Can't a person just peacefully complete commissions?

"It works, that's what matters."

Herta waved her hand casually. "If you want, you can call it the Simulated Universe, Virtual Universe, or My World. Whatever works."

"You're really not afraid of copyright infringement."

"Test or not?"

"Ask me nicely."

"Please! Come test it!"

"Good! That's the spirit! I'll test the hell out of it!"

Why wouldn't he participate in a chance to score two free Cosmic Curios? He was currently planning to use products from the "Original Universe" as indexes, tracing new world coordinates through Nen abilities. Herta's Collection Room had already confirmed at least two worlds' products—"Honkai Impact 3rd" and "Genshin Impact."

These two worlds were already the closest to the Star Rail True World. If he couldn't trace even these, there was no point trying others.

The Simulated Universe was basically a weekly routine activity in the game. Later additions like the Great Cosmic Calamity and Differential Universe were all projects led by different researchers, but their essence was the same—the only difference being the simulation time period.

In short, it could be called a "meet the Aeons" simulation mini-game.

And he'd already greeted Aha, so naturally he didn't need to care about a virtual mini-game.

Besides, most importantly, a commission had triggered.

In fact, it was the first long-term commission he'd ever received...

[You have received a new commission!]

[Simulated Universe Test (Client: Herta)]: Assist Herta in testing the Simulated Universe and collect Simulated Universe data.

Reward: 100-400 points

Difficulty: 1-3 stars

Note: This is a long-term commission. Rewards are confirmed based on Herta's data collection gains.

Additional Note: The mission reward cycles weekly. Rewards cannot be obtained again during the cooldown period.

A long-term meal ticket!

Never had he seen such a generous employer!

Mr. Emiya suddenly found this arrogant little devil girl of a Miss Herta much more agreeable. What were a few personality flaws compared to a benefactor like this?

"Was I heading in the wrong direction before?"

If he had more long-term commissions like this, wouldn't he be guaranteed at least one ten-pull per week, or even multiple? But thinking carefully, he really hadn't encountered many such meal-ticket commissions before. His past clients probably never saw him as someone worth keeping as a long-term worker.

That wouldn't do...

A hard worker like him couldn't be satisfied with just one job.

He had to diversify!

"I wonder if I can score more long-term meal tickets from the other Genius Society members. Belobog might have some long-term commissions to farm too."

"Good, I like your straightforward style. No time to waste—what about the rest of you?"

Herta's gaze swept over the Express crew, especially Himeko and the Little Star Core Spirit. The Trailblaze Path's Navigator, a vessel capable of sealing Stellarons—these two were far more significant to her research than anyone else present. The others she couldn't care less about.

"I'll pass. Let the young ones have their fun."

The Navigator smiled lightly. Since accepting Aevium's legacy and restarting the Astral Express, she had traveled through dozens of life-bearing planets. Though her age hadn't reached senescence, her mindset and experience far surpassed ordinary people. A project like the Simulated Universe held far less appeal for her than the real cosmos.

"...I'll participate too."

Having confirmed she'd board the train, the Little Grey Hair had to consider travel expenses. She couldn't really rely on others to cover her costs forever. Besides travel fees, once she set foot on other planets, she'd need Credits for plenty of things. This was a good chance to save up, so she wouldn't have to beg whenever she wanted to buy something.

Wait—

The Little Grey Hair's gaze paused on Mr. Emiya.

No, Shirou had a billion already. Why should she bother working?

Seeming to catch her meaning, Mr. Emiya narrowed his eyes and suddenly smiled.

"Kafka said you need to stand on your own. She told me not to spoil you too much."

"Damn it! That bad woman!"

The Little Grey Hair muttered a few complaints before dejectedly following Emiya and Herta to the Simulated Universe facility. About two or three hours later, when they emerged from the equipment room, even Mr. Emiya felt his head spinning.

Though the Aeons in the Simulated Universe were fake, the pressure they exuded was far too realistic. He had experienced an audience with Joy, but facing an existence like Nanook still subjected his mind to terrifying strain. If it weren't just a product of the Simulated Universe, standing before Nanook alone would have shattered his will to fight.

Aeons.

These monsters standing at the apex of the Star Rail world were incomparable to the "native gods" born from natural concepts on ordinary planets.

Their births possessed an irreproducible uniqueness.

Klippers, born from the concept of "Preservation" during the Twilight War, represented the hopes of trillions of beings caught in that endless conflict of unknown duration.

And "Destruction," born from the war between the Intelligentsia Guild and the Swarm at the end of the Great Cosmic Calamity, embodied the fury of countless innocent lives on countless planets dragged into that catastrophe.

Such one-sided descriptions, though they make the Paths seem insignificant, whether it's the "Hunt" stepping forward to face the blessings of Abundance, or "Abundance" granting eternal life to short-lived species who crave immortality—the foundation of these Aeons' existence is elevated by responding to the desires of the collective.

Of course, "Nihility" walks a path diametrically opposed to these Aeons.

It denies the meaning of existence, deeming all things in the world that can be pursued as worthless.

Among all Aeons, this one, jokingly called "Great Marshal Black," is actually the most dangerous existence. If one is truly drawn to it, they will be like sinking into a quagmire, gradually walking the path of self-destruction.

"Walking a known Path, the end is nothing more than an 'Emanator.' To become, or even surpass, these existences... perhaps it's time to start considering a new track."

Chapter 017: The Technological Content of the Great Shocker Organization. (1/4)

[Kafka: How has that child been lately?]

[I really can pole vault: Not bad, but it seems the factory settings didn't delete everything cleanly.]

[Kafka: Memories are never easy to erase completely; they're just hidden in the deepest recesses of a dry sponge. Soak and knead them with water enough times, and they'll still surface.]

[I really can pole vault: I never said it was anything dirty. When Little Grey Hair comes looking for trouble with you, don't let the snot get on me.]

[Kafka: Looks like you're doing well on the train. But you've spent too much time dawdling on the space station. The next script requires you to get to the set as soon as possible.]

[I really can pole vault: There's nothing in Belobog that needs your interference, is there?]

[Kafka: Rest assured, this time we won't interfere with any of that child's choices. However, you still shouldn't spoil her too much. In the coming "Finale," that child is the key to facing "Destruction."]

Shirou put down his phone and slowly sank into thought. The Trailblazer, Stelle, was shrouded in many mysteries. Even among the Stellaron Hunters, their information on her was incomplete. The only one who truly understood all her secrets was Acheron.

Where did she come from? Why could she seal Stellarons? Why did she have to embark on this journey? Why did so many Aeons cast their gaze upon her? All these riddles—neither he, nor Kafka, nor Silver Wolf—understood thoroughly.

"Leaving the space station? Yeah, it's about time."

Staying on the space station for too long had made things a bit too comfortable. Asta was practically treating them like honored guests, covering all their food and drink without them having to worry about a thing. This young lady had even offered to clear out March 7th's shopping cart. Little Pink Hair was so touched, but in the end, she declined with gratitude.

After all, letting someone else pay for your personal hobbies, even if they're a friend, is a bit much.

"With Herta's intellect, I've made good progress developing my Nen. Now I just need the first feedback to confirm if the direction is correct."

Treating the products of the Original Universe like messages in a bottle, sending them back to the Original Universe through the Aurora Curtain, the specialized Nen aura attached to them would eventually become a bridge for Shirou to contact the other side. Deepening the connection between these bridges would eventually allow for partial mental transmission—the misty space he envisioned.

Through this method, he could also anchor the coordinate system of the other world, and finally use the "Aurora Curtain" to travel directly there.

Of course, he also sent out a large number of ordinary "messages in a bottle," casting a wide net. As long as he caught a response from one beacon, it wouldn't be a loss.

Traveling purely with the "Aurora Curtain" was filled with too much uncertainty. In the two or three years Shirou had possessed the Aurora Curtain, aside from some worthless everyday worlds and a few parallel worlds, he had barely encountered any worlds worth exploring in depth.

Being able to travel to this world was pure luck.

Thinking about it carefully, he really lacked a means to confirm anchor points like Tsukasa Kadoya. Decade was trained as a secret weapon to eliminate Riders, basically using Kamen Riders as anchors for teleportation.

But that mechanism wasn't in his Aurora Curtain, which was why it had so much randomness.

[Astral Express Family]

[Himeko: Everyone, the Conductor has finished inventorying the train's supplies, and the repairs are complete. We're about to depart from Herta Space Station.]

