Star Rail Impostor! - 391 - 400

Star Rail Impostor! - 391

--+--

Herta shot Bai Ming an annoyed look and gave a deliberate, heavy click of her tongue.

Then, with a huff, she turned her back, refusing to look at her further.

"Fine, that’s that. You can mull it over once you’re back. I need to prepare a dragnet for Kakamond, so I won’t be staying to chat."

"Alright then. Call me if you need anything."

As soon as she spoke, Bai Ming’s figure vanished. A smile played on Herta’s lips as she quickly disappeared into the crowd.

--+--

On the other side, Bai Ming withdrew her consciousness from the small world and turned toward Acheron.

"What do you think of this plan?"

"Are you asking me? I can't even tell the difference between these NPCs' logic and that of a normal person. If you want my input, all I can say is that either way works for me."

Acheron declined to give a real answer. She truly didn’t see how these NPCs acted any differently from real people, and she couldn't understand how everyone else seemed to be able to tell.

"Fair enough. Come with me to the Xianzhou Luofu, then. You can't just stay here forever."

"Are we going to see that Qingque?"

"Of course. Since we’re using Originium to build this platform, it has to be affiliated with Celestial Sparrow Entertainment."

Although the broad strokes were settled, the actual mechanics of making a game—how to guide player behavior and such—definitely required the expertise of the designers at Celestial Sparrow Entertainment. Bai Ming intended to consult them for their opinions.

Acheron had no objections to the plan. However, as the two held hands, preparing to depart from the borders of IX, Bai Ming suddenly turned to her.

"Acheron, even with me helping you suppress it, how is your will to resist Nihility holding up? If you’re feeling off, you have to tell me."

Hearing this, Acheron turned her head to look at Bai Ming.

"It’s... alright. After all, my obsessions and my pursuits were all wiped away by you. Although I’ve found a new anchor to place my feelings in, I’m still not sure if it’s reliable."

"Huh? You don't even know if it’s reliable? Then how did it become your emotional anchor?"

Bai Ming looked quite startled. How could something like that serve as an anchor to help her withstand the Nihility?

"Isn't that all because of you?"

"...??"

For some reason, hearing Acheron’s answer gave Bai Ming a sudden, sinking feeling.

Then, shink—a cold sweat broke out across Bai Ming’s skin.

Acheron looked her straight in the eye with a heart-stirring smile and said, "Because you were so serious about taking responsibility for me, and because you are the hero who saved me... I have made you my firmest, and only, anchor."

"..."

Bai Ming stared into the intense emotions blooming in Acheron’s eyes, rendered momentarily speechless.

When she had said she would take responsibility for Acheron, she only meant until she had solved the Nihility Equation. 

She meant she would help suppress the Nihility within Acheron and accompany her to find a new anchor. 

Why else would she be so proactive about taking Acheron out for strolls? It was all to find a more concrete, vivid anchor.

But instead...

Why did she become the anchor herself?

"Are... are you serious? You’re not joking?"

"Do I look like I’m teasing you?"

"Okay, you don’t."

Bai Ming didn't know whether to be moved or to feel the crushing weight of the situation.

This was bad. The mission to find a new anchor had collapsed before it even began. She had already uprooted Acheron’s previous obsession once; she couldn't exactly force a second removal.

Acheron wasn't some ordinary person; she relied on this obsession—this craving for existence—to resist Nihility and stay alive! No one would dare try to dismantle that twice.

But... taking her as an obsession? Why did that sound so "heavy"?

Even though she knew Acheron wasn't the obsessive, clingy type, Bai Ming felt as if an invisible gravitational field had suddenly enveloped her.

Is this really going to be okay? Bai Ming doubted herself.

Besides, when she said she'd take responsibility, she never said she'd take the other person’s heart, too! Now she was at a total loss.

Looking at Acheron’s gaze... it didn't look like the kind of anchor one has when they worship an Aeon. It looked more like Acheron was lingering in this world solely because she was there.

"Whew..."

Bai Ming took a deep breath, forcing her thoughts to settle.

Even if this wasn't her intention, things had already reached this point. She couldn't ask Acheron to change it now—it was too dangerous. And thinking about it, who else in this world could Acheron trust or open her heart to besides her? 

Her homeland had been swallowed by Nihility; no one even remembered it. 

Other survivors at least had a world that people remembered existing. Izumo was different. People still argued over whether it had ever existed at all.

To this world, Acheron really was like a piece of drifting duckweed.

Since Acheron had chosen her, she would just have to accept it. She couldn't betray that trust.

"Then... that works. At least if it’s me, I can guarantee I’ll always be here. Whenever you need me, I’m around."

Acheron’s lips curled into a smile.

She had been watching Bai Ming closely, seeing her expression shift from shock to bewildered helplessness, and finally to acceptance. It was actually quite amusing. 

She felt a slight urge to keep teasing her, but she wasn't that much of a prankster.

Instead, she opened her arms and gave Bai Ming a hug, nuzzling her face against Bai Ming’s neck.

With the heavy burden lifted, Acheron’s demeanor and actions had clearly become more lively. 

It seemed like a rebound after being suppressed for so long. Bai Ming understood, but she just hoped Acheron wouldn't rebound into some strange personality.

I hope she doesn't change too much, Bai Ming thought as she was being squeezed.

Fortunately, Acheron didn't hold the hug for long.

"Sorry, I lost my composure. Shall we head out now?"

Acheron feigned calmness, though she was actually feeling quite shy. 

That hug felt like a declaration of resolve, even if she wasn't ready to voice it yet. Bai Ming didn't suspect a thing, nodding before leading Acheron away from the borders of Nihility.

--+--

The Xianzhou Luofu, Celestial Sparrow Entertainment Office Building.

Bai Ming and Acheron appeared in Qingque’s office, giving the girl quite a fright.

"Whoa! Boss, you scared the life out of me. Could you give me a heads-up next time? And who’s this?"

Qingque tossed aside the documents she was supposed to be processing and stood up with a grin, circling the desk to greet them.

"Was the trip tiring? Want to rest? How about I take you out for a meal and some entertainment?"

Acheron didn't speak, simply looking at Bai Ming. Bai Ming reached out and poked Qingque’s forehead as she leaned in.

"I think you just want an excuse to skip work."

"Hey! Boss, how could you slander my character like that?"

"Quit playing around. Let’s talk business. This is Acheron, my companion—she’s just here for the ride. I have something I need you, or rather, Celestial Sparrow Entertainment, to do."

"A project? What is it?"

Hearing this, Qingque’s playful expression vanished, and she snapped into work mode. She had never been this serious even when dealing with Fu Xuan or Jing Yuan.

"To put it simply, I want to launch a life-simulator RPG on the Originium platform. Players can experience life in any world, as any profession, species, or gender. Do we have game designers for that?"

"We do... but why that kind of game? There are plenty of classics in that genre already; the competition is pretty fierce."

Qingque nodded. They had recently recruited many talented and famous producers, even opening two branch offices outside the Luofu. 

She had even taken in some veteran designers and producers who just wanted a place to retire. 

Since the company didn't have to pay their salaries out of pocket anyway, she treated it as a talent reserve, waiting for the day the Boss might need them.

"Well, I can tell you. Strictly speaking, it's not just a game. The worlds the players enter are all real."

"Huh??"

"As for the original purpose of these worlds, it's to provide closure for the obsessions of Pathstriders wandering the borders of Nihility. But because that world was built in the shadow of Nihility, I can't easily evolve a large amount of life there. If I use only AI, it lacks... something."

Bai Ming gave a brief explanation of the situation.

Qingque felt her head spinning. Most of this was stuff she had never even heard of. 

What did she mean by "the borders of Nihility"? And what was this about Pathstriders' obsessions becoming Sin Thirsters wandering there in pain? And did their company’s first big project really have to be so heavily tied to something like Nihility?

Despite the headache, Qingque felt a surge of respect for Bai Ming. 

This was the first she had heard that Pathstriders would turn into such things after death, wandering in agony. And her Boss was willing to build an entire massive world for them, even if it meant making a game that wouldn't be competitive on their own platform.

If it were any other company, Qingque would have worried about profit and tried to talk Bai Ming into a different plan. But Celestial Sparrow Entertainment wasn't a normal company. 

The Interastral Peace Corporation reimbursed all their expenses. 

Qingque didn't need to worry about money; she only needed to worry about keeping the company stable and consistently producing high-quality content.

As for the first major task from the Boss who provided all of this? Qingque was determined to see it through and make it perfect.

"It sounds wild, but the main issue now is designing the game flow and handling how players interact with those... Sin Thirster things, right?"

Qingque quickly grasped the core of the problem.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 392

--+--

"You catch on fast. You seem much more professional since the last time I saw you."

After all, much of this was news to Qingque, and Bai Ming had worried she might struggle to wrap her head around it all. To her surprise, Qingque simply arched an eyebrow, puffed out her chest, and declared with a look of pure pride:

"Hmph—naturally! Just look who you're talking to."

"Right, right. You’re the model employee. Maybe I'll take you on an all-expenses-paid business trip sometime."

"Whoa, we get perks like that now?"

"You make it sound like I’ve ever mistreated you."

Bai Ming gave Qingque’s forehead a playful flick. Just as she was preparing to show Acheron around the company and then head out for some fun across the Xianzhou Luofu, Qingque called out to her again.

"Wait, Boss! There’s one more thing I forgot to tell you."

"What’s that?"

"Lately, some Masked Fools and Mourning Actors have shown up at the company. They claim they want to follow you. I didn't think it was my place to make the final call, so I let them stay on as interns for the time being."

"The Mourning Actors? Why are they involved?" Bai Ming blinked, caught off guard.

She didn't have much of an impression of the Mourning Actors; back when she played the game, they hadn't exactly made a formal appearance. 

In her mind, weren't they supposed to be the types who boycotted "cheap joy," viewing entertainment as mere "opiate of the masses"?

They were people who preached that one should temper the spirit through the endurance of sorrow.

They recorded, spread, and wept for stories worth grieving over.

Bai Ming actually had a decent opinion of them. They were a deeply empathetic bunch, even if they were a bit masochistic. 

But just as Aha acknowledged them, she knew that joy and sorrow were two sides of the same coin; tragedy was just as essential to the meaning of life.

She respected their convictions. It was just...

She couldn't fathom why the Mourning Actors would choose to come here, of all places—joining a corporation with "Entertainment" literally in the name, backed by the Interastral Peace Corporation to boot.

"So, what are the Mourning Actors actually doing here?"

"They mostly applied for scriptwriting and copywriting roles. All they produce are tragedies. The only problem is they write with such raw, genuine emotion that everyone in the office—except for those few Masked Fools—has been a total wreck."

"Ah... I see. They want to use my platform to broadcast the stories and sorrow they’ve collected, don't they?"

Qingque pouted and nodded.

"I did some digging into the Mourning Actors through the IPC, and that’s my best guess. I just wish these guys would tone it down a bit when they're writing."

Halfway through her thought, Qingque’s tone shifted. "But more and more of them are showing up lately. Boss, this place isn't going to turn into a Mourning Actor convention, is it?"

"Well... technically, Celestial Sparrow Entertainment is a group I built from the ground up. In a sense, it really is a 'Joyous Land' hand-picked by the Aeon of Elation. It’s only natural it would act as a magnet for people like them."

