Chapter 258

【I'll pass.】

【However, I wish you a good time; if you don't mind, let's play a few more rounds later.】

Stelle: "Playing a few rounds is fine."

Stelle: "But I'm bringing Sister Acheron along to play!!"

Aventurine: "???"

Aventurine: "Friend, what do you mean by this?"

Aventurine: "Bringing a bodyguard?"

Stelle: "Only then can I have a sense of security!"

Stelle: "Acheron, Sister Acheron, you'll protect me, right? (Pitiful. pg)"

Acheron: "Uh..."

Acheron: "Since you've said so, I won't refuse."

Acheron: "It's just that I might get lost..."

Stelle: "It's fine~"

Stelle: "I'll be your navigator!!"

Miss Qingque: "Oh my, see that?"

Miss Qingque: "This is the classic 'the crying child gets the milk'!!"

Miss Qingque: "Everyone, learn from this!"

March 7th: "Child?"

March 7th: "I've truly never seen a child this big."

Stelle: "Hehe, now you have."

The video continues.

Stelle bids farewell to Aventurine and Boothill,

and continues walking.

And after walking for a while,

she meets another acquaintance.

It is Dr. Ratio.

【Oh? I remember you; your performance at Herta Space Station... was basically passing.】

【Heh, no wonder that gambler values you so much.】

As soon as Dr. Ratio sees Stelle,

he starts grading her.

【Professor Ratio, please give me an autograph!!】

Stelle's brain circuit functions normally,

and she starts asking Dr. Ratio for an autograph.

【Don't always try to be clever like that gambler.】

【This time I'll turn a blind eye, but don't let it happen again.】

【Alright, isn't the Charmony Festival about to start?】

【Rare opportunity, go; only by balancing work and rest can one better absorb knowledge.】

Dr. Ratio waves his hand,

saying indifferently.

【Professor, how do you evaluate Aventurine?】

Stelle is suddenly curious to ask Dr. Ratio for his opinion on Aventurine.

【The administrative personnel of the IPC and the Society define us as strategic partners.】

【But in my view, I can only ever play the teacher, while he is the student, just like you and everyone else.】

【From this perspective, Aventurine is not a good student, but he is definitely not a blockhead.】

【Unfortunately, the void in his heart can never be filled by talent and knowledge...】

【I hope he won't end up as a philosophical zombie.】

Stelle: "Oh my, unbelievable."

Stelle: "The Professor's evaluation of Aventurine is actually quite high."

March 7th: "Then what about his evaluation of you?"

Stelle: "Also quite high."

Stelle: "High enough to surprise me."

Furina: "Uh... 'basically passing'... is that also called high?"

Aventurine: "Hahaha."

Aventurine: "Miss Furina, you don't know."

Aventurine: "According to the Professor's nature, the lowest score with him is not zero."

Aventurine: "It's a negative score!"

Aventurine: "So, you understand."

Hu Tao: "There are negative scores for grading???"

Hu Tao: "Good heavens!"

Hu Tao: "If you put it that way, the gold content of the passing line is really ridiculously high!"

The video continues.

【Professor, honestly, I thought you would tell me to focus.】

Stelle scratches her head and says.

【Heh, asking such a question means you don't understand the purpose of learning at all.】

【Balancing work and rest has its scientific basis; the relevant demonstration process can be referred to in the academic journal "Star-Grasping", Issue 31467, page 21.】

【Absorbing knowledge is for living better; don't put the cart before the horse like those idiots in the Society.】

Stelle: "Wait!"

Stelle: "What issue and what page???"

Stelle: "Professor, did you read all these academic journals and then memorize them all?!"

Dr. Ratio: "Don't make a fuss."

Dr. Ratio: "Is this difficult?"

March 7th: "....."

Miss Qingque: "I say... is this naked humble-bragging?"

Hu Tao: "This doesn't seem to be a question of whether it's difficult or not."

Hu Tao: "But something that ordinary people simply can't do!!"

Zhongli: "Speaking from a universal rational perspective, indeed."

Dr. Ratio: "Hmm, not considering the average memory capacity of ordinary people is my problem."

Dr. Ratio: "However, within the atmosphere of your capabilities, I still suggest reading more of these things."

Dr. Ratio: "Because they are truly very useful."

Alhaitham: "Agreed."

The video continues.

【Professor, I wish you a good time at the festival.】

Stelle smiles and starts to bid farewell to Ratio.

【Hmph, I'll pass.】

Ratio nods.

Subsequently, Stelle starts to continue walking forward.

But after walking for a while,

she meets Topa and Numby again.

【Oh, isn't this Stelle?】

【How long has it been, we're meeting again.】

【How have you been lately?】

Topa sees Stelle and starts greeting her with a smile.

【Oink... oink!】

Numby next to her also greets her.

