After the Trailblazing journey on Jarilo-VI finally wrapped up on a high note, the Astral Express crew originally planned to set off immediately for their next destination.
Ocean Planet: Lushaka
The hometown of the Express's senior, Mikhail.
A world warped by the Stellaron, with rising global sea levels. After all these years, no one knew what it looked like now. A Stellaron was a catastrophe by any standard, so logically, it was worth checking in on.
Agate World: Melustanin
The ascension site of Idrila, Aeon of Beauty. A world of eternal, undying beauty. Rumored to be one of the ground zeroes of the Stellaron disaster and long cut off from the wider cosmos. Probably very unsafe.
…
With the Stellaron crisis raging everywhere, there was no shortage of worlds where the Astral Express could carry out the Path of Trailblaze.
But in the end, after some discussion, the crew returned once more to Herta Space Station.
On one hand, their resident mood-maker, March 7th, had suffered a worldview-shattering experience after coming back from Jarilo-VI and had been walking around all day with a blank stare and zero energy.
On the other hand, everything that happened on Jarilo-VI, along with the strange changes that had appeared in Stelle, raised far too many questions. Even the well-traveled Himeko and Uncle Yang could not explain them. In the end, the crew reached a unanimous decision.
Leave it to a genius.
Herta Space Station – Containment Zone
"Well then. This has to be the fastest turnaround your Astral Express has ever made, right? What kind of trouble did you stir up this time? Go on, tell me. Just so you know, my time is very valuable."
Light brown hair cascading smoothly down her back, a gorgeous black-and-purple dress. Ms. Herta's puppet stood there with hands on her hips, eyeing the crew: Himeko, Dan Heng, March 7th, and Welt Yang.
"Wait. Where's the little gray-haired one? Did her Stellaron explode on the train?" Puppet Herta noticed something was off.
The aesthetic of Jarilo-VI was simply too abstract.
Himeko honestly had no idea how to explain it to Herta. If she said something like "Stelle commanded an army of trash cans to save the world on Jarilo-VI," Herta would block them on the spot. Any normal person would assume it was nonsense cooked up by Masked Fools or fictional historians.
Actually, even Masked Fools and fictional historians would not dare make something like that up.
So the crew simply brought along the remains of the "trash can heroes left behind in the world" and the precious footage of March beating people up with a trash can.
"…?"
"…So you dragged me all the way here just to show me an exhibition of Jarilo-VI trash can models?"
Puppet Herta stared at the various trash cans unloaded from the Astral Express and fell into thought.
But an Emanator of Erudition was still an Emanator of Erudition. Herta quickly noticed something wrong.
"Wait. This material… no, that's not even the issue anymore. The Path profiles of these trash cans. Trailblaze, Elation, Order, Preservation, Beauty, even Erudition…"
The puppet was loaded with all kinds of modules. Her expression system was extremely rich, and right now it was screaming pure shock.
Other Paths might have been fine, but Erudition made her completely lose composure. The Machine Head had gazed upon countless worlds, and Herta remembered every single one of them.
But never, ever, had it glanced at a trash can genius.
"Hm. These are no ordinary trash cans anymore. They have a full Path spectrum, like a cosmic encyclopedia. I have to test them thoroughly."
The curiosity of a genius was fully ignited.
"Where did you find these trash cans? That no-name Jarilo-VI? I'll make time to visit it myself later. For now, move all these trash cans to my office."
With a wave of her hand, the entire space station sprang into action. Herta puppets on standby everywhere activated and headed for the Containment Zone to move—no, to collect—the miraculous trash cans brought by the Astral Express.
Then—
Herta left. The puppet in front of them switched to autonomous mode, grabbed a trash can, and walked off. The entire time, the crew stood there in stunned silence.
"Himeko… why didn't you—" Uncle Yang started.
Himeko had the best relationship with Herta. They had agreed beforehand that Himeko would handle the negotiations. But Himeko had not said a single word the entire time.
"Well… how do I put it? I had planned out what to say, but when I actually saw those trash cans, my mind just went blank. In the end, Herta took them away anyway, so the result is the same, right?"
Himeko's expression was just as spectacular as the time March drank her coffee.
"…True. What matters most is Stelle. Ever since the Trailblazing journey on Jarilo-VI ended, she's been asleep for over thirty hours. Nothing wakes her up. Hopefully these trash cans can help Ms. Herta figure out what's happening to her."
Welt Yang adjusted his black-framed glasses.
"…"
Dan Heng stayed silent, staring at one of the golden trash cans with horns, marked with the Path of Immortality, lost in thought.
"…"
March 7th hugged a cat-shaped bag to her chest. Worldview shattered plus a semi-humanoid Stellaron baby was a lot for an energetic, cheerful girl to take. Her mood was… complicated.
"Ms. Herta is unmatched in the world!"
"Ms. Herta shall live forever!"
"Ms. Herta is a peerless genius!"
