"Uh..."
Anaxa walked for a while, then after arriving at the next destination, looking at the scene that appeared before his eyes, Anaxa, just like the previous time, stopped in his tracks and instantly fell into a state of silence.
"Professor Anaxa?"
With the loss of Lumina's warm "buff," Castorice's flushed little face gradually calmed down.
During the time walking along this stretch of road, although Castorice's face still remained flushed, it wouldn't make people associate it with shyness.
One could only think that Castorice was just a little tired from walking.
"Professor Anaxa, what's wrong again?"
After calling out softly, seeing that Professor Anaxa didn't make any response, Castorice called out again.
Then while waiting for Professor Anaxa to speak, she followed Professor Anaxa's gaze.
Two women arguing, and an old man helplessly holding his forehead and sighing while mediating, appeared before her eyes.
Although they were arguing, Castorice could feel the love they had for each other.
This was a very heartwarming scene.
But... what does this have to do with a condolence visit?
Wasn't Professor Anaxa supposed to be making condolence visits to the families of the Grove "heroes"?
Why did he stop here?
Could it be... that Professor Anaxa was longing for family?
In her mind, Castorice began to construct a "Fabricated History."
"Anaxa's expression, and Castorice's expression, are both so interesting."
Off to the side, Lumina, with Herta in one hand and Stelle in the other, took in the expressions of both Anaxa and Castorice, and couldn't quite contain the laughter bubbling up inside her.
One was utterly baffled and confused by the people who were supposed to have become "heroes" before him, while the other was vaguely bewildered, her mind wandering through wild thoughts.
As the "culprit," Lumina appreciated her "crime's" masterpiece and felt a surge of pleasure.
"It seems they all returned safely to Okhema."
Seeing the scene unfold, Herta knew that the two arguing women were the ones Lumina had saved in the Grove.
According to Amphoreus's original logic, they should have all died in the Grove.
This was also what Anaxa had seen. After returning to Okhema, he had immediately gone to find these families to offer his condolences.
But because of Lumina's intervention, things changed.
Those "heroes" who were supposed to have died in the Grove all returned to Okhema completely unharmed.
This event, which should have happened within Amphoreus's program, did not occur.
But this was an insignificant matter; if it didn't happen, it simply didn't happen. Most likely, it wouldn't have any impact on subsequent events.
If Herta's program encountered such a thing, she wouldn't have paid it much mind either.
The overall process hadn't changed, the Grove was still destroyed, and the result wouldn't change. There was no need to waste any effort on a modification.
Well... though modification wouldn't have done much anyway.
After all, the main bug was Lumina, and she couldn't be deleted...
Fortunately, this had nothing to do with her. The one who should have a headache was that Intellitron guy.
At this thought, Lygus's figure solidified in Herta's mind.
"This guy..."
"Which member of the Society is he, exactly?"
"[Remembrance], [Erudition], and [Destruction]. A Lord Ravager of the Triple Path will consume the Galaxy in his wrath..."
"[Remembrance] has no reason. Then it must be [Erudition], the Data World, the [Lord Ravager] of Amphoreus... a [Lord Ravager] of the [Destruction] of [Erudition]?"
"An Intellitron, and also a defense code on par with Screwllum... How many members of the Society even fit this description?"
Herta couldn't help but sink into a flurry of thoughts.
Though with Lumina around, no matter what that Intellitron guy's goal was, as long as it clashed with Lumina's wishes, it was destined to never be completed.
But Herta didn't particularly like this situation where the enemy was concealed while she was exposed.
As for that Intellitron guy's identity, Herta was currently at a phase of knowing almost nothing at all.
The only information she knew so far was all revealed by him himself. Was she completely in a passive position... then?
If Herta were alone, she would indeed be quite passive.
But Lumina was also here, so being passive was impossible.
That Intellitron guy wasn't some beautiful girl, after all. If he really wanted to seek death, Lumina would definitely be more than happy to grant him his wish...
However...
Still, I need to figure out his true identity.
Although no accidents would happen, and I wouldn't fall into a passive state or be deeply in danger, I still need to understand Lygus's identity.
