"What nonsense are you trying to pull this time."
In the space station, inside Herta's office, Herta stared at the twin-tailed girl standing before her, a mask perched atop her head.
"Shh… I go by Sparkle now, a Nihility Self-Annihilator."
In Clara's hand was a violet tachi. Her face carried a trace of weariness, and her entire being radiated an aura that warned others to keep their distance.
"A Nihility… Self-Annihilator?" Herta's cheek twitched slightly.
Now Nihility Self-Annihilators are popping up too? When you're out and about, you just make up whatever identity you please, huh?
"Indeed. So, you'd best not get too close to me." Clara cast an indifferent glance at Herta and Screwllum, offering a warning.
"Otherwise, you'll be tainted by the [Nihility] I carry."
Herta, Screwllum: …
You can even turn this into a performance?
Herta paid Clara no mind, simply treating it as a sudden bout of madness. Shifting her gaze to Screwllum, she spoke in a flat tone:
"The protagonist will be here soon."
"We'll proceed as discussed: pretend to be in conflict over the Simulated Universe, wanting to shut it down."
"That should lure out that little hacker."
Screwllum nodded, then offered an apology in advance:
"Lady Herta, the coming conversation may contain some impertinence. I ask for your understanding."
"Mm, it's fine."
"Tsk tsk tsk, how can the gap between living beings be so vast?" Watching Screwllum's humble and courteous demeanor, Clara couldn't help but click her tongue a few times, her sidelong glance falling on Herta's stony face.
"If you didn't speak, no one would mistake you for mute." Herta shot Clara a look.
"But if I do speak, even fewer people would think I'm mute~" Clara rested a finger on her lips, feigning confusion as she asked.
"Like right now, for instance, Sister Herta, do you think I'm mute?"
"If you think I'm mute, then I'd have reason to suspect you're deaf."
Herta: …
Can't win this, can't win. I'll just shut up, alright?
Herta felt a weariness in her heart. This black-haired brat was like her natural counter.
No matter what she wanted to do, what she planned, the end result was always being suppressed by Clara.
Herta couldn't understand it. Why?
Just because she's short and flat-chested?
Clara: ???
"You… are you thinking something rude right now." Clara waved the tachi in her hand, her gaze dangerously fixed on Herta.
"N-no…"
Sensing Clara's current mood, Herta inexplicably backed down.
"The protagonist has arrived. It's time to begin our plan." Screwllum, who had been silent beside them, now sensed the presence outside the office door and spoke up.
"Then let's begin."
Herta took a deep breath, treating Clara as little more than a standing poster.
…
"Do you think you're so impressive? Right now, you're like… like… a member of the Genius Society."
"...Enough. If you don't want to do it, then leave… take your technology with you. I don't need it."
"I can find others, even people from the Intelligentsia Guild. At least they won't run off halfway through."
Herta's brows were knit with anger. After saying this, she turned as if to leave.
Reaching the doorway, she suddenly stopped, her face half-turned as she addressed Screwllum.
"Screwllum, after knowing each other for so long, this is the first time I've ever…"
"felt you were just a piece of cold iron…"
Having said her piece, Herta didn't linger. She slammed the door shut on her way out.
Of course, it was a literal slam—the door crashed to the floor with a series of clattering bangs.
Herta: …
Almost forgot. Clara replaced this door with an "automatic" one.
Herta nearly lost her composure, but her strong mental fortitude allowed her to school her expression back in time.
She stepped right over the door lying on the floor and walked out.
…
"All that crying and carrying on, boo hoo, so pitiful~"
"Are you about to shed some little pearls, little Herta?"
"Do you need me to lend you my lap so you can have a little cry and comfort yourself~"
After Herta exited the office, Clara suddenly appeared beside her, patting her own thighs with a smile as she tossed out a mocking remark.
"Little?" Hearing this, Herta couldn't help but find it rather amusing.
"No matter how little I am, I'm nowhere near as little as you, you black-haired, red-eyed, flat-chested brat."
Clara: …
At those words, the smile on Clara's face instantly froze.
"And a lap pillow? You don't actually think with your stubby little legs you could offer anything to rest on, do you?"
"With zero assets to your name, don't try copying the big sisters."
"It's honestly pretty funny."
Clara: …
As Herta's taunts kept coming, the limit of Clara's patience had been reached.
She reached out, pulled Herta onto her lap, flipped up her skirt, raised her palm, and brought it down squarely on her little bottom.
Smack!
The crisp sound, though quiet, was deafening in Herta's ears.
"Wait! I was wro—" Herta's face flushed crimson as she hurriedly tried to stop her.
Smack!
"Flat, is it?"
Smack!
Clara seemed to have entered a frenzied state, her mind singularly focused on teaching Herta a thorough lesson.
"Stubby legs, is it?"
Smack!
"Today, if I don't make you cry, my name isn't Clara!"
Smack!
"St-stop…"
…
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