It wasn't until she saw these bizarre and misshapen Hertas with her own eyes that Madam Herta finally understood.
So this was what the "Herta the puppets yearn for" really was.
She even spotted a "Ruan Mei Herta," one who had swapped into Ruan Mei's outfit and hairstyle.
Going by that puppet's intent, she was desperate for Madam Herta's approval.
And both Madam Ruan Mei and Bai Ming were people who had earned that recognition.
The only issue was that Bai Ming's appearance was formless; even if the puppet wanted to copy them, she couldn't. So she settled on Ruan Mei instead.
Watching "herself" dressed in Ruan Mei's qipao stirred a subtle sense of unwillingness, a feeling of being bested, but Herta also perceived the true nature of this Halo System.
This system wasn't really about creating a one-to-one replica of Herta.
What it constructed were the ideals of others.
This so-called "completion" wasn't so much about completing Herta.
It was about completing the puppets.
"That Bai Ming... always coming up with such scary names. For a second, I thought they'd actually whipped up some sort of 'Ascended Herta' for me."
Herta crossed her arms, letting out a light snort, her tone tinged with displeasure.
But the problem was, for someone like Herta, even if Bai Ming presented a "Perfect Herta" that fit the world's ideals, to Herta's eyes, it would still be a flawed piece of junk.
"It just further confirms to me that I am perfect. No completion needed here. Don't you think so, Bai Ming?"
Herta, speaking out loud, suddenly mentioned another name.
And the moment her voice faded, a burst of flame flickered, and 'Little Herta' stepped out from within it.
"Ever think the first thing you should complete is that narcissistic personality of yours?"
"That's a full and proper evaluation of myself. Compared to mine, it's your personality that really needs some serious work."
Herta turned around, looking down at the 'Little Herta' standing behind her with another snort.
Clearly, she wasn't planning to just let bygones be bygones.
'Little Herta' raised her hands in surrender:
"Still mad? I thought Big Sister Herta was having fun, checking out all those different Hertas one by one."
Even though each puppet-turned-Herta got a taste of Madam Herta's sharp tongue and critique, but if she truly didn't like it, why would she stick around to see so many puppets' "ideals"?
"...Getting addicted to calling me that, are you?"
The corner of Madam Herta's mouth twitched slightly.
Had this kid's skin grown this thick?
It hadn't been that long since they last met, and already "Big Sister" rolled off their tongue so naturally.
Herta took two steps towards "Little Herta," then looked down at this younger version of herself.
"You don't have any more... 'surprises' for me, do you?"
She deliberately emphasized the word "surprises."
Herta figured there couldn't possibly be another prank this big.
Even geniuses needed time and energy to make things.
Putting together a Halo System in just over ten days was somewhat understandable, but if they'd managed to whip up a second project of equal difficulty, that would be abnormal.
And as she'd guessed, 'Little Herta' pressed her palms together and gave Herta a little bow:
"Really, that's all."
"Mmm-hmm~"
Herta reached out and pinched "Little Herta's" chin, humming lightly.
"So, do you want my forgiveness?"
"Really?"
"Really. But, in exchange—"
Herta paused abruptly, and in that instant, 'Little Herta' barely had time to notice a halo unfolding from within Herta's palm.
Before she could react, the halo was snapped onto 'Little Herta's' head, completing the link with the Halo System.
Looking at the utterly bewildered 'Little Herta,' Madam Herta revealed that familiar, narcissistic smile:
"As the price... let me see your true face, Bai——Ming——!"
"True face? What do you mean?"
'Little Herta' frowned in confusion, but quickly caught on.
Her eyes widened as she stared at Herta, disbelief flooding her gaze:
"Wait, you reversed the Halo System?? How long have I been gone? How did you just directly analyze it?!"
"Hehe~"
Watching the shock in this kid's eyes filled Herta with pure satisfaction.
The smile on her face became even more radiant.
But, while Herta would love to take credit for being such a genius, in reality, she couldn't possibly have deciphered and reversed the Halo System in such a short time.
"Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not that fast. The one on your head is Ruan Mei's doing."
"???"
"The Halo System's full of traces from Ruan Mei and Screwllum. You think I couldn't tell? Sending them a message—is that really so shocking to you?"
Herta had simply asked, and Ruan Mei and Screwllum had readily admitted their involvement and their thoughts on the system.
As it happened, both of them had already been exploring their own ideas regarding it.
They'd even done a few extra things on the side, privately.
And Herta? She just conveniently borrowed their work.
"Guh... never thought I'd get backstabbed by my own collaborators—"
The 'Little Herta', still in the throes of her dismay, found her soft lips pinched shut by Madam Herta.
Her little mouth was effectively sealed.
"Enough. Listen to me. This 'Herta Completion Project' of yours... the one who really needs completing is you, isn't it?"
Herta kept her smile, but her eyes held a new seriousness.
Bai Ming didn't have their own body; their soul was just a vague, formless silhouette.
The only way to identify Bai Ming as Bai Ming was through the unique data wavelength detected by machines.
Even though Bai Ming never mentioned it, it bothered Herta.
Why did Bai Ming always have to operate wearing someone else's face?
Imitating them, learning their behaviors and knowledge.
Even their physical data, all sorts of private secrets—Bai Ming probably knew it all.
But in return, they knew almost nothing about Bai Ming.
Only that they came from a civilization that hadn't yet left their home planet, and that they were young.
This situation, where the relationship seemed equal but had such a massive information gap, could Herta tolerate it?
Clearly, she couldn't.
In the past, she lacked the means and the opportunity.
But now, Bai Ming had gone and built themselves a prototype "Completion Project."
By running it in reverse, she could use the Halo System to condense a form of the self that Bai Ming deeply yearned for in their heart.
It wouldn't give Bai Ming a real body in one go, but it was a start.
"..."
'Little Herta' was clearly taken aback by Herta's idea.
She herself had never once thought about completing herself.
And the lack of a physical form had become less urgent over the long years, buried under enough character cards.
She never expected it to be brought up here and now.
Seeing 'Little Herta' stunned, Herta assumed she'd hit the nail on the head:
"You knew perfectly well how perfect this genius is, yet you still proposed a plan named 'Herta Completion Project.' But the actual result was completing the puppets."
"So really, the subject of that sentence isn't 'Herta,' but 'Bai Ming,' right?"
Herta paused, then suddenly flashed a mischievous grin:
"As your big sis Herta, just sit back and watch your own research get completely reversed by me, while you, yourself, get thoroughly completed by me!"
--+--
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL