, Mr. Welt?"
Welt adjusted his glasses, a faint glint flashing across the lenses. His voice was calm, yet the weight behind his words was unmistakable.
"…The issue the Stellaron Hunter mentioned—the matter of the Stellaron—shouldn't be taken lightly. The Astral Express crew will likely decide through a vote whether or not we head to the Xianzhou Luofu."
His tone was deliberate, measured. But then, as if laying bare a quiet, personal concern, he added,
"Regardless of how the vote turns out… I hope you'll choose not to go to the Luofu."
Felicity tilted her head slightly, a crease forming between her brows.
"Why?"
"…Didn't Madam Herta tell you anything?" Welt's tone dipped, laced with a subtle gravity. "The Xianzhou Luofu is a colossal warship that follows the Path of the Hunt. They obey the will of the Aeon of The Hunt, seeking to eradicate the wicked Denizens of Abundance—regardless of whether it's an ordinary Denizen or even an Emanator. The Alliance will pursue you across the stars, to the very ends of the universe."
His words carried a heavy finality, his gaze steady.
Even if Felicity hadn't done anything wrong—at least, not yet—The Hunt would not care. To them, the only thing that mattered was their eternal mission: to hunt the Abundance, at any cost.
Felicity's eyes sparkled with a strange light, as if something had piqued her interest.
"Isn't that… a good thing?"
Welt's lips tightened.
"It's unlikely The Hunt itself will target you. Their true prey has always been the Aeon of Abundance. They rarely hunt mortals directly… but the Xianzhou? They have their own ways of contacting the Aeon."
His voice grew quieter, almost reluctant. He didn't want to lose Felicity—especially not after witnessing the raw power of the Stellaron she had brought into the void days ago. If the Luofu harbored a Stellaron of similar strength, then the Stellaron Hunter's warning might be all too real. And they would have no choice but to act.
"Mr. Welt, I'm not afraid of death."
Felicity's eyes softened, a glint of mischief dancing in their depths. She blinked slowly, as if testing the waters, her voice gentle, almost teasing.
"If someone in this universe must die… then let it be me."
She spoke as if the words were a casual afterthought, but the quiet determination in her tone was unmistakable.
Welt sighed, the weight of years pressing against his shoulders.
"You have a noble heart. But sometimes, no matter how selfless the intent, sacrifice alone cannot solve a problem."
He had seen too many throw themselves into the flames for others, only to be consumed entirely—yet in their world, often, there had been no other choice. But here… it was different.
Here, they still had choices.
Welt knew his own heart wasn't entirely selfless. Felicity, though a recent addition to the crew, had become part of the Astral Express. He couldn't bear to see her throw herself away for a cause that barely touched them.
"Besides, once the Xianzhou realizes they can't kill you… they might simply bind you in chains. To be locked away, your freedom stripped—sometimes that's a fate worse than death."
Felicity shivered, shrinking her shoulders instinctively. The thought of being imprisoned, unable to move freely, sent a cold shiver down her spine.
That would be worse than death—far worse.
"Passenger Welt is right!"
Pom-Pom, who had been listening quietly all along, finally spoke up, her little hands planted firmly on her hips as she pointed an accusing finger at Felicity. Her voice was fierce, filled with righteous indignation.
"Pom-Pom won't stand by and watch a passenger throw her life away!"
"…Uh…"
Felicity blinked, her mind racing for an excuse. She couldn't possibly let something so trivial stop her here, could she? After a long, awkward pause, she spoke, her voice solemn, as if confessing some great truth.
"…Actually, I have another reason I need to go."
Himeko's warm voice drifted in, gentle yet probing.
"Oh? And what is that reason?"
"I have a strange sense of unease." Felicity's tone shifted, adopting a serious air. "Sure, a single Stellaron might not be able to threaten a giant ship like the Xianzhou Luofu… but what if an Emanator is involved?"
Her words hung in the air, deliberate—crafted carefully, despite being little more than a guess.
Welt's brows furrowed, a subtle sharpness entering his gaze.
"An… Emanator?"
Her words aligned all too well with the warnings from the Stellaron Hunter. A single Stellaron might not topple the Luofu—but an Emanator lurking in the shadows? That was another matter entirely. Welt fell silent, the pieces slotting together in his mind.
He would have to weigh this carefully.
"We'll discuss it again once the decision is made."
His voice carried a rare hint of hesitation, a slight uncertainty.
Helping those in danger was part of their philosophy… yet would the Xianzhou truly accept help from Felicity—an Emanator of Abundance? That was a question that had no easy answer.
"By the way," Felicity asked suddenly, her voice curious. "The Xianzhou Luofu doesn't discriminate against all who follow the Path of Abundance… right?"
Dan Heng, who had just returned from speaking with March 7th and Stelle about the Stellaron Hunter's message, spoke in a calm, measured tone.
"The Xianzhou Luofu mainly hunts those believers who seek immortality through the Aeon of Abundance. Ordinary Pathstriders aren't typically their target."
Felicity's lips curled into a slow smile, her eyes glinting mischievously.
"Then all I have to do is disguise myself as an ordinary Pathstrider, right?"
"In theory… it's possible."
Dan Heng's expression was serious. There were those on the Luofu who followed the Path of Abundance—after all, who would reject a healer whose sole purpose was to cure the sick and save lives?
The issue lay with those who had strayed too far down the Path—those like Felicity, who possessed the terrifying might of an Emanator.
Still, Felicity noticed March 7th blinking at her rapidly, her eyes sparkling as if trying to send some secret signal.
Unfortunately, Felicity wasn't nearly clever enough to understand such elaborate blinking. She simply blinked back, innocent and confused.
Himeko's warm voice rose, drawing the room's attention.
"Now that everyone's here, let's vote on our course of action."
Her gaze swept the Astral Express, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"Raise your hand if you agree to head to the Xianzhou Luofu. If you disagree, don't raise your hand. Three… two… one—"
Except for Dan Heng, who kept his arms crossed in quiet thought, the others raised their hands without hesitation.
"Five to one," Himeko murmured, her voice calm, "The Astral Express will go to the Xianzhou Luofu."
Stelle immediately turned to March 7th, her gaze sharp.
"Think about it. If what that woman said is true, we can't just sit back while innocent people are harmed. Now's not the time to be willful… hehe."
March 7th stuck out her tongue, a sheepish smile spreading across her face, a hint of embarrassment lingering in her eyes.
"You're a woman of great justice," Stelle grumbled, though her voice had softened. March 7th's playful expression had melted away her frustration in an instant.
"Hehe~" March 7th grinned, hands on her hips, pleased with herself.
"Ah… that's just how March 7th is," Welt muttered, shaking his head slightly. His gaze lingered on Felicity, a faint crease forming between his brows as if lost in thought. After a long, heavy pause, he sighed softly, his voice low.
"Just remember—once you arrive at the Xianzhou Luofu, avoid taking action unless it's absolutely necessary."
"Mm-hm!"
Felicity nodded brightly, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
--+--
T/N: I lowkey find the misunderstanding that Felicity's wish to die is somehow twisted into her being a compassionate person kinda funny.