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Ripples spread across the mirror's surface, and the scene materialized. It was the place most familiar to Hiroshi in this world—Madam Herta's private quarters. Standing before the recording was Herta herself, her expression flickering with a rare, raw unease.
"Are you ready?" Herta asked.
"We can begin, Madam Herta," the Fourth Mirror's respectful voice responded from off-screen.
Herta took a deep breath, her shoulders dropping before she regained her usual haughty composure. "Sorry, little fellow. Due to the rush of time, I could only send you away in this manner. Time is short, so I'll be brief. The Curio I gave you... you must carry it with you at all times!"
A trace of melancholy flashed in her eyes. "For me, nothing is more meaningful than exploring the truth of this world and changing a universe inevitably heading towards The End. To maximize that possibility, I created a Curio today that can ignore Nous's circle of intellect."
She looked away, her voice strained. "But because of this, I must face the Lord of Silence's reckoning. I hope you can take this seed of hope out into the cosmos."
Lord of Silence, Polka Kakamond! Hiroshi, familiar with the hidden lore of the Genius Society, felt his blood run cold. She was the most dangerous executioner in the galaxy. Against her omniscience, Herta stood no chance.
So... you pushed me away to protect me. You didn't want me to witness your end. That's why you acted so heartless... Tears began to patter onto the back of Hiroshi's hands.
"Of course, it's possible I might survive," Herta forced a smile that looked painful to maintain. "If I'm that lucky, the Fourth Mirror will preserve our memories. But even if I fail, you must live well. I know you can survive without me. Finally... I hope you can forgive my selfishness. I'm sorry..."
The image froze on Herta's tear-filled eyes. Hiroshi let out a heavy, shuddering sigh.
Madam Herta, you always called me an idiot. But how smart are you, really? You gave up your life just to ensure I could live. He looked at his system panel, focusing on the most terrifying ability he possessed: "Heaven and Earth Share Longevity"—a one-for-one exchange with any object, including Aeons. He had once thought it useless because it required his death. But now, he saw its true purpose.
Polka Kakamond acted because she believed in Nous's vision of a controllable universe. If he dealt with Polka, Nous would just send another. But if the threat was bound to Nous itself...
And is Nous necessarily correct? If it were truly omniscient, why didn't it notice me—a variable from another world?
"Show me the battle," Hiroshi commanded the Fourth Mirror. "She allowed it before, didn't she?"
"Are you sure you want to see?" the mirror asked.
"Of course!"
The moment the Fourth Mirror began to project the desolate planet where the battle was unfolding, Hiroshi didn't wait to watch. He activated his Teleportation and warped directly into the coordinates shown on the glass.
"Wh-where did he go?!" the Fourth Mirror shrieked. "He just disappeared! Oh no, how can I face Madam Herta's dying wishes now!"
...On the dead planet, the Lord of Silence, Polka Kakamond, tilted her head as Hiroshi appeared. She scrutinized him with a slender finger on her chin.
"Hmm? My domain has no effect on him," she mused. "It seems the Curio the girl made is on his person. But how foolish. She gave her life for your escape, and you walk right into my hands. Are you here to die, little friend?"
"Heh," Hiroshi's voice was steady, despite the overwhelming pressure. "Why don't you try perceiving the truth with your domain now?"
Hiroshi gripped the Curio tightly. At that moment, he activated his connection. Using the Demon Blade Thousand Blades, he had wrapped a fragment of his soul—and the "Heaven and Earth Share Longevity" protocol—directly around the concept of his own heart.
Through the Curio's logic-breaking power, he had tethered his life force directly to the existence of Nous. If his heart stopped, the ability would trigger a forced one-for-one exchange with the Aeon of Intellect.
Suddenly, Hiroshi felt the weight of four titanic gazes fall upon him.
One came from an enormous amber rock (Qlipoth), one from a swirling mass of chaotic joy (Aha). The other two were the most direct: a giant with flowing golden blood (Nanook) and a massive, cold, mechanical head—Nous itself.
The universe's calculation had just encountered a fatal error.
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