Caelus returned to his own room.
Exhaustion wrapped around him.
At this moment, no god of Amphoreus could make Caelus move his gaze away from this lounge chair.
"Mem? (Aiya… Are you sleepy? Looking at you, your eyelids are almost unable to stay open~)"
"Memimemimemi. (If you're sleepy then sleep. Hoo… hoo… But, is there no night in this city? It's a little hard to fall asleep...)"
Caelus looked at Mem and nodded seriously. What Mem said made a lot of sense.
Wait… something felt off!
Caelus frowned and stared at Mem with a very strange gaze.
"Mem! (Ara—— Being stared at like this, even I would feel shy, you know?)"
"Memimemi, Memimi! (Is the fur on my body tangled? Or my ears… My ears are fine, you know? Look, they even twitch~)"
[So you're still saying you're not Elysia!]
[This vibe is about to overflow!]
[What's going on? Why is my brain automatically adding voice lines?]
[Damn! These lines aren't even pretending anymore, huh?]
[Sound effects, where are the sound effects? Where's my authenticity mark?]
— —
Caelus sucked in a sharp breath. "You're not stuttering anymore?!"
"Mem? (Ah, that's right! I can actually speak complete sentences now!)"
Then Mem let out a long string of "Mem" sounds. "(Hey hey hey—— Hey hey hey—— The feeling of speaking fluently is amazing! But… was my speaking style always this mature? My first-person pronoun is actually… 「I」?)"
"Why didn't you get voice acting?"
"Mem. (Exactly, exactly! It's so unfair, right? Whatever, whatever. I've always been very tolerant. Once you get used to this setting… it actually feels pretty nice?)"
[Damn, this flavor. You're still saying you're not Elysia?] [It really isn't Elysia. The actress is called Cyrene, not Elysia.] [I don't care. Hurry up and turn into a beautiful girl!]
— —
Caelus rubbed his chin. "Now you can tell me about yourself?"
"Mem... (Mm, even though that's the case… I still can't remember anything about myself. What a headache.
But I have a feeling! — As long as I continue collecting the memories scattered across Amphoreus, something very, very good will happen.
How should I put it… Anyway, I just feel that this world is very important to me!)"
Caelus nodded thoughtfully. "Starting with one person and one dog, equipment all depends on scavenging!"
"Mem! (I'm not a dog! And I'm not a pet either! I'm... uh, what am I? Whatever. Anyway, I'm definitely a very important character!
Ah… I feel a little sleepy. The light is so gentle. It makes the fur on my body all warm. I want to sleep...)"
Listening to Mem's words, Caelus gradually closed his eyes.
Your consciousness sank into drowsiness. At the edge of the dream, you heard a whisper.
"Open this book. I will be waiting for you on the other side!"
With that, Caelus slowly opened the book titled Amphoreus.
Even Mem appeared within the pages, and the book also recorded Mydei's experiences.
[Does this book have physical merchandise? I want one.]
[Yes, bro, it does! This book is sold on the official website, but the story cards inside have to be bought separately.]
[Ah? Then how much does it cost?]
[Money isn't much. One story card is 15 yuan. Altogether it's probably seven or eight hundred to collect them all. But these story cards are bought according to the story season — meaning once the web drama finishes this season, they become discontinued. So if you want to buy them, you need enough patience to get a full set. Otherwise, if you're missing one card later, you'll go crazy.]
[Uh... So you're using merchandise to bind the web drama from the other side? Heh, as expected of miHoYo!]
— —
While Caelus was in a strange slumber, in another part of Okhema.
Phainon and Castorice stood atop a high platform.
"You should take this opportunity to rest properly, Lord Phainon… The Coreflame return ceremony is tomorrow."
Phainon let out a cold laugh. "Today, tomorrow — what's the difference? Anyway, under Kephale's protection, Okhema is forever bathed in dawn.
As long as the light remains this strong, I won't be able to sleep peacefully. Rather than forcing myself to close my eyes, I might as well calm down and sort out my thoughts. This can also be considered a form of rest."
"Then… have you sorted them out?"
"Not at all. It's still a complete mess. I don't even know where to start. The Coreflame in my palm was scorching hot at first, but now it has completely cooled down… I can barely feel its existence anymore.
