"Tap—tap—"
The sound of heels meeting metal echoed incessantly through the empty starship.
"What are you looking around for?"
As night fell, just as Lynelle cautiously stepped onto the ship, a voice immediately rang out from the access door, as if it had been waiting for quite some time.
"It's not like you've never been on this ship before. Or have you forgotten what it looks like?"
"Of course not."
Lynelle shook her head repeatedly. This was her first time visiting Herta's side since leaving the Ambrosial Arbor.
She just never expected that the ship Herta would bring was the very one where Lynelle had first met her—probably because it was fast enough.
"This is the place where Herta picked me up. If it weren't for the kind and beautiful Madam Herta, I might still be drifting out in space~"
"Hmph, smooth talker."
Herta let out a light hum, though her tone softened considerably: "The location this time is different from the previous lab. Just grab one of the Puppet Hertas to bring you over."
"Grab a Puppet Herta?"
Lynelle glanced around and soon found a dormant Puppet Herta. A faint purple glow shimmered briefly, and soon the Puppet Herta was 'corrupted' under Lynelle's ability.
"By the way, Herta, why did you decide to stuff so many Puppet Hertas into this ship?"
"It's because of you."
Herta retorted, "You don't actually think experiments don't require assistants, do you? This genius's only lab assistant got locked inside the Ambrosial Arbor, so of course I need some Puppet Hertas to help me out."
"But you... you seized control pretty quickly this time. Even though I reinforced the security modules... Has your ability improved?"
"Not exactly. It's actually because my physical constitution has strengthened, so part of the seal originally placed on the Herrscher Core was unlocked…"
"In fact, I later realized that my Herrscher core and the Origin authority need to progress together. It's just that originally, the Origin progress was always ahead of the core."
"But now that the physical limitations have been lifted, the core's progress has overtaken the Origin..."
"I see... So your Origin power needs to be trained within that signal-jammed area in the dream realm, right?"
Herta quickly pieced together most of the source of Lynelle's Origin authority.
"Whatever, it doesn't matter. Your Origin has high compatibility with your body and is very gentle, capable of tolerating all sorts of abilities."
"So, no matter what, it's unlikely to negatively affect your situation... Speaking of which, the Harmony might really like an ability like yours."
"P-please, no..."
Lynelle's lips twitched. "The two great powers of Destruction and Abundance are already more than I can handle. If Harmony joins in, plus the Trailblaze I already have... Are they trying to start a full game of Celestial Jade in my body?"
"It's no big deal. If they give it to you, just take it. That little gray-haired one beside you also carries three Paths within her, doesn't she?"
Herta said uninterestedly. "But both of you look like a couple of dummies."
"I'm quite curious whether that mechanical head might glance your way on a whim someday... When that happens, the expressions of those who've strained every nerve but failed to earn a look from Erudition will be priceless."
As the two chatted, the Puppet Herta quickly brought Lynelle to the special laboratory Herta had prepared for her this time.
"Oh, you're here..."
Herta glanced at Lynelle entering but didn't remove her hands from the computer. "Then go ahead and undress yourself first."
"?!"
Lynelle abruptly covered her chest, her pretty face blushing slightly. "S-so direct... I'm not prepared yet..."
"You little fool, what are you thinking!"
Herta shot Lynelle a rather helpless look.
Hmm, her face was so rosy it made one want to take a bite. Fortunately, Herta had strong self-control.
If it were Stelle, who'd already tasted the marrow and knew its sweetness, Lynelle would probably be pinned to the floor by now.
"I meant for you to get into the cultivation chamber. That's the nutrient solution Ruan Mei sent over today. What did you think I called you here so late for?"
Herta snapped her fingers lightly. Several Puppet Hertas immediately scurried in from outside, grabbed Lynelle without another word, and swiftly stripped this strawberry shortcake bare before tossing her into the cultivation pod.
"Gurgle, gurgle..."
"You won't drown in there, you little fool."
Herta sighed and sat down beside the pod. "If you're bored, you can chat with me. It'll take about an hour for the solution to take full effect."
"So, what should I talk about?"
Lynelle tilted her head. "How about some anecdotes about Madam Herta from the space station... Ouch!"
After being tapped by a small hammer emerging from the pod, Lynelle promptly shut her mouth.
"I haven't had time to watch the dream recording you sent me this afternoon... but I skimmed through it. Seems a certain little one ran into a 'warring states' situation?"
A slight smirk played on Herta's lips. "Tell me about that part. I'm very interested in this plot~"
Lynelle instantly felt a cold sweat breaking out.
--+--
"Guh..."
When she opened her eyes again, Lynelle realized she seemed to have left the cultivation pod.
The enveloping sensation of the nutrient fluid on her skin had been replaced by the light cover of a blanket and an extremely soft, comfortable feeling.
"Did I... fall asleep just now? So Ruan Mei's solution included a sedative. Why didn't Herta tell me earlier..."
Before she could finish, Lynelle suddenly felt the softness before her eyes press closer.
Only then did she belatedly realize that she seemed to have... been relocated. To be precise, she was now lying in the embrace of a certain familiar person.
"Mmm..."
Lynelle proactively nuzzled her cheek against the softness in front of her.
"Feeling it like this, Herta isn't exactly flat-chested after all. Though she is a bit small, it's still quite comfortable—Ow, ow, ow, ow..."
Herta, who had just been woken by Lynelle's restless nuzzling, pinched the cheek of the death-tempting pink-haired girl with a dark expression.
"Little one~"
Perhaps because she'd woken to such 'explosive' remarks, Herta's voice became exceptionally 'sickly sweet'.
"So, that's what you think~"
"Guh! Herta, I was wrong! Your chest is actually very full and normal. It's my size that's abnormal... Eek~"
Before the foolhardy girl could finish, amidst a tumbling motion, Lynelle felt Herta pin her down beneath her.
Those long, shapely jade legs, encased in black stockings, were now firmly clamped around her waist. Herta, sitting on her abdomen, leaned forward slightly, her slender fingers gently tracing Lynelle's cheek.
"Thinking of explaining now is already too late."
Sensing the pink-tinged atmosphere gradually filling the room, Herta lightly licked her lips.
"So... as compensation, I'm going to start sampling tonight's midnight snack, okay?"
"M-midnight snack?"
"You, of course, my dear strawberry shortcake~"
--+--
T/N: Reminder to add a 18+ scene if i have the time
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.