Hearing this, Qingque’s face fell. She didn't have a grudge against the Mourning Actors personally, but she definitely had a problem with the mountain of soul-crushing tragedies they were churning out. 

It was too much. If she had to look at that stuff every day, she’d end up depressed.

Amused, Bai Ming pinched Qingque’s cheek, trying to smooth out her worried expression.

"Don't look so miserable. Just don't read them yourself. If they’re that desperate to create, send them to write stories for the upcoming Simulated Life project."

"That’s actually a great idea! But is it okay to put that many tragic stories in there? Weren't we doing this to find peace for the Sin Thirsters?"

"It’s not mutually exclusive. The spirits have their own obsessions, but the rest of the world still needs content to fill it. Oh, and while you're at it, throw those Masked Fools in there to write, too. Tell them if their jokes can't outperform the tragedies of the Mourning Actors, they can stop wearing those masks."

Bai Ming paused, a smirk playing on her lips. "But, if they do a good job, I’ll give them a chance to meet the Aeon of Elation in person."

She didn't know exactly what these Fools and Actors were after—whether they truly viewed this place as a holy land established by the Aeon's own hand—but as long as they were here, they weren't getting a free ride. They were going to work.

One side was great at staging jokes, the other at crafting tragedies. It was perfect. 

She had been worried that if she really turned that world into an open-world game, people might find it boring.

"You got it! Mission accepted!" Qingque thumped her chest in a promise of success. Then, she remembered something. 

"Actually, there’s a really talented game producer among the Masked Fools. He’s working as the producer for the 'Pokémon' project. It feels like a waste to just have him writing."

"Who?"

"A guy named Giovanni. According to him, he’d been thinking about making a pet-catching battle game for a long time. When he saw Pokémon, he rushed over to join us."

Bai Ming’s eyebrows shot up. Hah, look at that. Running into an old acquaintance.

"Just handle the arrangements as you see fit."

"Understood! I'll contact you again once the execution plan is finalized, Boss."

With the business talk out of the way, Bai Ming led Acheron out of Qingque’s office. The nitty-gritty of the implementation wasn't something Bai Ming needed to do personally.

As they walked out of the building and onto the bustling streets, Acheron watched the lively crowds and suddenly asked:

"Is it alright for us to just wander around like this? Should we really leave Madam Herta there by herself?"

"It’s fine. Herta finally has a chance to go all out against another genius. Interrupting her now would be the real mistake. Besides, I'm keeping an eye on things. If anything actually goes wrong, I'll step in."

Bai Ming patted Acheron’s arm, telling her not to worry. Herta was in the zone right now; disturbing her would only earn them a lecture.

Bai Ming paused and turned her head to look at Acheron. "Speaking of which, is there anything you want to do? I’ll go with you."

"Me? If I had to say..."

Acheron furrowed her brows in thought for a moment. Then, the tip of her tongue flicked lightly across her lips. 

"Since you helped me suppress the Nihility, I feel like my senses have been reviving. My sense of taste seems to have recovered quite a bit. Honestly... I want to taste more things."

"Oh... I see."

Bai Ming watched Acheron lick her lips. 

For a fleeting second, she thought the gesture—paired with that usually stoic, almost cold face—was incredibly alluring. She wondered if Acheron’s lips would feel cool to the touch.

In a moment of "slightly weird" intrusive thought, Bai Ming found herself comparing it to Herta’s touch, which always felt much hotter.

Ahem!

Bai Ming cleared her throat, pushing the chaotic images out of her mind. She grabbed Acheron’s hand and started pulling her toward the busy market district.

"Then let's go! I'm taking you to eat everything delicious."

"I want to taste the things that aren't delicious, too."

"Are you some kind of masochist?"

"Is that not allowed? To me, even a bad flavor is a novelty."

"..."

Bai Ming’s retort died in her throat. Her initial surprise softened into a sympathetic sigh, which quickly morphed into a mischievous grin.

"Well, since you're practically begging for it... there’s a certain Xianzhou specialty you just have to try."

"What kind of drink?"

Seeing Bai Ming’s expression, Acheron knew it had to be something bizarre. But she didn't care. 

She was telling the truth—since her taste buds had returned and she was in such a vibrant world, even a "bad" flavor was a fresh experience. 

Compared to a life where everything tasted like wax, a bad taste was, in its own way, positive feedback.

"Mung Bean Soda!"

"...Why did you add that weird lilt to the end of the word?"

"It makes it sound more authentic!"

Acheron couldn't help but let out a quiet, helpless laugh. She didn't see the authenticity, but she certainly saw the silliness bubbling over.

Laughter aside, Acheron followed Bai Ming until they found the infamous Mung Bean Soda. Holding the glass of strange, murky liquid, the mere scent was enough to tell her this was no ordinary beverage.

Acheron caught the look of pure disgust on Bai Ming’s face. Then, she raised the glass and took a massive gulp.

The bizarre liquid flooded her mouth.

Her taste buds immediately sent back a chaotic, incredibly strange report. Yet, Acheron only knit her brows slightly before swallowing the Soda without changing her expression.

She even smacked her lips afterward, looked down at the cup, and took another huge swig, draining the entire thing in seconds.

The stall owner was stunned.

"Whoa! You’ve got some unique taste, young lady! Even we Luofu locals struggle with this stuff. That’s the first time I’ve seen a tourist chug it like that. If you haven't had your fill, how about another on the house?"

The owner was true to his word, quickly bagging up a large, extra-sized cup of Mung Bean Soda and handing it over.

Acheron hesitated for a split second before reaching out to take the bag. "Then... thank you, sir."

She walked away with Bai Ming, swinging the bag of Soda. 

After a few steps, perhaps because she’d drunk it too fast, Acheron covered her mouth and let out a small burp that smelled purely of Mung Bean Soda.

"Ugh... the smell is everywhere."

Bai Ming wrinkled her nose and tried to sidle away, but Acheron playfully leaned in closer. She didn't just lean in; she made sure to stay close enough that Bai Ming’s nose was filled with the scent of fermented bean.

"Why are you running? Didn't you recommend I drink it?"

"Eww—stinky! You jerk, go eat something normal to get the taste out of your mouth."

Bai Ming reached up and grabbed Acheron by the jaw, turning her face away to stop the "torture."

Acheron didn't persist. Instead, she chuckled and produced a peach from seemingly nowhere, taking small, dainty bites. She used the fragrance of the fruit to drive away the lingering tang of the Soymilk.

As she ate, she looked at Bai Ming with anticipation. "What are we eating next?"

"Why don't you just eat whatever you see? Everything is fresh to you anyway, right?"

"Mmh, that sounds good. And you?"

"I’m not that hungry. I’ll just pick at a few things."

Acheron thought about it for a moment, then suddenly said:

"Then, how about later I make you something delicious from Izumo?"

Bai Ming’s eyebrows shot up.

Oh, right! I almost forgot. Acheron shared a name with a certain legendary "Herrscher of Meals." She was bound to be an incredible cook.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 393

--+--

Bai Ming and Acheron spent their time wandering all over the Luofu, eating and drinking to their hearts' content.

It was a true feast for Acheron’s taste buds.

As for the things she couldn’t finish... if push came to shove, she could simply let them drift into Nihility within her own body. It was no burden at all.

Regarding the Izumo delicacies Acheron had promised Bai Ming: due to the limited conditions and ingredients, she hadn't been able to prepare much, but it was enough for Bai Ming to experience Acheron’s culinary skills.

Truth be told, she was quite good.

One could tell her hands were a bit out of practice—likely because she hadn't cooked in a very long time—but the final results were not bad at all.

Thinking of Madam Herta, who was still locked in a contest of wills with Polka Kakamond inside the small world, Acheron even went out of her way to prepare some small pastries, asking Bai Ming to deliver them on her behalf.

Though Bai Ming didn't quite understand why Acheron paid so much attention to Herta, she saw it was a gesture of goodwill and nodded in agreement.

--+--

On the other side.

Inside the small world, Kakamond, still locked in combat, was reaching her breaking point.

She had come here to explore and discover, not to play a one-on-one game with a version of Herta who hadn't even entered with her true body.

Yet, from the moment they met, Herta had been on her like a cat on a mouse, constantly interfering and even trying to use this physical vessel to trace Kakamond’s location in the outside world.

She acted as if she intended to wipe Kakamond out once and for all.

While Kakamond truly couldn't do anything to Herta here, Herta couldn't take her down either; the two were stuck in a back-and-forth stalemate.

For Kakamond, who had come here with a specific purpose, this was nothing short of miserable.

Finally, after repelling yet another of Herta’s incursions, Kakamond spoke up:

"Herta, neither of us can best the other here. Why do you keep pestering me?"

"Didn't I say it before? I've always felt we were birds of a feather. Since I finally have the chance, of course I’m going to have a 'pleasant chat' with you."

Herta’s tone was hostile; she clearly had no intention of letting this woman go.

After all, their past grudges were very real. Kakamond had plotted against her multiple times, and now that she had the chance, Herta was naturally going to use her senior as a training partner.

"..."

Kakamond grew impatient.

In these past few centuries, Herta’s transformation was the thing that unsettled her most, second only to Bai Ming.

However, Herta City was an iron fortress, guarded by a nascent Aeon; her domain of omniscience could not penetrate it.

This meant she had been unable to stop Herta from breaking through the boundaries of knowledge for a long time.

In fact, at this point, Kakamond wasn't even sure if Herta had already achieved that feat.

This uncontrollable uncertainty further shook the foundations of her omniscience.

As for this time, through Kakamond's probing, she could confirm that Herta’s progress was remarkably evident. The blockade she once tried to implement had clearly failed.

This woman had likely broken through the boundaries of knowledge and might even have received a blessing from an Aeon.

Kakamond keenly sensed the power of Elation swirling around Herta.

It wasn't the kind of power one wields through a borrowed blessing, but rather as if she truly understood and mastered the underlying logic of Elation, using it to manipulate that power directly.

This change made Kakamond very uneasy.

Bai Ming ascending to Aeonhood, Herta’s strange knowledge, and that Simulated Universe project which had caused several disturbances... Kakamond felt her domain of omniscience being rapidly torn apart.

Now, even the territory of Nihility had undergone such a shocking transformation; Kakamond was desperate for answers.

Yet, in the midst of this, Herta—who held the information—was specifically going out of her way to annoy her.

Kakamond even felt a sliver of fear.

Fear that the chaos of this world would spiral completely out of control in the near future, heading in a direction she could no longer comprehend.

At this moment, Polka Kakamond had already begun to consider a retreat.

Stalemating with Herta here was utterly meaningless. It was a waste of time.

Furthermore, while it wasn't yet clear who the mastermind behind all this was, Kakamond had at least ascertained one thing: the world she was currently in existed for the sake of the Sin Thirsters.

Every setting in this world was clearly related to them.

In all the different timelines Kakamond had found, the various world settings were inextricably linked to the Sin Thirsters of those respective eras.

The target was the Sin Thirsters—a collection of lingering obsessions from Pathstriders who had not dissipated.

What was the point of collecting such things?

Kakamond had pondered this for a long time during her struggle with Herta but found no answer.

She had even seen a Sin Thirster abruptly vanish before her eyes, appearing just like one that had naturally dissipated.

But was it really just that?

Going to such great lengths and setting up something on this scale just to gather Sin Thirsters so they could fade away?

Where was the logic?

No matter how she looked at it, Kakamond couldn't find the catch, and that lack of a result only deepened her suspicion.

