Ruan Mei's laboratory. Herta emerged early from a [Mirror], yawning slightly.
"Morning, Ruan Mei. Your experiment failed again?"
Ruan Mei nodded slightly, fixing her with that cool, clear gaze.
"You didn't make pastries in the kitchen this time."
Herta waved a hand dismissively.
"Why make them myself when I can just wait for you to give me some?"
Ruan Mei studied her carefully. She seems even more confident than yesterday. More assured.
"Who did you meet after you left yesterday?"
Herta picked up a pastry, her tone casual.
"Who would I meet in Herta City? Unless you're planning to visit?"
A single day, and she's back to her old self. Strange. Ruan Mei pressed on.
"Really? No one?"
"Really."
Herta took a bite of the pastry. She froze.
"Wait? What is this? Burnt. Terrible. Ruan Mei, even you have off days?!"
Ruan Mei shook her head and pointed into the distance.
Wisteria Cake was alone making pastries—and blowing up the kitchen.
She muttered to herself.
"My Ruan Mei Cake!! This time, I'll make a pastry that delights you!!"
"Wuwu... I'll be a hundred times—ten thousand times—better than that dead fox!!"
Herta caught sight of Wisteria Cake's pitiful silhouette. Poor little thing. Can't even help itself.
But once Sparkle is 99% similar to Yu Qingtu... once she blesses me and Ruan Mei... I'll win. Then I'll help Wisteria Cake.
Victory first, assistance later. She did help me so many times. Madam Herta is grateful.
"Herta. What are you thinking?"
Ruan Mei's cool voice snapped Herta back to reality.
"Nothing. Just Simulated Universe matters."
Ruan Mei stared at her skeptically. Does she have another plan?
"Ruan Mei. Since you're fine, I'll head back."
Herta turned. Then immediately turned back.
"Remember. Perfect that sleeve pendant. Herta City—I mean, the space station—the Simulated Universe needs me. See you later."
With that, she opened a [Mirror] with her magic key and vanished.
Ruan Mei stood there, utterly bewildered.
She just... left? Came all this way to say hello? No hesitation? No tsundere?
That's not like her. Not at all.
[Strange indeed. Did she develop some outrageous curio? Or a more detailed plan?] ♪
"It's fine. I'll continue my research."
[Don't 'fine' me! What's more important—experiments or Herta? What if her excessive tsundere value goes critical? You should plan too. Don't fall behind.] ♪
Ruan Mei was silent for a moment. She abandoned the experiment and thought deeply.
Why is Herta today so different from the Herta of late?
She's more like the Herta before the confession. Before all those questions.
---
Herta City.
Herta found Herta Ninety-Nine again.
"How's it going, Ninety-Nine? How far along is Yu Qingtu-Sparkle's memory simulation?"
Ninety-Nine, who had been slacking off and reading a novel, quickly hid it.
"Madam Herta. 'Yu Qingtu' is progressing normally."
Herta's smile grew harder to hide.
White moonlight wins? Tsundere losers lose?
A joke. Madam Herta will overturn that universal law. Ruan Mei is mine.
When the real Yu Qingtu returns, she'll have no choice but to bless us.
"Good. Oh, Ninety-Nine. Were you slacking off just now?"
Herta Ninety-Nine's expression shifted to panic. She lowered her head, stammering.
"Madam Herta, I... I wasn't just slacking off. Passing the time."
"I was learning. Gaining knowledge. To help you win Madam Ruan Mei sooner."
Herta wasn't as severe as usual.
Seeing Ruan Mei this morning, anticipating the emergence of 'Yu Qingtu,' her mood was excellent.
"Slacking off with a novel now and then is fine. Keep watch here. I'm going to rest."
"Yes, Madam Herta!"
Herta Ninety-Nine watched her leave, muttering to herself.
Strange. I thought she'd threaten to format me. Send me back to the platform.
Is this really the same Madam Herta with the terrible personality?
She looked up at the simulated world, at Sparkle within.
Will 'Yu Qingtu' grant Herta's wish?
Sigh. Not my concern. As long as I can slack off in peace. No more taunts from other puppets. That's enough.
She remembered, three months ago in Herta City, other puppets mocking her. Stuck on the platform. Watching stars. Never advancing.
Calling her useless. A fool.
And now? Those puppets were formatted or demoted. Only she kept rising.
Even Asta and Peppy called her "Madam Ninety-Nine."
Respect. Status. It felt good.
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Power Stone Progress: 208/225 (5 Chapters)
Power Ranking: 42/10 (10 Chapters)