The in-game cutscene began to play, revealing the starry expanse of the Cosmos.
This was a place players had previously explored, located in an unknown corner of the universe.
"Herta, Genius Society #83, hmm?"
"Heh, interesting."
"Be grateful you're still within the circle of knowledge."
A mature female voice echoed in everyone's ears.
Moments later, a woman in a candy-colored evening gown appeared before them all.
But her face remained obscured, much to everyone's disappointment.
"Holy crap, Polka Kakamond!" Although the battle in the Simulated Universe had been described only through text, Little Bear instantly recognized her from the candy-colored gown and her earlier words.
The figure in the cutscene was Polka Kakamond herself!
[I'm in love! I absolutely adore mature women!]
[I don't think you're in love. You just want to call her 'Mommy,' don't you?]
[Hiss... What do I do? Hearing Polka Kakamond express interest in Herta suddenly makes me ship them...]
[? Trying to steal a woman from Lumina? Are you insane?]
[Think back to Lumina's disappearance just now, and then think about why Polka Kakamond appeared in the cutscene... It's so hard to guess... Why?]
[666! Lumina couldn't have actually tracked her down through the web, right?]
"Holy crap, I thought Screwllum was joking, but it's actually happening."
Reading the comments, Little Bear instantly understood. Lumina must have traced Polka Kakamond's location through the network and was now coming to kill her.
Initially, Little Bear and his viewers had all treated the idea of Lumina soloing Polka Kakamond through the web as a joke.
After all, Polka Kakamond's combat prowess seemed to be at the absolute peak of the Cosmos, second only to the Aeons.
While Lumina's own strength was absurdly exaggerated, the idea of her tracking down another cosmic powerhouse through the internet and then beating her senseless seemed utterly unrealistic, no matter how you looked at it.
But it seemed Lumina was about to prove with her own power...
...that what Little Bear and his viewers had thought impossible was, in fact, very real.
"Polka Kakamond... right?"
The cutscene on the screen continued. Just as Polka Kakamond was feeling a slight interest in Herta, a figure bathed in green light suddenly appeared behind her, unnoticed.
"!"
The instant she heard the voice, a scalpel materialized in her hand. Without hesitation, Polka Kakamond slashed behind her.
She then swiftly retreated, creating distance before turning to look.
All she saw were a few Dead Stars cleaved apart by her attack. There was no other figure in sight.
This was a dead land; no other sounds should exist here. So...
Though Polka Kakamond's face was obscured, her posture revealed extreme caution toward this unknown entity's appearance.
Knowable Domain
Without hesitation, Polka Kakamond unleashed her Knowable Domain, preparing to erase this mysterious intruder directly.
"Hmm?"
But the next moment, the result from her Knowable Domain defied her expectations, stunning her for an instant.
The Knowable Domain provided no answer, nor did it find any other target.
"What's wrong? Did your Knowable Domain give you an... unusual result?"
"Shall I explain it for you?"
In the instant Polka Kakamond was stunned, a figure appeared with startling clarity right behind her. The distance between their bodies was merely a single step.
"..."
"Who are you?"
This time, Polka Kakamond made no move.
She understood that anyone who could approach her so silently and get this close was far beyond her ability to handle.
If this person could reach her back without her slightest awareness, they could just as easily take her life from behind without her ever knowing.
So, Polka Kakamond abandoned any resistance.
Since they hadn't taken her life, it meant they had no killing intent.
Understanding this was enough for Polka Kakamond to cease all action.
"Me? I'm just a beautiful girl passing by," the person behind her replied.
"A beautiful girl passing by?" Hearing this explanation, delivered in a gentle female voice, Polka Kakamond felt a flicker of confusion before everything clicked into place.
To find her so easily, to approach her undetected, and to evade the perception of her Knowable Domain—to not even exist within it...
Without a doubt, all signs pointed to one possibility.
An [Aeon].
The person behind Polka Kakamond was an Aeon. Only this could explain why she had been defeated without even a chance to resist.
As for which Aeon?
There was no doubt about that either.
Polka Kakamond had just had her results interfered with by a certain Aeon. For Them to now show up at her doorstep was, in a way, expected.
"Aha, the Aeon of Elation..."
Only that Aeon would disregard Their divine status to personally deal with a "mortal" like her.
"What are you mumbling about? Aeon of Elation? Aha? How could I possibly be that ugly freak?"
Just as Polka Kakamond uttered the name, the voice behind her spoke again, confirming her suspicions.
To insult Themself like that... it's definitely the Aeon of Elation in person.
Polka Kakamond was utterly baffled by Their sudden appearance.
But then again, there was nothing to be baffled about.
After all, it was perfectly normal for this Aeon to appear anywhere at any time.
"I possess nothing that could bring you any amusement."
Polka Kakamond knew that the Aeon of Elation was merely seeking amusement.
As long as she offered no amusement, They would naturally leave.
Therefore, Polka Kakamond wasn't worried at all.
It's just...
Did Aha, the Aeon of Elation, really make Their aura smell this fragrant?
They stood behind her, and even here in the vast Cosmos, Polka Kakamond could already smell the scent wafting from Them.
Even Polka Kakamond had to admit—it was a wonderful, intoxicating fragrance, the best she had ever smelled.
It made sense that Aha would use such a scent.
First, lure the target into a state of blissful immersion with the fragrance, making them wonder if a beautiful girl stood behind them.
Then, when they turn around, they find no beautiful girl—only the expression on a masked face.