【I want to change jobs.】

Stelle says jokingly.

【Hmm?】

【So direct, aren't you afraid I'll take it seriously?】

【But come to think of it, the life of you Nameless is indeed a bit too exciting.】

【I heard you guys pulled off a big stunt before, taking down the entire Oak Family in one go.】

【If one day you're really tired and want to change your work environment, sit in an office or something, contact me anytime!】

【Look at how lively this ship is, it's really nice.】

【When I'm not busy one day, I'll also hold a big party on the ecological ship, and I'll definitely invite you all then.】

March 7th: "Stelle, why are you always thinking about changing jobs?"

Stelle: "Isn't it because the treatment for being a Stoneheart looks pretty good?"

Stelle: "So I'm a bit tempted."

Silver Wolf: "I think you're just coveting their Cornerstone."

Stelle: "Nonsense, that's one-tenth of an Emanator's power!"

Stelle: "Who wouldn't covet that?"

Stelle: "Reasonably speaking, if I were a Trailblaze Emanator, I definitely wouldn't covet it."

Miss Qingque: "Trailblaze Emanator?"

Miss Qingque: "I haven't really heard of that."

Hu Tao: "Hasn't the Trailblaze Aeon already fallen?"

Hu Tao: "Will there be no more Trailblaze Emanators in the future?"

Dan Heng: "Theoretically speaking, that is the case."

Dan Heng: "Unless there are still surviving Trailblaze Emanators."

Stelle: "Sigh, which Aeon is still short of Emanators?"

Stelle: "I really want to be one!"

Sparkle: "Elation welcomes you."

Stelle: "Ah, this..."

Stelle: "Being Aha's Emanator... I'm afraid I'd become a joke."

Stelle: "I don't dare."

Furina: "Speaking of which, it feels like neither of the 'one days' Miss Topa mentioned can be realized."

Paimon: "Looking at Miss Stelle's forever energetic appearance, I really can't imagine her ever getting tired."

Paimon: "As for Miss Topa..."

Paimon: "Will you really ever have a time when you're not busy?"

Lumine: "The IPC's business is probably terrifyingly large."

Lumine: "Unless it's a holiday, I feel like you're busy all the time."

Topa: "Cough, cough... indeed very busy."

Topa: "But it doesn't matter, we can always wait for a big vacation!"

The video continues.

【I also want to ask you a question...】

【... an you transform too?】

Stelle hesitates for a moment and asks a question that leaves Topa dumbfounded.

【Trans... orm?】

【What are you talking about?】

【Oh... I understand.】

【You're talking about that guy Aventurine's Cornerstone, right?】

【I'm sorry, compared to him, my ability might not be that visual.】

【It's fine to tell you; the Cornerstone abilities of the Stonehearts are all different. Some can even read your thoughts directly and manipulate your desires... be careful.】

【Thinking about it, back in Belobog, it's a good thing Bronya arrived in time—if she had been a step late, we might not even be friends~】

Stelle: "If Bronya had been a step late, we could have seen Topa transform!"

Bronya: "Uh..."

Topa: "I already said, I really can't transform!"

Topa: "Why don't you guys believe me?"

March 7th: "Reasonably speaking, I don't believe it either."

March 7th: "Unless Miss Topa demonstrates it for us."

Paimon: "Transforming... is really cool!"

Paimon: "If Paimon could transform, that would be great."

Lumine: "Paimon will turn into emergency food."

Paimon: "???"

Paimon: "Lumine, you guy, don't always say I'm emergency food, hey!"

Hu Tao: "Read thoughts, manipulate desires."

Hu Tao: "This should be referring to Ms. Jade's ability, right?"

Furina: "It seems so."

Furina: "It seems that just as Miss Topa said, the powers of the Stonehearts are all different."

Miss Qingque: "More curious about what Diamond's ability actually is."

Guinaifen: "Perhaps it's just, dividing into ten?"

Miss Sushang: "It shouldn't just be this one ability, right?"

Miss Sushang: "Although this ability is also very strong..."

The video continues.

After Stelle chats with Topa for a while, she leaves.

She continues walking toward the festival venue,

but passes by a place that makes her curious.

After thinking about it, Stelle decides to go in and take a look.

【Hello, lively young lady.】

【Welcome to Bonajade Exchange.】

【How should I address you?】

Seeing Stelle walk in,

Jade in the room reveals a smile.

【My name is March 7th!!】

Stelle impersonates March 7th's name.

【No problem, addressing you by that name is fine.】

【So, Miss March 7th—what do you want?】

【And what are you willing to pay for it?】

March 7th: "This girl doesn't want anything, and isn't willing to pay anything!!"

March 7th: "Ahhh! Damn it!"

March 7th: "Stelle, you guy, why are you impersonating this girl!"