Herta was finally ready?
Looking at the scene on the light screen, Ron's spirits immediately lifted. He sat up straight on his bed, his attention fully focused on the display before him.
In a situation like this, Ron had no choice but to be serious... If there was one major takeaway from this simulation, it was the research on the Stellaron and the collaborative project with Herta.
Even just conducting something as unimaginable as creating an Aeon once in a simulation, Ron felt he could gain an incredible amount of knowledge from it...
He had been eagerly anticipating this research project. For its sake, he had not shied away from the crisis the History Fictionologist warned him about—the one that would likely become more dangerous because of his research. Instead, he had prepared by having New Belobog build a fleet, ready for armed resistance.
Ron didn't hesitate. He immediately tapped the screen, allowing the simulation to proceed.
He watched as the image faded, and a deep red option box materialized:
[After nearly two years, the puppet Herta left on your research vessel has finally come online. She has opened your laboratory door during your research to inform you that she has successfully updated the Simulated Universe and is ready to create an Aeon from scratch.]
[But faced with Herta's invitation, you calmly consider the current situation, and a clear fact crystallizes in your mind—]
[If you refuse Herta's invitation now and flee at the last minute, you might be able to save your own skin.]
[No one knows what this collaborative research with Herta will bring... Creating an Aeon is undoubtedly the most forbidden of all taboos. The crisis that the History Fictionologist mentioned—the one that would be triggered by not following the script—you feel it drawing closer with each passing day.]
[The collaboration with Herta might truly uncover something interesting, but it is precisely because of this that the project becomes incredibly dangerous—]
[Is it really worth betting your life for knowledge that should not be known?]
[You must think carefully. This might be your last and only chance to back out...]
[Please Choose—]
[1. I'm sorry, Herta.
Reason ultimately overcomes the desire in your heart. You know you shouldn't be so reckless, that you shouldn't wager your own life and all of New Belobog... You don't need more knowledge, nor do you need to uncover the absurd truth of this universe.
Learning the nature of the Stellaron has already pushed the limits of your preparations. You are not being a cowardly ostrich burying its head in the sand of ignorance, but are clearly aware of a fact—
If you delve any deeper, everything you learn might be absurdly hopeless... You do not have an obsessive desire to pursue the truth. You just want to live a good life, and you want New Belobog to live a good life in this sea of stars.
You must suppress your thirst for knowledge... Sometimes, ignorance is not without its benefits.
By selecting this option, you will back out at the last minute and refuse Herta's invitation to collaborate.
Herta's favorability towards you will drop significantly. She will terminate all cooperation agreements with you and begin the "Creating an Aeon" project by herself.
The contract you signed with the Interastral Peace Corporation will also be called into question, requiring at least one piece of miracle-level technology to dispel their doubts and prove your value.
The project "Creating an Aeon" will be permanently closed to you. You will never be able to trigger it again, but at the same time, the probability of triggering the events "End of Hope" and "Dawn of Destruction" in this simulation will be reduced to zero.
The Disaster Level of the event "Fated Calamity" will be slightly reduced, from 30 to 10.]
[2. Then what are we waiting for?
Every mystery in this sea of stars should have an answer. Although you have no interest in answering everything, the collaborative project with Herta is one of the few research options that genuinely fascinates you.
As the de facto leader of New Belobog, all your research serves its development. The needs of the group are often more important to you than your personal desire for exploration. Your research has always been for New Belobog, and never once truly for yourself.
But this time, you decide to be a little selfish—how can you back out of something you already promised Herta?
You, too, want to see with your own eyes what kind of truth this false sea of stars holds.
By selecting this option, you will gladly accept Herta's invitation. In accordance with your prior agreement, you will immediately pilot the research vessel to the Herta Space Station.
By selecting this option, Herta's favorability towards you will slightly increase as she waits for you to start the "Creating an Aeon" project together.
The initial completion progress of the "Creating an Aeon" project will be increased to 30%.
The contract you signed with the Interastral Peace Corporation will be viewed favorably by their Strategic Investment Department. When the project reaches a certain level of completion, you will receive a "small" amount of aid from the IPC.
At the same time, the probability of the events "End of Hope" and "Dawn of Destruction" will increase as the project progresses. When completion reaches 100%, one of the two events will be triggered as the final outcome based on the project's results.
The Disaster Level of the event "Fated Calamity" will be slightly increased, from 30 to 50.]
Looking at the deep red option box, Ron was momentarily stunned.
This was the first time a previous Legendary Choice had reappeared, giving him a chance to confirm his decision before the event actually began.
Furthermore, compared to the initial choice, this second one detailed the pros and cons much more clearly. The consequences of accepting or rejecting Herta's invitation to create an Aeon were now fully estimated and listed in the options.
Honestly, after carefully reading both options and thinking it over, it was obvious that option one would lead to far, far fewer problems.
After all, both "End of Hope" and "Dawn of Destruction" sounded deeply unsettling. Neither seemed like a good thing, and the fact that one of them was guaranteed to trigger upon the project's completion meant he was destined to face a super-level crisis.
Moreover, the so-called "Fated Calamity" was clearly nothing good either; it was probably the trouble the History Fictionologist had warned him about.
The difference in the Fated Calamity's Disaster Level between option one and option two was a full forty points. A level of 10 versus 50 was a five-fold difference, meaning option two would result in a disaster at least five times worse...
Compared to that, minor troubles like a soured relationship with Herta and having to answer the Corporation's questions were barely problems at all. A soured relationship only meant she would terminate the agreement; it didn't say she would retaliate further.
