Stelle stood in Herta’s office, feeling somewhat at a loss.
“Weren’t you just inside a moment ago?
How are you out already?” Herta looked at the suddenly awakened Stelle, her eyes filled with confusion and impatience, “I haven’t even had a chance to check the test data for the Simulated Universe yet!”
“I…” Stelle opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
She couldn’t exactly say, “I found a backdoor left by Selene, she gave me hush money so I wouldn’t tell you, and then I just cleared the level and came out,” could she?
“Maybe…
the Simulated Universe has a bug.” Under the suffocating silence and Herta’s increasingly suspicious gaze, Stelle thought quickly, or rather, her brain had sparked a moment of world-shaking brilliance under high pressure.
“Huh?!” Herta’s pitch rose instantly, she crossed her arms, her tone filled with disbelief and offended displeasure, “A bug appeared just after testing started?
Where does that leave my reputation?!”
She immediately turned around, lunged at the main console, and her hands became a blur.
Her expression shifted from anger to focus, and then from focus into deeper confusion.
“What’s going on?” She muttered to herself, her fingers swiping rapidly through the void, “The underlying logs are normal, the execution path interruption is abnormal, but there are no traces of external intrusion or data tampering…
How can a bug be hidden this deep?”
“Um…” Stelle spoke up suddenly.
“Huh?
You’re still here?” Herta seemed to have only just noticed she hadn’t left, waving her hand impatiently as if shooing away a small animal disturbing her thoughts, “Forget it, forget it, let’s leave it at that for today.
I’ll thoroughly inspect the Simulated Universe.
Go wherever you want, just don’t get in my way here.”
With that, Stelle was “invited” out of the office, and the door shut firmly behind her.
Standing outside the office, Stelle suddenly felt a sense of emptiness in her heart.
The future…
what should she do?
She was someone with amnesia, an “anomaly” with a Stellaron inside her, a person ignorant of everything.
Herta seemed to have lost interest in her for the time being.
So, where should she go?
What could she do?
Just as she was feeling completely lost, a steady and elegant sound of footsteps approached from afar.
It was Himeko.
She walked up to Stelle, not rushing to speak, just looking at her gently, as if she could see through the confusion in her eyes.
“Feeling…
Stelle nodded, not hiding anything.
Himeko didn’t give an answer immediately, but like a patient guide, began to converse with her, understanding her feelings and her confusion at this moment.
Finally, she offered two clear choices:
“Either choose to board the Astral Express and join us on a journey of Trailblaze, full of the unknown, adventure, and possibilities.”
“Or, stay at the Space Station for a while and be Herta’s research subject.
A friendly reminder: based on what I know of Herta, once her interest wanes or she encounters a more interesting topic, she will likely cast you aside and ignore you.”
She didn’t rush her, just calmly stated the facts and possibilities.
“The Astral Express will still be docked at the Space Station for the next few days, so there’s no need to rush your decision.
You have plenty of time to think it over slowly.”
…
The next day, Stelle wandered near the platform alone.
The confusion from yesterday hadn’t completely dissipated; instead, it had become clearer and heavier because of the need to make a choice.
Just then, she saw that familiar figure.
Selene was sitting in her wheelchair, not far away, quietly gazing at the boundless starry sky outside the platform.
March 7th was not by her side; she seemed to have been sent out on an errand.
Her long hair flowed with a faint shimmer under the soft artificial light of the Space Station, her silhouette calm and graceful.
Stelle hesitated for a moment, then walked over.
“It’s you, Stelle.” Selene seemed to have eyes in the back of her head, turning her wheelchair gently as she approached, looking at her with her usual gentleness, “Himeko told me.
Have you…
thought about it?”
“I don’t know.” Stelle shook her head honestly.
Facing this gentle big sister who had given her healing and gifts, she didn’t want to hide her hesitation, “Selene, what do you think…
how should I choose?”
“I recommend you board the Astral Express.” Selene’s answer came with almost no hesitation, her voice soft but firm.
“Why?”
Because, “I feel that you shouldn’t be confined to a small Space Station.
Whether it’s the Stellaron inside you, or you yourself…
you belong to this vast and boundless sea of stars.
She paused, a hint of mischievous amusement flashing in her eyes, leaning forward slightly, her voice dropping a little:
“And, most importantly…”
“Is…?” Stelle was drawn in by her mysterious tone and subconsciously leaned closer.
“After boarding the Astral Express, you will gain a confidante big sister~” Selene winked her left eye playfully at her, that smile carrying a touch of childish craftiness.
“Huh?” Stelle was stunned for a moment, and then her face heated up slightly.
“Aha, I’m just teasing you~” Selene laughed, the sound as crisp as wind chimes, dispelling the slightly heavy atmosphere from before.
But she quickly composed her smile, her expression becoming gentle and serious again:
“However, the final choice remains in your hands.
After all, I’m just giving you a suggestion and sharing my perspective.”
Her gaze watched Stelle calmly.
“Remember, Stelle.”
“When you have the opportunity to make a choice, do not let yourself regret it.”
After saying this, Selene smiled at her slightly and steered her wheelchair, slowly turning away.
Just then, March 7th came running back, bouncing along, holding a dreamy-colored drink with two straws inserted.
“Sister Selene!
The milk tea is here!
Super large cup, let’s drink it together!
Come on, come on, the lighting for photos over here is super good!”
“Mm, coming.” Selene replied, nodded one last time at Stelle, and let March 7th push her wheelchair, smiling as they headed toward the “photo spot” March 7th had chosen.
The sound of their chatter faded into the distance.
Stelle stood in place, watching their figures disappear around the corner of the corridor.
“Do not let yourself regret…”
Words that Kafka had once spoken were now being heard again from someone else’s lips.
At this moment, Selene used the same words, pointing the way for her again at the moment she faced an important life decision.
Stelle lowered her head.
She seemed…
to already have an answer.
…
Selene is flirting with me, she is definitely flirting with me!
She winked at me!
At this moment, the Black Cat, having reached this part of the story, upon seeing Selene’s actions and hearing what she said, started to go absolutely crazy and scream.