Bang!
The Golden Thread struck Okhema, but it didn't reach the massive sphere carried by the Statue of God. Instead, it was intercepted by a tiny "door" just before making contact with the sphere.
Instantly, a violent gale erupted from the clash of opposing forces, surging outward in all directions.
Though this gale wouldn't cause catastrophic damage to Okhema, it was sure to terrify its residents.
Just as the gale surged toward Okhema, Lumina and Herta, along with the Phantylia Kitten lounging in Lumina's arms, lazily napping, all sensed its approach.
Across the city, the Golden Threads snapped taut, bracing against the gale's onslaught while stabilizing every structure. This prevented the wind from affecting the buildings, ensuring the residents wouldn't suspect anything from the slightly stronger gusts.
Soon after, the Golden Threads dissipated, the gale subsided, and the city's golden threads gradually dimmed. Yet they continued to emit a dazzling golden radiance.
"It seems this city-state is no different."
"The residents' safety rests on the shoulders of a select few."
"I wonder if there's something out there oblivious to their silent sacrifices, something that might doubt their actions."
After witnessing this scene and glancing at the oblivious Okhema, bathed in peace and harmony, Herta couldn't help but sigh.
"Why do you say that?" Lumina asked, her curiosity piqued.
"What else could it be? I learned it from short videos, of course!" Herta shrugged, her expression utterly matter-of-fact. "That's how short videos always go. Otherwise, how would the story progress?"
"There's bound to be some obstacle blocking the Protagonist, twisting their efforts to protect the residents into something sinister, turning the public against them, and so on."
"In the end, the Protagonist will inevitably overcome these trials, painstakingly defeat the obstacle, and then generously forgive the residents who once scorned them."
"I imagine this place is pretty much the same."
Lumina: ...
Herta must have spent an absurd amount of time scrolling through short videos on her phone. Based on this single scene, she had perfectly pieced together the future events of Okhema and Amphoreus, including the Protagonist's journey.
Her tone was brimming with confidence and self-assurance, as if she were the actual administrator of Amphoreus.
Lumina's lips twitched involuntarily, finding Herta's words both bizarre and exasperating. She had never expected Herta to say something like this.
"Herta," Lumina replied with a common refrain, "too much screen time will turn you into a fool. You don't want to one day look at a problem that used to be as simple as 1 + 1 = 2 and suddenly be unable to even understand it, do you?"
"Are you treating me like a three-year-old?" Lumina retorted, her expression mirroring Herta's earlier arrogance.
Lumina found herself speechless at Herta's words, equally dumbfounded by the way Herta treated her like a child.
Watching short videos will turn you into an idiot? Only someone like what's-her-name, March 7th, would believe that.
"Ha ha, don't dismiss it! Experts have said it themselves—prolonged exposure to short videos can assimilate your thinking to their content."
"And you know what those videos are like—mostly mindless, wish-fulfillment fantasies. Watch enough, and you start to believe you're the protagonist of one of those stories."
Lumina chuckled softly, elaborating on why excessive short video consumption could "make you stupid" to Herta.
But she seemed to have overlooked one crucial point.
That was...
"What's wrong with being a wish-fulfillment protagonist?" Herta retorted, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't I one myself?"
"Oh, wait, I'm not exactly a wish-fulfillment protagonist," Herta corrected herself after a moment. "I'm an invincible protagonist."
Before Lumina could respond, Herta added with a flourish, "Uh..." Lumina sputtered, suddenly at a loss for words.
Thinking about it that way, maybe... perhaps... it actually makes sense?
Compared to Herta's legendary exploits, she was the true protagonist of a "power fantasy" story.
Meanwhile, those so-called "power fantasy" protagonists paled in comparison to Herta, appearing utterly mediocre.
After all, standing before them was Madam Herta, one of only eighty-odd members of the Genius Society in the entire cosmos, the Emanator of Erudition!
Madam Herta! The epitome of a "power fantasy" and "invincible protagonist," embodying both supreme intelligence and unmatched beauty!
