The text on the light screen faded away, and a new scene materialized upon it:
"Are you telling me you've found nothing so far?"
Standing in Ron's laboratory, Herta lightly tapped the massive glass tank in the center of the room with her finger.
Soft, biomimetic leather encased a solid mechanical skeleton, producing a crisp sound as it struck the glass.
Herta gazed at the Stellaron within. It pulsed with a brilliant golden light but was held immobile by restraints, powerless to corrode the outside world. With one hand on her hip, she tilted her head back to look at Ron.
"If I recall correctly, I uploaded all my archives into this research ship's databank..."
"While my previous research on the Stellaron didn't make much headway either, it at least provided a starting point. Building upon that foundation, how could you possibly have achieved nothing?"
Her eyes fell on the dark circles under Ron's, and she quickly drew her conclusion:
"You haven't been using the ship's databank for assistance, have you?"
I know full well that using the knowledge you gave me is more likely to attract the disaster the History Fictionologist warned about. How could I not act with caution?
Ron thought this to himself, but his expression remained impassive.
"...It's not that I haven't looked at it at all."
He sighed, a hint of helplessness in his voice as he spun a casual lie:
"I just felt that with my abilities, I could research everything about the Stellaron from the ground up. So I haven't fully utilized the ship's databank for now..."
"I didn't take you for such an arrogant person before."
Herta's tone was pointed; she clearly didn't believe a word of it.
Still, she offered a mild warning:
"Some problems are simply beyond the grasp of mortal wisdom. Don't be so stubborn."
As she spoke, she casually summoned the ship's databank AI. Although her name wasn't on the vessel's access control list, she could now command the ship at will.
The moment she had boarded, all permissions on the ship had opened up to her completely. Her control over the vessel even surpassed Ron's, the ship's captain, reaching the highest possible level beyond standard authorization.
Dense arrays of blue light screens popped up, projected throughout the laboratory. Herta's fingers danced across them, and with each tap, the databank's notification chimes sounded like a pianist striking keys, performing a concerto.
Amidst the thousands of projections, she located a single screen displaying her past research data on the Stellaron.
She shoved the light screen directly in front of Ron, clapped her hands lightly, her voice as calm as ever:
"Here. I've found the knowledge related to the Stellaron for you..."
She added meaningfully, "You don't need to be so vigilant... At least, these records are just my own research on the Stellaron. They don't involve anything else."
"Feel free to use this knowledge. I'll be staying on your ship for a few days until you make some progress. I might as well have a look at your homeworld; this planet is quite interesting..."
As she finished, the laboratory door beside her slid open automatically.
"Alright, I won't disturb your research any longer. I look forward to your good news."
As Herta departed, the laboratory door sealed shut once more, perfectly isolating the lab from the outside world.
Watching the scene on the screen, Ron couldn't help but frown slightly.
"As expected of an Emanator of Erudition... Herta actually saw through my concerns?"
Ron stroked his chin thoughtfully, feeling increasingly certain that his previous choice had been the right one.
Thank goodness he had been level-headed and hadn't chosen to use all the gifted knowledge... Even Herta was aware that the gift would make him suspicious, which spoke volumes about the trouble the full research would bring.
Fortunately, Herta had directly given him her research records on the Stellaron, specifically telling him it was her own work and that there was nothing for him to worry about, encouraging him to proceed...
All Ron really needed was to research the Stellaron anyway. Once he could fully utilize it and achieve a technological leap for Jarilo-VI using only the planet's own resources, successfully upgrading the entire society to an interstellar level, his goal for this simulation would be complete.
There was no need for him to conduct any other research after that. Unless, after solving all of Jarilo-VI's problems and upgrading its civilization, he still had the time and leeway in this simulation, only then would he consider using the full gift to continue his research and try to uncover what kind of crisis could affect even the Aeons...
With these thoughts, Ron watched the image on the light screen fade, replaced by new lines of text:
[Herta paid a visit to your research vessel and expressed some dissatisfaction with your progress.]
[She located her research records concerning the Stellaron within the ship's databank, hoping to assist your study.]
[She has decided to remain on the research vessel until you have made significant progress.]
[Although you are highly wary of Herta's full gift, you have no aversion to the research Herta conducted herself.]
[You know that anything Herta researched on her own would not attract any trouble—otherwise, the Interastral Peace Corporation and the Genius Society would be the first to be affected, not a mere mortal like you who has just struck a deal with her.]
[Relying on the research records Herta found for you, you once again begin your study of the Stellaron...]
The text on the screen faded away, and new lines appeared:
[A month passed in the blink of an eye.]
[Herta is truly worthy of being an Emanator of Erudition. Even though her research on the Stellaron came to an abrupt halt when she lost interest, her records still provided you with immense assistance.]
[With this help, you successfully overcame one hurdle after another. Research that once seemed impossible now has a clear path forward. The mysterious structure of the Stellaron is being unveiled before you, and all its enigmas are being unraveled layer by layer under your investigation...]
[Until you reached the final step before completely revealing the Stellaron's secret.]
Reading the text, Ron was momentarily stunned.
"What's going on? The final step before revealing its secret?"
Ron was completely baffled. After utilizing the Stellaron-related knowledge from Herta, the research should have proceeded smoothly without major obstacles. Why was it blocked at the very last moment?
