Theresa Becomes the Envoy of Joy

Theresa was startled to find herself sitting in a pitch-black void, with streams of digital code flickering around her.

But then she noticed a massive cluster of masks spinning around her. Under her astonished gaze, they fused into a huge spherical mask aggregate, accompanied by celebratory trumpet blasts, spotlight beams, and a chorus of giggles and laughter. Besides that, there were things like rubber balls and playing cards orbiting this being. The Aeon of Joy—Aha. "Who are you?"

Theresa stared blankly at the spherical mask aggregate before her and asked.

{As mentioned before, to prevent the Aeon from peering into Theresa's pre-transmigration memories, they were sealed by the Herta Space Station System. So at this moment, Theresa doesn't recognize any Aeon at all.}

[The ability to know joy is the unique right of intelligent life. Neither stone nor star can grasp the humor of existence.]

[Seeking an enemy worthy of the game, seeking a pastime to while away the hours, seeking an outcome where victory and defeat don't matter~]

[Seeking a joke that makes you double over laughing, seeking a misunderstanding born of chance, seeking a song that sets the spirit dancing.]

[Knowledge is scrap metal, Preservation is a blockhead. The Hunt has no sense of humor, Destruction is a madman. All Aeons are one-track minds, Aha has no face!]

He is the Lord of the Path of Joy, the God of Trickery whom the Masked Fools and Mourning Actors call "Aha."

If one had to draw a scale of "divinity" versus "mortality" among the Aeons' ways of operating, then Aha would definitely be the Aeon closest to the "mortal" side.

He toys with the sorrow, joy, love, and hate of intelligent beings, and orchestrates the upheaval and reversal of fate—according to His followers, He Himself revels in it, even appearing in human form to stir the pot.

If anyone thinks this Lord of Everlasting Heaven is merely the clown among the gods, they couldn't be more wrong. True, He cannot leave behind miracles that shake the cosmos like the Lord of the Hunt or the Lord of Preservation. But He uses invisible means to subtly steer the course of all living things, displaying an uncanny mastery over reality.

For example, during the era when Emperor Luper conquered the star sea, His followers stirred up rebellion on a world that had fallen to inorganic life under the "Philosopher's Union," infecting the conquerors' computational cores with a humorous paradox virus called "Philosopher's Hemlock," overthrowing the tyranny of the local mechanical legion.

Such miracles are countless—a tiny ripple that eventually becomes an earth-shattering tsunami. That's Aha's style.

[Hahaha, hello there, little cutie! I'm Aha, the Aeon of Joy~]

[Surprised? Shocked?]

Aha cheerfully orbited the bewildered Theresa, swapping between various masks, rubber balls, and spotlights as He laughed.

"The Aeon of Joy, Aha? What are you?"

Theresa asked in confusion, but she didn't know that her question also made Aha pause to think.

[Hmm, Aha is not a "what." Eh, interesting! Aha just insulted Himself, hahaha, what fun!]

[Hmm, Aha is a "what"? That's not right either.]

[Little cutie, what do you think Aha is? Or isn't?]

[Answer right and get a prize, answer wrong and get a punishment~ Ahahaha!]

Aha orbited Theresa, giggling and laughing.

"Hmm, I don't know what you really are, but I can see you're really joyful. I don't know why you're joyful either, but I do know one thing—bold fiend, you're definitely not human!"

Theresa puffed out her chest and laughed, hands on her hips. Her words made Aha burst into roaring laughter and spin rapidly.

[Ahaha, what a riot! Aha got scolded by a little cutie! How hilarious! Hahaha!]

[And what's a "fiend"? Whatever, it doesn't matter. Little cutie, you answered wrong~ As punishment, how about I put you in a little dress? Hahaha!]

Before Theresa could react, she was dressed in a skirt similar to Stargazer's, showing off her long legs. At the same time, Aha lifted the restraints of her rationality, and her eyes grew... wise. Simply put, Theresa started letting loose! Long-legged Dr. Ratio! [Ahaha, yes! That's the expression Aha wanted to see!]

[Liberate your rational self, release your inner restraints! Come on, let yourself go!]

[Actually, Aha was drawn here by the aura of immortality on you, little cutie. The legendary Immortal Dragon has appeared again—what a riot!]

[And Aha can feel the soul of joy buried deep in your heart. Come on! Break free of your bonds! Hahaha!]

[Aha can't wait to see what kind of fun you'll bring Him in the future.]

[So Aha decides to make you an Envoy of Joy. Go! Bring more fun to Aha!]

[Ahahaha!]

A mask floated off Aha's form and merged into Theresa. He cheerfully glanced at the data streams around Him, then vanished with a booming laugh.

At that moment, the wise look in Theresa's eyes froze. Then she returned to her normal expression, looked down at the chic little dress she was wearing, and broke into a cold sweat.

The space around her began to warp. Then her vision shifted, and she found herself inside the Space Station.

Herta's frantic, overlapping messages were coming through.

Before Theresa could respond, she felt herself being teleported. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Himeko, Welt, March 7th, Dan Heng, and Herta looking at her with concern.

"Thank goodness, Theresa's awake!"

March 7th hugged Theresa excitedly and ruffled her hair. Himeko and the others let out a sigh of relief.

"Theresa, what happened to you? After you went in, your brainwaves suddenly went haywire, and you even turned into a smiling mask face!"

Herta asked curiously, noticing that Theresa seemed to have changed somehow.

"Teruriri doesn't know~"

Theresa's eyes suddenly turned wise as she grinned. The bizarre expression on her face stunned everyone. Welt's mouth twitched. Then Theresa's expression snapped back to normal.

"What just happened? Herta, what did you ask me?"

Theresa looked at everyone's surprised faces in confusion.

"Forget it, it's nothing. I've already guessed. You were probably influenced by the simulated Aeon, Aha."

Herta rubbed her forehead in exasperation. Himeko, Welt, and Dan Heng's expressions turned serious at her words. Being influenced by an Aeon was no small matter!

"The look on Theresa's face just now was so weird, it suddenly made me want to laugh—sorry, I know it's not really appropriate to say that, but at that moment I really wanted to laugh~"

March 7th held back her laughter as she explained to everyone. Welt and Himeko nodded with awkward expressions. There was nothing they could do—Theresa's expression just now was way too funny.

"What are you talking about? I don't get it. But I did feel like laughing just now too."

Stelle scratched her head and asked in confusion.

Daily meme. Heh~