Inside Herta Puppet 05, the little Herta felt endless bewilderment at the current situation.
And at that very moment, The Herta spoke with an awkward expression, "You... even though the little Herta puppet's body is indeed very cute—about ninety percent as cute as I was when I was young—the one inside this body right now is me. Get a grip."
Herman paid no attention and continued pressing against little Herta's face. "Of course I know the one controlling little Herta's body right now is Herta herself. But precisely because of that, I want to hug and snuggle... After all, I've never hugged you when you were little before. Mmm..."
Hearing this, The Herta immediately controlled little Herta's body to resist. However, she was shocked to discover that she had no way of breaking free from Herman's embrace.
More precisely, to prevent her from resisting, Herman had already activated the enhancement of the Herta Magic Wand, granting himself infinite Path energy—the state of a pseudo-Emanator. Naturally, she had no way to escape his arms.
The Herta's lips twitched slightly. She shouted toward Herta's Key hanging at Herman's neck, "Herta Magic Wand, you heard our conversation just now. I am the real Herta. Withdraw the blessing of the Path of Erudition immediately."
"Nope." Herta's Key flashed with a streak of black-purple light, then said seriously, "Being able to see two Madam Hertas snuggling is simply wonderful! I want to see even more beautiful scenes like this!"
"Besides, Madam Herta, why resist so much? You just said you were going to create more Hertas in this world..."
At that, Herta herself felt utterly helpless. She had never expected that in this situation, Herta's Key would still stand on Herman's side instead of hers—the legitimate Herta.
Sure enough, after passing through Herman's hands, Herta's Key had been completely stolen away by him.
Powerless to resist, The Herta could only maintain a stiff expression as Herman held her in his arms and continued to snuggle.
More than ten seconds later, unable to endure it any longer, The Herta closed her eyes and transferred her consciousness back to her original body. Herman then released little Herta.
The Herta Magic Wand shimmered with light, sounding somewhat dissatisfied. "That's it? Why not hug a little longer? I wanted to see more snuggling scenes."
Herman said, "Can't help it. Herta transferred her consciousness back."
The Herta snapped irritably, "Shut up."
The Herta Magic Wand replied, "What a pity."
Hearing that only made The Herta more annoyed. "You shut up too."
Finally, the Soul Gem factory returned to silence.
At this moment, Herta Puppet 05 herself was completely frozen.
What is going on?!
Why was Madam Herta talking to herself just now, as if two people were conversing within the same body?
Could it be... the genius Madam Herta has broken down?
If so, what should be done?
If an Intellitron like little Herta breaks, parts can be replaced and repaired. But if the genius Madam Herta breaks, how is she supposed to be repaired?!
After thinking this far, little Herta could not help but lift her head and ask the Fourth Mirror in the surveillance camera, "How should one repair a broken Madam Herta?"
The Fourth Mirror quickly responded, "No repair is needed. Madam Herta is not broken. There are two personalities within her."
"So it's dissociative identity disorder." Little Herta 05 revealed a look of understanding. "No wonder... When Madam Herta projected her consciousness into me just now, her original body could still move. It even called me cute and took the initiative to snuggle me!"
The Herta protested, "I do not have dissociative identity disorder. I am a genius. How could a genius be mentally ill?"
"But there really are two consciousnesses inside you. And the other genius Madam Herta was really, really nice. Being hugged by her felt wonderful!"
Little Herta raised both hands and crossed them over her left shoulder, her eyes full of anticipation. "It would be great if she could hold me a little longer."
After speaking, little Herta even shot The Herta a small sidelong glance.
The Herta's face stiffened at the sight. She had never expected that the little Herta she personally created would now turn her elbow outward and think Herman was wonderful.
This should not be the case. Herman had not interfered in the creation of Herta Puppet 05 at all. Why did little Herta naturally have such a strong favorable impression of him?
"If you want him to hold you, then let him hold you," The Herta said irritably.
After saying that, she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, control of the body had switched to Herman.
"Cute and beautiful little Herta, I'm right here!" Herman spread his arms and said.
Little Herta immediately leaped forward, throwing herself into Herman's embrace—and into Herman's heart.
So cute, so cute!
Little Herta is truly adorable. I want to raise her for a lifetime.
If only The Herta could shrink too—become a little girl and let me hold her like this.
Herman thought so.
Meanwhile, Herta Puppet 05 herself rubbed her face against The Herta's nearly flat chest and secretly thought to herself.
Second Madam Herta, Second Herta Mom's embrace is so warm!
And Second Herta Mom is completely different from the Madam Herta who created me.
The Madam Herta who created me sent me—the little Herta who had been born for less than one system hour—straight to work in the Soul factory.
But Second Herta Mom hugs me to comfort me, pats my head, praises me for being cute, and says I possess the stunning beauty of the true Herta.
Second Herta Mom is amazing! —As for Madam Herta, little Herta is not familiar with her.
...
Inside the Simulated Laboratory, The Herta herself watched the Herta Puppet—little Herta—that she had created happily snuggling intimately with Herman. Her fists clenched tightly.
Damn it... I made that Herta Puppet!
Why is she so close to Herman?
If this continues, it feels like the Herta Puppet will also be stolen away by Herman—just like the Herta Magic Wand.
No. I must analyze why the Herta Puppet so easily developed affection for Herman.
The Herta began turning her mind and quickly arrived at the reason.
It must be because the Fourth Mirror just said that The Herta possesses two personalities—claiming she has dissociative identity disorder. That directly caused little Herta to regard Herman as a part of The Herta, or as another personality, and thus grow fond of him.
Should I explain to little Herta what Herman truly is?
No. Absolutely not.
The uniqueness of the Research System—Herman—must remain confidential. Once exposed... a cosmos-level war would erupt around him. Even a genius like me would not be able to protect him.
As Herta thought this, her heart grew heavier. Since she could not explain Herman's identity or the origin of his existence, the misunderstanding could only continue with little Herta and the Fourth Mirror.
She had to let the ones closest to her believe that Herman was a part of The Herta.
But if things went on like this, it truly felt as though little Herta and the Fourth Mirror would both be stolen away.
The more The Herta thought about it, the more depressed she became.