Warfarin Still Holds Her Ground

—[What you've described is very interesting, Surtr. I've looked through some information and can basically confirm that the area you arrived in is indeed the territory of the Imperial Consciousness. However, your experience must be quite different, because I just attempted to make contact with the Imperial Consciousness. And everything I encountered was different from what you experienced.]

[Can you access the Imperial Consciousness?]

— [Should I not be able to?]

What did you see?

—[A mirror. A mirror with a radius exceeding my maximum viewing distance became the ground beneath my feet. Everything except myself was crystal, floating crystal fragments, and other mirrors. Chernobog also existed in my field of vision, in the form of a crystal labyrinth.]

—[I speculate that the vision of the Imperial Consciousness depends on the perception of those who come into contact with it. Surtr, perhaps you find Hell more aesthetically pleasing?]

"I think they're quite cute." Miss Surtr tilted her head slightly. "There are obedient and affectionate little animals, and while the other creatures may be a bit ugly, they're quite docile, aren't they? Judging someone solely by their appearance and ignoring their inner qualities isn't a fun or good habit."

That's the truth. Because Miss Surtr once dreamed of a world called 'Spore'. And after she left that world, she gained 'Divine Aesthetics'.

What is Divine Aesthetics? Well, one might consider Zeus from Greek mythology—she could find elements in any race, civilization, or individual that aligned with her aesthetic. A delicate face is beautiful, smooth scales are beautiful, soft fur is beautiful—therefore she could speak calmly with any living being of any race. While she might still have some Earthly aesthetic inclinations, at least when she strolled through the warp and did her daily tasks, her praise for unique 'works of art' was genuine.

Then she saw Persephone for several seconds.

— [...It seems I really did do something unnecessary. I originally thought you might prefer me with a better figure.]

Even if you gain 800 pounds, my opinion of you won't change at all, Persephone. And aren't you going off-topic?

—[This isn't a tangent; the topics mentioned above are equally important. Also, you said you saw a red wolf and a shark in the Imperial Consciousness?]

Yes, the wolf cub's tail is fluffy and cute. The baby shark's fins and teeth are sharp, also very cute. When I saw them, they were both injured, so I healed them. It shouldn't have affected them, right?

— [There is definitely an impact, but in a general sense, it's a positive one. You've helped them recover from severe injury to a healthy state. You can think of it as a form of psychotherapy. They might even feel some gratitude and admiration for you.]

"Oh... is that all? That's good. By the way, how is Ludmila now? Did you cure her?"

There was silence for a few more seconds on the other end of the communication line.

— [...You ask a lot of questions, Surtr. But if you just want an answer, I can tell you that her injuries are healing quickly. Her mental state has also stabilized, and she'll soon be lively and energetic again.]

"That's good." Miss Surtr breathed a soft sigh of relief. She had always felt that Persephone's response had a hint of sarcasm or mockery.

No, it shouldn't be. It must just be an illusion. Persephone wouldn't have the leisure to be sarcastic or cynical; rather, if she could tell jokes, that would be a good thing.

So, my contact with the Imperial Consciousness isn't a problem?

— [It doesn't matter. Whatever you do inside won't have a significant impact on reality, unless you encounter an individual with clear intelligence. Otherwise, the creatures that die in your field of vision are merely ownerless fragments of emotion or dissipated information in the atmosphere. Killing them won't create another vegetative state in reality. And even for intelligent individuals, death within the Imperial Consciousness is nothing more than a nightmare.]

"You've tried it?" Surtr raised an eyebrow. She felt that Persephone might have indeed instigated bloodshed within the Imperial Consciousness.

— [I tried. And the corresponding volunteers have received proper treatment and compensation.] However, Persephone was already there waiting for her.

[Feel sorry...]

— [There's no need to apologize for this. Because I've already made a promise with you that I won't cross the line you've drawn.]

Communication ended.

Miss Surtr received a satisfactory answer.

Her mood improved, and even the air seemed a bit fresher—she casually swiped her terminal. She found an email that deserved her attention.

It was an email from Warfarin —the Sanguinarch was inviting her out for afternoon tea. She glanced at the clock; it was a convenient four in the afternoon. She wasn't hungry, and she didn't understand why Warfarin, who should be incredibly busy, would have time to invite her for tea. But since it was a friend's invitation, she felt she should accept.

But before that...

She first glanced at Skadi, who was sitting quietly on a chair five meters away. Then, she abruptly closed her eyes.

In the first second, I returned to the Imperial Consciousness.

The corrupt initial room was still beneath her feet, and she returned to the corresponding place in reality, just as she had guessed.

In the next second, the ruined courtyard turned into a sea of fire. An explosion of energy erupted, accompanied by the sudden rise of a volcano, and her form transformed into a shooting star, piercing the sky!

The sky cracked open, and the massive amount of white fog evaporated completely!

She clearly sensed the power she had left behind when she left last time—the pillar of fire, the wasteland—and without hesitation, she ran towards the place she sensed!

First cosmic velocity, nothing to worry about.

The endless sea of fog was torn apart by the passage constructed of flames, and even though she was more than three kilometers off the ground, the shockwaves she tore through the sky still stirred up a huge storm on the ground!

Walls were torn apart, roads were crushed, and the entire dilapidated building was lifted off the ground, then tossed about in the storm. All sorts of grotesque monsters screamed in terror, but their cries couldn't catch up with her; they could only turn into blood flowers in the storm!

Forward, keep moving forward.

Within an atmosphere that replicates the physical rules of the real world, the speed is increased from the first universe to the second.

Hundreds of kilometers, taking tens of seconds.

When she abruptly stopped above the pillar of fire, an unimaginable amount of kinetic energy was channeled through her Laevateinn and blasted into the sky directly above.

She created a hole in the fog-shrouded sky with a radius of ten kilometers, which was still expanding. However, when she lowered her gaze, the scene before her made her raise an eyebrow slightly.

The protection from the pillar of fire remained intact.

Inside the pillar of fire, there was nothing.

"Go... Is he awake?" Surtr asked softly.

"But it's actually good... I hope we'll have a chance to meet again in the future. I quite like small animals." She sighed softly... She wasn't sure if what she encountered here was the spirit of an animal or the consciousness of a human.

It must be an animal, since it has hands and feet, and even if it doesn't speak a language, it can communicate through actions.

With a mix of regret and relief, she left the territory of the Imperial Consciousness and returned to her office.

Skadi was glaring at her again.

He just stared, without saying a word.

Chapter 111: Warfarin Remains steadfast in her position.

Miss Surtr silently sent a message to Warfarin.

Can I bring someone with me?

— [What do you think?] Warfarin's response was quick, and her tone was somewhat strange.

I asked because I didn't know.

— [It's up to you to decide.]