Then... Could You Spare Some Time?

"Ha?"

Herta looked at Sera as if she were an idiot, and couldn't help but breathe on her.

"Most of the knowledge created by geniuses is nothing more than Nous already knew."

"If you can truly do what you say, then you are a genius."

Even geniuses aren't this overpowered. Miss Herta wanted to say something, but remained silent. She felt something was off about herself today; why could she express her thoughts so naturally in front of Sera?

It seemed like she hadn't interacted with anyone on such an equal footing in a long time. The people of the Blue revered her, a reverence that had begun long ago.

People called her a genius, and no one dared to have a proper conversation with her. Herta saw everything, but she disdained to change anything.

"I see..."

While Sera was Sera, he followed the Herta to the study.

See? Handle with care, don't break it.

Miss Herta seemed to have nothing else to do, calmly sitting on the sofa and flipping through a book she had taken from the bookshelf. Although that seemed to be the case, she was still observing Sera out of the corner of her eye.

Sera glanced at the bookshelf and pulled out a book about androids.

Miss Herta began to feel hopeful. She had been studying dolls recently, but she could feel that she was missing the most crucial element: inspiration.

She wondered if Sera could truly do as he claimed. And if he did, what would he think of the lifelike dolls?

Sera had no idea what Herta was thinking at the moment, nor did he have time to think about it; he was simply frowning as he looked at the knowledge in the book.

"Can't read?"

Herta didn't seem too surprised, because for a student, it's impossible to understand this kind of book without any foundation.

Herta was just about to get up to look up some basic knowledge when Sera's words interrupted him.

"No, Miss Herta."

Sera still frowned, her expression full of confusion.

"I'm just wondering why this knowledge... feels like something I've lost and then regained."

"Lost and found?"

Herta's expression became intrigued. It seemed someone's lost Remembrance were quite interesting. And what level of ability did that person possess?

The remaining challenge that the Herta is researching is the connection of consciousness.

"Um."

Sera nodded, and after seeing the knowledge in the book, the subsequent information automatically came to mind. But... why?

Didn't he bestow that title upon himself? Sera couldn't answer that question for the time being.

But where did he get his knowledge from?

Searching for the target person, the only one who fits the bill is Lygus. Forget it, I'll stop thinking about it.

"Then let me test you?"

Herta elegantly crossed his legs and took a sip of the red tea that appeared out of nowhere.

"Anything is fine."

Sera didn't hesitate at all; he also wanted to know what level his knowledge was at.

Miss Herta's questions progressed from simple to difficult, but the increase in difficulty was abrupt and dramatic. Sera calmly answered each question, and unlike the answers in the book, Sera's answers clearly reflected her own understanding.

"That's pretty good, it's on par with my knowledge in this area."

Even better.

Herta didn't say another word, but she had already accepted that Sera was one of her kind.

"So, one last question—what are your thoughts on the consciousness connection module?"

Herta abandoned his casual demeanor and stared intently into Sera's eyes.

Regarding this...

Sera thought for a moment, then spoke hesitantly.

"You must have referenced the swarming patterns of Propagation Swarm, right?"

Indeed, but there can only ever be one true Herta Herta.

That's me, so I just referenced the architecture.

Miss Herta doesn't want to create a clone of herself, nor does she want to be replaced.

She can create intelligent Herta Puppet, but she will never allow them to cross the line of life. There can be many Herta, but the true Herta can only be her.

"Personally, I recommend using Telepathy as the connection; as for consciousness..."

Sera smiled; he had discovered data on all the previous Herrscher left behind by the Cocoon of Finality within the core. There were no exceptions, such as those of Origin and the Finality.

"Want to try out the Authority of Sentience?"

"...?"

Herta was speechless, unsure of what to say for a moment.

"OK."

Miss Herta crossed her arms, giving me a look that seemed to say, "Just how many surprises do you think you can bring me?"

Reaching out, Sera pulled off the pendant from her chest.

"?"

Herta was even more surprised.

"Where did you get this Scepter?"

It's worth noting that the problem the Herta itself solved— the Soliton Algorithm —was proposed using the Scepter.

All known Scepter are under the company's strict control. The Genius Society once used the computing power to fight for the Scepter, which sparked Schism War.

"I don't know."

Sera shook her head.

"Maybe someone gave it to me."

Never mind that. As for now— Miss Herta, please join me in stepping into the virtual world of the Scepter, so you can experience it for yourself."

Herta remained silent, watching Sera with a look of confusion in his eyes.

After a long silence, she finally spoke.

"Tell me, what do you want?"

"It's very simple."

Sera snapped his fingers and began his plan.

"Miss Herta, could you spare some of your precious time to accompany me on a tour of the Blue?"

After all, I'm quite curious.

"That's it?"

Miss Herta was very puzzled.

"Okay, this is it."

I agree.

Without hesitation, Herta nodded and agreed to the reward Sera wanted.

"Now, please join me in entering the world of the Scepter."

Sera's words unconsciously carried the shadow of someone else.

"You should say less of that. In my opinion, it's not your style."

Herta felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this.

When the consciousness of the Herta stood inside the Scepter, the already precarious bottleneck was easily broken through.

She remained silent, waiting quietly for Sera's demonstration.

After entering the data world of the Scepter, Sera felt as free as a fish that had not seen the sea for a long time returning to the Ocean, a feeling that made Sera feel very at ease.

The data of the Herrscher of Sentience was retrieved from the core and briefly given to the Herta.

The Herta made no move, but focused intently on experiencing this authority.

"I see..."

Miss Herta muttered to herself, her eyes shining like the sun, with a hint of fiery passion.

She sensed that this was not a predetermined division of Path, but a genuine, unknowable force from beyond Path itself.

I'm becoming more and more interested in you.

After emerging from the Scepter, Miss Herta stepped forward. Her eyes met Sera's, and Sera could even see her own reflection in her eyes.

Despite being so close, the Herta is completely unconcerned.