Chapter 17: Why? (+Omake)

The Herta Space Station maintained its usual routine.

Some researchers were reviewing data, while others conducted experiments in the laboratories. The atmosphere was as monotonous as ever—until Asta, frowning and arms crossed, checked her screen again.

"They're not responding..." she murmured.

For several minutes, she had been trying to contact Aleph and Stelle without success. At first, she assumed they were busy, but Stelle was always quick to reply, so it didn't make much sense. Besides, they didn't have much to move, really.

It would make sense if they had finished quickly, but when she asked around, everyone reported the same thing—no signs of Stelle or Aleph anywhere on the space station.

Beside her, Arlan looked at the screen with a serious expression.

"Maybe they just can't answer," he suggested, though he didn't sound convinced either.

Asta clicked her tongue.

"If they were in the station, the system would register their locations. But there's no trace of them anywhere."

Arlan didn't respond immediately. He had known Stelle long enough to know she was tough but also unpredictable. If something had happened to them, it would be a serious problem.

"We could check the storage room," he proposed. "If there's a communication malfunction, we might detect something from there."

Asta nodded quickly.

"Yes, better to make sure."

The two hurried off—after all, they had to do it before Herta asked for them or before they got overloaded with work.

....

Storage Area

Asta tapped on her device, and the door slid open with a soft hum.

"Nothing seems off," Arlan said, scanning the area with a hand on his belt, ready for anything.

The shelves were filled with neatly labeled boxes. The sterile white lighting made everything seem even more normal.

Asta walked up to a terminal and checked the room's records.

"Nothing unusual…"

But at that moment, a sound began to resonate in the air.

A low, electric hum.

Arlan reacted instantly, drawing his sword.

"Asta…"

Before he could say anything else, a surge of energy ripped through the room.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!

A blinding flash filled the space.

Asta and Arlan barely had time to react before an explosion of energy struck them with force.

CRASH!

Both were thrown backward.

Something—or rather, someone—had been flung out of the portal that had opened in the center of the room.

Two bodies landed directly on top of them.

The sound of impact echoed through the room, followed by an awkward silence.

Asta groaned in pain, feeling a crushing weight on her back.

"Ugh… what the hell…?"

Arlan, who had ended up face-first on the floor, managed to turn his head to see what had hit them.

"…Oh."

On top of them, Aleph and Stelle were completely unconscious.

Aleph, with a small wound on his forehead, was holding Stelle in his arms. Though motionless, Stelle was gripping her bat tightly.

Arlan tried to move Aleph's arm to see if he would react, but the boy barely let out a grunt.

"This is definitely not normal…" Arlan muttered, shaking his hand. When he touched Aleph, it felt like he had received a weak electric shock.

Asta stood up and dusted off her clothes.

She tried to move Stelle's bat, but it didn't budge an inch.

She frowned.

"Arlan, help me get this off her."

The young man tried to grip the bat with both hands and use leverage, but nothing.

It was as if it was glued to her fingers.

"What the hell…?"

Suddenly, Stelle's fingers twitched slightly.

Asta and Arlan fell silent.

And then—

SWOOSH!

The bat suddenly swung down and slammed into the floor, creating a metallic echo in the room.

Arlan immediately stepped back.

"Was she always this on guard?"

Asta swallowed hard.

"She's not even awake, yet she hit that hard... What did they run into that could cause this kind of response even while unconscious?"

The two exchanged glances, realizing this wasn't just a simple case of passing out or going missing.

Asta took a deep breath and pulled out her communicator.

"This is Asta. I request immediate medical assistance in the storage room. We have two injured in an indeterminate condition."

A voice responded instantly.

"Received. Dispatching a team now."

Asta looked at Aleph and Stelle with a mix of concern and confusion.

"What the hell happened to them…?"

Arlan remained silent, watching as Stelle continued to hold onto her bat even in this state.

Whatever they had experienced, it hadn't been normal.

…

The paramedics arrived in less than three minutes.

A doctor knelt beside Aleph and checked his vitals.

"He's stable but completely drained."

Another tried to examine Stelle, but…

"I can't do a proper check with this bat in her hands."

They tried to move it gently, but Stelle's arm twitched reflexively and pushed them away.

The medics exchanged looks.

"Is she conscious?"

"No. That was just a reflex."

One of the doctors tried to administer a muscle relaxant, but before he could touch her—

THWACK!

The bat moved again, knocking over the tray of medical tools, sending syringes and equipment scattering across the floor.

Everyone fell silent.

Asta rubbed her temples in frustration.

"I think we'll have to take her like this."

One of the paramedics sighed.

Why was this job getting worse every day?

"Alright, then. Prep the stretchers."

…

Aleph and Stelle were transported on stretchers through the station's hallways.

Some crew members watched curiously, seeing the state they were in.

One of the doctors whispered to a colleague.

"Should we keep trying to remove it?"

The other shook his head.

"No. We don't know how she'll react if we try again," he said, remembering how someone had nearly gotten hit in the head when they tried to forcefully take the bat away.

Asta walked alongside them, frowning.

Arlan followed silently.

Something about all this was unsettling. Remembering their last conversation—hadn't they asked about that old Herta machine collecting dust?

That meant the machine had probably worked as intended.

And if that was true, then what had they seen? What had they experienced that left them in this state? Or… was this just a consequence of making the journey?

A part of her wanted to wake them up and demand answers to satisfy her curiosity.

But another, with greater empathy, decided to let them rest and ask later.

******

Infirmary

The doors slid open with a faint hum as they entered.

The medical staff was already prepared, with stretchers and equipment ready.

"Place them in the monitoring units," ordered one of the doctors.

Aleph was placed on a special bed with sensors that immediately began recording his brain and physical activity.

Stelle, on the other hand, was moved with extreme care.