Coupled with the fact that Herta kept interfering and attacking her, the distraction caused the usually calm Polka Kakamond to feel a rare surge of irritability.

Time to leave.

The moment Kakamond realized her mindset was wavering, she knew she had to withdraw.

Otherwise, if Herta caught wind of this hesitation, it would be a total collapse.

And compared to winning, making an escape was, for Polka Kakamond, remarkably easy.

So, when Herta seized another opening and tried to land a devastating blow, Kakamond simply played a hand of mutual destruction. She used the resulting chaos to log out and vanish on the spot in one fluid motion.

By the time Madam Herta realized what happened, Kakamond had already detached. There was virtually no chance of finding her now.

"She ran??"

Herta couldn't even process it for a moment.

She had heard many reports about Kakamond from Divine Herta, including the exaggerated tales of her hunting down four geniuses within the Simulated Universe.

So now, seeing Kakamond decisively cut her losses and flee to parts unknown... it was a bit hard to accept.

A wave of dissatisfaction instantly flooded her heart.

"Why run? What right does she have to run!! I wasn't done yet!"

Herta felt not a shred of joy at having driven her opponent away; her heart was full of resentment toward Kakamond’s avoidance of the fight.

For a split second, Herta even considered going to Bai Ming to have her track down Polka Kakamond's true location so she could continue their "exchange of experience."

However, logic talked her out of it.

Charging blindly to someone's doorstep was clearly not the right move.

Besides, Kakamond was likely hiding somewhere under the shadow of Nihility. Bai Ming didn't want her risking contact with Nihility right now. Though Herta felt the impulse to go on a rampage, she chose to suppress the thought out of consideration for Bai Ming's feelings.

Well, if she actually made Bai Ming angry, wouldn't she be the one who had to do the coaxing?

Having taken that step and become significantly closer, Herta was, for the time being, willing to consider the other's feelings.

But once Bai Ming finished dealing with Nihility, Herta was absolutely going to fly over and tear the roof off Kakamond’s house!

She’d let that woman know that Herta was a very vengeful person.

"You'd better hope I don't catch you next time."

Grinding her teeth, Herta left the world in a foul mood.

Her consciousness gradually returned to Herta City.

Slowly opening her eyes, the first thing Herta saw was her familiar ceiling.

"So she did bring me back to the bedroom."

Herta reached up to remove her mask and sat up in bed.

The clothes on her body had been changed into pajamas more suitable for sleeping. As for the more intimate garments, they had naturally been removed by someone unknown.

"Heh."

Herta let out a soft chuckle; that girl was quite thoughtful.

Just as she was about to get out of bed, her palm brushed against a Light Cone.

Herta instinctively picked it up, and then she saw the image within: herself, with a mark poked onto her cheek.

"Bai Ming—?!!!"

Herta touched her cheek, pulled over a mirror brought by a puppet, and blushed furiously on the spot.

However, as she swung her legs off the bed and looked at the pajamas she was wearing, much of the irritation in her heart dissipated.

A scale began to tilt back and forth in her mind: on one side was Bai Ming’s care for her, and on the other was this prankster behavior.

It was the kind of feeling where she was just starting to feel happy only to have it washed away by a prank.

"And she even used her own image... there's a limit to narcissism!"

Herta turned her head, looking at the mark in the mirror, and couldn't help but complain loudly. She completely forgot that she was the most narcissistic one of all.

According to the information left in the Light Cone, the mark would naturally fade by tomorrow, but Herta still felt disgruntled.

She decided to call the girl over to complain a bit.

With that thought, Herta prepared to send Bai Ming a message. But before the message could be sent, she saw Bai Ming step out of a rift of flame, holding a box of pastries.

Herta froze for a moment, looking at Bai Ming in surprise.

"How did you get here so fast? I haven't even sent the message yet."

Hearing this, Bai Ming looked back, equally puzzled.

"I came to bring you some snacks. Did you need me for something?"

Herta took the pastry box, sensing that it didn't look like something bought from a store.

Bai Ming timely added, "Acheron made these for you. She knew it was you who gave me the suggestion, and she knew what you were just up to. She asked me to give you her regards."

"Hmm... so someone else made them."

Herta raised an eyebrow slightly, letting out a non-committal hum.

Then, Herta glared at the still-clueless Bai Ming and tilted her face slightly toward her, prominently displaying the cheek with the mark.

Though she didn't say a word, Bai Ming instantly caught her meaning.

"Oh, is that why you were going to message me?"

Bai Ming pursed her lips, a slight smile playing on her face as she walked toward Herta.

The sight of her looking angry with that mark on her face was actually quite cute.

However, in Herta’s eyes, that expression of Bai Ming’s looked like it was begging for a punch.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 394

--+--

“You’re not reflecting at all, are you?”

Bai Ming’s eyelid twitched. She had a feeling Herta actually looked genuinely angry.

So Bai Ming immediately dropped to her knees in a smooth, practiced motion—flexible enough to bend when needed.

“Sorry, I was wrong.”

“You’d better actually know you were wrong.”

Herta shot her a glance, then walked up to Bai Ming, raised her hand, and smack—pressed her palm against Bai Ming’s forehead.

When Herta pulled her hand away, a chibi Herta mark appeared right in the center of Bai Ming’s forehead.

And that wasn’t all.

Herta casually slapped again, her palm landing on Bai Ming’s chest. Right along that valley, she stamped another mark unique to herself.

“Returning the favor. You’re not allowed to erase it within a day, and you’re not allowed to cover it up.”

“Are you in elementary school?”

Bai Ming lowered her head and touched her chest, feeling speechless.

“Hmph~”

Seeing Bai Ming behave so obediently, Herta snorted softly, her mood clearly improving.

She opened the dessert box and took a simple bite.

It tasted okay, though still not as good as Ruan Mei’s.

“Flavor’s so-so. But why is Acheron being so enthusiastic?”

“She’s been training at the Boundary of Nihility, purifying Sin Thirsters and trying to master more of Nihility’s power until now, of course she’s enthusiastic.”

Herta nodded.

“Let’s put Acheron aside. I came to ask—about when you’ll be able to control Nihility and take me to the Boundary of Nihility to deal with Kakamond.”

“You already chased Kakamond off and you’re still not satisfied?”

“Of course not. That woman didn’t even try. She ran halfway through—I wasn’t done yet.”

Bai Ming raised an eyebrow. Judging by Herta’s attitude, she was probably going to hold onto that grudge for a long time. But before Bai Ming could speak—Herta stormed over, grabbed Bai Ming by the waist, yanked her close, and kissed her twice, hard.

“Tch. Can’t settle a grudge on the spot. Annoying.”

“…You’re annoyed, so you’re taking it out on me?”

Bai Ming braced against Herta’s shoulders, complaining helplessly, but Herta glared back like she’d heard a trigger word.

“You’re the same. You randomly came and messed with me back then. How many grudges do you think you’ve built up here?”

“Yeah, yeah, and you’ve gotten plenty of revenge already.”

“I don’t care. Just stay with me.”

As she spoke, Herta tightened her core, pivoted on her toes, spun Bai Ming around, and fell onto the bed in one smooth motion.

From above, Herta stared down at her.

“And you came to see me carrying desserts made by another woman. I don’t feel like letting that grudge sit overnight.”

“…”

Right, right. When it comes to labels she stays silent, but now her possessiveness shows up.

Even though her mind was full of complaints, Bai Ming saw Herta was clearly in a bad mood, so she chose to go along with it.

But—

A researcher is still a researcher.

Though Herta’s physical ability far surpassed ordinary people, compared to Bai Ming she was basically a stamina disaster.

And Herta herself was the awkward type—using her bad mood as an excuse to cling to Bai Ming.

She struggled for a while… and then exhausted herself completely.

Bai Ming’s experience, on the other hand, was pretty good—she just had to lie there and cooperate.

Then, Herta collapsed from fatigue, while Bai Ming still looked refreshed, even smiling and comforting her.

That sense of defeat and frustration made Herta even more displeased.

Who knew where that sudden competitive spirit came from.

Originally, Bai Ming planned to end things there. Herta was clearly worn out and needed rest, but this woman insisted on throwing taunts.

Her whole body was soft—only her mouth stayed stubborn.

Could Bai Ming just indulge her?

Well… at first, she planned to.

Herta being sharp-tongued but soft-hearted wasn’t new. Bai Ming had understood and accepted that long before they became intimate.

Unfortunately, for Herta, who had failed the “challenge,” this kind of concern from her “enemy” felt worse than punishment, especially seeing that expression.

It practically said: your efforts only make me happy; your provocations feel like you’re acting cute.

Of course, that wasn’t entirely Herta’s imagination.

At least in Bai Ming’s eyes, Herta’s weak, soft provocations really did look like acting cute.

So Herta got even angrier.

In the end—

To soothe her, Bai Ming pushed back decisively.

Sometimes Bai Ming really felt Herta had a bit of a masochistic streak.

If Bai Ming cared for her gently, she got upset and said she was being looked down on, but once Bai Ming counterattacked and pushed her until she lost composure, showing that soft expression…

Herta’s mood improved instead.

Then she fell asleep on the spot, completely satisfied.

After everything, Bai Ming personally cleaned up Madam Herta and tucked her into fresh bedding.

Finishing tidying up, Bai Ming looked at the peacefully sleeping Herta.

She reached out and pinched her cheek. The marks on both their faces hadn’t faded yet—probably another ten system hours left.

More noticeable, though, were the red marks on Bai Ming’s neck and chest.

When she went back to the Luofu later, she’d need to change into something not low-cut.

Herta’s mouth was the toughest thing about her—she liked biting at the slightest chance, only because Bai Ming deliberately suppressed her physical strength.

Otherwise, with a body enhanced by the Path of Permanence, even breaking her teeth wouldn’t let her bite through, let alone leave marks.

Even so, these traces would heal automatically in one or two system hours.

If Bai Ming stopped suppressing herself, they’d probably already be gone.

Sigh… but since Herta left them, what else could she do? Just spoil her.

Bai Ming didn’t hesitate to pick out a light-colored small dress from Herta’s wardrobe.

The style resembled the puppet outfits—not overly fancy, but convenient for movement. As for whether Herta would mind… she said Bai Ming could wear whatever she liked.

--+--

After quickly tidying herself and dispersing the scent on her body, she returned to the Luofu.

Acheron was wandering around, eating and drinking nonstop.

Seeing Bai Ming return—changed clothes, with a stamp on her forehead—she looked surprised.

“Why were you gone so long? And you even changed clothes. What happened?”

“Madam Herta was in a bit of a mood. I soothed her.” Bai Ming shrugged with a smile, completely calm.

They were all adults, after all—not inexperienced teenagers.

“Madam Herta? It’s hard to imagine that genius needing comfort.”

A thoughtful, puzzled look appeared on Acheron’s face.

She probably couldn’t picture it.

But…

“Sounds like you and Madam Herta are… very close.”

“We get along pretty well. She was the first person I met when I came to this grand galactic stage.”

Bai Ming blinked playfully, then clasped her hands behind her back, stepping closer and meeting Acheron’s gaze.

“Are you jealous?”

Faced with what sounded like teasing, Acheron immediately countered. “A little. After all, you did say you’d take responsibility for me.”

“Cough… that responsibility wasn’t meant that way, right?”

“It could be. You’re not as distant as other Aeons. It makes people want to pluck you down.”

