Honkai Star Rail: My Chat Group is Full of Broken Timelines — Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Ms. Herta is Brilliantly Intelligent, Peerless in the World, and Stunningly Beautiful

“I never would have guessed… it’s actually Ms. Herta.” Robin gazed at the name ‘Emperor the Third’ displayed on the light screen, her voice tinged with awe. Even she had long heard of the great genius’s fame—after all, in the galaxy’s academic circles, Herta’s name was known to virtually everyone.

“Is this Ms. Herta… very famous?” Castorice blinked curiously, her fingertips unconsciously twirling a lock of her hair. She found herself growing more and more interested in this person who seemed to have a secret connection to Amphoreus.

“Yes… Ms. Herta is the 83rd member of the Genius Society.” Before Robin could elaborate, Kazuki jumped in, seizing the topic.

“In her youth, she solved the Soliton Algorithm problem and the Spark Model Conjecture. As a young adult, she discovered the transformation method of Sigma Baryons. In her middle age, she proposed the Herta Sequence and published a paper on Rejuvenation; in her old age, she successfully reversed the aging process. In her second youth, she unlocked the mysteries of the Imaginary Flux phenomenon, captured a Stellaron from beyond the heavens, and sealed it. Ms. Herta has saved her home planet from the brink of destruction nineteen times and has had two audiences with Aeons.”

Kazuki rattled off the staggering list of accomplishments in a single breath, leaving the three women staring, completely floored. While Firefly and Castorice didn’t understand the half of what he’d just said, they grasped the essential point: this Ms. Herta was terrifyingly impressive.

“Mr. Kazuki… are you a fan of Ms. Herta?” Robin asked, a little taken aback. That level of familiarity went far beyond simple admiration.

“That’s right. I’m her number one ‘anti-fan’,” Kazuki corrected with a grin, but his tone immediately shifted, becoming strangely solemn. “Ms. Herta is brilliantly intelligent! Ms. Herta is peerless in the world! Ms. Herta is stunningly beautiful!”

He continued the chant without a hint of irony. As a Trailblazer, even if he had once found Herta arrogant and aloof, how could he not be moved by the knowledge that she was willing to sacrifice herself for all living beings in the galaxy? Besides, Kazuki had always liked Herta, right from the very beginning.

“Then… after learning about her ending in that other world, you must be very upset, right?” Castorice asked softly, sympathy welling in her eyes.

She couldn’t begin to imagine the heartbreak she would feel if Lady Aglaea were to sacrifice herself to protect the people of Okhema.

“No.” Kazuki shook his head slowly, a determined light flashing in his eyes. “On the contrary, I’m very happy. Because this means I have a chance to save her. A genius willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of all life shouldn’t be allowed to meet such an end.”

“What do you plan to do?” Robin asked, a hint of worry coloring her voice. The group member codenamed ‘Emperor the Third’ was an existence that surpassed the previous two emperors in the chat group; her power was unimaginable. How could she possibly be saved so easily?

“I don’t know,” Kazuki admitted honestly. “The chat group appeared so suddenly, and we were immediately swept up in Miss Liu Ying’s situation. There hasn’t been any time to think of a countermeasure. However, I’m going to try and contact the Ms. Herta of my world. I’m sure she’ll be very interested in a version of herself from another timeline who became ‘Emperor the Third’.”

If you can’t find a solution, find someone who can. And in this universe, who could possibly know Herta better than Herta herself?

“But I’ve heard that Ms. Herta has countless followers. Even at the Herta Space Station, which gathers geniuses from all over the galaxy, many of the staff go their entire lives without ever seeing her in person.” Robin frowned, her concern evident. “She’s a member of the Genius Society and an Emanator of Erudition. She isn’t someone just anyone can contact.”

Herta wasn’t a person one could simply arrange a meeting with. Even Robin herself had no way of reaching the famed genius; a member of the Genius Society would most likely have no interest in her songs.

“It is indeed difficult for ordinary people,” Kazuki said, his tone nonchalant, as if he were mentioning something perfectly mundane. “But my great-uncle is the General of the Divine Prowess of the Luofu, one of the Seven Arbiter-Generals, Jing Yuan.”

Why struggle through life when you have connections? Some might be ashamed of relying on their background, but Kazuki was never one for such formalities. A useful connection was a good connection, period.

“Uh… I didn’t realize the Group Owner’s family was so… distinguished.” Robin was stunned for a moment before offering an awkward smile. “With an elder who is on equal footing with an Emanator, there is indeed a chance to contact Ms. Herta.”

It felt like she had just stumbled into a conversation with hidden royalty.

“But all that will have to wait until Miss Liu Ying’s situation is resolved,” Kazuki said, changing the subject and peering into the darkness deeper within the cavern. “By the way, is it safe outside now? We can’t stay here forever.”

The four of them had been hiding in the cavern for a long time. The smell of dust in the air and the acrid stench left behind by the Swarm were growing stronger. Staying here much longer wasn’t a viable option.

“The scale of this Swarm is too large. If they’re migrating over a long distance, it’s impossible for them to disperse in just a few days,” Firefly’s voice came through her helmet’s modulator, carrying a tone of military certainty. “This planet is just a fringe world in the former Glamoth Republic’s territory, used by the Iron Cavalry as an outpost against the Swarm. A swarm passing through is a common occurrence.”

“Then I propose we first return to our respective worlds, and then have Miss Liu Ying go to a safe world to take refuge. How does that sound?” Kazuki looked at the three of them, gauging their reactions.

“Since the Swarm won’t be gone anytime soon, we should head back. Especially since Miss Liu Ying is out of danger,” Robin nodded in agreement. As a galactic superstar, her disappearance would cause quite a sensation if it dragged on for too long. And her brother would probably be worried sick…

“I still have schoolwork to finish,” Castorice chimed in softly, a distressed look on her face. “Even though I’ve graduated from the Clock Tower, my mentor still assigns me research tasks occasionally. If I spend a few more days here, I’ll probably have to beg Hyacine to help me out again.”

“So… Miss Liu Ying, what do you think?” Kazuki’s proposal considered that the others had lives to return to. Firefly’s life, in contrast, consisted of nothing but constant fighting. For her, waiting in one place for a few days would have no real impact; she could just rejoin her unit later.

“I…” Firefly was still a bit hesitant.

“Since you’d just be waiting here anyway, you could come to our worlds and experience something different, couldn’t you?” Kazuki pressed gently.

“You’re right.” Firefly fell silent for a moment before finally nodding.

If she were a newly recruited member of the Iron Cavalry, she might have strictly refused such a proposal. But she was a veteran. The long, white strands in her hair were proof of her seniority, and a life so long it consisted of nothing but combat had already left her feeling a deep weariness. The idea of occasionally escaping the cold military regulations and the smoke of gunpowder held a certain appeal.

“In that case, why don’t we discuss which group member’s world Miss Liu Ying should go to?” Kazuki suggested enthusiastically, rubbing his chin.

Just then, the gazes of Robin, Castorice, and even Firefly all turned toward him.

Three pairs of eyes focused on him with a silent, unspoken understanding.

“What’s this about?” Kazuki was taken aback by their synchronized stares, instinctively shrinking back. “Why are you all looking at me?”

“At a time like this, it’s naturally time for the Group Owner to step up and take responsibility!” Robin clapped her hands together, a cheerful smile on her face.

“Group Owner Kazuki is very reliable,” Castorice added immediately. “If possible, I would also like to visit your world sometime.”

Firefly simply looked away. Although she didn’t speak, her silence was an answer in itself.