"Let's set up here. It's spacious."
After boarding the Radiant Feldspar and setting sail once more across the Memory Zone Sea, Lumina and Herta found a relatively spacious area within the ship and decided to establish the Divergent Universe there.
"We'll put it right beneath that staircase," Lumina said, pointing to the central spot directly beneath the staircase.
It was baffling how the Family had designed the ship. While the rest of the vessel exuded opulence, this particular area was left completely empty, as if deliberately reserved for the Divergent Universe from the very beginning.
Hmm, well, they did reserve this spot specifically for it.
"Hmm, you're not as clueless as I thought," Herta remarked, glancing around to confirm that Lumina's chosen spot was indeed the optimal location for constructing the Divergent Universe.
Before Lumina, whose face was already contorted in protest, could retort, a diamond-shaped metal solid, several times larger than her face, materialized in Herta's hand.
Under Lumina's resentful gaze, Herta locked the object into position and set it to float autonomously toward its designated spot.
Upon reaching its destination, the diamond-shaped device unfolded into a triangular form, projecting a "Cosmos" upward from its base.
"You finished so quickly?" Lumina murmured, her eyebrows arching in curiosity and surprise as she watched the small device construct the Divergent Universe in mere seconds.
"Don't stare like a country bumpkin," Herta scoffed, tossing her hair with a hint of pride that even she didn't fully recognize. She shot Lumina a contemptuous, disdainful glance.
"This is the work of a genius, a masterpiece of unparalleled intellect. You could observe it for a hundred years, a thousand years, ten thousand years, and still only scratch the surface."
"Instead of wasting your time with pointless observation, why not beg Madam Herta—intellectually dazzling and breathtakingly beautiful—for enlightenment?"
"If you beg me nicely, I might even teach you myself, hand-in-hand."
Herta winked at Lumina, as if to say, Strike while the iron's hot—come on, beg me already!
"Pfft." Lumina replied flatly, utterly ignoring Herta's childish antics.
Lumina stepped forward and reached out to sense the Divergent Universe. A game-like interface materialized in her mind.
"In Screwllum's words," she mused, "instead of boring and tedious tests, why not add some gameplay? This keeps the testers engaged and refreshed for longer."
"It prevents them from getting bored after just a few attempts and losing interest in the test altogether."
As Lumina examined the Divergent Universe, Herta slowly approached her, offering a brief explanation.
"Oh, I see. As expected of Screwllum—what a genius," Lumina remarked with a slight nod, offering lukewarm praise.
"The Simulated Universe is set up similarly," Herta added abruptly.
"Oh? And?" Lumina didn't even glance at Herta, her mind still absorbed in manipulating and observing the Divergent Universe.
"Aren't I a genius too?"
"You're an egg," Lumina chuckled.
"?!"
Herta: ...
Stung into silence by Lumina's retort, Herta produced a key-shaped Staff after a moment and aimed it at her.
Ultimate: Activate - Curiosity... is a dangerous thing, you know.
Ultimate: Unleash - Endless riddles, but the answer... is nothing but a void.
Boom!
...
-
"Next time you go crazy, I'm not cleaning up your mess."
Lumina, acting like a mother hen, had completely repaired the Radiant Feldspar, which had been blasted in two, and Penacony, which Herta had nearly sunk on the spot.
"And another thing..." Lumina said sarcastically, eyeing Herta, who was perched on a giant, key-shaped staff like a magical girl. "At your age, still pretending to be young and dressing up like a Magical Girl? A magical old lady would be more like it."
Herta: ...
"Stop! One more blast, and Penacony will be history for good!" Lumina shouted, frantically trying to stop Herta, who had raised her staff as if preparing to strike again.
Herta was an Emanator; another strike like that would be catastrophic.
"What's the rush? Did I say I was going to fire another shot?" Herta chuckled, retracting her staff. She crossed one arm over her waist, letting the other hang freely, radiating an air of intellectual elegance.
"Besides, do you think I'd be someone who doesn't know her limits?"
"If I hadn't deliberately held back, Penacony would already be a footnote in history."
Herta wasn't lying. Before unleashing the full force of her attack, she had suppressed at least ninety percent of her Path power. Otherwise, that single strike would have obliterated Penacony, the Memory Zone Sea it occupied, The Reverie Hotel, and the surrounding stars—all reduced to historical dust.
However, these weren't the primary reasons. The most crucial factor was that Herta didn't want to harm Lumina... even though she knew that even her full-force strike wouldn't—and couldn't—deal any damage to Lumina.
Clap, clap, clap! Clap, clap, clap! Clap, clap, clap!
"Yes, yes, yes! As expected of Madam Herta, truly remarkable!"
"Shall I give you a Gold Star?"
Lumina neither knew nor cared about Herta's inner thoughts. Hmm... if Lumina knew what Herta was thinking right now, she'd probably be ecstatic, right?
But Lumina couldn't know, nor could she leap for joy. Instead, upon hearing Herta's arrogant words, she immediately transformed into Madam Herta's biggest fan, showering her with applause, praise, and a complete package of rewards.
"You have good taste, I'll give you that. But you can keep your Gold Star." Though Herta knew Lumina was only putting on a show, she couldn't help but feel pleased by the flattery.
"Alright then, no Gold Star for you," Lumina said with a nod, feigning mild disappointment.
The next moment, a calculator appeared in Lumina's hand. Her slender fingers danced across the buttons, seemingly calculating something.
"Lumina's All-In-One Praise Service for Geniuses: Total cost, 10 billion Credit Points."
"Since Madam Herta doesn't need the Gold Star reward, I'll give you a slight discount."
"Removing the Gold Star fee, let's call it 9,999,999,999 Credit Points."
Lumina placed a calculator filled with nines in front of Herta with one hand, while extending the other in a gesture of receiving payment.
"Come now, esteemed and wise Madam Herta, will you be paying by credit card or in cash?"
"Or perhaps..."
Here, Lumina sized Herta up and down, her meaning unmistakable.
"Are you robbing me?" Herta's lips twitched, ignoring Lumina's suggestive look. She wondered if Lumina had gone mad with poverty.
To someone of Herta's status, Credit Points were merely strings of digits, but that didn't mean she had no concept of their value.
How dare Lumina charge 10 billion Credit Points for this "all-in-one praise service"? It would be less brazen to simply rob her!
"Could robbing you money faster than this?" Lumina countered with a soft laugh.
Clap hands, offer praise, award a Gold Star—and 10 billion Credit Points instantly appeared. It was faster than catching the Stellaron Hunters!
"Besides, my prices are clearly marked and perfectly aligned with market logic."
"For a mere ten billion credits, you can receive Lady Lumina's complete praise service. If this exclusive service weren't reserved solely for you, Madam Herta, I imagine countless individuals across the Cosmos would be clamoring to purchase it."
Lumina wasn't exaggerating, nor was her pricing arbitrary. Given her status, ten billion credits was practically a friendship discount.
"Er... you're right," Herta conceded, involuntarily recalling the scene when she first joined the Saintess Support Club group chat.
Hmm... those group chats were certainly... well... a bit... peculiar.
Therefore, Herta found no reason to doubt Lumina's words.
After all, Lumina was right. If word of this got out, every wealthy member of the Saintess Support Club would undoubtedly rush to purchase unlimited sessions...
Hiss... does that mean I'm actually getting a bargain?
As she pondered, Herta's subconscious quietly accepted Lumina's outrageous pricing...