Based on just two points, the Emperor's Scepter and the fact that he was once bathed in the glory of Erudition, I should already have a good idea of what kind of identity he has.
"Little Herta, what are you thinking about?"
"Seeing this scene, feeling nostalgic, and missing your family, huh?"
Holding hands, feeling the warmth coming from Herta's palm, Lumina could also sense the emotions Herta was pondering, transmitted through this very warmth.
She didn't know exactly what Herta was thinking, but combining it with the scene, Lumina could still make a guess.
She's missing home and her family!
"Yeah, I missed you."
"I wish you would become my family."
"So, when are you going to be my wife?"
Lumina's words instantly snapped Herta out of her thoughts about Lygus's identity.
Herta tightened her small hand, which was holding Lumina's, turned to look at Lumina, and said with a very serious expression.
Herta was also gradually getting used to just saying things like this.
After all, it was just a matter of talking and flirting with her words.
In the past, Herta wouldn't have even been able to do something like flirting with her words.
It was all thanks to Lumina that Herta had now become accustomed to the act of flirting with her words.
She said this sentence with a calm and serious expression, showing no signs of shyness at all.
Lumina: ...
Obviously, Herta had grown.
Herta had already grown up.
She was no longer the Little Herta from when Lumina first met her at the Space Station, who could be "rewarded" by just using a few "sweet words" to tease her...
"Hahaha..."
After realizing this, Lumina laughed a few times and didn't respond to Herta's words.
Pretending to be deaf, Lumina looked ahead, her attention completely fixed on Anaxa and Castorice.
Lumina really didn't know how to respond to this of Herta's.
If that's the case, then she just wouldn't respond.
The tiny Little Herta couldn't do anything to me.
Lumina snorted in her heart, and within this snort, she was full of disdain for Little Herta.
"Wife? Become a wife?"
"Become... family?"
"Wife!"
Just as Lumina was mentally expressing her disdain for Herta, a murmur that shifted from confusion to determination reached her ears from the other side.
"Hmm?"
For some reason, a bad feeling suddenly rose in Lumina's heart.
And Herta also seemed to have realized something, casting her gaze on Stelle.
The corners of her lips curled up, an expression of watching a good show appearing on her face.
If nothing unexpected happened, something unexpected was about to happen.
Of course, this "something unexpected" was unexpected for Lumina.
But for Herta, it should be an... unexpected surprise.
"Sister Lumina, I want to become your family!"
"So..."
"Please treat me like Madam Herta and become my wife, Sister Lumina... no, Wife!"
"Wife, let me become your family!"
Lumina: ...
Obviously, the sound of her previous conversation with Herta had reached Stelle's ears.
It was normal.
After all, although the two of them were speaking in lowered voices, they hadn't lowered them too much, nor had they taken any precautions.
For Stelle, who was just beside Lumina's other hand, it was normal to have heard it either completely or vaguely.
But this behavior of hers right now seemed very abnormal.
At least, that's what Lumina thought.
After all...
"Family... wife..."
"Sister Lumina, you guys..."
Lumina and Herta's voices were very quiet, only heard by Stelle alone; even Mem didn't hear it.
Stelle's voice was very loud and clear, reaching the ears of everyone present.
And among all the people present, naturally included Castorice, Mem, and Anaxa.
"Mem? Partner, what are you..."
Hearing Stelle's words, both Castorice and Mem cast a shocked gaze over, their voices also joining this chaotic battlefield one after another...
Even Anaxa couldn't resist turning his head and casting a glance.
After glancing for a bit, Anaxa turned back, shook his head, and didn't say much.
As a scholar, Anaxa was accustomed to understanding sentences word by word.
In Anaxa's understanding, the words Stelle just spoke...
Meant that Lumina had her feet in several boats at once...
It was just like when a man is dating several girlfriends at once.
However, Anaxa wasn't entirely sure whether this understanding applied to women as well.
Therefore, as a rigorous scholar, he would not make any judgments on the matter without sufficient evidence and certainty.
Seeing that everyone's attention was now focused on Lumina, Anaxa started walking toward the two women and one man who had just finished their argument.