Miss Castorice, do you think… does this mean that Nikador and I are quite compatible?"
Castorice nodded blankly. "I don't understand the principle behind it, but if thinking this way can make you feel a little more at ease… then I support your view."
"Thank you." Phainon seemed to truly feel much more at ease. He recalled what had almost happened back in the Abyss of Fate.
If Castorice hadn't stopped him, he might have already done something extremely cruel.
Castorice let out a soft sigh. "Are you still thinking about what happened back then, Lord Phainon?"
"Every moment, every second. Just now, I lied in front of the two demigods — I told them that the only thing on my mind right now is the mission of the Chrysos Heirs. I wonder if I can hide it from Aglaea's golden threads this time."
"No one can deceive her, my lord. When it comes to our lies, she simply chooses to turn a blind eye."
"Indeed. What a foolish hope. I often wonder, 'Can someone as ordinary as me become a hero?' I thought defeating Nikador would quiet the voices of doubt in my mind… but I didn't expect them to become even noisier."
Castorice comforted him. "I can't find the right words for a moment… but I know you are not ordinary, Lord Phainon. Mydei often jokingly calls you the 「Deliverer」… I don't think his tone was entirely joking."
"I should probably give up on useless thinking and just empty my mind until the time of the ceremony arrives..." Phainon joked, "I've used this trick before, right before Teacher Tribbie's history exam — with stone tablets and documents piled up like a mountain, who could possibly review everything? Might as well accept fate early and cherish the time for sword practice and playing around."
"Then… how did the exam turn out?"
"My score? I don't remember anymore — I only remember that Teacher Tribbie punished me by making me clean the Chrysos Heirs' bathhouse for a whole week, and she didn't allow anyone to help."
Castorice smiled faintly. "So Lady Tribbie also has such a strict side... Lord Phainon, please continue to maintain this peaceful state of mind. I think you'll be fine."
"Thank you, Miss Castorice. I think I'll just stay like this for a while longer and try not to think about those troublesome matters. Anyway, I won't be able to come up with any results. Recently, scenes of my hometown… Aidonia have been flashing before my eyes.
The people of Castrum Kremnos possess some incredible technology… If only I could separate my body and soul as well. That way, I could let my soul leave my body at any time and fly back to that familiar patch of grassland in my hometown. Only there… can I temporarily enjoy a moment of peace."
[Snowy, stop raising flags!] [Feels like foreshadowing.] [Damn, this line — is everything foreshadowing?] [I feel like Phainon is definitely going to fail!] [No need to feel. He will definitely fail. This segment is telling the audience that Phainon has inner conflicts and cannot inherit the Coreflame.]
— —
Outside Amphoreus, in a familiar corner of the galaxy.
The screen was pitch black.
However, a voice could still be heard from within, and it sounded extremely similar to Herta's, yet also somewhat like a certain grave robber.
"What a ■■■ adventure—— Please insert any adjective you think is appropriate in the ■■■ spot!
You must be just as curious as I am: So, what will happen next?
Don't worry, because… even if you worry, it won't help. Why don't you come with me first and let me tell you a story that happened on the other side of the galaxy..."
The camera turned and arrived at the Herta Space Station.
Four small Hertas were standing in place, not knowing what exactly they were doing.
"Look, where is this? It's the Herta Space Station — the camp of geniuses, the cradle of science.
Look at these Herta puppets. How exquisite is the craftsmanship? I've heard more than once that some people secretly praise behind her back: 「She's really pretty」..."
[Oh no, I really did say that!] [She's really pretty!] [Hahaha, it was me.]
"But if you ask me, their restoration of Lady Herta's beauty doesn't even reach one-tenth… ah no, not even one percent. This isn't flattery. I'm merely stating an objective fact...
Do you still remember this scene? What an inspiring sight! The esteemed Genius Society #83, Lady Herta, is questioning the great Nous, hoping to obtain the secret of 「divinity」 from THEM!
Continuing from the previous chapter, the genius legend that is enough to rewrite the history of the galaxy begins right here..."
"I say, Fourth Mirror — who are you talking to?"
At this moment.
A large Herta, whose figure and appearance were almost the grown-up version of the small Herta, walked up to one of the camera lenses.
"Uh… I was just trying to add some sense of ceremony to our appearance, Lady Herta."