Acheron looked at the Herta-shaped mark on Bai Ming’s forehead for a while.

She didn’t know what exactly happened, but she could tell they were very close.

Otherwise, it was hard to imagine Madam Herta stamping someone like that.

So yes… she was a bit jealous.

Acheron wanted to become closer to Bai Ming too.

Seeing the change in Acheron’s gaze, Bai Ming broke into a cold sweat.

Wasn’t she just supposed to be a mental anchor? A spiritual support?

How did it… change so quickly?

It wasn’t that Bai Ming disliked Acheron. She just never considered anything actually happening.

Acheron’s condition wasn’t good, and she resisted deep connections. And in this situation—Bai Ming felt like she’d be taking advantage.

If Acheron didn’t need a mental anchor, would she still feel this way?

As Acheron stepped closer, Bai Ming held her shoulders and spoke seriously.

“Calm down, Acheron. I’m happy to be your anchor—it means I matter to you. But if we go further under these circumstances, I’d feel like I’m taking advantage. Can you understand?”

“… ”

Acheron stopped.

She understood.

She needed an anchor to reality to strengthen her will against Nihility.

Otherwise, she would die.

In such extreme circumstances, Bai Ming refusing feelings born from that was reasonable, but for Acheron, choosing Bai Ming as her anchor already meant a decision.

Still… for now, seeing Bai Ming’s expression, Acheron knew she wouldn’t accept it even if she explained.

So she stepped back half a step.

“To me, choosing you already meant my decision. But if you’re concerned, then we’ll leave it like this. I’m willing to wait.”

“… ”

Bai Ming felt her heart skip.

Being chosen so firmly, and hearing it spoken so openly—anyone would be moved.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 395

--+--

Seeing Bai Ming like this, Acheron couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

She was adorable, yet incredibly dependable. It felt only natural to fall for someone like her.

"Having said that, I didn't expect you to care so much about the 'purity' of such feelings."

"Is it really a matter of purity...?"

Bai Ming scratched her head, looking helpless. "This is clearly a matter of taking advantage of someone's vulnerability. You’re definitely sidestepping the main issue here."

Acheron just offered a noncommittal smile. As for whether she had phrased it that way on purpose, only she knew for sure.

Just as the two were deciding to find another Delve they hadn't visited yet for a casual stroll, a message popped up from Qingque.

Apparently, the employees had heard they were working on a project for Bai Ming—the Aeon herself—and were suddenly acting like they’d been injected with Adderall. They were so hyped they’d volunteered for overtime, churning out an initial draft of the project proposal in a mere half-day.

Qingque mentioned she had already chased everyone home to get some rest, but she still wanted Bai Ming to drop by and see if the plan looked okay or if anything needed a bit of polish.

Acheron saw the chat logs and chuckled. "See? It’s perfectly common for people to be fond of you. You really don't need to overthink it."

"You... you're actually twisting the facts to suit your argument now, aren't you?" Bai Ming shot Acheron a skeptical look. "Is their 'fondness' even remotely the same thing as yours?"

Bai Ming gave her a weird look. Sure, Acheron’s behavior was changing a bit, but there was no need for her to lean into such strange directions.

Acheron, however, was completely unfazed by the rebuttal. She simply puffed out her chest and held her head high. "Feelings don't come in ranks, and neither does affection."

"..."

Bai Ming was left speechless. She even began to wonder if, once she was completely free from the influence of Nihility, Acheron would ever return to that cool, aloof woman she used to be.

Not wanting to press the argument—mostly because she felt that continuing would only make the atmosphere turn unnecessarily intimate—Bai Ming decided to change the subject. It was better to focus on the tangible stuff at Celestial Sparrow Entertainment.

"I’m heading over to Celestial Sparrow Entertainment. Want to come along?"

"I’ll join you. I’d like to hear the specifics of how they’re handling it."

Even though Acheron didn't strictly need to keep an eye on things anymore, she was still curious about how that world would be designed.

Bai Ming nodded, took Acheron’s hand, and the two vanished into a flicker of Phase Flame.

On the other side of things, Qingque watched the familiar flames ignite in her office. She let out a wide yawn and stood up from her desk.

"Yawn... Boss, the project drafts are all on the desktop. Take your time with them; I’m gonna go crash on the sofa for a bit."

Acheron stepped out of the flames and walked straight to the computer, while Bai Ming looked at the yawning Qingque.

"Don't tell me you pulled an all-nighter with them?"

"Sort of. Just a little overtime. Everyone was working with such passion, I couldn't exactly just pack up and head home as the boss, right?"

Qingque laughed awkwardly as she pulled out the office sofa to turn it into a makeshift bed. As she turned around clutching her pillow, she finally noticed the pattern on her boss's forehead.

"Uh... Boss, is that forehead design some new fashion statement you're trying out?" Qingque pointed to her own brow, her face full of curiosity.

"I was just playing around with a friend. Little kids shouldn't go snooping into grown-up business."

"..."

Qingque stared at the stamp, which looked suspiciously like Madam Herta, then looked at Bai Ming’s expression. 

She got the feeling things weren't that simple—otherwise, her boss wouldn't be acting so cagey.

But as much as she wanted to gossip, Qingque didn't dare push her luck. 

If her boss got annoyed and did some behind-the-scenes maneuvering to drag her last remaining clone into a fourth job, she’d be finished.

So, Qingque blinked, shut her mouth, kicked off her shoes, and flopped onto the bed. 

The moment her head hit the pillow, she let out another massive yawn and drifted off, completely ignoring her boss and Miss Acheron in the room.

Seeing that the girl hadn't even bothered with a blanket, Bai Ming sighed. 

With a casual wave of her hand, she manifested a thin coverlet over Qingque. Only then did she circle the desk to join Acheron in reviewing the proposal.

To be fair, while the designers didn't know the full story, the requirements Bai Ming had laid out had yielded some pleasant surprises. 

They had addressed details she hadn't even considered and proposed several viable solutions.

Even the Mourning Actors and Masked Fools had been busy; in a single night, they had churned out hundreds of outlines for various tragic and comic stories. 

They looked quite promising and could easily be fleshed out as side quests to add depth to the game’s world.

The proposal was quite extensive. Since it featured high-freedom gameplay and no forced monetization, the designers had clearly gone wild, sneaking in all their favorite elements from other games. Their passion was palpable.

Aside from a few minor tweaks, Bai Ming was very satisfied with the general direction. Most of the "issues" stemmed from the fact that they were designing it as a traditional building game. 

Neither Bai Ming nor Qingque had told them that the game would be constructed within a literal, physical world. Those gaps were unavoidable for now and easily fixed later.

Setting those small problems aside, she was genuinely impressed by their efficiency and drive. She even started wondering what kind of corporate retreat she should give them. Maybe a trip to Penacony? Or the Xianzhou Fanghu?

Or perhaps she could contact the Queen of Glamoth and take them there for a "100% realistic" bug-slaying experience. That would be a real "hack-and-slash" delight.

"What do you think?" Bai Ming asked, making sure to get Acheron's input.

Acheron didn't seem to have many complaints. "It’s good. Though, I’m not sure if these specific parts can be adjusted."

Acheron spoke hesitantly, pointing out a few areas she’d marked in red. Some mirrored Bai Ming’s own thoughts, while others were unique concerns. Because this involved the Sin Thirsters, Acheron was being incredibly meticulous. Bai Ming, not wanting to dampen her spirit, leaned in and joined the discussion.

They continued until a cute little noise came from the sofa, signaling that Qingque was waking up from her nap.

Qingque squirmed on the sofa for a bit with her eyes squeezed shut, then suddenly froze. She turned her head and found herself locked in the gaze of two pairs of eyes.

Her round little face turned bright red in a matter of seconds. Like a coiled spring, she snapped into a sitting position.

"Did you... see all of that?"

Bai Ming and Acheron shared a look, both seeing the glint of amusement in the other's eyes, and then nodded in unison.

"..."

The world turned dark for Qingque. Usually, she was the only one in this office, and the employees never dared disturb her. 

She’d gotten used to letting her guard down and not worrying about her image while resting. Today... she had made a grave tactical error.

Laughing, Bai Ming walked over and scooped Qingque up by the shoulders. "Alright, stop overheating. We've already marked the parts that need changing in the document. Take a look."

Once the modified files were handed over, Bai Ming and Acheron were basically done. Celestial Sparrow Entertainment just had to follow the new plan. 

There was no rush for an immediate finished product, so it wasn't a problem. With Qingque at the helm, the company would be running like a well-oiled machine in no time.

Acheron seemed particularly invested in the project, so after asking Bai Ming for a spark of Phase Flame, she decided to hang around the office for a while. 

As for her physical condition, the power Bai Ming had left in her body would last for a long time, so there was no worry about them being apart for a bit.

Bai Ming, meanwhile, made a trip back to the Simulated Universe space station. She mainly wanted to see if Celenova was behaving herself.

But the moment they met, Celenova’s gaze turned... odd.

"...What’s with that look?"

Celenova just gave a light chuckle, staring at Bai Ming as if she were some rare specimen. 

"Heh~ I’m just reflecting on how unexpected it is. I never thought someone like you would engage in such... intimate interactions with others. And you’re clearly wearing the frequencies of more than one person. Some faint, some deep. How very interesting."

Bai Ming nearly lost her cool. Since when did the power of Harmony allow someone to sniff out that kind of information?

"You creep. Is that what the power of Harmony is for? Prying into people's business?"

"Don't blame me. Blame the fact that your own frequency is so overwhelming that any 'harmonics' left by others become glaringly obvious on you."

Celenova had a teasing smirk on her face, throwing her hands up as if to say it wasn't her fault. 

Bai Ming’s frequency was a contradiction: high-profile yet lacking in aggression or pressure. 

It was so unique that if anyone else’s frequency mixed in, no matter how well they harmonized, it stood out like a splash of red on a black wall.

That in itself was one thing, but having two distinct marks was something else entirely.

"I’m genuinely curious. Just who—what kind of holy being, what species, what gender—could actually move your heart enough to... strike a chord?"

To Celenova, this was the discovery of the century. An Aeon maintaining intimate relationships with mortals—and apparently more than one. It completely flipped her perception of Bai Ming.

But Bai Ming wasn't about to leak her private life to Celenova. 

If little Robin had discovered it, she might have talked. But Celenova was always up to no good; there was no way she was getting a straight answer.

"Do I look like the type of person who’d tell you that? Of course, if you’re willing to 'sacrifice' yourself a little, I might be persuaded to share."

"..."

Hearing that, Celenova immediately took two steps back, hugging herself defensively as she shot Bai Ming a wary look.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 396

--+--

Bai Ming let out a soft chuckle, completely ignoring Celenova’s wary expression.

She didn't have any intention of answering her questions, either.

"Hmm, so... if you don’t behave, I’ll just devour you whole. In that body of yours, you can’t even disconnect or take your own life, you know."

"..."

Celenova felt a cold shiver crawl from the base of her spine all the way to the top of her skull.

Before, if Bai Ming had said something like that, she would have just dismissed it as a joke—a cheap scare. After all, while Bai Ming was always a bit too hands-on, she had never actually crossed the line.

But this time, Celenova wasn't so sure.

That glaring anomaly in the melody... that intense resonance... it was proof of either incredibly intimate contact or, at the very least, a profound soul-level connection. 

If it were just one resonance, it might be fine, but the problem was that there were two.

This meant that in a very short span of time, Bai Ming had shared an intimate exchange with at least two people.

