Star Rail Impostor! - 381 - 390

Star Rail Impostor! - 381

--+--

Regardless, Evernight was quite satisfied with March 7th’s story.

As for the suggestion from ‘Hysilens’—to go and poke Divine Herta for more details—Evernight felt that was a bit of a stretch. 

Given March 7th’s simple, bubbly nature, she probably looked like nothing more than a passing pink mosaic in Madam Herta’s eyes. She likely hadn’t left much of an impression at all.

Besides, she wasn't exactly on speaking terms with Divine Herta, so there was no point in asking for a cold shoulder. 

The information from ‘Hysilens’ was plenty; it was enough for Evernight to understand what kind of person March 7th was, and enough to help her reflect on her own future.

Setting her lingering thoughts aside, she and Demiurge were sent off to Penacony by ‘Hysilens’.

The moment the two girls landed, they were intercepted by Gopher Wood, who had clearly been waiting for them.

"I assume you two are Madam Demiurge and Madam Evernight."

Gopher Wood studied the two pink-haired girls—one in black, one in white; one radiating danger, the other gentleness. They matched the descriptions ‘Hysilens’ had given him perfectly.

Demiurge nodded with a smile, her manner polite and composed. "That’s us."

"A pleasure to meet you. I am Gopher Wood, the Dreammaster of Penacony. Madam Bai Ming entrusted me to deliver this to you both."

As he spoke, Gopher Wood reached into his robes and produced a glass mask, offering it to them. 

Though they didn't know its origin, the sheer, staggering power of Remembrance radiating from it told the two Pure Children that this was no ordinary object.

"Did Sister leave any other instructions?" Demiurge asked curiously as she reached out for the mask.

Gopher Wood’s heart skipped a beat. Sister? Were they truly that close to that lady?

"Madam Bai Ming didn't elaborate," he replied carefully. "She only said that once you both hold the mask together, you will know what to do."

The two exchanged puzzled glances. Demiurge passed the mask toward Evernight, who shrugged and placed her hand upon it as well.

The moment their fingers met on the surface—crack!

The mask split down the middle, dividing into top and bottom halves. 

Its power was severed in two, settling into a quiet slumber within the fragments. Simultaneously, a flood of complex information surged into their bodies in the form of Memoria.

It was a massive influx of data, but for Pure Children, it was manageable. Before long, they understood their task and the full scope of the current situation in Penacony.

Evernight flashed a grin at Demiurge. "No wonder she called us in to help. With this workload, one person would definitely drown. It’s a good thing she only knows the two of us; if she had any more friends, she’d probably have dragged them all in as forced labor."

Despite the teasing, Evernight wasn't actually complaining. 

The power within her half of the mask was staggering; she could feel that it wasn't just pure Remembrance. It had been amplified to an extreme degree using a massive amount of Elation.

Even if it wasn't "pure," power was power. If someone was willing to give it away, she was more than happy to take it.

Evernight slipped the lower half of the split mask onto her face, concealing everything from her nose down. 

"If we’d had this back when we were fighting the Garden of Recollection, things wouldn't have been nearly as... intense."

"Mm-hmm~ but isn't a thrilling adventure part of the fun? If everything was smooth sailing, life would lose its flavor, partner." Demiurge chuckled as she donned the upper half of the mask.

As for Gopher Wood...

He pretended he hadn't heard a word. He simply turned and walked away without saying a soul. Fighting the Garden of Recollection? Nope, he heard nothing.

Evernight watched his hasty retreat with a hint of amusement.

"Little Night," Demiurge said suddenly, "I’m going to go check on my two companions while I'm at it."

"Then hurry back. I’m heading out first." Without waiting, Evernight took a single step and vanished, sinking into the sea of the Memory Zone to begin her search.

--+--

Elsewhere.

After sending the two off, ‘Hysilens’ had intended to head back, but Herta’s voice suddenly patched through the comms.

"I didn't realize until now that you have women you know scattered all over the cosmos. And that Nihility border... if I recall correctly, Acheron is there too, isn't she? You two staying together?"

"..."

‘Hysilens’ quirked an eyebrow and replied with a smirk, "Is Madam Herta jealous?"

"Hmph. I can't be bothered with you," Herta huffed. She hadn't called to start an interrogation, so she let the subject drop. "What’s the situation with the Garden of Recollection?"

"Since when do you care about them?"

"I couldn't care less about helping the Memokeepers, but I am curious about the memories they’ve archived. If there’s a chance, I’d like to take a look inside."

Hearing Herta’s voice in her ear made ‘Hysilens’ wince. 

The audacity of this woman—forget just entering the Garden, she actually wanted to browse their collection like a library.

"You’ve certainly got guts... but I don't think you'll get the chance. Those two caused quite a scene there, and I don't know the specifics, but I'm sure the Garden is under heavy lockdown right now."

"Maybe, maybe not. Forget it, I’ll look into it myself later. You’re useless to me for the time being anyway."

"Hey, back to the personal attacks already?"

"Am I wrong? You’ve put the whole rescue mission on the back burner. Did you really think I’d expect you to help me with this?" Herta scoffed, giving ‘Hysilens’ no room to argue.

She knew her well enough. If saving that Nameless was being delayed, it only meant whatever ‘Hysilens’ was doing right now was more important to her. 

Her own little "raid" on the Garden was far less serious, so she obviously wasn't going to pull her out of her current business.

But Herta wasn't the type to force the issue. "I'm out."

"Wait, hold on."

"What?"

"Reach out your hand."

The request, coming through a mere communication link, left Herta—back at Herta Space Station—looking confused. But out of trust, she carelessly extended her left hand.

A wormhole suddenly spiraled open, and a transparent, crystal-like scale dropped into Herta’s palm. From the other side of the rift, a dense aura of Nihility drifted through.

The wormhole snapped shut. The scale dissolved instantly, leaving a sensation of warmth in Herta’s palm as a white scale mark appeared on her skin.

"What is this?"

"Insurance, in case you trip up in the Garden of Recollection."

"You think I’d fail?" Herta raised her voice playfully, as if looking for a fight.

‘Hysilens’ played along, metaphorically raising her hands in surrender. "I’m just worried you’ll get a rush of blood to the head for some memories. Divine Herta is quite the precedent, after all."

"Tsk, how sentimental. If you're worried about me, just say so. All this beating around the bush... did you think I’d get angry?" Herta clicked her tongue, though her mood had clearly brightened. 

She rubbed the warm mark in her palm, a small smile playing on her lips.

Truthfully, while Herta had the idea, she wasn't necessarily going to act on such a risky whim. She had plenty of bold ideas, but she didn't follow through on all of them. 

However, she was very satisfied with this reaction from ‘Hysilens’.

Now that she had this "life-saving charm," she actually felt a bit more tempted to give the Garden a try. 

Of course, that would require a long-term plan—at the very least, she’d need to squeeze some intel out of Demiurge first.

"Oh, one more thing. That pure white machine that showed up on Glamoth—that was your doing, wasn't it? The IPC has been pestering me about it."

"Pure white... oh, you mean the Unicorn Gundam? I modified that for Reveria. But what does the IPC have to do with it?"

"They think your modifications are stylish. They want to use it for 'creative works' or something. They’re also asking if the tech is for sale, if it can be mass-produced, and who the pilot is."

Herta sounded thoroughly annoyed, clearly hating that the IPC had come to her as a middleman. Despite the complaining, she relayed all the messages to ‘Hysilens’.

"I see. Thanks for passing that on. I’ll check in with AI Herta in a bit."

"Good. Bye." Herta cut the connection abruptly.

‘Hysilens’ then did a quick search for recent intel regarding Glamoth. She immediately found news of the Unicorn Gundam.

Right at the top was a high-definition close-up shot of the machine looking incredibly cool. 

The background was filled with the Swarm and the Iron Cavalry of Glamoth. Various video clips showcased the Unicorn’s absolute dominance on the battlefield.

She had no idea who the photographer was... how they managed to capture those shots in the middle of a war zone was a mystery.

Regardless, the sudden appearance of such a sleek and powerful humanoid machine had undoubtedly drawn the eyes of the universe. 

Some had even recognized the characteristics of the Swarm led by the Unicorn, linking them to the Swarm ‘Hysilens’ had commanded back on the Xianzhou battlefield.

Naturally, the dots were connected.

Some guessed the machine was an Intellitron—a lifeform sculpted by a god for amusement, now serving as her Emanator. 

Others believed ‘Hysilens’ herself was inside the cockpit, citing her history of traveling the cosmos and her previous stint designing a giant mecha for the Astral Express.

There were even theories that the machine was a specialized bug disguised as armor to deceive the people of Glamoth. And, of course, some wondered if ‘Hysilens’ was trying to replicate the Swarm Disaster, questioning why else she would send the Swarm out to expand.

Et cetera...

In reality, most people didn't care if the mecha was a bug or not. They were just wondering if the thing was for sale and if they could get one for themselves.

Consequently, among mecha enthusiasts and entertainment circles, the demand for Celestial Sparrow Entertainment to replicate the Unicorn or put it in a game reached a fever pitch.

Along with it, the rate at which ‘Hysilens’ gained Mood Points spiked quite a bit.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 382

--+--

Such a massive wave of popularity naturally didn't escape the opportunistic eyes of the Interastral Peace Corporation.

Setting aside the arms sector for a moment, the entertainment division was practically salivating at the prospect of churning out merchandise and fanworks for this pure white Unicorn Gundam. 

We're talking model kits of every scale, fan-made animations, comics, games—the works. 

The planners at IPC Entertainment were ready to bet their careers on it; if they could market this image, it would be an absolute goldmine.

Normally, the IPC’s style when encountering such a galaxy-renowned icon was simple: take it. 

They rarely bothered with copyright issues, or at the very least, they’d skirt the legal gray areas. Usually, whether through a courtroom or sheer corporate muscle, no one could stand against them.

But this time was different. This was something potentially designed by the hand of an Aeon. It might even be the work of a god's Emanator. 

To make matters stickier, this particular deity wasn't shy about intervening, was known to wander the cosmos, and stayed remarkably close to the mortal plane.

That kept the IPC on its best behavior. Others might fear the Corporation's reach, but a god seeking accountability wouldn't care about corporate hierarchy. 

If they decided to erase you with a single flick of a finger, the IPC wasn't going to step in to back you up.

Consequently, Madam Pearl, currently far off in Punklorde, tried to use Jade’s connections to get in touch with ‘Hysilens’ to talk business regarding the Unicorn. 

Unfortunately, ‘Hysilens’ had been hard to reach lately. The masks she left scattered about the galaxy weren't programmed to entertain calls from outsiders.

This forced Pearl to take a detour through Madam Herta, which was the only way the message finally landed in ‘Hysilens’ hands.

It was a wasted effort, though. ‘Hysilens’ had only whipped up the Unicorn Gundam for Reveria because the girl had asked for it. So, despite hearing about the incredibly generous terms Pearl was offering via AI Herta, ‘Hysilens’ wasn't interested. 

