"Three Paths?" Old Yang's tone was unusually surprised.
March 7th smiled awkwardly. "But you're not even a Path Walker, so saying that is a bit..."
"Even if you truly had three Paths, I'd still advise you to think carefully before hot-switching," Himeko added.
March 7th asked, "Sister Himeko, do you really believe he has three Paths?"
"In the universe, multiple Paths aren't that uncommon," Himeko replied.
March 7th scratched the back of her head and smiled sheepishly. "I see."
Gu Fan didn't mock little March for her silliness. He was stumped—there was no one left who could answer his questions.
This meant he'd have to try for himself. What would hot-switching actually entail? Death or prolonged torture, glory or riches—it was completely unknown.
Come to think of it, Gu Fan had read some Star Rail fanfiction on Ciweimao. In other stories, what were the protagonists' talents? Why did they seem to face no difficulties and just cruise to success?
This was no surprise—some were already Aeons from the start, or Envoys of certain Aeons. These offered no reference for Gu Fan, as both Aeons and Envoys were far beyond his current state. Others had simulators where, no matter what they did, they could reset everything after the simulation ended.
Simulators... if only there was something that could let him know what would happen with hot-switching in advance. The Simulated Universe... In the game, Gu Fan controlled the protagonist strengthening themselves in the Simulated Universe, only for everything to return to nothing upon exit.
Could this mean he could also test hot-switching in the Simulated Universe and evaluate the effects?
But to enter the Simulated Universe, he would need approval from one of the four geniuses who created it.
Time was pressing, and he could only seek out Herta. But Herta wasn't easily found, and even if found, she wouldn't readily open the Simulated Universe for Gu Fan.
His thoughts had reached a dead end. He surveyed the interior of the Astral Express, scanning past the crew members until his gaze stopped on March 7th.
March 7th was clinging to Himeko's arm, her expression adorably coquettish, while Himeko looked at her with affection.
"Garden of Reminiscence!" Gu Fan exclaimed involuntarily.
Old Yang and Himeko turned toward him.
The effect of the Garden of Reminiscence should be similar to the Simulated Universe.
Gu Fan's face brightened as realization dawned. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Express crew, could you take me to the Garden of Reminiscence?"
Old Yang and Himeko exchanged puzzled glances.
March 7th said, "Is your head not working properly? What 'Garden of Reminiscence'? Take you there? We don't even know where it is."
"It's on the Express, isn't it?" Gu Fan replied.
March 7th looked at Gu Fan, her eyes clearly saying: is something wrong with this person's brain?
Gu Fan had a thought: the Garden of Reminiscence was parasitic on the Express, but only the game's protagonist—the silver-haired Trailblazer—could see the entrance. He needed to summon the Trailblazer.
"Excuse me, who are you?" Old Yang's gaze passed through Gu Fan as he spoke.
Gu Fan turned around to see Stelle walking over unhurriedly.
She didn't answer Old Yang's question, looking directly at Gu Fan instead.
"What are you doing here?" Gu Fan asked.
"They told me you were here," Stelle replied.
Sis, you're way too clingy, Gu Fan thought to himself, but said aloud: "Perfect timing. There's a space on this train that only you can see."
He clearly remembered the Garden of Reminiscence's location and started walking toward it. Stelle followed, and Himeko and the others, though confused—could there really be a hidden space on the Express they didn't know about?—trailed behind them.
The train's compartments varied in decoration style, some simple, some luxurious, some large, some small. The Garden of Reminiscence was in the largest main carriage.
"Sister Himeko..." March 7th pointed at her head and made a circular motion.
Stelle walked to a corner of the compartment and began talking to herself, apparently engaged in a flowing conversation with someone, looking quite serious.
"Sister Himeko, could there be something... unclean on the train?" March 7th clung tightly to Himeko's arm, trembling.
Gu Fan smiled knowingly. March 7th misunderstood his meaning, released Himeko's arm, put her hands on her hips, and lifted her head in a show of fearlessness. But her deep blue skirt kept shaking, particularly noticeable against the backdrop of her fair thighs.
