Simulated Universe

Stelle hadn't actually expected to fall asleep.

After all, she was only pretending to be drunk, not actually intoxicated.

But as she lay against Sunday's chest, the man's heartbeat was so hypnotic that she'd drifted off without realizing it.

Stelle thought she was just resting her eyes until she heard Aha's laughter, and then she realized she had actually fallen into a deep sleep.

Well, what's done is done. Might as well keep sleeping.

So the Trailblazer didn't wake up. She quietly turned off the Elation Switch and excitedly asked Aha for a script in her mind.

"Hmph, you still haven't given me the two scripts I earned from Dr. Ratio and Bооtie. Speaking of which, if I voluntarily pursue someone like Sunday, Aha, you'll give me a script for that too, right?"

"Of course, I will."

Aha's voice sounded particularly cheerful.

"Whether you take the initiative or not, as long as the characters you pursue bring me Elation, I'll give you a script. After all, Aha isn't a stingy Aeon~"

What kind of self-praising, stinky Aeon is that?

Stelle wanted to retort like that.

She helplessly pursed her lips.

She didn't know when it started, but she was slowly getting used to being an Emanator of Elation.

After all, she enjoyed pursuing characters.

And when she was bored, she had Aha to crack jokes with.

She actually quite liked it.

The Trailblazer was no longer the same as she had been at the beginning.

Back then, she would open her eyes every morning and think that becoming an Emanator of Elation was just a dream.

She increasingly felt like she was fate's darling, humming an out-of-tune "Water Dragon Chant" while raising her eyebrows, and taking three crumpled little scraps of paper from Aha.

"Tear~ the sea of the heart~ the shoulders↗→↘~"

The Trailblazer unfolded one of the papers.

[5. You will bear 'Time'.]

What does that mean? I don't understand.

She opened another one.

[6. There are eight people, and there are eight prices.]

Wait, it sounds like I've heard someone say that before.

Wasn't the original saying something like "five people have three"?

[7. Aha will always be with you.]

Hey, what's with this last one?

It's obviously the work of some Aeon slipping in personal stuff!

Stelle wanted to call Aha out like last time and make it explain the contents of these three scripts one by one.

But unfortunately, this time Aha wasn't very cooperative. After giving Stelle the scripts, it didn't say another word.

The connection between Stelle and Aha was quite strong, unlike other Emanators and Aeons who rarely communicated.

To a certain extent, Aha and Stelle could actually sense a small part of each other's thoughts.

So at this moment, Stelle keenly captured Aha's unspoken meaning:

The content of this script is too advanced. It can't reveal the secrets of heaven.

"What, will revealing the secrets of heaven bring down lightning tribulation? Will it delay your ascension?"

Stelle crumpled the paper into a ball again, but this time she didn't throw it to Aha. Instead, she casually stuffed it into her pocket.

Actually, she could understand. The content of the scripts was the greatest extent to which Aha could spoil the future.

If it revealed any more information, it would involve confidential parts, and the journey to Omphalos would become devoid of surprises and lose the meaning of trailblazing.

So it was enough for her to know just the surface content of these scripts.

Knowing a little was better than knowing nothing at all.

And more importantly, Aha, that mischievous Aeon, probably enjoyed being a riddle-maker.

After all, as long as it thought of its obedient Emanator getting a useless script that said nothing, and gnashing its teeth in anger, it would probably pat its belly, laugh loudly, and shout, "So Elating!"

Stelle had already figured out Aha's little thoughts.

Thinking like that, she simply stopped dwelling on it.

The cart will find its way up the mountain when it gets there.

What's more, she was the protagonist, a protagonist with the protagonist's halo.

And what's more, the Aeon of Elation is backing Stelle up.

Not only does she have heaven-defying luck, but she's also an Emanator.

How are others supposed to play with such a cheat-like setup?

Her future is truly bright.

Stelle smacked her lips, let out a silly laugh, and then peacefully drifted into a deep sleep.

However, Sunday had already left at this time.

Pom-Pom, who wasn't asleep yet, still had its big, watery eyes open. It meowed and jumped onto the bed, lying on the Trailblazer's chest. The tip of its tail rubbed against the girl's chin as it adjusted to a comfortable sleeping position and also entered dreamland.

Thus, the re-exploration of the three worlds that had once been blazed – Jarilo, Xianzhou Luofu, and Penacony – came to an end.

But.

Without even a moment to mourn leaving the comfort zone, the world that will be warped to next is – Omphalos!

But before that.

The Trailblazer hasn't forgotten that she promised Herta to test the Simulated Universe one last time before boarding Omphalos.

So, this should be the last bit of busywork.

Once the Simulated Universe is tested today, the rest of the time can be spent lazing around on the train waiting for the warp.

The next day.

The Trailblazer stretched and opened her eyes from her sleep, hugging the soft Pom-Pom in her arms and rolling over.

"My cute little baby, let me give you a kiss!"

Pom-Pom struggled, Pom-Pom failed, Pom-Pom let the Trailblazer do as she pleased.

Pom-Pom, covered in sticky saliva, was released by Stelle.

The poor little thing jumped to the corner of the bed, licking its fur listlessly.

Stelle got up and packed her things, slung her four-dimensional backpack over her shoulder, and picked up her heavy baseball bat from the doorway.

Simulated Universe, here I come!

When she arrived at Herta's office, Herta and Screwllum had already been waiting for a long time.

Herta directed the puppet girl to pour a cup of tea for the Trailblazer, while also speaking very impolitely.

"It's not like I'm not giving you a reward. I have to beg you to test the Simulated Universe every week. Herta is really going to get angry—"

Herta adjusted the oversized witch hat on her head. Although she said that, her body honestly stuffed two of this week's compatible curios into Stelle's hands.

"Take them, it'll make it easier for you to clear the game."

Tsundere, so tsundere.

Stelle put away the curios and then squeezed over with a grin, "Herta, you're just all talk, but it's okay, I know you're a tsundere."

"Hmph." Herta walked back to her original position, standing side by side with Screwllum. "Stop saying such old-fashioned memes. Finish testing the Simulated Universe before you come and argue with me."

Screwllum gracefully bowed, giving the Trailblazer a standard greeting.

"Trailblazer, long time no see. For this Simulated Universe, I will be accompanying you.

Logic: Because there have been some minor errors inside the Simulated Universe, I will be working with Ms. Herta as a developer to debug during the testing process.

Conclusion: This is a rare test where I can fight alongside the Trailblazer. So, please give me your guidance, Stelle."