"And we, the Stellaron Hunters, go against the current, hunting and collecting these dangerous things."
Of course, Firefly did not mention how they used Stellarons to achieve some of their own goals.
Still, although the Stellaron Hunters' actions could be dangerous or destructive, they were not entirely evil.
They made rules to protect certain individuals. In short, they were complex and multifaceted.
"So this is what the Stellaron Hunters are like?!"
They sounded like wandering heroes of the cosmos, hunting down and containing those dangerous Stellarons.
Stellarons could destroy worlds.
That was truly terrifying!
Suddenly, Nene Arakawa's expression changed. Since Firefly and the others were Stellaron Hunters and had come to Earth, didn't that mean...
"Firefly-chan, does our world have a Stellaron too?"
"This... uh, it does."
Originally, there had not been one. Firefly thought of the sealed Stellaron within her.
Now there was.
"What?!"
Nene Arakawa was startled. This world actually had one too.
Something as dangerous as a Stellaron existed here!
"You don't need to worry. Under normal circumstances, this Stellaron won't cause any trouble."
"It has already been sealed."
"Rather than worrying about the Stellaron, you should be more concerned about DGP's management. Once the final game begins, they'll initiate a doomsday countdown."
"If they aren't stopped, this world will be destroyed as well."
The Stellaron was in her hands. As long as Firefly did not take it out, there would be no danger.
Unless things truly reached an extreme point, and she had no choice but to take out the Stellaron and blow herself up with them, destroying everyone together!
Doomsday Mode
"The Stellaron has already been sealed? That's good!"
After learning about the dangers of Stellarons, Nene Arakawa was still somewhat worried.
But since it had already been sealed, there probably would not be any major problems, right?
It was just...
"What does the finale mean? Doomsday?"
The people running DGP were going to destroy this world?
The news made her nervous. Wasn't the DGP Grand Prix a reality show? Even if it was a reality show for Future People, destroying the world was far too absurd.
"That's right. There's a high chance it will be."
"When the Rider reality show ends in this world, DGP's management will use the entire world as the price for a doomsday finale."
"These Future People have never cared whether this world lived or died. They have destroyed more than one world already, so we must stop them."
Firefly did not seem to doubt that once the Creation Power of the Creation Goddess statue was nearly exhausted, DGP's management would completely squeeze out her last bit of value.
They might even put on a doomsday game before leaving. To the Future People, that would be this season's finale in this world.
Then they would simply move on to another world and continue the Desire Grand Prix.
Starting a new season.
That was what they did in the original story as well. Suel, the original founder of DGP's management, had always catered to audiences who enjoyed thrills and destruction.
"They're too horrible!"
"They're actually destroying the world over something like this!"
After learning about the finale's doomsday mode, Nene Arakawa was furious. Using the world as a stage to entertain themselves was bad enough, but they even wanted to destroy it.
That was simply vile. It absolutely could not be allowed.
"They're clearly people from the future, yet they're using their advanced technology to destroy the past. I can't understand it!"
They came from the future and returned to the past, but instead of helping the people of the past, they wanted to destroy them. Nene Arakawa could not understand it.
"Because they can no longer be called human. They're merely data-based lifeforms."
"And the Future People are separated from this era by far too much time. It's like people today returning to prehistoric times and facing primitive humans and dinosaurs."
"Under those circumstances, would they still care?"
Firefly understood the thoughts of those Future People quite well.
They might once have been human, but from the moment they abandoned their fleshly bodies, they became completely different! They did not consider the humans of this era to be their own kind at all.
Besides, many Future People believed that the destruction of the world was inevitable.
If that was the case, then there was no difference between destroying it sooner or later. And there was no difference between having it destroyed by someone else or by themselves!
"But I still can't accept it."
After listening to Firefly, Nene Arakawa roughly understood the Future People's way of thinking, but she would never approve of it.
"Our world isn't theirs to decide the fate of. We have to drive them, and DGP's management, out of our world. So... is there anything I can help with next?"
Nene Arakawa wore a serious expression.
She had already joined Firefly and the others, so she had to do something for this world. Forget saving the world—at the very least, she should do what she was supposed to do!
"Uh, for now, Nene, just stay as you are. If we need anything, we'll let you know."