He frowned in confusion as the text on the light screen continued to appear:
[As you studied the Stellaron, even as you made continuous progress, a certain doubt began to accumulate in your mind...]
[You discovered that the very existence of the Stellaron was too strange. You always felt it violated all common sense; even the records of the universe's fundamental theorems within Herta's gift were contradicted by the Stellaron.]
[You continuously uncovered the secrets of the Stellaron, and with each discovery, the doubts in your heart grew, eventually coalescing into a single question—]
["Is the Stellaron... truly a substance that exists in this world?"]
[You couldn't help but harbor such a doubt, because the very nature of the Stellaron's existence seems to negate everything in this universe. It feels as if it should not exist in this world at all...]
The text on the light screen faded. A deep red option box was slowly drawn onto the screen, shrouded in a mysterious mist that obscured the words upon it.
Gradually, as if a cleansing breeze of knowledge blew past, the mist dissipated, and the options became clear before Ron's eyes:
[Your research has reached its end; you are about to uncover the true nature of the Stellaron.]
[However, a baseless sense of dread rises in your heart. As your research has progressed, your questions about the Stellaron have made you hesitate to reveal its essence.]
[Will you ignore this sense of dread and directly reveal the Stellaron's nature to complete your research, or will you abandon this pursuit, allowing this knowledge that should remain hidden to stay that way?]
[You must make a decision—]
[1. I've come this far and you want me to stop? Are you trying to leave me hanging?
Researching the Stellaron is essential. Jarilo-VI needs its perfect, infinite energy source as the ultimate driving force to push its civilization into the interstellar era. This is your best method for saving Jarilo-VI, and you cannot abandon your research.
You know Jarilo-VI cannot survive without this Stellaron. For the future of this planet, you will absolutely not let its secrets slip through your fingers.]
[2. In the face of danger, a strategic retreat is necessary.
Even though you know this planet needs the infinite energy provided by the Stellaron, you decide to painfully abandon the research and everything the Stellaron could offer.
Since the Stellaron's existence seems to negate everything in this sea of stars, you have no intention of lifting its hazy veil, to avoid opening a Pandora's Box that could destroy Jarilo-VI...
You still have plenty of time and many other ways to save Jarilo-VI. You have every opportunity to find a new path.]
Looking at the deep red options on the screen, Ron didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately chose the first option.
He had long known that continuing the research would inevitably lead to danger; he just didn't know what that danger was yet...
Besides, he hadn't fully utilized Herta's gift. According to his previous reasoning, even if there was danger, it should be of a lesser magnitude.
This potential crisis was something Ron had to overcome. He would never flee at a critical moment and choose the second option.
The option box on the light screen faded away, and new text reappeared:
[You have chosen to risk revealing the Stellaron's secret.]
[As a researcher, you cannot tolerate abandoning your work—and your pursuit of truth—because of a vague threat.]
[You overcame the small bit of panic rising in your heart and unhesitatingly tore away the final, hazy veil from the Stellaron, delving into its true nature...]
[Three months passed in the blink of an eye.]
[During these three months, you investigated the Stellaron through various methods, performed numerous calculations on its data, and conducted multiple experiments to ensure there were no errors in your conclusions.]
[But in these three months, hundreds of experimental records all pointed you toward a single reality—]
[The existence of the Stellaron indeed violates all the fundamental theories of this sea of stars. You even tried to replicate a substance similar to the Stellaron based on its most basic structure, only for it to be completely annihilated in the real world, proving its existence impossible.]
[You know that the Stellaron is merely a Seed of Calamity sown by Nanook, The Destruction. Yet, when you probe its truth, you can only find that it defies even the fundamental nature of Imaginary Energy. Not even the Paths and Imaginary Energy, which can explain everything, can account for the Stellaron's existence...]
[The Stellaron simply is what it is. It appears in this sea of stars as a matter of course, and just as naturally, it violates everything within it—]
[It is like an artifact set in place by a higher-dimensional being. It existed simply because it was needed.]
[A subtle feeling begins to dawn on you, and a puzzle forms in your mind—]
[Perhaps... the Stellaron's existence is not unique. Perhaps you can find more things that exist just like it?]
[If that is the case... is everything in this sea of stars the reality you live in, or is it merely a sea of sand that can be stirred and reshaped at will?]
[The question of reality has been seared into your mind. You have obtained the Trait: "Quest for Truth (Red)"]
[Quest for Truth: Everything in this sea of stars is so real. Countless beings swim through its expanse, life shines with brilliant light, civilizations sparkle like embers—everything is a miracle of this universe, a unique reality... But amidst all this truth, you have discovered a piece of debris that should not exist.
The Stellaron... this object that negates all of creation has made you suspicious. Are there other things in this sea of stars that exist just as illogically as the Stellaron, as straightforwardly as some kind of game setting?
You decide to investigate all of this... This will be a study that spans your entire life.
After loading this Trait, you will not receive any inherent bonuses. You will gain a fixed event: "Truth is Hard to Find".]
[Truth is Hard to Find: Each time you conduct a Miracle Research, the "Quest for Truth" event will gain completion progress. When the progress bar is full, the "Quest for Truth" Trait will be completely replaced and upgraded into a new special Trait.
During this period, your Miracle trigger probability is increased by 10%, and you will more easily trigger research into dangerous technologies.]