The Astral Express floated in the vastness of space, slowly making its way toward its next destination. The view from the command bridge was truly something to behold.
Arms crossed, Aleph observed the massive structure unfolding before his eyes.
It wasn't a planet.
It wasn't just a simple ship.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
March 7th leaned against the panoramic window, eyes wide with wonder.
"It's huge!"
The Luofu of Xianzhou loomed imposingly in space. Its gray and blue tones gleamed against its metallic structure, giving it a majestic presence.
Aleph gasped in awe.
"This… this ship… it's definitely bigger than Jarilo-VI."
Dan Heng, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. His expression remained calm, but there was a particular glint in his eyes.
"It's not just a simple ship to them. For the people of Luofu, this vessel is their planet."
Aleph and March 7th glanced at him, intrigued.
Dan Heng continued, his voice steady as usual but carrying an odd hint of nostalgia.
March 7th blinked in surprise.
"Wait, seriously?"
Dan Heng nodded.
"There are different types of space civilizations. Some live on planets, others on space stations or colonies… and then there are those who sever their ties to a homeworld and turn their ships into their home. The Xianzhou Alliance is an example of the latter." His gaze remained fixed on the ship. "I've only seen it a couple of times, but… it's just as magnificent as I remembered."
Aleph looked at the colossal ship with a new perspective.
"So… all of Luofu is basically a floating city."
"More than that." Dan Heng narrowed his eyes. "It's a self-sustaining world. One of the flagship vessels of the Xianzhou Alliance."
Aleph whistled, impressed.
"Damn… now that's a whole different level of civilization."
I wonder if the food's any good…
March 7th turned to Dan Heng with a grin.
"You seem to know a lot about Luofu."
Dan Heng kept his neutral expression, his gaze still locked onto the ship.
"You could say I know quite a bit about it."
Aleph noticed something in his tone.
It wasn't what he said that caught his attention.
It was how he said it.
Dan Heng rarely spoke with noticeable emotion, but… this time, there was a faint trace of melancholy in his voice.
March 7th noticed it too, tilting her head.
"Why do you sound so nostalgic?"
Dan Heng didn't answer.
He simply kept staring at Luofu in silence.
March 7th waited for a response, but when she realized it wasn't coming, she let out a small "Hmph" and crossed her arms.
Aleph, on the other hand, didn't ask.
But he made a mental note of it.
This place meant something to Dan Heng.
And honestly, he wanted to know what.
Can you really blame me for being curious?
Besides, Dan Heng had bombarded him with questions back when they first talked about demons. What was wrong with wanting a little payback?
Oh well, there'd be time for questions later.
For now, the important thing was preparing for what awaited them on Luofu.
"I hope coming all this way was worth it."
He kept his gaze fixed on the massive floating structure as the Express continued its approach.
One question lingered in the back of his mind.
"…Do they have good video games? If I summon Centaur, will they try to eat him or attack him?"
…Okay, maybe a couple of dumb questions.
******
The Astral Express continued its course toward Luofu, approaching the designated docking bay.
Inside the cabin, Himeko opened communications with the Jade Gate, the ship's main landing terminal.
"This is the Astral Express, repeat. This is the Astral Express to Xianzhou air traffic control. Requesting permission to board."
For a few seconds, there was only silence.
Himeko frowned and repeated the transmission.
"Traffic control, this is the Astral Express. Do you read us?"
Finally, the communication screen activated.
But instead of a direct response…
"Welcome to... the Luofu spaceport... the skiff dock."
"Please... proceed with... standard approach and head... to the assigned landing platform."
An automated message began playing.
Aleph narrowed his eyes.
"…That sounded a little off."
Himeko tried responding, but the signal remained unchanged, repeating the same message in an endless loop.
Welt, watching the transmission calmly, adjusted his glasses.
"It seems like the communication has been compromised."
March 7th blinked.
"Wait… compromised?"
"Doesn't it sound like the start of a bad horror movie? Innocent travelers arrive at a ship infested with flesh-eating monsters without realizing it, they enter all confident… and then the dumbest one—who, by the way, is usually the prettiest—ends up being brutally devoured!"
Aleph commented as he leaned on March 7th's shoulders with a goofy grin.
March 7th shivered and smacked his shoulder with a bit of force.
"Don't say stuff like that now! No… no way something like that could actually happen, right?!"
Dan Heng shot him a disapproving look.
"This is not the time to let our imaginations run wild."
Aleph sighed and scratched his neck.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Not the best time for jokes."
March 7th crossed her arms, still looking a little uneasy and pouting.
"If something weird happens in there, I'm holding you responsible."
Aleph smirked and shrugged.
"It's not like I caused it."
March 7th muttered something about "bad luck omens" but dropped the subject.
Himeko, ignoring their conversation, looked at Welt.
"Do we follow the recording or find another way in?"
Welt thought for a moment before responding.
"We could force another entry, but that might cause us problems later with the locals. If the system is still partially working, it's best not to give them a reason to be hostile toward us. Let's follow the assigned route."
Himeko nodded.