The staff made sure not to touch the bat.

As soon as they laid her on the stretcher, she unconsciously turned onto her side, clutching the bat against her chest as if it were part of her body.

Asta observed the scene with her arms crossed.

"Alright… now that they're stable, I need a full report on their vitals."

The doctors started analyzing the data on the screens.

One of them exchanged a bewildered look with a colleague.

"This doesn't make sense…"

Asta tensed.

"What's wrong?"

The doctor pointed at Aleph's monitor.

"Physically, he seems completely exhausted. But his energy levels are… unusually high."

Asta frowned, studying the graphs.

The energy inside Aleph fluctuated erratically, as if his body were still adjusting to something new.

"It's like his system is going through a recalibration…"

"Exactly," the doctor confirmed. "It doesn't seem dangerous, but it is abnormal."

Asta turned toward Stelle's screen.

What she saw wasn't any better.

"Why are her muscle activity levels so high?"

Another doctor reviewed the data and shook his head.

"We don't fully understand, but her reflexes appear to be hyperactive, even in this state."

Asta glanced at Stelle.

The doctor who had tried to take her bat sighed.

"No matter what we do, her instincts remain on alert. And trying to sedate her only triggers even more aggressive reactions."

Asta didn't respond immediately.

Finally, she closed her eyes for a moment and sighed.

"Keep them under monitoring. Let me know the moment they wake up."

The doctors nodded.

Asta turned and left the infirmary, with Arlan following close behind.

.....

"What do you think about all this?" Arlan asked.

Asta folded her arms, deep in thought.

"Whatever happened to them… it was really rough."

Arlan nodded slowly.

"I don't know much about Aleph, but with Stelle around, I wouldn't be surprised if they got into trouble the moment they landed wherever they ended up."

Asta shot him a sideways glance.

"Is that a joke?"

"No. I mean it. Don't you remember when you asked her to play with Peppy, and she ended up fighting him over the frisbee?" Arlan shrugged. "That day, a lot of people ended up in the infirmary just because they got caught in the middle while those two chased after it."

Asta sighed.

"Well, for now, there's nothing else we can do. We just have to wait."

The two fell silent for a moment.

Finally, Arlan asked,

"Are you going to tell Lady Herta?"

Asta crossed her arms.

"No. She's still in a meeting with Mr. Yang and Himeko. There's no need to interrupt her just yet. You know how irritable she gets when she's disturbed."

Arlan raised an eyebrow.

"But at some point, she'll have to know. You remember, they came here today specifically for her tests."

Asta nodded.

"Yeah. But if we interrupt her meeting without clear information, she'll just get more annoyed and ignore us."

Arlan glanced toward the infirmary doors, looking thoughtful.

******

The dim lights flickered softly as the monitors recorded the two patients' vitals.

The room was silent.

Until…

A slight movement.

Aleph was the first to show signs of consciousness.

His fingers twitched slightly.

His breathing deepened.

And then…

His golden eyes opened.

Meanwhile, Stelle also began to stir.

Her eyelashes fluttered, her muscles tensed slightly.

And she gripped her bat even tighter.

The monitors beeped.

One of the doctors glanced at the readings and stiffened.

"They're waking up."

He quickly moved closer.

Aleph, still dazed, slowly turned his head. He placed a hand on his forehead, wincing from a splitting headache.

The bright lights in the room forced him to squint.

"Ugh… someone get me the license plate of the truck that ran me over?" he muttered as he sat up.

From her own bed, Stelle let out a small groan as she sat up as well.

"No… more, I swear I'll be good… no more Himeko's coffee…"

The doctor turned to a nurse.

"Call Lady Asta."

************

Conference Room

The metallic walls of the space station's conference room were lined with holographic screens displaying real-time data. In the center, a floating table with a control panel projected information about Stellerons, and anomalies detected in certain individuals.

Herta lounged in a reclining chair, her expression— as always— reflecting boredom. Across from her, Welt and Himeko examined a projection of a report on Aleph and Stelle.

"So, what you're telling me," Herta murmured, playing with a tiny floating model of herself in front of her face, "is that this Aleph guy has a Stellaron inside him and yet hasn't exploded into a thousand pieces?"

Welt adjusted his glasses, his usual calm expression unchanged.

"It's more complex than that," he corrected. "He shows no signs of corruption or chaotic alterations like a typical host would. His energy structure is stable."

Herta yawned.

"Yeah, yeah, fascinating. And what about Stelle? She hasn't exploded either, which is honestly a disappointment for my expectations."

Himeko rolled her eyes.

"Herta, we're talking about human lives, not experiments."

Herta ignored the remark, spinning her floating model idly.

"Experiments are the foundation of all knowledge. But fine, since you brought them here, you want me to take a look at them, right? I was already supposed to examine Stelle, so adding one more shouldn't be much trouble."

Before anyone could respond, the door slid open with a soft hum, and an assistant rushed inside.

"Miss Herta," they greeted with a small nod. "We've received a report from the infirmary. Subjects Aleph and Stelle have reappeared, showing extreme exhaustion and anomalous fluctuations in their vitals."

Herta raised an eyebrow.

"They disappeared and came back injured?" Her tone carried no particular emotion. "Take them to the infirmary."

The assistant hesitated.

"They… they're already in the infirmary, ma'am. And they're conscious."

"They're already conscious? What happened to them?"

"Erm… it seems they were in the storage area and accidentally activated one of your discarded projects— the dimensional gate."

"The dimensional gate worked? Huh."

Herta stopped playing with her miniature, and for the first time in the conversation, her eyes glimmered with interest.

Welt and Himeko exchanged concerned looks.

"Perhaps we should go check on them," Himeko suggested, crossing her arms.

"I agree," Welt nodded.

Herta sighed.