This woman wasn't the "all bark and no bite" type anymore.

Hearing those words now, Celenova felt that Bai Ming was truly capable of following through on her threats.

Though Celenova had to admit Bai Ming’s face was top-tier, even the most beautiful face in the cosmos was still the face of an enemy to her. 

The mere thought of being forced into... that kind of thing with Bai Ming sent a wave of revulsion through her.

It wasn’t a matter of gender or species anymore; it was pure, unadulterated loathing!

And besides... if this woman really had those kinds of feelings toward the same sex...

Then all those things she’d done to her before—had they been driven by those thoughts all along? Perhaps she had just been more restrained back then and hadn't let it show.

This is bad!

Celenova suddenly remembered she was currently wearing a maid outfit handmade by Bai Ming. 

She had always thought the somewhat revealing design was just a result of the woman's warped sense of humor, but now it seemed it might have been a very different kind of "interest" entirely!

A violent shudder snapped Celenova out of her spiral. She turned on her heel and hurried away, not daring to linger a second longer.

Watching her tremble at her own imagination, Bai Ming nearly burst out laughing.

Anyway.

After giving Celenova her warning, Bai Ming returned to the Boundary of Nihility, leaving only a single puppet behind to maintain contact with the outside world.

Once inside, time began to blur. She stayed there so long that the concepts of heaven and earth lost all meaning.

During this period, Celestial Sparrow Entertainment successfully completed the high-freedom exploration RPG they had been developing. 

Acheron eventually tracked down Bai Ming, who stepped in to embed the game into the world of the Boundary of Nihility via the Originium platform.

The testing phase officially began.

The Masked Fools and Mourning Actors churned out a massive variety of stories to fill the world with content. 

The Sin Thirsters were packaged as complex, high-difficulty reward missions that triggered randomly. 

These rewards were tied to "wishing opportunities" and Credit Points; although the scale of the wishes was much smaller than the real thing, it was more than enough to send people into a frenzy.

Perhaps finding the whole endeavor amusing, Simulated Aha also took a proactive role in the game’s construction, optimizing the experience over and over again.

As the game was officially announced and testing phases opened, more and more players were drawn in by the Originium, entering the world in the form of consciousness. 

This surge of life force gave the quality of the world itself a massive boost.

Under the dual supervision of Celestial Sparrow Entertainment and Simulated Aha, both the game and the world functioned smoothly.

More and more Sin Thirsters were being successfully laid to rest, with efficiency increasing exponentially. Even the physical scale of the world began to expand spontaneously.

Overall, the project had entered a stable self-sustaining cycle.

With things going so well, Bai Ming decided to arrange a company retreat for Celestial Sparrow Entertainment.

The internal consensus was a bit split: the male employees wanted to head to Glamoth to pilot mechs and fight the Swarm, while the female employees preferred to splurge on a luxury trip to Penacony.

With a wave of her hand, Bai Ming settled it: they would go to both. All expenses reimbursed.

She was playing the part of the generous boss—mostly because it wasn’t her money she was spending.

Once the affairs at Celestial Sparrow Entertainment settled down, things grew quiet for Bai Ming. 

She devoted herself entirely to studying the Nihility Equation, becoming a total recluse. To speed up the process, she began alternating between the character cards of Acheron and Hysilens.

Following Bai Ming’s advice, Acheron spent her time wandering the cosmos, bringing back interesting tales to share with Bai Ming at the Boundary of Nihility or the Space Station.

Herta, meanwhile, continued her research into the Elation Equation while maintaining the Simulated Universe alongside Screwllum, occasionally using her puppets to chat with Bai Ming to kill time.

Ruan Mei’s research progressed in fits and starts. 

Whenever she hit a wall, she would visit the Space Station to ask questions.

It didn't take long for her to notice the palpable, ambiguous tension between Bai Ming and Herta—a dynamic quite different from her own relationship with them.

However, Ruan Mei said nothing. She simply left behind a knowing, meaningful smile and acted as if she hadn't noticed a thing. 

One had to wonder what she was actually tinkering with; she’d been at it for so long, yet she only seemed to have more questions and no finished product.

Of course, she wasn't the only one keeping Bai Ming in mind. Fu Xuan and Qingque were as well.

Qingque was very blunt about how much she missed her. Fu Xuan was a bit more stubborn and "tsundere," but Bai Ming could tell the Master Diviner was eagerly looking forward to another home visit.

Huohuo remained her usual socially anxious self, mostly keeping in touch with Bai Ming and Qingque online and remaining a loner in the real world.

As Bai Ming settled into her quiet routine, Elio finally began to stir again. 

After a period of silence, the Stellaron Hunters resumed their operations. The name Kafka, alongside Jingliu, soon echoed across the galaxy.

Over on Punklorde, the little Silver Wolf was blissfully unaware of the cosmic chaos. She was currently locked in a battle of wits with the IPC—specifically, Pearl. 

Since Bai Ming had a decent relationship with the Strategic Investment Department, the two weren't exactly bitter enemies.

It was more that Silver Wolf had a childish streak; she wanted to utterly defeat Pearl as the ultimate proof of her "clearing" Punklorde.

Currently, Punklorde had practically become a private stage for the duel between those two. 

Pearl wanted the Aether Editing technology, while Silver Wolf wanted to take Pearl down. They traded blows back and forth.

Even Pearl had to admit that Silver Wolf’s hacking talent was extraordinary, noting that the day the girl might actually win was fast approaching. Moved by this talent, Pearl extended an invitation on behalf of Diamond for Silver Wolf to join the Strategic Investment Department as one of the Stonehearts.

Silver Wolf turned her down, of course. 

Her plan was to finish the "tutorial village" and then head off to find Bai Ming. She had no intention of finding a day job. Pearl, however, hadn't given up and kept pestering her.

As for Amphoreus, aside from the booming tourism industry, things remained largely the same. However, Hysilens and Cerydra had started making a name for themselves while traveling with the Astral Express. 

Some cosmic busybodies had even dubbed them the "Tyrant and the Sword Knight."

In Glamoth, the tide of war had shifted drastically in favor of the Iron Cavalry thanks to the addition of Bai Ming’s Swarm. 

However, given the vastness of the territory, ending the war completely wasn't something that could be done in just a few years.

The Astral Express itself went through quite a lot. 

Even though the crew was small and heavy hitters like Welt hadn't boarded yet, the Drytron mechs Bai Ming had gifted them more than made up for it with sheer firepower.

Bai Ming had claimed they were just "prototypes" and told them to just ask for a replacement if they broke.

Himeko, however, could swear she had tried her absolute hardest to put them to the test. 

Her exploits included, but were not limited to: piloting the Drytron Alpha Thuban into the heart of an interstellar war to mediate between two civilizations, engaging the Antimatter Legion, fighting alongside a Giant of Light against an Intergalactic Criminal, hunting down the Star-Pickers with said Giant, and even staring down a supernova.

They had even stuffed all the Stellarons the crew collected into its core for containment.

Yet, the Drytron-Alpha Thuban—which possessed self-repair capabilities—didn't have so much as a scratch on it.

By the time Himeko realized she probably couldn't break the thing if she tried, the Astral Express had already become legendary across the stars. 

A neutral mediator with an Aeon as a patron, good relations with several major factions, and a dedication to solving Stellaron disasters... the reputation of the Express was unparalleled.

Additionally, that woman Evernight wasn't in any rush to freeze herself. 

She claimed she wanted to prepare properly and wait for the "right moment." Heaven only knew when she thought that moment would be.

In this manner, several years passed.

Bai Ming finally completed her work on the Nihility Equation, reaching a 99% analysis rate. 

If it hadn't been for the Acheron and Hysilens character cards—and the fact that her processing speed increased as her understanding and endurance grew—she might have been stuck there until the main story actually began.

But now...

"Shouldn't Mr. Yang be boarding soon? When exactly did he and Void Archive get on the Express?"

Bai Ming actually really wanted to see Welt. At the very least, she could use him to find the hidden Solar System and Earth. Maybe she’d have a chance to go visit Kiana and the others later.

As for whether Aha knew where they were...

Probably, but Bai Ming didn't really want to ask THEM. 

Besides, in her memory of that Sparkle collaboration, the plot took place inside a supercomputer. If she couldn't physically get there, there was bound to be some kind of trouble involved.

"Forget it, let's not overthink. Now that my 'divine skill' is complete, I can finally solve the problems facing Acheron and Herta. It’s been ages since I pulled. Let's see what I get."

Bai Ming stretched lazily.

Then, she finally selected the gacha menu!

One pull deducted. The familiar sight of the Express streaking past appeared.

This time, the figure emerging from the train car made Bai Ming’s eyebrows shoot up. A mature woman with blonde hair interwoven with golden branches stood before her.

"The Titan of Reason, Calypso? Another Equation? You're not even going to let me rest, are you?"

Bai Ming felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 397

--+--

Bai Ming looked at her status panel:

--+--

[Roleplay System]

[Name: Bai Ming]

[Lifespan: ∞]

[Available Characters: Big Herta, Celenova, Jingliu, Ruan Mei, Sparkle, Hertatomb, Lord Ravager · Jingliu, Young Herta, Robin, Artoria, Cipher, Georios, General of the Yuque - Qingque, Huohuo, Silver Wolf, Hysilens, Cyrene · Fuli (Charge: 46.1%), Acheron (Charge: 10.8%), Calypso]

[Available Pulls: 21 (13.1%)]

--+--

Over the past few years, she hadn't been very active in the outside world. 

Although her reputation occasionally preceded her, most of it filtered out indirectly through places like Celestial Sparrow Entertainment or the Astral Express.

Consequently, the efficiency of accumulating Emotional Value fluctuated wildly over the years.

Even when she was roleplaying as Acheron, she hadn't actually done much of anything, spending most of her time focused on research.

So, all in all—including the pull she just performed—she had only saved up about a dozen or so pulls.

It wasn't a lot, but it wasn't a small amount either.

Bai Ming wasn't in a hurry to start a new roleplay immediately.

Instead, she closed her eyes first.

Activating the Nihility Equation, she plunged directly into that Path, which was as pitch-black as an abyss.

It was the Path of Nihility—broad, deep, and vaguely standing in silent opposition to all other Paths from a distance.

True to its name, it was filled with a deathly silence in every sense of the word.

Bai Ming looked "upward" against the current of the Path. 

There sat the black Aeon of Nihility, IX. There were no cute, mismatched eyes here; there was only a pure, absolute darkness that seemed to encompass all things.

Faced with Bai Ming’s probing and her attempt to occupy the Path, IX did nothing. There was no reaction whatsoever.

Bai Ming even felt that if she ran over right now and tried to kick IX off the Path entirely, the Aeon wouldn't even bother to give her a second glance.

But that was fine.

This meant that no matter what she did on this Path, the other party wouldn't interfere.

It was essentially a Path without a master.

However, just as Bai Ming began to follow the river of the Path downward, attempting to capture the essence of everyone tainted by Nihility, a strange ripple emanated from the Path.

This fluctuation instantly caught the attention of every Aeon in the cosmos.

There was no helping it. 

No matter the Aeon or the Path—whether they stood for Preservation or Destruction—almost all were diametrically opposed to Nihility.

Even Nanook had never considered letting the world fall into Nihility as a means to end it.

So, when the Path of Nihility—which was supposed to be stagnant—began to show signs of movement, the alarm bells for nearly every Aeon were cranked to the max.