"Alright. We'll approach as if nothing is wrong."
The Astral Express began its descent maneuver.
Aleph watched as Luofu's massive ship grew closer on the screen.
He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about this place.
But meh, who cares?
They'd figure it out once they got inside.
As the Express prepared to land, Welt gathered those who would be joining him: Stelle, March 7th, and Aleph.
His tone was serious.
"Before we leave, I want to be clear about our objective on this journey."
The three of them focused on him.
Welt continued.
"It's clear that the Stellaron Hunters have their own reasons for leading us here. They've given us a lot to think about, and we have many unanswered questions. But the most important thing about this expedition is…"
Aleph's gaze sharpened for a moment.
"The Stellaron."
Welt nodded.
"Given their reputation and Kafka's choice of words, there's no doubt that there is one here in Xianzhou."
The three of them nodded.
"The Astral Express and the Xianzhou Alliance have never had formal contact before. It's possible they won't welcome us with open arms."
March 7th puffed up her cheeks.
"But we came to help!"
Welt gave a small smile.
"That doesn't mean they'll trust us right away."
Aleph crossed his arms.
"Doesn't matter if they believe us or not. We just have to do the right thing."
Stelle simply nodded in silence.
Welt looked at them approvingly.
"Exactly. As Trailblazers, we're not doing this for fame, recognition, or rewards. We just have to do our best to help the people of Xianzhou and eliminate the source of this disaster. Always remember the principles of the Trailblazers."
He paused and looked at them firmly.
"Never forget: explore, understand, build, and connect."
March 7th raised a determined fist.
"Let's do what we do best!"
Aleph smirked slightly.
[Master, I have begun preparations for summoning new demons. The "Compendium" and "Cathedral of Shadows" options have also been unlocked.]
Stelle maintained her neutral expression, but her stance showed she was ready.
Welt nodded.
"Then get ready. We'll be landing in a few minutes."
The three exchanged glances and bumped fists.
Aleph felt a strange itch in his hands, and a bubbling excitement rose within him. The real journey was about to begin.
*************
The Astral Express landed smoothly on the designated loading platform within the port.
The doors opened with a soft hiss.
The group descended calmly, their footsteps echoing against the port's cold metal floor.
Aleph glanced around.
"Am I the only one who was expecting a welcome committee?"
March 7th looked around while making sure not to stray too far from the group.
"There are so many containers in sight! This place clearly isn't meant for receiving passengers. Who gave us these directions? And where is everyone? I really don't like this…"
Aleph placed a hand on her shoulder.
"And yet… someone opened the door for us."
March 7th shuddered and brushed his hand off, shooting Aleph a deadly glare while he struggled to hold back laughter.
"Aleph, you—!" March 7th gritted her teeth, trying to look intimidating. "You'll see, I'll get my revenge!"
She huffed and stomped ahead.
"Ugh… Did I go too far?"
Stelle walked on, paying no mind to their antics.
Welt carefully observed their surroundings.
Rows of cargo containers were lined up, some left open while others partially blocked their path.
Floating lanterns cast a dim light, stretching long shadows across the platform.
But the most unsettling part…
There was no one.
No guards.
No workers.
Not even a visible security system.
Just an empty port.
And a silence that only made the eerie atmosphere more pronounced.
Aleph whistled. Yep.
Dan Heng was wrong. This wasn't like a horror movie.
It was worse.
"Mr. Yang, what do we do now?" March 7th looked at Welt, completely ignoring Aleph's attempts to apologize.
"We should start with whoever opened the Jade Gate. If they turn out to be hostile, at least they've saved us the trouble of searching for them. If they were just doing their job, we can ask them what happened here."
Aleph frowned.
"And if they're hostile and we can't beat them?"
March 7th chuckled.
"Oh, you still haven't seen what Mr. Yang is capable of."
Aleph looked at her as if she were weird.
"Let's go. Stay sharp."
…
The group advanced cautiously.
The sound of their own footsteps was the only thing breaking the silence.
"Guys…"
March 7th spoke in a lower tone than usual.
"Doesn't it feel like something terrible happened here?"
And that's when they saw them.
Bodies.
Soldiers lay on the ground—some still breathing, others completely unconscious.
They were Nimbus Knights.
Welt's expression darkened, and he quickly approached the nearest one.
"March, use your Six-Phased Ice to seal their wounds. Be careful—we don't want to add freezing to their problems."
March 7th nodded and stepped forward.
"Got it!"
She raised her hand, preparing to summon her ice and seal the fallen knights' wounds.
But before she could—
Aleph stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
"Wait."
March 7th looked at him in surprise.
"What's wrong? We can't just leave them like this!"
Aleph ignored her.
"Burroughs."
[At your command, Master.]
A familiar light materialized before him.
A pink-haired girl in blue and pink attire appeared.
Under Aleph's order, Nappea cast multiple Dia spells on the wounded knights.
Slowly, their wounds began to heal under her influence. The demon girl pouted.
Why did they always summon her just to heal? She hadn't even gotten the chance to use Demonic Whisper.
March 7th blinked in surprise.
