Ye Lan was wandering around the base all by herself.

Cai Xun and Bu Jie had to go write some report and turn it in, so they left first and let Ye Lan explore on her own.

Luckily, before they left, they gave Ye Lan a high-tech device. That way, she wouldn’t risk getting lost.

But this high-tech gadget was way more advanced than the old phone she’d left at home—the one that was practically ready for the scrap heap.

It took Ye Lan quite a while to figure out how to use it.

It had a really handy AI that she could ask anything about the Night Watchers, like basic stuff everyone should know.

For Ye Lan, chatting with an AI was a lot easier than talking to strangers.

So she asked it all sorts of things she was curious about.

The AI answered each question, and Ye Lan listened closely.

“I see. So, in a way, a true Star Eclipse is a large-scale form of mental contamination? A Star Eclipse happens when Stars lose control. Humans are more like vessels that seal or restrain Stars; only when they lose control can they unleash their truly terrifying power. Even our current high-tech weapons can barely deal with them, so the Night Watchers have to step in... So what exactly are Stars, and how did they come into being?”

There was no definitive answer to that last question. The AI could only offer theories from experts with a high degree of credibility.

“And Supernova... That’s so scary! Something that terrifying actually happened? I had no idea!”

Reading the description of the [Doll World] incident, Ye Lan couldn’t help shivering. It scared her a little.

If she’d been there, she’d have run as far away as she could. No way would she get involved with something like that.

The thought of turning into a doll with no feelings was terrifying.

It also helped Ye Lan understand just how absurdly powerful a Transcendent Star could be.

“Anyway, even if one does show up, it probably won’t have anything to do with me. I’ll leave it to the big shots to handle. A useless newbie like me should just hide in a corner and cheer them on.” Ye Lan muttered to herself, then set off toward the cafeteria.

After sprinting at top speed, she’d somehow gotten hungry, even though she’d just eaten before heading out.

“Time to chow down~”

As Ye Lan walked along, still reading more of the Night Watchers’ must-know basics, someone suddenly rushed in from the side—and they slammed into each other with a thud.

“Ah!”

“Owie, meow!”

The two petite figures fell to the ground, both letting out soft, girlish cries.

Ye Lan rubbed her butt. It had hurt so much she’d almost cried.

“Ugh...”

She shouldn’t have been like this, but for some reason, after turning into a little girl, she’d become much more fragile.

The slightest hurt or pain made her want to cry.

She couldn’t be like this!

She had to toughen up!

She had to shout right back!

She had to make the person who’d bumped into her understand that running around without watching where you were going was wrong!

Just as Ye Lan was gathering her courage and preparing to take the initiative, the other girl spoke first.

“What are you doing, meow?! Don’t you know it’s wrong to walk without watching where you’re going? And you were walking with a virtual screen open, too! You don’t even know the basics—how did you get into the Night Watchers?!”

“I’m sorry! It was my fault!”

Ye Lan got to her feet, bowed, and apologized at once. She gave in without hesitation.

Sorry, dignity. This really did seem to be my fault. There was no way I could stand my ground.

“Hmph~ Don’t think I’ll forgive you just because you said that, meow.” The other girl gave a cute little huff. She still seemed pretty mad.

Ye Lan cautiously looked up and saw a girl about her age.

She was taller than Ye Lan, though—maybe around five feet tall, and about fifteen, Ye Lan guessed.

She had white hair and green eyes, and she was really cute. A noticeable little fang showed when she spoke, making her even more adorable.

Ling Miao sized up the cute black-haired little girl in front of her, who seemed even smaller than she was, and suddenly got a fun idea.

“What’s your name?”

“Ye Lan.”

“Are you a Night Watcher?”

“Yeah. I only joined today, so I don’t know the rules yet. I’m really sorry!”

Ling Miao’s lips curled into a mischievous, adorable smile.

A cute newbie!

She looked like she’d be fun to mess with!

“You hurt me when you bumped into me. If you want me to forgive you, you have to treat me to a really good meal. Otherwise, I’ll report you for breaking the rules on the job and hurting the Night Watchers’ efficiency. You’d be in big trouble!”

Ling Miao hadn’t been hurt much at all, and that last part was completely a joke.

But Ye Lan believed her and immediately widened her eyes.

“Huh?!”

That was a threat, wasn’t it? That was definitely a threat!

But there wasn’t much she could do. She really had been in the wrong.

Ye Lan weighed up how much money she had.

She’d only just started the job, so she wasn’t getting paid yet. Still, treating a little girl to one meal probably wouldn’t cost too much.

“Okay. I’ll treat you to a meal later...”

“Mm~ That’s more like it~”

Ling Miao didn’t feel guilty at all about teasing such a cute little girl. If anything, she was having a great time.

“Oh, right. My name’s Ling Miao, and I’m a really awesome Night Watcher. You can call me Senior!”

“Okay, Senior Ling Miao. I’m looking forward to working with you!”

Seeing a little girl about her own size made Ye Lan feel a little closer to her.

She seemed like someone Ye Lan could get along with.

Thinking that made Ye Lan feel a lot better.

“So when can I treat you to that meal?”

“Meow? You’re already eager to have dinner with me? What an adorable girl~ Let’s do it at...”

Then Ling Miao suddenly remembered something and cut herself off.

Ye Lan tilted her head in confusion. “What is it?”

“Now’s not the time to eat! A Star Eclipse is here. We need to head out on a mission!”

Ling Miao grabbed Ye Lan’s hand and ran in one direction.

Ye Lan froze, then came to her senses. “A Star Eclipse? It’s really a Star Eclipse? But I’m still a newbie! Can a rookie really take part in a Star Eclipse operation?!”

Ling Miao stopped and asked, “What type of Star do you have?”

Ye Lan thought for a moment. “Bright Moon.”

“Then we’re good, meow! Let’s go! Don’t worry, I’m here!”

And then Ling Miao dragged Ye Lan off again.

“Uh...”

Ye Lan, the person this was happening to, stood there looking completely dazed.

Wasn’t being a Night Watcher supposed to mean slacking off while collecting a paycheck?

She was a newbie with no experience, and now she had to deal with a dangerous Star Eclipse? She didn’t want any part of that!

Was this how they repaid my trust?

Fuck this! I want a refund!

......

Inside the hovercar.

Ling Miao sat in the driver’s seat, while Ye Lan sat in the passenger seat.

The former hummed a happy little tune, in a pretty good mood. The latter, meanwhile, looked a bit glum.

“Come on, meow. Don’t be so glum. You’ve got to see the world sometime. Lots of awesome seniors are going, so you can just watch from the sidelines and get a look around. The best way to understand a Star Eclipse is to see one with your own eyes. That’s part of a newbie’s job, too. You’ll be safe.”

“Really?”

“Of course, meow~”

Hearing Ling Miao say that made Ye Lan feel a lot better.

As long as she didn’t get killed, it’d be fine. She could just treat it like watching a show.