After thinking it over, there did not seem to be anything that required Nene Arakawa's help.
Firefly had only one thought: as long as Nene Arakawa did not become her enemy or draw her blade against her, Firefly did not need anything else from her.
As for the location of the DGP Grand Prix, it was no longer that important now that Firefly had obtained the Vision Driver.
"That's all? All right, then."
That answer instantly deflated Nene Arakawa. Just staying as she was...
She had wanted to do more.
"If possible, please keep the Stellaron Hunters and what we discussed today confidential. It isn't suitable for others to know yet."
Remembering something, Firefly still gave her a reminder.
Even if others learned about these matters, the impact would not be too great. She could handle it.
But it was best not to let too many people know. That would be more beneficial for her.
"Don't worry. I definitely won't go around telling people."
Hearing Firefly's words, Nene Arakawa patted her chest in assurance. This concerned something as secretive as the Stellaron Hunters. Even if Firefly had not reminded her, she would not speak carelessly.
After they had talked enough, Nene Arakawa finally stood and left the living room for her bedroom.
There were still some things she had not put away, and after being gone for several days, she needed to organize things as well.
Yet not long afterward, Nene Arakawa's voice suddenly rang out loudly.
"Ah!"
"Y-you, who are you?"
"..."
"Firefly-chan, why is there another person in the house?!"
With that, Nene Arakawa hurriedly ran out, pointing at Herta, who had just appeared, looking utterly confused.
She did not remember there being any other residents here. Clearly, it had only been her and Firefly. She had only been gone for a few days, yet there was suddenly another beautiful girl in the house?
"Oh, I forgot to introduce her. This is Herta."
Only then did Firefly realize that she had spent so much time talking with Nene Arakawa that she had forgotten to tell her about Herta.
Herta had previously been dormant in the system space, but now she had been outside the whole time.
"Herta? When did she get here?"
Looking at the beautiful girl in a Lolita dress, Nene Arakawa felt that something was a little strange.
And for some reason, she felt slightly uncomfortable inside, as though someone was about to take away her beloved toy.
"Probably... these past few days..."
"These past few days."
Exactly when she had not been around.
"Hello, Miss Herta."
"Um... I'm Nene Arakawa. It's nice to meet you."
Though countless thoughts ran through her mind, Nene Arakawa still behaved warmly.
But Herta's reaction left her stunned.
"I know."
After glancing at Nene Arakawa, Herta merely gave that response, then ignored her and turned away to continue with her own work.
As an artificial intelligence, she was fairly capable when handling other matters, but she lacked basic human social etiquette.
"Huh?"
Herta's reaction left Nene Arakawa dumbfounded, and for a moment, she did not know what to say.
"Sorry, Nene, don't mind her. I forgot to mention that Herta isn't human. She's a puppet with artificial intelligence."
"So there may be some problems with communication."
Noticing Nene Arakawa's reaction, Firefly hurriedly explained.
It was not just with Nene Arakawa. This Herta Puppet often did not follow normal conventions with Firefly either. If there was something to do, it was best to give her direct instructions.
If someone beat around the bush, she would not only misunderstand, but might also get angry easily.
Have You Never Seen a Woman as Beautiful as Me?
"What? Miss Herta is a puppet?"
Firefly's words startled Nene Arakawa. She looked at the beautiful girl Herta in the distance in disbelief. Someone so cute and lifelike was actually just a puppet?
Firefly was not lying to her, was she?
Why could she not believe it?
"Of course. And it isn't difficult to tell. As long as you carefully observe her joints, it becomes obvious."
Although the Herta Puppet was indeed very lifelike, the most obvious feature was her distinctly nonhuman joints, the kind unique to dolls.
Firefly did not know why Miss Herta had retained the traditional joints of a puppet. Given her technology, there should have been no need for them.
Or perhaps she felt that keeping them made it easier to confirm her identity as a puppet?
"It really is!"
She really was a puppet.
Nene Arakawa moved closer to Herta and noticed the obvious differences at her joints. Only then did she have no choice but to accept that Herta truly was a puppet.
But this puppet was far too amazing.
The slight knot in her heart vanished. Now, she only wanted a puppet like this for herself.
"Is Herta also one of the Stellaron Hunters?"
Before you continue