"Huh?"
"The Simulated Universe crashed?"
Herta stared blankly at the screen before her, sinking into deep thought.
Screwllum.
Herta.
Ruan Mei.
And Stephen, who was somewhere far away.
At that moment, all four of them realized the same thing.
The Simulated Universe had actually gone offline.
Temporarily.
They knew better than anyone how much computational power it would take to cripple the Simulated Universe.
Just what in the Unknown Domain had happened?
Don't tell me...
They really managed to drag an Aeon into it?
Simulated Universe — Unknown Domain
As Aha granted Evan a portion of His authority...
The Omniscient Domain transformed into the Unknown Domain.
"So..."
"This is how it came to be."
Evan immediately understood just how terrifying the authority of The Unknowable truly was.
With this authority in his possession...
As things currently stood, no one in the universe except the Aeons themselves could discern his true nature.
Aha...
You're practically my sworn brother now.
I'd gladly become your sworn younger brother.
What?
You think I'd call you Father instead?
Yeah, no.
Even if Aha wanted that...
I'd refuse.
Evan made no attempt to stop Polka Kakamond as she swung her scalpel.
One person possessing the Scepter System was enough.
If everyone gained access to it...
That would only invite disaster.
As Polka's scalpel swept through space...
And Aha's consciousness gradually withdrew...
Her data body began collapsing.
This projection of hers could no longer pose even the slightest threat to Evan.
Actually...
It never really could.
Amid the chaotic cosmic storm...
The confrontation between the two geniuses finally came to an end.
Outside the Simulated Universe
As the Simulated Universe briefly collapsed...
Herta nearly did the same.
"My Scepters!"
"My Scepter System!"
"It's over!"
"It's all over!"
"What the hell did Evan do?!"
"The entire Simulated Universe collapsed together with the Scepter System!"
"Polka Kakamond!"
"You bastard!"
Herta was on the verge of a complete meltdown.
She had finally reached the place closest to the answer she had sought for so long.
She hadn't even had the chance to ask the same question as her predecessor—
The great scholar, Pativiya.
The question Herta wished to ask wasn't complicated.
In fact...
It was surprisingly simple.
What is divinity?
That single question had obsessed her for countless years.
Some believed divinity was the quality that distinguished an Aeon from every other form of life—
The ability to draw power directly from the Imaginary Space.
Perhaps what Herta truly wanted to know was how one could obtain Imaginary Energy.
But the Path of Erudition was unique.
Its Pathstriders earned their own power.
It wasn't bestowed by the Aeon.
Perhaps Herta's real question was...
"If Nous can do it..."
"Why can't I?"
From another philosophical perspective...
Nothing is ever completely knowable.
Perhaps she wished to discover where the Path of Erudition ultimately ended.
And how an Aeon could pioneer that final destination.
The creator of Nous—
The First Member of the Genius Society—
May have understood everything about Aeons.
Yet...
He never became one himself.
That question remained unanswered.
For dozens of Amber Eras...
Why had no second Nous ever been created?
Why could the Path of Erudition only be guided by Nous?
Did Paths exist before Aeons?
Or did Aeons create the Paths?
All of those fascinating mysteries ultimately converged into a single question.
What is divinity?
Screwllum, Ruan Mei, and Stephen quietly watched Herta's frustrated outburst.
When they had first learned from the Intelligentsia Guild that the Unknown Domain originated from the era of the Scholastic War...
Herta had been thrilled.
Because the most important thing to come out of that era...
Was the Scepter System.
The Solitary Wave Algorithm that made Herta famous had itself originated during the final stages of the Scholastic War.
It was the algorithm left behind by that brilliant scholar.
And now...
The Scepter System was gone.
How was she supposed to continue her research?
No wonder she was furious.
Simulated Universe — Unknown Domain
Having completed her task...
Polka Kakamond calmly waited for her data body to dissolve.
Before disappearing...
She looked at Evan and smiled faintly.
"You have presented me with a splendid performance."
"In return..."
"I'll use the remainder of your life as my tip."
She once again smoothed the wrinkles from her candy-colored dress.
As though every fold had to remain precisely where it belonged.
"Farewell, little one."
"Tell Herta and the others..."
"They should be grateful they've never stepped beyond the Circle of Knowledge."
Moments later...
Polka Kakamond's data body completely vanished.
The Omniscient Domain was instantly swallowed by an endless sea of mist.
This...
Was the Aeon's version of the Unknown.
Blindness.
Folly.
The authority of an Aeon still far surpassed that of an Emanator.
Soon...
The universe ceased expanding.
The candy-colored figure dispersed into empty space.
Leaving behind nothing but overwhelming silence.
"As expected of the Genius Killer."
