"What did you just do? That Doomsday Beast's core was suddenly destroyed, and it was paralyzed."
Caelus stepped through the mirror and arrived in Herta's office. As soon as he landed, she asked impatiently.
"Hmm? You didn't observe it?"
"The data interference was severe. It's truly interesting, even with my mirror, I couldn't observe your situation or the surrounding changes under those circumstances."
"I rapidly filled the surrounding area with memory, then paused all the Remembrance in that area. After everything was frozen, I used my own attack to shatter the Doomsday Beast's core in that frozen world and then left. It was that simple."
"You can rapidly create memory? And use it to form a domain that freezes Remembrance, thereby creating something like a stasis field?"
"Yes."
"How interesting! I can't wait to study you! However, that little girl who can seal a Stellaron within her body is also very interesting. And according to what you said, if you weren't an abandoned possibility, does that mean the person standing there now, fighting alongside the Trailblazers and eventually boarding the Astral Express, would have been you?"
"Yes, but the fact that I exist here proves that this possibility has already been discarded."
"In other words, you are not a being born through any known natural means of gestation, but in a more abstract way. Do you still remember your situation within Nihility? Describe the conditions at that time."
And so, Caelus began to cooperate with Herta's experiments. She kept questioning him incessantly and had him stand still in front of various instruments, waiting to be scanned.
"What the hell!"
Not knowing what kind of data she had received, Herta slapped her instrument, seemingly very annoyed.
"Why is it all garbled! My instrument isn't broken. Kid! Restrain the power in your body a bit, I can't even observe anything."
"But I didn't mobilize the power in my body at all."
"Damn it. It seems the secrets on you are indeed massive and cannot be observed through ordinary instruments at this stage... It looks like I'll have to use that thing."
As for what "that thing" was, in any case, after Herta led Caelus around for a while, he saw it.
"The Simulated Universe. Go test it."
Although he didn't know what the Simulated Universe Herta mentioned was, Caelus entered it under her instructions.
Once inside the Simulated Universe, Caelus felt as if he were in a pitch-black chaos. It felt as if nothing existed around him, yet at the same time, as if everything did.
This contradictory feeling was like all matter being broken down into the most basic particles, filling all the surrounding space.
While Herta on the outside was preparing to use the Simulated Universe to observe Caelus, that unique individual, she suddenly discovered that she had lost control over it. Furthermore, the entire dataset and operational logic were running in a way she couldn't understand, even the original code and data had turned into various chaotic symbols.
Inside the Simulated Universe, Caelus saw the surrounding pitch-black chaos constantly writhing and changing. Finally, he felt a light breeze blowing across his body, the sensation of his feet on solid ground, and the smell of cement drifting in the air. Everything before his eyes shed its darkness, revealing a brand-new world.
"Hmm? How did I return to the Type-Moon World?"
Caelus looked around with some confusion. He recognized this place, this was where he had once been lost at the crossroads of life before going to the riverbank to feel the breeze.
He also remembered that before getting lost at this crossroads, he had also taken a trip to the Einzbern family castle and dealt with Kiritsugu.
"So, does the Simulated Universe manifest worlds or fragmented scenes from my memories?"
Caelus didn't choose to explore this world. After all, his goal was just to cooperate with Herta's research. Since she hadn't given him any further instructions, he would just stay put.
And just like that, after Caelus had stood in this scene for a full five minutes, everything around him completely collapsed, and he left the Simulated Universe.
As soon as he woke up, he saw the instrument in front of him billowing black smoke, with a large number of Herta Puppets rushing to repair it.
"What's the situation?"
[System: "Tee-hee, this girl tried to use her instrument to parse everything about you. And then the problem arose, you carry laws unique to the Type-Moon World and possess Warp attributes from the Warhammer world. It would be a miracle if this instrument didn't explode."]
"Uh, isn't that a bit bad? Should we pay for the damages?"
["That's because she lacks the ability, what does that have to do with you? If the little girl had the capability to fully grasp the Type-Moon World laws and Warp attributes within you, she could have completely used that to start attempting to ascend to godhood in this universe. The treasure is sitting right there, it's her own lack of ability that prevented her from obtaining it. If a thief wants to pry open a lock to take the treasure sealed inside but breaks their own tools in the process, surely you, the owner of the treasure, wouldn't be expected to pay for the other party's tools, right?"]
"But I feel like she's about to cry."
Caelus looked at the stiffly standing Herta, who seemed to have turned into a sculpture.
["You bad guy!"]
Well, the Herta Puppet already had tears welling up in her eyes as she swung a large hammer at him.
Before the hammer could strike him, Herta stepped in to stop the Herta Puppet's attack. She then took a deep breath and, feigning composure, looked at him and said, "It seems the secrets within you have truly reached an astonishing level. In this situation, I can't research them alone, I must get others to help. However, the great Herta will not go back on her word. Although you ruined my Simulated Universe, I did manage to collect some things from you. Here, this is your payment."
Caelus took a Light Cone from Herta. The Light Cone depicted a field of golden wheat.
He could feel the ease, peace, abundance, and the happiness of no longer having to suffer from hunger from that golden wheat field.
"Hmm?"
Herta, who was observing Caelus, suddenly noticed that this little guy, who hadn't shown much expression since they first met, was actually smiling at this moment.
Come to think of it, this little guy's looks were quite striking, and combined with his temperament and the smile on his face right now, if posted online, it would surely attract quite a few people.
"This Light Cone records the moment a desolate, resource-scarce world was saved after planting a single crop."
"Hmm, I can feel the joy and the happiness of being saved from it. I am very satisfied with this payment. As a return for this payment, and as an apology for breaking your equipment, let me give you a reminder."
After putting away the Light Cone, Caelus said seriously to Herta, "Do not use the Simulated Universe to probe the core secrets within me, otherwise, it will inevitably malfunction again."
"...You are provoking me!"
"I am merely stating a fact."
"Very well! I accept your challenge! I will let you know why I am the top genius in this universe!"
Watching Herta's unconvinced expression, Caelus didn't try to persuade her any further, it was impossible to convince someone with such a stubborn temper once it flared up.
Perhaps only after stumbling a few more times and hitting a few more brick walls would she be a little more willing to listen to advice.
As for the costs lost when suffering a setback...
That was no longer Caelus's concern, after all, he had already kindly advised her.
After soothing his fragile and tiny conscience, Caelus left the place under Herta's urging. After all, the equipment was broken, and there was no way to continue the research anyway.
(To be continued.)