"What are you messing around with now?"
Even after meeting him, Herta didn't bother with greetings. She jumped straight onto Su Ran's back, pressing down on him as she peered at the data he was manipulating in front of a massive tree projection.
"…The World Tree?"
Based on the information she'd gathered from Nahida, Herta quickly guessed what the tree before Su Ran represented.
Behind her, Nahida—who had just arrived—also looked toward the tree. It looked just like herself, appearing here only as a virtual projection.
Was this guy seriously planning to mess with the World Tree again?
"Looks like you've learned quite a bit," Su Ran said.
Herta's full-body pressure made him feel distinctly uncomfortable.
It wasn't even a real body to begin with—and on top of that, it was a flat, loli-sized frame.
Of course it felt awkward.
"So how similar is this thing to the Imaginary Tree?" Herta asked.
"Not even close," Su Ran replied dismissively.
"At best, it's just a planetary processor. It's nowhere near the level of the Imaginary Tree. Give me some time and I could mass-produce these."
Comparing it to the Imaginary Tree was an exaggeration.
The Imaginary Tree could truly reshape reality.
It was the birthplace of all laws and truths.
But Teyvat's World Tree?
At most, it could tamper with local memories.
It couldn't change events that had already occurred— only erase recollection of them.
It couldn't even fully erase someone's existence.
Take Scaramouche for example—he tried to delete himself from reality, but in the end, all he managed was "whitewashing" his past.
A living person couldn't be deleted.
Something that couldn't even change the fate of a single planet—
How could it possibly compare to the Imaginary Tree?
"Oh…"
Herta immediately lost interest in the so-called World Tree.
"Then what about the Archons? I want to study them."
"Not worth it," Su Ran said.
"They're far less interesting than studying Emanators or Aeons. If you have the time to research gods, why not invest it in researching Aeons instead?"
While Su Ran wasn't interested in researching gods, he was interested in some of them personally—
Raiden Makoto, Raiden Ei, Furina, the Tsaritsa…
But Nahida?
Short arms, short legs.
Forget it.
Even if she was technically a 'legal loli,' he couldn't bring himself to do anything.
"That's still biodiversity research!" Herta retorted.
"And why can't I research other things in my spare time while studying Aeons?"
Elemental lifeforms on this planet were still lifeforms.
Some even had research value comparable to Phase Flames.
Su Ran made it sound like she was just fooling around.
"What are you doing anyway? How long will this take?" Herta asked, watching him operate the World Tree.
"Nothing special. Just trying to locate two consciousnesses and revive them."
That wasn't actually all that outrageous.
Another Genius Society member—Ruan Mei—had already done similar resurrection experiments.
And she'd succeeded.
Herta had no doubt Su Ran could do it too.
The fact that he had recreated a Swarm Emanator already proved that his life-science research rivaled Ruan Mei's.
With Nous's blessing and control over a Swarm Emanator, he had already surpassed her in many areas.
"The World Tree isn't meant to be used like this!"
Nahida clenched her little fists, staring at Su Ran stubbornly.
Something as important as the World Tree shouldn't be reduced to a tool for satisfying personal desires!
"Adults are talking. Kids shouldn't interrupt."
Nahida's protest was mercilessly shut down.
Since when was the world fair?
Wasn't it always the one with higher status, greater authority, and stronger power who got the final say?
"I should be older than you!" Nahida protested stubbornly.
Don't let her size fool you— she'd lived for five hundred years!
"What did you say?" Su Ran asked with a smile as he turned back.
"I said I should be younger than you!"
Nahida repeated herself—but the meaning had completely changed.
She froze.
"I… I should be younger than you…"
She tried again.
Same result.
She didn't even need to think to know who was responsible.
"You even bully children," Herta commented dryly.
She didn't exactly disapprove—but she couldn't help pointing it out.
Nahida might not be a child in the strict sense…
But was there really any difference in their eyes?
"Aren't children meant to be bullied?" Su Ran replied casually.
And who said only kids could be bullied?
He bullied adults too.
If she were holding a lollipop, he'd snatch that as well.
"Interested in bullying another kid with me?"
"..."
Herta ignored him.
"No interest. If you want to research something together, then maybe."
To her, this was a complete waste of time.
Bullying a kid?
She'd rather do research.
"That's a shame. That kid's identity isn't ordinary either."
Su Ran crooked his finger at Nahida.
The next instant, she floated into the air.
"What are you doing?!"
Her body was completely out of her control.
No matter how hard she struggled, it was useless.
With a flick of his hand, Su Ran tossed her straight into the World Tree's projection.
In the blink of an eye, Nahida was no longer on the space station.
She crashed heavily inside the World Tree.
Before she could even stand up, she saw a pair of small feet—identical to her own—appear in front of her.
She looked up.
Another girl was standing there.
…Was she hallucinating in broad daylight?
Nahida stared at the other "herself" in confusion.
"Are you alright?" the other girl asked gently.
Though they looked identical, their voices were completely different.
"Who are you?" Nahida asked.
"Me?" The girl smiled warmly.
"I'm you."
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata smiled softly at Nahida.
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