[March 7th: So sudden! But we have been on the space station for quite a while. This girl can't wait to start the next adventure!]

[Conductor: The train will depart in three system hours. All passengers, please return to the train in time, pa.]

[March 7th: That soon? I haven't even had a chance to say a proper goodbye to Asta and the others.]

[Welt: Little March, that's the life of a Nameless. Just like parting, reunions can come very suddenly too. So there's no need to dwell too much on every farewell. With the Star Rails, it'll be very convenient for us to return to the space station later.]

[Shirou Emiya: Is there a chance that... I mean, we could come back anytime?]

[Stelle: What do you mean?]

[Shirou Emiya: I have a spatial ability. I mentioned it to Old Yang before. As long as I've been to a place and anchored the coordinates, I can teleport back anytime.]

[March 7th: Got it! No need to say goodbye—I'll just come back tomorrow for the space station's morning tea.]

[Stelle: March 7th, I saw you secretly weighing yourself last night.]

[March 7th: AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!]

[Welt: Your ability allows instant teleportation? Then, can you go back to your own planet anytime?]

[Shirou Emiya: Yeah. Old Yang, are you interested in my hometown?]

[Himeko: I'm very interested too. It might be an unexplored new area. Maybe it could provide some fuel for the train.]

Seeing this message, Shirou smiled. In truth, he was also hoping to bring the Express crew to a new world. First, the train needed fuel energy generated by pioneering new areas. Second... clearing a dungeon as a group was far more fun than exploring from scratch alone.

Once the Sword of Fallen Gods drifted back to the Honkai Impact 3rd side, he could take Old Yang along for a "glorious return home." And if Himeko, a capable fighter who could break through the three main families, wasn't there, wouldn't that mean losing a lot of emotional value income?

[Shirou Emiya: Let's arrange it later when we have time. My little sister isn't home right now. When she's on break, I'll invite everyone over.]

[March 7th: Shirou's little sister? I'm curious! Is she one of those soft girls with orange short hair and light golden eyes? Wow, wow.jpg]

[Welt: Little March, put the chatting aside for now. Briefly explain things to the people on the space station, then come back early with Stelle.]

[March 7th: Roger.]

The group chat fell silent. Shirou sent a farewell message to Asta and other acquaintances on the space station, then opened the Aurora Curtain and teleported directly to the front of the train door.

Welt and Dan Heng were already in the train car. Seeing Shirou suddenly appear outside the door, they instinctively reached for their weapons. After recognizing it was Shirou, they relaxed. Welt walked over, looking at the Aurora Curtain behind Shirou, and couldn't help raising an eyebrow.

"This thing... doesn't feel like a pure energy construct."

"It's equipment developed by an organization called Dai-Shocker. Everyone from the leader down to the lower-ranking officers has a standard set."

"Mind if I borrow it for research?"

"Reproducing this isn't that simple. Otherwise, I'd be handing it out to you like red envelopes by now."

Whether it was due to the system reward or the absurdly high black-tech content of the Aurora Curtain, the current analysis progress was painfully slow. If even he, the current Herrscher of Reason, couldn't crack it, then this former Old Man stood even less of a chance.

"By the way, do you still have any items from that other world on hand? Through this thing, I can try to send an object back to its original world, and then slowly establish a connection from there."

At these words, a flicker of surprise flashed in Welt's eyes. Without hesitation, he removed the glasses from his nose and handed them to Mr. Emiya.

"This is the only thing I've managed to keep. Almost everything else has been reconstructed. And these glasses still have a built-in transmitter. If they can make it back to that world, Mandate of Heaven will definitely be able to track the signal."

"If—just if, mind you—Theresa really did resurrect someone, and Mandate of Heaven picks up the signal, and the person we end up contacting replies like this..."

Mr. Emiya cleared his throat twice, as if pressing his voice low to speak.

"It's been a long time, old friend."

"...Can I greet your skull with my fist?"

[PS: If you have flowers or recommendation tickets, please toss them over. Thanks.]

Chapter 018: It's Normal for Kids to Imitate Others! (2/4)

The farewell to the space station didn't drag on for long.

With March 7th and Stelle back on the train, the final round of pre-departure checks was also completely finished.