Takumi sat beneath the canopy of the Library-Tree, watching the last strands of data from Sagiri's and Chika's laptops dissolve into the void-script window floating in front of him. The Corrosion Authority flickered pale lavender on his fingertips—an invasive, hungry light that mirrored his intent. As always, its touch left no physical damage, but it unfurled every hidden partition, buried cluster, and encrypted sector with surgical precision.
Two progress bars blinked green.
Extraction Complete.
"Hm." Takumi exhaled softly, snapping his fingers to close the void window. "As expected. Not bad… but not earth-shattering either."
Sagiri's world and Chika's world were both "modern Earth"-type universes, just with minor cosmetic differences. Meaning that in terms of advanced physics, engineering, theoretical mathematics, or paradigm-shifting sciences—there was almost nothing Takumi hadn't already seen in his original life.
Still, there were tiny seeds worth planting: teaching philosophies, agricultural optimization, psychological models, clean UI design, a few novel algorithms, even cultural artifacts that might benefit future academy students.
But in terms of power?
Takumi flicked his wrist.
Both laptops were wiped clean and resealed.
Two red packets were generated in the chat interface.
Takumi:
[@Fujiwara Chika — here's your red packet]
[@Sagiri — yours is here too]
Takumi:
These are gifts.
The AI inside each laptop is far stronger than what you had. Think of it as your personal assistant.
It will handle homework, scheduling, file management… maybe even predict your test scores.
Fujiwara Chika exploded onto the screen in a shower of emojis.
Fujiwara Chika:
WOOOAAAHHH!!!
It does homework?!?
TAKUMI YOU'RE A GOD—
Sagiri quietly accepted hers, peeking at the glowing screen like a shy kitten.
Sagiri:
Thank you, Takumi-oniichan… it's so fancy!
(〃∀〃)ゞ
But both girls asked the same thing:
Fujiwara Chika:
Did our worlds help you?
Even a little?
Sagiri:
Did we do… anything useful?
（;へ:）
Takumi gave the blunt, honest answer:
Takumi:
A little, yes.
But not much.
It's like pouring a cup of water into a river.
Your worlds' tech is similar to mine before transmigration.
Chika deflated.
Sagiri wilted.
Takumi quickly added:
Takumi:
Don't apologize.
This was a test.
Knowledge always helps—even small amounts add up.
Their reactions softened.
But deep inside, Takumi knew the truth:
If he wanted knowledge that would truly transform his civilization—
He needed to aim higher.
Himeko's world.
The Astral Express.
The Aeons.
The Path.
Those were systems that transcended everything humanity on Earth had ever scraped together. They were not merely advanced—they were conceptual, metaphysical, civilization-eclipsing.
He needed that level of knowledge.
So he asked directly in chat.
1 — Himeko's Offer, and What It Really Means
Takumi:
I should probably focus on Himeko's world next.
Himeko was mid-sip of coffee aboard the Express when her notification chimed.
Himeko:
You want tech from my world?
Takumi nodded to the screen.
Takumi:
Yes.
Anything you can spare.
Himeko:
No problem.
I can gather what I know myself.
But some things aren't easy to obtain.
You know our… current situation.
The Stellaron crisis. The mess brewing in Belobog. The Sinthetius investigations. Himeko's world was always on the brink of cosmic catastrophe.
Takumi didn't pry.
Himeko continued:
Himeko:
Still, even then… I can try something.
There's a genius on the Express.
She'd love your technology.
Takumi blinked.
Takumi:
Herta, huh?
The #83 "true" Herta. The blue-haired doll-loving genius. A woman who collected worlds, people, and ideas the way a dragon collected gold.
Himeko added a wavy emoji.
Himeko:
Yep.
Her interest isn't in tech—
It's in other worlds.
New systems.
New rules.
New ways the universe can work.
Takumi's eyes glinted.
A perfect target.
If Herta wanted novelty—
the Herrscher Authorities were novelty.
Honkai energy was novelty.
Talismans that used Heaven-and-Earth energy were novelty.
Serums that granted superpowers to ordinary people were novelty.
He could leverage all of it.
2 — Packaging a Gift That Could Impress an Aeon Researcher
Takumi stood and stretched. Then he gestured to the workbench, summoning metal and glass from the ground as the Herrscher of Reason Authority ignited.
Blueprints rippled into reality.
Microchips grew like frost patterns.
A laptop assembled itself piece by piece with graceful mechanical motions.
Not a normal laptop.
One designed for Herta.
A machine capable of cross-dimensional calculus.