For one, she didn't have the spare time, and for another, the Unicorn was Reveria's unit now. She wasn't about to go over Reveria's head to cut a deal.

Putting the matter aside, she had AI Herta send a polite refusal to Pearl and withdrew her consciousness from the puppet. 

Returning to the borders of IX, ‘Hysilens’ went back to her study of the Nihility Equation.

As she delved back into her research, ‘Hysilens’ was pleasantly surprised to find that her resistance to the interference of Nihility had improved significantly since her last session.

However, the System detected this phenomenon almost immediately. 

Out of "respect" for its host—and to ensure ‘Hysilens’ could perceive and study Nihility even faster—the System dialed back its protection. It recalibrated the barrier to the absolute limit of what she could endure without breaking.

The smile ‘Hysilens’ had just started to form vanished instantly. She couldn't even complain about the System’s dynamic adjustments; after all, it was only following her own will to master Nihility. 

If she didn't want to study it, the protection would have remained rock-solid.

"...Look on the bright side," she muttered to herself, feeling the crushing weight of Nihility once more. "At least every adjustment makes the research more efficient."

Nearby, Acheron watched with growing astonishment. She could feel that the person beside her was grasping the essence of Nihility even faster than before.

It actually gave Acheron a bit of a fright. 

Usually, any Pathstrider tainted by Nihility spends their life struggling against it, desperately searching for a reason to exist. If you actually surrender to it, you’re assimilated and gone.

‘Hysilens’ was the anomaly. 

She was the only one truly trying to deconstruct the nature of Nihility and find meaning within the void. Every time they talked about the Path, Acheron felt her heart skip a beat. 

With every exchange, ‘Hysilens’ understanding deepened, but lately, the speed of that progress had become terrifying.

Acheron was genuinely worried that ‘Hysilens’ wasn't analyzing Nihility so much as being consumed by it without realizing. 

If ‘Hysilens’ hadn't promised she was fine—and if Acheron hadn't checked her over several times without finding a single crack in her psyche—there's no telling what the self-annihilator might have done.

While ‘Hysilens’ appreciated the concern, having Acheron jump at every little shadow was getting a bit tedious. 

She decided Acheron needed a distraction—something to do other than staring at her every waking second.

"Let’s run an experiment, Acheron."

"...?"

Acheron stared at ‘Hysilens’, her expression a mix of confusion and mild suspicion, as if bracing herself for some truly outlandish suggestion.

"I told you before, didn't I? The point of me studying Nihility is to pull you out of this mire."

"I remember. So, what do you intend to do?"

"I want to establish a set of rules right here that can take over your job of guiding the Sin-Thirsters," ‘Hysilens’ proposed.

She was thinking of something similar to the rules Razalina established in Penacony using her own life. 

She wanted to try building an automated system at the edge of Nihility to guide those lost souls.

"You want to imitate Razalina and build a Law here? But this is the domain of Nihility; the Void is the only truth here. You’ve only just begun your research—isn't it too early?"

Acheron had a sort of blind faith in ‘Hysilens’, believing she could eventually achieve this dream. But doing it now? ‘Hysilens’ had only been studying the Path of Nihility for about half a month. 

Even with her genius, she had surely only scratched the surface. Could she really produce something functional this soon?

"I know it's early, and my understanding isn't complete. But I'm not trying to finalize the Law yet; I'm just looking for the right method," ‘Hysilens’ explained. 

Even if it was partly a distraction for Acheron, she wasn't just shouting nonsense.

"For example, we could go the Razalina route and use the power of Nihility itself to anchor a Law. Or, like the dream world I fashioned for you, we could create a dream realm for the Sin Thirsters and simply use the pull of Nihility to guide them inside."

Acheron thought of her own world of Izumo. It was indeed a peaceful dream. 

If the Sin Thirsters could enter such a place to resolve their regrets or come to terms with their passing, it would be a mercy. 

Compared to trying to build a rigid system out of pure Nihility concepts, the dream world felt more tangible—and much kinder.

"The latter is more feasible," Acheron noted. "But how will you maintain its existence here? Will you have to manually replenish its energy forever?"

That was the crux of the problem. Nihility was infectious. Even the world Acheron carried was constantly being eroded. It only held up because ‘Hysilens’ had packed it with a massive amount of power. 

If she wanted to build a permanent, wide-scale world, the energy required to fight off the erosion of the Void would be astronomical. Could she really shoulder that burden?

"We'll give it a shot. If it doesn't work, we'll pivot," ‘Hysilens’ said, unconcerned.

Building a world to house lost souls would meet resistance from Nihility, but it wasn't like she was going toe-to-toe with the Aeon itself. She was just dealing with the lingering aftershocks at the boundary. 

For someone who held the Paths of Elation and Propagation, energy consumption was the least of her worries.

"I'll put together a prototype. Once it's ready, I’ll need you to find a Sin Thirster to help us test it."

With that, ‘Hysilens’ began her work. First, she needed to construct a world capable of containing those drifting souls. 

However, considering that Sin Thirsters were a motley crew of Pathstriders—many of whom were, frankly, a bit unhinged—a simple, normal world wouldn't survive their presence for long.

Given that different Pathstriders had wildly different philosophies, ‘Hysilens’ decided to use the core concepts of the various Paths as a foundation, creating sub-worlds within the dream that corresponded to each one.

Of course, she couldn't perfect the details beforehand. Every soul’s obsession was unique. 

The best she could do was categorize them by Path and then let the dream world adapt to the individual's lingering regrets to dissolve their fixation.

That was the tricky part. These souls were born from the shadows of Nihility, meaning they were usually in a state of semi-consciousness. 

Once they entered the world, she had to find a way to suppress the influence of the Void enough for them to regained their lucidity.

‘Hysilens’ figured she could delegate this task to NPCs within the sub-worlds. 

Since the souls themselves weren't exactly thinking straight, they couldn't build a functioning society on their own. But figuring out how to make NPCs subtly ground these souls was a project in itself.

It would require a master's understanding of Nihility. 

Otherwise, "suppressing" the Void would be no different from violently snuffling the souls out entirely.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 383

--+--

'Hysilens' didn't exactly stop her work.

Instead, she pulled Acheron into a series of experiments aimed at the power of IX.

"I’m going to see if I can use the power of Elation to suppress the influence of Nihility without harming the Sin Thirsters. Acheron, help me out here."

When it came to fabricating NPCs for the first time, 'Hysilens' chose Elation, the Path she was most comfortable with.

Even though she disliked Aha as much as ever, she had to admit that the Path abilities granted by the concept of Elation were incredibly convenient in almost every sense.

However, her understanding of Nihility wasn't deep enough, so she had to rely on Acheron’s explanations to guide her.

The research didn't go all that smoothly, but 'Hysilens' wasn't in a rush to finish it instantly.

Naturally, while conducting these experiments, they would pass the time with idle chatter.

For instance...

At one point, 'Hysilens' suddenly remembered someone.

"Speaking of those who study Nihility, Polka Kakamond comes to mind."

"Kakamond? That rather unfriendly genius? But isn't she busy hunting down other geniuses? Why would she study Nihility?"

Acheron wasn't well-acquainted with Kakamond, but since she stood on the side of 'Hysilens', she naturally held a distaste for Kakamond’s past actions.

"I’m not entirely sure of the specifics, but it’s likely because of the Theory of Four Apocalypses; she chose Nihility. Much like how Zandar chose Destruction."

'Hysilens' didn't have a particularly high opinion of Polka Kakamond either.

In her eyes, at least Zandar was focused on his own research projects. Polka, on the other hand, spent every day obsessing over other geniuses, terrified they might do something to disrupt the Erudition. She was a total meddler.

Yet, from another perspective, this same woman had established Device IX in an attempt to resist Nihility.

It was as if she wanted to draw a circle around the world, refusing to let anything outside in, while forbidding anything inside from leaving.

But was that even reasonable?

Even the Permanence had practiced the truth through death—that change is the only eternal constant. Polka’s attempt to frame the entire universe was a bit too idealistic.

Making an enemy of the whole world is never a wise choice.

But whatever. She wasn't close to Polka and had no interest in overanalyzing the woman's motives.

Whether Device IX was meant to isolate Nihility or even keep watch over the Quantum Sea didn't really matter.

After all, 'Hysilens' never possessed that brand of "farsightedness" typical of geniuses. Compared to the work of probing the boundaries of the world, she cared far more about the person right in front of her.

Besides, she held the Nihility Equation in her hands. When it came to the study of Nihility, she would eventually surpass Polka Kakamond.

And what she wanted to achieve here had nothing to do with Polka.

It had nothing to do with the end of Nihility, either.

Because the Sin Thirsters were at the horizon of Nihility; there was no need to venture deep into that place at all.

After a period of research, 'Hysilens' made a breakthrough in her study of Nihility.

She finally completed the first version of the "Release Program."

To verify the program, Acheron found a Sin Thirster and, out of trust, brought the spirit with her into the world 'Hysilens' had constructed.

As the outsider entered, the originally blurred world began to crystallize, centering on the spot where the Sin Thirster had descended.

Specks of light transformed into men, women, the young, and the old, falling around the Sin Thirster and taking on various identities.

The location where the Sin Thirster landed—the starting point of this world—was a school.

With a deathly pale face and a vacant, hollow expression, the Sin Thirster appeared in a classroom, dressed in a uniform.

He could neither comprehend the situation nor his own self.

The power of Nihility still clung to him, leaving him in a daze.

Of course, this was only temporary.

The students and teachers of the school—all sorts of people—interacted with him, shared with him, and built relationships.

In response, the Nihility swirling around the Sin Thirster acted like partitioned stagnant water, slowly drained away bit by bit by the crowd.

Consequently, the sluggish Sin Thirster gradually regained a flicker of consciousness.

He still didn't know who he was or where he came from, but he had at least recovered a modicum of self-awareness.

Seeing everything steadily moving onto the right track, Acheron, knowing she was out of place in this evolving world, chose to leave.

The moment she stepped out, she was met with 'Hysilens'’ smile.

"It looks like it’s going well. My design uses the equation as I understand it to curb the expansion of Nihility, uses the power of Elation to isolate the interior from the exterior, and then distributes the burden of Nihility to let the spirit gradually wake up."

"Yes, it’s going smoothly. It’s just... are you sure this won't be too much of a mental burden for you?"

Acheron looked at 'Hysilens' with concern.

After all, whether it was suppressing Nihility, sharing its weight, or maintaining the world’s operation, these were all acts of defiance against Nihility. 

It required a constant, steady supply of power from 'Hysilens'.

"Don't worry, it’s fine. Rather than that, let’s focus on the subsequent development of the Sin Thirster. We can’t have him getting stuck on a level."

"Fair enough."

Acheron gave a small sigh. She felt she was becoming a bit of a nag.

Perhaps it was just a case of "concern leads to confusion."

While the two were chatting outside, inside the small world, the Sin Thirster was slowly integrating into that peaceful life.

