"You're... a [Masked Fool]?"
Hearing this, Clara revealed a smile, neither denying nor confirming it.
"Sister Herta, you already have the answer in your heart, don't you?"
"Fair enough." Herta nodded, not pressing the matter further.
Whoever Clara might be—an Emanator of Remembrance, or a Masked Fool—it made no real difference to Herta.
It was just completely unexpected that Clara had managed to run circles around the Interastral Peace Corporation. Despite Clara pulling off so many universe-shaking stunts against the IPC, the Corporation still hadn't managed to figure out her true identity.
Seems I need to reevaluate the IPC's influence across the cosmos, Herta thought.
Though she couldn't fathom why a Masked Fool would become a Stellaron Hunter, Clara must have her own special brand of madness for doing so.
"See that portal ahead? Step through it to return to reality."
"This simulation was a resounding success. The data collected has far exceeded my expectations." Pushing thoughts of Clara's identity aside, Herta looked at the data on the screen before her. The usual flatness in her eyes was once again replaced by excitement and fervor.
"This data will keep me busy for quite some time. But once I've finished analyzing it, I hope you'll continue to test the Simulated Universe for me, Clara."
After walking through the portal, Clara's consciousness returned to reality. Hearing Herta's words, she stood up and slowly walked over to the genius, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.
"Continue testing? Of course, that's possible. But it depends on your performance."
"Performance? What performance?"
"My volunteering to be Sister Herta's little lab rat this time was purely a meeting gift, since I know you." Clara took step after step closer to Herta, her smile growing wider and deeper.
"It's fine if Sister Herta didn't get little Clara a meeting gift, but now you want little Clara to keep being your lab rat? Even though little Clara is beautiful and kind-hearted and won't mind too much, it still feels a bit... not great, doesn't it?"
"If this goes on, even an understanding sweetie like little Clara might get angry."
"And an angry little Clara is super scary~"
Seeing Clara's current demeanor, Herta actually, for a brief moment, set aside her thoughts of Aeon data. A flicker of fear made her take an involuntary step back.
"I... I named the space station after you, didn't I?"
"Hmm..." Hearing this, Clara stopped in her tracks. "That's true, I suppose."
Watching Clara halt, Herta felt an inexplicable sense of relief. Why on earth am I afraid of this woman? she questioned her own soul. Even when she had an audience with the Aeon of Erudition, or when dealing with all the oddballs and eccentrics in the Genius Society, she hadn't felt a shred of fear.
But right now, recalling Clara's smiling face from a moment ago, Herta had genuinely felt fear in her heart...
'Impossible. Absolutely impossible!' Remembering her own reaction, Herta vehemently shook her head in denial. As an Emanator of Erudition, a member of the Genius Society, the human with the highest IQ on Planet Screwllum, how could she possibly be afraid of this woman before her!
"But then, Sister Herta," Clara said, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she watched Herta's internal struggle. She giggled, "If you want me to keep being your lab rat, of course that's fine. Little Clara won't refuse. But shouldn't Sister Herta offer a little something in return?"
"If it's always little Clara giving unilaterally, even if I don't say anything, wouldn't Sister Herta feel bad in her own heart?"
Clara's eyes grew wide and shimmering, as if she might burst into tears the very next second.
Looking at her, Herta took a deep breath. "What do you want?"
"What Clara wants is simple, just two conditions." Clara held up two fingers before Herta's eyes.
"The first one's easy. Since Sister Herta is asking for a favor, you should have the attitude of someone asking for a favor. Like, 'Please, I beg you,' or 'I—'"
"Please, I beg you, I beg you, please come test the Simulated Universe," a fluent string of pleading words spilled from Herta's mouth before Clara could even finish.
Clara: ??
Where's your dignity as a genius?
"What? Surprised? I quite like the saying, 'Those who accomplish great deeds don't bother with minor details.' Especially not when it concerns the secrets of the Aeons." Herta crossed her arms, smiling at Clara, finally feeling like she'd regained a bit of ground.
"So, not just asking you, even if you asked me to serve you, I'd do it."
Upon hearing this, Clara's eyes instantly lit up. She quickly spoke up, "Really? Then I won't stand on ceremony! From now on, I'll be counting on Sister Herta to serve me well."
Herta: …
Why does it feel like I just dug myself a huge pit?
A sliver of regret instantly sprouted in Herta's heart. If only she hadn't said that last part... But for Herta, words once spoken weren't something to be taken back.
Still, serving Clara? For a genius, that was hardly anything worth mentioning.
"And the second condition?"
"The second condition... I'll tell you after some time has passed." A grin spread across Clara's face, one that made Herta feel goosebumps rising—not that her puppet body could actually get goosebumps, of course.
"For now, please fulfill the first condition and serve me well, Sister Herta." Clara chuckled, pulling out an outfit from who-knows-where.
The outfit was primarily black and white. The top was form-fitting with lace or ruffled decorations, the skirt was fluffy and light, and it came with a matching white apron.
"This is..." Herta looked at the clothing in Clara's hands, finding it somewhat familiar, as if she'd seen it somewhere before.
"It's a maid uniform, of course." Clara held the maid dress up to Herta, sizing it. It looked like a perfect fit. "If you're going to serve someone properly, you naturally have to wear a maid uniform~"
"A m-maid uniform??" Herta was momentarily speechless. The thought of wearing a maid dress to serve Clara, even if it was just a puppet body, made her hesitate.
"Of course! How can Sister Herta serve me without wearing it?" Clara's expression instantly shifted to one of pitiful pleading as she looked at Herta. "Don't tell me Sister Herta wants to go back on her word already?"
Herta: …
"F-fine." After an internal struggle, Herta ultimately agreed to Clara's request. All for the mysteries of the Aeons, she told herself. All for the mysteries of the Aeons.
She kept hypnotizing herself with this thought, fully rationalizing that serving Clara well was just one step in her research on the Aeons.
"But speaking of which, why do you have a maid uniform on you?" Taking the offered dress, Herta couldn't help but ask Clara with some puzzlement.
"Hmph, that's none of your business." Clara gave a light, dismissive hum, not answering the question.
Truth be told, Clara had initially only planned to have Herta beg her nicely and leave it at that, so she hadn't prepared anything extra.
As for the maid uniform... Clara's figure was quite similar to Herta's puppet body. So, you know how it is.
…
Herta: Regarding the Mysterious Maid in the Space Station
What maid? The space station is staffed by researchers. There's no possibility of a maid appearing. It's nothing but a rumor.
You say you actually saw a maid?
Heh. I said, it's just a rumor.
So, you saw wrong.
Understand?
…
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