Photograph

What are you looking at?

Sera could see Miss Herta and the fireworks through the glass, and vice versa. After a while, as Herta Herta stared intently into Sera's eyes through the glass, she finally couldn't help but ask a question.

"Let's watch the fireworks."

Is it pretty?

Miss Herta stopped looking at the fireworks outside the window; the fireworks in her eyes became Sera herself.

"It looks great."

Sera did not avoid the question, nor did she feel guilty. Instead, she met Sera's gaze with a smile that Herta could not decipher.

"The already dazzling fireworks, reflected in the Herta's eyes, become nothing more than a backdrop to you."

"..."

Although she didn't say anything, Miss Herta clearly didn't seem to dislike her.

"That sounds nice, doesn't it?"

Miss Herta turned her head away before speaking.

For some people watching fireworks from a Ferris wheel, the people around them are often more important than the fireworks.

People don't love the fireworks themselves, but rather the people they watch them with.

"That's true."

Herta wholeheartedly agreed with this statement. As an unknowable genius on par with her, Sera was clearly far more important.

Although Sera didn't show it on her face, she sighed inwardly at the genius girl's understanding Herta, Herta, I hope you can show some emotional intelligence when you're not being sarcastic.

Or are you just saying that on purpose?

"Herta."

Miss Herta remained silent, only turning her gaze to Sera.

"On our last day, let's ride the Ferris wheel together one last time."

Sera laid bare the issue that Miss Herta hadn't considered, but Herta paid no attention.

"That will be soon."

Herta crossed his arms, his tone nonchalant.

"I'll be able to finish the research after a few more tries."

She didn't care about the nearly one-year countdown Sera mentioned. After all, for a genius, as long as they were still in this galaxy, the Herta could find Sera if it wanted to.

Sera gently shook her head.

"The timeline isn't what I predicted; at this growth rate, we'll be back in a month."

Sera was also puzzled as to why the time had suddenly been reduced by such a large margin.

"Oh? Then do it a few more times tomorrow."

Herta spoke, he added another sentence.

"Don't worry, the compensation remains the same."

"As for the Herta, I think no one would be worried."

"Tsk."

Herta had something she wanted to say, but she stopped herself before she could speak.

"Seraphis."

For the first time, Herta addressed Sera by her full name. Sera paused, then abandoned her casual demeanor.

"What's wrong?"

What kind of person are you, really?

The fireworks outside the window were still bursting, and the Ferris wheel had stopped temporarily at its highest point so that the two could have a perfect viewing experience. But neither of them was in the mood for anything else. The light from the exploding fireworks shone on Miss Herta's face, and Sera looked into Herta's eyes.

"I am an arrogant person."

Sera said this.

"Arrogant to the point of wanting to save... (Amphoreus) everyone, the Herrscher."

Miss Herta fell silent. How desperate that place must be for even a genius of her caliber to only attempt salvation.

A place where three Path intersect?

No.

The battleground of the three Aeon is a chessboard belonging to the gods. We seize power from the gods, for only humans are their own gods.

Miss Herta still couldn't understand Sera in the end, and the reason was... Sera herself couldn't quite explain what kind of person she was.

But he believed that he was by no means a good person, and that the road to salvation could not be a idyllic paradise filled with flowers; all salvation efforts had to be built on a foundation of blood.

"... Arrogance from a genius? Isn't that normal? Just do what you want. You're a genius recognized by the Herta!"

Although Miss Herta didn't say it directly, she had her own way of comforting people.

Hehe~

Sera's eyes crinkled slightly at Miss Herta's words, and he turned to look at the fireworks in the night sky.

"The fireworks are so beautiful."

Whether the fireworks Sera was referring to were fireworks or the beautiful, talented young woman beside her, only Sera herself knew.

Miss Herta nodded in agreement and watched the fireworks display quietly with Sera. The fireworks, which were specially prepared for the two of them, now resounded throughout the entire the Blue.

Night, sky, stars and moon, fireworks.

Sera gazed up at the fireworks in the starry sky, her hands resting on her seat, the moonlight shining directly on Sera —this white-haired, blue-eyed moonlight.

Miss Herta happened to turn her head and saw this somewhat sacred scene. She blinked, made no sound, and instead used special means to capture the moment on camera.

After taking the picture, the photo appeared in his hand. Herta reached out and handed the photo to Sera, Sera lowered her head and sighed in admiration.

"Great shot!"

"Of course."

Miss Herta's expression was one of utter certainty.

"Anyone could have taken a good picture just now."

"Want to take a picture together with that Herta?"

Herta was about to shake his head, but seeing Sera's face, he agreed.

"Then... look at the camera."

Sera casually pulled out a camera he had prepared beforehand, stretched his hand out, and behind him was the darkness and the bursting fireworks.

Miss Herta crossed her arms and stood over, calmly looking at the camera.

"It's always better to smile when facing the camera."

Sera stretched out his fingers and forced a smile at the corners of his mouth. Although Herta was somewhat helpless, he still managed a slight smile.

"3...2...1... Peach--!"

Sera seized the opportunity and pressed the shutter the moment the fireworks burst open.

In the picture, Sera has a gentle and serene smile, while Miss Herta's smile carries a hint of helplessness and stiffness, but her magnificent face perfectly conceals this stiffness. The light from the exploding fireworks shines through the glass, adding a touch of warmth to the picture, while the fireworks themselves form the most striking background.

"Hmm~ This one's nice."

Miss Herta really liked the photo; it even captured some of her beauty. But... Herta looked into Sera's eyes, then back at the photo.

In the photograph, Sera's eyes had a subtle golden hue, giving Herta a sense of divinity. But what she saw now remained those deep blue pupils, like a pure sky, gentle and full of humanity.

Divinity and humanity were both fully manifested in Sera.

Furthermore, Sera's self-designation of her power—authority—is quite normal; the power of Path Emanator to possess authority bestowed by the gods.

Sera, however, is an unknowable force outside of Path; he even claims to be an agent of the gods.

How many secrets do you still have? I'm becoming more and more curious about you, my fellow human.