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Evening, Space Station, inside Madam Herta's room.
After checking Hiroshi and finding nothing seriously wrong, Madam Herta had carried him back here herself. By now, she had already returned to her original form, sitting on her knees at the head of the bed. The "one-day restriction" she had mentioned earlier was actually just a part of her performance to make the rescue feel more real.
Looking at Hiroshi lying between her legs with his eyes slightly closed like a porcelain doll, her gaze unconsciously softened. Her slender, delicate fingers ran through his hair, gently stroking it as a strange emotion welled up in her heart.
Sigh... You dummy. You've been by my side for so long, why haven't you become any smarter? Usually, you're just a little fellow seeking my protection. Why did you make such a reckless choice?
At this moment, Hiroshi's eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes. In a daze, he felt like he was resting on a soft yet elastic cylinder—Herta's lap. The curve perfectly fitted the back of his head, and the faint, clean scent of lavender drifted into his nose.
"You're finally awake... How is it? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Herta asked, her tone carrying a rare hint of genuine worry.
Along with a faint throbbing in his brain, Hiroshi recalled the battle and a strong sense of self-reproach welled up. "I... I'm fine. I'm sorry, Madam Herta. I failed to protect you..."
If only I had been a bit stronger, I wouldn't have let her get hurt. It's all my fault... Even with the system, I'm still so weak...
Hearing his words, Herta couldn't help but sigh softly. He was the one who had been seriously injured and "died" in the simulation, yet the first thing he did upon waking up was worry about her?
"Let me ask you, why did you jump in front of me? Didn't Screwllum tell you the consequences of death for a non-Pathstrider?"
"I... didn't think that much. My mind went blank, and my body just moved on its own..." Hiroshi looked up into Herta's amethyst eyes, speaking with total sincerity.
Herta's expression froze for a moment. She readjusted her chaotic emotions and resumed her serious demeanor. "On instinct? Heh... You really are an irredeemable fool! But... you really were brave at the end. Without you, I probably would have 'died' back then. You... have indeed grown a lot, in every sense of the word..."
Hearing this, Hiroshi felt a wave of joy and satisfaction. He had indeed become stronger, but it wasn't nearly enough. As long as I keep getting stronger, there will come a day when I can truly protect her.
He realized that the Emotion Points he could harvest at the Space Station were too limited. To reach his full potential, he needed a broader environment with more people. The Astral Express. They traveled to various worlds to Trailblaze and resolve crises. If he went with them, he could harvest points from entire planets.
But he decided to wait. He would increase his strength first and join when the Stelle (the Trailblazer) was awakened. That way, he would have a better grasp of the plot and a higher chance of survival.
"Madam Herta, I want to continue venturing into the Simulated Universe in the future," Hiroshi requested. He had felt it—the simulated monsters improved his skills much faster than training with Arlan ever could.
Herta's willow-like brows furrowed slightly. Wanting to quickly improve your strength? Ambitious. But she saw the utility in it. She needed someone to test the glitches anyway. "Alright, I agree. You'll actually be doing me a big favor."
Hiroshi breathed a sigh of relief. As they finished talking, it was time for bed. Because of what he had gone through, Herta let him off from his "power bank" duties for the night, though she demanded he make up for it double later.
The next morning, Hiroshi opened the system panel. Between his previous 2,000 points and the points gained from the rescue, his total had exceeded 4,000, allowing for two draws. Each draw now cost 2,000 points.
What he lacked most was a strong constitution. He was still a non-Pathstrider, a "glass cannon" with a powerful blade but an ordinary human body. If he could draw an item to enhance his physique, it would be far better than a new skill that might come with side effects.
With that thought, he chose to draw an item.
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