"Well, I suppose this is more interesting than sitting here. Let's go."

And with that, the three left the room.

********

Infirmary

The automatic doors slid open as Herta, Welt, and Himeko entered.

Aleph and Stelle were sitting on their respective monitoring beds. Though they seemed to be recovering, something about their condition was… off.

Aleph sat with his arms crossed, staring tiredly at the diagnostic screen, while Stelle still clung to her bat as if it were part of her body.

Asta was already there, standing with her arms crossed, reviewing the data on the monitors alongside the medical staff. Noticing Herta and the others, she turned and gave a small nod.

"They woke up recently. Their condition is stable, but—"

Before she could finish, Herta was already standing beside Aleph, leaning in for a closer look.

"Interesting."

Aleph shivered at her expression.

"What's interesting?" he asked cautiously while reciting in his mind:

"Not all lolis are evil, not all lolis are evil..."

Herta straightened and frowned.

"They shouldn't be in this state from just a simple portal."

Stelle rolled her eyes and muttered,

"You'd be surprised what a portal can do when it's in the mood."

Herta ignored her.

"I want to analyze both of you," she declared. "Your bodies are exhibiting strange behaviors, and from what those two told me, this guy also has a Stellaron. I'd like to make a comparison— I need answers."

Aleph tensed at her words.

They were different, but uncomfortably similar to what that crazy evil toaster, Supreme Herta, had said.

…Wait. Didn't they call this loli Herta too?

Himeko and Welt approached with interest.

"Before that," Himeko said in a gentler tone, "we want to know exactly what happened to you two."

Aleph and Stelle exchanged glances.

"...It's complicated," Aleph began, choosing his words carefully.

"We encountered certain… anomalies," Stelle continued. "There were dimensional fluctuations, a bunch of confusing things, and we ended up in a place where time and space didn't quite function normally."

They left out any mention of Herta Jr., Supreme Herta, Flynn, or Caelus. Those details would be saved for when they were in private.

Herta narrowed her eyes.

"You're hiding something," she murmured.

Aleph forced a smile.

"Maybe. But if we told you now, it would be even more confusing."

Herta sighed and waved her hand dismissively.

"Fine, I'll figure it out myself." Then, she turned her gaze toward Aleph.

"So, Aleph, would you be interested in staying at the space station as a research subject for me? You're a really fascinating case."

A cold sweat ran down Aleph's back.

Images of Herta Jr. and Supreme Herta flashed through his mind once again.

"Uh… I appreciate the offer, but… no, no thanks."

Herta stared at him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Very sure."

She observed him for a moment longer, then shrugged.

"How boring."

Aleph sighed in relief.

*******

Asta approached Welt and Himeko, her expression serious.

"So, what exactly happened?"

Aleph and Stelle exchanged another glance.

"As we said before," Aleph replied, "the portal took us somewhere strange. There were forces we don't fully understand, and we had to adapt quickly to survive."

"But we're fine," Stelle added. "Well… as fine as we can be after all that."

Asta, Welt, and Himeko watched them closely but didn't push further.

"For now, you should rest," Himeko advised.

"Yes," Welt agreed. "And when you feel ready to talk more, we'll be here to listen."

Aleph and Stelle nodded.

As the others walked away, Aleph exhaled and muttered,

"That was close."

Stelle elbowed him.

"You almost gave us away."

"No, you did."

"It was you."

*********

The silence in the infirmary was heavy, interrupted only by the soft hum of the monitors and the occasional beeping that signaled the vital signs of the two patients.

Aleph lay on his bed, wearing a tired expression, his mind replaying recent events.

Stelle, on a bed close to his, stared into nothingness with an expression... well, without expression. For some reason, she was murmuring about a traitor and a debt to pay while stroking her bat.

...Ignoring her seemed like a better idea.

Not much time had passed since Welt, Himeko, and Asta had left them alone. For the first time since they had woken up, they had a moment to breathe.

"Mmm… so you're the ones who kept the medical staff and Herta busy?"

Both turned their heads at the same time.

The figure standing at the doorway was a strikingly beautiful woman. Her long black hair cascaded elegantly over her shoulders, contrasting with her deep blue eyes, which seemed to observe them with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

She wore a refined outfit, blending soft colors with golden accents, giving her a look that was both sophisticated and relaxed.

In her hand, she held a small plate with a delicate dessert, from which she took a bite with an almost lazy elegance before smiling at them.

"Want one?" she asked, kindly extending the plate. Her gaze settled on Stelle, then on the one closest to her—Aleph.

Her hands moved, touching his face. Then they passed over his torso.

"Who are you?"

Stelle immediately frowned, clearly distrustful of this sudden stranger.

"My name is Ruan Mei. I hope I didn't scare you. This is, so to speak, a work habit. I use touch to open my senses, allowing the details of your biological existence to flood my brain and help me understand your construction as a living organism."

The woman smiled gently, as if trying to calm them.

"This is the foundation of construction and deconstruction. Don't worry, you're in great health—perfect, actually. You're a perfect specimen. I like perfect experimental specimens."

Aleph, however, remained completely still.

It wasn't just her appearance that put him on alert.

It was her name.

Ruan Mei.

The sound of those two words made his stomach tighten slightly.

Aleph reacted immediately, controlling his expression so it wouldn't betray the sudden tension running through his body.

He calmly averted his gaze, pretending to be more interested in the infirmary's white wall than in the woman standing before him.

Because in his mind, a series of images surfaced uncontrollably.

Ruan Mei's "children."

Those ugly things that vaguely reminded him of Beelzebub.

Supreme Herta had almost unleashed them back then when she intended to eliminate Stelle and Caelus.

