"I'll deal with him when I have time.
I almost lost it on that capitalist dog.
Looking at it now, there's quite a lot to do.
Go to Penacony to find the Astral Express, achieve a great victory against Celenova, deal with the capitalist dog, and speedrun the Amphoreus instance after it drops.
"Made up your mind? Once you have, I'll prepare an admission ticket for you."
Herta knew that while there seemed to be two choices, in reality, there was only one.
If Leon were to rely on Oswaldo, he'd have to be seriously sick in the head.
"You've been so direct, what else is there to say? I'm in!
To find out the Astral Express's whereabouts, this was the only path Leon could take.
"I hope this won't be our last time cooperating. Come test the Simulated Universe more often in the future, you hear?"
Herta nodded in satisfaction.
She hoped to continue this cooperative relationship, so she needed to show some goodwill.
"Aeons are the pinnacle of the universe. No matter what you seek, you can find the answers you desire from Them, and my Simulated Universe is the best way for you to make contact.
Herta didn't know what he was pursuing.
But regardless of whether it was strength or knowledge, no matter the pursuit, as long as one sought the apex of any field, they would inevitably have to face the Aeons.
The existence of these higher-dimensional beings is the pinnacle of everything, the clear upper limit placed before your very eyes.
"You take what you want, I take what I want. We both benefit. If you need anything,
you can also mention it to me."
Leon could attract two Aeons, so he could definitely attract a third. He was practically the embodiment of a lure! She couldn't just let him get away.
"What's our relationship now?" Leon asked.
Cooperative partners?
But he no longer had any need for the Simulated Universe.
Yeah, I don't need that anymore.
Herta first threw out benefits to try and keep him, then immediately added that he could make requests. No matter how you looked at it, her whole speech felt like a demure version of 'I'll do anything for you.'
"Don't talk. Just test it."
Herta told him not to overthink it.
If you have free time to ask questions, you might as well test the Simulated Universe again.
"You're right, but I have to go find my little March 7th. Maybe next time."
Leon wasn't actually that interested in the Simulated Universe.
If he could simulate an Aeon and fight against it, he might be more enthusiastic. But just asking questions? He didn't have that many questions to ask.
Herta enjoys being a scholar overflowing with knowledge, but he prefers being a powerhouse who teaches others the true meaning of 'love'—forcefully.
Dealing with these ethereal things is never as good as increasing one's practice on a Path.
What's all this mumbo-jumbo? Tell it to my stats!
Herta Space Station.
When Leon saw March 7th seriously digging through a trash can, and even taking a photo for posterity after she was done, he couldn't hold it together.
Who? Who was the bad influence on his girl!
Damn that Herta, won't even buy her melon seeds!
"March 7th, don't go digging through things like that again."
Leon said with a sigh, "I don't have any weird habits. I'm not going to be hiding in there. Promise me you'll look for people in more normal places from now on, okay?"
Hearing a familiar voice call her name, March 7th looked up. The figure she had been searching for to no avail appeared right in front of her. The worried look on her face was instantly replaced by joy as she trotted over to him.
"Where did you go, Leon?"
"To the dungeon," Leon said casually.
He couldn't very well say he went to see her biological mother and had a 'romp in the woods' with Her, could he.
"What's a dungeon?" March 7th asked, confused.
"Good question. I don't know either."
Leon answered the questions selectively.
The ones he should answer, he answered. The ones he shouldn't, he absolutely did not.
"Will you disappear again, Leon?"
He was about to answer when he saw March 7th take his hand again.
After all, he had taught her that before: holding hands meant they had a good relationship and would prevent them from getting separated.
"That won't happen. If I couldn't do as I please, wouldn't all the stats I've built up be for nothing?"
Leon met her gaze, which was seven parts earnest and three parts worried, and felt her question was understandable.
His world was very large.
But he had personally made his world small. He didn't need many things, only his beloved stats.
Her world was also large.
But it was too empty. Too many things came and went, yet she had no clear goal. In the end, the only thing she could hold onto was him, who was by her side.
"But March 7th, what if your true home isn't by my side, but somewhere else…"
Leon wanted to talk to her about where to go next, but before he could get the words out, he felt a tangible, cold, and pressuring gaze.
This pressure was chillingly familiar; it was the strongest undead spirit he had ever buried!
He looked up, tracing the gaze to its source.
He saw a translucent, phantom-like 'Oblivion' appear behind March 7th. Her long, slender fingers, clad in black gloves, rested on March's shoulders as she leaned her entire body forward, peering out from behind her.
Her highlight-less eyes stared right at him, which was somewhat terrifying.
The meaning in 'Oblivion's' gaze was clear: 'Think carefully before you speak.' It was as if she would breathe on March 7th if he dared to continue his sentence.
Oblivion, you're not dead?!
Holy shit, seeing a ghost in broad daylight!
This was Leon's first thought.
He had originally thought 'Oblivion' was a form limited to 'Sudarshana,' one that would only appear under specific environments or conditions, and would normally not manifest unless March 7th was in mortal danger.
But it turned out she could appear whenever she wanted, with no restrictions at all.
Alright, he admitted his intelligence network had failed him this time.
"March 7th, don't you feel a chill on your back, or a sense of heavy pressure on you?"
Leon wasn't one to be intimidated.
He did whatever he wanted, because he was a monster with off-the-charts stats.
'Oblivion' thought she could make him back down with just a threatening glare? That was just too naive.
"Behind me?"
March 7th turned her head in confusion.
In her line of sight, there was nothing behind her, and she herself didn't feel the abnormality Leon mentioned.
Nice, she's invisible to her.
Unlike March 7th, in Leon's eyes, 'Oblivion' hadn't moved so much as half a step from behind her from the very beginning.
After March 7th turned back around, still puzzled, Oblivion's fingers even moved up from her shoulders, deftly extending to cup March 7th's cheeks.
As if she were presenting him with a rare treasure of this world.
The perfect response to someone saying 'nothing in the world is perfect'.
Presenting the most perfect item in the world, 'Oblivion' once again cast her gaze upon him.
This time, her gaze, compared to the pure warning from before, carried a hint of blame, as if to say, 'You just don't know what's good for you.'
The meaning was obvious: when faced with such a delicate and beautiful young girl, how could your 36-degree-warm body have the heart to discuss such a cold topic as her 'final home'?
Such a hardcore stan...
Leon just found it a bit creepy.
Good thing it had nothing to do with him, otherwise it would've been a disaster.
_____
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