Data modeling through Void-space.
Honkai energy stabilization logs.
A portable quantum-lattice processor.
An interface that used the Authority of Consciousness to create thought-reactive UI.
Even Herta would raise an eyebrow.
Probably.
He added several Awakening Serums into a neat vial rack—sealed, labeled, safe.
Would they interest Herta?
Hard to say.
Her world was overflowing with powers far beyond "city-busting" serums. But these were mass-producible, systematic, and convertible across worlds—that alone was interesting.
Plus, she could test the theory behind them.
Dissect the mechanisms.
Write twelve papers on the metaphysics alone.
Takumi placed everything into a sleek, black storage case.
Takumi:
Okay, Himeko.
I've prepared a gift package.
Please help me negotiate.
3 — Chat Group Chaos: Herta Edition
The chat immediately caught the scent of potential multiversal disaster.
Fujiwara Chika:
Wait WAIT WAIT
You're giving HERTA stuff?!
THE HERTA?!?
The weird doll woman who turns people into specimens?!?!
Sagiri:
I-is that safe?
(๑•﹏•)
Bronya:
Sending advanced tech to another world without safeguards is unwise.
Zhongli:
…Her pursuit of knowledge is admirable.
Her ethical frameworks are questionable.
Eu:
I don't trust her.
Takumi shrugged.
Takumi:
Relax.
Herta isn't dangerous unless you're interesting.
I'm already beyond "interesting."
She can't contain me.
Akeno coughed politely.
Akeno:
Takumi-kun… that makes you sound extremely villain-coded.
Takumi: "…"
Himeko:
Don't worry.
I'll negotiate.
If she tries to kidnap you as a research specimen, I'll scold her.
Everyone:
"That does NOTHING!!"
4 — Takumi, Alone Again With His Thoughts
When the chat finally calmed down, Takumi returned to reality—the quiet hum of the Academy, the rustle of the forest-city being grown, the drone of farm bots cultivating test fields.
He glanced at the dark horizon.
He was building a world.
A civilization.
A future.
Piece by piece.
And now—
He was about to establish a trade route
with the Astral Express.
A link to knowledge beyond the stars.
Systems beyond mortal comprehension.
Philosophies measured in aeons.
The Herrscher inside him stirred—curious, hungry, delighted.
He recognized the impulse instantly.
Power.
Growth.
Evolution.
Takumi closed his eyes and forced stillness into the Cocoon's restless pulse.
"Not yet," he whispered.
"Strength must serve civilization, not replace it."
His voice softened.
"And civilization must serve the people who will live here."
A strange quiet filled him.
The kind that comes when a god decides to act like a man.
5 — Preparing the Foundational Vault
Takumi created a secure vault beneath the Academy—a data sanctum where all incoming world knowledge would be processed, sorted, and integrated.
Each discipline had its chamber:
• Physics (Sagiri & Chika's worlds)
• Engineering (Bronya's world)
• Cosmic Sciences (Himeko's world)
• Metaphysics (Zhongli's talismans & energies)
• Mysticism (Akeno's spells)
• Honkai Studies (his own)
Light bridges connected each chamber.
Knowledge flowed through crystalline conduits like rivers of glowing script.
He would not absorb everything at once.
That path led to madness or godhood.
Instead—
He made a structure where knowledge became a society's foundation.
A school system.
A library network.
A technological backbone.
A cultural archive.
He was no longer building a city.
He was building a civilization engine.
6 — The Next Step: Contact
Himeko sent a final message:
Himeko:
I'll talk to Herta in person.
Send the package.
Takumi lifted the case.
A spatial doorway opened—smooth and silent.
He tossed the case through.
Takumi:
Negotiations begin.
Fujiwara Chika:
I'm scared.
Akeno:
Takumi-kun is going to be dissected.
Sagiri:
(｡ŏ﹏ŏ) No dissection!!
Bronya:
Statistically, he is more likely to dissect her systems instead.
Zhongli:
What an eventful era.
Takumi rolled his eyes.
"They're so dramatic…"
But he couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips.
The Multiverse was opening.
His civilization was growing.
And for the first time since waking in this ruined world—
Takumi felt momentum.
Real momentum.
Tomorrow might bring:
Herta.
An anomaly.
A mission.
A crisis.
New migrants.
New knowledge.
New risks.
But tonight?
Takumi closed the vault door, let the Herrscher power settle, and stepped back into the quiet hum of a world under construction.
The wind blew gently through the forest-towers.
For once, it felt like the world was breathing with him.