The Corporation's doubts were even less of an issue. Ron had plenty of technologies that would pique their interest. Setting aside the detailed research data on the Stellaron, just his replication of Antimatter Legion technology was enough for the Corporation to pay a hefty price.
However... despite all this, Ron looked at the options without a shred of hesitation and chose the second one.
When all was said and done, these troubles were merely troubles within a simulation. That was all.
Even if he died in one of these calamities, even if all of New Belobog was destroyed because of it, it didn't really matter to Ron.
This was, after all, just a simulation. Although it was the last one he had resolved to run on Belobog, it was still just that.
Ron had experienced failure in the simulation countless times already; he didn't mind experiencing it one more time...
This simulation offered a chance to probe the mysteries of the Aeons. If he succeeded in creating one, he might be able to find a fixed path to godhood...
To exchange one failed simulation for such a reward? Ron felt it was a bargain.
If the potential payoff was great enough, he was not a man who feared trouble.
With that thought, Ron watched the option box fade from the screen, and new lines of text appeared:
[You have confirmed your choice. You have not backed out and are prepared to help Herta to the best of your ability.]
[The completion progress of the project "Creating an Aeon" has increased to 30%.]
The text on the screen flickered for a moment, flashing a faint purple color before vanishing.
[You hear a faint, almost imperceptible sigh in your ear. The sigh dissipates under Herta's gaze, vanishing completely from your side.]
[You temporarily return to New Belobog to bid farewell to Cocolia, informing her of your destination. You also copy a backup of the research vessel's databank, which you had prepared earlier, onto the supercomputer recently built in the New Qlipoth Fort, and explain to Cocolia how to use the databank AI.]
[You hope that she can continue developing New Belobog in your absence, systematically building starships to assemble several large fleets for the new civilization. The strength of these fleets should be benchmarked against the Antimatter Legion, minus the Lord Ravagers, capable of defeating any Legion force below the level of an Emanator.]
[Cocolia assures you that your request is no problem. You depart from New Belobog, travel-worn, and pilot your research vessel across the sea of stars, warping along the path of Akivili, The Trailblaze, to the Herta Space Station.]
[You enter the space station with unrestricted access and easily make your way to Herta's office.]
[Herta is in her office, one hand on her hip, awaiting your arrival.]
The text on the screen faded, and a new scene appeared:
Ron arrived at Herta's office, looking weary from his journey. Herta stood before the Simulated Universe's input terminal, one hand on her hip as she looked at him, a hint of a smile in her eyes.
"In such a hurry? I wasn't rushing you."
"It's been almost two full years, and you've finally made some progress. Of course I wanted to come over quickly and see what interesting thing you've cooked up."
Ron said, curiously sizing up the input terminal, which looked completely unchanged.
"What have you been doing for the past two years?"
"What about this project required such a long debugging period? What fun stuff did you add to the Simulated Universe?"
"It's hard to explain everything I've done in the past year in one go. Besides, your research specialty isn't in this area, so you wouldn't understand even if I told you."
Herta mercilessly shot down Ron's request but then thought for a moment and organized her words.
"But I can give you a simple explanation of what I've done... Do you know of Zandar One Kuwabara, the first member of the Genius Society, its founder?"
"Zandar?" Ron thought for a moment, then turned to look at one of the several portrait screens standing in Herta's office. "You mean that person? The supposed creator of Nous, The Erudition, the one who built the celestial computer itself before it ascended to Aeonhood..."
"That's right," Herta snapped her fingers, the puppet's joints making a crisp sound. "Originally, I hung his portrait purely out of respect... Without him, there would be no Genius Society today."
"Honestly, I don't know what he accomplished. His works and inventions were never passed down. The legend of him creating an Aeon was just a rumor. I had always scoffed at it, until you clarified the fundamental nature of the Stellaron for me."
"I could never understand how Zandar could create an Aeon. Anyone who has had an audience with an Aeon knows there's a chasm-like gap between mortals and gods. Just researching an Aeon is difficult enough; creating one is a fantasy within a fantasy... but now I understand."
As she spoke, Herta's eyes crinkled into a smile as she looked at Ron... It was clear she was genuinely grateful to him.
"If something like the Stellaron can be an existence that was 'set' into being, then why can't we?"
"Let's assume Zandar was also a character that was 'set'... In a higher plane of existence, someone created a setting for a mortal who could create an Aeon. Even if it should have been impossible, because this setting existed, Zandar appeared."
"So, if there can be a Zandar, there can be a 'Hertadar,' and a 'Rondar'... To the Simulated Universe, aren't we just like those unknown beings are to this sea of stars?"
A corner of Herta's lips curled up, her voice filled with confidence and anticipation.
"I have created a history within the Simulated Universe from before Nous was made, and then I extracted Zandar's AI consciousness. Right now, he is just an identity with the setting of being able to create an Aeon..."
"Ron, I need you to step into this identity and create an Aeon for me from scratch within the Simulated Universe—don't create any of the existing ones. Create a brand-new Path that has never appeared before."
"This way, we can simulate how this Aeon comes into being, then forcibly replicate it in reality, truly creating an Aeon from nothing. We could even consider using ourselves as the foundation, stepping onto this newly created Path, and becoming Aeons ourselves..."
"By understanding the essence of an Aeon, we will have taken the furthest step towards perceiving all things and understanding everything..."
Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.
"This will be the greatest discovery since the beginning of observable history!"
She pointed to the Simulated Universe input terminal beside her.
"I'm all ready... So, wanna test it now?"