That look of disappointment... wouldn't that be pure amusement for Aha?
"Amusement?" Lumina looked at the inexplicably strange Polka Kakamond before her and thought, This Lord of Silence seems a bit dim-witted.
The Genius Society... are you serious?
Why do most of the Genius Society members seem so goofy?
Herta, Ruan Mei, Polka Kakamond—Lumina had certified all three as undeniably airheaded.
As for Screwllum... well, he wasn't a beautiful girl, so Lumina hadn't paid him much attention. She assumed he was probably a normal member of the Genius Society.
But if the goofy geniuses outnumber the proper ones, the Genius Society might as well officially change its name to the Dunce Society...
Hmm... wait, could the Genius Society's original name actually have been the Dunce Society?
Lumina wouldn't believe Herta would say something like that without some basis in fact.
She muttered these doubts to herself for a moment.
"Polka Kakamond, I'm not interested in so-called 'amusement.'"
"I'm only interested in you."
Shaking off her thoughts, Lumina refocused and replied softly to Polka Kakamond's earlier words.
"I offer no amusement. If you're interested in me, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed." Polka Kakamond, still convinced that the Aeon of Elation stood behind her, was puzzled by Lumina's response.
Since when did the Aeon of Elation take an interest in a mere "person"?
The question flickered in Polka Kakamond's mind for only a moment before she dismissed it.
The Aeon of Elation would do anything for amusement. Their sudden interest in a "person" wasn't particularly surprising.
"Hmm... you're not mistaking me for some mask-wearing jester, are you?"
Lumina was no fool. Hearing Polka Kakamond's words and recalling their earlier conversation, she instantly understood.
Only an Aeon could approach a powerhouse of her caliber so silently.
It makes sense, she thought. With my Knowable Domain, I have complete knowledge of everything in the Cosmos.
If any "person" could bypass my Knowable Domain, it would have to be an Aeon.
But sorry, I'm no Aeon. I'm just a super beautiful girl, beloved by all and adored by flowers.
"..."
Hearing Lumina's words, Polka Kakamond didn't reply. She chose to remain silent.
In her view, as long as the Aeon of Elation couldn't find any amusement in her, They would naturally leave.
However, the outcome she envisioned was doomed to fail, because the being behind her was no Aeon of Elation.
"Why don't you turn around and take a look?"
Lumina spoke softly, trying to get Polka Kakamond to turn and see her true appearance—and be utterly shocked.
Lumina even had an Image Stone ready.
She would record Polka Kakamond's stunned expression, then take it back to the Space Station and "barter" with Herta...
Herta must be desperate to get back at Polka Kakamond after that humiliating defeat just now, right?
In that case, even if I make some slightly outrageous demands, it shouldn't be a problem, right?
Lumina's mind raced, already picturing Herta's main body dressed in a maid outfit, calling her "Master, Master" with every breath.
"..."
Hearing this, Polka Kakamond remained silent for a moment before turning her head to look behind her.
The Aeon of Elation seeks amusement. If I turn around and my expression remains calm and impassive, They will naturally leave.
After only a brief moment of consideration, Polka Kakamond complied with Lumina's words.
"..."
"?!"
A new form for the Aeon of Elation?
When she turned, what met her eyes wasn't some unknown entity composed of countless masks, but a girl so beautiful she could captivate the entire Cosmos.
The moment she saw Lumina, Polka Kakamond's face—hidden beneath her cognitive filter—froze for an instant.
Lumina's beauty was part of the reason, but the greater shock came from the realization that the Aeon of Elation, Aha, would go so far as to transform into a beautiful girl just to extract "amusement" from her.
"Aha~ Done."
Though it was only for a split second, for Lumina's Image Stone—which had already started recording—that instant was more than enough.
After stowing away the Image Stone, Lumina refocused her gaze on Polka Kakamond.
With a faint smile, Lumina offered a perfectly courteous self-introduction: "Hello, Genius Society #4. I am Lumina, a humble physician."
Polka Kakamond: ...
Swish—
A moment later, Lumina received no verbal reply from Polka Kakamond.
No, Polka Kakamond did respond—just not with her voice.
She responded with the scalpel in her hand.
Realizing that the Lumina before her was not the Aeon of Elation, but rather an unknown entity outside her Knowable Domain, Polka Kakamond swung her scalpel without hesitation, despite Lumina's silent appearance before her.
At this close range, she can't possibly dodge my attack.
Polka Kakamond was confident that even if she couldn't kill Lumina in one strike, she could at least wound her.
"Ouch..."
Polka Kakamond had aimed for a fatal blow, bringing the scalpel down toward Lumina's face, intending to sever her head.
But the result was completely beyond her expectations.
The scalpel descended straight down, and the attack struck Lumina.
But...
The scalpel's cold, gleaming edge rested on Lumina's cheek, leaving not even a single mark.
"..."
Seeing this, Polka Kakamond froze for a moment. In disbelief, she applied more force.
But in the end, all she felt was a certain softness emanating from the skin...
"Hmm..." Lumina glanced at the scalpel resting on her cheek, her expression unchanged. She extended a single finger and gently pushed the blade away.
Though Lumina used little force, her gesture was clear.
Polka Kakamond cooperated, retracting the scalpel as Lumina's finger moved, until the blade was fully withdrawn.
"Ahem. Madam Polka, I've come to solo-kill you, as ordered by Madam Herta—by tracing your network connection."
"Now, do you have any preferred method of death?"
Lumina asked with a polite smile, her hands folded gracefully at her waist.