With that minor commotion settled, combined with the comfortable rapport they had built while chatting online earlier, the lingering awkwardness between the two finally dissipated.
Their interaction settled into a much more natural rhythm.
Kazuki knew Asta had a mountain of administrative tasks to handle, so he skipped the small talk and went straight to the point.
He needed some medicine to temporarily block his physical pain, along with a few sets of suitable clothes to change into.
To be perfectly honest, in this vast and unfamiliar universe, the only people he could genuinely call friends were Madam Herta and Asta, even though their acquaintance was incredibly brief.
It was not that he wanted to rely on others to solve his problems.
He was simply a cosmic bumpkin who had just transmigrated here.
How was he supposed to handle the complexities of interstellar online shopping?
“I was just thinking about how to properly thank you!
I am already planning to gift the Trailblazer a Star Destroyer, so this little favor of yours is entirely on me!”
Asta nodded immediately upon hearing his request.
She pulled out her phone and snapped a quick photo of Kazuki.
The intelligent system instantly scanned his measurements and height, generating a massive catalog of suitable clothing in the blink of an eye.
Her slender fingers swiped casually across the holographic screen, not even bothering to check the total number of items.
As long as the designs were unique and met her general aesthetic standards, she paid for them in full.
Along the way, she also tossed several types of pain-blocking medications into the digital cart, selecting various durations and strengths just to be safe.
Seeing her finalize the massive transaction in a flash, Kazuki opened his mouth to speak, only to watch Asta wave her hand with a relaxed, breezy expression.
“I asked an uncle from the Corporation for help.
Everything will be delivered in a few dozen minutes, so do not worry.”
Kazuki offered a sincere word of thanks, and the spacious office grew quiet once more.
Asta lowered her head, immediately diving back into her endless pile of work.
As the minutes ticked by, Kazuki caught a glimpse of her frowning deeply at the damage report for the Seclusion Zone.
Her little face was scrunched up tightly like a steamed bun.
Sitting in the silence, he started overthinking his own actions.
‘Since I killed the Starcrusher Swarm King early this time, what kind of butterfly effect will it have on the Herta Space Station?
Will it prevent her from gaining the favor of Ruan Mei and the other geniuses?
Or will she miss out on experiencing the true gap between geniuses and ordinary people?’As the thoughts spiraled, he wailed internally.’Elio, oh Elio, hurry up and come out to save the situation!
I just completely smashed your script!
Even sending a Stellaron Hunter over to warn me would be fine.
Without your foresight, I really have zero confidence in what comes next!’
Just then, Asta opened a newly arrived email and subconsciously read the contents aloud.
“Miss Asta, the Interastral Peace Corporation has detected that several system-hours after the Antimatter Legion invasion, the Herta Space Station experienced massive energy fluctuations at the Emanator level.
These readings have been traced and confirmed to be the power of the Path of Beauty.
Are you aware of this situation?”
She rested her head heavily in her hands, agonizing over the glowing screen until her vision spun.
She had fully expected the IPC to ask questions, but she never imagined they would move so quickly.
How was she supposed to know the identity of this mysterious Emanator of Beauty?
Kazuki looked at her predicament, silently weighing his options.
Establishing a direct connection with the Interastral Peace Corporation did not seem like a bad idea at all.
He cleared his throat and spoke up.
“That Emanator of Beauty is me.”
Asta froze on the spot.
She straightened her back and craned her neck to look at him, her delicate face completely filled with disbelief.
“Stop joking around!
You are clearly from the faction of Elation, right?
Madam Herta is generous and is not holding your pranks against you, but impersonating an Emanator of Beauty will cause massive trouble.
Be careful, or the real Emanator might actually get angry.” She even tacked on a kind, exasperated reminder.
Kazuki slumped back into his seat and patted his forehead.
Forget it.
There was no sense in letting a minor roadblock stump him.
He might as well show off a little bit.
It was not like there was anything to lose.
“Remember those photos I sent you earlier?
That version of Herta was me transformed.
And besides, I really am a bona fide Emanator of Beauty.”
Kazuki walked slowly toward Asta, his voice gradually shifting, becoming as crisp and melodious as silver bells.
His height and shoulder width shrank bit by bit, his frame shifting from rugged male lines into the slender, graceful figure of an adult woman.
His ordinary hoodie melted into an elegant purple gown, and the sharp sound of high heels clicked crisply against the floor.
The stunning figure of the Emanator of Beauty Herta appeared in the office once again.
She raised a delicate hand to brush back the long hair cascading over her shoulder, and a faint, intoxicating fragrance wafted across the desk.
Asta subconsciously sniffed the air.
Her entire being instantly felt woozy as she leaned back in her chair, her eyes glazing over with pure admiration.
She murmured in a daze.
“Herta…
Madam Herta, why are you here…”
Just as she was completely lost in the trance, her shoulder was tapped lightly.
A familiar, dryly amused male voice rang directly in her ear.
“Forgot again, you little lecher?”
Asta snapped awake in sheer terror.
She opened her mouth to scream, but a hand clamped tightly over her lips.
Kazuki gasped in sharp pain and quickly yanked his hand back.
Two rows of neat, deep teeth marks were clearly visible on his skin.
A few minutes later.
Asta sat rigidly in her chair, her face flushed completely red.
She glared angrily at Kazuki, her ears burning with intense shame and indignation.
“You…
you!
You actually dared to turn into Madam Herta to trick me again!
That is going way too far!”
Kazuki rubbed the back of his hand, wincing at the aching bite mark.
“How did I trick you?
I already told you I was an Emanator of Beauty.
You were the one who refused to believe me.
Besides, look how good I looked as Herta.
Weren’t you staring in total awe just a moment ago?”
Asta felt that she would never be able to look at Madam Herta’s face directly ever again.
The moment she saw her, those teasing words would unconsciously pop into her mind.
Seething with embarrassment, she vengefully typed out her reply to the official email.
“That Emanator of Beauty is a highly esteemed guest of Madam Herta.
The situation is somewhat special, and he is interested in communicating directly with the Corporation.
Please send a representative over for an actual inspection.”
[Elysian’s Note:
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