On that frontier star where you were buried…
Herta arrived there. She had come to take you home.
This newly ascended Pathstrider of Erudition dug sadly at your grave with her bare hands.
"I'll take you home… Brother… It must be… very cold here…"
The girl's eyes no longer held any tears. They had dried up long ago.
With her small, tender hands, she slowly removed the soil covering your body…
As if doing so could ease her pain.
Suddenly, a heavy rain began to fall on the frontier star, a torrential downpour…
Just like the girl's unrestrained tears.
Gradually, the transparent coffin prepared for you by the Interstellar Peace Corporation became visible.
The rain washed away the soil covering its surface.
"Brother…"
She sobbed softly, her voice hoarse.
She had neither eaten nor rested for an entire day and night.
Even so, she dug the surrounding earth with even greater effort.
Covered in mud, she did not stop…
"You must feel very lonely here, brother."
The rain grew heavier, and the girl opened the transparent lid of the coffin.
She used all her strength to try to pull you out…
But she failed.
"Brother!"
"Look at me, please. It's Herta. I'm your sister…"
After becoming a Walker of the Path of Harmony, her body retained some residual power of the Path.
Though you had been buried for a day, your body had not yet stiffened.
However, a corpse cannot speak…
"Brother!!"
Her delicate body had little strength, so she could only throw herself into the embrace of your body.
Looking at your chest, covered in wounds…
She fell silent…
The rain stopped at just that moment, like a child too grief-stricken to speak.
Out of helplessness…
She had no choice but to hire people to transport you back to Azure Star.
She planned to bury you not far from the graves of her father and Herta's mother.
But before burial, three days of repose were required…
The first day…
She changed your clothes and dressed you neatly and cleanly.
She washed your body and stitched up all your wounds.
Her movements were extremely gentle, pouring all her tenderness into them…
She was meticulous, not letting even a single wrinkle of your skin escape her notice.
She was gentle…
And calm.
On the second day…
She brought a hoe and dug a grave for you…
Its size was similar to the one you had once dug for yourself.
She also dug an identical one beside it.
That one was for herself.
She seemed… unwilling to keep your promise, wanting to leave this sorrowful world with you.
On the third day, she alone carried your coffin, setting out along the path you had walked dozens of times.
She had never felt the road to be so long, like the length of a human life.
With every step…
Her heart recalled all the events of the past…
"For such a lovely sister, no gift ever seems too extravagant…"
A childish yet innocent voice seemed to echo in her ears.
She could not help but turn and look at you.
Unfortunately, the corpse did not respond to her gentle gaze.
She liked the way you softly stroked her forehead.
She liked the way you ruffled her hair and then carefully fixed it.
She also liked the way you sang to her while carrying her on your back…
She liked you…
In every way…
Along the way, she relived the short dozen years you had spent together.
Memories…
Yet they were not as long as that road…
Dressed in plain clothes, she finally arrived at the prepared grave.
She was determined to die, wishing only to be buried beside you…
Using all her strength, she finally pushed your coffin into the grave.
Her hands gained several new wounds, but she did not notice them at all.
Letting the blood drip onto the ground.
Just as she was about to scoop up a handful of loose earth to cover the coffin—
She realized that once she placed that handful of soil, she would never see you again…
Deep pain…
Deep reluctance…
At last, her feigned strength shattered.
"Brother!"
She desperately pushed open the coffin lid, crying until her voice was hoarse…
She could not live without you…
Her tears had dried up, leaving only blood flowing from her eyes.
A single bloody tear, accompanied by her desperate sobs, fell onto you.
That bloody tear landed precisely on your glabella, crimson and chilling…
She tried to wipe that drop of blood from your brow…
But it would not come off.
Suddenly, a melody sounded in her mind—the lullaby you sang to her most often.
The remaining power of Harmony in your body, carrying your obsession, used that drop of blood as a medium.
Unconsciously, you cast your first and last "Tuning" of your life upon her.
Gently soothing all her pain…
You promised me…
Live well, sister…
Overworked and exhausted both physically and mentally, she finally fell asleep beside you under the influence of this power…
The memories would remain, but the pain would melt away like ice and snow.
When she awoke, she would become the great Herta you had imagined.
Perhaps it was her luck.
Or perhaps it was your persistence.
Go forth to the stars, Herta!
…
[Simulation completed.]
[This simulation has received an SS rating.]
[Commentary: No one can judge your life lightly. You saved your loved one, your partner, in a crisis… You died without regrets. Your only regret was not being able to see the sea on Rosa K.…]
[Reward: Curiosity No. 0: Herta's Bloody Tear. It contains the obsession of your corpse and the pain Herta carried with her. The pain was too intense, so this bloody tear also contains her sensitivity and empathy. Curiosity No. 0 will always accompany the host as a birthmark. Perhaps, in the vast sea of stars, this is the sign that connects your souls.]
[Reward: Number of transportable entries +1]
[Reward: Number of self-selected worlds +1]
[Reward: Permanent Entry [Luck]]
[Reward: Cancer cured in reality.]
…
Your consciousness gradually cleared, returning to that cold rented room.
As if you had had a very, very long dream.
You got out of bed, greedily breathing in the not-so-good air of the room.
Your illness was gone…
You walked to the mirror and looked at yourself. You were still the same "Su Xiaobai."
The only difference was a crimson mark on your forehead.
Making your appearance even more eerie.
If not for this crimson mark…
You might have thought it was all just a dream.
Farewell…
Herta, my dear sister.
If I can return to that sea of stars again, I will come find you…
A trace of moisture appeared in your eyes, inexplicably worried about how the girl might be now.
Unfortunately…
A simulated life is still a life. You cannot go back.
You stretched your body, savoring the long-lost sensation of being able to move freely.
You pulled yourself together, prepared to go out and take a look, and once you were well rested—
You would continue with your next simulation…