Large Herta crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh, a sense of ceremony for the first appearance... As if something like that exists?! If I were actually talking to the machine head, that would be one thing, but the problem now is… THEY aren't reacting at all!"
Fourth Mirror said: "Uh… But Lady Herta, look here… Just from this image, you're clearly already standing in front of Nous, aren't you?"
"Oh, that? It's just a holographic projection. It's impossible to actually summon the machine head's true body here."
"So you were just reciting lines to a projection?!"
Large Herta snorted coldly. "This is called a sense of ceremony. Weren't you the one who valued it the most? Enough of this nonsense. Do you know how difficult it is to send a message to Nous? I went all out — in order to power the 「Audience System」, I had to divert the entire space station's energy and put it into silent mode, then restart it afterward. Do you know how high the cost behind this back-and-forth is?"
Fourth Mirror asked weakly, "How high?"
"Hm..." Large Herta pondered for a moment. "Money isn't my concern. You might as well ask Asta."
"So you don't know either!"
"I am the real Herta, the Emanator of 「Erudition」, a genuine genius — managing costs? That kind of thing is far too vulgar."
"You're absolutely right, Lady Herta! For a genius like you, the company should unconditionally provide all resources and let you freely squander them on whatever topic interests you!
In that case, the real Herta, the Emanator of 「Erudition」, a genuine genius… what are you planning to do now?"
"What else can I do? Of course, find the fault in the 「Audience System」 and fix it."
"Uh… Forgive me for being blunt, Lady Herta. You are indeed skilled in many fields. But are you sure 「hands-on ability」 is still one of your strong points? If it were me, I would suggest you contact Stephen..."
[Who is Stephen?]
[A Genius Society member who wanted to slack off while running a fruit shop, so he developed some kind of system and ended up being glimpsed by Nous.]
[Uh, are you sure this Nous isn't Aha in disguise?]
[At first I thought so too, until I found out that the Simulated Universe was created by Ruan Mei, Screwllum, Big Herta, and Stephen together. Only then did I realize he's actually a real genius.]
[Oh, I see!]
— —
Inside the Herta Space Station, Herta's audience with Nous had not yet ended.
Using the energy supply of the entire space station, Herta activated the Audience System terminal and attempted to communicate with Nous, but unexpectedly failed.
After investigation, faults appeared in all three sectors within the terminal. Herta had no choice but to personally step in and handle them one by one.
Large Herta continued troubleshooting within the system.
However, the Fourth Mirror following her was like a chatterbox, constantly chiming in with an uncontrollable urge to complain.
After Large Herta finished dealing with all the problems, she finally stopped pretending and directly pulled out the mastermind behind the scenes.
A Remembrance Pathstrider — at the very least, someone related to the Path of Remembrance.
"Herta… Lady Herta! Y-You… what are you trying to do... I… I'll tell you everything! The secrets of the Garden of Recollection, the things they're coveting… I'm willing to tell you all of it! Please spare me, spare me..."
Large Herta gently touched the Remembrance Pathstrider's cheek as her body slowly sank into the mirror surface.
"Aiya, at such a critical moment, the only life-saving lines you could think of were these few sentences? That won't do. Do I need to remind you again? I am Genius Society #83 Herta, the scholar who unraveled the mystery of Imaginary Overflow, the key holder of the Imaginary Collapse Weapon… Do you really think I need to obtain any answers from you?"
PS: I've been updating two chapters a day recently because I'm preparing for a new book. The new book is already mostly complete and can be released in a couple of days.
As for why I'm starting a new book? If I don't, I'll starve to death.
Here I'm also venting some complaints I had while writing.
For example: When I write plot, some people say "I read novels to see interactions with characters, not to read the original plot! If I wanted to read the original plot, wouldn't I just play the game?" Then they give 2 stars, a bad review, and leave.
When I write daily life, some people say "Wasn't your title about writing a web drama? Are you even going to write the main story? You write daily life all day, you're really just padding! You're not writing this side quest? You're not writing that PV either?" Then they give 2 stars, a bad review, and leave.
Sigh... What can I say? Damn it!
It's in this kind of progress where it seems like I can't please either side that this book has stumbled its way to the present.
As for how much longer it can continue, I'll leave it to fate. Maybe one day when I can't hold on anymore, I'll just end it.