Then, bit by bit, he began to remember his own existence and his lingering obsessions.

Time inside and outside the world was not synchronized.

Only a moment passed in the outside world, but nearly a month had gone by within the small world.

This Sin Thirster slowly recalled his past, realizing his own death and his regrets.

Finally, in that school, he reached his graduation ceremony.

The entire process went relatively well.

The only issue was that as the Sin Thirster gradually remembered who he was, he would begin to feel doubt toward this comfortable world.

While this experimental subject hadn't shown any destructive urges, it didn't mean others wouldn't.

A solution to optimize that part of the content would have to be found.

At the same time...

The overall framework was complete; the general direction of guiding the Sin Thirster toward letting go was correct.

The next step was to establish a rule that could automatically guide them.

As for that... there was no way to substitute it with other Paths. One could only start from the aspect of Nihility.

It wasn't for any other reason than the fact that it required high-frequency, wide-range searching in this godforsaken place.

Relying on the power of other Paths to achieve this would cause the energy consumption to skyrocket.

But if it were implemented with the power of Nihility, the consumption would be much, much lower.

It would also save a lot of trouble.

However, this could only be figured out slowly over time. After all, the speed at which she could decode the Nihility Equation was quite limited.

After explaining the upcoming plans and solutions to Acheron, 'Hysilens' returned to the work of perceiving the Nihility Equation.

And Acheron, just as 'Hysilens' had expected, was full of interest in that world designed for the release of Sin Thirsters.

After asking 'Hysilens' for a mask that could precisely regulate that world, she spontaneously began to stuff every Sin Thirster she could find into it.

Moreover, by observing the reactions of these different spirits within the world, she gradually performed targeted optimizations and programming.

She looked like a programmer grinding away at code; it was actually quite interesting.

In this way...

Acheron was no longer like before, having nothing to do all day but stare at 'Hysilens'.

However, 'Hysilens', who had just secured a good research environment, realized she had reached her limit once again.

Compared to last time, both the duration of her persistence and the results of her research were significantly greater.

The harvest was certainly quite good.

Furthermore, there were less than ten days left before the Hysilens character card expired.

She had wanted to push through and use up all the remaining time before resting, but since she had made a promise to Acheron, it wouldn't be right to break it.

So, after giving Acheron a heads-up, 'Hysilens' left the horizon of Nihility once more.

As for Acheron... she was still enthusiastic about building that world, and by the looks of it, she would likely be lost in it for quite some time.

After leaving the horizon of Nihility, 'Hysilens' naturally went back to Penacony.

And there, she found a surprise.

"You’ve already found it?!"

'Hysilens' looked at Demiurge and Evernight with utter shock.

It had only been a few days. How had they found it so quickly?

Demiurge nodded with a grin.

"I guess a beautiful girl’s luck is just that good. It was practically handed to us~"

Standing nearby, Evernight handed over an object that looked like a crystal.

"This is the consciousness of that Nameless. She and I protected it carefully; it really is a bit too fragile."

Inside this memory crystal, which looked like Six-Phased Ice, were the memories of Razalina and that precious consciousness.

It was clear that before she arrived, Evernight and Demiurge must have been trying to nourish this fragile existence.

"But how do you plan to resurrect her? If you take her out to resurrect her directly, that Law itself will collapse."

Evernight looked at 'Hysilens', unsure of her plan.

The two of them had found the target but remained in Penacony because if they took Razalina away, the Rule of Penacony—built upon a life—would crumble along with her.

Neither of them had the ability to rebuild it.

"Leave that problem to me. By mimicking the current Law, I can completely construct a new one. It’s just that Penacony’s Synesthesia Dreamscape might be a bit turbulent because of it. I’ll need Gopher Wood to help out."

Since the consciousness had been found, stripping Razalina from the Law and then rebuilding it was a task that held no difficulty for 'Hysilens'.

The only thing to watch out for was the transition between the old and new Rules.

Because the Rule directly blanketed the entire Synesthesia Dreamscape, changing it would inevitably cause the dreamscape to fluctuate.

It certainly wouldn't destroy the dreamscape.

But it might lead to some chaotic situations, like people dreaming themselves into strange places.

Preventing those incidents would have to be left to The Family.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 384

--+--

After Gopher Wood received word from ‘Hysilens’ regarding the upcoming events, he wasted no time in taking action.

Once he had double and triple-checked that the Synesthesia Dream and those within it would remain unharmed, Gopher Wood had the Family issue a maintenance notice for the Dreampool. 

Those already in the dream were advised not to leave for the time being, while those outside were told to hold off on entering. All that mattered was ensuring the passage itself was clear.

Strictly speaking, even if some poor soul wandered into the tunnel while ‘Hysilens’ was working, she could have fished them back out. Still, there was no sense in adding to her own workload.

After waiting about one or two system hours—long enough for Gopher Wood to confirm the notice had been delivered and the coast was clear—‘Hysilens’ began her operation.

The powers of Remembrance and Elation began to churn within the Memory Zone. 

Using Razalina’s existence as a beacon, ‘Hysilens’ layered her own power over it, nesting a brand-new set of rules directly atop the old ones.

The core of the rules remained unchanged: those entering the dream would be guided by their heart’s desires to their respective sweet dreams. 

However, this specific layer was manifested through the power of Elation. 

As for the foundation, it remained Remembrance; it was only through Elation that she could perfectly mimic the rule and keep it stable.

This part was relatively simple—just a matter of copying what was already there. It was essentially effortless.

The real trouble lay in extracting Razalina’s existence from the dream. 

Since her consciousness was already protected and ‘Hysilens’ had already salvaged many of her memories, she didn't need to be overly delicate about the integrity of the extraction. 

Even if a few pieces went missing, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

The catch, however, was that the dismantling process had to be done without disturbing the Synesthesia Dream itself. 

The dream was currently packed with Dreamchasers; if it started to destabilize, the fallout would be a nightmare to manage.

‘Hysilens’ threw herself into the task, slowly peeling away the parts belonging to Razalina and piling them to the side. 

Since the heavy lifting earlier had been handled by Demiurge and Evernight, she hadn't intended to use them as manual labor this time. 

Yet, without being asked, the two donned their masks and joined in on the final stretch.

Beyond the three of them, two others in Penacony had sensed the shift and desperately wanted to help: Mikhail and Tiernan, who had long since become Memokeepers.

But while they were buzzing with excitement and passion, their capabilities as Memokeepers lagged far behind the three Pure Children. 

They tried to pitch in, but the moment they attempted to grasp the task, they realized the sheer scale of the workload was beyond anything a mortal could handle.

In the end, Evernight picked the two old men up with a look of pure annoyance and tossed them out of the way so they wouldn't be a nuisance.

Thrown unceremoniously to the side, Mikhail and Tiernan looked at each other, both seeing the same helplessness in the other's eyes.

"Sigh... I didn't think we'd be such a burden," Tiernan said, shaking his head with a heavy sigh. "All those years ago, we were the ones charging ahead. Now that we've reached retirement age, we're being treated like excess baggage."

Unlike Tiernan, Mikhail took it in stride. He was well-acquainted with failure. The old man had known for a long time that his abilities were limited and that there were plenty of things he simply couldn't do.

"Look on the bright side. With a spectacle this big, Razalina might actually come back. Compared to seeing a comrade return, what’s a little lost face? I’ve lost mine so many times I've lost count, hahaha!"

"..."

Seeing the man laugh so shamelessly, Tiernan’s face was the picture of disgust.

"Can't you have a little pride? With that attitude, once Razalina is back, she and I are going to the Astral Express to help the juniors. You can stay here and grow mushrooms by yourself."

Mikhail remained thick-skinned. Faced with his old friend's sarcasm, he didn't even blink.

"Oh, please. The Express isn't hurting for brawn right now. I think you're the one who should stay here while Razalina and I go be the 'specialized talent'."

The two bickered for a good while until Gopher Wood approached, finally prompting the old men to settle down and hold their tongues.

"Gentlemen, how is the situation?"

"Everything is going smoothly. Madam Bai Ming is truly incredible. To me, she saved my life; I'm almost tempted to start worshiping this young deity," Mikhail replied, nodding to Gopher Wood with a smile.

In his eyes, ‘Hysilens’ had saved him multiple times. 

Without her intervention, he and Tiernan would likely have died in some forgotten corner of the cosmos, never to see each other again—and certainly never knowing that the missing Razalina could still be saved.

On the other side, the extraction work progressed steadily. 

With Demiurge and the others joining in, the efficiency spiked. They managed to wrap up the most troublesome part of the job just before ‘Hysilens’ hit her limit.

The Synesthesia Dream did suffer some minor glitches due to their interference. 

Some people found themselves in the Golden Hour one moment and whisked away to the Blue Hour the next. Buildings that only existed in the Dusk Hour suddenly popped up in the Gilded Hour.

These glitches weren't dangerous, just entirely random and unpredictable. 

Combined with the temporary closure of the Dreampool, some guests even feared that something catastrophic had happened to Penacony. 

Fortunately, thanks to the prestige the Family had built up over the years and the fact that the pools reopened quickly, no major riots broke out.

For ‘Hysilens’, all the preparations were complete. 

Razalina’s consciousness was in her hands, and her scattered memories and presence had been recovered—not perfectly, but she had about seventy or eighty percent of the pieces.

The final step—the resurrection—which might have been impossible for anyone else, was actually the easiest for ‘Hysilens’.

She only needed to call upon the power of Propagation, tempered with a touch of Abundance, and use the power of Remembrance to smooth out Razalina’s existence. 

After all, Razalina had been symbiotic with this Memory Zone for countless years. Her very essence had shifted from human toward that of a Memory Zone creature. 

Her consciousness, along with her years of unconsciously maintaining the rules, had caused her self-perception to drift during her long slumber.

Considering the gaps in the gathered memories, ‘Hysilens’ decided, after much deliberation, to revive her in a form closer to a Memokeeper. 

However, because the process involved the powers of Propagation and Abundance, Razalina wouldn't be a typical Memokeeper—she wouldn't exist as a mere Memetic Being. 

If anything, she would be closer to a special case like the Pure Children, though certainly not quite on their level.

As the powers of Propagation and Abundance strengthened Razalina’s consciousness, and Remembrance filled in the blanks of her self-identity, the three forces worked together. 

As her self-awareness gradually flickered to life, her own cognition automatically reconstructed the body of a short-haired girl with glasses.

The newly resurrected Razalina remained in a deep sleep. A new body and a jumble of memories required time to settle. 

This was the first time ‘Hysilens’ had revived someone this way; to be honest, even she couldn't guarantee that the girl wouldn't wake up with some cognitive dissonance.

After all, before this, Madam Razalina had spent an eternity serving as the literal passage for the Synesthesia Dream. 

It was hard to say how she would perceive that agonizingly long stretch of time once her consciousness fully returned. But even if there were issues, she would have to overcome them herself. 

‘Hysilens’ couldn't help with that—otherwise, she would be controlling Razalina rather than reviving her.

