Chapter 8: Tour Guide Wilf

On the interstellar train from Peace City Ita to the Banquet Star, Xipha.

“Dear passengers, please board in an orderly manner with your tickets. One seat per person, no pushing, no occupying extra seats. The Star Dome Express will depart in ten minutes. Passengers who have not yet taken their seats, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Two girls, running breathlessly with sparks practically trailing behind them, barely caught the train at the last moment, lugging a huge bag between them.

The one in front, a side-ponytailed girl, wore a white summer dress.
She handed over two tickets with her left hand while adjusting the tilted black sunhat of the girl behind her with her right.
The one behind, in a blue dress, struggled to carry the oversized bag, her delicate figure comically at odds with the heavy load.

“Welcome aboard, Miss Xinghui and Miss Xingling.”

Xingling was an alias Xinghui casually came up with for Lingling Lan.
It rolled off the tongue nicely, so Xinghui decided that was what she’d call her from now on.

“You’re really this stingy? A green train—and hard sleepers, no less…”

Used to sleeping on soft, plush beds, Lingling Lan couldn’t shut her eyes at all.
She had no choice but to morph one of her tentacles into a cushion just to sit somewhat comfortably on the rock-hard berth.
Xinghui, on the other hand, didn’t care in the least. She quickly sprawled into a comfortable position and started gaming.

“No helping it. Hotels are too expensive, so this is where we save.”

“…When we get back, I’m never traveling with you again.”

Lingling Lan could only silently pray that the hotel wouldn’t be as terrible as this train.
If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have left the travel planning entirely to Xinghui.

After a bumpy morning ride, the Banquet Star—Xipha—spread gloriously before their eyes.

Known as the Banquet Star, Xipha was an enclave of the Grand Duchy of St. Delano in the second planetary system of Tiaatu.

Travelers called it the Pearl of the Sea of Stars—a breathtaking, Earth-like planet.

Blessed with its position in the Goldilocks Zone and a mild red dwarf sun, Xipha, with its Earth-like mass and rotation, quickly became the focus of investment by the Kanna Logistics Company.
Within just a few years, it transformed into a thriving hub of commerce and tourism.

Like a glamorous noblewoman raising her glass in invitation, the Banquet Star drew countless hedonists and tourists to indulge themselves.

“So, where should we go first? Amusement park or arcade?”

Lingling Lan’s eyes sparkled like stars.
The neon-lit skyscrapers and glittering roller coasters filled her with excitement.
If she had the money, she thought she could live here forever.

“You’re the guide,” Xinghui checked her phone.
“We’re strangers here. Best to have a local lead the way.”

“True… Wait—you hired a guide?”

The budget was already tight. Hiring a guide meant their lodging tonight would surely suffer.
Would she have to sleep with her tentacles as a pillow again?
Painful. Troublesome.

“She should be here already… Why isn’t she?”

Lingling Lan muttered bluntly.
With how unreliable Xinghui was, the guide she found was bound to be just as unreliable.
Still, she wasn’t bold enough to wander around alone.
Cautious as always, she was slow to embrace new things.

Just then, a petite blue figure squeezed through the crowd.
She held up a small brown flag as she ran, gasping for breath before finally stopping in front of them, bent over with hands on her knees, inhaling lungfuls of fresh air.

“Xinghui… Xinghui-senpai, I’m so sorry I’m late…”

Lingling Lan finally got a good look at the girl.
Waist-length sky-blue hair in two braids, each tied with a bright red bow.
Large, gemlike eyes sparkled under long lashes.
She wore a simple blue-and-white short-sleeved top with black pants—pretty and cute, though her plain outfit downplayed it.

A small black bag slung over her shoulder, a round hat on her head, and a large flag in her hands—she looked a little like one of those mascot platelets from an anime.

It was the textbook look of a tour guide.
Lingling Lan quickly judged that this adorable little girl was the guide Xinghui had arranged.

She had been bracing herself for some greasy middle-aged uncle.
But it turned out to be such a young and cute girl!
Xinghui had good taste, after all.

Going on a trip with a cutie like this made Lingling Lan’s mood shine like a sunny spring afternoon.

“Call me Sword Immortal-senpai—just once will do.”

Xinghui teased.
The guide instantly stood at attention, hugging her flag tightly.

“Yes, Sword Immortal-senpai!”

Her serious tone was so earnest it was almost funny.

“Right, Xingling, almost forgot the intro. This is Miss Wilf, a local of Xipha. She recently retired from the Ranger Association. We’ve been old online friends, so I figured she’d show us around for a few days.”

“Mm, mm!”

Whatever Xinghui said, Wilf nodded vigorously.
She looked like she’d even agree to jump off the tallest clock tower in the city if Xinghui asked her to.

“Then we’ll be in your care, Miss Wilf.”

“No trouble at all! It’s an honor to guide Sword Immortal-senpai and Sister Xingling! I’ll do my very best!”

Wilf gave a salute.
But just as she prepared to lead the way, a commotion erupted nearby.

Massive security robots dropped from the sky, eyes glowing red.
On their right arms, blazing batons ignited with fire.

Pedestrians screamed and scattered at the sight of the burning iron rods.

“Help! Why are you still chasing me? I’m not a thief!”

Wilf immediately hid behind Xinghui, trembling.
So that was why she had looked so exhausted earlier—she’d been chased by a rogue security robot.

“Target confirmed… Miss Wilf. Theft is dishonorable. Please surrender and drop your weapon.”

“It was just one flower by the roadside! How’s that stealing?!”

“Miss Wilf, plants are common property on Xipha. You have violated Article 16 of the Civic Code regarding plant protection…”

“Enough chatter with that hunk of junk. You two, get behind me—far behind.”

Xinghui drew her sword, taking a deep breath.
A light-bullet gathered on the blade’s edge.

She aimed at the robot as it raised its flaming baton and charged.
With a flick of her wrist, the glowing projectile shot forth in the direction of her will.

With a thunderous boom, the robot exploded into scorched scraps, never to rise again.

“Sword Immortal-senpai, you’re amazing! One strike and that big lump of iron is scrap!”
Wilf’s eyes turned into sparkling stars.
Watching Xinghui turn heroically amidst the explosion, she looked ready to faint with excitement.

Lingling Lan rested her chin on her hand, twirling a strand of hair idly.

“Yeah, yeah. We’ve only been here fifty-two minutes and twenty-four seconds, and you’re already stirring up trouble.”

Wilf (This is a portrait of a tour guide)

The one below is more in line with the character’s timid personality