Leaving behind the others in the increasingly "heated" atmosphere.
"Er..."
Anaxa's departure did not affect the atmosphere of the scene at all.
Feeling the gazes of the three beautiful girls and one aspiring beautiful girl, Lumina, while not feeling shy, was left speechless.
She didn't know how to face what was happening before her.
Herta: (★ ω ★)
In sharp contrast to Lumina's current state, Herta's face was full of excitement and joy.
Herta had been looking forward to this day for a very, very long time!
She looked forward to the "ship of friendship" between Lumina and the beautiful girls being capsized by a giant wave!
Now, the thing she looked forward to was happening right before her eyes. How could Herta not be excited and happy?
Even, Herta wanted to add fuel to the fire...
It's just... Herta felt a little unwilling.
Performing very intimate actions with Lumina in front of so many people, and they were all the "beautiful girls in Lumina's harem," if Herta said she wasn't shy or afraid, it would definitely be false.
But if she gave up this opportunity, there might be no more opportunities later. She must cherish this chance... So, she absolutely cannot give up!
"Hoo... hoo..."
Herta continuously took deep breaths, cheering herself up.
The excitement and joy on her face gradually disappeared, replaced by an expression completely inconsistent with Herta's image, one full of love.
She turned to look at Lumina, one hand holding Lumina's hand, and the other arm slipping through the one she was holding, gently pulling Lumina's arm into her chest.
She said in a cutesy, high-pitched voice, "Wife~ Didn't you say you were only my wife?"
"Where did this Stellaron Spirit come from?"
Bleh!
Unable to help it, Herta was disgusted by her own words.
The expression on her face twisted slightly, while internally she was gagging uncontrollably.
It was too disgusting. If she hadn't wanted to disgust Lumina and make her taste what it was like to be "judged" by a beautiful girl, Herta would never have done this.
Disgusting! Disgusting!! Disgusting!!!
But if she could disgust Lumina, Herta felt that even enduring this level of disgust was a win!
Lumina: ...
Herta's cutesy tone made Lumina's skin crawl with goosebumps.
It wasn't that Lumina hated this cutesy tone, but rather that such a tone was actually coming out of Herta's mouth.
It was truly unexpected.
Hmm... but considering the situation, she was simply trying to set me up.
She really is just stirring up trouble for the sake of it...
Feeling everyone's gaze, Lumina had a bit of a headache.
As for the ship capsizing?
What a joke.
How could such a thing ever happen?
Even if the current situation was magnified ten or a hundred times, Lumina's ship could never capsize.
The friendship boat Lumina sailed on the open sea with the beautiful girls was super incredibly sturdy!
Though it wouldn't capsize, she still had to deal with this...
"Hmm..."
While Lumina was pondering a solution in her mind, a soft mass slid down her arm and pressed against her body.
Lowering her gaze, she saw Herta's chest pressing against her arm.
They were pressed together.
"Pfft..." Lumina couldn't help but laugh out loud.
It's not even as big as my arm.
Others got stopped by bears; Herta, on the other hand, got stopped by her chest.
Now she's really become Little Herta.
"It's okay. Being small and cute is also a good thing."
Herta: ...
Hearing those words, Herta's expression instantly stiffened.
After offering Herta a word of comfort, Lumina paid her no further mind and turned her gaze toward Castorice.
"Castorice, it's just a term of endearment."
"If you'd like, you can even call me [Wife]."
"I won't mind."
Lumina smiled, showing no sign of the embarrassment one would feel when caught and exposed for sailing on multiple boats.
Her entire demeanor was perfectly natural, and her voice remained as soft and warm as ever, making it impossible for anyone to feel the urge to question her.
It was just a term of endearment, not a real commitment to fulfill the duties of a "wife."
In that case, why should Lumina care about the term?
Want to call me Wife?
Go ahead.
After all, Lumina wasn't losing out by being called Wife by a beautiful girl.
Calling me Wife ≠ I am your Wife.
And even more so, it doesn't mean I'll fulfill the duties of a Wife.
It was just a fun nickname between best friends. Crossing the line, however, was absolutely out of the question.