"…"
The sound of footsteps echoed.
There were far too many trash cans brought by the Astral Express. To move them all, every Herta on the space station was mobilized.
Small Herta, tall Herta, short Herta, real Herta, fake Herta, group Herta, boundary Herta, combat Herta…
"Whoa. I had no idea Herta Space Station had so many Herta models!" March exclaimed in shock.
Then it happened.
Seventy or eighty group Hertas, those two-head-tall chibi versions, turned to look at the pink-haired girl. They exchanged comical glances. The one in front charged forward, tripped the pink-haired girl, and together they lifted her up in perfect unison.
"Hey! We found a new trash can!"
"Pink-haired trash can!"
"Pink hair! Pink hair! Pink hair!"
"Why me?! Huh? Wait, wait, am I a trash can too?" March wore a deeply thoughtful expression, then shook her head hard. "Hold on! You grabbed the wrong can… the wrong person!"
"Pink hair! Pink hair! Pink hair!"
Ignoring her protests, the group Hertas chanted their slogan and marched off, leaving the remaining three crew members staring at each other.
"Uh…"
Dan Heng wanted to say something, then stopped, then wanted to say something again. He had no idea where to even begin complaining. The Trailblazing journey on Jarilo-VI had been full of this exact feeling, and now Herta Space Station had brought it right back.
"Ms. Herta really does see everything coming. March's mental state probably needs some adjustment too. The train's been pretty gloomy lately."
Welt Yang's expression was subtle.
"That's true. Having March, someone who personally experienced it, explain things would help. And the Express still needs someone on standby to inventory resources at Herta Space Station… and someone needs to look after Stelle…"
Himeko nodded.
Dan Heng stared at them.
You're avoiding it, aren't you?! Both of you are totally avoiding it! Sure, the idea that fallen Nameless might turn into trash cans for unknown reasons is terrifying, especially since by that logic we'll all become trash cans someday. But you are definitely avoiding it!
"March is a… very reliable Nameless. I'm sure she'll cooperate with Ms. Herta's research. The archive also needs someone to organize it."
Dan Heng made the same choice.
The idea of senior Nameless helping juniors overcome a crisis was very romantic. But when the method involved "turning into trash cans," it was really hard to keep a straight face.
When the names and abilities in the archives started lining up with specific trash cans, everyone except the blissfully oblivious March realized what that meant. Seeing those trash cans now made their feelings… complicated.
Helping juniors as a senior Nameless was great. Knowing you might turn into a trash can in the future was way too much information.
…
Herta's Office
The least mysterious office in the entire universe.
Puppet Herta looked at the trash cans that had been neatly arranged by other Hertas. There was now a pink-haired girl among them. She froze.
"Wait. This is…?"
As the creator of the Hertas, no one understood their operational logic better than her. At a glance, she could tell that one of the group Hertas had triggered the "unreasonable module."
"Heh. March 7th, don't be afraid. Just a technical error." Herta smiled warmly at her.
"Hahaha, I told you I'm not a trash can! Ms. Herta, I can go now, right? At this point I really don't want to stay around trash cans anymore!"
March scratched her head and turned to leave.
"Wait. When you say 'at this point'… I get it. The Simulated Universe doesn't have a tester right now. Since you're already here, why not help me test the new Simulated Universe? March 7th."
Herta grasped the situation in a second. Aside from the unreasonable module, the reason the group Hertas carried March over was simple. Among the Nameless present, the pink-haired one had the most contact with trash cans.
"Well, um, if I may ask… Ms. Herta, what's the theme of this Simulated Universe?"
"Hm. These trash cans. I've already examined them. Their Path profiles all carry traces of Trailblaze and Elation. That rumor about Aha and Akivili being train buddies for life… was that really just something fictional historians made up? I'm a little curious."
March 7th froze.
What?! Why is it trash cans again?! Testing trash cans in the Simulated Universe, isn't there something wrong with that?! Her eyes were already half-dead, on the verge of turning red.
In the end, faced with the legendary Ms. Herta, the weak, pitiful, and helpless March could only agree to the Simulated Universe invitation.
Three system-hours later.
"Hey. Wake up. Wake up."
March 7th groggily opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a brand-new version of Ms. Herta, wearing a pointy witch's hat.
"Herta… are you ready?"
"Yes. Himeko sent me the archive data collected from Jarilo-VI. Combined with the Simulated Universe calculations, the test version of 'Simulated Universe: Tatalov's Trailblazing Journey' is ready!"
Herta continued, "I've looked into the little gray-haired one's condition. A reasonable guess is that her coma is related to this combined Trailblaze and Elation power. Right now, aside from her, there's no one more suitable than you to test this Simulated Universe. After all, according to the records, you're a firsthand witness of the trash can incident."
"Ugh… when you put it like that, the pressure's huge." March rubbed her eyes and wiped away tears from yawning.
