Chapter 172: Stelle: I Don't Know the Answer, But I Know How to Find It
While Stelle and Paimon were goofing off around the docile, red-hued beasts, Belle, standing a short distance away, gazed at the mountain-like creatures, her mind beginning to churn.
She watched the gentle giants, her thoughts drifting, and a sudden memory of the [Spirit Capsule] she'd acquired earlier sparked a bold idea.
"Brother, what do you think…" she began, turning to Wise with a conspiratorial glint in her eyes. "What if I used a Spirit Capsule to capture a Great Land Beast and bring it back to New Eridu?"
Her eyes sparkled as she launched into her vision of the future. "Then, we could start an 'Amphoreus Giant Beast Sightseeing' project in Belobog! Just the ticket sales for the riding experience alone would probably make us a fortune, right? It's definitely way more interesting than running the video store!"
However, her genius business concept—at least, in her own opinion—was immediately and ruthlessly shot down by her brother.
Wise rubbed his forehead, a weary sigh escaping him. "Belle, that idea is completely irresponsible. First of all, if I remember correctly, didn't you introduce them by saying, 'Spirits are important partners, not tools for profit'?"
"If you did that, it would only weaken the bond between you. Eventually, your Spirit—the Great Land Beast—would stop listening to you entirely."
He paused, then offered a more practical nail for her idea's coffin. "Secondly, have you calculated the cost of raising it? Just keeping a Bangboo like Fairy charged already accounts for a significant portion of our income. If we added a Great Land Beast of this enormous size and its incredible appetite… we'd probably declare bankruptcy the day after bringing it back. Then we'd truly be out on the streets with nothing."
Wise's rational, realistic analysis was like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing the flames of her entrepreneurial fantasy.
Belle thought it over. He had a point. She could only accept reality with a sheepish grin. "Alright, alright… I was just thinking out loud. You're too strict, brother…"
Although she understood his reasoning, being so directly rejected still stung. Her lower lip jutted out in a slight pout, the dynamic between them shifting instantly.
Seeing this, Wise realized his tone might have been too harsh. He sighed again, this time with more helplessness than exasperation, and softened his voice. He began to patiently coax his occasionally whimsical sister. "Okay, Belle, I didn't mean it like that… The most ideal Spirit partner would be one that's both cute and beautiful, and one we can actually afford to raise, right? When we get a chance later, I'll go with you to find one…"
After the "red-dirt-flavored" farce at the Great Land Beast stables concluded, the group finally got to enjoy the satisfying experience of riding one. Lying on the back of such a colossal, mountain-like creature, looking down at Okhema's well-arranged golden architecture and the boundless ruins in the distance, was an experience unlike any other.
Subsequently, the group found themselves lingering in the bustling Cloudstone Market, continuing their journey of "exploration." All sorts of novel goods, specialty snacks, and complex handicrafts, accompanied by the vendors' colorful regional tales, made time fly by unnoticed.
However, as their stroll through the market wore on, Lumine and Wise, both more careful and sensitive to their surroundings, slowed their steps at almost the same moment. A thoughtful expression settled on their faces.
Lumine frowned slightly, her gaze drifting up toward the sky. Her tone was laced with doubt. "Strange… judging by my senses, it feels like we've been wandering for a very, very long time…"
She glanced at Paimon, who was already rubbing her little belly and looking around for the next food stall. "Even Paimon is hungry again. By all accounts, it should be evening by now, or maybe even night. But… look at the sky."
Paimon immediately zipped over, clutching her rumbling stomach. Her small face was scrunched up in agreement. "Exactly, exactly! Paimon's stomach is the most accurate clock in the world! It's strongly protesting! It's definitely dinner time now!"
"But… why is the sky still so bright?" She also looked up at Okhema's unchanging, sunlit sky, her face a mask of confusion. "It doesn't look like it's going to get dark at all."
Prompted by Lumine and Paimon, Stelle and March 7th suddenly realized it too. They had been so preoccupied with either combat negotiations or immersing themselves in new experiences that they had completely overlooked the anomaly of the sky.
"Oh, you're right!" March 7th clapped her hands together. "Now that you mention it, it seems that aside from when we first arrived at that 'Abyss of Destiny' place, which felt like night, it's… it's really been daytime ever since we got to Okhema!"
Stelle stroked her chin, trying to recall. "Hmm… before, it was either fighting or running, or sleeping and chatting online. I completely ignored the sky. Now that I think about it carefully, that does seem to be the case, doesn't it?"
Unfortunately, both Stelle and March were the type to get swept up in the immediate excitement, their focus locked on specific goals. They had paid no mind to such environmental details. So, as for the answer to the question "Why does Okhema have no night?", they naturally had no idea.
March 7th looked a little embarrassed, a faint blush dusting her cheeks as she mumbled, "Ugh… as someone who got here earlier, not being able to answer a question like this feels a bit like a dereliction of duty…"
Stelle, on the other hand, felt no embarrassment at all. Instead, her eyes lit up. She planted her hands on her hips, puffed out her chest, and jumped forward with an air of "watch and learn."
"Hmph, hmph! March and I might not know, but I know how to quickly get the correct answer to this question!"
Everyone's gaze turned to the suddenly confident Stelle, awaiting her "brilliant idea."
March 7th was the first to retort, her skepticism plain. "No way, Stelle. When did you get so smart? Did you find some ancient tablet recording the secrets of the world while you were shopping?"
Stelle just offered a wry smile, that signature grin of hers—seven parts smug and three parts mischievous—and waggled a finger with an air of importance.
"Nope, I didn't find any ancient tablet. But it is time to test the 'academic' achievements of Dan Heng and Zhongli!"
Everyone: "…"
A brief, heavy silence fell over the group. They had genuinely thought Stelle had stumbled upon some crucial clue or hidden document in a dusty corner. But after all that buildup, her "method" was just to call for help.
"Sure enough," March 7th rubbed her forehead, an "I knew it" expression on her face. "You're still the same old Stelle." Expecting her to suddenly uncover some deep truth through observation was, indeed, overthinking it. Her solution was always so direct—phone a friend.
"This is called being good at using resources and teamwork!" Stelle declared, completely unfazed by their reactions. Without a hint of a blush, she immediately immersed her consciousness into the chat group.
[Stelle]: "@Dan Heng @Zhongli Dan Heng! Zhongli! How's the historical research going today? Are you guys free? We have an devastating discovery we'd like to ask you about!"
She deliberately made the question sound as grand as possible to grab their attention.
Dan Heng, who was consulting ancient texts in the library, quickly replied.
[Dan Heng]: "We've made significant progress. Amphoreus's history and rules are indeed unique. If you have a question, just ask."
Though Zhongli didn't type anything, it was clear he was also paying attention.
[Stelle]: "We just want to ask! Why does Okhema seem to have no night?! We've been wandering since morning, and according to Paimon's stomach, it should be dinner time by now!"
[Stelle]: "But the sky hasn't gotten dark at all! It's still bright! What's going on? Is Okhema's sun working 24/7?"
On the other end of the chat group, Dan Heng fell silent for a few seconds after seeing the question.
He and Zhongli, who was beside him, exchanged a look. Both could see a flicker of helplessness in the other's eyes. Dan Heng had assumed his two companions, having been in Okhema for so long, would have already discovered this most obvious of anomalies. He hadn't expected them to only realize it now, and only after someone else pointed it out.
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