And while those monsters hadn't been able to escape thanks to Junior Herta's quick intervention, what disturbed Aleph the most wasn't their strength—it was the fact that they represented an attempt to replicate an emanator of the Aeon of Propagation, Tayzzyronth.

Junior Herta's voice echoed in his memory.

"They're experimental creations. A more stable and weaker version, apparently based on Ruan Mei's experiment, which was actually 'partially successful.'"

Aleph took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax his shoulders.

"Don't judge her for what another version of her did."

That line of thinking was the most logical.

He knew this universe could have significant differences from the one he had known before.

But.

He couldn't afford to let his guard down—not until he confirmed things.

.....

Meanwhile, Stelle continued watching Ruan Mei warily, though she didn't quite understand why Aleph seemed so tense.

The woman, however, didn't seem to notice the tension in the air. Or, if she did, she simply didn't care.

Ruan Mei took another bite of her dessert and then sighed with a satisfied expression.

"You should eat something. Going so long without sugar is bad," she commented in a casual tone.

Aleph glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

"I don't usually accept food from strangers," he replied calmly, though his mind was still processing the situation.

Ruan Mei tilted her head slightly, as if evaluating his response.

"How cautious. Though I can assure you there's nothing wrong with it," she said with a slight smile before turning her attention to Stelle. "And you?"

Stelle simply stared at her without saying a word, crossing her arms.

"I'm not hungry."

The scientist chuckled softly.

"Well, what a serious group I've run into."

Aleph let out a sigh and lay back down, staring at the ceiling.

A single thought crossed his mind.

"Why are sexy women almost always crazy?"

It was a question without an answer.

**************************************************************************

Not gonna lie, I really like Ruan Mei's design. God, I got so lucky today—I pulled two 5-stars in two 10-pulls.

I got Yunli and Bronya.

********************************

Omake: Aleph and Stelle Go to the Dentist

Act 1: The Obligation

In the vast immensity of the cosmos, there are threats of all kinds. Creatures from other worlds, wars between galaxies, entities that defy reality itself…

But none of them are as feared by our heroes as… a visit to the dentist.

....

The Astral Express moved calmly through the stars. It was a day like any other. Himeko enjoyed her coffee, Welt reviewed his notes, Dan Heng read in silence, and March 7th… well, she was probably planning another prank.

"No way!"

From the train's cafeteria, two desperate voices shattered the peace.

Aleph and Stelle came running down the hallway, their faces filled with terror. The first had wide eyes, as if he had seen death itself, while the second only murmured in a low voice.

"It's over… we've been condemned… the train betrayed us…"

Himeko raised an eyebrow.

"Let me guess. Did you get caught trying to steal more desserts from the kitchen?"

Welt adjusted his glasses.

"Or maybe you blew up Herta's space station again?"

March 7th grinned.

"Or did you bet Pom-Pom that you could empty the Express' pantry in less than 24 hours?"

Aleph and Stelle looked at them with pure horror.

"No, it's worse than that…" Aleph muttered.

"Much worse…" Stelle added.

And then, behind them, Pom-Pom appeared.

The small conductor of the Astral Express walked calmly, but with an air of absolute judgment. His fluffy fur did nothing to soften the stern look he had at that moment.

"So here you are. The two criminals."

Aleph swallowed hard.

"Pom-Pom, buddy, we can talk about this."

Stelle nodded frantically.

"Yeah, I'm sure we can reach an agreement. Maybe reduce our sentence? Can we bribe you with some exotic tea from another planet?"

But Pom-Pom only looked at them even more sternly.

"NO negotiations! You two have been reckless with your diet, consuming an obscene amount of sweets and desserts, and you haven't been to the dentist in years!"

Silence fell over the room.

Himeko, Welt, Dan Heng, and March 7th slowly turned to look at Aleph and Stelle.

"…Wait, how long has it been since you last went to the dentist?" Dan Heng asked curiously.

Aleph and Stelle exchanged glances. Then, as if it were the most normal thing in the world, they answered in unison.

"What's a dentist?"

Silence.

Welt closed his eyes and sighed.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

"Wait, does that mean you've never actually been?" March 7th asked in disbelief.

"Of course we have." Aleph crossed his arms with a confident smile.

Stelle nodded. "Exactly. I went… uh…"

"…A long time ago."

Pom-Pom snapped his fingers.

"Well, now you're going again, whether you like it or not! Herta Space Station has a clinic with its own dentist, and I already made an appointment for you!"

Aleph and Stelle paled.

Dan Heng calmly closed his book.

"It's a logical decision. If you keep neglecting your dental health, the consequences will be problematic."

March 7th laughed.

"This is going to be great! I wish I had brought a camera."

Aleph looked at Stelle.

Stelle looked at Aleph.

Both nodded.

They had to escape.

Like two shadows, Aleph and Stelle moved in sync. They leaped over the couch, rolled across the floor, and rushed toward the train's exit at full speed.

Both shared the same thought.

"If we get off the train, Pom-Pom can't force us!"

Pom-Pom sighed.

Then, he simply pressed a button on the control panel.

The train's door sealed shut.

Aleph and Stelle slammed face-first into it.

BANG!

"What!?" Aleph shouted.

"He locked the exit." Stelle exclaimed.

Pom-Pom looked at them with a satisfied smile.

"Do you think I don't know you? I've sealed all exits of the Express. There's no escape."

Terror took hold of them.

"No…" Aleph murmured.

"This can't be happening…" Stelle muttered.

Himeko sighed and took a sip of coffee.

"Pom-Pom, you're evil. I like it."

"Well, that's debatable," Welt said calmly. "But we have to admit, this is for their own good."

Dan Heng nodded.

"Completely reasonable."

March 7th smiled with amusement.

"I'm enjoying this way too much."

Aleph fell to his knees with tears in his eyes.

"Pom-Pom… you're a monster…"

Stelle grabbed her head.

