How should I put this?
Ryotaro really wasn't very good at naming things...
Chapter 35: Spare Herta Dolls
"Uncle Yang, long time no see."
"...Mm, long time no see."
The reliable middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses and a gray scarf around his neck froze for a moment when he saw Lin Nai.
"You seem to have grown quite a bit taller?" Walter smiled as he looked Lin Nai over.
"After all these years, it would be strange if I hadn't grown."
Lin Nai sat down beside him. "How have you been lately, Uncle Yang? Have you been doing well?"
"Of course." Walter nodded. "I've been living quite comfortably."
"That's good."
Lin Nai stretched. "I'm a little thirsty. Where's the water?"
"It's..."
"Little Lin Nai, are you thirsty? Would you like some coffee?" Kizuna walked over carrying a white cup.
"Thank you, Sister Kizuna." Lin Nai reached out and accepted the cup.
Walter reached out, but before he could stop him, Lin Nai had already taken a gulp.
It really was... familiar.
"Mm! Mmmmmm!"
Lin Nai felt as though his taste buds had exploded, as if his entire body were about to ascend to heaven.
This was bad!
He was... he was done for!!
Lin Nai collapsed onto the sofa without moving, seeming to lose all color.
Walter: "..."
Kizuna: "..."
"Ahem, it looks like it still needs some improvement."
With an awkward yet polite smile, Kizuna took the cup away.
A cane appeared in Walter's hand as he considered whether to give Lin Nai a jab in the chest.
Just to wake him up a little.
Fortunately.
Lin Nai didn't need any of that. He could wake up on his own!
Skill obtained: Max Poison Resistance Congratulations, from now on, you will no longer need to fear any poison...
Lin Nai: "..."
Was Kizuna's coffee a little too terrifying?
This time, the system didn't even say it was random. It straight-up said he'd fucking obtained it!!
This was completely targeted!
Terrifying...
Lin Nai shakily got to his feet and swallowed. "Uncle Yang, where's my room? I think I might need to go rest first..."
"Herta has already arranged it. Just have Star take you there."
"Star..."
"I'm here!"
Like she had teleported, Star abruptly appeared in front of Lin Nai.
"H-Help... help me up..."
Lin Nai held out his hand. After drinking that coffee, he didn't have any strength left.
Star pulled Lin Nai up. "It's fine! I don't mind giving you a hand a few times!"
"Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"...No, I misheard. Let's go."
Very soon.
With Star supporting him, Lin Nai arrived at another carriage, where his and Star's rooms were located.
"Do you want me to help you inside?"
"...Uh, never mind."
Lin Nai had originally wanted to agree.
But when he saw Star's eager gaze, he felt just a tiny bit afraid.
So he decided against it.
Star looked slightly disappointed upon hearing that.
But she still obediently let go, watching Lin Nai enter with concern.
How should he put this...
That intense gaze made Lin Nai shudder a little.
Kafka's Word of Power had clearly been normal, so why had Star become like this?
After closing the door.
Lin Nai, who had intended to throw himself onto the bed immediately, fell silent for several seconds.
He looked at Herta, who was sitting in a chair, writing and drawing, with a somewhat blank expression.
He...
He had left Herta Space Station, right?
"Yo, kid. You finally made it?"
"Herta?!"
"Don't be so surprised. I personally decorated your room!"
Herta spoke proudly. "Well? Impressive, right? Genius, right? Amazing, right?"
"Ah... yeah."
Lin Nai glanced around the room. How should he put it? It was very much Herta's style.
If he had to describe it...
The colors on Herta's clothes were the exact combination used for the wallpaper in Lin Nai's room.
"So you..."
"Don't misunderstand. It's only a network connection. Besides, you're one of my collectibles!"
Herta put her hands on her hips and glanced at Lin Nai. "Besides, what are you worried about? It's not like I have that much time to watch you."
"...Ah, is that so?"
"Of course. Oh, instead of wasting time on this, why don't we talk about what happened on the platform just now?"
"The platform? What happened?"
"Oh~ Ahem." Herta imitated Lin Nai's voice. "Thank you..."
"That really isn't necessary! Seriously!"
Lin Nai felt his strength return in an instant.
In a flustered rush, he covered Herta's mouth, his face already turning red.
This was bad!
She had been watching from over there the entire time!
How awful!
If she was there, she should have said something!!
Herta raised a hand and slapped away the paw covering her mouth, then smiled teasingly. "Heh, you really are cute."
"Guh..."
Lin Nai fell onto the bed and used a pillow to cover his face.
Herta revealed a gentle smile that almost no one had ever seen before.
Her lips moved slightly, but no one knew what she said.
"Alright, Lin Nai. I need to get back to work now. I'll come see you next time."
"Yeah, yeah..."
"If you miss me, remember to call me~" Herta added teasingly.
Lin Nai immediately threw the pillow at her!
Herta caught the pillow and set it aside.
Then she went offline.
Lin Nai lay sprawled on the bed, staring at the ceiling with a headache.
Herta had a whole pile of dolls, with thirty-two spares alone...
But how should he put it? Out of those thirty-two spare dolls, two were in his room.
"Hey! Hey, hey! Attention, all passengers. Attention, all passengers."
"The train is about to make a warp jump. Please proceed to the train lounge immediately!"
"I repeat! The train is about to make a warp jump. Please proceed to the train lounge immediately!"
"A warp jump... The next stop should be Belobog, right?"
Lin Nai got up from the bed and tossed his cowboy hat onto Herta's head.
Then he paused.
He took out his phone and snapped a picture before heading to the train lounge.
He arrived at another carriage. This was the archive room, as well as the rooms of Dan Heng, March Seven, Kizuna, and Walter.
Past this area was the train lounge, otherwise known as the observation car.
The moment he arrived, he saw that everyone was already there.
"Passenger Lin Nai, you're too slow, pom." Pom-Pom ran over on his short little legs and stopped in front of Lin Nai.
"Sorry, sorry. I was a little sleepy." Lin Nai casually made up an excuse. "Long time no see, Pom-Pom."
Then he reached out and rubbed Pom-Pom's face.
Drawing an unhappy glare from Pom-Pom.
Pom-Pom muttered a few complaints and patted Lin Nai's thigh. "Alright, alright. Hurry up and find somewhere to sit. Don't run around the train like Passenger March Seven."
Hearing Pom-Pom mention her, March Seven, who was standing by the window, stuck out her tongue.
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