When the sleeping Razalina was handed over to Mikhail and Tiernan, the two old men burst into tears on the spot, sobbing uncontrollably. 

Kamu ended up grabbing them both by the collars and dragging them back to Dreamflux Reef to keep them from disturbing anyone else.

As a result, the two didn't even get a chance to say thank you to the trio in person. 

It wasn't until Kamu returned to apologize that she relayed their gratitude.

Having settled the Nameless' issue more smoothly than expected, ‘Hysilens’ turned her gaze toward Evernight, who was currently fiddling with the glazed mask. 

‘Hysilens’ had no intention of taking back the mask—which had been split in two—and instead gave it to the two as payment for their help. A little bit of power meant nothing to her.

‘Hysilens’, however, spoke up.

"...Do you really intend to sever your ego and live a whole new life from scratch?"

‘Hysilens’ didn't quite understand the reasoning behind Evernight's choice. 

To discard one's memories, one's past, and even one's self, leaving behind only the purest empty shell to start over... how was that different from suicide?

It meant that even if two personalities shared one body in the future, the old personality—Evernight—would remain in a long-term slumber. 

In the original story, Evernight had only resurfaced because of the events at Amphoreus. 

Now that Amphoreus was already dealt with, would the new March 7th ever truly have the chance to wake the past?

"Of course. I’m not like you. You’re young; you have so much left to try. But I... I’m truly tired."

For a rare moment, a trace of exhaustion leaked into Evernight’s eyes. She looked at ‘Hysilens’.

"If only the 'me' of the past had met you... perhaps my life wouldn't have been so wretched. Retreating to the background and watching a brand-new version of myself walk toward a new life—to me, that is a release."

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 385

--+--

Evernight looked as though she had finally made up her mind.

Noticing the worried gazes of 'Hysilens' and Demiurge, she offered a gentle smile.

"Besides, don't I have you to back me up, Bai Ming? If I get tired of sleeping or bored of watching, and I want to come out and move around again, you'll pull me out of this shell, won't you?"

"...You’ve got it all calculated because you know I’m your safety net, don't you?"

'Hysilens' rolled her eyes at Evernight, though her tone lacked any real bite.

With that, the heavy atmosphere finally began to lift.

While Evernight likely wouldn't choose that path, it was just as she said—it wasn't as if she could never wake up, and there was someone there to help her. There was no need for such deep sorrow.

Demiurge was actually doing quite well.

After all, her relationship with Cyrene was somewhat like twin lotuses born from the same stalk, only to be separated by 'Hysilens'’ own hands. She was, one might say, quite experienced in such matters.

"Little Night, when do you plan to go into hibernation? Where do you want her to go afterward? Is it still the Astral Express?"

"Not yet, at least not right now. I want to observe the situation on the Astral Express a bit more before making a choice."

The Astral Express and the spirit of Trailblaze it represented were the true reasons Evernight wanted to choose them. 

Only there could she see what kind of answer to life her pure, untainted self would eventually find as the train journeyed on.

"Hmm..."

Hearing Evernight's decision, Demiurge pursed her lips and fell into thought.

"I wonder if I should go to the Astral Express too? Little Cerydra went, Hysilens went, and now even Little Night is going."

"..."

Hearing Demiurge's words, the corner of 'Hysilens' mouth twitched slightly.

If you join in, the lineup of the Astral Express is going to become truly extravagant. 

One Pure Child plus one powerhouse Drytron unit? Coupled with the high mobility of the Express as a transport... Talk about an epic-tier buff for the Astral Express crew.

Evernight, however, shook her head.

"If you can face my other self without showing any cracks, then I don't mind."

"Ugh... that seems like it might be a bit difficult. Just from hearing March 7th's stories, I already think she’s such a lovely child."

Demiurge wore a troubled expression. If she had to interact with March 7th long-term, she might not be able to play her part well. She felt like the type of person who might accidentally let something slip during a close, cuddly moment.

"Then I’d prefer you didn't board the train."

"Aww~ Is Little Night going to abandon me~?"

Demiurge blinked playfully at Evernight. They had traveled together for a while now, and their relationship had become quite harmonious. At least, Demiurge thought so. 

If they had to part ways and couldn't communicate much in the future, she would certainly be sad.

A look of faint disgust crossed Evernight's face; she clearly didn't know how to handle a woman with this kind of personality.

"It’s your own fault if you can’t keep your mouth shut. What does that have to do with me?"

"My, you really don't pull any punches, do you?"

Faced with a grinning Demiurge, Evernight chose to ignore her. Otherwise, continuing the conversation would only egg her on further.

'Hysilens' looked at the smiling Demiurge and suddenly asked, "Where do you plan to go next?"

"Hmm, I don’t really have a clear destination anymore. How about I go to the Astral Express for a bit of field research?"

Demiurge looked at Evernight expectantly, but unfortunately, Evernight chose to decline.

"I’m not going. If you want to go, it's whatever to me."

"Ehh~"

Demiurge puffed out her cheeks, clearly dissatisfied with Evernight's answer.

'Hysilens' watched from the sidelines for a while but didn't intervene further. Ultimately, Demiurge gave up on her plan to go play on the Astral Express. 

Instead, taking advantage of the fact that Evernight hadn't fallen into her long slumber yet, she continued to pester her to go travel around the universe together.

'Hysilens' saw the two of them off. Then, she slipped away to where the Astral Express crew was staying.

Actually, Himeko had originally intended to leave, but she had heard about the third Nameless senior from Demiurge, so she stayed behind. 'Hysilens' greeted Himeko and Dan Heng, then found Hysilens and Cerydra.

Compared to the restrained distance between them last time, she could clearly feel that the gap between these two had shrunk significantly after not seeing them for a while. Even the way they stood was now close together, side-by-side.

"Yo~ looks like you two have had a rather deep exchange since last time~"

'Hysilens' raised a hand and waved at them.

Hysilens’ face turned red on the spot. She likely remembered all those exposed inner thoughts the moment she saw her.

Cerydra, on the other hand, was much calmer. She smiled and gave 'Hysilens' a slight bow.

"Thank you for your help last time. It gave Hysilens and me the chance to exchange many thoughts and clear up many misunderstandings."

Beside her, Hysilens followed suit and bowed in gratitude, though she was still a bit shy.

It should have been a good thing, as the atmosphere between the two had clearly become quite romantic. But...

As expected, she was too late. After the delay of these past few days, Hysilens had likely mostly adapted. It wouldn't be as easy to farm emotion points from her as before.

Thus, 'Hysilens' lowered her eyebrows and put on a look of disappointment.

"So I’m late? I won't get to see Madam Hysilens go into 'steam engine mode' anymore? If I’d known, I would have stayed longer last time."

"Your Excellency..."

Hysilens blushed, glaring over with a mix of shyness and resentment. She really wanted to complain about the other’s "wicked personality," but due to their status, she could only settle for glaring through her glasses.

Cerydra, however, glanced at Hysilens' expression and laughed. She even rubbed her chin, nodding with great interest.

"Hmm... thinking about it that way, I really did miss out on an interesting scene. I’ve never seen the Knight Commander get so embarrassed that her head starts smoking."

"Imperator?!"

Perhaps because she never imagined Cerydra would side with the other person, Hysilens looked at her in disbelief. Her pupils shook, her eyes filled with the shock of "betrayal," and even her voice went slightly out of tune. It was clear that this joke had shaken her quite a bit.

Then, 'Hysilens' saw the emotion points on her panel jump up by a significant margin.

Ho, so she can still be teased like this?

A smile surfaced on 'Hysilens’' face. That being said, she couldn't take the topic into territory that was too private; after all, those two were the ones in a close relationship, and she wasn't part of it. 

So, after teasing them a bit more and knowing when to stop, 'Hysilens' bid them farewell and left.

She had originally intended to leave Penacony directly, but to her surprise, she was "arrested" on the spot by little Robin the moment she came out.

Looking at little Robin, who had appeared out of nowhere to hug her leg while shouting things like "Caught you, Big Sister Bai Ming!", 'Hysilens' wore a helpless smile and reached out to pat the girl's head.

"How did little Robin find me?"

"Hehe~ I can feel other people's frequencies now! Sister is so obvious, of course I could find you."

Seeing Robin's "praise me" expression, 'Hysilens' raised an eyebrow, looking slightly surprised. 

This little girl hadn't been with the Family for very long, had she?

While the process probably wasn't as easy as she made it sound, and she might not have relied purely on Tuning to find her, the fact that the girl could find her at all was quite impressive. And the way the girl was acting made 'Hysilens' feel a pang of guilt.

Dammit, little Robin is so cute and was looking forward to playing with me so much, yet I came here thinking only of avoiding her. I'm terrible!

"How impressive. I didn't expect to be caught by little Robin if I wasn't careful."

'Hysilens' smiled and squatted down so her eyes were level with Robin's.

"Hehe~ no matter what Sister turns into, I'll always find you in the future! So it's useless to hide on purpose."

Robin’s little expression—somewhere between being huffy and being proud—was adorable. Faced with such a well-behaved and cute girl, 'Hysilens' had no resistance.

"Alright, alright~ whenever I come to Penacony in the future, I'll come find you first thing, okay?"

"Yay~!"

Robin's happiness was just that simple. She could be coaxed into joy with just a few words, and her previous little pout vanished instantly.

"I really love the songs Sister gave me, but so far, I've only mastered one. Does Sister want to hear it?"

"Sure, but let's go to where you usually practice."

"Mhm!"

'Hysilens' smiled and stood up, taking little Robin's hand as the girl pulled her toward the Dewlight Pavilion. 

Along the way, she waved at Gopher Wood, who was hiding in the distance with a helpless and apologetic look, signaling for him not to worry.

As a Dreammaster and an elder, Gopher Wood was actually quite qualified in many respects. 

Even if he later went mad trying to "Order" everything, he put his heart and soul into raising the twins, Robin and Sunday. 

Now, Gopher Wood wasn't as crazy as in the original story; he treated the two children more like a grandfather raising his grandchildren, appearing like a kind old man who loved his juniors.

'Hysilens' could see the affectionate look in Gopher Wood's eyes. Clearly, the twins satisfied him in every way.

Watching Gopher Wood turn and leave, while little Robin hadn't even noticed his gaze, 'Hysilens' couldn't help but chuckle. 

She wasn't sure if Robin simply hadn't noticed he was there, or if she was just too happy that she ignored him.

Because she had been "arrested" by little Robin, and to make up for sneaking away last time, 'Hysilens' spent half the day playing with her.

Along the way, she got to hear Robin's private mini-concert. 

Although Robin had actually learned to sing all six songs she had been given, only one was truly polished. Little Robin held herself to high standards, which was why she said she had only "mastered" one.

She played with the girl for half the day. It wasn't until evening, after she had personally coaxed Robin to sleep, that 'Hysilens' finally said goodbye to the girl's family and left Penacony.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 386

--+--

Once back at the boundaries of Nihility, ‘Hysilens’ lingered until the very last moment of the character card’s duration.