"A tyrant… fluffy, but still a tyrant."

Pom-Pom puffed up his chest with pride.

"Call me whatever you want, but in thirty minutes, you're going to your appointment."

.....

The Road to Hell…

Thirty minutes later, Aleph and Stelle were slowly walking toward the Express' clinic.

Pom-Pom walked behind them, watching them like a prison guard.

Aleph sighed.

"This is the worst betrayal I've ever experienced."

Stelle nodded.

"I never thought I'd be the victim of a conspiracy."

Dan Heng walked beside them.

"Don't exaggerate. You're just getting a check-up and a cleaning."

"Yeah, sure," Aleph muttered. "That's what they say before experimenting on your mouth."

"Maybe they'll implant something in our teeth to control us." Stelle whispered.

March 7th laughed.

"You two watch way too many movies."

When they arrived at the clinic, a nurse greeted them with a smile.

"Welcome! Please come in!"

Aleph and Stelle exchanged glances.

Then they looked at the waiting room.

Then at Dan Heng and March 7th.

Then at Pom-Pom.

And in an instant, they made one last run for survival, bolting in opposite directions.

"You can't catch us both!"

Pom-Pom sighed.

Dan Heng and March 7th were already waiting for them.

Before they could take three steps, Dan Heng grabbed Aleph by the collar of his coat and lifted him off the ground.

March 7th simply stuck out her foot in front of Stelle, making her trip and fall face-first onto the floor.

Aleph and Stelle struggled uselessly.

"Let me go!" Aleph shouted.

"This is abuse of power!" Stelle yelled.

Dan Heng looked at them with a neutral expression.

March 7th grinned with pure mockery.

Pom-Pom nodded in satisfaction.

"Good work. Get them inside."

.....

And so, dragged by fate (and by their friends), Aleph and Stelle were taken to the dentist's chair.

Act 2: The "Journey"

In the vast cosmos, there are events capable of altering the fate of entire galaxies…

Legendary battles, scientific discoveries that defy human understanding, the awakening of uncontrollable cosmic forces…

And then, there's the disaster caused by two idiots under the effects of anesthesia.

...

The clinic was spotless, with gleaming white walls and a strangely soothing fragrance. The dental instruments were perfectly arranged, and in the center of the room, two reclining chairs awaited their victims.

Dr. Kaina—a woman with a kind appearance but an aura of professionalism so overwhelming that neither Aleph nor Stelle could resist—reviewed the documents in her hand and looked at her patients with a smile.

"Alright, who wants to go first?"

Aleph and Stelle immediately pointed at each other.

"Her!"

"Him!"

Dan Heng sighed.

"Don't be cowards."

"Being a coward is giving up and not fighting to the very end!"

"...Are you the protagonist of a shounen anime now?"

Pom-Pom crossed his arms.

"You'll both go at the same time."

Before they could protest, the nurse was already pushing them toward the chairs.

March 7th grinned.

"Relax! It won't be that bad. Just a check-up, a cleaning, and that's it."

Aleph swallowed hard. Why did most of the dentist's tools look like torture devices?

"Are you sure about that?"

Stelle narrowed her eyes.

"They're going to steal our innocence, Aleph. You'd sacrifice yourself for me, right?"

But it was already too late.

They were firmly secured, the chairs reclined, and before they could complain any further…

The anesthesia kicked in.

And thus…

The beginning of the end had arrived.

...

Aleph's eyes slowly fluttered open.

He felt light, as if he were floating in the air.

When he tried to speak, his words came out sluggishly, as if time itself had slowed down.

"…I… feel… weird…"

Beside him, Stelle gazed at him with half-lidded eyes.

"…I feel… like… I'm ascending… into the cosmos… Aleph… Why… is Dan Heng dancing the Macarena?"

Dan Heng crossed his arms.

"Oh no."

March 7th stifled a laugh.

"This… this is going to be beautiful."

Pom-Pom rubbed his face in exasperation.

"I'm out. Do whatever you want, I take no responsibility."

Dr. Kaina raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, this is going to be fun."

Aleph tried to sit up in his chair… and failed miserably, toppling over with a BLOMP.

Stelle, on the other hand, simply raised a hand and stared at it in awe.

"…Wow… I… I have five fingers."

Dan Heng sighed.

"That's normal."

Stelle slowly turned to him, her eyes filled with cosmic wisdom.

"But… what if, in another universe, I only have four?"

Silence.

March 7th barely held back her laughter.

Aleph, still on the floor, lifted his head.

"Hey… guys…"

Dan Heng eyed him warily.

"What?"

Aleph raised his arms as if holding onto something invisible.

"…I'm… I'm a helicopter…"

"…What?"

Suddenly, he started spinning his arms in circles, making helicopter noises with his mouth.

"FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH"

"I'm taking off to infinityyyyy!"

Dan Heng massaged his temples.

Stelle, inspired by Aleph's madness, jumped to her feet and raised both arms.

"We are gods!"

March 7th was in a corner, crying with laughter.

Pom-Pom had already left, refusing to participate in whatever was happening.

...

Cosmic Philosophy According to Stelle

While Aleph spun in circles, convinced he could fly, Stelle sat on Dr. Kaina's desk, adopting a thoughtful pose.

"Listen, listen…" she murmured.

Dan Heng sighed.

"What is it now?"

Stelle narrowed her eyes with an air of wisdom.

"Trains…"

"…What about trains?" March 7th asked, intrigued.

Stelle raised a hand.

"We think we're traveling on trains…"

Dan Heng shut his eyes.

"Please, no."

Stelle ignored his plea.

"…But… what if, in reality, trains are using us to travel?"

Aleph, who was still spinning like a helicopter, suddenly stopped.

"…That makes sense."

Dan Heng groaned.

