"Hey, stop feeling me up..."
Having a Herta puppet rummaging all over his body felt... rather strange.
If it were Herta's real body, he might actually have been interested.
But a puppet?
That was another matter entirely.
"Here."
A card-like object appeared in Su Ran's hand.
Herta immediately snatched it away.
The image engraved upon the Light Cone depicted the moment Su Ran had spoken with Fuli, the Remembrance.
If she could decipher the information recorded within this Light Cone, then she might uncover why Fuli had personally projected Their image onto it.
"What were you two talking about back then?"
Besides the conversation itself, a Light Cone personally created by an Aeon possessed tremendous research value.
Artifacts bearing traces of an Aeon's existence were exceedingly rare throughout the universe.
Every single one was worth studying.
As the founder of the Simulated Universe,
Herta naturally needed as many items related to the Aeons as possible to further her research.
"It was a truth that Fuli desperately wanted from me."
"They'd been following me for quite a while."
"I think They first noticed traces of it when I dove into March 7th's memories."
Unfortunately,
even after that, Fuli still couldn't obtain the answer directly.
All They could do was become a shameless stalker, waiting for Su Ran to accidentally reveal some secret.
"What truth?"
"Tell me."
Herta was intensely curious.
A truth that even an Aeon cared about?
That had to be incredibly valuable.
"Fuli can keep secrets."
"Other people... not necessarily."
Back then,
he'd only been speaking with Fuli.
That was why he had felt safe saying it.
But now things were different.
Even if he spoke directly into Herta's mind, he still worried that the secret might somehow leak.
"...You don't trust me?"
Herta glared at him, clearly dissatisfied.
If this little puppet had possessed more strength, she would've already taught him a lesson.
...Though that remained only a fantasy.
"I trust you."
"I just don't trust the environment."
"Who knows whether someone's secretly listening in?"
Su Ran spread his hands helplessly.
An absolutely secure environment...
only Fuli could create one.
Who else could guarantee that?
Chiyo hesitantly raised a hand.
"...Should I leave?"
"I can give you two some privacy."
She felt rather targeted.
There were only three people present.
If Su Ran wasn't referring to her, then who else could it be?
"I'm not talking about you."
"I'm talking about those we can't see."
Back then, Nous had been able to cast Its gaze all the way to Teyvat.
If that was possible, then who could guarantee that the other Aeons weren't paying attention as well?
"So..."
"You're worried about the Aeons?"
Herta felt she understood now.
Other than an Aeon, who else could eavesdrop
without even an Emanator noticing?
"Exactly."
"The importance of that truth speaks for itself."
"Until then..."
"I can't reveal it casually."
"Maybe after I've become stronger."
"Then I'll tell you."
Su Ran removed the beret from Herta's puppet and casually placed it atop his own head.
"...That'll take forever."
"You aren't actually planning to become an Aeon, are you?"
Herta suddenly felt rather depressed.
If she really had to wait until Su Ran reached the level of an Aeon, that was far too distant.
Unless...
the Simulated Universe achieved some revolutionary breakthrough.
"Whether I become an Aeon or not isn't important."
"What matters..."
"is ensuring that no one—including the Aeons—can threaten me."
It was precisely because he feared the power of the Aeons that he guarded the secret so carefully.
"Then..."
"I'll help you."
After only a brief moment's thought, Herta made her promise.
"My talent may be lacking a little..."
"But I'm still a genius."
"If your goal is becoming an Aeon..."
"I think I can be of some help."
Besides, if the research results of the Simulated Universe could truly be applied to Su Ran himself, then her research could finally be considered a success.
Five members of the Genius Society working together...
Surely even the unknown forces standing in their way couldn't stop them.
"Then I'll thank you in advance, Lady Herta."
"But before that..."
"Chiyo."
Su Ran turned toward her.
"I'm here!"
The instant Chiyo heard her name, she immediately responded, standing at attention.
"Let's test the Simulated Universe."
And just like that,
Chiyo inexplicably became the fourth official tester of the Simulated Universe.
Unlike previous tests, however, this simulation was completely different.
The moment Chiyo entered, she found herself aboard one of the Xianzhou ships.
"...What's this?"
"A Xianzhou vessel?"
Herta examined the enormous ship.
Was this simulation focused on the Hunt?
Very soon, she realized she was mistaken.
Because...
an enormous living planet appeared.
Just as the Xianzhou vessel was about to be swallowed whole, Chiyo's vision suddenly blurred.
Then, a mysterious power—both unfamiliar and strangely familiar—surged into existence.
A figure identical in appearance to Raiden Makoto appeared before her and silently glanced in her direction.
Thus...within this false Eternity Aeon, the very first false Emanator of Eternity was born.
Herta: "???"
Although she had absolutely no idea what was happening, she faithfully recorded every bit of data.
The Aeons within the Simulated Universe were all data constructs.
This so-called Aeon of Eternity was especially fake, having been fabricated from the very beginning.
Herta glanced sideways at Su Ran.
She couldn't help suspecting that perhaps his true identity was actually a Fictionologist.
The simulation covered events from the fall of Cangcheng all the way to the Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae.
As an Emanator of Eternity, Chiyo observed Jingliu's entire life unfold.
She experienced how Jingliu swung her sword, why she swung it, and where her next strike was destined to fall.
After witnessing Jingliu's tragic life, Chiyo fell into profound silence.
Fortunately, Su Ran had deliberately accelerated the simulation.
Otherwise, there was a very real chance that Chiyo would've been assimilated into becoming another Jingliu.
"...Exactly what concept did you use to fabricate this 'Eternity'?"
"An observer?"
"Why does it feel so similar to Remembrance?"
Although only one Aeon had appeared this time, the circumstances were unlike any previous simulation.
This Aeon of Eternity looked completely fake.
Yet...
the energy fluctuations emitted by Chiyo's status as an Emanator were anything but fake.
Even if it was only a simulation, that was unmistakably the power of a genuine Emanator.
Herta couldn't help staring at Su Ran.
She was beginning to wonder...
Had he truly already reached the threshold of becoming an Aeon?
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