As they bid farewell to Asta, Venti’s phone chimed with a crisp ding.
He pulled it out and, unsurprisingly, saw a message from a certain impatient “little girl.”
Herta: Hey, Venti, right? It’s me, Herta. When are you getting here? I’m dying of boredom waiting for you.
Herta: Get to my office immediately. Don’t keep me waiting!
Venti: Hehe, I ran into Asta and got caught up in a delightful chat. Apologies for the delay.
Venti: But don’t worry, I’m already outside your office with Stelle. Be there in a second.
Herta: [Auto-reply] Sorry, I’m unavailable right now and won’t be contacting you anytime soon.
Venti put his phone away, and Stelle shot him a look filled with exasperation.
“That woman’s got some nerve! She’s the one sitting around doing nothing, yet she’s rushing us?”
Venti chuckled softly and explained, “Herta isn’t just one person. She’s a genuine Azure Star human, but the figure we met earlier is one of her remotely controlled puppets.”
As they spoke, the two arrived at Herta’s office on the second floor of the central control deck. Two guards from the Security Department stood by the door but silently stepped aside to let them through.
From their expressions, it seemed like they were used to this routine. After all, no one dared to obstruct Herta’s work—even though she likely wouldn’t have noticed them anyway.
With that thought lingering, Stelle stepped into Herta’s office.
Contrary to her expectations of cutting-edge equipment or rooms filled with rare artifacts, the office was sparse. There wasn’t even a desk.
That wasn’t surprising. For Herta, a Genius Society member ranked #83, appearances meant nothing. Her office reflected her eccentricity, with only items relevant to her or the Society.
To the left hung portraits of notable Genius Society members:
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Xandar I Sunahara, founder of the Society and its first seat.
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Polka Kakamu, the mysterious fourth seat, infamous for erasing all traces of her identity from the universe.
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Liltha, a selfless altruist and the 22nd seat.
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Elias Saras, the 56th seat, a brilliant inventor of synesthetic beacons and superluminal telepathy.
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Screwllum, the 76th seat, a gentleman with a mechanical mind, renowned for his innovative designs.
The last figure’s connection to Herta was particularly significant. Screwllum had collaborated with her to create the massive triangular terminal in the center of the room.
And there stood Herta herself, beside the terminal.
“Oh, you’re finally here—wait, why are you here too?” Herta’s gaze landed on Stelle, her voice tinged with irritation. “I thought women were unpredictable, but it hasn’t even been that long since you stormed off.”
“I just wanted to make sure you didn’t pull anything funny,” Stelle replied flatly.
“Hmph. I’m not so clumsy that I’d botch a simple blood draw. What, do you think I’ll break him?” Herta sneered, clearly annoyed.
“Alright, alright, let’s not fight,” Venti interjected, eager to play peacemaker. “So, what do you need me to do?”
Herta raised an eyebrow. “Simple: baseline scans, blood samples, and—if you’re feeling generous—a bit of DNA. Don’t worry, I’m not cloning you or anything. I just want to see how much of your body remains human while coexisting with a stellaron.”
“Stop! Stop! Stelle’s still here!”
“Oh, come on,” Herta rolled her eyes. “You organic lifeforms and your tedious sense of modesty.”
Herta’s indifference wasn’t surprising. For someone who had used her DNA to create her puppets, such discussions were purely scientific.
“Fine,” Herta sighed. “Lie down on the scanner over there. As for you—”
Her gaze shifted to Stelle.
“I’m working on a grand project with some colleagues. If successful, it could solve humanity’s greatest mystery: the secret of the Aeons. Interested?”
“No.” Stelle’s reply was instantaneous and emotionless.
“Think about it! The Aeons are beyond extraordinary. Some of them were once human, yet they’ve gained powers beyond comprehension. Aren’t you even a little curious?”
“That’s their story, not mine. I don’t interfere with others’ lives,” Stelle countered, her tone final.
Herta frowned, clearly displeased by the rejection.
“Fine. But haven’t you ever wondered where the Aeons come from? Why they exist? What their purpose is?”
“I don’t even know what’s at the edge of the universe. Why would I know that?”
Herta grit her teeth, visibly frustrated. But, knowing Stelle’s importance to her research, she forced herself to remain calm.
“Alright, you win,” she said with a sigh. “But hear me out. If you cooperate, I’ll make it worth your while. You can even name your reward. I’ll do whatever it takes—even if it means creating an Aeon myself.”
“Why are you so obsessed with this?” Stelle asked, genuinely puzzled.
“I could ask you the same thing. Why are you so against it? What if Venti joins the project too? You two could team up to explore the simulated universe together.”
Herta’s suggestion earned no reaction from Stelle, who simply stood her ground. Realizing she was wasting her breath, Herta redirected her focus to Venti.
What followed was over 24 system cycles of relentless research.
When Herta finally emerged with a report in hand, her expression was a mixture of astonishment, confusion, and frustration.
“Alright, spill it. What are you?” she demanded, her voice sharp.
“Me? I’m Venti,” he answered cheerfully.
“Don’t play coy! I’m asking about your body—what’s with all this weird data?”
Herta was barely holding back the urge to dissect him.
“Let me be blunt. The anomalies on Jarilo-VI? That was you, wasn’t it? I was monitoring them, but other projects distracted me. Now that I’ve studied you—”
She glanced at his data again, her voice tinged with disbelief.
“You’re not a typical Trailblazer. The power within you doesn’t align with any known Paths. It’s unique, free from assimilation or domination by other Paths.”
After a pause, she added with a mix of awe and frustration, “It’s… too free. I don’t even have the words to define it.”
“Maybe ‘Freedom’ is its name,” Venti suggested, grinning.
Herta glared at him. “Fine. I’ve changed my mind. Stay here for a while longer. I need to study this firsthand. You might have the potential to become an Aeon yourself!”
Her proximity became almost invasive as she leaned in, her doll-like face inches from his.
“Hey now,” Venti said, gently pushing her back. “I understand your excitement, but I’m starving. Research will have to wait—and any further tests will cost extra.”
“Extra?! You’re cutting me off right when it’s getting interesting!”
Herta tried to block his way, but a sudden gust of wind swept through the room, blowing up her skirt to reveal her lantern-like bloomers. By the time the wind died down, both Venti and Stelle were gone.
Back in her office, Herta fumed silently. Her puppet had disconnected out of sheer frustration, forcing her to take control of another one outside.
As she reconnected, she spotted a new anomaly: a puppet moving independently, free from her control.
“What did you do?!” she demanded.
Venti smirked. “Set her free, of course.”
“Free?! These are my puppets. How could I rebel against myself?!”
While Herta struggled to comprehend the phenomenon, the new puppet—imbued with its own consciousness—spoke for the first time:
“I’ll stay and help you research him.”
“What? Why?” Venti asked, surprised.
“Because it’ll be fun,” the new puppet replied, smirking.
With that, Venti returned to the train, where Himeko greeted him warmly.
“Welcome back. Rest up—we have a navigation meeting soon to vote on our next destination. Perhaps there’s a planet that’ll pique your interest.”
—
T/N: woooah he can do that…? also did you guys see THE Herta? Like zoowee mama (dog panting gif)
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