"I've been reborn, reborn to the very day in my past life when I first entered the Simulated Universe."
"In my last life, Herta humiliated me, scolded me. The Aeons deceived me, struck me."
"With this second chance, I will absolutely reclaim the glory that is rightfully mine!"
Clara clenched her fists, her face brimming with determination and confidence.
"What the hell are you even monologuing about?"
Herta's face darkened as she finally couldn't hold back from snapping.
"Ehehe~ Just setting the mood for us, don't you think?" Hearing Herta's words, Clara chuckled.
"Or do you think this version isn't good enough?"
"Then I'll switch to another version, hmm… let me think." Clara rested a finger on her lips, her mind deep in thought.
"How about this then?"
As soon as Clara finished speaking, her expression instantly shifted, now filled with profound world-weariness. Her detached eyes seemed uninterested in everything.
"Hmph, Clara, is it?"
"Since I have now obtained your body, then your karma shall be borne by me."
"In the future, I shall surely make the name 'Clara' resound throughout the cosmos!"
Herta: …
Hold it in, hold it in. She still needs Clara's help right now. If she ends up beating her to death, she won't be able to research the mysteries of the Aeons…
Thinking this, Herta forced a faint smile onto her face.
"Whatever makes you happy…"
All for… the mysteries of the Aeons!
"Pfft." Hearing Herta's voice, Clara's world-weary expression instantly cracked. She clutched her stomach, bursting into loud laughter.
"Hahahaha, I'm just messing with you, Sis Herta. I, Clara, do know when and where to joke around."
"This is Sis Herta's most crucial experiment to unveil the mysteries of the Aeons and explore them. How could Clara possibly be so careless?"
"Everything Clara did earlier was truly just to liven up the mood. Sis Herta, you being all tense like that earlier isn't conducive to research and progress in the experiment."
"Really?" Hearing this, Herta felt a bit doubtful. Was Clara really that thoughtful?
"Of course it's true~" On the screen, Clara placed her hands on her hips, her expression completely serious.
"See, Sis Herta, aren't you feeling less tense now than before?"
"…" Listening to Clara's words, Herta fell into silence.
Clara was right. After the little joke just now, her mind really did feel less tightly wound than before…
Thinking about it that way, Clara really was looking out for her.
"Thank you." Since it seemed Clara genuinely had her best interests at heart, Herta didn't skimp on her gratitude.
Hearing this, Clara scratched her head a little sheepishly:
"Hehe, it's nothing."
"Sis Herta, quickly tell me what to do. I'm really curious about the Aeons' mysteries too."
"Ever played a roguelike game?" Herta asked Clara, but seeing her confused look, Herta continued to explain:
"You can treat this experiment like a game. Obtain blessings, seek curios, and ultimately defeat powerful foes."
"I've already sent information on what blessings and curios are to your character account. Close your eyes and you'll sense it."
Hearing this, Clara closed her eyes and focused. It was all stuff she was familiar with to the point of boredom.
"Just treat it like a game to play. Leave data collection and such to me. How exactly to play, you can figure out slowly."
Herta fiddled with a few things on the console, and her voice sounded in Clara's mind.
"You're just like a newbie character right now, with nothing on you. You need to explore events, defeat monsters to improve yourself, and finally defeat the big boss."
"Oh, by the way, strength in reality and strength in the game aren't connected."
"So right now, you're just a helpless little girl."
"See that Voidranger over there? Come on, girl. Close your eyes, choose a Path, and obliterate it!"
Hearing this, Clara closed her eyes again and saw a selection system.
"Mmm… which one should I pick?" Looking at the seven Paths in her mind, Clara felt conflicted.
"Each Path has its own power. Considering you're a beginner, I personally recommend choosing the Destruction or The Hunt Paths. They're simple and straightforward."
Seeing Clara's indecisive look, Herta kindly offered a reminder.
"Ohh, okay, got it. Thanks, Sis Herta~" Listening to Herta, Clara nodded, then chose…
She chose the Path of Elation.
Herta: ?
Whatever, it's fine.
"After choosing this Path, you'll gain the power corresponding to it. Of course, it's all simulated, not something you truly possess."
"Come on, become proficient with the power of Elation and clear all the monsters in this scenario."
