Chapter 6: Theresa and the Nameless Ones Join Forces

Welt carefully observed Theresa's expression. Her beautiful, youthful face was twisted into a pout of displeasure as she glared at him, her small hands seemingly itching to snatch the Oath of Judah from her back and give him a whack.

Her mannerisms were strikingly similar to the real Theresa's, and her unmistakably youthful aura ruled out the possibility of Void Archives' disguise. Most importantly, she didn't have golden hair—it was common knowledge that anything Void Archives mimicked shimmered with golden light.

Theresa's long, pure white hair further confirmed her identity. Combined with her current childlike cuteness, Welt felt a wave of relief wash over him.

"My apologies, Bishop Theresa. I had to proceed cautiously to ensure you weren't an enemy in disguise."

"Now, could you please demonstrate the Oath of Judah one last time to confirm your identity?" Welt asked, meeting her gaze.

"Huh? How am I supposed to test it? Do you want me to demolish this place?" Theresa exclaimed, staring at Welt in astonishment.

"You only need to unfold it. I'll verify its authenticity."

Welt spoke solemnly, genuinely unnerved by the Void Archives and determined to ensure absolute certainty. If Theresa could wield the Oath of Judah, there would be no doubt—he recognized the real thing, having personally experienced its half-ton weight.

"Fine, if you insist on seeing it, don't blame me later," Theresa declared, addressing the assembled crew. "You've all heard him ask me to do this!"

Theresa glanced at the group, who trusted Welt implicitly. They nodded in unison.

"Oath of Judah, deploy!"

Theresa detached the Oath of Judah from its rack and placed it on the floor with a resounding thud. The half-ton weight shook the train car, startling Pom-Pom, who anxiously eyed the floorboards, fearing they might crack.

Her worries were unfounded. Fortified by the Blessing of the Trailblaze, the Astral Express was far sturdier than it appeared. After all, it had once breached even the Amber Lord's supposedly impenetrable walls. The Aeon Akivili hadn't earned his reputation for nothing.

As Theresa spoke, the Oath of Judah smoothly unfolded, its thirteen razor-sharp Soulium spears springing forth. Instinctively, Theresa began wielding the weapon with practiced ease.

"Alright, that confirms your identity. My apologies for the intrusion, Bishop Theresa."

Welt politely apologized to Theresa, who secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she had narrowly avoided being exposed. This Welt is far too suspicious, she thought.

[Astral Express mission complete. Vishnu Super Transformation Factor deployed to the Oath of Judah's storage space. As expected, you truly delivered!]

[New mission: Assist the Space Station in eliminating the Doomsday Beast. Rewards: Enhanced Red Stone of Aja and Optimized Stone Mask. Want to become the ultimate lifeform?]

Theresa smiled happily at the Homu System's notification, which made Welt relax, assuming she had forgiven him. In reality, her joy stemmed from claiming the rewards.

"Hello, Theresa. My name is Himeko," Himeko said with a warm smile, extending her hand.

Theresa stared at Himeko in astonishment, tears of overwhelming delight sparkling in her eyes. This is incredible! I'm meeting Himeko for the first time!

Welt nodded inwardly at Theresa's tearful reaction. After all, the Himeko of St. Freya had already passed away. Seeing Theresa's emotional response upon meeting Himeko, he discarded his last shred of suspicion and finally relaxed completely.

"Himeko..."

"Waaah!"

Theresa threw herself into Himeko's arms, sobbing with joy. How could she, as Captain, ever forget Himeko?

The long-held regret and resentment Theresa had been suppressing finally burst forth. Perhaps it was because she had become a girl, but she found herself tearing up easily.

"There, there," Himeko murmured, gently comforting Theresa. "It seems you've been through a lot. Don't worry, Himeko will take care of everything."

Himeko glanced at Welt, who sensed impending doom, and smiled at Little March. "March 7th, would you mind fetching the full pot of coffee I brewed last night from my room?"

March 7th and Dan Heng swallowed nervously, exchanging helpless glances with the bewildered Welt. March 7th dashed to Himeko's room and returned with a steaming pot of fragrant coffee.

The aroma was enticing, but the brew itself was an ultra-concentrated nightmare, so bitter it could make your scalp tingle—so potent it could burn your esophagus. Truly, Himeko's coffee was a force to be reckoned with.

Himeko stood smiling, holding a pot of ultra-concentrated coffee as she watched Welt. March 7th, Dan Heng, and Pom-Pom had retreated as far as possible.

"No, Himeko! I was wrong! I was too pushy! If I drink this whole pot, I'll get a stomach ulcer!" Welt exclaimed frantically.

Theresa, with her face pressed against Himeko's abdomen, smirked inwardly. She hugged Himeko, inhaling her comforting scent. After all, she was Theresa now, so there was no question of taking advantage, and Himeko seemed genuinely fond of her.

"Alright then," Himeko said, taking a cup from Pom-Pom and turning to Welt. "We'll reduce it to just one cup. I can't go any lower—you were too harsh on Theresa." She poured a full cup of the intensely fragrant coffee and handed it to him.

"Make sure you finish every last drop," Himeko said with a smile, watching Welt's face pale.

With a grim nod, Welt steeled himself and downed the entire cup of ultra-concentrated coffee in one gulp, as if accepting his fate. The bitter, acidic brew contorted his face into a grimace. He slammed the empty cup onto the table and clutched his stomach in agony.

"Enough! I can't take it anymore! I need to use the bathroom!" Welt exclaimed, hastily scrambling to the bathroom, leaving the others trying to stifle their laughter.

"Hmm, there's still quite a bit left," Himeko said, eyeing the half-full coffee pot. "Let's not waste it. How about everyone gets a share?"

Pom-Pom panicked and scurried to hide in the cockpit. Under Himeko's smiling gaze, March 7th and Dan Heng reluctantly took their cups, grimacing as she filled them to the brim.

"What are you waiting for? Drink up! It's delicious! Look how happily Welt ran off to his room after his cup," Himeko said with a grin.

March 7th and Dan Heng exchanged wry glances before gulping down their coffee in one go. They promptly rushed to the bathroom to induce vomiting.

Himeko sighed in resignation. How could they be so afraid of such fragrant, rich coffee? She poured herself another cup and took a sip, noticing Theresa's curious gaze.

"Here, little one," she said, offering the pot to Theresa. "The rest is yours."

"This is the initiation ceremony for joining the Astral Express crew," Himeko said with a smile, watching Theresa's apprehensive expression as she poured the last bit of coffee into her cup. Theresa grimaced, enduring the maniacal laughter of the Homu System in her mind, and cautiously took a small sip of the concentrated coffee under Himeko's expectant gaze.

But instead of the anticipated intense bitterness, a surprisingly sweet, fragrant flavor spread across Theresa's tongue, lighting up her face.

Of course! Theresa's sense of taste was famously peculiar—she could perceive bitter as sweet. She had nothing to fear! And with her enhanced physical constitution, Himeko's coffee was no challenge at all.