It's Not Impossible / The Herta Arrives

"Let's go for a walk."

She got out of bed, intending to go out for a walk and stretch her muscles. As for the laboratory, she was afraid that her sudden entry might disturb Ruan Mei.

If it weren't for the fact that the craftsmanship was really bad...

She wanted to go to the kitchen to make some pastries so that she could feed Ruan Mei some treats after she finished her experiment.

Tsk, speaking of cooking, although her cooking used to be terrible, at least it wouldn't kill anyone. Now, I don't know if she's cursed, but the food she makes is just...

Let's not ruin the kitchen or Ruan Mei's life.

This is her only hobby. If she were to develop a psychological trauma from it and give it up altogether, that would be a huge joke.

68

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Not Impossible

Herta Space Station.

Having stayed there for some time without making any progress, Sirin, who planned to leave in the next couple of days, went to the Herta.

The Herta has placed many of its own dolls on the space station, so finding her isn't difficult.

"You also want to go find Ruan Mei? Did you get the news from Kiana? What a pity, you're too late. I already left the day before yesterday."

Sirin: "..."

Looking at the person in front of him, Herta suddenly had an idea. He put his hands on his hips, looked up at Sirin, and said, "If you want to see her, it's simple. Just persuade them to come to the space station with me, right?"

"... She said she would come to the space station to see me in a while."

Sirin sighed, deciding to let the caravan leave first, while she would stay on the space station alone for a while longer.

"Oh? Really?"

Herta was clearly somewhat surprised.

After all, her last conversation with Ruan Mei had yielded no results, and Ruan Mei had no intention of agreeing to her request.

Sirin was a little annoyed. "Of course it's true, why would I lie to you? She just told me."

Herta nodded. "It's safe!"

"What do you mean it's safe?"

However, Herta didn't offer her any answers. After hearing the news, he simply left her aside and went offline to prepare.

"I see."

In Ruan Mei's laboratory.

She lowered her head, seemingly deep in thought, and wrote down the news she had just heard. She already had a general understanding of the structure of Stigma.

If she wanted, she could create a new Stigma right now. It's uncertain what abilities it would bring, but Ruan Mei could completely preserve its resistance to Honkai energy.

The Honkai energy exactly as she had expected.

It is a force that distorts reality.

That's very interesting.

Thank you for reminding me.

Ruan Mei spoke while looking at the Stigma placed in the device.

She had just spoken with the consciousness of the Stigma within the Stigma; it was the woman Kiana called Yae Sakura.

The other person initiated the conversation with her.

Ruan Mei talked with her for a while and learned a lot of things that Kiana hadn't said.

Creating a matching body for her consciousness was simple, but that wasn't the outcome Kiana wanted.

Instead, they wanted to recreate the virtual world in the real world.

After analyzing the Stigma, Ruan Mei determined that only the Honkai, capable of distorting reality, could achieve this.

Ruan Mei rubbed her tired brow and finished her study of the Stigma.

Once the analysis is complete, it becomes much simpler to do anything else; you don't need to stay here looking at the original file.

Go and take a rest.

After having the robot help tidy up the lab, Ruan Mei turned and left.

Kiana has been gone for a while now, hasn't she?

Ruan Mei, who hadn't paid attention to the time while in the lab, only became aware of its passage after the experiment was over.

She...

Kiana?

As Ruan Mei left the lab, she had only taken a few steps when she saw the person she was thinking about outside the lab.

"Shall we go and rest?"

Kiana saw her and quickly got up to go over. Ruan Mei had been inside for several days without sleep.

"Hmm, time to relax my brain."

"Would you like to go to sleep first, or have some tea and snacks?"

Kiana turned her head and looked at the pastries she had brought, asking...

Feeling a little tired, Ruan Mei hesitated for a moment, then took her hand and walked a few steps to find a place to sit down, deciding to eat some pastries first.

These tasks were all handled by the food preparation robot. Kiana had visited the lab a few times, but Ruan Mei was engrossed in her own world, so she didn't disturb her.

Since she didn't know how long Ruan Mei would have to work, she would sit outside every day and have the food preparation robot make some snacks and put them there.

