Self-Replicating Herta. (cont.)

"... So, you mean the job of a maid?"

Topaz sighed as well.

"On the bright side, maybe the BOSS will assign you other tasks."

"...All right."

Although I felt that this might bring me a terrible experience.

However, there are indeed elements worth looking forward to.

"She is..."

Ruan Mei scrutinized the Sparkle with a cool and aloof gaze.

"Aren't you going to introduce it?"

—Ruan Mei doesn't usually check work groups, but she often checks smaller groups.

—Although the small group of scientists she was in was usually inactive.

"Oh! Liu Bai! It's been a long time!"

Liu Bai was suddenly bumped by something.

"Danzhu..."

Cangxuan, Mei, and Vilvie slowly walked down from behind.

"Honestly, Liu Bai, why do you look like you don't care about us at all? Have you forgotten about the two of us?"

"... How could that be? Didn't I send you and the Jackal some local specialties before? How were they? Were they delicious?"

"Oh my gosh~ that was a lifesaver! I was almost stuck in instant noodle hell, it was a lifesaver!"

Danzhu patted his chest, trying to appear as if he was still shaken.

"Who do you think did this?"

Cangxuan looked at Danzhu and made a sarcastic remark with a blank expression.

"If someone didn't buy so many models and figures, they wouldn't have ended up eating instant noodles every day."

"..."

Danzhu sighed, but showed no remorse. "Even if you manage the money, you'll probably end up eating instant noodles anyway—you can't go grocery shopping, you can't cook, and you have no money management skills!"

Yes, this is the unsolvable conflict between the sisters.

Danzhu manages the money, and at least every expenditure is detailed, with a monthly plan. There are ways to spend 10,000 yuan and 20,000 yuan. If there are few things that can stimulate Azhai's spending in a month, he can live a pretty good life.

As for Cangxuan... well, he can't buy groceries or cook. He's said to be able to work as an economist, but he's a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. And... the thing economists are worst at is economics. When Cangxuan is in charge of the accounts, he either doesn't contribute a single penny or suddenly disappears.

Simply put, Danzhu, who was in charge of the accounts, was unlucky and had to eat instant noodles for a week to get paid.

Cangxuan, who was in charge of the accounts, ate instant noodles for a whole month.

So even if the two little sisters bickered, Danzhu firmly held the power of managing the household.

"Why are you here?"

Liu Bai brought up the serious matter—although he felt that this matter should be asked directly by Mei, a respectable person.

"Because Dr. Mobius is worried about Dr. Ruan Mei ~"

Danzhu had no intention of hiding anything and spoke her mind freely.

Ruan Mei showed no other expression in response.

Objectively speaking, she still really likes the two sisters.

The reason she brought these two people over was partly because she found them pleasing to the eye, and partly because Herta was better than her at teaching... or rather, mentoring younger generations.

... Although communicating with Herta is much more difficult than communicating with her.

Many of these people have poor education.

To give an analogy, it's like a professor from a big city seeing a bunch of talented but wasting lives in a remote mountain village.

While these two individuals may not be considered geniuses, they would still be better than many in the Genius Society.

Furthermore... these two are actually quite "out of sync," and might actually be able to match the Herta's wavelength.

"Boss~"

Vilvie also greeted Liu Bai cheerfully.

That title makes him sound like some kind of gangster.

So, does this mean our own researchers haven't come after the Jackal?

Hmm... Poor Jackal, even though she's a disciple, it's all because she keeps making Mobius unhappy.

"Oh my... Who would have thought that in just a few months, Senior Liu Bai, you would suddenly become a master of romance?"

"Making jokes about your boss will result in a pay cut."

"Eh?"

Danzhu showed a surprised expression in perfect sync.

"Cough cough!"

Ruan Mei coughed lightly.

These guys... stole the show.

"So, Liu Bai, you haven't introduced who the girl next to you is yet."

Ruan Mei was very concerned about this matter—what had this girl done to make Liu Bai bring her to pick her up?

Incomprehensible.

If the person who came with Liu Bai was Acheron or someone else she had slept with, she would assume that Liu Bai wanted them to get along well.

But this one I don't recognize...

Could it be that Liu Bai wants me to accept this girl ahead of time?

... Displeased.

Although it is Liu Bai's freedom to sleep with whomever he wants.

After all, if Liu Bai were to stick to her all day long, she would have to find an opportunity to stab herself a couple of times, which was quite troublesome.

"Oh, this child's name is Sparkle —is this a toy for you?"

"Onii-chan, how could you say that to someone like that?!"

"Danzhu, look, here comes the anime you love."

Cangxuan spoke expressionlessly.

"Three-dimensional anime girls are disgusting..."

Danzhu seemed uninterested.

Sparkle ignored the conversation between the two.

These complaints couldn't sway her at all.

But Ruan Mei's eyes gradually deepened.

Anime/manga style... Thanks to Danzhu, she knows a little about it.

—Sparkle couldn't ignore that look.

"I really like this toy..."

"Didn't you come to introduce me to your future sister-in-law, brother? Why are you making such a rude joke?! Ugh! I'm going to get angry!"

Ruan Mei: "..."

Although I knew the other person was "saving themselves," it did sound quite agreeable.

"... Let's just turn this child into a puppy that can only call out 'sister-in-law'."

—What a terrifying idea!

For a fleeting moment, Liu Bai felt that Ruan Mei might have been possessed by Herrscher of Dominion.

Will other people's dogs bark "Big Brother" while their dogs bark "Sister-in-law" or "Madam"?

Hmm...

"—Just kidding, where's the Herta?"

Ruan Mei gave Sparkle Huo a deep look.

Although it was a joke before, she understood what Liu Bai meant—if necessary, she could teach this little girl named Sparkle a lesson.

Ruan Mei had no doubts about this matter—what kind of decent person could be someone who could hug another woman's man and call him a cloyingly sweet "Onii-chan"?

Even Seele wouldn't call me that in such a greasy way!

The way people call her Seele is so pure; it gives you a feeling of spiritual purification.

"Come with me... you guys are coming too?"

——

After Liu Bai dismissed Sparkle, he led the group to Serenitea Pot.

The process of getting rid of her went smoothly; clearly, Sparkle didn't want to stay near Ruan Mei, this dangerous person.

But Serenitea Pot... a strange change occurred.

For example... there are three Herta lying in the workshop that serves as the "entrance"—in loli doll form.

"... Is the Herta some kind of cosmic marvel that automatically multiplies if left unattended?"

"Maybe."

Ruan Yanmei pinched the face of the doll Herta, then lifted her skirt and touched it lightly with her fingers.

"... Yes, there is."

Yes? What is it?

Liu Bai suddenly became curious.

"You might like the anthropomorphic aspect, dear."

Ruan Mei put down the doll's skirt, seemingly sensing Liu Bai's curiosity, and spoke softly.

"That's a terrible thing to say."

Mei sighed, rubbing her forehead.

"Wow! It really exists!"

"Yeah, yeah~ Why make it so anthropomorphic?"

—However, Mei is the only normal person in this line of work.

Both Vilvie and Danzhu couldn't wait to shove their heads down.

Mei: "..."

Are there no people with normal brains left?

"... Liu Bai, you wouldn't do that, would you?"

"It's just a doll anyway."

Ruan Mei spoke first.

"... Are you really the Ruan Mei I know?"

One of the puppets was suddenly activated.

Herta's small face was full of indifference.

"Are you sure you haven't been brainwashed?"

"Oh, oh, oh! It's moving like it's breathing!"