Bai Ming hadn't really thought through what to do next.
She just simply felt she couldn't stand by and watch March 7th get scolded like that.
She's so cute!
So she absolutely can't be scolded!
If someone has to take the scolding, it should be someone thick-skinned like herself.
Her motto was: ignore the first remark, pretend not to hear the second, and automatically bounce back anything beyond the third.
The core strategy was all about multi-layered defense.
Anyway, no matter what, she just couldn't stand watching March 7th get scolded.
A girl like that shouldn't be made to cry!
On the other side.
March 7th was somewhat surprised.
She truly didn't remember that card issued by Asta
This was quite normal.
After all, she had even forgotten fundamental things about herself - who she really was, where she came from...
Matters that related to the very purpose of her existence.
So forgetting where she put a single access card was absolutely no big deal!
As for getting scolded?
Come on, how could she possibly get scolded!
Even though she called Dan Heng "teacher" and all, she joked around with him plenty in daily life.
In a situation like this, no matter how you think about it...
Uh...
Well, okay, the current circumstances really couldn't be compared to normal times.
After all, this involved the entire Herta Space Station.
Speaking of which...
March 7th looked at the figure standing in front of her, shielding her Bai Ming.
This girl, even though she seemed a bit odd and had a strange way of speaking, was actually willing to take the blame for her in a major situation like this...
It would be a lie to say she wasn't touched.
But did Bai Ming truly understand just how big of a responsibility she was taking on by doing this?
Oh... she definitely didn't know.
After all, she was the kind of fierce girl who'd start dismantling elevator control panels with a baseball bat without hesitation...
She probably hadn't given much thought to the consequences.
But—
This kind of instinct... perhaps made it all the more valuable, right?
Thinking this, a little more gratitude appeared in March 7th's eyes as she looked at Bai Ming.
At that moment, Bai Ming, as if sensing something, turned her head to look at March 7th, then slightly raised an eyebrow.
That expression seemed to be saying:
"No problem, I can handle this!"
March 7th facepalmed.
She really doesn't seem to know what she's up against...
On the other side.
Listening to Bai Ming's words, Dan Heng fell into deep thought.
After a good while, he finally spoke:
"So, you're planning to go back to where we were before to find that card?"
"Y-yes, that's right!"
Having started down this path, Bai Ming could only continue going along with it.
"Then let's set off immediately," Dan Heng said.
"Understood!"
Responding thus, Bai Ming prepared to head back along the way they came.
And right at that moment, March 7th raised her hand, her face slightly flushed as she said:
"Um, Teacher Dan Heng, I'll go back with her to take a look."
"That way, we can watch out for each other on the way!"
Dan Heng glanced at March 7th, then looked at Bai Ming, and finally nodded.
"Mmm, alright. Then go with her."
"Ah March~"
Bai Ming looked at March 7th with tearful, glistening eyes.
She hadn't expected her to take the initiative to respond to her like this.
"Alright, alright! Let's go, time is tight!"
The main door closed.
Bai Ming and March 7th arrived outside.
Unlike in the monitoring room, once outside, the two immediately switched their demeanor.
"Ah March, what do we do now!!!! Where are we supposed to find that card!"
"I don't know! Weren't you the one who said we should go back and look for it? That's why I came out with you!"
"But I just made that up!"
"Well, I was just going along with it too!"
The two stared at each other wordlessly for a moment, then the corners of their mouths slowly turned upwards.
"Pfft... hahaha~"
Their laughter echoed in the space station corridor.
"Bai Ming, I actually thought you really had some kind of plan!" said March 7th, having mostly finished laughing, as she looked at the girl in front of her.
"So it was all just a bluff after all."
"Ah March, you're no different," Bai Ming mumbled, pouting. "You came out without having figured anything out either."
"Well..."
March 7th paused, her face flushing slightly.
"You helped me like that... I couldn't just not show any support, could I?"
"If I didn't come out with you, I'd feel really bad about it."
"I know~"
"You know?"
"Mmhmm!" Bai Ming nodded.
And she genuinely wasn't joking.
After all, her looking back earlier wasn't just a coincidence.
Right after she intercepted the potential scolding from Dan Heng meant for March 7th, she received the corresponding...
"reward".
[Heartbeat Event Completed]
[Evaluation Score: 18/100]
[Rewards Obtained: Crystals*180]
[First-time Favorability: Additional Crystals*100]
The crystal count in the upper right corner instantly jumped back from 140 to a solid 420.
Bai Ming immediately understood.
Yes.
The scope of [Heartbeat Events] was far broader than she had imagined.
Even something like "taking the blame for her" could be judged as a [Heartbeat Event], and a brand new one at that.
It seems collecting crystals isn't as difficult as she initially thought!
And following that logic...
Bai Ming looked at March 7th before her.
This system could actually be used as a tool to gauge how to make her happy!
If she gets crystals, it means her actions are pleasing to March 7th!
Now she can finally use it to her advantage!
Crystals mean she's doing the right thing.
No crystals mean she's doing the wrong thing.
Oh my god!
What a divine tool this is!!
"H-How did you know?!"
March 7th looked at Bai Ming with an expression more curious than confused.
"Why do I feel like you know a lot of things I don't? Do you have some special trick or something?"
"May~be~"
Bai Ming twirled the baseball bat in her hand.
"Hehe, so do you wanna get to know me a little better? Maybe then... you'll figure out what's going on!"
"..."
March 7th placed her hands on her hips.
"You really are a strange one!"
"You bring up something interesting but then don't explain it properly, geez! You annoying person! I'm ignoring you!"
"Eh eh, Ah March, don't be like that! I'm sorry!"
Hearing that March 7th seemed a little upset, Bai Ming immediately panicked and turned to try and coax her back as she started walking the other way.
However, just as the two of them, one in front and one behind, Danger was quietly lurking in the shadows.
A flash of light suddenly appeared.
Immediately after, two Void Rangers brandished their luminous blades, charging towards Bai Ming and March 7th!
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A/n: While I am a new translator, I have a Patreon! While it may be a bit empty right now both this and the other book on my page has advanced chapters posted on patreon. Set up for my web novel will be 2 chapters for every book a day and if you go to my patreon you'll see the set up there.
patreon.com/deadlygoober