In Ruan Mei's laboratory.
Even with Tingyun not yet returned, Herta simply sat quietly, enjoying her afternoon tea and occasionally yawning in leisure.
Ruan Mei sat nearby, calmly sipping her tea as usual.
[Ruan Mei, Herta's been visiting you every day lately. But she's not acting arrogant or rude like before. Just afternoon tea? That's it?] ♪
"I'm not sure either. But these past few days, she's had this pleased expression, like she's been waiting for something."
[Well, it's nice to see Herta like this. At least things are peaceful. Her excessive tsundere value is stable.] ♪
Asta's hologram suddenly appeared, looking anxious.
"Madam Herta. There's a problem with Herta Ninety-Nine."
Herta blinked. Her brow furrowed. She instinctively thought of 'Yu Qingtu's' memory simulation.
"I'm listening. Go on."
Asta nodded and explained everything.
"Is there any issue with the memory simulation in Herta City?"
"Probably not. It's Herta Ninety-Nine herself. Please come back and see."
Herta breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She set down her teacup with leisurely grace.
"Fine. I'm on my way."
Asta's hologram turned to Ruan Mei.
"Madam Ruan Mei, good afternoon. I sent you a friend request. Please accept it."
"Have you recently—"
Herta waved a hand, cutting off Asta's projection. She muttered, a hint of jealousy creeping in.
"Ruan Mei, I know you're devoted to your research. You have no free time. Just pretend you didn't hear Asta."
Ruan Mei stared at her expressionlessly.
Herta opened a [Mirror] with her magic key and returned to Herta City.
After she left, Ruan Mei seemed lost in thought.
[You care about Herta, don't you?] ♪
"When she asked Asta about the memory simulation, she seemed... anxious."
[Memory simulation? Does that ring a bell?] ♪
Ruan Mei shook her head slightly.
"Probably just a precursor to the Simulated Universe. Or a simplified version."
"But I can sense it. Herta is planning something. Waiting for someone."
[Probably the new Simulated Universe. She mentioned it last time, didn't she? Maybe Polka's coming again.] ♪
At the name "Polka," Ruan Mei's brow furrowed. That woman was no less terrifying than Herta herself.
"Everything must be carefully considered. No more surprises."
---
Herta City.
The real Herta found Asta and Herta Ninety-Nine.
Asta spoke softly.
"Madam Herta, please take a look at Herta Ninety-Nine. Tell us what's wrong."
Herta gave her a cursory examination with her Path power. Then she answered calmly.
"As a Herta puppet, her systems and programs are perfectly normal."
"But as a 'person'? Not so much."
Asta, Peppy, and the other puppets froze. They exchanged bewildered glances.
"Madam Herta... what... what do you mean?"
Herta gazed at Herta Ninety-Nine calmly.
"Herta Ninety-Nine possesses human vanity. Human pride."
"In other words, she might be the fastest-evolving, most human-like existence among tens of thousands of Herta puppets."
Asta's eyes widened. She recalled her first meeting with Herta Ninety-Nine on the platform.
---
[Herta Ninety-Nine stared blankly, mechanically counting stars.]
["One trillion, three hundred ninety-seven billion, five hundred million... planets."]
["Are you counting stars? What number are you? Why are you counting stars out here?"]
[Herta Ninety-Nine nodded.]
["I'm Herta #99. It's boring on the platform. All I can do is count stars or gaze at the blue planet."]
["Last time I talked to someone... two Amber Eras ago."]
[Asta was stunned.]
["Ah?! That... that must be so lonely."]
[Herta Ninety-Nine's expression was one of resigned, broken helplessness.]
["I'm used to it. This is just my life as a puppet."]
["You're bored, aren't you?"]
[Herta Ninety-Nine nodded, blank and mechanical.]
["Wait here!!"]
[Minutes later, Asta had researchers and Arlan haul over a mountain of novels and comics.]
["If you get really bored, read these."]
[Asta handed her a gold card.]
["You can also buy whatever you like on the Interastral Peace Corporation's shopping site."]
[Herta Ninety-Nine nodded again, still blank and mechanical.]
["I'll go now. I'll visit again when I have time."]
[A week later.]
[Asta visited with Peppy. Herta Ninety-Nine now held chips in one hand, coffee in the other.]
[Relaxed. Carefree. Completely at ease.]
[Wisteria Cake flipped pages for her. They'd already become friends.]
[The dull, mechanical look in Herta Ninety-Nine's eyes was gone. Replaced by liveliness. She'd even mastered the art of slacking off on platform duty.]
["And this is?"]
[Herta Ninety-Nine looked up, her expression bright and happy.]
["This is Wisteria Cake. She likes novels and comics too."]
[Wisteria Cake nodded.]
["Station Master Asta, could I borrow some novels and comics to take back to the Sealed Compartment?"]
["Of course."]
["Thank you!!"]
[Asta looked down. They were reading the same novel she followed.]
["You like this one too?"]
["Yes!"]
["The Tsundere Loser and the Emotionless Iceberg..."]