At some point, another person had appeared beside March 7th—someone wearing an oval deep blue mask and a white hooded cloak.
Gu Fan pointed at this person, and March 7th instinctively looked in that direction. She immediately let out a scream.
Stelle said, "I've discussed it with her. You can all see her now."
Discussed it? Gu Fan looked at the white-clothed figure. Behind her stood something like a mirror in the corner, its surface shattered, countless fragments floating around it.
Gu Fan thought briefly: this person is a follower of the Aeon of Remembrance, and through the mirror behind her, one could enter the Garden of Reminiscence.
In the game, she was extremely resistant to letting anyone other than the Trailblazer see her, even willing to erase Old Yang and the others' memories. Surprisingly, Stelle had merely spoken with her, apparently without much persuasion, and this Envoy of the Aeon of Remembrance had agreed to reveal herself.
Gu Fan glanced around casually. Old Yang pushed up his glasses—he appeared calm on the surface, but through his lenses, Gu Fan could see the uncertainty in his eyes.
Himeko was similar—having such a mysterious resident on the train where she had lived for who knows how long was hard for anyone to accept.
"Are you male or female?" March 7th asked.
This person's form appeared feminine, but if they were male... who knows what they might have seen, and for how long. She felt goosebumps rising.
"I should be female, and I've never spied on any members of the Express crew," the Aeon's Envoy seemed to see through March 7th's thoughts, her voice serene and gentle.
Gu Fan asked, "Can I use the Garden of Reminiscence now?"
"I only agreed to reveal myself. Apart from her, no one may use it casually," the Envoy pointed at Stelle, her tone cold.
"Looks like someone's disliked," March 7th grinned.
Gu Fan looked troubled. The Envoy of the Aeon of Remembrance wasn't someone to offend—she could even modify Old Yang's memories.
"Can I give him my chance?" Stelle asked.
The Envoy replied, "Only you can use it."
Stelle said, "Then if he can't use it, I won't either."
The Envoy seemed extremely conflicted, remaining silent for a long time before telling Gu Fan and the others, "You may use the Garden of Reminiscence, but there's a condition."
"What condition?" Gu Fan asked.
"The Garden will read the user's memories and generate enemies to test them," the Envoy explained. "For anyone entering except Stelle, the scenes will be shared with everyone else."
Livestreaming monster battles? Gu Fan thought.
March 7th laughed, "Well, I don't have any memories that could generate monsters anyway."
She didn't notice the self-deprecating nature of her comment. Himeko patted her head, and March 7th finally realized, smiling awkwardly.
"I don't have memories either," Stelle said.
March 7th took Stelle's hand and said, "Good, from now on we're the Amnesia Alliance!"
"Actually, I'm an amnesiac too!" Gu Fan laughed.
"Don't try to join in!" March 7th retorted, moving closer to Stelle.
But I really don't have memories of this body! Gu Fan thought with bitter amusement.
Old Yang directly gave up this privilege. If he went in, the Honkai Beasts might be materialized as enemies. But seeing Himeko's expression wouldn't be bad either—what face would she make if confronted with the Herrscher of the End or the Herrscher of the Origin? Gu Fan found the image amusing.
Though he hadn't played Honkai Impact 3rd, as an old anime fan, he had watched video clips of the related plot.
"Can I go now?" Gu Fan asked the Envoy.
The Envoy nodded.
As a person from the modern world, what enemies could Gu Fan encounter? Just some criminals seen on the news—as a Path user, would he fear ordinary people?
The Envoy stepped aside. As Gu Fan approached, the mirror fragments of the Garden gradually came together, restoring the mirror.
A flash of white light, and Gu Fan entered a mysterious world. He stood in the center of the arena, with colorful lights rapidly flowing past him.
Gu Fan looked around. Those colorful lights were familiar scenes to him.
There was a sword-wielding woman in a kimono, and a large whale tumbling in a mysterious space.
The scenes flowed faster and faster until Gu Fan couldn't see them clearly anymore.
End of Chapter