"And I wasn't acting," Herta said coolly. "I'm literally on the territory of my project partners. What exactly am I supposed to 'act' as?"
Her gaze narrowed, then sharpened.
"But you—Radiant Prism-Lapis Eternal-Glory Knight of Beauty—how did you figure out who I am? We shouldn't have met. I have zero impression of you."
She stepped forward half a pace, staring straight into Wei Qing's eyes.
Wei Qing remained perfectly calm.
"I didn't 'figure it out' so much as… make an educated guess," he said evenly. "I noticed a researcher with rather distinctive opinions, and I had a suspicion."
He tilted his head slightly, expression mild.
"Besides, based on the rumors floating around the galaxy, I can guess what this museum is really for."
"And you yourself slipped up," he added. "That line—'with my technical augmentation.'"
Herta watched him for a few seconds. Then she leaned back, apparently accepting it.
"Guesswork. Fine." Her tone softened by a hair. "Then back to my question. Do you think my appearance is purely beautiful?"
It was an outrageously self-absorbed question—but coming from Herta, it somehow sounded like a normal scientific inquiry.
After all, this was the same Genius Society member who had once claimed that if Nous hadn't looked at her first, the universe might've gained another Emanator of Beauty.
Wei Qing very much wanted to criticize her arrogance.
But that wouldn't fit his current persona.
So he behaved.
He studied Herta's face for several seconds with a solemn air, as though appreciating a masterpiece on display.
Then he spoke.
"Herta, your beauty is unquestionably a work of craftsmanship—refined as though carved by a creator's meticulous hand."
Herta's eyes narrowed slightly, listening.
"However," Wei Qing continued, voice sincere, "please forgive my frankness: the path of Beauty is not confined to the shell of the flesh."
"Lady Idrila is not the object of our devotion merely because of flawless features, but because She embodies Beauty itself—its divine elevation beyond form."
He paused, then delivered his conclusion with the practiced cadence of a Knight of Beauty.
"Therefore, judged by the narrow standards of mortal aesthetics, you are undeniably exceptional."
"But judged by the purest standards of the path we pursue… your beauty is deeper. It lies in your intelligence, your presence, your existence."
He met her gaze calmly.
"Is this answer… satisfactory?"
Herta listened without interrupting. The playful curve at the corner of her mouth shifted into something complicated.
"Hmph." Her voice carried a faint, grudging amusement. "So debating really is your specialty."
"You dodged a direct evaluation and still managed to bundle my research and intellect into your 'Beauty' framework."
She clicked her tongue.
"Are you Knights of Beauty all this good at stuffing everything valuable into your own basket?"
Despite the words, her aura felt—if anything—lighter, like she'd just been given exactly what she wanted while being forced to pretend she didn't.
She raised a hand, and the veil-like technique slid back over her face, returning her to the mysterious "magical girl" look.
"Still," she said, "you're interesting. Way better than those knights who can only chant slogans."
Her gaze drifted to Wei Qing's dazzling rainbow hair, lingering a moment longer than necessary—as if she was genuinely considering copying it.
Then, without warning, she tossed out an invitation as casually as breathing.
"How about it? Stop chasing your vague, metaphysical 'pure beauty' for a while and come work for me."
"I haven't really studied the Beauty Path yet," she added, tone almost offhand. "But I'm suddenly… a little curious."
It wasn't a joke.
Wei Qing could tell.
Herta's time was expensive—she wouldn't spend it on a whim unless she'd actually been hooked by something.
And with Ruan Mei involved, she could probably drag her in too, claim a favor, and turn this entire curiosity into a multi-disciplinary project.
Still…
Wei Qing found the situation faintly absurd.
Wasn't Herta cooperating with Luofu to lure out him?
And yet here she was, trying to recruit a random "Knight of Beauty" she'd just met.
Does she see one pretty face and fall in love instantly?
Wei Qing's expression didn't change. He dipped into a graceful bow, voice full of regret.
"I am honored by your kindness, Herta. To offer even a small service to an intellect so radiant would normally be a privilege."
"However…" He lifted his gaze, eyes distant as though already watching a galaxy bloom.
"The pursuit of Beauty is my life's vow. It calls me onward—to the next place where the universe might conceal an ultimate splendor."
"I cannot remain long in any single location, nor devote myself to one fixed study."
He brushed a strand of rainbow hair from his forehead with exquisite ceremony.
"Beauty is fluid. It is momentary. If I linger and miss the next burst of starlight—miss the next miraculous scene that exists only once—what loss would that be?"
"What disrespect to Beauty itself?"
Beside him, Firefly kept her head lowered. Her shoulders trembled as she fought laughter.
Her "senpai" was lying with the elegance of a practiced professional now—so smoothly that it almost sounded like truth.
Herta stared for a beat.
Then she laughed quietly.
"Alright. That excuse is at least consistent with your persona," she said, waving a hand as if dismissing the matter. "I won't force an assistant whose heart is already sprinting into the stars."
She tilted her head, gaze sweeping his ridiculous styling again.
"Then I'll wish you luck, Knight."
"Try not to get arrested as an 'anomaly signal' because you're too bright."
Wei Qing smiled politely, as if taking it as a compliment.
Herta turned away—still masked, still casual.
But the faint edge in her tone made one thing obvious:
Even if she wasn't going to admit it out loud…
She did mind being refused.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 132)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter140)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter95)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter165)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 145
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 135
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 95
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 155
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 125
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 105
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 62
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 80
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 80
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 62
Uma Musume: I Want All 65
I Can Copy Unique Skills 53
Summoning an Evil God, but the 41
Supernatural Multiverse 45
My Harem Is Indescribable 35
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 46
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 26
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 36
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