“Screwllum, how’s it going?”
Herta strode into the office and stopped beside Screwllum’s projection, asking as he operated the Simulated Universe before him.
“I have integrated the computational data from Nous that you provided into this Simulated Universe device—or rather, into the underlying logic algorithms of what you named the ‘Metaverse.'”
“Conclusion: All equations within the computational data have been decompressed and extracted. As a result, the Metaverse’s underlying logic algorithms, which would originally have taken several days to complete, were finished ahead of schedule. They are now fully complete.”
Screwllum stopped what he was doing, turned to Herta, and continued:
“I estimated that I would inform you of this good news in 4 minutes and 22 seconds.”
“In short, your timing is perfect. We can proceed directly to the operational testing phase. Should we notify Ruan Mei?”
The Simulated Universe machine before them, which Herta had named the “Metaverse,” was a research project led by Herta, with Ruan Mei and Screwllum invited to collaborate.
Screwllum had primarily been responsible for coding the underlying logic algorithms that allowed it to simulate the Milky Way.
Once the data from Nous’s calculations of the universe had been decompressed and deciphered, it perfectly filled in the remaining gaps.
“Ruan Mei is busy cultivating her Emanator bug. Send her a progress report. If she’s interested, she’ll come on her own.”
“Also, if you dislike the name ‘Metaverse’ as much as Ruan Mei does, you can just say so. It’s not like I insisted on using it.”
Herta folded her arms, a hint of displeasure in her voice.
Screwllum’s deliberate pause when saying “Metaverse” had been his way of conveying that he wasn’t particularly fond of the name.
“Everyone is free and equal in their views and ideas about the world. I would never disparage another person’s taste based on my personal preferences.”
Faced with Herta’s displeasure, Screwllum placed his right hand over his chest and bowed slightly like an English gentleman.
“My apologies, Herta. In our future collaborations and discussions, I will choose words that best facilitate communication.”
Translation: I promise I’ll be direct with you from now on.
“That’s more like it.”
Herta’s attitude visibly softened upon hearing Screwllum’s apology and promise.
“So, what should we call it now? I vote for Simulated Universe.”
At that moment, Little Herta, who had remained silent beside them, raised her hand and offered her opinion during the two geniuses’ discussion.
“Hmm… A simple and straightforward name. And who might this be?”
Screwllum paused noticeably when Little Herta spoke before addressing her.
It seemed he had previously mistaken Little Herta for one of the barely self-aware Herta Puppets aboard the space station that Herta occasionally controlled.
“Herta Puppet #4423. You can call me Little Herta.”
“4423? Then you must be the selfless Puppet Madam whom Herta mentioned—the one directly connected to the Aeon of Erudition who voluntarily contributed data from Their calculations.”
“I am Screwllum. It is a pleasure to meet you. Please also allow me to express my gratitude and respect for your selflessness, Little Herta Madam.”
Despite being a genius renowned throughout the cosmos and the monarch of an entire planet, Screwllum put on no airs before Little Herta, who had been born only a few days ago and was technically a generation below him in terms of backups.
He even performed an elegant gentleman’s bow, treating her as an equal.
“There’s no need for ‘Madam.’ Just call me Little Herta.”
Faced with Screwllum’s gentlemanly bow, Little Herta immediately accessed the etiquette records stored in her logic core.
She placed her left foot behind her right, lifted the hem of her skirt slightly with both hands, and bowed. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
“It is also a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Screwllum, the most ‘human’ of all geniuses.”
Meanwhile, Herta stared at Little Herta’s refined, graceful manners toward Screwllum.
Her eyes widened, and she looked as though she had seen a ghost.
Little Herta noticed her expression as well.
“What’s that look supposed to mean? Am I not allowed to have manners and know proper etiquette?”
The transition was seamless.
Faced with her creator, Little Herta went from graceful and polite one second to standing with her hands on her hips the next, glaring sharply and aggressively at Herta.
Good.
This was the obnoxious little brat Herta knew!
“My expression is none of your business. If Screwllum is the most human genius, then what am I?”
Herta immediately fired back.
“Human? You?”
Little Herta’s face filled with exaggerated astonishment, surpassing even Herta’s earlier expression.
“#”
Herta’s brows furrowed slightly.
Her fists clenched.
“What are you trying to do?”
Sensing danger, Little Herta took half a step back.
At the same time, Herta stepped toward her with her right foot.
Seeing that things were going badly, Little Herta turned to flee, but Herta was faster.
She seized her and instantly began the refinement!
“Ow, ow, ow! My temples! My temples are going to expl—huh? It doesn’t hurt?”
Herta pressed both fists against Little Herta’s temples and twisted viciously.
After crying out in pain a few times, Little Herta belatedly realized it didn’t hurt at all!
Then it dawned on her.
With her mechanical body enhanced by 9,999%, how could Herta’s tiny, flesh-and-blood limbs possibly hurt her?
“That’s it? So weak. Have you eaten?”
Little Herta, who had just deflated, instantly swelled with arrogance again!
“…”
Herta said nothing.
She merely withdrew her fists from Little Herta’s temples and raised her right hand above her head.
Her key-shaped staff appeared out of thin air, gleaming with blue energy.
It was as if she were saying: The time for sorcery is over.
“Wait! What are you doing?! Mom, I—”
“Boom—!”
“Owww—!”
Herta’s office physically shook three times.
Screwllum instinctively raised an arm to block the sight of Little Herta getting beaten.
“You even called me Mom to save your life. I despise you.”
Feeling refreshed, Herta put away the key-shaped staff she had wielded like a club to cast “physical” sorcery.
“You’re clearly just a sore loser…”
Lying facedown, Little Herta raised her right hand and waved it in protest.
Then the hand went limp like liquid, seemingly declaring that she was “dead.”
“Sorry you had to see that.”
After teaching Little Herta a lesson, Herta apologized to Screwllum.
Although Little Herta had provoked her, she had indeed behaved discourteously in his presence.
“No harm done. Witnessing a sincere and friendly relationship is itself a cause for joy. The fact that you made no attempt to conceal it also proves the depth of trust and cooperation between us.”
Screwllum responded magnanimously.
There even seemed to be a trace of happiness in his normally emotionless mechanical voice.
“I really don’t understand how you and Ruan Mei concluded that this brat and I are close.”
Herta couldn’t help complaining.
She couldn’t understand why Screwllum, just like Ruan Mei before him, had concluded that she and this obnoxious brat were close after seeing them interact.
She didn’t exactly dislike the brat, but Little Herta’s roughly fifty-kilogram body contained at least sixty kilograms of sheer rebelliousness.
If Little Herta could activate “Unreasonable Mode” to counter her, she might already have fled to some remote planet in the middle of nowhere to hide.
“Those involved are often blind to the truth, while onlookers see clearly. My personal suggestion is to view the matter from another perspective.”
Screwllum offered his advice.
“Let’s just say that’s true.”
Herta waved a hand, having no intention of giving it further thought.
She then shouted at Little Herta, who was still lying on the floor:
“How long are you planning to play dead? Get up and test—”
Herta stopped halfway through her sentence, pointed at the Simulated Universe, and asked Screwllum:
“You don’t mind if we call it the Simulated Universe, do you?”
Since both Ruan Mei and Screwllum had rejected the name “Metaverse,” Herta decided to ask for Screwllum’s opinion first.
“Acceptable.”
★ ★ ★
T/N: If you spot mistranslation, do tell me!