Looking at the three ridiculous choices on the glowing red system screen, Noah Metron's expression didn't change one bit.
Ever since Aha gave him the mission to "mess up Herta," he'd stopped expecting any normal dialogue options.
That said, making the right choice still mattered.
As long as he didn't actively seek death, he could avoid getting brutally hunted down by the real Herta once the simulation ended.
He calmly hovered over option two.
Compared to the others—which would instantly label him a pervert and get him kicked out—this one at least aligned with Aha's chaos and made his actions sound halfway logical.
Besides… raising Herta into the future Herta wasn't a bad goal.
He tapped it.
The clown-mask text on the screen twisted and scattered into red and white particles, vanishing.
On the swing, Herta frowned slightly. She quietly closed the thick book in her hands and looked straight at him.
If such a mediocre display of "accomplishment" stunned this new tutor, he clearly wasn't worthy to teach her.
Time for a test.
"…Since you've accepted the job," she said flatly, "then let's start with a question. Mental arithmetic."
She raised her hand.
"If I give you the answer 114514, can you come up with a multiplication equation that equals it?"
Noah blinked.
"…We're starting with meme numbers?"
But she was serious.
He casually threw out a number: "223 x 513 = 114,399."
"…Wrong."
She looked disappointed.
"You fail."
Noah grinned. "Guess I deserve that for rushing the simulation startup."
Just then, a new system prompt appeared:
[Mission: Gain Herta's trust by presenting a problem she cannot solve]
[Reward: 'Curious Look' x1, Herta's Observation Data x1]
He paused.
Something she *can't* solve?
With her freakish brain? That'd be hard.
Unless…
Unless he threw logic out the window and made something completely ridiculous.
Noah crouched down, picked up a stick, and began sketching a made-up diagram in the dirt.
He filled it with chaotic theoretical constructs: imaginary time loops, fictional forces, and a paradox that defied the second law of thermodynamics.
Herta stopped, blinked, and leaned closer.
She stared at it silently.
Then spoke.
"…I've never seen this problem before."
> [Herta's Trust: +8]
> [Reward Gained: Curious Look x1, Observation Data x1]
Then she stared at him, serious.
"…Where did you learn this?"
"Trade secret."
"…Interesting."
She didn't smile, but her eyes held a rare spark of curiosity.
She stood up, dusted off her skirt, and turned away.
"Class dismissed. I'm going to analyze this now."
As she walked away, a final message appeared:
[Save point recorded]
[Aha is watching.]
---
Later that night.
When Noah woke up again, it was because he sensed movement.
Something warm pressed against him.
His eyes fluttered open.
And he froze.
A soft hand.
Around his wrist.
A cold *click*.
He looked down—
A pair of silver handcuffs bound their wrists together.
He was still half-asleep, but the cold metal jolted his senses.
He looked up.
Herta's face was mere inches from his.
And in her purple eyes—
A faint pink heart flickered.
Her voice was soft. Whispered. Almost trembling.
"…Noah."
"We'll always be together, right?"
"You were the one who pulled me out of that colorless world."
"You brought me from the white night… into daylight."
Her eyes grew glassy with emotion.
She gently touched his cheek, voice melting.
"I don't want the lab anymore. I just want you by my side."
"I won't let you get hurt again."
"I'll protect you."
He stared at the flushed girl with the yandere light in her eyes.
And realized—
His worst fear was happening.
This simulation Herta… was going full yandere.
'Well… at least she hasn't locked me in a basement yet. Or banned me from talking to anyone else.'
'It's not *that* bad… right?'
Noah wasn't sure.
But the glint in her eyes said otherwise.
She reached out.
Pulled his hand close.
And snuggled against his chest.
A little too tight.
He swallowed.
This wasn't going to end peacefully.
----
And here we go again
100 chapters chilling on my kofi waiting for you whispering 💋 come read me