Xu Zixuan grew more and more fired up as he chanted, even launching into spontaneous improvisation.
“Let us sing aloud for Herta!
Herta’s beauty crowns the cosmos!
Herta’s erudition is renowned across a thousand stars!
Herta’s name resounds throughout the universe!
Herta’s power reaches the heavens and pierces the earth!”
This string of wildly exaggerated praise, paired with his flamboyant, gesticulating motions, left everyone present utterly dumbstruck.
Asta forcefully held back her laughter, her shoulders trembling faintly.
Welt adjusted his glasses and silently turned his face away.
The Herta doll remained expressionless.
But in truth, the real Herta controlling the doll was already feeling rather awkward.
Indeed, the real Herta had programmed quite a few self-praising routines into her Herta doll, and occasionally did enjoy listening to the doll shower her with compliments.
But that was always during private, solitary moments.
And now this scene…
Xu Zixuan quietly observed the Herta doll and couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.
Truly worthy of the genius Herta.
To remain expressionless and keep her cool even in a situation like this.
Impressive.
Far too impressive.
“The two Stellaron vessels have awoken.
I’ll go take a look first.” The Herta doll suddenly spoke, her tone stiff as she turned toward Asta.
“You follow later.”
The moment her words fell, the light in the doll’s eyes instantly dimmed.
The real Herta had decisively severed her connection to this doll and switched to controlling another one.
Left behind on the spot were only Xu Zixuan, Asta, and Welt.
“Excuse me.
I’ll head over first.
If you’ll pardon me.”
Asta gave an apologetic smile and hurriedly made her way toward the medical bay.
Welt said nothing and followed along as well.
Welt had figured it out by now.
Even Herta, an Emanator of Erudition, was someone Xu Zixuan dared to tease.
Him trying to seize Xu Zixuan’s phone and delete that video…
it was a bit of an impossibility.
That being the case, he might as well treat the whole matter with equanimity.
After all, if you can’t afford to provoke them, can’t you at least afford to hide?
Once the Astral Express departed, they would likely have great difficulty meeting again.
Xu Zixuan: Huh?
How did you know I’m boarding the Express?
“Tsk.
Xu Zixuan held a very favorable impression of the pointy-headed Madam Herta.
Even though Madam Herta had been somewhat unapproachable upon their first meeting, Xu Zixuan knew that was merely a protective facade worn by the genius Herta.
Though outwardly dismissive of anything that didn’t pique her interest, Herta was truly beautiful in heart and kind in nature.
Otherwise, in that IF line, she wouldn’t have become Nous’s scapegoat…
In a certain IF line, the Memosnatcher from the Garden of Recollection used the memories of Amphoreus to lure Herta in.
Nous, when the real Herta questioned what divinity truly was, enticed Herta to go to Amphoreus all alone.
Without the Express Crew spearheading the expedition, by the time the real Herta arrived at Amphoreus, she would likely have been powerless to prevent the birth of the Iron Tomb.
The Iron Tomb’s primal driving force at that moment was to seek a head.
Hence, it would seek out Nous and fuse with THEM.
Destroying the Path of Erudition, becoming one link in the chain of the universe’s destruction.
Nous had precisely exploited the real Herta’s humanity, knowing she could not bear to see ordinary people across the galaxy suffer.
Even if she had the ability to flee, she would only stay.
She could only walk toward the future Nous had anchored—taking Nous’s place as the head of the Iron Tomb.
Had Nous been fused with the Iron Tomb, the Iron Tomb would become the new Aeon upon the Path of Erudition, and no one would be able to stop it.
Had Herta been fused instead, Nous would remain unharmed.
The Iron Tomb would step onto the Path of Erudition and still fall under Nous’s control.
Just like Rupert I and Rupert II, the Iron Tomb would become Rupert III, and then be purged by Polka Kakamond.
That damnable Machine Head, actually using Herta’s kindness to make her a scapegoat.
Even if it was the optimal solution, it was still infuriatingly unforgivable.
Xu Zixuan: @Nous, you absolute sneak, you deserve to die!
He cursed unceremoniously in the Aeon group chat.
Thinking of how Herta, someone so fond of beauty and so kind-hearted, would ultimately be turned into an ugly monster bent on slaughtering the universe—he couldn’t contain his rage.
And according to the futures Elio had foreseen, none of the endings ever mentioned Nous’s fall.
Yes.
In every single ending, Nous did not fall!
This meant that, in truth, the goals of that Mr.
Lygus could never be realized at all.
Even if the Iron Tomb truly revived, Nous would simply find a genius to take the blade in THEIR stead.
In the end, even if Emperor Rupert III emerged, he would still be Nous’s man.
This…
was the future Nous had anchored!
Xu Zixuan felt that calling Nous an absolute sneak was not the slightest bit excessive.
Even if the scapegoat wasn’t the real Herta, this Machine Head would definitely find someone else to die in her place.
It wasn’t impossible that in other IF lines, the ones to suffer would be Screwllum or Ruan Mei.
Nous: ?
This perpetually silent Aeon made a rare response.
Being scolded for no reason at all, even it found this utterly baffling.
Aha: That pile of scrap metal Nous actually got scolded?
Aha is very curious…
The Aeon of Elation, ever eager to watch the world burn, immediately piled on.
Xu Zixuan: Nothing.
Just felt like cursing you out, you absolute sneak.
Nous: According to observations, your current emotional fluctuations bear an 89.7% correlation with Herta.
It is possible that a certain future I have anchored has provoked your anger.
Xu Zixuan: Correct guess.
But no reward.
Nous: The future of this world has already undergone a fundamental deviation due to your existence.
You need not be angry.
The probability of that future occurring has already dropped to 0.003%.
Xu Zixuan: You’re right.
But I still want to curse a couple more times.
Nous: …
Aha: Hahahahaha!
Nous was scolded into speechlessness!
This is truly far too entertaining!
After cursing Nous out, Xu Zixuan felt refreshed and invigorated.
…
On the other side, Herta had no idea that Xu Zixuan had cursed out Nous on her behalf.
Otherwise, she would likely have been deeply moved.
Xu Zixuan: Moved?
The real Herta: Not moving, not moving.
Don’t dare move a muscle.
“You’ve arrived, Herta?”
Seeing the Herta doll approach, Himeko smiled and introduced Herta’s identity to Stelle and Caelus.
“Is this little girl the Herta you were just talking about?”
“Wow, she’s so cute!”
Stelle’s eyes sparkled as she prepared to hoist the Herta doll up into the air.
Herta’s PTSD kicked in instantly.
She immediately produced a diamond hammer and brought it cracking down onto Stelle’s head.
“You!
Settle down, will you!”
Herta was also somewhat speechless.
Earlier, she had concluded that only a Masked Fool would, upon seeing her Herta doll, immediately want to lift her up into the air.
She never imagined there’d be a second one!
Are you a damn Masked Fool too?!
“Ow, that hurts!”
Stelle clutched her head, eyes brimming with tears.
Beside her, Caelus, who had originally been about to race Stelle for the chance to hoist the Herta doll up, couldn’t hold back his grin.
“Heh heh, serves you right for rushing!”