"Don't worry. This is only an early test. Jarilo-VI's situation is likely closely tied to the Aeon of Elation. I didn't include any Aeons in this simulation. We're just getting a basic understanding."
"Can testing the Simulated Universe really help Stelle wake up?"
"Maybe."
Herta was not certain. After examining Stelle's body, she found that her current state was best described as "consciousness gone elsewhere."
That usually happened when someone met an Aeon. But theoretically, when meeting an Aeon, external time should stop. The logic did not line up. In short, there were far too many mysteries surrounding that little gray-haired girl.
Hopefully, the Simulated Universe would provide answers.
"Heh. Looks like it's up to yours truly at the critical moment!"
March put her hands on her hips.
Under Herta's guidance, she lay down in the immersive Simulated Universe test pod in the office. Herta coordinated the data through the simulation program and began the projection of "Simulated Universe: Tatalov's Trailblazing Journey."
"March, can you see what I'm saying? If you can, just tap the screen. Don't worry, your body is still in the pod. This is a Simulated Universe generated from data."
"This… why is it all trash cans again?!"
March realized she had once again been dumped into a pile of trash cans. And these ones did not look very friendly.
"Night has fallen. The empty garbage station is now shrouded in Mystery. Listen. What is that stirring in the corner?" A trash can rolled up beside her.
March stared.
What are you babbling about?!
After spending so much time with trash cans and Stelle, March had picked up a bit of trash-can foreign language. But only the basics. She had no idea what this one was saying.
"Heh. Interesting. If trash cans could form a civilization, could they even develop a language that not even a Synesthesia Beacon can decode? Then again, trash cans don't have organs for thinking or forming ideas."
"Don't worry, March. The Simulated Universe is already working on decoding it. It should take one or two minutes."
"But the trash can is already trying to kill me!"
March sprinted through the garbage station with everything she had. She stumbled and almost fell flat, with the questioning trash can right behind her.
If your answer did not satisfy a trash can, it would eagerly challenge you and physically correct your way of thinking. Stelle had mentioned something like that before.
So silence counted as an answer too? March had not said anything, yet the trash can was chasing her down.
"Don't panic, March! Take this chance to spar with it. I can record some trash can combat data while I'm at it."
"Me? Fight a trash can? What are you saying, Ms. Herta? There's no way I can beat a trash can!"
March wailed. She had firsthand experience with how strong trash can heroes were.
"Hm… you're right. This trash can's data is very off. Is it the influence of the Path of Elation? What is that god of fun trying to do?"
"Wait, March. I'm loading those two kids into the Simulated Universe for you. Three against one shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Outside, Herta manipulated the Simulated Universe machine.
This Simulated Universe, built from trash can hero remnants, archive data, and parts of March's memories, seemed subtly different from reality.
That convinced Herta something unusual was going on. She could not wait to dig up the hidden history of Aha and Akivili.
But then—
The moment Stelle's and Dan Heng's data were deployed into the Simulated Universe, Herta was shocked to discover that March 7th's data had vanished.
"…?"
"Is it Aha? No. If an Aeon had visited the space station, there's no way I wouldn't notice." Herta frowned.
March inside was gone. March outside had not woken up. Since the Simulated Universe project began, nothing like this had ever happened.
A staff appeared in Herta's hand.
If an Aeon had scooped up March 7th's consciousness, it would absolutely leave behind some trace. Aeons, despite being ascended from intelligent life, did not deliberately conceal their tracks.
Not even the most elusive Aeon of Mystery, Mythus.
The Simulated Universe went into full computational output.
As a creation of multiple geniuses, the Simulated Universe operated on logic opposite to the Scepter Array. The Scepter Array solved problems through self-calculation. The Simulated Universe used the real universe as its dataset. The answer was already there.
The key was the question.
Within the Simulated Universe, the scene of March 7th's disappearance replayed again and again, like a videotape running in reverse, across the data world.
"Interesting…"
A smile curved Herta's lips. She had only intended to probe the secrets of the Aeons, but now something even more fun had appeared.
In the history of the loosely organized Genius Society, many ultimate questions had been proven, disproven, and proven again.
For example:
Number 2 Harnad Ponch proved the existence of phlogiston.
Number 3 Nuer Eman proved the nonexistence of phlogiston.
Number 7 Bai Huan, building on Number 3's theory, once again proved the existence of phlogiston.
As for the question of whether parallel universes exist, the current authoritative answer was:
They do not.
Unlike phlogiston, the activities of the Aeon of Finality, Terminus, had completely killed the parallel universe question. No matter how hard generations of geniuses and scholars tried, there was no way forward.
And now.
This problem seemed to be placing its solution right in front of her.
What the Simulated Universe captured was not the imaginary energy fluctuations of an Aeon's activity, but a cluster of signal data from another world.
…
PS
Number 4 Lord of Silence: Hello.
Number 83 Herta: Can we talk this out?
…
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Let me know if I got a name wrong. I know basically nothing about MyGO.