[Herta: Are you having fun in Penacony?]
[?]
"What's Herta up to now?" Lumina tilted her head, utterly baffled by the meaning of Herta's message.
But whether she understood or not, for a beautiful girl of Herta's caliber, Lumina would declare even a pot of burnt, black, unidentifiable goo delicious and gulp it down without hesitation.
[If she actually served you that, you'd balk.]
Having spent so much time with Lumina, the System had a decent grasp of her personality and knew perfectly well that if Herta genuinely presented her with a pot of burnt, black, unidentifiable goo, Lumina would find every excuse to avoid eating it.
"One thing's one thing," Lumina said, wagging her finger gently. "Even if I can't take concrete action, I can still offer verbal praise."
"Besides," Lumina said, "a beautiful girl like Herta, a genius of her caliber, surely wouldn't blow up the kitchen just from cooking, right?"
Herta brought over a pot of rice that had been burned into a black, unidentifiable solid. Lumina's words had been just a casual remark; she didn't really believe a genius like Herta would actually destroy a kitchen.
[...]
Upon hearing this, the System remained silent, merely glancing at an animated short titled T H E H E R T A'S M A G I C K I T C H E N. It hesitated, debating whether to show the video to Lumina and shatter her idealized perception of the genius Herta.
Hmm... never mind. This video would probably just become blackmail material for Lumina to use against Herta.
Recalling Lumina's doujinshi-worthy antics with Black Swan, the System decided against it, considering Madam Herta's mental and physical well-being.
"No! Don't drop it! Release it! You absolutely have to release it!"
When Lumina saw this message appear on the System's screen, her eyes lit up immediately, and she urgently exclaimed.
T H E H E R T A'S M A G I C K I T C H E N—the name alone made it obvious: Herta must be using magic in a kitchen full of enchanted tools to create culinary masterpieces.
Lumina's mind conjured up a vivid image of the Magic Kitchen, her heart fluttered with anticipation.
Then she noticed the System's follow-up message, and her expression soured. "What's this about a doujinshi plot and leverage? Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
[Aren't you that kind of person? And why can you hear me?]
At that moment, the System finally realized something was amiss. How could Lumina hear its inner thoughts?
"Of course I've always been able to hear you," Lumina replied matter-of-factly, abandoning any pretense of ignorance now that she'd been caught.
[...]
"Send me the video first. I'll watch it later."
Though Lumina longed to immediately watch the video and witness Herta's graceful figure using magic to create culinary masterpieces in the Magic Kitchen, she knew there was a more pressing matter to resolve.
Her gaze returned to her phone screen. After a moment's thought, she sent a message:
[Lumina: ] Mm, what's up?
[Lumina: ]You can just get straight to the point. With our relationship, there's no need to beat around the bush.
[Herta: ] Relationship? What relationship is there between you and me?
[Lumina: ] ...
Upon seeing this, Lumina's previously playful expression instantly vanished.
Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~
However, another message from Herta arrived, instantly restoring Lumina's cheerful demeanor.
[Herta: ] I just wanted to ask how you're doing in Penacony, that's all. No ulterior motives.
"This Herta, is she secretly a bit of a tsundere?"
Reading this, Lumina couldn't help but stroke her chin, lost in thought.
[Herta retracted a message.]
[Herta:] I just wanted to ask if you're still in Penacony.
Realizing her previous message could be misinterpreted, Herta retracted it and sent a revised version.
Feeling that her previous message was still a bit awkward, Herta sent another message:
[Herta]: The Simulated Universe has a new project, proposed by Screwllum. He wants you to collaborate on it.
As expected, it's something related to the Simulated Universe after all... Lumina sighed deeply.
Still, Herta taking the initiative to contact her made Lumina immensely happy.
[Lumina]: The Charmony Festival hasn't even started yet. Of course I'm in Penacony.
[Lumina]: But if Screwllum wants to collaborate with me, shouldn't he be the one reaching out?
[Lumina]: Or are you planning to come to Penacony?
[Lumina]: If you're coming, will you be using your main body?
