"Then what's your knightly title?" Tian An played along, continuing Star's line of thought.
"Of course, it's Star Knight! Isn't that cool?" Star declared confidently.
Using her own name as a title?
She's really living the life.
"So, what should we do now?" Tian An asked aloud.
Hearing the question, Star began to ponder on the spot, looking exactly like a dialogue choice box in a game. Tian An felt that if she just reached out a hand, it would complete the picture perfectly.
"Shall we go find Lead Researcher Asta first?" Star suggested.
"I have no objections." For the current Tian An, it didn't matter where they went. Even if Herta wanted them for experiments the next second, she'd find it normal.
Ding... Ding
Star's phone suddenly rang.
She took it out and saw a message from Herta...
Wait, when did Herta get added to my contacts?
Star noticed the discrepancy.
Don't ask. When it comes to geniuses, inquire less.
"Hello, this is Herta."
"You two, come to my office."
"??"
"But aren't you just nearby?"
"[Auto-Reply] Hello, I'm busy right now. Will reply later."
"??"
Star put down her phone, looking utterly confused, and then said to Tian An:
"Herta wants us to go to her office."
Huh? Experiments for real?
Tian An had thought she could rest for a bit.
"Shall we go then?"
"Mm, okay."
Actually, Tian An was quite eager to experience the Simulated Universe.
As for the office, Tian An thought she should remember the way... probably.
Having a bad memory is like this.
"By the way, Miss Theresia, that Originium Crystal you mentioned, what exactly is it?" Star asked halfway there, activating her curious baby mode.
"It's something that represents calamity. In a sense, its nature is very similar to the Stellaron inside you."
Just in a different form.
"Then what's the Stellaron inside me?" Star pressed on.
"Uh... you should probably ask Miss Herta about that..."
Faced with Star's continuous questioning mode, Tian An found herself unable to cope. After all, she wasn't exactly brilliant and couldn't explain everything clearly.
Star walked behind her. When Tian An slowed down, Star slowed down too. Tian An now seriously suspected she had become the guide NPC in the plot.
"Then Theresia, your abilities..."
"Ah, you two are here too!"
Just as Star was about to ask more, they heard Asta's voice.
"Asta?" Star stopped walking.
A savior!
"What are you two planning to do?" Asta looked interested, her gaze fixed primarily on Tian An.
Tian An touched her face, feeling like there was nothing on it.
"Herta asked us to go to her office. She needs us for something," Star replied.
"Miss Herta needs you... don't tell me she wants to run experiments?" Asta knew her teacher's personality and habits well.
"Probably."
"Sigh, as her student in name, I must remind you, don't expect Miss Herta to make concessions because of any pitiful situation you might be in."
She knew clearly that Herta lacked empathy.
"It's alright, it's just to understand the situation. Besides, she's not a bad person," Tian An, seeing Asta looking at her and assuming she needed to state her stance, replied with a slight smile.
"Mm, as long as you understand," Asta said, but stepped a little closer to the two.
"May I ask Miss Theresia a question?" Asta's eyes seemed filled with anticipation.
"Of course."
"Miss Theresia, may I ask... do you have children?" Asta asked this sentence with perfect seriousness.
"???" Asta's question almost made Tian An choke. Star, beside her, also turned to look at her.
Hey, don't get infected [with the weird questions]!
"Lead Researcher Asta... why do you ask that?" Surely she hasn't seen some kind of mini-Theresia, right?
"Mm... just looking at Theresia, you seem filled with a motherly aura. And your hair reminds me of my mother..."
"But in that aspect, I think she's far behind you. Part of the reason I came here to be the Station Master was that I didn't want to stay in the family anymore. My parents are too stubborn."
Have children... does Amiya count? Does Kal'tsit count...?
"Apologies, I don't even have a lover, let alone children," Tian An had to explain clearly. After all, she was only... hundreds of years old!
You sly thing, adding someone else's lifespan to your own.
Hmph.
"Ah, is that so?" A hint of disappointment actually flashed through Asta's eyes.
Don't use that kind of expression for something like this!
"Sorry, that was presumptuous of me. I was just genuinely curious. If only I had a parent like Miss Theresia," Asta finally returned to normal.
"Everyone is indispensable," Tian An actually quite envied Asta's background... truthfully, who wouldn't?
"Yes. Although my relationship with my family isn't good, I know they do care about me."
Asta also felt that made sense.
"Why don't you ask me?" Star blurted out casually.
"Your behavior already dictates that such a possibility is unlikely, Miss Star," Asta replied helplessly.
"Ehehe," Star laughed awkwardly.
"Right, although Miss Herta is sometimes on the space station, she only comes when something interests her. So, the puppets of her you usually see around are basically offline."
"But be very careful about touching them, okay? You'll be found out." I know.
Because I've already touched one.
Tian An thought.
"Alright, I need to get back to the command console. See you later," Asta glanced at her phone, knowing she was about to get busy again.
"Mm-hmm, we should get going too," Tian An waved goodbye, preparing to continue on her way.
"Um, Miss Theresia, I hope you have your own children soon!" Just as she was leaving, Asta suddenly added this blessing.
It almost made Tian An choke for a second time.
Asta walked straight away. If anyone had seen her from the front, they would surely have noticed her sly, calculating smile.
However, her feelings towards Tian An were genuine.
"Having children... maybe in the next life," Tian An muttered to herself.
"Hey! 👆🏻 How about... I become your child!" Star said sassily.
"Star, you too?" Tian An felt a little helpless, but also heartwarmed.
In this cheerful atmosphere, the two continued towards the office.