Creating a World of Pure Beauty That Exists Only in Dreams

Before she knew it, Himeko had been trailblazing through the Starry Sky aboard the Stellaron Train for several years.

Though not much time seemed to have passed on Hermes's end, anything could happen in the Universal Galaxy.

Sometimes, one would discover that decades or even centuries had passed in one star system, only to contact a friend after leaving and find that merely a few days had passed for them...

This was actually perfectly normal.

For example, there was the love story between Loki of the Herta Space Station and the astronaut Leslie in the game—a romance across misaligned time and space caused by the "Starquake" phenomenon.

One lived in the past and gazed toward the future, while the other waited in the future for the past...

Such cases were not especially frequent, but they certainly could not be called rare.

That day, having completed Herta's commissioned task, the Stellaron Train headed for the Herta Space Station once more with the requested item in tow.

"Hmm?! Murata Himeko?"

Over the years, Himeko had often stayed in contact with Hermes online. Their relationship was no longer what it had once been, and they could now be considered friends.

Just moments ago, Hermes had sent her a familiar photograph.

Had she not been certain that she had no twin sister, she might have believed that the woman in the picture was a long-lost sister of her own.

"What Murata Himeko? Big Sister Himeko, don't tell me Murata is one of your surnames too?"

Catching Himeko's faint murmur, March 7th lowered her camera and asked curiously.

"Murata? Himeko?!!"

Welt, who had been pondering how to combine and fuse the powers of the Paths with those of the Herrscher of Reason, heard that name and felt his heart stop for the span of a breath as his pupils constricted sharply.

Murata Himeko...

She was an eternal regret in Welt's heart.

He had once been friends with Murata Himeko's father, Murata Ryusuke, but because their ideals conflicted, he had been forced to kill him despite the pain it caused him.

Later, burdened by guilt, he had served as Murata Himeko's university teacher. Yet because of her father, he had indirectly caused Murata Himeko to join Heavenly Mandate and become a Valkyrie...

Welt had once sworn to protect that child well, but in the end, he could only watch as she continued fighting on the front lines, gradually heading toward collapse beneath the Honkai's corrosion...

And ultimately, while saving her students, Murata Himeko had been severely wounded and fallen into the Sea of Quantum...

This was Welt's eternal guilt and pain.

"Himeko, where did you hear the name Murata Himeko?"

Welt strode over quickly, his breathing suddenly growing rapid as he asked anxiously.

"Wow! This is the first time I've ever seen Uncle Yang so worried!"

March 7th's eyes widened as she watched Welt's uncharacteristically flustered appearance.

Even Dan Heng and Himeko stared at Welt in surprise.

Did Old Yang, who was always so mature and composed, have a side like this too?

"Old Yang, Hermes sent me a photograph today. The person in it looked almost exactly like me, and her name was [Murata Himeko]."

Surprised as she was, Himeko did not tease him when she saw Old Yang's expression. She simply explained directly.

"Your Excellency Hermes? Strange. How could he have a photograph of Himeko?"

Doubt filled Welt's heart.

By his estimation, his student Murata Himeko's injuries at the time had been severe enough that survival would have been nearly impossible even with the finest medical care, let alone after she had fallen into the Sea of Quantum!

Seeming to see Old Yang's doubts, Himeko did not hide anything and continued, "To explain that, we have to start with how Hermes found an exceptionally unique planet in the universe—Blue Star."

"And so, under the integration of Hermes's Envoy Authority, Blue Star's incomplete Authority of Quantum greatly improved its efficiency at drawing in and retrieving things from the Sea of Quantum. Only then were they finally able to salvage [Murata Himeko], who had sunk deep within the Sea of Quantum."

"A genius's experiment?"

Welt Yang suddenly understood.

Indeed, only geniuses capable of surpassing the limits of human imagination could effortlessly accomplish things that people like them could not achieve even if they devoted all their efforts to them.

"The Sea of Quantum, Authority, the True Universe Creation Experiment..."

The unfamiliar terms made March 7th's eyes spin, but she quickly pulled herself together. "Big Sister Himeko, can we go take a look at Blue Star?"

"I'm also really curious about what kind of person this Murata Himeko, who looks exactly like you, is."

Himeko glanced at Welt, whose anxiety and anticipation were practically written across his face, and could not help finding it amusing. But after giving it some thought, she said somewhat helplessly, "Hermes's plan has only just begun, and some of the preparations have not yet been completed."

"The world Hermes worked so hard to create, one that is isolated from the powers of the Paths, is not suitable for us to disturb just yet."

"I see..."

March 7th was immediately disappointed, while Welt beside her also seemed rather downcast.

"All right, just wait a little longer. By around the time we leave the Herta Space Station and finish trailblazing through Jarilo-VI, it should be about time."

Himeko compared Blue Star's time with the time here, made a few calculations, and gave them a definite answer.

In truth, even if March 7th and Welt had not said anything, she herself was looking forward to this trip to Blue Star.

She had already learned some details of Murata Himeko's life from Hermes.

She was someone whose early life—her studies and dreams—had been almost identical to hers.

But later, she encountered the Stellaron Train and began exploring the stars.

Murata Himeko's life, meanwhile, had taken a completely different path—becoming a warrior and a teacher.

"That's wonderful, Big Sister Himeko!"

"Thank you, Himeko."

After ending the call with Himeko, Hermes could still seemingly hear Welt's astonished voice ringing in his ears.

"Still, two Himekos really do mean twice the happiness."

The corners of Hermes's lips curled up slightly. He was in quite a good mood at the moment, and even his thoughts seemed to be moving a little faster.

Under such circumstances, In barely a week, the Star System finally completed its first stage and could be put into practical use.

"Come to think of it, Lord Hermes, how did you come up with the idea of creating this system and making it the mainstream of the future world?"

Greater Lord Kusanali Buer, who had grown considerably and could now be called a young girl, asked with a hint of confusion.

She had already examined Lord of Heavenly Principles' database.

She understood very well that Lord of Heavenly Principles had attempted to establish many different cultivation systems, all of which appeared quite promising.

"The reason is simple, Buer."

As Hermes spoke, a trace of nostalgia appeared in his eyes. "Once, my mother hoped that when I grew up, I could step onto the Path of Beauty, blessing my future to be as pure and beautiful as Idrila."

"I failed her expectations. First, I stepped onto the Path of Trailblaze, and then I took the Path of Erudition..."

"Since that was the case, I would create for her a world of pure beauty that had existed only in dreams!"