"Since that's the case, do you still think watching short videos will make me dumber?" Herta asked, her small eyes narrowing slightly as she observed Lumina's expression. It was as if she could see right through Lumina's facade, sensing her inner thoughts. A hint of pride tinged her voice as she spoke, her joy and amusement barely concealed.
"No, no, of course not," Lumina shook her head emphatically. "Madam Herta's brilliance remains unparalleled throughout the universe."
"Those so-called 'power fantasy' short videos are nothing more than amateurish attempts to compile Madam Herta's various records and experiences from online sources."
"Compared to you, Madam Herta, I'm like a firefly next to the radiant moon—so insignificant I'm practically invisible."
Lumina immediately transformed into Madam Herta's personal automatic praise doll, showering her with flattery... no, showering her with praise for Madam Herta's legendary feats.
"Hmm, not bad. Starting today, you'll be my Automatic Praise Doll No. 1."
Herta found Lumina's praise far more gratifying than that of a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand, or even a million automatic praise dolls.
She lightly flicked her hair, releasing wisps of a delicate fragrance into the air.
Herta hummed contentedly, bestowing the title of "Automatic Praise Doll No. 1" upon Lumina.
"Madam Herta, it's my honor," Lumina replied, simply accepting Herta's words without further comment. This pleased Herta even more.
"Alright, alright, it's about time we left this place. Let's go see what kind of person this city-state's leader is."
After sitting in place for a short while longer, the two rose and turned their gazes toward a nearby patch of tall grass.
Exchanging a quick glance, they began walking toward the grassy area.
"Come out, young lady. We've been watching you for a while now," Lumina said gently, approaching the rustling grass. Her voice was warm and reassuring, hoping to dispel any wariness the hidden person might have. She projected goodwill, wanting to show she meant no harm to Okhema's safety.
As Lumina finished speaking, the grass rustled louder, and a red-haired girl, about one meter twenty-three tall, emerged. She had large, captivating azure eyes, a round, endearing face, and two small wings fluttering on her back, making her utterly adorable.
"Hello," the girl chirped. "We're Tribbie. We mean no harm either. Agy asked us to find you."
Tribbie introduced herself first, then echoed Lumina's declaration of peaceful intentions.
"We?" Herta scrutinized Tribbie from head to toe, then her expression brightened with sudden understanding. Her delicate features lit up with realization.
At a glance, Herta immediately understood the phase Tribbie was currently in.
"My name is Lumina, just an ordinary little physician," Lumina said, looking at the adorable Tribbie. The air around them seemed to sweeten noticeably. She introduced herself first.
Hmm... that familiar introduction again.
Before Herta or Tribbie could speak, Lumina introduced Herta as well: "This is Herta, just an ordinary researcher."
Herta: ?
Though a large question mark floated above Herta's head and face at Lumina's familiar introduction, a wave of nostalgia washed over her.
Herta remembered their first meeting. Lumina had used the exact same introduction back then.
How has it already been so long since we first met? Herta mused silently, her expression remaining carefully neutral.
What a pain. If Lumina saw me making such a face, she'd tease me mercilessly.
Hmm... well, maybe not.
I wonder when I'll finally be able to freely express my true feelings in front of Lumina.
Herta could only imagine two possibilities that would allow her to openly reveal her thoughts to Lumina without restraint.
The first was being completely under Lumina's control, reduced to being "Little Sister Herta" to "Big Sister Lumina." In such a situation, there would be no point in hiding anything.
The other possibility was naturally the opposite: Lumina completely under Herta's control, reduced to being "Little Sister Lumina" to "Big Sister Herta." In this scenario, Herta would have even less reason to conceal her thoughts.
After all, Little Lumina would already be firmly in her grasp, transformed into a "Little Sister Lumina" who would wail and cry if separated from "Big Sister Herta"...
Under such circumstances, any concealment would be utterly meaningless.
Naturally, Herta would prefer the latter.