--+--

[Roleplay System]

[Name: Bai Ming]

[Lifespan: ∞]

[Transformable Characters: Big Herta, Acheron, Celenova, Jingliu, Ruan Mei, Sparkle, Hertatomb, Destruction Jingliu, Young Herta, Robin, Artoria, Cipher, Georios, Cyrene Fuli (Charge: 27.1%), General Qingque of the Yuque (Charge: 82.4%), Huohuo (Charge: 78.5%), Silver Wolf (Charge: 46.9%), Hysilens (Charge: 0.0%)]

[Available Draws: 6 (51.2%)]

--+--

[Reward Settlement: A performance of "Unfinished Greatness," yet it resolved Hysilens' inner knot.]

[Rewards: Hysilens' singing voice and a natural talent for the Path of Nihility. Bonus Reward: Deepened understanding of Nihility.]

--+--

The roleplay ended automatically as the card expired. In an instant, Bai Ming reverted to her original form, drawing Acheron’s gaze. 

Bai Ming, however, could only look at the reward settlement with a helpless smile.

She couldn't say she had done nothing during this performance, but it was certainly only half-finished. 

The main obstacle had been her level of comprehension regarding the Nihility Equation. Because of that, she hadn't been able to establish the rules to automatically collect Sin Thirsters and funnel them into the world of transcendence. 

Up until now, every single Sin Thirster seeking closure in that world had been personally escorted in by Acheron.

That was why the system judged it as "Unfinished Greatness." 

One could only say it was lucky Bai Ming had gone off to tease Hysilens and Cerydra. 

Resolving the misunderstanding between those two had altered their destinies, padding the rewards a bit; otherwise, she likely wouldn't have received that talent for Nihility.

As the rewards settled, a massive influx of knowledge flooded her mind. 

It was all content pertaining to the Nihility Equation—concepts she previously struggled to grasp were now being understood at lightning speed. 

Her mastery and analytical depth over Nihility began to skyrocket.

With this sudden windfall of insight, the logistical nightmare of guiding the Sin Thirsters—which had been giving Bai Ming a massive headache—suddenly clicked. The solution was clear.

Pushing the status panel and the "gacha accident" aside for a moment, Bai Ming turned to meet Acheron’s eyes and smiled.

"I’ve got an idea. After this, you shouldn't have to personally carry the Sin Thirsters inside every time."

"Oh...?"

Acheron was about to ask how she’d suddenly come up with a solution, but considering it might be a stroke of genius from a "genius," she didn't want to interrupt Bai Ming's train of thought.

Bai Ming didn't mind. 

Instead, she took Acheron by the arm, pulling her close. Pressing against her, Bai Ming chirped, "Look, we build the entire system like this..."

As she spoke, her hands began to move. 

The power of Nihility, driven by the Equation, became a force she could wield at will. And because of the system panel's protection, this concentrated power couldn't erode her in the slightest.

Acheron watched, stunned, as that terrifying Nihility energy was kneaded and molded like clay in Bai Ming's hands. 

That uncontrollable force became exceptionally docile under her touch. 

Then, a staggeringly complex set of rules—rooted in Nihility—expanded outward in every direction like a massive, man-made web.

The reach of these rules was vast, stretching out to the very edges of Nihility and inward almost to the position of the Aeon of Nihility itself. Going any further was unnecessary. 

Generally speaking, aside from the Aeons, there were very few beings in the universe who could enter IX's body and come out alive. 

It was even more impossible for a Sin Thirster to exist there. There was no need to risk contact with the Aeon of Nihility itself.

Still...

From a vast distance, Bai Ming gazed at the perpetually motionless Aeon of Nihility. 

In reality, IX didn't look like a giant blob as depicted in the games. 

From Bai Ming's perspective, all she could see was a colossal shadow—a void where nothing existed except Nihility. 

It was pure nothingness. 

Rather than "seeing" it, it was more that because she could "perceive" nothing, it manifested as a pitch-black hole.

Just looking at it made Bai Ming feel the terrifying implication of Nihility: a total opposition to all existence. It was as if the concept of "Nothing" was simply the flip side of the world’s coin.

Yet, beyond this pure void, because it existed there and could be observed, there seemed to be a unique "point" within that deep hole, beneath that endless abyss. 

Bai Ming felt that she might be able to delve directly into the Aeon of Nihility to find those specific "points."

But then again, even with her current understanding of Nihility, what could she even do if she found them? Or rather, even if she could do something, what would she do? Erase it?

Was that even possible? 

Could a concept that is "Nihility itself" be erased? 

And would the act of "erasing" it—being an act of negation—actually align so perfectly with the concept of Nihility that it would cause the void to evolve into something even more abstract and horrifying?

Besides, the Path already existed. Even if she successfully and harmlessly dealt with IX, the very meaning of Nihility would likely just give birth to a "Nihility Aeon X" immediately after.

In short, as Bai Ming’s understanding deepened, she realized that Nihility itself was incredibly difficult to shake. 

Acheron’s dream of reaching the end of Nihility and slashing down that black sun... if she actually succeeded one day, she might just end up becoming the new Aeon of Nihility by virtue of erasing the old one, replacing the black sun to become the new abyss.

In Bai Ming’s eyes, stealing the power of IX seemed like a much more viable plan than trying to destroy it. 

IX wouldn't care anyway, and since Bai Ming was immune to its influence, she could become a proxy Aeon who actively controlled the power of Nihility. 

She could use the Nihility Equation to curb its expansion and protect the Self-Annihilators.

She even wondered if taking active control of Nihility's power could weaken the Path to some extent. 

Then again, while she might weaken it, she didn't quite dare to try and tear the Path of Nihility apart. 

If she split it into two or three different Paths and Aeons, she might end up creating some truly bizarre entities. That would be a real disaster.

Bai Ming immediately suppressed that thought and focused on stabilizing the giant web she had cast.

As the rules shrouding the shadow of Nihility neared completion, Sin Thirsters that Acheron had missed began to be guided in. 

From all directions, following the tides of the pitch-black sea, they stepped into the constantly evolving world.

"...There were so many scattered Sin Thirsters that I didn't find?" Acheron was momentarily stunned.

But she quickly came to terms with it. No matter how hard she worked, she was only one person.

In this universe, Pathstriders were beyond count; the number of individuals born and dying every day was staggering. How could she alone net every single soul drifting under the shadow of Nihility?

Bai Ming took Acheron’s hand, squeezing her palm in comfort. "Don't overthink it. You're only human—well, one person. You can't be perfect."

"Don't worry, I'm not that fragile. I'm just struck by how much suffering there is in this world," Acheron replied with a gentle smile.

The two didn't leave immediately after the work was done. 

Instead, they stayed hand-in-hand, watching the world develop. They watched as the Sin Thirsters increased in number and the world grew livelier. 

Every soul was assigned to a school as a starting point, though their subsequent paths depended on their individual obsessions.

However, as more and more souls were gathered, Bai Ming’s expression shifted from initial joy to confusion, and finally to awkwardness. 

She realized that as the population grew, the world she had partitioned was becoming cramped.

Acheron leaned in close to Bai Ming, tilting her head. "...Is it just me, or is this world getting a bit crowded? There are so many of them."

"Yeah, it’s a bit small. I thought tossing together a small world would be enough, but it looks like I underestimated the situation," Bai Ming admitted with a sigh, acknowledging her construction error. She immediately began work on an expansion.

Strictly speaking, while a small world has its boundaries, it should have been enough to fit an entire star system. 

However, Bai Ming had underestimated the sheer volume of Sin Thirsters and the resources required for their transcendence. 

To give just one soul closure, she often had to construct a massive area and set up a horde of NPCs. 

Since some of these souls were former high-ranking officials of interstellar civilizations, she occasionally had to whip up worldviews that spanned entire galaxies.

Even though these large-scale settings could nest many smaller worldviews within them, the scale of a single star system was proving insufficient.

Just as Bai Ming began the expansion, a strange wind blew past, bringing with it a burst of laughter that made her frown instantly.

"Look what I've found! A world of passing for the entire universe! Haha~ What a grand, merciful feat! My dear sister, if you were going to make something this fun, why didn't you invite me?"

"...?!"

Acheron froze.

There, in this place shrouded by Nihility, stood the actual Aeon of Elation, Aha.

The sheer, shivering reaction of Imaginary Energy that accompanied their presence left no doubt—it was the real deal!

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 387

--+--

Bai Ming shot Aha a look of pure disgust. 

Reaching out, she took Acheron’s hand and stepped forward, shielding her behind her back.

She moved to wall off the Imaginary Energy fluctuations leaking unconsciously from Aha.

This was the most glaring difference between Bai Ming and a proper Aeon.

Bai Ming wielded a Path rather than having ascended to Aeonhood herself. Consequently, aside from the divine vessel Aha had gifted her, her true self didn't possess an Aeon-level Imaginary Energy signature. 

Even that body Aha had crafted for her was worlds apart from the physical forms condensed by "real" Aeons the moment they ascended.

Of course, that was just Bai Ming’s personal take.

To anyone else—and to the other Aeons—Bai Ming was indistinguishable from the real deal. 

If anything, her ability to squeeze herself into any Path she pleased made the other Aeons both envious and wary. Surely, the power to have a hand in every Path was far better than being stuck in a divine body that couldn't manifest or act freely.

Not that any other Aeon had ever bothered to tell her that.

So, Bai Ming remained blissfully unaware, constantly feeling like she didn't quite make the cut as a "proper" Aeon.

Regardless, she kept her disgusted gaze fixed on Aha, who had clearly followed the scent of trouble straight to her. "What are you doing here?"

"Complaining, obviously! You’re doing something this fun and didn't even invite me? And here I thought we were the two closest Aeons in the universe~"

"Ugh..."

Hearing those words, Bai Ming couldn't help but shudder. The disdain on her face was practically overflowing.

"Why on earth would I invite you? What do you even know about IX and Nihility? I can handle the Elation parts myself. Why would I bring you along just to get in my way?"

"Haha! Rejected again? But seriously, it’s obvious this little world of yours is missing a long-term administrator, isn't it?"

There was no telling how long the masked pest had been lurking and watching, but THEY had hit Bai Ming’s sore spot with THEIR very first sentence.

While it wasn't impossible to just leave this world to run itself, these Sin Thirsters were born from the obsessions of Pathstriders. 

If left completely unsupervised, heaven only knew what those lingering regrets would evolve into.

It was definitely best to have someone stay behind as a caretaker, but that person certainly couldn't be Acheron.

Bai Ming had gone through all this trouble—researching Nihility and constructing this world—specifically to break the chains binding Acheron. 

She wanted her to be able to leave this place and see the world outside. If she ended up leaving Acheron here to babysit these spirits, the whole endeavor would have been for nothing.

Yet, if Acheron couldn't stay, Bai Ming was drawing a blank on who else could take the job.

Should she create a new life? But what had that life done wrong to deserve being entombed in this ghostly place for eternity? 