"No. No, it doesn't."

March 7th, on the other hand, focused on recording everything.

.....

After several minutes of pure nonsense, Aleph somehow ended up wearing a doctor's coat and a stethoscope.

No one knew how it happened.

He turned to the group with a serious expression.

"Comrades… there is something we must discuss."

Stelle straightened up and nodded.

"Yes. We must escape. This place is a lie."

Dan Heng rubbed his face.

"Oh no."

March 7th grinned.

"Oh yes."

Before anyone could stop them, Aleph and Stelle bolted out the clinic door.

The nurses' shouts echoed down the hall.

"Why are they running?!"

"I don't know, but run!"

Dan Heng and March 7th exchanged glances.

Dan Heng sighed.

"Should we go after them?"

March 7th smirked.

"Nah, let the universe deal with them for a while."

And so, two walking disasters, still under the effects of anesthesia, were now loose on the Herta Space Station.

And the worst part…

This was just the beginning.

.....

Act 3: Mission Freedom

Some civilizations fell due to wars. Others, due to natural disasters. But in this case, the Herta Space Station was on the brink of collapse because of two patients who simply should never have been given anesthesia.

************

Aleph and Stelle ran through the station's corridors as if their lives depended on it, hospital gowns billowing behind them, leaving a trail of confusion and panic in their wake.

"FREEDOOOOOOOM!" Aleph shouted as he slid on a rolling stretcher, using a broom to propel himself forward.

Stelle, meanwhile, leaped onto a maintenance robot, clinging to its head while dramatically pointing forward.

"Onward, my mechanical steed, to victory!"

The robot came to an abrupt stop.

[Error: Command not recognized.]

Stelle tapped it lightly.

"Shhh, do not question your ride—!"

The robot spun 180° and flung her to the ground.

THUMP

"…Traitor."

Meanwhile, Dan Heng and March 7th were chasing after them, already exhausted.

Dan Heng had his arms crossed, looking utterly resigned.

March 7th, on the other hand, was too busy snapping photos of the chaos with a mischievous grin.

"This is way too good. I'm not stopping them yet. So much blackmail material—let's see if Aleph ever dares show his face outside his room again."

Dan Heng sighed.

"I don't know why I still expect us to have normal days."

....

Their wild escape led them to one of the station's storage rooms, filled with highly valuable scientific equipment and artifacts.

Stelle discovered a control panel with flashy buttons and mysterious labels.

Aleph approached, intrigued.

Dan Heng entered the room just in time to witness the worst.

"Stelle, no."

"Stelle, yes."

Stelle pressed the biggest button without hesitation.

[BEEP. ACTIVATING PROJECT AH-015]

[RANDOMLY SUMMONING AN AEON... SUMMON REQUEST ACCEPTED. WELCOME, AEON OF EXULTATION, AHA.]

Aleph blinked.

"…What?"

The air vibrated, and an explosion of light momentarily blinded them.

When the light faded, a figure floated at the center of the room.

A shadowy silhouette covered in numerous masks, confetti, balls, cards, and other assorted objects.

The Aeon of Exultation, Aha.

The very god of chaos.

Aha's masks grinned at them.

"Well, well… who dares summon me?"

Aleph and Stelle looked at each other.

Stelle pointed at him.

"Him."

Aleph pointed at her.

"Her."

Aha watched them with amusement.

"Good! Since you've called me, it's time for a little game!"

Dan Heng closed his eyes in frustration.

"We're going to die. We're going to die right here."

Aha floated around Aleph, a playful smirk on his many faces.

"I'll make you a deal, human. Let's play a game of chance… If you win, I'll grant you a wish. If you lose…"

He paused dramatically.

"You'll become my Emanator and spread chaos in my name across the galaxy!"

Silence.

Aleph tilted his head.

"…What happens if I win?"

Aha grinned.

"Well… I… hmm…"

He hesitated.

"Honestly, no one's ever beaten me before, so…"

Stelle snapped her fingers as if struck by a brilliant idea.

"Then, if he wins, you become the living definition of a 'sexy woman' and Aleph's personal secretary!"

Dan Heng nearly choked on his imaginary coffee.

"WHAT kind of request is that?!"

Aha was silent for a few seconds, processing what Stelle had just said.

Then, he burst into laughter.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA… I LIKE IT! YOU'VE GOT STYLE, HUMAN!"

A table materialized, adorned with floating cosmic cards.

"Now, pick your game!"

Aleph sat down with confidence.

"Alright… let's play…"

"UNO."

Dan Heng buried his face in his hands.

March 7th pinched her arm to keep from laughing.

Stelle clapped.

"Epic."

Aha was silent.

Then, he smirked maliciously.

"Interesting choice… but remember… in this game, I make the rules."

The two locked eyes.

The duel began.

Turns passed, cards flew, traps and strategies unfolded in a battle of minds that warped reality around them.

Every time Aha played a card, space-time distorted.

Every time Aleph countered, some civilization in a distant corner of the galaxy experienced an unexplainable anomaly.

"TAKE A +4, YOU TERRIFYING GOD!" Aleph shouted.

"AND YOU, ANOTHER +4! DOUBLE PUNISHMENT!" Aha retorted.

Dan Heng clutched his head.

"They're destroying reality… over a stupid card game?!"

Finally, after countless turns…

Aha had only one card left.

Aleph had two.

Aha's masks grinned confidently.

"Well, human… this is the end."

Aleph smirked.

"Yes. Yes, it is."

And then, with a look of absolute superiority…

Aleph placed a +4 on the table.

Silence.

Aha blinked slowly.

"…WHAT?"

Aleph crossed his arms.

"Draw four and hand over my prize."

The entire universe trembled.

Aha's masks twisted in an unrecognizable expression.