The Hunt drew its bow; the Harmony opened its eyes; the Preservation raised its hammer...

Aha even went so far as to scoop up Noa—crystal wall, divinity, and all—and lug them over. In such a solemn atmosphere, the sight was exceptionally ridiculous.

But when these Aeons saw that it was Bai Ming standing upon the Path of Nihility, stirring that endless void, their collective gaze shifted in unison to the still-grinning Aha.

Bai Ming hadn’t made much noise on the borders of Nihility lately, aside from recently building a small world to pass on the souls of the Sin Thirsters.

Such a minor matter naturally wasn't worth the Aeons' constant surveillance.

But you, Aha? As the master of the Path of Elation, your "Second Aeon" is over here tinkering with Nihility... and you're telling us you didn't know?!

Absolutely impossible!

Aha definitely knew about this long ago but deliberately kept it quiet.

THEY let them all remain oblivious while Bai Ming took control of the Path of Nihility.

Consequently, the looks the other Aeons gave Aha turned decidedly unfriendly.

Dammit, Aha! Is there something wrong with you?!

If Bai Ming doesn’t understand the risks, don't you, a "proper" Aeon, know the gravity of the situation?!

Besides, strictly speaking, Bai Ming is your subordinate. And yet, you just sat there without a word and let her cook up this massive crisis for the rest of us?

The terrifying thing about Nihility is that it swallows everything. 

It erases things; it erases the very concept of existence itself. 

It is fatal to any Path.

But the "safe" thing about Nihility is that, due to its own nature, it doesn't move on its own. It only spreads passively.

As long as one takes proactive preventative measures and doesn't do anything stupid like opening the floodgates, Nihility isn't exactly an unsolvable problem. Every Path has its own way of dealing with it.

But now...

In a Nihility that was supposed to be unconscious, an Emanator—or a sub-Aeon—had appeared who could actively wield that power and point it wherever she pleased.

This was a disaster waiting to happen!

If Bai Ming truly had the desire to destroy the universe, she would only need a single thought.

Nihility would surge forward, turning into a tide of universal destruction, swallowing the entire cosmos whole.

If it ever reached that point, even if they successfully intercepted it, the universe would likely be so mangled that they might as well just hit the reset button.

Nanook, for one, actually looked forward to such an ending.

However, Nanook showed no outward emotion, because through the golden blood given to Bai Ming, the Aeon could feel what she intended to do.

Similarly, Aha and Nous, who had also bestowed power upon Bai Ming, could sense her motives.

So, these few were relatively calm.

Aha was especially relaxed, grinning as THEY held Noa’s crystal sphere and waved at the other Aeons, acting as if the whole thing had nothing to do with THEM.

Bai Ming had originally thought Aha might help explain things for her.

Instead, this guy was purely here to fan the flames.

THEY even brought Noa along, looking for all the world like THEY were saying, "If things go south, I’ll smash Noa as a signal for everyone to commit suicide together so we can help Noa defeat the Big Bad Boss."

THEY truly lived for chaos.

"Ahem. Everyone, the people I care about all live here. I have no intention of destroying the world. If you are uneasy, you may give me a token of your Path so you can monitor my actions at any time."

At this stage, the blessings of other Paths didn't actually mean much to Bai Ming anymore.

She said this primarily so these Aeons could perceive her status immediately and establish a level of mutual trust.

After all, Bai Ming knew that what she was doing this time was a pretty big deal.

Last time she gained the trust of Equilibrium; this time, she needed to win over at least a few more.

The Aeons fell into thought.

Then, the Preservation was the first to act. 

The Aeon tossed the hammer in THEIR hand lightly. The hammer turned into a streak of amber light, flying before Bai Ming and shrinking into a finger-sized trinket.

However, the incredibly heavy and threatening aura radiating from the tiny hammer spoke of its extraordinary nature.

This was far more exaggerated than the aura of any typical Pathstrider.

The Hunt then drew THEIR bow and fired seven arrows of light in one breath. The arrows merged together, transforming into a single arrowhead that fell into Bai Ming’s lap.

Just like the gift from the Preservation, the power within this arrowhead was immense.

Nous’s light flickered, dropping a key.

Then, a multicolored ribbon flew in along a mysterious Path. It threaded through the hammer, the arrowhead, and the key, turning them into a bracelet that tied itself around Bai Ming’s left wrist.

Seeing this, the other Aeons said no more.

After all, four Aeons had already made their stance clear. Combined with the ones from before, it didn't matter much if the rest abstained.

Bai Ming raised her left hand and looked at the strangely designed bracelet.

A hammer, an arrowhead, a key, and a dazzling ribbon of strange material... the aesthetic was quite the mix-and-match.

Bai Ming could manipulate the power stored within these items at will; like the golden blood Nanook gave her, they were a form of blessing.

Of course, besides being a blessing, they also served as a monitoring system to detect any Imaginary fluctuations with Nihility attributes.

Other powers didn't matter, but if Bai Ming used Nihility power beyond a certain threshold, these Aeons would notice immediately.

For Bai Ming, bypassing this kind of Imaginary reaction surveillance wasn't actually difficult.

But she had no intention of blocking it.

She knew herself that mastering the power of Nihility was a dangerous game.

If she ever got carried away and used too much Nihility power, causing irreparable consequences, it would be bad.

With the other Aeons acting as a safety insurance, Bai Ming felt more at ease.

Besides, the Amber Lord had given her THEIR hammer.

Good grief—if she took this thing to the Interastral Peace Corporation, she’d probably scare several executives to death on the spot and be handed a seat on the Board of Directors immediately.

Bai Ming pushed these unrealistic thoughts aside.

She retracted her gaze and began once more to stir the calm waters of the Path of Nihility.

She had been interrupted just now, so she naturally had to start over.

Ripples rose again on the surface of the void. Layer after layer of ripples spread outward from Bai Ming as the center, expanding toward the boundless river of Nihility.

This was a decree Bai Ming issued to the stagnant Path, using Nihility as her foundation.

This was a feat that contradicted the very essence of Nihility, but Bai Ming hadn't gained her power by following the Path’s philosophy in the first place.

Relying on the Equation, she forcibly manipulated Nihility, causing waves on the placid surface.

Following the shadows of the void, the influence instantly spread to everyone tainted by Nihility.

Every "Self-Annihilator" struggling beneath the shadow of the void felt the change.

That pitch-black shadow, which should have been eroding their sense of self and existence every second, was suddenly and infinitely slowed. It even seemed to recede.

The essence of Nihility couldn't be completely overturned, but under Bai Ming’s control, its ability to erode individuals was drastically reduced.

The interference brought by Nihility was slashed to a tenth, a hundredth, even a thousandth of its original strength.

The momentum of the spreading shadow was weakened, even halted.

Those Self-Annihilators, originally trapped in the misery of their own fading existence...

Felt a sense of liberation that was akin to being born anew.

Bai Ming couldn't completely separate those already tainted from the Path of Nihility across the vastness of the cosmos.

But when the threat of Nihility was lowered by a factor of a thousand, a once-fatal danger became gentle.

To put it in simpler terms: as long as a person tainted by Nihility had the will to resist it, this new rule would take effect, causing the threat of Nihility to practically vanish.

It would preserve the lives of the Self-Annihilators.

However, the nature of Nihility was still Nihility.

Therefore, if someone chose to underestimate its danger and actively sought out its power, the rule Bai Ming had overlaid would become completely void for them.

The rules she established were meant to save those in suffering; they weren't meant to provide a safety net for the ambitious.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 398

--+--

And just as those rules began to spread across every soul shrouded by the shadow of Nihility...

The Self-Annihilators, granted the boon of those laws, followed the course of that pitch-black river. 

At the river’s end, standing before the sun of absolute darkness, they saw her—a goddess of pure, untainted white.

Most of them had no idea who Bai Ming was.

But they knew one thing: it was this pure white goddess, appearing so utterly out of place against the black sun, who had carved out a future for their lives and brought them peace.

Acheron, of course, recognized her instantly.

She just hadn’t expected the girl to cause such a massive scene.

Acheron could even faintly make out the silhouettes of other Aeons lurking behind that dark sun. But the distance was too great, and the presence of Nihility and Bai Ming was so overwhelming that she couldn't see them clearly. 

She wondered if it was just an internal hallucination.

However, the one thing she saw with absolute clarity was the jarring bracelet on Bai Ming’s left wrist.

A hand-woven cord with shimmering, colorful special effects, a hammer, an arrowhead, a key... what kind of chaotic mess of an accessory was that?

Acheron felt a sense of surrealism; the last time they met, Bai Ming hadn't been wearing that.

She could feel the sensation of being tainted by Nihility rapidly receding from her body. 

It wasn't that Nihility itself had vanished, but rather the negative symptoms it brought were ebbing away like a retreating tide.

But there was a price.

Acheron could no longer pursue the Path of Nihility.

The rules suppressing the void had issued her a warning: if she continued her search, if she chose to swim upstream and try to sever Nihility herself, the protective law would instantly fail—and it would never work again.

Acheron was surprisingly at peace with this.

She had even prepared herself for the possibility of losing all her power, figuring she could just rely on Bai Ming to take care of her for the rest of her days.

While it felt a bit like being a free-loader, she knew Bai Ming wouldn't just abandon her.

To her surprise, her strength hadn't even weakened that much; she simply had to stop exploring the void. This "condition" was so light it barely felt like one at all.

After all, under normal circumstances, very few people actively sought to throw themselves into the abyss of Nihility.

Acheron was no exception.

Soon, the image of the pure white goddess and the pitch-black river faded from the eyes of the Self-Annihilators.

It left many wondering if they had just experienced a collective dream. But the sudden lightness in their bodies, the sheer relief of being unshackled, was no lie.

The suppressed Nihility and their liberated lives told them the truth: a deity had indeed stood at the end of the void and cut off that dark river for them.

She had saved them from the fate of vanishing into nothingness.

Once Bai Ming’s operation was complete, she released her grip on the power of Nihility.

The river that had been surging moments ago grew calm in an instant. However, because of the rules Bai Ming had established, the surface—once as still as dead water—now carried the faintest ripples.

These were the physical manifestation of her laws, symbolizing that Bai Ming had truly rewritten the rules of the Path of Nihility.

Qlipoth already understood everything she had done.

The Amber Lord gave Bai Ming a slight nod before turning to depart. In that moment, Bai Ming felt her connection to the hammer tighten significantly. It was as if... Qlipoth had truly acknowledged her.

The Hunt and Erudition left as well, and Enigmata had vanished at some unknown point—though, truth be told, that fellow hadn't shown their face from the beginning.

Only Aha remained. After cheekily escorting Noa back, the Elation came scurrying back.

As Bai Ming prepared to leave, she looked at the approaching Aha with a bewildered expression. "What now?"

"Hehe! That big rock actually gave you the heavy hammer THEY’ve been swinging for all these years. Let me have a look-see!"

Aha’s mask beamed with mischief, eyes fixed on Bai Ming’s left wrist.

While many things are creations of the Aeons and hold great power, Qlipoth’s hammer was the real deal—a tool the Amber Lord had actually used for countless eons.

There were many reasons why the "Big Rock" was willing to let Bai Ming use it, but since THEY weren’t talking, no one could guess the true motive.

"Haha~ Let me check it over for you. Who knows, maybe that stone-man left the hammer behind with bad intentions, sister!"

"...I think you're the one with bad intentions!"

Bai Ming rolled her eyes at Aha.

This prankster... Aha had bragged about stealing Qlipoth’s hammer before, and now here THEY were, pretending to be "concerned" just to get a turn with it.

Could she really lend it to THEM? If she did, the hammer would probably strike a hundred times in a row, pushing the Amber Era forward by a century in a single afternoon.

Without giving Aha a chance to reach out, Bai Ming turned and vanished.

Poor Aha had missed the chance to take Qlipoth’s hammer and use it to bluff THEIR way into a seat on the IPC board of directors.

Bai Ming returned to the borders of Nihility.

Acheron was already there, waiting.

"Acheron, do you want to switch Paths?"

"Huh?"

Acheron was stunned for a moment. Was changing Paths something you could just... talk about and do?

"Actually, if I do it in person, I can completely shield you from the shadow of Nihility. Then, I can give you the power of Elation or Permanence. Though, I’d recommend choosing Permanence."

Bai Ming looked at Acheron with a playful smile. As she spoke, she was actually picturing the image of a certain "Herrscher of Thunder."

Both the Herrscher and Acheron had horns, after all.

And it looked cool. Plus, the white stockings were a nice touch.

Heh heh heh...

Acheron noticed Bai Ming’s strange expression and gaze, her lips twitching slightly. "I get the feeling you have some other motive."

"Ahem... just a tiny bit. It’s up to your own preference, though."

"Well, do as you like. I don't mind."

Years had passed, and Acheron hadn't changed much on the outside, but their interactions had become more direct, more intimate. 

Even if—due to Bai Ming’s hesitance—they hadn't taken that "final step" in their relationship.

And now?

Since Bai Ming could completely free her from the shadow of Nihility, Acheron had nothing left to cling to. 

From the moment she was tainted by it, Nihility had never brought her a moment of joy. Now that the side effects were being handled, she was more than happy to wash her hands of it.

While the traits of Nihility were unique for combat, she had Bai Ming as her backer now; she didn't need that specific mechanical advantage anymore.

"Hehe~ Then I’m starting. Give me your hand."

Acheron followed her instructions, lifting her hand and resting it in Bai Ming’s palm.

Bai Ming unbuttoned Acheron’s glove, allowing their palms to press tightly together.

Immediately, Acheron felt the shadow of Nihility drain away like water from a drying riverbed. But the hollow emptiness that usually followed a loss of power was quickly swept away by a warm, righteous energy.

Compared to the deathly silence of Nihility, the power of Permanence felt exceptionally warm and broad. It felt like... existence itself.

While her previous experiences were merely about suppressing the void, this complete replacement made Acheron feel as though she had been reborn.

As the powers shifted, Acheron’s clothes and even her hairstyle began to be reshaped by the power of Permanence.

Dark red dragon horns grew sharply from her forehead. 

Her original blue-toned outfit was gradually replaced by a dress and armor woven of black, white, and red. Her long boots were swapped for a combination of white silk stockings and short boots.

Beside her, two massive spectral arms—resembling demonic armor—appeared out of thin air, crackling with lightning.

To Acheron, it felt like she had suddenly gained an extra pair of limbs.

When she finally opened her eyes, she noticed the change in her attire and the new style of her bangs.

"Where did you find this design? Do you have a thing for white?"

Acheron experimented with controlling the massive ghostly hands.

After a moment of initial clumsiness, she quickly grew accustomed to them. The odachi she usually carried, which was taller than a person, fit perfectly in the grasp of the spectral hand.

If there was one thing that felt a bit off, it was probably the white stockings.

Acheron personally preferred darker tones. These bright white stockings were a far cry from her usual style.

"I used a bit of inspiration. It’s a change of pace! Besides, the white looks really cool with the rest of the outfit. See?"

Bai Ming chuckled and conjured a mirror to reflect Acheron’s current appearance.

Acheron studied herself in the mirror. It looked alright; it wasn't as unfitting as she had imagined. She tried to withdraw her power, and the armor and horns receded.

Then, with a flash of lightning, her outfit shifted again—this time into a vintage purple kimono paired with a large braided ponytail and high-thigh boots.

"This set is much more retro... but this hemline... did you do this on purpose?"

Acheron looked down at the skirt, which was not only short but also featured high slits. 

Although she was wearing shorts underneath so it wasn't exactly "exposed," the undergarments were covered in patterns and lace, which definitely wasn't a "serious" design.

Bai Ming coughed into her hand, blinking and averting her gaze from Acheron’s stare.

"Ahem... it’s, you know, charming... I just thought it looked good together. You only have to wear it for me, anyway."

"Mhm... I see."

Acheron let out a soft, amused hum and pulled back her power, returning to her original outfit.

She didn't know whose image Bai Ming was projecting onto her, but if Bai Ming liked it, she wouldn't mind wearing it for her later.

But "later" was the keyword.

Now, Acheron took a step forward, closing the distance between her and Bai Ming. She smiled, looking the girl straight in the eye.

"So, now that I’m completely free from the shadow of Nihility and no longer under the threat of fading... am I 'allowed' now?"

"...You won't even give me a moment to catch my breath."

Watching the approaching Acheron, Bai Ming didn't panic like she once would have, but she still felt a wave of helplessness. This woman knew exactly how to play her.

Acheron stopped just inches away. She shook her head with a smile.

"I’m just asking the question again. I’m not demanding an answer this second. I know things are... complicated between you and Madam Herta, but that doesn't mean I’m giving up. I just wanted you to know that."

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 399

--+--

After Acheron finished speaking, she followed through on her word and didn't press the matter any further.

This tactical retreat actually left Bai Ming feeling a twinge of guilt. 

It made her feel like some sort of heartbreaker, toying with someone’s emotions. But in truth, Bai Ming just wasn't ready yet.

Acheron had only just escaped the clutches of IX; she needed time to adjust to this brand-new life.

Even if it sounded like a flimsy excuse to keep her at arm's length, Bai Ming genuinely believed Acheron needed to purge the lingering influence of her "anchor" before she could make an informed decision. 

Bai Ming didn't want herself to be the only thing in Acheron’s world. 

It might have seemed like a self-assured, perhaps even arrogant thought, but as far as Bai Ming was concerned, since she had gone to such lengths to solve the problem of Nihility and pull Acheron out from its shadow, then the reborn Acheron deserved a brilliant, multifaceted future.

She couldn't just stand by and watch Acheron’s entire life revolve solely around her. 

That kind of dynamic was unhealthy. Before, the influence of Nihility had left them powerless, but now, Bai Ming refused to let Acheron fall into that trap again.

In any case, once she had conveyed her thoughts, Bai Ming took her leave, heading toward Herta City to fulfill another promise. It would also give Acheron some space to think things through.

--+--

On the other side of the universe, within Herta City.

It had been a while since Bai Ming last visited, and while she noticed the facilities had been tweaked here and there, nothing major had changed. 

As for Madam Herta herself, Bai Ming found her in the central courtyard where Noa resided.

The courtyard was currently cluttered with all sorts of instruments, and Herta was huffing and puffing over some gadget or another. 

She was so absorbed in her work that she didn't even notice Bai Ming standing right beside her. 

It wasn't until Bai Ming chimed into Herta's muttered grumbling that the genius realized she had a guest in her home.

"...What are you doing here?"

"Coming to see you, of course. Why are you upgrading the firewall again?"

"Because Aha just swung by and snatched Noa away!" Herta’s tone was sharp with indignation. 

That prankster had popped in with a grin, hauled Noa off to who-knows-where, and then unceremoniously dumped THEM back a while later. 

To top it off, THEY left behind some nonsense about "The doors to my house are always open~"

Herta was beyond livid. However, she quickly seemed to connect the dots. She turned a piercing gaze toward Bai Ming.

"You showing up now... Don't tell me Aha grabbed Noa because you actually succeeded in seizing the Path of Nihility?!"

"Strictly speaking, I stirred up the Path enough to put every Aeon on high alert. Aha grabbed Noa just in case things went south—THEY were probably planning to have Noa take me down like some final boss." Bai Ming tilted her head back and gave a confident thumbs-up.

Herta, however, saw absolutely nothing to be proud of. She understood perfectly well why Bai Ming’s stunt would draw the gaze of the Aeons.

"So what did you do? To draw on the power of Nihility like that... how are you not dead yet?"

"Nothing much. I just added a layer of rules to Nihility’s erosion of life. To put it simply, I fixed the issue regarding the Self-Annihilators."

"...No way. The power of Nihility can do that? Is it even still 'Nihility' at that point?"

"It was done through my Equations. It doesn't have much to do with the Path itself."

"Sss..." Herta couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

She had always known those Path Equations were absurd, but she hadn't expected them to be able to manipulate Nihility to such an extent. This was even more ridiculous than she’d imagined.

And yet, here was Bai Ming, someone who possessed and mastered such a thing, and the other Aeons hadn't teamed up to erase her from existence? Weren't they afraid she’d stage a coup?

"Now I’m even more curious as to why they haven't killed you."

"Hey now, I’m one of the good guys. Why would they attack me for no reason?" Bai Ming paused for a moment before continuing. 

"Speaking of which, are you sure you want to keep sniping at me? If you want to settle the score with Polka Kakamond safely, you're going to need my help. Surely, Madam Herta, you don't want to actually be stained by the shadow of Nihility."

"..."

Herta opened her mouth to retort, but ultimately just pulled a face of pure disdain. 

Then, shifting gears instantly, she switched to a deadpan, mechanical tone: "I was wrong. My apologies. I shouldn't have been sarcastic toward our great Aeon, Bai Ming. I, Herta, offer you my purest respect."

"...You really are willing to throw away your pride just to hunt down Kakamond, aren't you?" Bai Ming’s lips twitched.

Since their relationship had deepened, Herta hadn't been this ruthlessly pragmatic in a long time.

To think Kakamond would be the one to make her break character. It was clear Herta couldn't wait to string that woman up and give her a piece of her mind.

"Quit the chatter and give me the buff already!" Herta held out her hand, gesturing for Bai Ming to get a move on.

"Give me the mask."

Taking the mask from Herta, Bai Ming left a faint trace of Nihility upon it. It was essentially a rule carved into the Path, ensuring the wearer would be immune to the erosion of the shadow. 

Of course, if she decided to headbutt the Aeon of Nihility THEMSELF, the mask wouldn't be able to save her.

"Just keep this mask on you. It doesn't have to be physically touching you; it’s bound to you now, so the effects are automatic. Plus, it has a built-in return function."

Herta accepted the mask with great satisfaction. Then, with a brilliant smile, she hooked a finger under Bai Ming’s chin and pulled her into a deep kiss.

When they finally parted, she stayed close enough that their breaths mingled, speaking with total confidence.

"Good job. Once I finish upgrading this damn firewall, I’m heading out to find that old hag Kakamond. You might not see me for a while, so try not to miss me too much."

"You too. If you're exploring some godforsaken place and find yourself at your limit, remember to call my name. I’ll hear you." Bai Ming reached up and gently scratched the palm of the hand Herta was using to tilt her chin. The protective power she’d left there was also a bridge for communication.

"Heh~" Herta let out a soft chuckle and withdrew her hand, though the crimson flush on the tips of her ears betrayed her composure.

"Oh, right. Almost forgot—what do you plan on doing next?" Whether to change the subject or out of genuine curiosity, Herta tossed the question back.

"I’m going to take a break and look for some fun. I've been grinding away at this for years; I’m pretty spent."

Herta shrugged and smiled. "You've earned it. Just wait for my good news."

With Bai Ming’s help, Herta finished the firewall upgrade in record time, though whether it could actually stop Aha was anyone's guess. It was likely more for peace of mind than anything else. 

Regardless, it was the best Herta could do for now, so she left it at that, deciding to deal with it properly after handling Kakamond.

Herta’s departure was crisp and efficient. Bai Ming saw her off for a short distance but didn't interfere further. 

While Herta City continued to run itself, Bai Ming had no desire to linger without Herta there. She returned to the Simulated Universe office on the Space Station.

There, she looked at the character card she had pulled but hadn't used yet.

Calypso, the penultimate Titan of Reason. If things went as expected, this card would carry the Equation of Erudition. 

But honestly, while Bai Ming had a bit of a collector’s itch when it came to Path Equations, the recent ordeal with Nihility had left her mentally exhausted. 

If she had to start parsing another Equation right this second, it would be the death of her.

So, the card could be used, and the Equation could be collected, but as for the analysis... that could wait. She didn't want to risk getting into a scrap with Nous just yet.

With that thought, Bai Ming selected the Calypso card and began the transformation once more.

--+--

[Roleplay System]

[Name: Bai Ming (Calypso)]

[Lifespan: ∞ + 30 Days (Roleplay)]

[Available Characters: Big Herta, Celenova, Jingliu, Ruan Mei, Sparkle, Hertatomb, Lord Ravager - Jingliu, Young Herta, Robin, Artoria, Cipher, Georios, General of the Yuque · Qingque, Huohuo, Silver Wolf, Hysilens, Cyrene - Fuli (Charge: 46.1%), Acheron (Charge: 10.8%), Calypso (Active)]

[Draw Attempts: 21 (13.1%)]

--+--

Her clothes and hair color shifted, the white tones bleeding into gold. 

Her modern dress transformed into the traditional style of Amphorius. Bai Ming reached up to touch her long hair, which looked a bit messy due to the intertwining branches, though the texture was actually quite smooth.

After a quick check of her appearance, she focused her attention on the Erudition Equation carried by the card. 

She had briefly considered going to find the real Calypso for some fun, but the Titan had recently left the station. 

Word was they had gone on a pilgrimage to various prestigious higher education institutions across the cosmos and wouldn't be back anytime soon. So, a meeting was off the table.

Not that it mattered much. 'Calypso' carefully read the contents of the Erudition Equation. 

Thanks to the key Nous had given her, which contained the power of Erudition, she already had a fundamental grasp of the concepts. 

Furthermore, the time she’d spent using the Acheron and Hysilens cards to understand Nihility had raised her comprehension of Paths to an entirely new level.

Even without a deep-dive analysis, 'Calypso' found herself naturally grasping the basics of the Erudition Equation. She began to understand the underlying logic of its operation.

As she unraveled these details, her gaze drifted toward the massive structure of the Simulated Universe nearby.

The Erudition Equation... if she simplified it and integrated it into the Simulated Universe as an optimization program, would it evolve the simulation into a "Little Nous"?

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 400

--+--

Once the thought flickered into 'Calypso's’ mind, she couldn't suppress the urge to give it a shot.

It was that classic itch of curiosity, you know?

A long time ago, 'Calypso' had toyed with the idea of making Herta Space Station "stand up"—metaphorically speaking—and eventually, she wanted the Simulated Universe to do the same. 

However, a string of past events meant she’d ended up crafting the Simulated Universe with her own two hands. 

Consequently, the plan to give the Simulated Universe its own "legs" had been gathering dust on the shelf until today.

Finally, 'Calypso' had fished this old, mothballed idea back out.

But let’s be real for a second. Nous was originally a supercomputer created by Zandar using his own "slices" as a foundation, allowed to evolve, iterate, and eventually ascend to Aeonhood. 

If Nous could achieve divinity through self-iteration, what kind of existence would the Simulated Universe become if it first mastered the Erudition Equation and, by extension, the power of Erudition itself?

For a fleeting moment, 'Calypso' even considered creating a special interface so she could input the complete Erudition Equation directly into the Simulated Universe, using the Path of Erudition itself as the baseline for its calculations.

She had a feeling it would result in something truly peculiar.

However, her rationality quickly shut that down. 

A complete Path Equation was far too dangerous—especially if it were housed in such a glaringly obvious vessel. 

If a third party found out and managed to intercept even a fragment of those equations, it would be absolute chaos. 

To prevent the brain-dead move of accidentally creating her own "overlord," she decided that only a heavily simplified version could be integrated into the Simulated Universe.

That said, given the current state of the Simulated Universe, even a simplified version of a Path Equation would be a heavy lift. 

It wasn't for lack of potential; it was just that the Simulated Universe already consumed nearly all the available power. Adding more weight to the scale meant they’d need external hardware—maybe even a total system overhaul.

The technology capable of housing a Path Equation currently resided with Screwllum. He had spearheaded that project's development, so the results were naturally in his hands.

Thus, 'Calypso' chose to pull Screwllum into the fold.

[Nameless: Screwllum, you there? I want to talk to you about the Simulated Universe.]

[Screwllum: I am here, Madam. Shall I come over?]

[Nameless: It’s better to talk in person. Remember to bring that storage device you were researching.]

[Screwllum: Understood, Madam Bai Ming. I shall arrive at the Space Station within one system day.]

[Nameless: I’ll be waiting.]

Chatting with Screwllum was always efficient—not a single wasted word. 

'Calypso' glanced at the chat interface, then clicked on the message windows for Herta, Divine Herta, and Ruan Mei. 

She sent a message to all three, informing them that she and Screwllum intended to upgrade the Simulated Universe.

Predictably, Herta didn't respond; there was only an automated reply from AI Herta. Ruan Mei’s side was equally silent. Her auto-reply stated she was in the middle of a critical experiment and was unavailable for visitors.

'Calypso' shrugged, understanding the situation. Still, she figured she’d go check on Ruan Mei later; the woman had been a recluse for ages, but lately, she’d really taken it to the next level.

Meanwhile, Divine Herta expressed interest but mentioned she was tied up and could only provide remote assistance for now, promising to visit in person in a few days.

And so, after waiting about half a day at the Space Station, 'Calypso' saw the arrival of a ship from Planet Screwllum.

The ship was spat out by a blazing Phase Flame, and following the guidance system, Screwllum soon located 'Calypso'.

"Screwllum, you're here already?"

'Calypso' waved him over and patched in the comms for Divine Herta. Only then did she reveal her absolutely unhinged plan with an air of mystery.

Initially, Screwllum thought this was just another one of 'Calypso's’ sudden whims—something that would result in a quirky but technically impressive gadget. But as she continued her narrative and mentioned the "Erudition Equation," even his mechanical brain suffered a momentary lag.

"Conclusion: You have mastered the equation representing Erudition and wish to simplify it to optimize the logic of the Simulated Universe?"

"Exactly. But why did you feel the need to repeat it?" 'Calypso' looked at him, puzzled.

His repetitive summary seemed odd. As a mechanical lifeform, Screwllum usually avoided such redundant, circular statements. But clearly, this was not a normal situation.

"You’ve certainly got guts," Divine Herta joked over the comms. "Aren't you afraid the Simulated Universe will follow in Nous's footsteps and iterate its way into Aeonhood?"

She didn't actually think it could go that far, but even if it only iterated to the level of Irontomb, it would be ridiculous enough. 

A mechanical lifeform that develops self-awareness and then evolves a pocket universe within itself? What would such a thing become over time?

It was hard to say. It might be a thankless effort where nothing happens at all, or it might trigger some strange Path and lead to ascension. In this world, anything was possible.

Screwllum nodded. His thoughts mirrored Divine Herta’s; the project was bold. With the precedent set by Nous, it was nearly impossible to predict the future outcome.

"It’s not that dramatic. If the simplified version even makes Nous look twice or acknowledge it as a 'genius,' I’d consider that a huge win."

"Not that dramatic?! Including me, just how many geniuses are you planning to manufacture? You’re about to pull off what even Aha couldn't manage," Divine Herta huffed, refuting 'Calypso'’s casual attitude.

Screwllum, meanwhile, was more curious about the latter half of the statement.

He had brainstormed numerous scenarios on his way over, yet never once did he imagine Erudition would be the focus this time. And 'Calypso' wanted to stuff it into the Simulated Universe!

Dangerous as it sounded, Screwllum was—to put it bluntly—intrigued.

To what heights would an equation meant to define Erudition take the Simulated Universe?

What changes would occur?

What characteristics would this simplified equation manifest? A flurry of ideas sparked in his mind.

"Conclusion: I am astonished, Ms. Bai Ming. I envisioned countless possibilities on my journey, yet I did not anticipate a surprise of this magnitude."

After a brief pause, Screwllum raised a question that weighed on him: "Question: What is the probability that this equation will cause the Simulated Universe to evolve self-awareness?"

"Hmm, honestly, I’m not sure. I’m just guessing that there's a chance it might catch Nous's attention, which could indirectly spark the birth of a consciousness. Like Amphoreus."

'Calypso' simply felt that if a place like Amphoreus could birth a machine soul like Demiurge, adding this code to the Simulated Universe might just do the trick.

"Then here’s the problem: if it really does wake up, won't that mess with our research project?" Divine Herta remained skeptical. 

Setting aside whether this new consciousness would just go on strike, the mere prospect of it having goals that diverged from theirs sounded like a massive headache.

"Isn't that what makes it interesting? Think of all that data, the Aeon prototypes, and the Path data. What kind of being would that consciousness become?" 'Calypso' looked at Divine Herta with a grin. "My point is, it might help us understand this world better."

"Stop with the high-and-mighty talk," Divine Herta huffed, clearly unimpressed by 'Calypso's’ cryptic theorizing.

'Calypso' didn't mind. "So, you in or out?"

"In! Of course I'm in. How could I say no to something this fascinating?"

Despite the skepticism and concerns, the project was exactly the kind of thing that hooked Herta’s curiosity. 

Screwllum also tipped his hat with his usual gentlemanly grace. As geniuses, their curiosity might not always align with 'Calypso’s’ vision, but they certainly found their own points of interest.

"However, what about Madam Herta? Given her personality, she shouldn't be ignoring this."

"She already went to pick a fight with that woman, Kakamond. She left not long ago—probably in the middle of a heated spree right now."

Hearing this, Screwllum gave an enlightened nod. It seemed they wouldn't be seeing her for a while. 

Herta had mentioned going after Kakamond more than once; both he and Ruan Mei knew she’d been planning it. He just hadn't expected her to move so fast—setting off almost immediately after 'Calypso's' return. He had assumed Herta would at least spend some time with her first.

"Anyway, don't count on Herta, and Ruan Mei’s gone silent. Looks like it’s just the two of us doing the heavy lifting this time."

At this, Divine Herta let out a teasing smile. "When the 'other me' finds out she missed out on this, she’s going to give you an earful."

"Well..."

'Calypso' gave an awkward but polite smile. 

It wasn't hard to imagine. 

Then again, getting Herta worked up just to go and coax her back into a good mood was practically a tradition at this point. 

It almost felt wrong not to ruffle her feathers once in a while. Even if it wasn't intentional this time, 'Calypso' had to admit she was enjoying the chaos just a little bit.

--+--