However, after her experiences during this period, Herta felt that the former wasn't entirely unacceptable either.
As long as Lumina's heart contained only her and no one else, that would suffice.
Though Herta considered this possibility to be practically zero.
So, she might as well choose the latter.
Silently shaking her head, Herta dismissed the thought and turned her gaze to the two figures chatting ahead.
Hmm... Surely Lumina wouldn't be so desperate as to... with such a petite girl?
Casting a suspicious glance at the pair interacting, Herta observed Lumina closely. Finding no hint of ulterior motives in her expression, she nodded slightly.
It seems Lumina still retains some semblance of decency.
Relieved, Herta began eavesdropping on their conversation.
"Just an ordinary little Physician? Just an ordinary researcher?" Tribbie visibly stiffened at Lumina's self-introduction for herself and Herta, then asked with genuine confusion:
"We understand 'Physician,' but what does 'researcher' mean?"
"Does it mean studying all sorts of things?"
"Exactly! You're so clever, Tribbie." Lumina smiled and nodded, then crouched down, gently extending her palm to touch Tribbie's head.
For some reason, Tribbie didn't resist or evade Lumina's touch, letting her hand rest lightly on her head.
Observing from a distance earlier, Tribbie hadn't felt anything particularly special.
But now, interacting with Miss Lumina, who claimed to be an ordinary little Physician, Tribbie felt inexplicably comfortable and at ease...
Even the energy she had expended opening the Century Gate was gradually replenishing.
Is this just my imagination? Tribbie murmured inwardly, gazing at Lumina.
But the warmth radiating from above quickly soothed away her doubts.
So comfortable... so very comfortable... supremely comfortable!
Tribbie couldn't find the words to describe this feeling of utter bliss.
It was like...
being back in her mother's arms.
Yes, it felt just like being back in her mother's arms.
Tribbie couldn't mistake the feeling—it was familiar, a sensation she had yearned for in her dreams...
But the sensation vanished as quickly as it had appeared, dissipating the moment Lumina withdrew her hand.
"Mmm..." Though still wistful and longing for more, Tribbie kept silent.
After all, this was only her first meeting with Lumina. Acting too boldly might provoke her disapproval.
"Tribbie, you came to see us about something, didn't you?" Feeling the warmth lingering on her palm, Lumina nodded in satisfaction. She rose slowly and turned to Tribbie, asking, "What's on your mind?"
"Mmm, we accepted Agy's request to take you to see her," Tribbie replied truthfully, burying the lingering warmth in her heart for the moment. "Agy has something she wants to tell you."
Agy hadn't instructed Tribbie to conceal anything, and the comforting aura radiating from Miss Lumina convinced Tribbie that she couldn't possibly be a bad person.
"Who is Agy? The leader of Okhema?" Herta asked flatly, her arms crossed.
"Who is Agy? Agy is just Agy," Tribbie replied, giving Herta the predictable answer she had anticipated. After all, this Tribbie seemed rather dim-witted.
"Agy is a Chrysos Heir—an indispensable Chrysos Heir to Okhema."
"Chrysos Heirs? What's that supposed to mean?" Herta asked, encountering another unfamiliar term.
"Hmm... I see now. I understand."
"Take us to meet this Agy."
Having voiced her question, Herta instantly pieced together the whole picture by connecting her earlier conversation with Lygus at the entrance. She didn't wait for Tribbie's explanation.
Chrysos Heir, huh? Herta thought, a hint of amusement in her mind.
Without another word, Herta gestured for Tribbie to lead her and Lumina to meet Agy.
Hearing this, Tribbie found the woman with the pointed Witch's Hat a bit intimidating. She turned her gaze to Lumina, as if seeking her opinion.
"Let's go, Tribbie," Lumina said with a gentle smile, a stark contrast to Herta's demeanor. "Since it's a request, we shouldn't keep Agy waiting too long."
Herta: ...
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Spy-Dropping upload frequency for this fic to 1 chap, it's just a hard time keeping up with it.