Anyway, she has a good appetite and can finish it all by herself.

Ruan Mei quietly ate her pastries with some tea, and her expression visibly relaxed.

"The Herta should be arriving soon."

Kiana, propping her head up with her hand, watched her eat. Suddenly hearing her bring up this, she was quite surprised. "The Herta?"

"Um."

Ruan Mei took a small sip of tea and said, "It's been about half a month since our last communication, hasn't it?"

Kiana didn't notice how much time had passed, and even glanced down at the time, finding that it was about the same as what Ruan Mei had said.

"It's been more than ten days."

Ruan Mei responded, adding, "It should be in the next day or two."

Kiana asked in surprise, "Did ARuan leave the experiment because Ms. Herta was coming to visit?"

"It's over."

She wouldn't abandon her projects and waste her precious time hosting Herta just because he was coming.

Is it over?

It's only been a little over ten days!

"So fast?"

Kiana's eyes widened slightly; she never expected that the Stigma wouldn't even last a month in her hands.

"I haven't stopped working on projects related to combating Honkai energy erosion since I met you."

Ruan Mei explained gently, "The Stigma only filled the last void in my life."

"As expected of ARuan."

Kiana couldn't help but exclaim, "They solved such a tricky problem in such a short time!"

Because Kiana was very cooperative.

Most of her data was obtained from Kiana.

"That Stigmata world..."

"It's not impossible, but we don't have a clue how to implement it yet."

Ruan Mei glanced at Kiana, but didn't tell Kiana her thoughts right away.

After eating a plate of perfectly prepared snacks, Ruan Mei felt completely relaxed.

He squinted slightly, satisfied.

Kiana didn't ask any further questions. Knowing that this wasn't an unattainable dream, but something that could potentially be realized, was enough for her.

No matter how long it takes.

If there is a possibility, then she will definitely be able to do it in the future.

Are you sleepy?

"Um."

"Shall we sleep here for a while, or should I take you back to your room now?"

Kiana reached out and wiped the crumbs of pastry from the corner of her mouth, then asked Ruan Mei in a low voice.

Curiosity was satisfied.

Now that she could finally rest, she cleared her mind, leaned slightly against Kiana beside her, and said, "Let's rest here."

Kiana thought for a moment, then helped her up and said, "Then you can rest your head on me, and I'll stay here with you."

Ruan Mei glanced at her, but did not refuse her suggestion. She gently responded and lay down, resting her head on her lap.

A familiar scent brings peace of mind.

Kiana leaned against the sofa, looking down at Ruan Mei's sleeping face until her breathing became even.

She didn't make any other movements, just stayed in that position, not moving, just staying with Ruan Mei.

The research on the Stigma has come to an end, and there shouldn't be any more sleepless nights of research needed afterward.

But this time, with Herta extending an invitation, Ruan Mei will most likely accept, and she will also take this opportunity to meet with Sirin at the Herta Space Station.

If we join the Simulated Universe project...

Before the game's storyline officially begins, Ruan Mei probably won't have time to continue researching Honkai.

69

Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Arrival of the Herta.

Ruan Mei's guess was entirely correct.

Approximately twelve system cycles later, the Herta arrived at this planet and located it precisely here.

How did Kiana know that?

Unable to contact Ruan Mei, the Herta, which couldn't access the site, sent the message to her.

Kiana had also slept for several hours with her eyes half-closed, and was woken up by the vibration of her phone.

The first thing she saw on her phone was a message from Herta, telling her and Ruan Mei to open the door quickly, or she would tear it down.

Kiana was still a little confused when Herta couldn't wait any longer and initiated a call request.

She has no time to waste.

Kiana glanced cautiously at Ruan Mei on her body, then hesitantly answered the phone.

If I don't answer her, I'm Herta will really tear down the door.

"Where's Ruan Mei? Why isn't she answering the phone? I'm already at her doorstep!"

Kiana lowered her voice and said in a low voice, forcing herself to be patient, "Calm down, Ms. Herta."

"Where's Ruan Mei? Get her out here right now! Don't even think about playing the disappearing act; it won't work here. I know she hasn't left this planet!"