"Huh?"
Stelle also stopped to watch.
Welt observed Nappea with interest.
"…So this is your power. Interesting. How does it differ from Centaur?" Welt looked at Aleph curiously. "I thought you wanted to keep them hidden. Why reveal them now?"
Aleph didn't answer.
He simply watched silently as Nappea worked on the injured.
Finally, he murmured.
"I don't see much reason to hide it anymore—you've all seen it now. And Nappea's healing is needed here. Keeping a secret that will eventually come to light anyway or saving lives… It's not a hard choice when you think about it."
He frowned.
"Besides… I get the feeling the secret wouldn't have lasted long on this trip. Objectively speaking, I lose nothing. I only show Nappea, but it's not like she's the only demon I can summon or a strategic weapon."
Stelle and March 7th exchanged glances.
Welt adjusted his glasses and gave a slight nod.
"I see. I'll leave the wounded in your summon's care."
Aleph scoffed with a grin.
"That was the plan."
But just as Nappea finished healing the injured…
Something moved in the shadows.
A rasping sound.
A body stood up in an unnatural way, jerking erratically, as golden flowers and leaves seemed to sprout from the gaps in its armor, surrounded by twisting roots.
Aleph immediately conjured an ice bat. March 7th and Stelle also drew their weapons.
It slowly turned its head.
One of the wounded soldiers had risen.
The others started getting up as well, one by one.
But their movements were stiff and unnatural.
Welt observed the scene gravely.
March 7th took a step back, her face twisted in horror, and shot Aleph an accusatory look, as if to say, "This is your fault!" Aleph could only give her an awkward smile and raise his hands in surrender.
"Are they… resurrecting?"
Welt took a breath and steeled himself.
"Correction. They are no longer alive."
The Mara-infected soldiers slowly turned their heads toward them.
And without warning…
They attacked.
...
The first soldier rushed toward them in a clumsy but unnervingly fast manner.
Aleph reacted instantly.
He swung his bat with all his strength.
CRACK!
The blow struck the infected soldier's head directly, forcing it back.
But it didn't fall.
Its neck twisted with a sickening crunch as its head turned grotesquely back toward Aleph.
"…Shit."
The rest of the reanimated soldiers charged as well.
Welt raised his staff, and a burst of gravitational energy sent several of them flying into the cargo containers.
Stelle spun her bat, knocking multiple enemies away.
March 7th unleashed a flurry of ice arrows, freezing the soldiers and the ground beneath them.
These things didn't stay down after dying—but thankfully, it seemed like they could only revive once.
They wouldn't stop until they were completely destroyed.
"…Alright." Aleph kept an eye on the wounded soldiers Nappea had healed.
A surge of Zio crackled to life, coating his ice bat in electricity.
With a powerful swing, he sent the revived soldiers flying before they could reach the injured.
But the soldiers' bodies didn't bleed.
Instead, their flesh twisted in a sickening way, as if trying to knit itself back together.
Welt frowned.
"They're incredibly persistent."
"Then we'll tear them apart until there's nothing left."
March 7th nodded.
"I like the way you think!"
Stelle said nothing, but her stance shifted, her gaze sharpening.
The reanimated soldiers advanced once more.
And the group met them head-on.
...
The battle was fierce.
For every soldier they struck down, another rose again, moving even more stiffly.
They weren't invincible.
A strong enough blow could destroy them beyond repair.
Welt crushed several under their own weight with his gravitational powers.
March 7th froze an entire group solid, and Aleph shattered them with a single swing of his bat.
Stelle moved swiftly, tearing through them with precision.
Finally…
The last soldier fell.
Silence returned to the port.
But now…
It was a heavy silence.
The scent of metal and ozone lingered in the air.
Aleph let out a breath.
"…That was disgusting."
March 7th lowered her bow and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"I never thought… immortality could turn into something so horrible."
Welt studied the soldiers' remains with a serious expression.
"This is the price of defying the natural cycle."
Stelle said nothing, gazing at the bodies with a neutral look.
Aleph gripped the handle of his bat.
Was this something normal for the people of Luofu? Or was it caused by the Stellaron?
No.
Now wasn't the time to think about that.
He took a breath and looked at the others.
"This was just the entrance, wasn't it?"
Welt nodded.
"We need to keep moving."
March 7th glanced down the path ahead.
More and more containers.
The group pressed forward, leaving behind the remains of the fallen soldiers.
The ones healed by Nappea had started to wake up, but they weren't in any condition to talk.
They had to move on—hopefully, they'd find help for them further ahead.
******************************************************************
Ugh, I've fallen into the same rut again—currently out of ideas for Omakes.
Something piqued my curiosity, though. Previously (I don't remember if it was before or after Chapter 8 or 9), when I asked about a possible love interest for Aleph, someone commented that they honestly couldn't give an opinion because they didn't see much personality in Aleph or didn't quite understand it. (I'm pretty sure it was something like that, but I don't remember exactly.)
I wanted to know if that impression still holds.
What do you guys think of Aleph, at least based on what you've seen of him so far?