Herta's voice rang in Clara's mind.
"Okay~"
"Mmm… but since it's your first time, you might not be skilled in various aspects. Let me add some buffs for you… What the heck?!"
Just as Herta was fiddling on the console, about to add some powerful buffs for Clara, she saw Clara go on what seemed like an unstoppable rampage. Within mere seconds, she had cleaned out every single monster in the entire scenario.
Watching the scene before her, Herta was instantly dumbfounded, frozen in place.
"Sis Herta? What's wrong?"
"Are you… cheating?" Herta thought for a long time but couldn't come up with an explanation, finally blurting out those words.
In theory, Clara in the simulation should be a Pathstrider who just stepped onto a Path. How could she possibly have the ability to instantly wipe out an entire area of monsters?
"Huh? Sis Herta, what are you talking about? Cheating? Clara doesn't understand." Hearing this, Clara immediately put on a face of confusion.
What cheating? Is not having it turned off considered cheating?
"Never mind, it doesn't matter." Herta shook her head, deciding not to dwell on it. It was probably just a bug in the Simulated Universe. She'd fix it later when she had time. The main goal now was researching the Aeons.
"See that blue event portal? Walk into it. See if you can trigger an event related to an Aeon."
"Okay~" Hearing this, Clara hopped and skipped her way into the blue portal.
...
[You have encountered a life-sized humanoid doll. It has straw-like rope hair and a counter on its belly.]
"This is…? An Aha doll?" Looking at the doll that appeared, Clara picked it up, examining it carefully.
"Looks like we're lucky. The very first event is related to an Aeon." Seeing the doll in Clara's hand, Herta's eyes immediately lit up.
"Quick, check what the trigger conditions are."
"Let me see." Clara opened the instruction manual placed nearby.
『A venting doll made by Aha in His own image—He hopes to see Himself get beaten up. The harder you hit it, the happier He gets, and the more coins He will reward you with! Note: Quality control is unrelated to Aha Himself.』
Option 1: Give it a light pat (At least it won't break it)
Option 2: Hit it hard! (Can't let Aha look down on you!)
"Mmm… choose option 1. It is, after all, an Aeon's item." After pondering for a moment while reading the manual, Herta said.
"Oh~ By the Jolty Lord above. There's actually something impersonating You here. Watch me, Clara, punish this thing severely."
Clara paid no heed to Herta's words. She viciously kneaded the Aha doll in her hands, then placed it under her foot and stomped on it firmly several times.
Finally, she gave it one more powerful kick, sending the doll flying.
"Ah, satisfying. I've been annoyed by the Jolty Lord for a while now." After thoroughly manhandling the Aha doll, Clara felt her whole spirit improve considerably.
Herta: …
Taking in Clara's entire performance, Herta couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth.
Mouthing 'Jolty Lord' with every breath, using respectful terms, but why was she hitting it harder than anyone else?
"Clara, you kicked the doll away. What about this event now?"
"Oh, right." Hearing this, Clara also scratched her little head in confusion. If she didn't retrieve that doll, wouldn't she be stuck in this event forever?
Just as Clara was thinking about how to get the Aha doll back, the very doll she had kicked away slowly appeared behind her.
The doll was now glowing, the counter in the middle stopped at [999], and then it slowly emitted a voice.
[Aha has no face, Aha has no face, Aha…]
Before the doll could finish speaking, Clara stomped on it again, pinning it to the ground.
"It's fine. Clara having face is enough."
"Alright, Clara, the portal is open. Looks like this event won't draw out an Aeon. Hurry to the next plane."
"Okay~"
Hearing this, Clara gave the Aha doll another powerful kick, sending it flying, and walked towards the portal.
"Wait! Wait!"
But just as Clara had one foot in the portal, Herta quickly called out to stop her.
[Clara is so violent, Clara is so violent, Aha has no face, Aha has no face.]
...
Clara: Regarding [The Aeon of Elation] Aha.
Aha? Let me tell you, if He dares appear before me, I'll go up and give Him an uppercut, followed by a left hook, and then a flurry of kicks. If I don't beat Him until He's kneeling and begging for mercy, my name isn't Clara!
What? You say Aha is really here?
Oh~ By the Jolty Lord above, I, Clara, am Your most loyal devotee~
…
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