"If Herta or the others had come instead..."
"They would've been in real danger."
"Even all four geniuses together probably wouldn't have been her match."
"Polka Kakamond really is terrifying."
"I just wonder..."
"Can the Omniscient Domain exist in the real world as well?"
Evan stretched lazily.
Still...
He really wanted to tear away Polka Kakamond's cognitive filter.
Expose her face.
Then upload her photo to the front page of the Interastral Peace Network.
These geniuses really were complicated people.
Otherwise...
He never would've ended up getting caught in her calculations.
Fortunately...
He had gained quite a lot from this encounter.
And she had done little more than threaten him.
She hadn't actually managed to hurt him.
"System."
"Open my status panel."
[Certainly, Host.]
[Opening Treasure Hunter System.]
[Welcome, Host.]
[Profession: Treasure Hunter]
[Abilities Obtained:]
Authority of the Herrscher of Reason(non-Finality version)Jade Shield(non-Elemental Recharge version)Byakugan(currently collecting dust in storage)Taixu Sword DivineFox IllusionAuthority of the Herrscher of Sentience(non-Finality version)
[Authorities Obtained:]
The Unknowable(Emanator of Elation)
[Domain Techniques:]
Ancient Mirror Reflecting DivinityOmniscient Domain
[Treasure Appraisal:]
Chance to obtain high-tier items from low-tier treasure chests.
[Integrated:]
Undying Divine FruitAbundance Physique
[Obtained:]
Will of Trailblaze
[Items:]
Arahato BlueprintPlasma Spark Tower BlueprintXianzhou Pocket Dimension Folding Technology
[Angel of Time:]
Kurumi Tokisaki — Zafkiel
[Noble Phantasm:]
Enkidu — Chains of Heaven
Evan blinked.
Without realizing it...
He had already accumulated this many abilities.
He skimmed through the rest.
Most of the items from wooden treasure chests were nothing more than ordinary materials.
He ignored them.
Still...
With multiple Authorities, Domain Techniques, and the strength of several Emanators...
He could no longer be considered weak.
Outside the Simulated Universe
Power had returned to normal throughout Herta Space Station.
With the disappearance of the Unknown Domain...
Everything settled back into place.
Naturally...
Evan also emerged from the Simulated Universe.
"So..."
"You actually survived Polka Kakamond?"
"Damn."
"You're seriously unbelievable."
"That was Polka."
"The infamous Genius Killer."
"And you're completely fine?"
Herta's puppet circled Evan several times, carefully inspecting him from head to toe.
One of the main reasons Herta maintained so many puppets was to prevent Polka Kakamond from ever finding her real body.
This trip had also taught Evan something.
The most fascinating part of the Unknown Domain was this—
Before Herta solved the Solitary Wave Algorithm...
She had not yet become a genius acknowledged by Nous.
As he journeyed through the Scholastic War...
He had also come to know another remarkable figure.
Rupert II.
Rupert II had never been a member of the Genius Society.
He held no seat among the geniuses.
His journey toward knowledge had begun with the legacy left behind by Emperor Rupert I, the Twenty-Seventh Member of the Genius Society.
Yet the Scepter System he created earned the recognition of countless geniuses.
Was that achievement the result of Emperor Rupert's algorithms...
Or Rupert II's own brilliance?
In many ways...
Rupert II represented yet another possible ending in the eternal contest between genius and ordinary people.
"Heh."
"It's just Polka."
"I handled her easily."
Evan shrugged dismissively.
"According to Lady Herta's original plan..."
"We intended to invite Rupert II's data construct as the fifth genius to join our project."
"We never anticipated that the activated data would instead belong to the Silent Lord."
Screwllum explained from the side.
"What a shame."
"The way she manipulates probability..."
"She's practically made for the Simulated Universe."
"If possible..."
"We should leave the door open for her."
"Tell her she's welcome to visit anytime."
Herta waved her hand helplessly.
Honestly...
An ability as overpowered as the Omniscient Domain was a perfect match for the Simulated Universe.
The probability of a successful simulation wasn't particularly high to begin with.
If they could persuade Polka to participate...
The odds of accurately simulating the Aeons would rise dramatically.
They would obtain far more meaningful data.
"But..."
"She really is difficult to deal with."
"Thankfully Aha granted me an additional authority."
"Otherwise fighting Polka would've been far more troublesome."
"After all..."
"Consciousness isn't the same thing as data."
Evan nodded.
If he had possessed the Authority of Corruption instead...
Handling data constructs would've been effortless.
Unfortunately...
His authority governed consciousness.
It was an incredibly powerful authority...
But it truly shined in a complete dream world like Penacony.
That...
Was where the Authority of Consciousness could fully display its true potential.
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito