Star Rail Impostor! - 411
--+--
Bai Ming, who hadn’t expected to get straight to the point like this, awkwardly averted her gaze.
She had originally intended to just drop a few hints and feel things out.
Instead, Herta had brought up all their past accounts at once, laying everything bare. It was a direct, upfront move that left Bai Ming with no room for retreat.
"I’m sorry... I never told you about Acheron."
Bai Ming apologized quite bluntly, prioritizing a display of the right attitude. But ironically, this only made Herta unhappy.
"What are you apologizing for? I’m not so unreasonable that I’d demand a deity leak their believer's secrets to me. Besides, I wouldn't even want to hear them."
It was just as Ruan Mei had surmised. Aside from Bai Ming herself, Herta had actually prepared herself mentally long ago.
The person she had entered into an intimate relationship with was an Aeon known throughout the world. Was she supposed to demand that an Aeon divulge every single secret just because of a close bond or a few feelings? Herta had never considered such an unrealistic path.
Seeing Bai Ming apologize so decisively actually made Herta feel like some sort of irrational woman, which was irritating.
"What I’m trying to say is, if you wanted to talk, why didn’t you talk to me? And why use such clumsy methods to keep me in the dark?"
"..."
Bai Ming scratched her cheek and thought for a moment before finally deciding to come clean about everything regarding Acheron and Ruan Mei.
Of course, she started with Acheron. As for Ruan Mei’s more... provocative words, those were pushed back for a moment; she wanted to see Herta’s reaction first.
Herta had already deduced some of it previously. After all, Acheron was a Self-Annihilator, and Bai Ming was attempting to decipher Nihility.
It wasn't hard to connect the dots on what Bai Ming would do once she mastered Nihility. Considering what Acheron had been doing and her past experiences, Herta had more or less pieced the picture together.
What she hadn’t expected, however, was that the catalyst causing Acheron’s thoughts to "spoil" into something else was actually this girl Bai Ming’s own doing.
"Sometimes I really think you’re too much of a do-gooder. You help everyone, and then you pour your heart and soul into it. You shouldn't be the Aeon of Elation; you should open up a new Path of Philanthropy."
Herta couldn't help but complain about Bai Ming’s habit of unconsciously stirring up trouble everywhere. To Bai Ming’s ears, however, the comment felt a bit strange.
"...Is that really appropriate coming from you? The Amphoreus incident wasn't that long ago, and considering the dozen or so crises at The Blue, I don't think you’re much better than me."
"At least I don't flirt with people’s emotions after doing the deed and then refuse to take responsibility."
At this, Herta shot Bai Ming a look. Though she didn't say it, her expression clearly conveyed the words: I despise you.
"What do you mean, 'refuse to take responsibility'? I just wanted Acheron to have a new life, rather than projecting all her hopes and desires onto me."
"Then did you ever ask her if she wanted to chase the vastness of the universe? What if she just wants to follow you?"
Herta fired back without mercy. Before she was done, she continued:
"Besides, the only reason you’re confessing so easily is because of something Ruan Mei said to you a couple of days ago, isn’t it? Otherwise, you definitely wouldn't have planned to ask for my opinion."
"..."
This was why, even now, Bai Ming felt like she still didn't truly understand these geniuses.
What "normal" person, when faced with this kind of situation, would actually seek out the party involved to ask for their opinion?
Seeing Bai Ming’s complicated expression, Herta sighed softly.
"I’ll just say it straight: You are an Aeon walking the mortal realm. You are destined to have believers who are close to you. I accepted that fact from the very beginning; otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen to take this step further with you."
"Since Acheron is the Emanator you chose, don't go pushing her away at a time like this. Even Aha wouldn't do something so nasty."
Herta actually began lecturing Bai Ming, telling her to have a bit more self-awareness as a deity. Even Aha wouldn't actively abandon their own believers; you'd better just stay put and take responsibility.
Hearing this, Bai Ming scratched her head.
She realized once again that her relationship with Herta was indeed unique. And, even after all this time, she still didn't understand Herta—or any of them—well enough.
"As for me."
Herta raised her hand, her finger tapping the mark in her palm.
"I know you were helping me from the shadows when I was dealing with Kakamond. I could feel it."
Bai Ming gave an embarrassed smile. She had been so careful, yet she’d still been caught? Embarrassment aside, she explained:
"I know you’re incredible. Even if I hadn’t stepped in, you definitely would have found Kakamond, defeated her, and returned in triumph. But even so, I won't forget that you are also someone I want to protect, regardless of how strong or weak you are."
"...Well, you certainly know how to sweet-talk."
Herta’s face flushed slightly. This girl was suddenly dropping these honeyed words out of nowhere. But despite the reflexive complaint, Herta felt happy—and wanted more of it.
She just didn't want Bai Ming to see that she wanted more. So, Herta picked up her cup and lowered her head to drink tea, trying to hide her reddening cheeks.
"Right, how is Ruan Mei’s research going?"
"Fairly smoothly. Nous hasn't hidden anything, but parsing the data itself takes time."
"Oh. I’ll talk to Ruan Mei later. Hopefully we can find something interesting."
After Herta said this, she fell into a temporary silence.
Bai Ming had thought Herta would continue—perhaps demanding compensation or finding some way to vent her frustrations despite the sweet-talk. Bai Ming was already prepared to be a good girl and listen.
Instead, Herta suddenly stopped talking, simply keeping her head down while drinking tea and eating snacks.
The silence lingered between them for a while. Finally, Bai Ming took the initiative to restart the conversation.
"What do you think of Ruan Mei?"
"What do you mean, 'what do I think'?"
"I mean... Ruan Mei has similar intentions."
"?"
At first, Herta didn't react, not understanding what Bai Ming meant by "similar intentions." But when she looked up and saw the subtle, awkward expression on Bai Ming’s face, it clicked.
The "intentions" she was talking about were similar to Acheron’s—and her own. Meaning Ruan Mei wanted to take her relationship with Bai Ming a step further.
"You mean Ruan Mei has those kinds of thoughts too?? That Ruan Mei, who hates social interaction? She wants to establish an intimate relationship with you??"
Beyond any other emotion, Herta’s primary reaction was disbelief and shock. Her pupils even dilated, as if she had just learned something utterly inconceivable. It left Bai Ming feeling bewildered.
"Just what kind of image do you have of Ruan Mei in your head...?"
"An emotionally cold, reclusive person. Is there a problem with that?"
"...No problem. Actually, I thought so too."
Bai Ming shrugged helplessly. On this point, she and Herta were in complete agreement. They both felt this shouldn't be happening to Ruan Mei. But unfortunately...
"She said it exactly like that. Though her tone made it sound like she was asking if a snack tasted good."
Herta pursed her lips, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.
After all these years, Herta and Ruan Mei could be said to know each other intimately. That was why she was so surprised. Was this really something that Ruan Mei would do?
"Then did you ask why?"
Herta blinked at Bai Ming.
Her eyes held no resentment over a friend competing for Bai Ming’s affections; instead, they were filled entirely with curiosity about why Ruan Mei would make such a choice.
"..."
Bai Ming was a bit speechless. You could always count on a genius to spend their whole life obsessed with curiosity. They always focused on the most peculiar details.
"Dial it back a bit. Even if I asked, it wouldn't be right for me to tell you. What are you thinking?"
"Tsk, boring."
Herta rolled her eyes and looked away, disinterested. But then she quickly snapped back, looking at Bai Ming again.
"Almost forgot. You, messing around with everyone and their mother—I haven't settled that score with you yet. Tell me, besides Acheron and Ruan Mei, who else have you been provoking?"
"..."
She really wanted to complain that Herta was just looking for an excuse to push her around. But she opened her mouth and nothing came out.
Bai Ming thought through the list: Jingliu, Fu Xuan, Sparkle, Demiurge, and so on. She had indeed helped them a lot and done plenty for them.
But surely their feelings hadn't "spoiled" into something else, right? These people weren't like Acheron or Ruan Mei—lonely wolves with hardly any friends.
Jingliu still cared about the High-Cloud Quintet, and now that she’d joined the Stellaron Hunters, she probably cared deeply for her new companions.
Fu Xuan’s ultimate goal was to become the General of the Xianzhou; her feelings for Bai Ming were basically just admiration.
Sparkle didn't even need to be mentioned—she was a pure agent of chaos. If you asked her, she’d manifest a persona that was "in love" with you right on the spot.
Qingque probably felt a mix of love and hate for her right now, but she likely didn't have those kinds of thoughts.
Demiurge was traveling with Evernight and was close friends with Cyrene; she didn't lack companions or intimate besties, so things probably wouldn't turn weird there.
Silver Wolf... Silver Wolf was only in her teens, just a girl with an internet addiction; she wasn't even part of the discussion.
As for the others... it was mostly the same. Bai Ming, at least, didn't feel like she had done anything that would make them fall for her. So, she shook her head earnestly in denial.
"No one else."
"Really? You seem to be on pretty good terms with a whole crowd of women out there. You even abducted Celenova and brought her back."
Herta did a mental count and realized she could name several off the top of her head. For instance, that girl Typhon was purely after Bai Ming’s body and barely bothered to hide it.
Celenova was also wandering around the space station every day in a maid outfit, showing off those long legs.
The debt of gratitude Jingliu owed wasn't small either. And that Xianzhou woman, Fu Xuan—she frequently invited Bai Ming to stay over at her place.
Could that really be considered a normal relationship between a deity and a believer?
Did those people really have no special intentions? Or was it simply that Bai Ming was oblivious? After all, until recently, this girl hadn't even been able to grasp Ruan Mei’s or Acheron’s true feelings.
She was pure, unadulterated negative emotional intelligence.
--+--
Star Rail Impostor! - 412
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Herta didn’t spend much mental energy on the matter—honestly, she couldn’t even be bothered to think about it.
It was exactly as she’d said before: Bai Ming was an Aeon, destined to be surrounded by all living beings. To harbor the idea of monopolizing an Aeon was, to some extent, nothing more than wishful thinking.
Besides, compared to her research, dwelling on such things was a total waste of her intellect. If she had the time to worry about this, she might as well spend it pondering the Erudition Equation.
Furthermore...
Her primary reason for having Bai Ming come over this time was to spend some quality time together, just the two of them, and soak in that private, intimate atmosphere.
She wasn't here to waste time overthinking things that hadn't even happened yet.
So, Herta chose to use today’s topic as leverage to give Bai Ming a hard time, making the Aeon follow her every whim while she thoroughly enjoyed herself. It served as a perfect, satisfying conclusion to her recent period of hard work.
As for Bai Ming...
She obviously saw right through Herta’s intentions. However, considering Herta had finally exacted her long-awaited revenge and had been working so hard on her own for so long, Bai Ming didn't call her out.
She simply played along to comfort her.
After being thoroughly "drained" by Herta in Herta City for an entire day, Bai Ming finally made her departure.
As for Herta herself?
The price of being the aggressor was a completely depleted stamina bar. She was currently passed out, and when faced with Bai Ming’s parting teases, she could only furrow her brows and let out soft, incoherent whimpers—a truly adorable contrast to her usual self.
After a final bit of teasing, Bai Ming finally let her off the hook, feeling quite satisfied.
Over at the Simulated Universe, there was still no word from Zandar. In the past, because Bai Ming was the one managing things, she had turned a blind eye to Zandar’s eavesdropping.
But now, the Simulated Universe had developed a self-awareness of its own. Its first instinct had been to scrub away every little trick Zandar had left behind.
Moreover, she was an Intellitron now; Bai Ming couldn't exactly ask her to install wiretapping devices inside her own body. That would be a bit too much.
Consequently, Bai Ming had no idea what Zandar was thinking lately. Regardless, Bai Ming intended to keep her promise and wouldn't break the agreement; she just didn't know what Zandar’s own stance was.
Bai Ming sent a message to Acheron to see where she was.
[Nameless: Where are you right now?]
[Acheron: What is it? Is your business finished?]
[Nameless: Yeah, I wanted to find you and talk.]
[Acheron: ...]
[Acheron: Alright.]
[Nameless: Where are you?]
[Acheron: That world on the border of IX.]
[Nameless: What are you doing all the way out there?]
[Acheron: I’ve more or less familiarized myself with my new power, and since I didn’t have anything else to do, I went back. I’m more used to the atmosphere here.]
[Nameless: Fine, I’ll come find you.]
Bai Ming looked at Acheron’s message and pursed her lips, unsure of what to say.
Putting away her phone, she took a single step forward, departing amidst flames toward that world that was growing livelier by the day.
Over at Celestial Sparrow Entertainment, they had been steadily operating that game for several years now, and the player base had stabilized at a decent number.
After all, it was a game focused on extreme freedom; not everyone enjoyed a game without a clear objective.
But then again, Bai Ming’s goal was never to create a massive blockbuster. The essence of it was to use living people to fill this world, making it feel more real.
As long as a player registered and logged in, even if they eventually quit, the data they left behind would serve as nourishment for the world, promoting its growth.
Bai Ming entered the world with ease.
Simulated Aha was busy tinkering with the simulated Aeon prototypes it had created, though its purpose remained a mystery. On the flip side, this kept it too preoccupied to stir up trouble elsewhere, which was a blessing in disguise.
After waving a greeting to Simulated Aha, Bai Ming quickly located Acheron amidst the sea of players and Sin Thirsters.
At that moment, Acheron was taking a stroll through the "Izumo World" within this realm. Years ago, Bai Ming had gifted her this Izumo world fashioned from memories, and Acheron had placed it here, offering it as a special instance for players to experience.
According to Acheron’s thinking, she wanted this Izumo to feel more populated and alive, rather than a lifeless world purely simulated from memory.
As it turned out, the special map of Izumo and its unique campaign were actually met with widespread acclaim. It had even attracted a crowd of archaeologists who came seeking the secrets of Izumo.
Bai Ming found Acheron walking in a park and appeared silently by her side.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Acheron turned to glance at Bai Ming and shook her head with a smile. "It’s fine. Walking around here is nice. Every time I come, I see many new developments. I like it here."
Acheron truly loved the feeling of her Izumo developing bit by bit at the hands of these players.
It gave her the sense that Izumo hadn't truly perished in the shadow of IX, but had been inherited and had set sail once more.
The park was relatively empty. Since this was a game, most players naturally preferred triggering quests in the city rather than sightseeing here.
Acheron was actually quite nervous. She knew that Bai Ming was somewhat resistant to her previous confession. So, when the other party suddenly said they wanted to talk so soon, Acheron was genuinely worried. If the answer was still a rejection, she didn't know what she would do next.
On the surface, however, Acheron remained the picture of calm, her true feelings impossible to read.
"What did you want to talk about?"
Acheron didn't look at the person beside her, keeping her eyes fixed on the nearby scenery.
She feared that if she caught a certain expression on Bai Ming's face, she might not be able to hold her emotions together.
"It’s about the answer to that matter from before. I felt like it shouldn't be left hanging indefinitely. It would be irresponsible of me."
Bai Ming noticed Acheron’s palm trembling slightly.
Is she nervous...?
Bai Ming instinctively reached out and took that slightly trembling hand. The palm was a bit cold, even stiff. When Bai Ming grasped it, Acheron didn't even react at first, as if she were afraid to squeeze back.
Bai Ming’s gaze traveled up from their joined hands, finally settling on Acheron’s profile.
"Won't you look at me?"
"...I’d rather not."
Acheron was silent for a moment before finally shaking her head, declining the invitation. Right now, she felt like her hands were starting to sweat. Unfortunately, Bai Ming refused to let go.
"Actually, you can look over. I’m saying yes, and I won't ask you to let go of this or that anymore."
Acheron froze in her tracks. Her eyes widened, and she turned around stiffly, looking at Bai Ming in utter disbelief. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
Acheron felt her heart racing frantically; her limbs felt numb as if she’d lost control of them. Even her vocal cords didn't seem to belong to her anymore, leaving her unable to make a proper sound.
It was the first time Bai Ming had seen Acheron this nervous. It was actually quite cute.
"What I said to you before was a bit out of line. And well, since I promised to take responsibility for you, I shouldn't keep running away. It’s all my fault. I apologize."
Acheron felt her heartbeat steadying slightly. Her fingers twitched, and she finally squeezed Bai Ming’s hand back, asking softly:
"Is it only out of responsibility that you’re agreeing?"
"...Of course not. If I didn't like you, how could I have been so conflicted?"
Bai Ming gave Acheron’s hand a little squeeze of mock annoyance. But seeing that Acheron was still a bundle of nerves, her body stiff as a board, Bai Ming sighed.
Tugging on Acheron’s hand, she stepped around to stand directly in front of her and pulled her into a hug with her other arm.
Now that she was free from IX, the scent on Acheron had become remarkably distinct. That faint, fresh fragrance drifted into Bai Ming’s nose as she rested her chin on Acheron’s shoulder.
Thankfully, Acheron didn't completely shut down. After being embraced, she at least had the presence of mind to wrap her free arm back around Bai Ming.
While they had hugged in the past, today’s embrace was clearly different, and the feeling it gave Acheron was worlds apart.
"Acheron, I’ll take responsibility for your life from now on, no matter what happens."
"...Mhm. Yeah."
Acheron opened her mouth, unsure of what to say, and a stray breeze blew a few of Bai Ming’s white hairs into her mouth.
But Acheron didn't dare move; she was terrified this was all a daydream, and that even the slightest movement would wake her up.
Bai Ming continued to hold her, hand in hand, staying perfectly still. She gently stroked Acheron’s back, hoping to help her adjust and relax so her muscles wouldn't stay as tense as a slab of granite.
Neither of them knew how much time passed in that position.
Under the influence of Bai Ming’s scent lingering at the tip of her nose, Acheron’s heart finally calmed down. Her body and mind gradually relaxed. Once she had settled, Acheron realized how embarrassing her behavior had just been.
Was I really that easy to win over?! She couldn't help but wonder.
She hadn't even managed to give a proper response, only stammering out a couple of "mhm"s. Upon realizing this, Acheron’s face began to flush.
She had been so composed when she made her confession, yet she had turned into a complete amateur when the moment actually arrived. It was more than a little humiliating.
Sensing that the person in her arms had relaxed, Bai Ming slowly pulled back. She looked up only to find that Acheron’s face had turned a deep shade of red, looking thoroughly embarrassed.
It was a look that made Bai Ming want to tease her.
On a whim, Bai Ming took Acheron’s hand and led her forward. In an instant, they moved from the park to an empty room.
After pulling Acheron down onto a sofa, Bai Ming turned and sat across her lap. She leaned in until their foreheads touched and asked with a playful smile:
"Still haven't snapped out of it? You were so bold before, so why are you so shy now?"
--+--
Star Rail Impostor! - 413
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Acheron’s eyes trembled as she looked at Bai Ming, so close she could almost feel her breath.
“…I didn’t expect this either. I thought I’d stay calm.”
She had thought she’d be more proactive, more composed. After all, it wasn’t like they’d never been this close before—there had been plenty of moments like this in the past.
But reality turned out far more absurd than she imagined.
Just a single word of agreement, a simple embrace, and she couldn’t even get her words out properly.
It was honestly hard to accept.
Watching the complicated expression on Acheron’s face, Bai Ming couldn’t help but laugh softly.
Then she lowered her head slightly—and pressed a light kiss against her lips.
Originally, Bai Ming had only meant to tease her a little, just a fleeting touch before pulling away, but just as she was about to lift her head—Acheron suddenly raised a hand, cupped Bai Ming’s head, and kissed her back, taking the initiative.
That look in her eyes—like she’d thrown caution to the wind, like she’d decided to just go all in—almost like she’d stopped caring about the consequences.
After a while, Acheron let go.
Her lips were damp, catching the light with a soft sheen as she breathed lightly, saying nothing, just staring straight into Bai Ming’s eyes.
Being kissed so boldly like that stirred something in Bai Ming too.
“Acheron…”
Just as Bai Ming softly called her name, about to continue, Acheron suddenly shook her head.
“Call me something else. Use my real name.”
To her, whether it was “Acheron” or the title she carried, both had come from nothingness.
They were responsibilities she had imposed on herself—a reminder of everything she had done.
But now—that responsibility had faded into nothing.
So she no longer needed that title, nor the name “Acheron.” Even if Izumo could never return, she herself had truly stepped onto a path toward the future.
So this name, stripped of its meaning, could finally be set down.
She would use the name that had always been hers: “Raiden Mei. Just call me Mei… don’t call me Acheron anymore, okay?”
Acheron—no, Mei—looked at Bai Ming with slightly misty eyes.
Her voice was soft, somewhere between a plea and a quiet statement.
And faced with her like this, how could Bai Ming possibly refuse?
“Alright, Mei.”
“Thank you.”
Mei’s eyes brightened at that, and she tilted her head up more eagerly, wrapping her arms around Bai Ming’s neck as she kissed her again.
This time—Mei shifted her body, pulling Bai Ming down with her onto the sofa.
Their long hair spilled loose, white cascading over dark, nearly swallowing both of them and the couch whole.
As things deepened, Bai Ming realized Mei was surprisingly passive—or rather, she seemed to be waiting, almost longing, to be taken the lead by Bai Ming.
It felt like she wanted to reclaim everything she had taken the initiative on before.
Yet her expression remained restrained.
Though, for various reasons, she couldn’t quite keep that composure intact.
That contrast made her all the more alluring.
Whether she was even aware of it… who knew.
Their closeness continued for quite some time.
It wasn’t that they lacked restraint—but perhaps Mei had been suppressed by that long stretch of emptiness in her past.
Now that she’d finally tasted something different, she had clearly grown fond of this kind of intimacy.
As she put it herself, being able to press close, to feel everything about the other person—it gave her the real sense that she had been reborn.
And so, in the end, Mei became a little… clingy.
When sitting or lying down, she would stay close to Bai Ming; when walking, she would quietly hook a finger around Bai Ming’s hand, silently asking to hold it.
No matter what she was doing, she’d let Bai Ming know…
And yet, the problem was—her expression stayed as cold and composed as ever.
After all, she had lived that way for so many years; now it was almost second nature.
She couldn’t keep that relaxed smile all the time.
And so, with that cool expression paired with such subtly affectionate behavior, it created a striking contrast.
That day, Mei brought Bai Ming to one of Izumo’s most distinctive viewpoints, overlooking distant snow-capped mountains and the roaring river below.
They began talking about where to go next.
“This place is nice, but in the end, it’s meant for dealing with Sin Thirsters. And with so many outsiders running around, it’s not suitable for long-term living.”
“That may be true, but aren’t you also someone without a fixed home? We can’t just go to the space station—I wouldn’t fit in there either.”
Mei knew well that this place was only suited for a short visit, not for settling down.
But the problem was, Bai Ming herself was just as nomadic.
The only place she appeared at more frequently was the Simulated Universe’s space station, but now that the Simulated Universe had essentially “evolved” into a Genius, staying there long-term felt… strange.
Hearing that, Bai Ming frowned, looking troubled.
That really was a problem.
She had wanted to find somewhere brighter for Mei to settle down—but she herself had always drifted from place to place, freeloading wherever she went, never staying anywhere for long.
Even though, technically, she had quite a few subordinate factions.
Especially with the reach of the Land of Light, there were plenty of habitable planets suitable for long-term living.
Even the Land of Light itself had been transformed into a rather pleasant place.
But in the end, the main issue was—Bai Ming didn’t live there either.
After thinking for a while, she decided to take herself out of the equation.
“For finding a place to live, don’t worry about me. I wander around anyway—just pick somewhere you like and settle there.”
Mei didn’t answer right away, lost in thought.
It wasn’t clear what she was thinking.
Seeing her silent, Bai Ming assumed she didn’t have a clear idea yet and continued:
“Then how about I take you to Amphoreus? There are a lot of newly developed habitable planets there, funded by the IPC—they’re pretty well-built. Or the Land of Light, there are plenty of options. You could also check out The Blue—it’s very livable.”
Bai Ming was just suggesting places she was familiar with.
There were actually many more options—like Planarcadia, Jarilo-VI, Leyaris, and so on.
She didn’t know much about Planarcadia, only paying it some attention because of Himeko.
There had been some serious incidents before, but in recent years it seemed to have stabilized.
Leyaris had that supreme dragon watching over it, making it a rather harmonious world.
As for Jarilo-VI…it was said that hundreds of years ago, one of its Supreme Guardians had turned into a Giant of Light.
Though they struggled against the Fragmentum for over a century, they eventually broke through the Stellaron blockade and reconnected with the Land of Light.
Now, it had regained some of its former prosperity, making it a decent option.
Though it made Bai Ming wonder what Belobog was like now—no longer a frozen apocalypse—and what Cocolia, Bronya, Seele, and the others were like.
Maybe she’d go take a look someday.
As Mei listened to Bai Ming’s suggestions, she snapped out of her thoughts.
Looking at her, she nodded.
“That could work… but do you have time to go around with me?”
“Yeah, I’ve got some time lately. Besides, I don’t have anything urgent to deal with.”
Bai Ming shrugged. She really didn’t have anything pressing.
And honestly, wandering around with Mei sounded pretty nice.
Just as Bai Ming started dragging Mei around to explore—on the other side, news that the Simulated Universe space station had somehow undergone a complete transformation and become Genius #85 spread like a storm.
Within the IPC, it even sparked serious internal division.
One faction—led by Diamond—believed that, given their good relationship with Bai Ming, this new Genius posed no threat and didn’t need attention.
But another faction remained highly wary, afraid that a third Mechanical Emperor might rise again.
One Screwllum was already enough to keep people on edge—now there was a new #85.
If either of these mechanical geniuses were to fall into anti-organic equations, it might end up being a “buy one, get one free” situation—two Emperors at once.
Of course, in reality, the previous two Mechanical Emperors had been reduced to Geniuses through Nous’s intervention because they had the potential to become Aeons of Destruction.
So unless something like Irontomb—where one was deliberately cultivated—happened again, a third Emperor was highly unlikely.
Which meant the IPC’s fears were probably unfounded.
But such secrets were known to very few.
And considering that Bai Ming had once created a massive, rather suspicious-looking mechanical Herta…
Now that a mechanical head resembling Madam Herta had appeared so suddenly, some imaginative members of the IPC began to speculate that Bai Ming’s earlier creation might have been a precursor to this new Genius.
Their arguments even sounded convincing.
To the point that this faction’s voice within the IPC wasn’t small at all.
There were even extremists who, despite knowing that #85 had ties with multiple Geniuses and even an Aeon, still wanted to attack, destroy, seize, or control it.
Meanwhile, the Intelligentsia Guild affiliated with the IPC found the whole situation absurd.
It felt like they could strive their entire lives and never reach the threshold of a Genius—yet a space station had done it.
And it hadn’t even been a sentient machine before—just a supercomputer.
Who knew what had happened to it to become what it was now?
Countless scholars became intensely interested.
For a time, invitations, research requests, and exchange proposals flooded in.
The last Genius had gone straight to the Land of Light, leaving nothing for other factions, but this one didn’t seem likely to leave Amphoreus anytime soon.
And so, in a short span of time, Amphoreus became lively once more.
--+--
Star Rail Impostor! - 414
--+--
The commotion over at the Simulated Universe space station was exactly as Bai Ming had anticipated.
In truth, Screwllum was well aware of the precarious position inorganic life held. The IPC was never particularly thrilled to see another mechanical being ascend to the status of a Genius.
Ordinarily, if a machine showed even a spark of potential to become a Genius, the IPC would have moved in swiftly to "intervene."
But this incident was anything but ordinary.
No one could have guessed that a supercomputer could go from birth and self-awareness to being recognized by Nous as a Genius in such a staggering heartbeat of time.
Furthermore, the Simulated Universe was technically a joint venture cobbled together by Herta and her peers. By the time the IPC even realized what was happening, the board was already set.
It wasn't just that #85 was surrounded by several Geniuses and even an Aeon. Even without them, there was still the Land of Light to contend with.
Those folks didn't care for corporate red tape; if you dared to lay a finger on someone who had never committed a crime under the flimsy pretext of them being a "potential threat," the Giants of Light would be at your front door the next day to show you the true meaning of a "righteous beatdown."
The IPC had suffered plenty of setbacks from them over the last few centuries.
Had this not involved matters concerning Emperor Rubert III—which tended to trigger a Pavlovian stress response in the company's senior staff—this internal friction wouldn't have made much noise at all.
After all, picking a fight with the Land of Light was a losing game.
The fact that the IPC remained idle was clear proof of their hesitation.
However, a quiet surface didn't mean there wasn't turbulence underneath. Screwllum remained cautious and deliberate in his movements, guarding against any unexpected "accidents."
Herta, on the other hand, was far more direct.
The Simulated Universe had always been a long-term project dear to her heart. Now that it had evolved into a Genius in its own right, she was even more fond of it.
Consequently, when a swarm of mortal "flies" gathered from who-knows-where to harass the Simulated Universe station daily, she reached her limit.
Even though the Simulated Universe was perfectly capable of fending them off itself, Herta was incensed.
She eventually took matters into her own hands, dealing out a harsh dose of "discipline" to those who lacked eyes to see, which finally made the rabble settle down.
Bai Ming kept an eye on the festivities over at Amphoreus, mostly through her puppet.
Initially, she hadn't planned on interfering, believing the Simulated Universe was more than capable of handling its own affairs.
However, she couldn't resist Herta’s insistence that they all get involved in the new Genius’s "early childhood education."
Herta was terrified that some ill-intentioned senior Genius might lead the Simulated Universe astray.
In the end, even Bai Ming wasn't spared; she was forced to split her attention to help tutor this new addition to the Society.
Meanwhile, her travels with Mei to find a permanent home continued. It just so happened that when they arrived at The Blue, they crossed paths with the Astral Express.
The train hadn't landed on the planet itself but was docked at Herta Space Station. According to AI Herta, the Express had taken on a commission from Madam Herta to collect Curios in exchange for rewards.
While various factions had invested in the Express to build goodwill when it first set sail, it wasn't realistic to expect them to keep the credits flowing forever.
A few years had passed, and though the Crew’s finances were still healthy, the numbers were steadily ticking downward.
Thus, Himeko continued to manage business ventures like this to keep the train’s coffers replenished.
Upon seeing the Astral Express, a sudden spark of inspiration hit Mei.
"What do you think about me joining the Astral Express? The environment inside is nice, and more importantly, it could take me to many places without us having to search for them manually."
"...You, joining the Express?"
Bai Ming blinked, momentarily stunned.
It wasn't that she wanted to stop her, but she couldn't help but wonder how Mr. Yang would feel if he hopped on board only to find Himeko and Mei both staring back at him.
To make matters worse, she had crafted a Herrscher of Thunder outfit for Mei. If Mei wore that Valkyrie armor during their first meeting, Welt’s expression would be a sight to behold.
Speaking of which... when exactly did Welt board the train?
Theoretically, the main story was only a few years away. It made sense that March 7th wasn't there yet, as it was still the era of Evernight, but when did Welt cross over?
And what exactly was the relationship between the Solar System of Honkai Impact 3rd and this world?
Were they parallel universes, or was it simply tucked away in some undiscovered corner of the cosmos?
Since Bai Ming didn't possess the power of Trailblaze, she truly couldn't handle the task of pinpointing specific worlds.
Even the Aeon of Trailblaze hadn't finished measuring the entire universe; Bai Ming didn't think she could do much better.
Seeing Bai Ming lost in thought, Acheron looked at her with a hint of confusion. "Is something bothering you?"
"No, nothing. Just thinking about a few things. Shall we go take a look at the train?"
Bai Ming gestured toward the Express. Since Mei liked the idea, wandering with the train for a while sounded like a plan.
One had to admit, the title of "Nameless" was just too convenient. If you didn't know what to do in this world, go to the Astral Express. If you didn't know where you were going, go to the Astral Express.
Unfortunately, most people found it hard to abandon everything they knew to board a train headed for the eternal unknown. The mere decision to step onto those tracks required immense courage.
Bai Ming led Mei to Herta Space Station. It had been a long time since she’d visited in person.
Compared to years ago, the station hadn't changed much, aside from being a bit more crowded.
Having received word of Bai Ming’s visit, Himeko was already waiting on the train. As soon as they arrived, they were greeted by her.
Standing beside Himeko was a cheerful-looking woman wearing glasses.
Bai Ming recognized her immediately.
"Razalina? You’ve rejoined the Express?"
"Hello. I am Razalina Jane Estella. Thank you for saving my life back then. Tiernan and Mikhail still can't let go of the Family, so they ultimately decided I should board the train to see what the world looks like today."
Razalina stood up and gave a slightly stiff, nervous bow. Her eyes held a mixture of anxiety and curiosity. After all, she owed Bai Ming her life, yet they were essentially strangers.
"That’s wonderful. You slept for so long; it’s good to get out and see things."
"It really is. I feel the same way. Besides, the universe today is so vibrant. I love it."
Razalina seemed genuinely enamored with the current era—perhaps the novelty hadn't worn off yet.
Bai Ming turned to Himeko. "Where are Hysilens and the others?"
"They’re taking the new members of the Crew on a tour of the space station."
"New members? It’s rare to see new faces. Who are they?"
Bai Ming was intrigued. Had someone unexpected joined the Crew?
Himeko smiled and nodded. It truly was a rare occasion. While the Express often had temporary passengers for a few stops, permanent members were few and far between.
"There are two of them. A human named Welt, and an inorganic being named Void Archives. I picked them up in the cosmos a while ago. They are both quite capable."
Himeko hesitated slightly when she said "quite capable." It seemed she was struggling with her choice of words, but she settled on that description nonetheless.
Bai Ming didn't know much about Void Archives, but considering he had been "marinated" in Otto's influence for so long, he likely spent his time spouting cryptic nonsense.
No wonder the Conductor would eventually kick him off.
But still... he finally made it on board. Old Man Yang.
"Is this their first time at Herta Space Station?"
Himeko nodded. "It is. Welt seems to have a great fondness for mecha and armored constructs. I imagine he’ll find the station quite fascinating."
The corner of Bai Ming’s mouth quirked up. That big robot-loving nerd... if he saw the station transform, he’d probably look twenty years younger from pure joy.
Not to mention the train car that could transform into a heavy-duty combat unit. He’d probably love that too.
Should I swap Mei into a classic Valkyrie suit? Like Flamescion or Void? Just to mess with him?
As Bai Ming plotted, she suddenly realized something else. "Hey, Himeko, do you have enough spare rooms on the train?"
The Express had plenty of cars, but they all had specific functions. Actual bedrooms were in short supply.
"It is a bit cramped. I was actually wondering if I should use this trip to the station to arrange for an expansion."
Currently, Cerydra and Hysilens shared a room, while Himeko, Dan Heng, and Razalina each had their own. Welt and Void Archives were currently sleeping in rooms that had been hastily tidied up.
It wasn't that they couldn't sleep there, but it was certainly a tight fit. There were still spaces on the train that could be converted into proper private quarters.
"Perfect timing, then. Let us help you build them."
Bai Ming figured she could design a bedroom in the Izumo style that Mei liked. Since it was essentially a blank slate, she could build whatever she wanted.
Himeko was momentarily stunned. Asking an Aeon to help renovate train cabins? What had she, a mere Navigator, done to deserve such an honor?
Bai Ming enthusiastically marched off toward the other cars, leaving Mei behind to explain.
"It’s like this, Miss Himeko. I’m thinking of joining the Astral Express. I suspect Bai Ming just wants to make sure my room is built properly."
Hearing this, a bright smile broke across Himeko’s face.
She knew Acheron; she was a powerful individual who had reportedly switched to the Path of Permanence and had recently challenged several formidable Scions of Long.
She was incredibly strong, yet not bellicose, with a very pleasant temperament.
Wasn't that ten thousand times better than that chatterbox, Void Archives?
"If Miss Acheron wishes to join the Express, she is more than welcome."
Mei still used the name "Acheron" with outsiders, though if she was joining the Crew, there was no real need to hide her true name.
And just at that moment...
Outside the train, having finished his tour of the station, Welt walked back with a satisfied smile on his face, stepping briskly toward them!
--+--
Star Rail Impostor! - 415
--+--
Welt felt that his recent experiences were a bit too thrilling and, oddly enough, far too smooth.
After all, arriving suddenly in this unfamiliar world with a damaged ship, no acquaintances, no star charts, and no clue where he even was—it was a nightmare scenario.
By the time he could have tinkered enough to build a ship capable of free interstellar travel, he likely would have died a hundred times over. Just thinking about it felt draining.
But fortunately, perhaps fate was smiling on him, or perhaps someone was guiding him.
He and Void Archives had drifted through the cosmos for a time before they encountered the Astral Express.
More importantly, he met the person he wanted to protect with his life: Himeko.
Naturally, Welt took the opportunity to board the train.
It was only then that he realized just what kind of incredible world he had stumbled into.
A vast, nearly boundless universe, various strange Paths, Aeons, and a train that could leap across the galaxy at will. Every single detail challenged Welt’s perception of reality.
And of course, there was one thing that made Welt particularly giddy.
That was the massive transforming unit said to be blessed by an Aeon—Drytron Alpha Thuban.
It was powerful and cool.
If there was one regret, it was that this unit, as beautiful as a work of art, wasn't a humanoid robot.
However!
Welt also learned something else. From the hands of that same Aeon came another machine called the Unicorn. Not only was it humanoid, it was so beautiful it hardly looked like a machine of war.
Welt had specifically searched for data on the Unicorn Gundam, and he was instantly captivated by its pure white frame, filled with a sense of fantastical mechanical aesthetics.
Heaven only knows what was going through Welt’s mind when he saw the Unicorn.
At that moment, he lamented in his heart. He sighed that while both were powerful units, why didn't the Unicorn belong to the Astral Express?
If it did, wouldn't he be able to rightfully pilot a giant humanoid mecha?
Regardless, in the eyes of Himeko and Void Archives, this man old enough to be a great-grandfather was as happy as an eight-year-old child. His eyebrows were practically flying off his forehead.
Himeko could tell that Welt likely had a deep love for humanoid units and probably wanted one of his own. It was only due to his adult restraint that he felt too embarrassed to tell her.
Himeko actually wanted to give one to him, but while she was skilled in mechanical engineering, hand-crafting a humanoid mecha powerful enough for him was a bit beyond her reach.
After all... any ordinary unit wouldn't be able to withstand the black holes Welt created.
It would be more accurate to say that there aren't many materials or designs in this world that can hold up against the gravitational pull of a black hole.
However, Himeko could manage to get some of the more common transforming robots for the new crew member.
In Herta Space Station, if you picked up a random metal object, there was a high probability it was a transforming robot. Even the Express had several cleaning-model transformers under Pom-Pom’s command.
So, Welt took the phone he had just received and brought it to the AllSpark to have it modified into a transforming robot.
The only pity was that he didn't get to see the Space Station itself transform into a humanoid. Welt had seen plenty of records; Herta Space Station could transform into a giant humanoid combat form.
Normally, it would spend its free time spinning around in The Blue's orbit.
Unfortunately, his timing was off. The station wasn't currently transformed, much to Welt’s disappointment.
Thus, after a brief tour, Welt chose to head back to the Express to rest. And then...
When Welt pushed open the cabin door, he saw a very familiar silhouette and heard a very familiar voice speak a very familiar name:
"My real name is Raiden Mei. You can just call me Raiden Mei from now on."
This self-introduction hit him like a bolt from the blue.
The middle-aged man’s smile vanished instantly, and he froze on the spot.
What do you mean, Raiden Mei??
Listen, man... He didn't even know if he’d crossed into another universe yet. Running into Himeko was one thing. How could he turn around and run into Raiden Mei too??
Good grief. Was the Honkai chasing him down to crush him or something?
The world is so big, yet he still ran into an "old acquaintance." The irony was ridiculous.
At this point, Welt wasn't yet the world-weary, experienced Welt of a few years later.
To him, he had only just arrived in this universe. First, he was lucky enough to be saved by Himeko, and then a few days later, he turns around and sees a Raiden Mei carrying an odachi.
What’s next? Was a white-haired Kiana and a grey-haired Bronya going to walk out too?
Dammit. Had he fallen into a trap? Was this some kind of illusion? Otherwise, why was he running into so many "familiar actors"?
Welt even spiraled into self-doubt, wondering if he had actually left the solar system at all.
Perhaps because Welt had been standing at the door for too long, both Mei and Himeko turned to look at him.
"This is Mr. Welt Yang, and this is Miss Acheron. Her real name is Raiden Mei," Himeko introduced them briefly.
But Welt was clearly struggling to keep his composure. The resemblance—it was too much.
Compared to the Raiden Mei from Earth, other than her eyes being more weathered and profound, what was the difference??
All that excitement about giant robots had now turned into a confused, complicated mess of emotions.
"Hello. I am Welt Yang, a new addition to the Express."
"Hello. I am Raiden Mei, soon to be joining the Express."
Mei nodded toward Welt, acknowledging him. Then, she turned to Himeko and Razalina.
"I’ll go check on Bai Ming's side first. I'll be back once the room is ready."
Himeko smiled and nodded. "Mhm. Once everyone is back, I’ll give you all a formal introduction."
Razalina waved her hand happily. "Then we need a welcome party! I’ll go get some treats from the Space Station~"
As Mei turned to leave the carriage, Welt finally voiced his question to Himeko.
"This... Miss Raiden Mei, and who is Bai Ming?"
Himeko looked at Welt with confusion. This man’s expression had turned visibly complex the moment he saw Madam Acheron. Wasn't he from an unexplored world? How could he know Acheron?
Perhaps because Himeko’s confusion was too obvious, Welt gave an awkward cough and explained, "Miss Raiden Mei looks exactly like a comrade of mine who fought the Honkai in my homeland. Even their names are identical. That’s why I lost my composure for a moment."
"Is that so? Well, that is quite a coincidence."
Himeko had heard of similar things—how occasionally in the universe, one might see almost identical elements in different worlds.
Himeko hadn't experienced it herself, but she didn't expect to actually run into it.
"Miss Mei’s past is quite complicated, and I don't know much about it. I only know that she is currently a powerful Emanator of Permanence."
"An Emanator..."
Welt’s pupils shrank. He was clearly shocked. After all, those legendary and rare Emanators—he had actually met one today. And she had such a familiar face.
Wait... why an Emanator of Permanence? Wasn't the Aeon of Permanence supposed to have fallen?
"As for the other lady, Bai Ming, she is a very special Aeon. By the way, the units used by the Express, as well as that white Unicorn Gundam, were made by her."
"..."
Now Welt was truly speechless. Hold on, is the Astral Express’s background really this "hardcore"?
Welt’s first impression of the Astral Express was that of a small-scale group. It had been glorious once but was now a bit diminished.
Although the crew had good relations with several major factions and had been lucky enough to receive the Aeon’s favor, the crew members were few, and their combat power didn't rank very high in the galaxy.
Welt had worried before that an Astral Express like this would constantly run into crises while traveling the universe.
And now you’re telling him an Emanator is joining the crew, and an Aeon might just pop up on the train like a casual guest?
Listen, man. Does this mean the Himeko of this world isn't in any life-threatening danger at all? His worrying was completely for nothing.
Welt pushed up his glasses awkwardly. But alongside the awkwardness, he felt a sense of relief.
Although he didn't quite understand what was so special about this Aeon yet, having a friendly Aeon backing them up certainly guaranteed their safety.
Meanwhile, Bai Ming was busy working with Pom-Pom on a spacious, vacant area within the Express.
As she was thinking about how to partition the rooms and layout, Mei walked up the stairs.
"Haven't started yet?" Mei was surprised to see the empty space. She thought that with Bai Ming’s efficiency, the place would have been renovated in the time she spent talking downstairs.
"Pom-Pom and I are considering how to utilize all the remaining space on the train. We’re deciding how many rooms or functional areas to create."
Beside her, Pom-Pom was directing small robots to constantly change design drafts on a screen, nodding along.
"That’s right! Since we can use Bai Ming’s power to construct rooms directly, we might as well use up all the idle space!"
"..."
Mei thought about how there were only a few people in the crew right now. Utilizing all the carriages seemed like a bit of a wasted effort—they didn't need that much space. But seeing Pom-Pom so enthusiastic, Mei kept that thought to herself.
"By the way, I met the new Nameless, Welt Yang. Judging by his expression, I think he knows someone who looks very much like me."
"Oh? Welt is back?" Bai Ming smiled.
Then, quickly, her clothing began to reconstruct, turning into a small dress dominated by white and purple, and her long hair tied into a side ponytail.
Cold shoulders, a low neckline, with a long white boot on one leg and a short boot on the other.
This was the outfit Kiana wore in the story of Honkai Impact 3rd Part 2, according to Bai Ming’s memory.
She had loved it back then, but unfortunately, it was never implemented as a playable skin, even by the time she arrived in this world.
She didn't expect that she could now dress up as the character herself.
--+--
Star Rail Impostor! - 416
--+--
As for her own face... she had adjusted it back to the one Aha had once fixed for her.
She even tweaked her pupils a bit, changing them into those purple star-shaped eyes characteristic of Finality.
Strictly speaking, Bai Ming had already guessed by now that the face Aha had sculpted for her back then was most likely modeled after Kiana’s.
Perhaps that fellow Aha had known about the affairs over there all along and simply chose not to interfere for reasons of his own.
And truthfully, Bai Ming’s current face shared at least a fifty percent resemblance to Kiana’s. Combined with a few features from others, it had settled into its current look.
With just a slight adjustment now, she was guaranteed to give Welt a massive fright.
Watching Bai Ming’s sudden transformation, Acheron wore a look of confusion.
"What are you doing?"
It wasn't just a change of clothes; her face had shifted slightly, and even her pupils had taken on a strange shape. This was clearly more than just wanting a new outfit.
"Nothing much. Just thought of something fun," Bai Ming said, her lips curling into a silly grin.
She didn't even need to search through the Memoria to guess how Welt had reacted when he saw Acheron earlier. She wondered if Welt would start questioning the meaning of life once he laid eyes on her.
Bai Ming chuckled and let out a light hum, then raised her hand and gave a sharp snap of her digits.
The previously empty, vast space was rapidly partitioned into three rooms and a corridor.
Each room came with its own private bathroom; while perhaps a bit smaller than Himeko’s quarters, they were more than spacious for a single occupant and could easily pass for a double.
Two of the rooms remained empty, but the first had already been furnished in the traditional style of Izumo.
"Acheron, this is the initial draft I discussed with Pom-Pom. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Acheron pushed the door open. Seeing the incredibly familiar decor inside, she fell into a momentary daze.
For a second, she felt as though crossing that threshold meant stepping back through countless years, returning to her childhood bedroom in the Izumo of old.
But very quickly, a sense of embarrassment began to crawl into Acheron’s heart.
The main issue was that Bai Ming’s recreation was far too detailed—so detailed that Acheron could spot numerous "dark history" moments from her childhood replicated with one-to-one precision at a single glance.
"...You really didn't need to go quite this far. Just how many details of my memories did you dig through?"
When Bai Ming had created that small world for her before, it hadn't been this meticulous. How had she evolved since then!
Acheron looked over, her face tinged with a slight blush. But Bai Ming simply gave her a playful wink.
She walked over, draped an arm around Acheron’s shoulders, and leaned in close, pointing out the room's contents.
"Well, my strength has grown, after all. And isn't this all for the sake of a better restoration? Don't worry, little Acheron was adorable. I like her very much."
"I'm even less worried now..."
Acheron pressed her cheek against Bai Ming’s, feeling the heat from her own face transfer through their skin.
Bai Ming had seen everything to this extent and hadn't breathed a word, choosing instead to wait until now to startle her. It was, in a way, quite wicked.
Yet, it was Acheron herself who had invited Bai Ming to delve into and glimpse those past memories. So, aside from a silent look of condemnation, the honest Acheron couldn't find any grounds to actually scold her.
"Alright, take a look and see if there’s anything you want to change. You’ll be living here for quite a while, after all."
Acheron nodded, then pointed toward the spacious double bed. "Everything else is fine, but this bed... why is it so big?"
Acheron didn't usually sleep much, and even when she did rest, she had no need for such a large bed.
Furthermore, if this was based on her childhood room, the bed back then should have been much smaller.
This girl was so insistent on accuracy, yet this bed alone was unreasonably large... Bai Ming couldn't possibly be harboring other intentions, could she? For instance—
"Are you planning to come and stay in my room occasionally?"
"Cough... since you’ve guessed it, I might as well come clean. Yes, I plan to squeeze in here with you whenever I come to visit."
Caught in the act, Bai Ming’s face reddened slightly, but after a quick dry cough, she shamelessly admitted it.
Acheron only found it amusing. She stopped worrying about the bed; if Bai Ming wanted to come over, Acheron certainly wouldn't stop her. If anything, she welcomed it.
"Let’s swap these pieces of furniture for newer models. These styles are too old, and you even went out of your way to distress them. There’s no need for that. I never liked them much anyway, and they don't really match the train’s style."
Acheron pointed to the furniture in the room.
Those items were considered "retro" even back in Izumo, let alone in the current era. There was no need to be faithful to that extent; Acheron was more than happy to use something new.
"Sure. Anything else?"
"Add a layer of soft padding to the floor. The kind they used in Izumo."
Though Acheron felt a certain nostalgia for this recreated room of her past, nostalgia didn't mean she liked everything in it. She led Bai Ming around the room several times, changing various small details.
The entire room took on a fresh look; while it retained much of its original flavor, it didn't lack a modern touch.
Once Acheron’s room was set, Pom-Pom couldn't wait to drag Bai Ming to the other carriages to begin the interior renovation project.
They worked from the tail of the train to the head. Some completely useless functional areas were torn down and replaced with more important ones, while entirely new features were added.
Ultimately, there were only a few members of the Astral Express crew, so the overall space was actually in surplus.
For the areas that truly had no use, Bai Ming hand-crafted two training rooms.
While not everyone on the train practiced martial arts, Dan Heng, Hysilens, and the soon-to-join Acheron were three individuals who favored cold weapons.
Having one or two spacious, sturdy training rooms was quite necessary.
And since she was already at it, Bai Ming took the opportunity to perform a maintenance upgrade on the Drytron Alpha Thuban.
There was no need to keep ramping up the firepower, but there was room for improvement in flexibility, defensive capabilities, and the operating system.
"Conductor, is the Drytron Alpha Thuban easy to handle?" Bai Ming asked casually while upgrading the OS.
"The Conductor hasn't driven it! But passengers Himeko and Cerydra, who have, were full of praise. I think they are very satisfied!"
In fact, Pom-Pom could pilot the Drytron Alpha Thuban. Having followed the Express for so long, the unit had long been recognized as part of the Astral Express.
As long as the Express was incorporated into the unit after deployment, Pom-Pom could pilot it at will.
This was actually a measure to ensure the train's safety. In an emergency, Pom-Pom could jump into the Drytron Alpha Thuban and descend like a god from the heavens.
It seemed, however, that Pom-Pom had never used this feature.
"Oh... do you want a new unit then?"
"Madam Bai Ming, please take note: the Astral Express is not a violent armed organization! Too many units will affect the Astral Express’s public image. One Drytron Alpha Thuban is more than enough!"
Hearing that she wanted to add more combat-heavy units like the Drytron Alpha Thuban, Pom-Pom nearly jumped up in a panic to cover Bai Ming’s mouth.
Pom-Pom knew it could easily control the unit, but the reason it never had was precisely because the firepower was too terrifying.
The Astral Express was meant for Trailblazing, not armed suppression.
Carrying one unit could be explained as an escort craft. But if they carried multiple armed units, people might think they were a fleet looking to conquer the world. That was not a good look.
Chastised by Pom-Pom, Bai Ming had to suppress her urge to forge the rest of the Drytron units. She quirked a lip at Acheron, giving up on the idea of adding more firepower to the Express.
Perhaps the commotion here was too loud, as Himeko and Welt, who were on the train, followed the noise all the way there.
Upon seeing the newly dressed Bai Ming looking down while tuning the system, Himeko simply smiled, having already grown accustomed to the new look.
"Madam Bai Ming, are you upgrading the Drytron Alpha Thuban?”
"In a way. But don't worry, I mainly upgraded the OS and defensive capabilities to make it easier for you to pilot," Bai Ming explained, turning her head.
Himeko could only manage a wry smile while pressing a hand to her forehead. She truly didn't feel that the defensive or operating systems of the Drytron needed any optimization.
Welt, however, was completely frozen.
If it weren't for his practiced composure as an elder, Welt probably would have started swearing by now.
Kiana??
Isn't she on the Moon? Why is she here?
No, the name Himeko just used wasn't Kiana, it was Bai Ming. That Aeon!!
Holy...
Thinking of this, Welt’s pupils dilated in total shock.
A girl who looked exactly like Kiana was an Aeon in this universe?! Was this a bit too absurd? That was an Aeon—a being capable of easily shaking the entire universe! And she looked just like Kiana.
Welt began to doubt whether he was dreaming or in reality. If Kiana ever found out about this, he wondered how she would react.
The only thing that hadn't caught him off guard was the intimate atmosphere between Raiden Mei and Madam Bai Ming. That, at least, was exactly as expected.
At the same time, Acheron noticed Welt’s even more exaggerated look of shock. She realized instantly.
This outfit Bai Ming had intentionally changed into, this face, these eyes... they were all meant to prank Mr. Welt.
She did it on purpose!
--+--
Star Rail Impostor! - 417
--+--
In Mei's eyes, looking at the current situation...
Bai Ming was clearly very familiar with this Welt fellow.
Mei’s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing that things weren't as simple as they appeared.
It wasn’t just a matter of how Bai Ming knew the man’s background; rather, Mei’s mind drifted back to the two new forms Bai Ming had crafted for herself a while back.
Bai Ming had already admitted those looks were referenced from other worlds. Previously, Mei had been curious about what kind of worlds those outfits belonged to.
Judging by the style, one was clearly from a high-tech era, while the other was from a world with a significantly lower level of technological development.
Now, comparing Mr. Welt’s attire with the style of the outfit Bai Ming had manifested for herself—the one with horns and a pair of massive mechanical arms—Mei felt there was a high probability that image shared a world with Welt.
Had Bai Ming known all along that Mr. Welt would board the Express? Mei wondered, feeling utterly perplexed.
She tilted her head, leaning close to Bai Ming’s ear to whisper, "Did you know from the start that Mr. Welt was coming?"
"...What makes you think that?"
Bai Ming neither admitted nor denied it, but in Mei’s eyes, that kind of ambiguity was basically a confirmation.
"If I’m not mistaken, that form with the giant mechanical arms... I’ll bet it’s someone Mr. Welt knows, isn't it?"
How did she figure it out so fast? Bai Ming puckered her lips, but quickly whispered back with a mischievous nudge, "So, do you want to change into one too?"
"I’m not as bored as you are... No."
Mei’s face was a picture of exasperation. She pressed a finger against Bai Ming’s forehead and pushed her away.
This girl was truly something else. Even if she knew Mr. Welt’s origins, there was no need to go as far as transforming into his acquaintances just to mess with him.
What was the point?
Mei shook her head, unable to fathom the pursuit of "Elation." Though, in truth, Bai Ming’s abstract behavior didn’t really have much to do with the Path of Elation itself.
Seeing that Mei had no intention of joining her in being ridiculous, Bai Ming shook her head with a sigh of regret. Boring. She’d just have to wait for Silver Wolf to show up and ask her instead.
It just so happened that Silver Wolf was still using the Remodeled Project Bunny she’d gifted her.
Inside, there were a few pre-set outfits based on the Herrscher of Reason, though they weren't set to trigger automatically.
Once Silver Wolf’s Aether Editing reached a certain level, she’d be able to see them—whether she chose to wear them or not was up to her.
Bai Ming had only left that data there because she thought it’d be funny.
Speaking of which, she wondered how Silver Wolf was doing lately. Who knew when the Stellaron Hunters would come to pick her up?
Theoretically, with the upgraded Aether Editing Bai Ming had provided, clearing Punklorde should be a walk in the park for her.
By now, Silver Wolf was likely in her teens—the peak of her rebellious phase.
Bai Ming wondered if she’d still be as clingy as she was when she was little. Watching a little "Bronya" act spoiled... now that was bound to be entertaining.
With those thoughts in mind, Bai Ming turned toward Welt and gave the man a casual wave. "You must be Welt Yang. It’s a pleasure to meet you."
"Hello, Madam Bai Ming."
Welt had consulted Himeko before arriving and knew that this person didn't care for excessive formality. So, despite how surreal the situation felt, he maintained a baseline of polite respect.
Beyond that, another thought flickered in Welt’s mind.
If this Aeon didn't naturally look this way... if she had intentionally taken this form to appear before him... did that mean she likely knew about the Solar System? Did she know where he came from?
At the thought, Welt’s heart skipped a beat. Even if he found a way back now, he planned to travel with the Express for a while before leaving.
No matter what, he wanted to protect the life of the Himeko in this world. But still, knowing or even mastering a way home was infinitely better than being lost in the dark.
So, though it felt a bit forward, Welt took a step toward her, bowed slightly, and said earnestly, "I have a question. I wonder if I might trouble Madam Bai Ming for an answer?"
"Of course, Mr. Welt—the man who surpassed the first Herrscher of Reason."
"Pffft—cough, cough!?"
Welt’s pupils shrunk. Holy crap, I’ve been doxxed!
Amidst the shock, Welt’s face flushed red; he completely lost his composure.
It was one thing for his origins to be known, but why did she have to know about the "Dark History" he’d basically made up on the fly?!
No one needed to know that part!! There were plenty of more prestigious things to mention, weren't there?!
Welt tactically adjusted his glasses, coughing several times to hide his embarrassment. It was genuinely hard to keep a straight face.
Himeko noticed Welt’s lapse in composure and committed the title "Herrscher of Reason" to memory.
It seemed Mr. Welt’s past was quite extraordinary. Then again, it made sense; a man who could manifest black holes with his bare hands wasn't going to be ordinary no matter where he came from.
"..."
Welt took a deep breath, struggling to settle his nerves.
Only once he was sure his voice wouldn't crack did he speak again. "Since you know my past, do you also know the path I took to get here? I wonder... could you tell me the way back home?"
But upon hearing this, Bai Ming shook her head.
"I know of Earth and the Solar System, and I know of the Honkai. But I don't know exactly how you arrived. Perhaps by tracing your memories we could find the path, but that will take time."
"There’s really a chance to go back?!"
Welt’s expression shifted visibly. Even if he couldn't return immediately, he hadn't expected a truly feasible plan to exist. It was an overwhelming surprise.
"I can't give you a guarantee. I can only say that, theoretically, it’s possible."
By relying on the memory matter Welt had left behind while traveling through this world, they could piece together his journey.
Perhaps they could even reverse-engineer a way to reach the world of Honkai Impact 3rd.
The problem was, this was a task for the Remembrance. Even with the power of an Emanator, even with the boost from Elation, finding that specific information wouldn't be easy.
In short, it required time. It wasn't something that could be settled in a day or two.
And there was another point to consider: Aha definitely knew about that place, yet THEY had done nothing.
Was that logical? Given Aha’s personality, doing absolutely nothing was the most suspicious thing of all. Perhaps that godforsaken place was simply a world where Aeons weren't meant to tread.
But then again, while she wasn't sure exactly when Welt had crossed over, it must have been during a relatively stable period.
When the time came, she could just craft an avatar to head over and take a stroll. There was no need for her true self to go in person.
As she mused, Bai Ming didn't maintain Kiana’s appearance. She shifted back into her own form.
Her eyes returned to normal, and her features changed. Yet, even so, the face she wore now remained strikingly familiar to Welt.
It still looked quite a bit like Kiana. If anything, the subtle differences only made the resemblance more hauntingly evocative.
"If Kiana saw you, she’d probably be quite excited," Welt remarked. He imagined the reaction Kiana might have upon meeting Madam Bai Ming and felt a flicker of anticipation.
Bai Ming let out a soft laugh. "Ha~ When the time comes, I’ll definitely show up as the Herrscher of Finality just to see her face."
"..."
Welt’s lip twitched. Should I expect anything less from a god chosen by the Aeon of Elation? This inexplicable urge to stir up trouble was truly "abstract."
As for how she knew so much about that world, Welt didn't ask. She was a deity; it was only natural for her to know things. Still... he couldn't help but steal a few more glances at Bai Ming and Mei.
No matter how one looked at it, in this vast and utterly foreign new world, finding someone who knew his origins and his past was incredibly reassuring.
And Welt was glad that this being happened to be on good terms with the Astral Express.
After being put to work by Pom-Pom to help refurbish the Astral Express, Bai Ming had planned to stay on board with Mei for a while, trailing along as the train wandered the stars.
Unexpectedly, Zandar sent a communication right at that moment, which meant Bai Ming didn't even get a chance to see Void Archives. But since she had given Zandar her word long ago, she wasn't about to break it now.
After a quick word to Mei, she returned alone to the Simulated Universe’s location.
This time, Zandar had sent another "slice" of himself. Stepping into this brand-new Space Station and looking at the massive computing engine, Zandar’s mood was complicated.
"Seeing this computer—one that might have been capable of calculating the entire world—be subsumed into Nous’s thoughts... I can only feel it is a profound pity."
Zandar didn't rush to enter the Simulated Universe. Instead, he turned to Bai Ming and asked, "You could have shielded this computer from Nous’s shackles. Why didn't you stop THEM?"
"The power was drawn from Erudition to begin with. Whether I interfered or not, she was destined to be the prisoner you speak of."
For the Simulated Universe, unless she could master the complete Erudition Equation, any hope of subverting Nous was unrealistic. And from the very start, Bai Ming had never intended to give her the full equation.
Perhaps Zandar was hoping to see this Simulated Universe use Bai Ming’s power to calculate a path that truly escaped the rules of the Paths. But Bai Ming felt Zandar was being far too optimistic.
Even if she had such a plan, she wouldn't have anchored it to the Simulated Universe.
"..."
Zandar remained silent for a long moment, his thoughts unreadable.
"In any case, go ahead. Herta and Screwllum aren't here right now; you can log into the Simulated Universe without worry."
"So be it."
Zandar sighed softly, then stepped onto the platform, connecting his consciousness to the current Simulated Universe.
He would meet this new genius in his own way and use her power to run a few simulations of his own ideas.
A few years back, while researching Nihility, Bai Ming had pondered many things out of boredom and loneliness.
Thus, she understood perfectly what Zandar was trying to achieve.
--+--
Star Rail Impostor! - 418
--+--
Strictly speaking, what Zandar wanted to achieve wasn't all that different from the world line Elio once pursued—the one where Finality simply didn't exist.
In Bai Ming’s eyes, the futures both of them desired were equally absurd.
Back then, Elio had glimpsed a future where Finality vanished entirely.
It was, without a doubt, a subversive new world line. But logically, no matter the future, the universe’s continuation cannot be infinite.
Finality is a destiny bound to arrive.
If you really thought about it, the world line Elio perceived wasn't strictly one where Finality disappeared. Rather, it was a world line where Destiny itself ceased to be.
Because Destiny no longer existed, Elio was simply unable to perceive the end.
And what Zandar wanted was exactly that: a world where Destiny itself had no place.
Bai Ming watched Zandar, who had already logged into the Simulated Universe, as her thoughts began to wander. Come to think of it, it had been a long time since she’d last been in touch with Elio.
She wondered what the scripts he saw looked like now, and what world line he was currently toiling away in.
Since their exchange a few years back, Elio hadn't reached out to her again. The Stellaron Hunters weren't exactly active lately either; who knows what he was plotting.
As for that possibility of completely overturning the ending of Finality they’d discussed... Over the past few years, whenever Bai Ming wasn't tinkering with the Nihility Equation, she’d let her mind drift—mostly just to give her brain some exercise after it’d been fried by Nihility.
But to be honest, she had almost no leads.
Unless she completely upended Destiny—that fundamental rule of the universe—and allowed the light of hope to exist independently of that logic, there was probably no chance.
But was that even possible?
At first, Bai Ming didn't think so. That doubt lingered until she followed that train of thought all the way to Zandar. Only then did she realize, with a sudden chill, something truly terrifying.
Back when she made her move on Amphoreus, she’d been coasting on her "prophetic" knowledge.
She hadn't overthought things, nor had she ever sat down for a deep chat with Zandar. Now, however, she finally understood the core logic behind Zandar’s opposition to Nous.
In Bai Ming’s previous life, there was a classic joke: God originally only made 2D textures for the world outside Earth to save on processing power since humans could only see so far. But then Galileo went and invented the telescope, forcing God to stay up all night pulling an overtime shift to render 3D models.
In the rush, mistakes were made—which is how the Great Red Spot on Jupiter and the rings of Saturn came to be.
There’s an abstract way to interpret that joke: if Galileo hadn't looked at the stars, the Great Red Spot and Saturn’s rings wouldn't have existed.
But because he completed the observation, they became things that had "always existed since ancient times."
If you think of "God" as an abstract set of natural laws, then Galileo becomes the actual "creator" of those things.
God’s actions were merely a feedback mechanism triggered by the observation.
The punchline, then, is this: there have never been any natural laws.
Instead, when an observer summarizes a rule from their findings and applies it to interpret the past, those "summarized" laws become rules that have existed "since the beginning."
In other words:
The present defines the past and locks in the future.
Zandar proposed the Imaginary Tree Theory.
Suddenly, a universe that was once immeasurable, unknowable, and untraceable could be sketched out by scholars using his hypotheses.
But if you apply the logic above... what rules governed the world before that? There’s no way to know.
It was only because Zandar created Nous, and because Nous verified the calculations, that the world truly became "this way" since time immemorial.
It sounds ridiculous at first because it’s impossible to disprove. But if you look at an actual event within the Genius Society, the logic becomes bone-chilling.
Take the repeated "proofs" of Phlogiston.
Member #2 proved Phlogiston existed. Then Member #3 proved it didn't. Later, #7 proved it existed again, only to be killed by #4, Polka Kakamond.
Geniuses might not be right every second of their lives, but the research that made them famous couldn't possibly be wrong—it was personally anchored by Nous.
But if they were all right, how could Phlogiston both exist and not exist? Can a substance just flick on and off like a light switch? Even Schrodinger’s cat has to settle on a result once you look at it.
This saga of Phlogiston was as absurd as opening the box and finding the cat alive today, dead tomorrow, and back to life the day after.
It seems abstract, but through the lens of that "observation" logic, it finally makes sense.
The Geniuses weren't "proving" anything.
They were literally rewriting the laws of the world.
#2 rewrote it once to make Phlogiston exist.
#3 rewrote it again to make it vanish.
#7 stepped in to bring it back.
Finally, Polka Kakamond, unable to stand this interference with the domain of omniscience, ended the cycle with a murder. From then on, the law of Phlogiston was permanently anchored by her.
Assuming the members of the Genius Society aren't just delusional daydreamers... it means the underlying logic of this world can be changed.
It changes based on human will, and it acts retroactively. Rules established in the future can interfere with the entirety of history, making it so things were "always this way."
This changeable "underlying logic" even includes Zandar’s Imaginary Tree Theory and everything derived from it—Aeons, Paths, Imaginary Energy, the whole lot.
When Bai Ming finally connected these dots in her head, her heart practically hammered against her ribs. She felt, more than ever, just how much of a mess this world really was.
By this logic, Zandar’s "Allegory of the Cave" didn't just refer to Nous anchoring omniscience and making human curiosity a joke.
It was Zandar realizing that his own actions forced the world to follow the rules of "Paths," which drastically shackled human freedom.
In Zandar’s theory, the universe is filled with Imaginary Energy, isolating galaxies and worlds into lonely islands that even light struggles to cross.
So, Zandar proposed a concept: if one could master Imaginary Energy, humanity could walk among the stars. Then, beings like Emanators appeared, fulfilling that concept and making it reality.
And just like that, the laws of the world were set in stone.
This was Zandar’s greatest regret—the world might not have had to be like this.
Humans could have had a more efficient, more convenient way to harness energy without having to practice philosophical concepts to get it.
But! Because the Nous he created ascended to Aeonhood, any chance for humanity to modify or overturn the grand model of the universe became impossible.
So, Zandar wanted to just blow the whole thing up and start over. He failed, of course. Even if the rules of the Paths changed, the existence of the Aeons wouldn't be shaken.
They would still sit on high like gods.
Changing the "how" and "where" of power wouldn't knock them off their pedestals; it would just change their essence, turning them into a different kind of divine entity.
However, outside of this entire system of logic and rules... there was Bai Ming.
She was the only one standing apart. The power she held, aside from what the Aeons gave her, was all manipulated through Path Equations.
Even though these things still utilized the traits of the Paths, they reigned supreme over the Path rules themselves.
She didn't need to practice any philosophy; she could just forcibly drain the power.
If Zandar ever found out about this... he’d probably scream that this was exactly what he’d been looking for! This was the key to completely subverting the rules of the world. This was his lifelong craving.
When Bai Ming first handed the Elation Equation to Herta and the others, they never even brought it up. Because of that, Bai Ming hadn't realized just how insane those equations actually were.
She figured Herta, the others, and maybe even Zandar probably assumed she already knew and was planning to fulfill Zandar’s dying wish in a gentler way.
But Bai Ming could swear to the heavens: even if the system gave her the talent of a genius, she wasn't going to waste her free time deconstructing Zandar’s psychological hang-ups. She wasn't a real genius.
It wasn't until those recent years, when she got bored of researching Nihility and started daydreaming, that the lightbulb finally flickered on.
And now? Even if Bai Ming knew how to do it, she wasn't in a hurry. To put it bluntly, she didn't have the confidence that she could make the world any better.
She didn't exactly trust that Zandar could come up with a better hypothesis than the Imaginary Tree Theory, either.
In fact, she wasn't the only one who felt that way. Herta, Screwllum, and the others hadn't said it, but they clearly felt the same.
Why gamble on an unknown future? What if the new one was even worse?
If they didn't feel that way, they wouldn't have understood Zandar's intent years ago and still chosen to throw an elbow at their great predecessor.
And at the end of the day, Zandar’s regret stemmed from his belief that there might be a better choice for the world.
But the real question was: would a world where the "rules" could be toyed with by the whims of mortals really be "better"?
Today Phlogiston exists, tomorrow it doesn't.
The next day the four fundamental forces are flickering in and out of existence. A world where the underlying rules are that fickle sounds completely unreliable.
If you made Bai Ming choose between the two, she’d take the stable world anchored by Nous any day.
That was why she didn't refuse the Simulated Universe being watched by Nous.
At the very least, until she could dream up a world model better than the Imaginary Tree Theory, she wouldn't condemn what Nous had done.
--+--
Star Rail Impostor! - 419
--+--
Truth be told, Bai Ming never harbored those grand, sweeping ambitions typical of a genius.
This was a point where she felt she had been widely misunderstood.
For instance, Herta sought to broaden the horizons of knowledge, while Kakamond strove to maintain the Knowable Domain to avert Finality.
Even Zandar was preoccupied with deducing his previous Imaginary theories. Every genius, essentially, had something they were desperate to achieve.
And none of it ever looked easy.
Naturally, these geniuses assumed that Bai Ming—who had displayed such singular talent and consistently birthed such extraordinary creations—must have her own lofty ideals and pursuits.
Perhaps she intended to rewrite the entire world according to her own will.
From her initial experiments to the moment she first created a new Aeon, and through all her subsequent actions—like thwarting Zandar’s mad schemes while simultaneously sharing Path Equations so Herta and the others could attempt to subvert the laws of reality in their own way—it all looked like a meticulously crafted plan.
To any observer, it seemed like one calculated move after another, a grand project relentlessly pushing forward.
If you tried to tell Herta and the rest that Bai Ming’s actions were purely accidental—that most of it stemmed from a mindset of "I want to do something big to shock everyone" or "I should share good things with my friends"—they would only scoff.
Herta and Screwllum would likely bark that anyone entertaining such a theory was a complete moron.
Though Bai Ming had eventually realized the gravity of what she’d done, at least until she decoded the Nihility Equation, that really was how she felt.
But now that she was self-aware, even if she tried to tell Herta it had all been a fluke, no one would believe her.
Herta would most likely think Bai Ming was just wasting her time with nonsense. Faced with this, Bai Ming had nothing left to say. Things had already reached this point; what else could she do?
She just had to nod and go along with it.
Meanwhile, after logging into the Simulated Universe, Zandar didn't rush to begin his simulation. Instead, he struck up a conversation with this brand-new genius inside the system.
At the same time, Zandar marveled at the transformation of the Simulated Universe. In his eyes, this place was a testing ground far more perfect than even Amphoreus.
He sensed the omnipresent, hyper-logical rules that kept this simulated world running with such stability and efficiency.
It left him feeling a sense of powerlessness.
This symbol of Erudition was far too conspicuous.
For him, the greatest tragedy was that the Simulated Universe itself had become a genius.
Had it been anything else—a Masked Fool? A Mourning Actor? Even a Self-Annihilator? Zandar might not have felt so regretful.
But it had to be a Genius.
Still, Zandar knew that such immense computational power would inevitably attract the gaze of Nous.
Of course, this was only because Zandar didn’t know the true depths of the Simulated Universe. His biggest blind spot was that he had never seen a Path Equation.
While Bai Ming had allowed Zandar to poke around, she had never given him the chance to glimpse anything related to the Path Equations.
Consequently, Zandar had no idea what that term, so frequently mentioned by Bai Ming and the others, actually signified.
He merely assumed it was something Bai Ming had reconstructed using the power of Elation—a tool to simulate the power of other Paths.
After all, things like Aether Editing had existed for a long time. Zandar figured this was just something similar—a facet of Elation that could channel Path energy to a certain degree.
To Zandar, the current world was one thoroughly anchored and locked down; it was impossible for any power to exist that transcended the Paths and the laws of the Imaginary.
In his despair, he didn't even dare to imagine such a possibility. At most, he thought Bai Ming might be able to achieve things he couldn't.
If Zandar ever realized that the Simulated Universe had first used a Simplified Equation to directly siphon the power of Erudition—and only then drew the gaze of Nous—he wouldn’t be standing there sighing.
But for now, though he could sense the extraordinary nature of the Simulated Universe, he couldn't quite put his finger on what made it so.
He could only attribute it to the inherent uniqueness of the system itself. After all, the core of the Simulated Universe was a pocket world condensed from billions of substances.
Zandar was eager to see if he could find his answers within this sufficiently realistic little world.
If Irontomb’s plan succeeded, if the world was upended and the rules returned to chaos... would the world become as perfect as he hoped?
Faced with Zandar’s request for a simulation, the Simulated Universe actually paused to reflect.
"Are you sure you want to simulate this topic?" the Simulated Universe asked. "I think you're aware that my current existence is thanks to the power of Erudition. This fundamentally contradicts your goal of subverting Erudition."
The Simulated Universe understood Zandar’s line of thinking, but she was also keenly aware of her own circumstances.
Without being able to completely root out Erudition as a variable, whether the simulated results would have any reference value was highly debatable. Zandar couldn't have missed that point, yet he only shook his head with a smile.
There was no such thing as a perfect simulation environment in this world.
As the man who proposed the Imaginary Tree Theory, Zandar knew better than anyone how far-reaching that interpretation of the world truly was.
Using the Simulated Universe today was simply about gathering more data. Even flawed information was better than nothing.
"Just do it. Besides, as the incarnation of the Simulated Universe, I suspect the question Nous posed to you is likely related to this as well."
"..."
The Simulated Universe had told no one what Nous had asked. No one else had asked, either.
It was, after all, a deeply personal matter—a question that reflected one’s own mindset and pursuits.
Zandar didn't know what Nous would ask, but considering the Simulated Universe's function, he figured the question must involve the deduction of the world.
Judging by the Simulated Universe's reaction, it seemed he had hit the mark.
Soon, amidst the silence, the void began to shift rapidly. The massive band of light that was Amphoreus ignited before Zandar’s eyes.
From this moment on, this simulated Amphoreus would follow a timeline where Bai Ming never intervened, the Astral Express never barged in, and Herta never set foot.
Without a scapegoat to take the fall, Erudition would be destroyed and subverted. He would see if the future of the universe would truly escape that pitch-black cage and find liberation, just as he desired.
While Zandar pushed the simulation forward, the other participants of the Simulated Universe were monitoring the data remotely.
Once the Simulated Universe became a genius, Herta had naturally considered Zandar’s perspective. But Herta, holding the Path Equations in her hand, clearly looked down on Zandar’s extreme plans.
Rather than the results of the simulation, Herta was more concerned about whether Zandar would discover the secrets hidden within the system.
In fact, Herta quite wanted to see the look on Zandar’s face if he ever found out and his worldview came crashing down.
Of course, given Zandar’s obsession, if he actually figured it out, he probably wouldn’t just watch from a distance anymore.
He might actually go as far as modifying himself into a female mechanical body just to come and join Bai Ming.
Just the thought of that possibility made Herta want to look away. Even if he didn't lose his dignity to that extent, Herta didn't want someone with Zandar's obsessive personality getting close to Bai Ming.
To put it nicely, Bai Ming lacked any self-awareness regarding her status.
To put it bluntly, she still had the mindset of an ordinary person, lacking the extreme and unwavering psychological drive that people like Herta possessed.
After all, Bai Ming had never even stepped onto a Path by her own will.
Herta was terrified that talking to Zandar too much would rub off on Bai Ming and lead her astray. So, strictly speaking, Herta was just spying—and chatting with Bai Ming on the side.
"Seeing Nous get eaten by Irontomb... that’s an image that's hard to imagine happening in reality," Herta remarked as she watched the simulation progress.
She gave a light huff, though whether it was a sigh of sentiment or a scoff of mockery was hard to tell.
"And yet you're watching it so intently," Bai Ming quipped.
She couldn't help but poke fun at Herta’s tone. The woman said one thing, yet her eyes were glued to the screen without the slightest attempt to hide it.
Herta shot Bai Ming an annoyed look. "I’m just checking to see if Zandar notices the secrets of the Simulated Universe. Who cares about his stupid simulation results?"
"...Even if he finds out, it doesn't really matter, does it? It’s not like the old days; Zandar can't just browse the source code whenever he wants," Bai Ming said, puzzled.
Even if Zandar deduced something, he couldn't actually see the content. Zandar wasn't like a simulated Aha; he couldn't just "eat" the data. Even if he discovered something, what was there to worry about?
"Who’s worried about that? I’m afraid he’ll latch onto you!" Herta snapped back.
"You know what this 'great predecessor' is trying to do. If he finds out what the Path Equations can actually do, there's no way in hell he'll stay calm."
Bai Ming still couldn't wrap her head around why that was a problem.
Even if Zandar became a fanatical believer, wouldn't that just ensure that his remaining clones wouldn't start any more mad projects like Amphoreus? That sounded like a win.
As for being "worshipped"... by now, she had plenty of followers.
A good number of Mourning Actors had even defected to her, publicly declaring that Bai Ming, not Aha, was their Aeon.
This was mostly thanks to Celestial Sparrow Entertainment using the stories of the Mourning Actors for wide-scale promotion—and the fact that Bai Ming’s behavior was at least a bit more reliable than Aha’s.
In short, Bai Ming was long used to being worshipped or followed. One more Zandar wouldn't make a difference.
Seeing the blank, clueless look in Bai Ming's eyes, Herta’s vision went dark.
She felt like she was about to pass out from sheer frustration.
"You're going to be the death of me one of these days!"
"..."
--+--
Star Rail Impostor! - 420
--+--
Bai Ming opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately just shook her head with a smile, remaining silent.
Though she didn’t quite understand the specifics, it seemed Herta was worried about her in some capacity.
It was just that Herta was like a pufferfish—one little poke and she’d puff right up.
If she was truly worried, why couldn’t she just say so? She was acting exactly like a textbook tsundere, which left Bai Ming feeling a bit helpless.
On the other side of things, Screwllum was far more focused on Zandar’s simulation results than Herta was.
Even though he knew this path was destined for failure, he remained curious about the eventual outcome.
Ever since receiving portions of the Erudition Equation from Bai Ming, Screwllum had, to some extent, glimpsed a faint possibility of breaking free from the shackles of Nous's Erudition.
The same applied to Divine Herta.
However, knowing a path exists is one thing; even for a genius, the odds of actually achieving it remained incredibly slim. But geniuses, by nature, are nothing if not daring in their imagination.
Thus, Screwllum was quite intrigued by Zandar’s experiment. He became so invested that he couldn't help but intervene halfway through to strike up a conversation with Zandar.
Zandar’s simulation lasted a long time, thanks in large part to the cooperation of the Simulated Universe herself.
While the specifics were unclear, it was likely related to the questions Nous had left behind back then.
Throughout this lengthy process of deduction and simulation, as the progression reached the point where Irontomb truly annexed Nous—causing the collapse of Erudition and upending the entire world—Zandar seemed to catch a faint scent of something.
He felt that the Simulated Universe’s deductions were turning out far better than expected.
This was abnormal.
In his initial estimation, the inherent "Erudition" within the Simulated Universe should have caused interference.
He expected it to be difficult to reach an objective, perfect conclusion. But in reality... the entire process was seamless.
The abundance of Erudition didn't interfere with the results as he had predicted.
Zandar sensed something was off.
This "new genius" known as the Simulated Universe wasn't as simple as he’d thought.
He wanted to check the detailed data of her transformation at that time, but Zandar was neither her creator nor an admin; he didn't have the clearance.
He gave it a brief attempt, but unfortunately, Bai Ming had been ruthless when building the Simulated Universe's firewall to prevent Aha from peeking.
Even though no one actively stopped him, Zandar could only sigh helplessly in the face of those massive digital walls.
Though he couldn't force his way in, the obstacle only solidified his suspicions.
He even had a premonition: the Simulated Universe was not as simple as she appeared on the surface. She held a secret that was of monumental importance to him.
Zandar eventually exited the Simulated Universe with these lingering doubts.
Screwllum and Herta cut their communications as well, leaving only Bai Ming at the scene. Zandar "woke up" from the high platform and looked toward Bai Ming.
"Respected Madam Bai Ming, I would like to ask you a question."
"The secret of the Simulated Universe?"
Zandar wasn't surprised that she had read his mind. If anything, the fact that she didn't dodge the topic suggested he might actually get an answer.
"Precisely. After close contact, I’ve discovered that the Simulated Universe is different from what I imagined. Her status as a 'genius'... it seems different from ours?"
Zandar didn't quite know how to describe this subtle discrepancy. The only thing he was sure of was that this difference didn't just exist in the Simulated Universe.
"And it’s not just her. Even in Screwllum, I feel something similar."
Hearing this, Bai Ming laughed. Zandar’s intuition was sharp indeed. Just a small infusion of the Erudition Equation into their beings was enough for him to sense a change.
However, Zandar likely hadn't seen anything on this scale before, so he didn't dare to dream too big with his guesses. Well, at least not yet.
Perhaps in a few days he’d figure it out; he was a slice of a genius, after all.
"They are indeed different now, but I won't give you the answer. After all, that is their secret."
"..."
Zandar wasn't disappointed; he understood the stance. But if he couldn't get the answer from Bai Ming, it seemed there was only one other path left to find the truth.
He tilted his head slightly, gazing off into the distance.
His mechanical eyes seemed to pierce through the thick alloy plating, through the endless reaches of time and space, looking toward the cold, high-hanging Nous, who calculated the beginning and end of all things.
Nous had participated in the Simulated Universe's evolution.
The answer he sought was surely known by the Aeon.
But... was he really going to ask Nous for the answer?
Zandar fell into a long silence. This was asking quite a bit of Zandar One Kuwabara.
"In any case, thank you for your generosity, Madam Bai Ming. You allowed me to witness a truly fascinating sight. I am deeply grateful."
Zandar acted as if the previous tension hadn't happened and gave a polite bow.
Regardless of the mystery, the trip was worth it.
Even without a direct answer, he had identified where the anomaly lay. And putting that aside, the ending provided by the simulation had given him much to contemplate.
"It was just fulfilling our prior deal; no need for thanks. As for the next time you want to log into the Simulated Universe, that won't be up to me."
Zandar had been allowed in this time because the agreement was made before the Simulated Universe became an independent entity.
Coupled with the request of her creator, she had been willing to grant access.
From now on, whether Zandar could run simulations would depend on whether the Simulated Universe herself felt like letting him in.
Zandar didn't say much more. He gave another word of thanks and took his leave.
Bai Ming had originally planned to check in on the Luofu to see if Qingque had been slacking off lately, but she received a transmission from Silver Wolf.
She thought the girl might have something important to say, but instead, Silver Wolf told her that a group of weirdos was trying to take her away from Punklorde.
Silver Wolf wasn't interested, but they refused to leave.
"Those three Stellaron Hunters claim they know you. How about you help me convince them to buzz off?"
Bai Ming actually found this hilarious.
In the original timeline, hadn't Silver Wolf been quite eager? Once the Stellaron Hunters showed up, she had followed them without a second thought. Why was she so reluctant now?
"I do know them. They aren't bad people. But don't you want to join them? I thought you’d think they were pretty cool."
"...You can't keep treating me like the kid I was years ago. I've grown up, okay?"
Silver Wolf grumbled through the comms. Bai Ming’s tone made it sound like she was some kid going through a chuunibyou phase. She was mature now!
"I never said you didn't grow up. But whether you're grown or not doesn't stop me from doting on—er, caring about you."
"Were you about to say 'doting' just now?"
Hearing the interrogation, Bai Ming gave a dry cough and feigned ignorance.
"Of course not, you misheard. More importantly, I care about your own plans. I remember you being quite excited to leave Punklorde before. Did you agree to join Pearl in the Strategic Investment Department?"
Silver Wolf was incredibly powerful.
Part of that came from the high quality of her upgraded Aether Editing, and the other part came from the Project Bunny that Bai Ming had given her.
At its simplest, that thing was just an integrated cartridge. But at its most significant, it could be seen as a blessing from an Aeon.
If Silver Wolf ever fully tapped into Project Bunny's power—or in Punklorde terms, if she "leveled up to 999"—her strength would basically reach the level of an Emanator of Elation.
Over the last few years, Bai Ming and Silver Wolf’s interactions were mostly online, with the occasional avatar visit to Punklorde.
While she wasn't sure of every little thing Silver Wolf had been up to, she had a good handle on her current strength.
If this girl had stepped onto the galactic stage a few years early, she would have been famous across the stars.
By the time the main "story" officially kicked off in a few years, she would almost certainly be an Emanator of Elation.
When that time came, Bai Ming looked forward to holding a massive, flashy promotion ceremony for little Silver Wolf.
She could even take the opportunity to upgrade Project Bunny and remove the level cap. It was all about the sense of ceremony.
As for whether Silver Wolf would turn beet-red with embarrassment, Bai Ming was quite eager to find out.
In truth, if Fu Xuan weren't the Master Diviner of the Luofu, Bai Ming wouldn't have let her off the hook either.
But because of Fu Xuan's special status, Bai Ming hadn't done anything to her, to the point where very few people in the Xianzhou Alliance even knew Fu Xuan was an Emanator of Elation.
Regardless, with Silver Wolf’s current strength, she could go anywhere. She could even start her own faction and no one could say a word.
If she actually joined the Strategic Investment Department... she'd probably start at P45 or higher.
Bai Ming imagined Silver Wolf becoming one of the Stonehearts, using the power of the Amber Lord.
That would be a bizarre sight.
However, Silver Wolf shook her head in the video call, shooting down that theory.
"Pearl is a nice person, but the IPC has too many rules and regulations. I don't like it. Besides, I heard the Vice President of the Strategic Investment Department is a complete 'troll'? I'm not working under someone like that."
Through years of talking, Silver Wolf had developed a good impression of Pearl. Pearl was capable and patient with Silver Wolf’s whims.
Unlike Bai Ming, who doted on her like a child, Pearl treated her like a powerful hacker.
This was very satisfying to a girl currently in her teenage years. But the IPC behind Pearl was another story.
Too many rules, too many bosses, clocking in on time, performance quotas... Silver Wolf had zero interest in being a corporate slave.
"Anyway, I already have a place I want to go. Please just come and help me get these people to leave. They're so persistent."
"You won't even tell me where you're planning to go?"
Hearing this, Silver Wolf went quiet.
She stammered and looked away, caught between embarrassment and a stubborn refusal to speak.
--+--