On the other hand, a high-level AI would likely be exploited by the loopholes found in the Pathstriders' obsessions.

Bai Ming was even beginning to consider just leaving a clone of herself here.

And now, Aha had bitten right into that dilemma.

"...What are you getting at?" Bai Ming eyed him with a mix of confusion and suspicion.

"Don't be so cold! I’m being helpful here. I’ve got the perfect candidate to recommend—someone with experience managing worlds, a resume that includes nearly ascending a simulated reality, and someone we both know inside and out. Most importantly? THEY’re a total volunteer. Guaranteed to work like a charm!"

Aha tilted his obnoxious mask, leaning into Bai Ming’s personal space with a "you're getting a steal here" look. He looked every bit the shady merchant.

Bai Ming frowned. Despite everything, she had a nagging feeling that whoever Aha was recommending wasn't going to be "normal."

"Bring them here and let me see first."

"You got it! Hey, little brother, come on out and show yourself to the boss!"

Aha shouted in a bizarre tone, and a wormhole suddenly tore open within his flamboyant, chaotic form. A mask, identical to the one Aha wore, floated out.

Bai Ming stared, her composure instantly shattering.

"Dammit, Simulated Aha? Again?!"

"Hey now, don't get mad! Look at THEM—our little brother. Which of your criteria do THEY not meet? The only price is a tiny bit of freedom; just let THEM tinker with some Aeon-related experiments within this world."

"Last time was the Simulated Universe, which had a specific purpose, so your anger was justified. But this world? You can definitely let THEM mess around a bit here."

Aha circled Bai Ming, grinning as THEY continued THEIR sales pitch.

Bai Ming desperately wanted to kick both of them into orbit, but—damn it all—Aha actually made a fair point. 

Even if she didn't know what Simulated Aha was plotting, it was bound to be Aeon-related. 

Since this place was shrouded in Nihility, even if something bizarre crawled out, it likely wouldn't survive long. The threat was effectively contained.

More importantly, this Simulated Aha was actually willing to stay in this godforsaken hole, and THEY were objectively better suited for the job than Acheron.

If she threw THEM out, she really wouldn't find anyone better. 

It’s not like she could kidnap Celenova and force her to work here; that woman wouldn't exactly be a cooperative employee. And if Celenova found out, she might draw the attention of Phantylia or worse, and there was no need to gamble on that.

Sigh...

Bai Ming took a sharp breath of the void-tainted air.

It looked like agreeing to Aha’s deal was actually the best move.

Aha, clearly sensing victory, let out a laugh that grew increasingly smug. "Haha! See? My plan is absolute perfection!"

"Ugh..."

Looking at the gloating mask before her, Bai Ming let out a sound of pure humiliation.

Curse THEM. She had been played right into THEIR hands.

Gritting her teeth, she gave a reluctant nod. "Fine. I agree. THEY really are the most qualified."

Aha broke into a profoundly punchable fit of giggles. "Heehee~ I have to say, that look on your face is delicious."

Of course, right before Bai Ming could finally lose her temper and swing, Aha shoved Simulated Aha into the small world and injected a surge of power to accelerate its expansion.

Consequently, the punch that was meant for both of them landed squarely on Aha’s mask.

The blow sent the Aeon of Elation flying at faster-than-light speeds, disappearing from the horizon with a comical "thwack" and a cartoonish trail of stars.

Though THEY looked like THEY’d been blasted away, Bai Ming could still feel it. The consciousness of the Elation was still tethered to the world before them. THEY were still watching.

She didn't know why THEY cared so much or why THEY insisted on shoving THEIR duplicate in there, but if THEY were going to keep an eye on things, it saved her a lot of work.

Only after Aha had truly vanished did Acheron speak up again.

"It seems... there really is nothing left for me to do?"

She looked at Bai Ming with a helpless smile. The Sin Thirsters here had entered an era of "automated salvation," and the new administrator was far more capable than she was. 

Her role as the "Guardian of the River of Forgetfulness" seemed to have become obsolete.

"No, no, don't say that." Bai Ming wagged a finger in front of Acheron’s face.

"Then... what else am I supposed to do?"

"Just like what you've always done. If there are final wishes that require someone to leave and fulfill them, or keepsakes that need to be returned... you can't exactly expect Aha to do that, can you?"

"Heh..."

Acheron shook her head and let out a soft sigh. 

Such tasks—requests that required someone to travel to the outside world—didn't come along once in several centuries. The frequency was so low it might as well not exist.

While she was technically needed, a job that only required her presence once every few hundred years was barely a job at all.

"I truly can't win an argument with you."

Acheron’s heart was a knot of complex emotions, but as she looked at the lively little world, she felt a genuine weight lift from her shoulders. 

She felt light, yet a bit empty—as if, suddenly, she didn't know what to do with herself.

"You’ve almost completely negated everything about me. My burdens, my goals, even my obsessions."

"Uh..."

Bai Ming froze at those heavy words, looking into Acheron’s eyes with a flash of panic. She opened her mouth to explain, to offer some comfort, but she was at a loss for words.

Instead, it was Acheron who reached out, gently pinching Bai Ming’s cheek to help her relax.

"Don't be nervous. I wasn't blaming you. I’m just... not used to it. It’s like, overnight, I’ve forgotten how to just be."

The Path of Nihility wasn't something Acheron had chosen for herself. 

Her vow to "sever the void" was born from her inability to stand by while people suffered. 

If Bai Ming could truly solve those problems, Acheron would never hold it against her. She was simply feeling adrift after such a long, arduous journey.

"..."

Bai Ming scratched her head, still trying to gauge Acheron’s mood.

Seeing Bai Ming make such a face over a single sentence, Acheron felt a sudden, uncharacteristic impulse. Having dropped her burdens, she blurted out:

"Since you’ve dragged me out of my hollow life by force... aren't you going to take responsibility for me? You wouldn't just leave me to fend for myself, would you?"

"Ahem..."

Bai Ming’s face instantly flushed crimson, and she let out an awkward cough.

The subtext of those words was dangerously ambiguous.

It sounded like she was asking Bai Ming to take responsibility for her entire future... No, it wasn't just "sounding like it"—she had said it outright.

It sounded an awful lot like a proposal, but as strange as it felt to hear, Bai Ming realized she really did need to think about it. 

The "responsibility" part, that is.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 388

--+--

While Bai Ming didn’t exactly have a grand ambition she wanted to pursue for the rest of her life, she could empathize with Acheron if she put herself in her shoes.

To be told suddenly that the thing you’ve always done—the thing you’ve always wanted to do—was no longer necessary.

That someone else could handle it for you, and likely do a better job at it. No matter how close or friendly the two of them were, it was bound to leave one feeling a bit adrift.

She’d abruptly told Acheron that her lifelong burden was over. 

Even that monumental vow to sever the Nihility—Bai Ming could help her achieve that, too.

And... well, Bai Ming had been the one to initiate all of it. 

It was only natural that Acheron would end up "clinging" to her.

But how should she handle it? Bai Ming began to sink into serious thought.

Seeing the expression on Bai Ming's face turn solemn, it was actually Acheron who started to panic. 

After all, she had only meant it as a joke. She hadn't expected Bai Ming to actually start weighing how to "take responsibility" for her.

In any case, Bai Ming had essentially saved her entire future. 

It would be far too unreasonable to actually demand she take responsibility; that would be crossing a line. Besides, Acheron knew she needed a lot of time to let go of everything herself. 

She couldn't even say for sure if her future self would ever truly be able to move on.

"Ahem, don't actually take that to heart. I was only joking," Acheron said, letting out a small cough to grab Bai Ming’s attention as she tried to explain.

But Bai Ming shook her head with a serious look. "No, I think you made a very good point. Once you've lost your purpose, I really can't just leave you to fend for yourself."

On the path of resisting the Nihility, finding one's own meaning is vital. 

If Acheron’s mental state faltered because of this sudden shift, and she failed to withstand the encroachment of the Nihility, that would be a true disaster.

With Bai Ming’s current understanding of the Nihility, she wasn't yet able to directly solve the issues facing a Self-Annihilator. 

So, until she could fully master the Path of Nihility and resolve the hidden danger within Acheron, she really did need to take responsibility.

"I will—no, I must take responsibility for your future."

"Eh... Are you... are you really serious?"

Now, the roles had flipped, and it was Acheron’s turn to feel shy. She looked at Bai Ming, who didn't seem to be joking at all, and her heart felt like a tangled mess. 

She certainly had feelings for Bai Ming, but as for taking responsibility... how exactly did one go about that? Acheron didn't dare let her thoughts wander any further down that road.

"Yes, I have to. But it mostly depends on what you want. At the very least, I'm staying with you until the problem of the Nihility is completely solved," Bai Ming said.

Pulling her attention away from the small world before them, she asked, "Oh, by the way—after this, is there anywhere you want to go?"

"Hmm... that really is a difficult question." Acheron couldn't help but give a faint, wry smile.

Having stayed in this desolate place for so long, her social circle was so thin that, aside from Bai Ming, she didn't have a single acquaintance left. 

If you asked her where she wanted to go on the fly... she truly had no idea. She didn't even know what she was supposed to do next, let alone where to do it.

"I don't know where to go. To be honest, I've long grown used to the emptiness here."

"How about trying Amphoreus? It leans toward being a digital world, but the scenery is lovely. The Blue is also a good choice; it's a wonderful place to retire or go on vacation." The worlds Bai Ming suggested were naturally the ones she knew best. 

"Or the Land of Light—though there are quite a lot of giants there, so the public facilities are built on a massive scale."

Acheron listened to the worlds Bai Ming mentioned, thought for a moment, and asked curiously, "I thought you would recommend the Xianzhou Alliance or Penacony. I recall you liked those two quite a bit."

"I do like them, but the Xianzhou Alliance is currently facing a gathering storm, and Penacony is a place where people just lose themselves in dreams. I wouldn't feel safe letting you go there."

Bai Ming was terrified that if Acheron let her guard down for even a second, she might just snap and succumb to the Nihility. 

There was no way she was taking her to a world of drunken dreams like Penacony. 

As for the Xianzhou Alliance... Phantylia was still locked up in the Luofu's Shackling Prison, so things were bound to be restless there.

Hearing these explanations, Acheron gave a slight nod. "Let me think about it first."

"Fair enough. We need to observe this small world for a while longer anyway."

With Aha's arrival, an administrator had been added to the small world. The automated program for the salvation of Sin Thirsters had undergone further optimization. 

Surprisingly, Aha had actually done something useful this time without making a mess. Or perhaps the entity had done something sneaky in the shadows that Bai Ming simply hadn't discovered yet.

Regardless, on the surface at least, the entire process and the operation of the rules were running smoothly, with no game-breaking bugs in sight.

The only thing worth a groan was that the Simulated Aha, following the template of the Simulated Universe, had hand-crafted the archetypes of all the other Aeons within this small world. 

They had been scattered throughout the world to offer guidance to the lost Sin Thirsters.

