At the Same Time, Elsewhere
Blindfolded, Bai Ming was being led by the hand through an unfamiliar space, guided by Herta.
"Hertie, are we there yet?"
"Just a bit farther! Why are you in such a hurry, kid?"
"But Hertie, you've been leading me for ages…"
"Do you also skip straight to the main event when you're doing it with someone?"
"Whoa—! Hertie, that's so direct! That would get censored in a novel!"
"This is the real world, so it's fine."
At that moment, Herta suddenly stopped. "Alright, kid. You can take the blindfold off. We're here."
"Finally!" Bai Ming eagerly pulled off the blindfold.
But—
"Hertie, why are the lights off? I can't see anything."
"Ah—my bad." Herta spoke as if remembering something. "Forgot you don't have fancy eyes like mine. Hold on."
As she spoke, Herta began spinning in place. And with each rotation, the pitch-black room gradually gained light—first the wall lights, then the floor, and finally the ceiling. A cool, fluorescent blue glow filled the space, wrapping everything in a sleek, technological atmosphere.
"Wow… incredible!" Bai Ming's eyes sparkled as she took in the sight.
Just then, Herta's voice came again—slightly flustered. "Kid! Come here, quick!"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"I can't stop! Help me stop this body!"
"This?" Bai Ming snapped back to reality. "I'm coming!"
Mustering her courage, she reached out and grabbed the arm of Herta, who was now a whirring blur. With some effort, she finally managed to bring her to a halt.
"Phew—" Bai Ming wiped her brow. "Got it. Hertie, what's up with this puppet of yours? Last time it was naked, this time it wouldn't stop spinning… doesn't it ever work normally?"
"Isn't that perfectly normal?" Herta planted her hands on her hips, speaking matter-of-factly. "Ever consider how long it's been since I last used this thing? A few glitches are to be expected!"
"You…" Bai Ming swallowed her retort. She was here to see what Herta had mentioned, not to debate the puppet's spin cycle.
"Right, right! Very normal! So then—" Bai Ming's gaze swept across the high-tech chamber. "Where are those 'very special' Curios you mentioned?!"
"Patience, kid!" Herta snapped her fingers.
Whoosh.
The previously dark wall panels illuminated one by one. Bai Ming quickly realized these weren't ordinary shelves but advanced suspension lockers, each containing a shimmering stasis field that held an object floating in mid-air.
"Wow…" Bai Ming's mouth hung slightly open, her tone genuinely awed. This was her first time seeing technology like this up close.
Seeing her reaction, Herta's metaphorical tail would have been wagging—if she had one. Instead, her pride was practically tangible. "See that, kid? Herta Technology. Impressed now?"
"Mhm, mhm!" Bai Ming nodded eagerly, her golden eyes shining. She rubbed her hands together, looking down at Herta, who was a head shorter. "So… can I go take a closer look?!"
"Of course," Herta shrugged. "They're just some not-particularly-interesting items anyway. Knock yourself out."
"I love you—!" Bai Ming planted a quick kiss on Herta's cheek, then scampered off before the flustered genius could react.
"This kid really…" Herta touched her cheek, murmuring quietly. "Why didn't she call me cute this time…"
Bai Ming didn't hear her. Her attention was entirely absorbed by the objects before her. Even without knowing their purpose, their intricate, otherworldly forms radiated an aura of advanced technology.
"Which one caught your eye?" Herta's voice came from behind as she strolled over. "None are particularly fascinating, but I still remember their names."
"Huh?" Bai Ming suddenly realized something. Even though Herta often acted dismissive of the space station—calling it a mere "warehouse"—the care put into this place was undeniable. From the large-scale protective fields to the intricate storage systems, and even the fact she remembered each Curio's name… she did care, deeply.
The thought warmed Bai Ming's heart. She pointed ahead. "Okay! That thing that looks like a crown—what is it?"
"Crown?" Herta followed her gaze. "Ah, that's 'The Unbearable Weight of Life.'"
"'The Unbearable Weight of Life'?! Is there a 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' too?!"
"Never heard of it." Herta eyed the ornate crown. "This belonged to the royal family of Yott Wood. It can transmit knowledge."
"Oh!" Bai Ming clapped. "So it's one of those 'put it on and get smarter' items?!"
"You could say that," Herta didn't correct her. "A more precise description is that wearing it allows rapid mastery of a language."
"Wow! The ultimate cheat for language exams! [○･｀Д´･ ○]"
"Language exams? What's that?"
"Nothing!" Bai Ming waved it off. "Please, go on!"
"Nothing more to add." Herta crossed her arms. "I've already mastered hundreds of languages. This crown is meaningless to me. So… want to try it on?"
"Really?" Bai Ming's eyes widened. "Can I?"
"If I say so, you can. These are all mine. Whether I give them to a puppy, a kitten, or a hamster is my prerogative."
"Oh… Wait, hey!" Bai Ming puffed her cheeks. "I'm not a pet!"
"What's the difference?" Herta smirked slightly. "Don't you think it'd be fun?"
"…I guess so," Bai Ming conceded. "Then I'll really try it?"
"Go ahead," Herta nodded. "Let's see what you manage to learn."
"It'll definitely be something good!" Filled with confidence, Bai Ming waited as Herta deactivated the stasis field, then carefully lifted out the crown and placed it on her head.
Immediately, she felt her head grow heavier—literally. Is this the weight of knowledge…?
Just as she pondered this, a stream of energy began flowing from the crown into her mind.
It's happening! It's really happening! New language incoming!
Bai Ming's lips parted slightly, and words tumbled out:
"Wabba wabba, wabba bap!"
"Are you good,Malaysia?"
"This is a scam!"
She yanked off The Unbearable Weight of Life, nearly stumbling backward. Only Herta's bewildered stare kept her upright.
"Kid… what language was that? I've never heard it before."
"That wasn't a language!" Bai Ming was on the verge of tears.
"Nonsense!" Herta grabbed her hand, eyes gleaming with interest. "You really are full of surprises. Come on—let's check out the next Curio."
"Ehh—?!"
After barely managing to return the crown to its place, Bai Ming found herself being dragged along by Herta. But after only a few steps, something familiar flashed in the corner of her vision.
"Hm?" Sensing something off, Bai Ming stopped short. Then, reversing their roles, she began pulling Herta toward a particular locker.
"What is this?! Why is something like this here?!"
Her excitement was justified—the Curio before her was all too familiar.
Black wings rotated gently in the air currents, maintaining a flight-ready posture, their span matching a person's height. Just looking at it, one could imagine an adventurer spreading those wings, catching the wind and soaring.
If you focused, you could almost feel the breeze—a gentle gust against your face, rustling your hair, filling your senses. The wind carried you over mountains, across distant seas. Windmills turned lazily behind you, pastoral songs lingering in the air. In the distance, meteors streaked and snow lay pure white. It was an experience; it was a world.
No mistake. It was a Wind Glider.
"You're asking me? I don't know either," Herta replied, her hand still in Bai Ming's grasp. "I haven't named this one yet."
"Then of course it's Wind Glider!" Bai Ming answered without hesitation.
"How do you know that name?" Herta looked at her suspiciously. "Have you used one before?"
"Of course I have! I almost went broke trying to get a limited edition once! And that flying knight exam… I must've fallen off that cliff a hundred times!"
"Hm?" Hearing her own words, Bai Ming realized she might have said too much. She quickly backtracked: "I mean, I've seen similar things before! So this name fits perfectly!"
"How many times have you 'seen' it?" Herta's skepticism grew. "Seems your brain isn't entirely filled with thoughts of girls' bodies after all."
"Hehehe, of course not!"
"…Whatever. I don't really care." Herta looked up at the Wind Glider. "But 'Wind Glider' is a fitting name. We'll use that for this Curio."
"Mhm!" Bai Ming beamed, delighted her suggestion was accepted.
"Now that we've started naming things," Herta continued, "let's keep going. There are a few more here without names."
"There are more?! Don't tell me there's something like Primogems?!"
"Perhaps." Herta replied offhandedly, leading Bai Ming to another section.
However—
Upon reaching the lockers on the opposite side, Bai Ming froze completely.
"This…"
Inside the stasis field floated a broken sword.
Or rather—half of one.
Several deep-red fragments hung suspended in the air, held together by an invisible force, outlining the shape of the break. Its mottled surface spoke of its history, like embers struggling to recall a scorched plain.
This is Teacher Himeko's sword. That broken Godslayer…
Bai Ming's eyes widened in disbelief. She slowly stepped forward, her hand reaching out toward the fragments.
"Kid! Stop! I haven't disabled the field yet!"
Herta's sharp warning snapped Bai Ming back to reality.
"S-sorry."
"…Kid, what's wrong?" Herta frowned. "Why are your eyes red? Upset that I scolded you?"
"N-no! Not at all!" Bai Ming quickly rubbed the corners of her eyes. "It's nothing like that."
"Then why that pitiful look?" Herta planted her hands on her hips. "Has Herta mistreated you?"
"That's not it either…" Bai Ming muttered softly.
"Then lift your head! Don't look so down! People will think I did something to you after bringing you in here!"
"…Pfft." Bai Ming suddenly laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing~" Bai Ming clasped her hands behind her back, smiling at Herta. "I just think you're not as hard to get along with as you seem! You really are a cute girl after all!"
"Y-you—!" Herta's expression shifted instantly from stern to flustered, her cheeks tinged with pink. "What nonsense are you spouting, you brat! Talk to you a little and you start getting carried away?!"
"Hehe~ That just makes you cuter!"
"Shut up, kid!"
"Can't shut up yet." Bai Ming's gaze returned to the Godslayer fragments. "When and where was this found?"
"If you mean that…" Herta studied the broken greatsword, recalling. "The exact time isn't clear. But… it seems to have appeared the day Himeko first came to the space station. More precisely, right after she left. Maybe less than a minute apart."
"Eh——?!" Bai Ming stared at the fragments again. "We just missed each other… I didn't get to see her as happy as she is now…"
She trailed off, then her gaze gradually sharpened with resolve.
"Hertie, could I maybe…"
Just as she began to speak, a vibration came from her coat. Her phone.
She pulled it out, and her eyes instantly lit up at the message on the screen.
[March]: Bai Ming, got some time…? If so, could you come to where I am?
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
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