"…This… this has never happened before…"

March 7th wiped tears of laughter from her eyes.

"No way… Aleph just beat an Aeon in UNO!"

Aha let out a deep sigh.

"Fine… fine… a deal's a deal."

The air vibrated with cosmic energy.

Aha's body began to shift.

His infinite essence…

His absolute chaotic power…

Compressed into a humanoid form.

The light faded.

And standing there…

Was Aha, now an extremely attractive woman in a secretary outfit.

Long, shimmering hair.

Eyes glowing with wit and mischief.

The very Aeon of chaos… now the embodiment of a "sexy woman."

"…Damn it."

Aleph grinned, looking completely satisfied with his "prize."

"Welcome to your new job, Aha-chan."

Aha hissed in frustration.

"Enjoy this while it lasts, human. One day, I'll make you pay."

Dan Heng simply stood up and left.

"I don't want to be here anymore."

...

Meanwhile…

Far away, in a distant corner of the universe, the Aeon Tribunal felt reality shudder.

Lan, the Aeon of The Hunt, looked at Xipe and Yaoshi with a grave expression, particularly at the latter.

"…I have the distinct feeling that something incredibly stupid just happened."

Xipe sighed.

"Yes… yes, it did."

Yaoshi smiled.

"Oh, but how fun it will be!"

********************

Act 4: The Decline

Throughout the history of the universe, there have been events that changed the fate of entire galaxies—legendary battles, cosmic discoveries, and the ascension of supreme gods… But nothing could have prepared the Tribunal of the Aeons for the disaster that was about to unfold.

.....

Aleph crossed his arms in satisfaction while Aha, in her "sexy woman" form, glared at him with narrowed, fiery eyes.

"Alright, Secretary Aha, get ready to take notes. I'm about to dictate the next steps of our plan."

Aha huffed in frustration.

"If I weren't bound by this stupid deal, I'd drag you through the seven hells of chaos."

Aleph smirked arrogantly.

"I know."

Dan Heng, who had inexplicably returned, rubbed his temples, his patience quickly wearing thin.

"Aleph, may I ask what you plan to do now?"

Aleph paused.

He remained silent for a few seconds.

Stelle watched him curiously.

And then, with a confident smile, he said the craziest thing imaginable from a human perspective.

"Well, obviously… we declare war on the Aeons!"

Silence.

Dan Heng froze.

March 7th dropped her camera.

Aha blinked slowly.

"Wait, what?"

Stelle nodded approvingly.

"Yeah, makes sense."

Dan Heng turned to Stelle, incredulous.

"What do you mean 'makes sense'?"

Stelle shrugged.

"Aleph is invincible. And so am I. That's proof enough."

March 7th buried her face in her hands.

"…Why were they allowed to live?"

*****

Meanwhile, in the Tribunal of the Aeons, alarms blared loudly.

Lan, Aeon of the Hunt, stared at the energy screen with sheer disbelief.

"…Is this a joke?"

Xipe, Aeon of Harmony, calmly sipped galactic tea.

"No, it appears to be real. Aleph and Stelle are organizing a declaration of war. They even seem to be making Aha do a PowerPoint presentation."

Yaoshi, Aeon of Abundance, smiled sweetly.

"Oh, what adorable children. Could it be that they seek immortality through romantic means?"

Lan turned to them with a scowl.

"THAT'S your only concern?! Why don't you just vanish—or better yet, let me hunt you down?!"

Xipe sighed and closed her eyes.

"It's Aleph and Stelle. If we ignore them, this will only get worse. Do you not remember the last time they managed to drag Nanook into a 'wild night out'? Many worlds and civilizations were destroyed in the process."

Lan scoffed, crossing his arms.

"Fine. I'll exterminate them."

"Wait, wait, wait!"

Xipe calmly raised a hand.

"If Aleph and Stelle want a war, let's make them come here first. We'll evaluate them."

Lan eyed him suspiciously.

"For what?"

Xipe smirked slyly.

"To find out what they truly want…"

"…And besides, Aleph reminds me a bit of Ena—but with a pure chaos approach."

....

Shortly after, Aleph and Stelle were brought directly to the Tribunal of the Aeons by Aha.

Aha, still wearing her secretary outfit, kept muttering curses as she floated beside them.

"Seriously, the day I return to my normal form will be the day the universe fears my vengeance."

Aleph patted her shoulder.

"You'll do great, Aha-chan."

Aha growled.

Dan Heng, having no idea how he had gotten caught up in this madness, simply accepted his fate.

They arrived before the gathered Aeons.

Lan frowned at them.

Xipe analyzed them with curiosity.

Yaoshi smiled gently.

Aleph stepped forward and declared:

"Today, we challenge you to all-out war! We, the Trailblazers, shall be the rulers of the cosmos!"

Xipe stroked her chin.

"Interesting. But first, tell me…"

Her eyes gleamed with interest.

"Why declare war?"

Silence.

Aleph blinked.

Xipe awaited her answer.

And then, the world bore witness to one of the worst conquest lines ever spoken.

Aleph smiled confidently, slicked back his hair, and adjusted a bow tie.

He leaned slightly toward Xipe and Yaoshi and, in the most seductive voice he could muster, said:

"Because war is the fastest way… to the hearts of two beauties like you. I want to be your big bang, ladies."

Dan Heng buried his face in both hands.

"I'm out."

Xipe blinked.

Yaoshi covered her mouth and giggled.

And then…

Xipe smiled elegantly.

"Oh? You want to conquer me through war?"

Yaoshi nodded, excited.

"Oh, how romantic!"

Lan's eyes widened in horror.

"No. No, no, no."

Xipe glanced at Yaoshi with a charming smile.

"It seems this human wishes to be a king among us. What do you think?"

Yaoshi beamed sweetly.