However, the fellow was likely still a bit rusty; the Simulated Aeons were somewhat mediocre. 

Although each one had a different outward color, their core frameworks were all built from the power of Elation. 

In essence, they were just low-quality imitations—masks Aha had split off to mimic the other Aeons.

Bai Ming watched as the entity grew intensely focused on nurturing these Aeon archetypes, acting like a dedicated gardener. 

She had no idea what Aha actually wanted with these things or why they had copied the whole "Simulated Aeon" gimmick here. She could only hope the jester wouldn't suddenly pull some massive prank on her.

The reason Bai Ming hadn't stepped in to stop it, despite her suspicions, was that the other Aeons hadn't reacted.

This pure land, built within the shadow of the Nihility, was relatively well-hidden, but it wasn't as if it were invisible to an Aeon. 

If it could attract Aha, it stands to reason that other Aeons could find it too. 

In fact, Preservation and Equilibrium had already noticed the changes here. 

They had spared a glance, but unlike Aha, they hadn't come running over with a laugh. Even after seeing what the Simulated Aha was tinkering with, they chose to ignore it.

At the end of the day, this world was built solely to dissolve the lingering obsessions of the Sin Thirsters. 

Once the obsession was gone, the spirit would dissipate. 

Furthermore, it was anchored within the shadow of the Nihility. While it looked like something incredible had been created, its actual influence was quite limited due to the Nihility's presence.

Equilibrium had looked a bit longer this time, but ultimately did nothing and said nothing. If Equilibrium didn't have anything to say, it was proof enough that there wasn't a problem.

Bai Ming didn't understand Aha’s logic, but she at least knew of Equilibrium’s persistence. Since that one hadn't moved, it meant this thing wasn't worth their attention—meaning it had no major impact. 

So, Bai Ming didn't stop it. 

After all, the Simulated Aha was going to be stationed here long-term; she had to leave it some breathing room to pursue its own interests. Otherwise, she wouldn't dare leave a bored-to-tears Aha here alone.

On the other hand, aside from a few Aeons, humans had naturally noticed the disturbances in the shadow of the Nihility.

The first to take note was Device IX. 

Polka Kakamond had observed the movements beneath the shadow and sensed the abnormal gathering of the Sin Thirsters. 

It was so out of the ordinary that she even worried if the Aeon of Nihility—who usually never budged—had suddenly acted on a whim.

But Polka Kakamond quickly dismissed that idea and decided to investigate the destination of the spirits. She soon discovered the strange space appearing at the source. 

She watched as the gathered spirits entered a peculiar void. That jarring, dome-shaped world sitting in the middle of the wasteland held secrets she couldn't see from the outside.

Initially just curious, the moment she saw the space, she realized it was a world connected to Remembrance. 

The power of Remembrance... here?

Kakamond’s curiosity got the better of her. What was inside? Why were so many Sin Thirsters being collected?

With these questions in mind, Polka Kakamond crafted a puppet that mimicked the existence of a Sin Thirster. Following the strange pull, she blended in and stepped into that world.

In the next instant, the puppet under Kakamond’s observation appeared in a school classroom. 

The style of the classroom was strikingly similar to Polka’s own homeland; even the people sitting around were styled after her kin. 

It was enough to make even a genius like Polka Kakamond freeze for a moment, even through a puppet.

Soon, when the genius discovered that many other spirits were scattered throughout this seemingly peaceful world, living out various ordinary lives, her heart was consumed by the curiosity of exploring this new realm.

Bai Ming had, of course, noticed Polka Kakamond’s little maneuver. But she didn't interfere; there was no need to care. 

This place was destined to attract different people for various reasons in the future. It wouldn't even be surprising if a Lord Ravager like Celenova or Irontomb charged in to wreak havoc one day.

But that wasn't for Bai Ming to worry about. She had left the Simulated Aha inside precisely to handle such special cases.

Still, Bai Ming took Acheron’s hand and pointed toward Polka Kakamond. "Look, we’ve lured that Kakamond woman here."

"Should we take action?"

"Let’s leave her for Herta to deal with. If we launch a sneak attack here, Herta might actually be annoyed."

Bai Ming paused for a moment, then suddenly flashed a mischievous grin. "Wait, I have an idea!"

"...What idea?" Acheron looked at Bai Ming’s smiling face with doubt, sensing that this "idea" was probably anything but proper.

"What do you think would happen if I told Herta that Kakamond is in here exploring the world? She’d probably be interested in coming over to play a round with her, don't you think?"

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 389

--+--

Acheron found Bai Ming's proposal to be utterly nonsensical.

Herta was a genius, after all. Why would Madam Herta be so bored as to run off to this tiny world just to have a go at Polka Kakamond?

Bai Ming, however, didn't share that sentiment.

"You don't get it. Someone like Herta is incredibly competitive, and she’s been nursing a grudge against Kakamond for ages. If there’s a real chance to mess with her, Herta will definitely jump at the chance to scrap."

"..."

Seeing that Acheron still looked unconvinced, Bai Ming gave a mysterious smile.

"Let’s place a bet, then. I bet Herta joins in."

"Setting aside whether Madam Herta comes or not, I think she’d be furious if she knew you were using her as a gambling chip."

"Oh, please! It’s such a small thing. We just won't tell her!"

Bai Ming winked at Acheron and then asked, "I’m heading to Herta City. Are you coming with me, or will you wait here for my return?"

"I’ll wait for you here."

Acheron declined the invitation.

Bai Ming didn't push it. After syncing the flow of time between the inner and outer layers of the small world, she chose to depart for Herta City.

Fortunately, Bai Ming wasn't locked out by the firewall this time.

She appeared before Herta with a fair bit of swagger. Although she felt that Herta would likely agree if she simply asked her to come along, Bai Ming decided to be fair.

She wouldn't mention her own desires; she’d just focus on the matter of Polka Kakamond.

"There's an opportunity to trade blows with Polka Kakamond. Want a shot?"

Herta, who had been about to speak, froze for a moment. She set down her teacup with a serious expression, her gaze suddenly becoming razor-sharp.

"Details. Now."

"I'll keep it brief. It goes something like this: I was researching IX recently..."

Bai Ming gave a quick summary of the background, but before she could even get to the part about Polka Kakamond, Herta’s expression turned utterly unreadable.

That look seemed to be demanding how Bai Ming had managed to stir up such a mess in just a few days of being away.

However, as soon as Polka Kakamond was mentioned, Herta’s eyes lit up again.

"You’re saying that woman, Kakamond, threw herself into the trap single-handedly using a puppet?"

"It wasn't exactly 'throwing herself into a trap,' since I had no intention of targeting her in the first place," Bai Ming corrected Madam Herta with a helpless sigh.

"You specifically came to find me to deal with her, and you’re saying you’re not targeting her?"

"What Kakamond wants is to explore the truth of that world. Once you go in and fight her, will you really be able to resist telling her?"

"Hmm... well, I certainly would reveal some intel. Otherwise, the fight would be dreadfully dull."

Although Herta loathed Kakamond's past actions against her, she appreciated Polka Kakamond on an academic level. If she didn't, she wouldn't have kept trying to invite Kakamond into her little circle in the original world.

And while Herta didn't mind using certain 'methods,' she clearly cherished the chance for a clash between geniuses.

So, Bai Ming spread her hands with a smile.

"See? How can that be called targeting? It’s just a tiny, tiny little reminder about wandering into my territory uninvited."

Herta rolled her eyes at her.

What a load of rubbish.

A 'reminder'? She could have just tossed her out and been done with it. Instead, she’d come all this way just to fetch her.

"I can't be bothered with you. Let’s go. Take me to this world of yours. I want to see what that simulated Aha you kicked out looks like now."

Besides Polka Kakamond, Herta was also very curious about the simulated Aha that had been thrown out and then recruited by Bai Ming. The chaotic data that thing had left behind in the Simulated Universe was, to put it mildly, quite memorable.

Herta stood up and walked over to Bai Ming, taking her hand as if ready to depart.

But Bai Ming blinked and, with her other hand, pulled out a mask and held it out.

"You’re obviously supposed to log in from here. That place is the border of Nihility; you didn't think you were going in person, did you?"

Herta arched an eyebrow.

She reached out, taking the mask and examining it for a moment. Then, with an air of indifference, she tossed it onto the nearby table.

"Actually, I am a bit curious. And besides, I have you to protect me, don't I? What is there to worry about?"

Now it was Bai Ming’s turn to have a headache.

While she could indeed guarantee that Herta wouldn't be touched by even a speck of Nihility while with her, what if?

Nihility was an insidious thing. What if Herta got infected just by looking at the great black sun hanging there one too many times?

She didn't dare gamble on those odds. Even if they were to go, it would have to be after Bai Ming had solved the issue of the Self-Annihilators. Then, even if Herta was tainted, Bai Ming could step in and fix it.

Not now, while she was still a novice at this, bringing someone to such a dangerous place.

"Ugh... my dear Madam Herta, let's not be so trusting right now, okay?"

"What do you mean 'your' Madam Herta? You should call me 'My Dearest Madam Herta'!"

Herta poked Bai Ming’s forehead hard with her finger.

"You should be laughing in your sleep that you have my trust. To say such a thing—the day I stop believing in you, you'll be the one crying."

"Right, right. My Dearest Madam Herta."

"Ugh... why does everything sound so sappy when it comes out of your mouth?"

Disgust was written all over Herta’s face, but her eyes were dancing with amusement.

Since Bai Ming was so insistent, Herta wasn't bent on going in person right this second. So, after her finger dropped from Bai Ming's forehead, she picked up the mask again.

"Fine, fine. I'll settle for this. Anything to keep you from complaining later about me being a difficult woman."

"Why are you attacking me from a different angle every day now?"

Bai Ming watched Herta with a chuckle. The woman’s current demeanor was quite a contrast to her usual self.

"Wait, were you just thinking about something inappropriate?"

Herta felt a sudden shiver. Looking at Bai Ming's expression, she didn't have proof, but she felt like the girl was up to no good. But Bai Ming didn't blush or stammer, showing no weakness at all.

"You attack me and then try to pin it on me? Just put on the mask and get in there already."

"..."

Herta stared at Bai Ming for a while. Finding no flaws, she gave a light huff, sat back down in her chair, and donned the mask.

The power of Elation stirred, reaching out to that small world at the edge of Nihility and weaving the form of Big Herta within it. Then, Madam Herta’s consciousness followed the path of Elation and synced into the body.

Herta opened her eyes and looked around. It seemed like a very ordinary world at first glance.

Aside from a rather conspicuous, barely human-shaped Sin Thirster that looked entirely out of place, there wasn't much worth noting.

"Hmm... let's find where that woman Kakamond is first. I wonder if she’ll notice if I call her name here."

Herta muttered Kakamond’s name quite openly. Whether the other woman would notice or not would be a key factor in Herta's assessment of Kakamond's abilities.

