At first, Herta had concealed herself perfectly.
No Remembrancer noticed her arrival.
But the moment she stepped deeper into this place, she felt prying gazes settle upon her.
She sighed softly.
Being discovered this early was unfavorable for everything that came next.
She could only hope Lin Yi and Screwllum were drawing away enough attention elsewhere.
Yet after being exposed, no one stepped forward to stop her.
That was... strange.
Still, Herta had no interest in slowly playing games with them.
Direct methods were better.
Envoy of Erudition, the famed Madam Herta across the worlds—greetings.
On behalf of the Listening Saintess, we offer our salutations.
Seven figures in hooded cloaks appeared, their faces hidden.
Herta raised an eyebrow.
You know who I am and still dare to block my path?
Or perhaps you aren't here to stop me at all?
She could not identify them, but she was certain of one thing:
They were not Envoys of Remembrance.
Madam Herta, any request can be discussed openly.
If the Garden of Recollection can provide it, we will do our best.
Why resort to the methods of bandits?
Herta sneered.
You avoided my question and wasted words.
You're stalling for time.
But schemes like that are wasted on me.
At that moment, the Fourth Mirror suddenly popped into view, mocking them while praising Herta in the same breath.
I truly cannot understand what you people are thinking!
How dare you play tricks in front of the great and wise Madam Herta!
Herta did not even turn around.
I'll leave them to you, Fourth Mirror.
Don't disappoint me.
The mirror's voice instantly became even more sycophantic.
Rest assured!
I follow the great Madam Herta. Dealing with these little minions is effortless!
I absolutely will not disappoint you, great Madam Herta!
Please proceed ahead. Once I finish these small fry, I'll come find you!
Herta replied calmly.
Mm.
If you fail, I don't mind replacing you with another mirror.
The Fourth Mirror panicked.
Please rest assured, great Madam Herta!
I absolutely! Absolutely!! Absolutely will not fail!
As Herta walked away, she added:
I know I'm great, but you don't need to say great Madam Herta in every sentence.
The mirror bowed slightly.
I understand, great Madam Herta.
I will no longer say great Madam Herta in every sentence.
Herta ignored it.
Or rather—
She was already far away.
After Herta left, the Fourth Mirror immediately became overbearing, as though it were a different being entirely.
In front of Madam Herta, you may call me the Fourth Mirror. I won't argue over it.
But now that Madam Herta isn't here... what should you call me?
Whatever nonsense Zhuxing and the Fourth Mirror had been discussing lately, it was clearly having an effect.
Both of them seemed to be growing crooked in strange directions.
Herta continued forward.
Not long after, she once again felt those prying gazes.
Just like before, they hid in the shadows, watching without showing themselves.
Now she was annoyed.
She raised her staff.
Mirrors unfurled behind her one after another, spiraling outward.
Every mirror reflected Herta's figure.
Then they all fired beams of light.
Those beams merged into a single ray and shot into the distance.
Then—
Envoy of Erudition, the famed Madam Herta across the worlds—greetings.
On behalf of the Listening Saintess, we offer our salutations.
Again.
Seven hooded figures.
Herta stopped.
She sensed something wrong.
Something wrong with herself.
Something wrong with the environment.
Her irritation vanished.
In its place came a smile.
Interesting.
She called out:
Fourth Mirror. Come out.
A voice immediately answered.
Great Madam Herta!
Do you wish for me to deal with these ignorant fools?
Leave it to me—you need only continue forward!
Herta smiled faintly.
How interesting.
This Fourth Mirror is exactly the same as the real one.
But being too real is not a good thing.
Her voice turned cold.
Fourth Mirror.
I command you—shatter yourself.
The voice panicked.
M-Madam Herta! Great Madam Herta!!
What did I do wrong?
Please give me a chance to correct myself!
Please consider my loyal service!
Herta remained expressionless.
You talk too much.
Shatter.
The mirror fell silent.
...Understood.
If this is your will.
Herta frowned.
Still not over?
Then it seems... I'm fake as well.
She raised her staff again.
This time—
She attacked herself.
Her body and surroundings shattered like glass.
Herta smiled.
Child's tricks.
She returned to reality.
The seven cloaked figures lay collapsed on the ground.
Motionless.
They were already dead.
Herta sighed softly.
I had no intention of killing you.
Why go this far?
She did not know their names.
She did not know what method they had used to create that illusion.
She had sensed several layers of emotional manipulation woven into the technique.
She had wanted to ask them how it worked.
But now they were dead.
Did using that move really require such a high price?
Well—
Dead was dead.
There was no point dwelling on it.
They had almost certainly reported her presence already.
Herta decided to move faster.
Better to finish everything and leave quickly.
She asked:
Fourth Mirror, did you record everything that just happened?
Yes, great Madam Herta!
I knew you never truly intended to replace me!
The mirror sounded delighted.
Herta answered flatly.
As long as it was recorded.
Talk less. Do more.
After dealing with the seven mysterious figures, the road ahead became smooth.
Soon, Herta reached her destination.
Finally...
The Sea of Floating Light, where the Garden of Recollection stores the memories of all worlds.
What a fascinating sight.
Before her floated a crystal sphere.
Within it were the memories of countless worlds.
Looking through the sphere was like staring into an entire universe.
Yet the star map inside was completely different from the outer cosmos.
Some celestial bodies that existed outside did not exist within.
Others long destroyed in reality still remained here.
Whenever civilizations or planets in the main universe perished, the Garden of Recollection would dispatch Remembrancers to salvage their memories.
Those lost worlds would be recreated and placed within the sphere.
Every destruction outside meant one more addition here.
When the sphere was finally filled to its limit—
It would mark the moment the universe fell silent.
Destruction would come to an end.
And creation would begin anew.
At least, that was what the Garden of Recollection claimed.
Still, rebirth after destruction sounded reasonable enough.
After all—
This crystal sphere contained so much information that it was essentially a gigantic Simulated Universe, albeit with different functions.
Herta stepped forward.
Just as she was about to claim her prize—
She felt that familiar prying gaze again.
Envoy of Erudition, the famed Madam Herta across the worlds—greetings.
On behalf of the Listening Saintess, we offer our salutations.
Herta ignored them.
She walked straight to the crystal sphere and placed a hand upon it.
Only then did she glance toward the seven cloaked figures who had appeared once more.
I'm certain you died beyond doubt.
And this place is real.
So what exactly are you trying to do?
Create confusion?