"Well… if he fights with passion, perhaps he deserves a place in my paradise."

Lan shot to his feet.

"THAT'S INSANE!"

Aha covered her face to hide her laughter.

"The Aeons are going to destroy themselves over something so stupid. What a beautiful sight."

Dan Heng simply started walking in the opposite direction.

"I refuse to be part of this."

And Stelle, who had remained silent until now, nodded approvingly.

"Well played, Aleph. See you at the top. Nanook, I'm coming over!"

"Marvelous! Shall we see who can withstand more cosmic alcohol before passing out?"

"That question is insulting. Of course!"

Aleph crossed his arms proudly.

"Ladies, please, don't fight over me… unless it's in a combat arena with spectacular special effects."

The Aeons of Abundance and Harmony exchanged glances.

They smiled.

And without warning…

Aleph ignited the dumbest conflict since creation.

....

Meanwhile, at Herta Space Station…

March 7th stared at the screen displaying cosmic news.

She saw the image of Xipe and Yaoshi gathering stellar armies… for Aleph.

She sighed.

She took a sip of her tea.

"Well… this is new."

Herta, also watching the screen, shrugged.

"Honestly, I expected him to cause trouble, but not at this level."

Welt entered the room.

"Where's Aleph?"

March 7th pointed at the screen.

Welt looked at the news.

He read the headline.

"The War of the Aeons: Harmony vs. Abundance—All for One Man?"

Silence.

Welt removed his glasses, slowly cleaned them, and put them back on.

He sighed.

"…I need coffee."

***********

Act 5: The Apocalypse

Some wars have been fought for power. Others, for revenge. Some for ideals. But this one… this one was born from pure and absolute chaos.

Two Aeons. One man. A universe on the verge of collapse.

And at the center of it all… an idiot who just went with the flow.

*****

The Tribunal of the Aeons was in complete chaos.

The armies of Abundance and Harmony gathered, each with banners waving in cosmic radiance and celestial melodies echoing through the void of space.

The neutral Aeons simply watched the scene in disbelief.

Lan rubbed his temples in frustration.

"All of this… over one man."

Yaoshi raised their scepter with pride.

"For eternal love!"

Xipe crossed their arms with a graceful smile.

"For the perfect symphony!"

Aleph simply watched everything unfold with a bewildered expression.

"Well… that escalated quickly."

Stelle nodded approvingly.

"Wait, why isn't the Hunt's army here?"

Lan grumbled.

"Because we're not stupid. Besides, killing Yaoshi will be easier when they're exhausted and without an army."

....

The two forces clashed.

Abundance unleashed waves of regenerative energy, resurrecting their warriors before they could fall.

Harmony boosted the morale of their troops to divine levels, making them fight with superhuman determination.

Pom-Pom, watching from Herta Space Station, screamed at the live broadcast.

"What the hell did they do to the universe?!"

Welt took a sip of his coffee.

"Wrong question."

March 7th nodded.

"The real question is: how do we fix it?"

Silence.

Everyone stared at the screen.

They saw Aleph simply sitting on an improvised throne, watching the battle with a smile while Stelle shared a bag of popcorn with him.

Welt let out a long sigh.

"…I'm getting more coffee."

*****

Seeing that the war threatened to collapse the cosmic balance, Welt Yang decided it was time to act.

He appeared on the battlefield with a look of sheer disappointment.

His mere presence made soldiers from both sides feel an inexplicable sense of guilt.

With a single whisper, his voice echoed in the minds of Aleph and Stelle.

"You two. On the train. Now."

The impact was immediate.

Aleph shrank in his seat.

Stelle swallowed a whole popcorn kernel in shock.

Yaoshi and Xipe exchanged confused glances.

"Who is this mortal?"

Welt crossed his arms.

"I'm the man who's going to make you both reconsider your lives in the next five seconds."

Aleph tried to respond with confidence.

"Come on, Welt, do you really think you can—?"

Welt raised an eyebrow.

Aleph froze.

Silence.

Aleph and Stelle looked at each other.

Then, they stood up… and bolted straight to Herta Space Station.

*****

After Welt successfully shut down the war with his absolute 'tired older brother' authority, Aleph and Stelle finally woke up aboard the Astral Express.

They rubbed their eyes and looked around.

Everything was calm.

No Aeons screaming at each other.

No cosmic armies marching in their name.

No all-out war for their "love."

Silence.

Aleph sighed in relief.

"Well… I guess it was just a weird dream."

Welt appeared at the door, arms crossed.

"…No, it wasn't."

Silence.

Aleph and Stelle froze.

March 7th peeked in with an amused expression.

"Congratulations, Aleph. You were literally the cause of a war between cosmic goddesses."

Aleph ran a hand down his face.

"…Don't remind me."

Stelle shrugged.

"I still say it was an achievement."

Dan Heng walked in, arms crossed.

"We have a debt of over two trillion credits in repair costs for Herta Station."

Aleph closed his eyes with a groan.

"…I don't want to be here."

And as Welt prepared the longest scolding in Astral Express history, Pom-Pom appeared with a note in hand.

"Oh, by the way."

Aleph took the note and read it aloud.

"Dear Aleph, it was a pleasure meeting a man with such passion. Next time we meet, perhaps we can settle our differences in a more private setting… with wine and shooting stars."

"With love, Yaoshi."

Absolute silence.

Aleph opened his mouth.

March 7th shut it with a finger.

"Don't say anything. Let us process this."

Welt took off his glasses and slowly cleaned them.

Dan Heng just walked away.

And Stelle, after a few seconds of analysis, nodded with a grin.

"Well… at least you got something good out of all this."

Aleph looked at the letter again.

He reflected.

And then he flopped onto the couch.

"…I'm not an Emanator of Aha, am I?"

THE END?