Meanwhile, Bai Ming watched as Herta lost consciousness in the chair. She sighed and walked over, picking the woman up in her arms.

Looking at the masked Herta, she whispered a wry complaint, "At least go lie down in the room before you go under. Starting while sitting in a chair... aren't you afraid of falling off?"

"..."

Of course, Herta, already immersed in the joy of clashing with Kakamond, couldn't hear her.

Even if she had, she likely wouldn't have cared. After all, it was precisely because Bai Ming was here, standing right in front of her, that Herta felt comfortable enough to put on the mask and drift off so carelessly. She knew Bai Ming wouldn't just leave her there.

After carrying Herta back to the bedroom and tucking her in, Bai Ming didn't linger.

Before leaving, however, she had a sudden spark of mischief. She took a stamp and pressed a chibi version of herself onto Herta’s cheek.

Then, she materialized a Light Cone and placed it by Herta’s pillow before finally leaving Herta City.

Back at the edge of Nihility, Bai Ming looked at Acheron, arched an eyebrow, and flashed a victorious grin.

"You should have seen it by now. Herta joined in with plenty of enthusiasm, didn't she?"

"I saw. Though, I thought you would bring Madam Herta here in person."

Acheron gestured toward the world inside. There, Herta had already found Kakamond, who was still exploring.

Kakamond was currently shocked that Herta had entered this place in her own likeness. In this world, the only ones who looked human—aside from NPCs—were Sin Thirsters who were on the verge of letting go of their obsessions.

Herta, meanwhile, was equally taken aback that Kakamond had turned into such a ghoulish mess.

All in all, both sides were so surprised by the other’s situation that they didn't immediately come to blows. Instead, they had settled into a coffee shop quite harmoniously and started chatting.

Bai Ming withdrew her gaze for a moment, shooing away the simulated Aha that was trying to play a prank.

"She wanted to come, but I stopped her. Besides, I don't think you’d want to see others stepping foot in here either."

"I certainly don't like seeing it. But things are different now. Since you can create a world like this, I believe you can also solve the problem of the Self-Annihilators."

Acheron was just like Herta. At times like this, she had an extraordinary amount of faith in Bai Ming’s abilities.

After all, almost everything Bai Ming had said or promised in the past had either come true or was on its way to becoming reality. It was hard not to believe her.

However, for Bai Ming, this unconditional trust was a mixture of pressure and warmth.

"...Why do you all love saying things like that? That was Herta’s reason, and now you’re saying it too."

"Madam Herta said that as well?"

For some reason, upon hearing Bai Ming’s remark, Acheron’s expression shifted slightly, settling into a look of deep thought.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 390

--+--

Acheron felt a lingering curiosity regarding Madam Herta's reaction, as mentioned by Bai Ming.

In Acheron's view, someone like Herta possessed an incredibly high spirit; she wouldn't show much deference even toward an Aeon. Acheron, clearly, did not share that same brand of haughty pride.

Thus, Acheron could voice such ambiguous remarks quite naturally. 

On one hand, she had suddenly let her guard down in a moment of relaxation. 

On the other, her fondness for Bai Ming had truly reached a significant height.

To Acheron, Bai Ming was special. However, the fact that Madam Herta could trust Bai Ming to such an extent meant that in the Madam's heart, Bai Ming was a singular existence as well.

Come to think of it, Acheron mused, Bai Ming really does know a lot of women.

And given Bai Ming’s personality, if even someone as prickly as Madam Herta could trust her this much, then most others would likely fall for her even faster.

Acheron’s mind drifted back to Bai Ming’s earlier promise to "take responsibility" for her. Looking at it objectively... Bai Ming probably said things like that to everyone she helped. 

After all, Bai Ming was putting her heart and soul into resolving the troublesome shadow of IX that clung to Acheron. She would surely do the same for whatever problems others were facing.

If Acheron herself could develop such blurred, perhaps even biased, romantic feelings for Bai Ming, then it stood to reason that others could too.

Then again, in theory, would anyone actually confess such feelings so bluntly to an Aeon?

Acheron’s thoughts began to wander. Would anyone truly confess to an Aeon? Would she, one day?

After all, she was about to leave the horizon of IX and live a long-term life in the normal world. With nowhere else to go, Acheron naturally wanted to stay by Bai Ming's side for the foreseeable future. 

Given the current turbulence in her heart, if she stayed by her side long enough, those feelings would inevitably... ferment.

Moreover, truth be told, Acheron couldn't imagine feeling a spark for anyone else. Getting flustered or red-faced, perhaps—but nothing more.

Compared to Herta's casual, free-spirited nature, Acheron’s background was different. 

Once the past interference from Nihility was stripped away, the family and nation she was born into actually existed within a relatively traditional cultural atmosphere.

Basically... Acheron would find herself imagining a definitive, intimate title for the relationship between the two of them.

But then the thought returned: would anyone really want to confess to an Aeon with the genuine goal of having them say yes?

Acheron looked at Bai Ming. 

This girl was far too approachable. If you didn't know better, who would ever guess she was an Aeon?

People like this were the most "wicked." 

They approach you as an ordinary person at first, and then, once they've maxed out your affection, they suddenly transform into a being so elevated it’s almost incomprehensible. 

Then, that affection starts to waver because of the massive gap in status—it might even be snuffed out by the owner of those feelings themselves.

At that thought, Acheron couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

Yet, if she were to sever this lingering obsession, what else would she have left to serve as her anchor in this mortal world?

Strictly speaking, it wasn't just Pathstriders.

In a world where gods existed, many ordinary believers treated Aeons as their faith and their personal anchors. From a perspective of common logic, such behavior was perfectly normal.

But this "normal" situation felt decidedly abnormal when applied to Acheron and Bai Ming.

Acheron’s troubles and worries were all being solved by Bai Ming.

For a life that had suddenly lost its purpose, subconsciously placing one's anchor on the person who saved them was a natural progression. Furthermore, Acheron had been tainted by Nihility; if her own will weren't firm, it would be a lethal matter.

Add to that Bai Ming’s penchant for saying strange things—insisting so earnestly on "taking responsibility"—and it was more than anyone could withstand. 

It was only logical for Acheron’s anchor to drop squarely onto Bai Ming.

The problem was that Bai Ming was too down-to-earth. 

It caused the feelings that should have been converted into religious piety to instead morph into a complex blend of possessiveness and affection through their shared experiences.

And Acheron had no choice but to maintain this feeling until Bai Ming completely resolved the issue of the Self-Annihilators. At the very least, for Acheron, there wasn't a second existence in this universe that could make her anchor so stable.

Perhaps Acheron believed her feelings hadn't reached "that" point yet. But as she persisted, there was no telling what this complex emotion would eventually brew into.

Meanwhile, Bai Ming was entirely oblivious to Acheron’s inner turmoil.

She was currently busy observing Herta and Kakamond. The two of them were, so far, getting along "peacefully." Well, on the surface, perhaps—but in the shadows, they had already begun a fierce psychological tug-of-war.

Herta had revealed her knowledge of this world, prompting Kakamond to try and dig information out of Herta’s mind. But Herta was no pushover; she not only counter-attacked but even tried to pry into Kakamond’s own head to investigate a few things.

In this place, Kakamond’s "Knowable Domain" couldn't cover everything, mostly because she had no idea what this place even was. 

While Kakamond remained a powerful being even without her domain, Madam Herta’s growth—after working on all those chaotic projects with Bai Ming—was not to be underestimated. With one's power waning and the other's waxing, it was impossible to see who had the upper hand for now.

Consequently, they soon called a temporary truce. There was no point in a stalemate. Kakamond’s goal was still to figure out what was happening here; tangling with Herta hadn't been part of the plan.

As for Herta... she actually wanted to keep going, but she really couldn't take Kakamond down in a short amount of time. 

She decided to use the time while Kakamond was investigating to set up some arrangements, turning this away game into a home-field advantage.

With Bai Ming watching from outside, Herta didn't want to just fail like this.

Watching Kakamond disappear at the end of the street, Herta turned and began to walk away. As she moved through the bustling crowd, she suddenly frowned and spoke to the empty air:

"Bai Ming, come out. I need you."

"What’s up? You're not planning to ask for outside help, are you? That doesn't sound like you."

Bai Ming’s figure appeared out of thin air, though she didn't attract the attention of the surrounding people—they were all just NPCs, after all.

Herta rolled her eyes and gestured toward the crowd with her chin. 

"Don't you think these human-looking shells are a bit too monotonous? This place is supposed to be for the relief of the dead, so stop making the streets feel so lifeless. All this hustle and bustle and not a single living soul... you really think this is fine?"

Hearing Herta’s blunt complaint, Bai Ming scratched her head. 

The intelligence level of these NPCs wasn't actually that different from living people. Of course, compared to true life, they were missing a certain "spark."

"I know it's a bit lacking," Bai Ming admitted.

But the issue was that this world had to exist long-term under the shadow of Nihility. 

Though rare, it wasn't impossible for Nihility to leak in and randomly infect some cities or people. To bring the whole world to life under those conditions felt a bit too heartless for a creator.

"This is under the shadow of IX, after all... I can't just make all the NPCs 'real' and then trap them in here forever."

At Bai Ming’s answer, Herta wore an expression that said, Yup, she's the idiot I know.

"And that’s why you're a dummy. Does your 'Super Wisdom' only tell you how to use your 'Super Power'?" Herta mocked her mercilessly.

After enjoying Bai Ming’s defeated expression for a moment, she slowly raised a finger and pointed at herself. 

"Since you can let me log in remotely like this, why don't you use that Originium system you’ve spread across the universe to pull other people in too?"

"Sss..."

Bai Ming sucked in a breath. That... actually might work.

Because of the diverse experiences of Pathstriders, the different regions partitioned in this world contained all sorts of bizarre scenarios. 

They could be used as explorable areas, letting players choose the role-playing world they wanted.

The whole project could be turned into a high-freedom exploration game, something like The Sims. As for the "Sin Thirsters" that needed to be put to rest, they could be designed as high-reward hidden quests, using the players to help guide them.

As for the "abstract" or unpredictable behavior of gamers, she could simply establish rules as constraints—or just write the goal of helping spirits into the game's intro.

There were plenty of ways to control player behavior. Bai Ming could come up with a plan with just a little thought and then leave the execution to the Simulated Aha.

"That actually seems feasible. And the Originium system is already laid out across the cosmos; it's a ready-made platform. Though, if I do that, the scale of the world will have to keep expanding..."

"Sigh, you really make me worry. If you ever get plotted against by other Aeons in the future, what will you do? You don't have anyone to think for you."

"Then you better work harder and try to catch up to me sooner."

"Tch!"

The more Bai Ming thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. 

Shaking off Herta's ridicule and firing back a retort, she began to wonder: was she really so used to her Super Power that her Super Wisdom only defaulted to using brute force?

While solving problems directly with god-like power was definitely satisfying, it really wasn't good to let her brain go idle.

Mainly because it gave Herta the chance to laugh at her. And she really didn't like that.

--+--