Lumina sent the message, her heart racing with anticipation. Though she had seen photos of Herta and even video-called her one-on-one, they had never met in person.
If Herta were to come in her Main Body, Lumina would need to prepare herself thoroughly...
"Hmm, naturally I'm preparing a grand welcoming ceremony for Madam Herta's arrival on Penacony..."
[Herta:]Correction. Screwllum sought our collaboration, and I was the one who first came to Penacony to build this device.
[Herta:] Also, are you that obsessed with my Main Body? Fine, cling all you want, I'm still not going. Just send a puppet from Penacony; that'll do.
[Herta:] What's the difference between one Herta and another? You're getting picky with me now?
[Lumina:] Will the Family approve your request?
"Hmm... that's odd," Lumina muttered, swiping aimlessly across the system screen to review the main storyline for Penacony.
Wasn't the Divergent Universe built by Screwllum and Dr. Ratio? Why is Herta involved now?
And even if she's involved, why does she need to come to Penacony?
If Herta comes to Penacony, what about Sunday?
Forget it. No more overthinking. Let her announce it early if she wants. Let Penacony approve or not. Let Sunday be happy or not. As long as Herta comes, I'll be happy enough~
[Herta]: No problem. A quick exchange is all that's needed.
[Herta]: Anyway, that's all. Just letting you know.
Herta: [File]
[Herta]: Oh, by the way, feel free to look at the file when you have time. If you're busy, no worries. Hmm... Okay, you don't have to read it if you don't want to.
Herta had initially planned to have Lumina review the file too, but then she remembered that Lumina's brain... well, it wasn't exactly sharp.
She shook her head, dismissing the thought. If Lumina wants to read it, she can. If not, no problem. At worst, I'll just give her a "Herta's Little Class" session later.
[Herta]: I've got things to do. Logging off now. See you later.
[Herta has logged off.]
As soon as these messages were sent, Herta's avatar went dark.
[Lumina]: Mhm, see you later.
"Ah, when will Herta ever chat with me just for fun, not because of work?"
"When will she ever seek me out with the sole purpose of talking?"
After sending the message, Lumina put away her phone, slumped back in her chair, and gazed up at the ceiling of her room in The Reverie Hotel, murmuring to herself, "Hmm... as I thought, I need to find a reason to meet Herta's main body."
Through her interactions with the Herta Puppet and her previous video call with Herta's main body, Lumina had come to a crucial realization:
To become close friends with Herta, she needed to focus on her main body!
However, Herta was no fool. If Lumina's intentions became too obvious, Herta would never allow her main body to meet with her...
Therefore... she needed to play the long game and avoid revealing her true purpose too clearly...
While Lumina was plotting her "befriending Herta" scheme at The Reverie Hotel, on the other side of the galaxy, The Herta, wearing her pointed witch's hat, slowly put down her phone.
A hint of confusion clouded her peerless face.
"Sigh... Why did I immediately notify Lumina the moment this was finalized...?"
Herta rubbed her head, feeling like she might be getting sick.
Lumina wasn't even a technical expert. Why had she prioritized Lumina's notification over those of Screwllum, Ruan Mei, and Stephen?
She could have waited until the project was truly established on Penacony before informing her.
"Never mind. Maybe it's just because Lumina happens to be on Penacony right now."
Shaking her head, she dismissed the thought, picked up her phone, logged back in, and sent the new Simulated Universe project details to Ruan Mei and Stephen. Without waiting for their replies, she logged back out.
It's worth noting that Herta's announcement to the group was remarkably concise and direct, a stark contrast to her roundabout conversations with Lumina.
[Herta: ] Penacony, new project, Divergent Universe
[Herta: ] [File]
"Hmm... Lumina seems quite eager to meet me," Herta murmured to herself as she put away her phone, her thoughts unreadable.
In truth, Lumina had misunderstood Herta's motives from the start.
Perhaps Herta hadn't initiated the conversation solely because of the new Simulated Universe project...
Perhaps even Herta herself hadn't fully realized that her primary goal was to chat with Lumina, with informing her about the project merely a secondary purpose...