What if your Honkai Star Rail was like this?

Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Most Terrifying Way to Die in This World (edited)

”Don’t... don’t come any closer! I don’t want to be torn apart by gravity...”

Facing the trio steadily closing in, Herta’s tall frame was now curled up into a ball, resembling a purple dumpling.

Stelle’s mouth twitched violently. The scene before her was quite shocking. Why did it feel like this great Herta had been possessed by something chaotic?

Gravity tearing? Wasn’t that Uncle Welt’s skill? How could it possibly be related to Lady Herta?

Dan Heng and March 7th exchanged a glance, both seeing a trace of confusion in each other’s eyes.

Stelle felt that Herta’s emotions seemed rather unstable at the moment. After some careful thought, she decided to say something to calm her down. Clearing her throat, she said, ”Lady Herta, I think you should carefully consider your current situation.”

Herta: Huh?!

Dan Heng & March 7th: What are you trying to do?

What Stelle meant was: This is your space station, and you’re in your office, a perfectly safe place.

”No need to be afraid. I guarantee you won’t have the chance to be afraid again in the future.”

Herta: !!! Does she mean I’m going to die today?!

What Stelle meant was: Asta and Arlan will definitely handle the space station’s safety hazards, ensuring your security.

”No, no... I’m an Emanator, I can fight back!” Herta kept reminding herself. She had already secretly resolved that if these three tried anything against her, she would resist with all her might!

”And even if their power is great, it doesn’t matter. Power and strategy are what truly count.”

The spark of fighting spirit that had just ignited in Herta’s heart was instantly doused. She looked at Stelle in horror. Could this guy have already sensed her thoughts and was warning her not to foolishly resist with brute force?

Were the people from the Astral Express all this terrifying? To think she had once believed they were good people!

”So, just relax...”

March 7th, without hesitation, delivered a swift chop to Stelle’s head, saying irritably, ”If you can’t speak properly, then say less. You’re scaring Lady Herta!”

Dan Heng cleared his throat. ”Lady Herta, we are members of the Astral Express. This is Miss Stelle, our friend. She means no harm. Please forgive her.”

Herta shrank back a little. ”R-Really?”

”Really. We even brought you some desserts. Please accept them.”

Dan Heng presented a neatly packed gift box, speaking with sincerity.

”Well... alright, I’ll trust you this once...”

Seeing the box full of desserts, Herta’s eyes visibly lit up, and she slightly lowered her guard. ”What do you need from me?”

”It’s like this: the Legion’s minions just attacked this place. Stationmaster Asta wanted to ask if you know the reason,” Dan Heng explained. ”So, we’ll need you to personally step in...”

”I-I can analyze it remotely!”

Herta bit her lip, fumbling around on her desk. ”I remember I developed a system before. The logic system was written by Mr. Screwllum. With that, you can ask the AI anything you need.”

”Huh? Where did I put it... Ah, found it!”

Herta picked up a USB drive from the desk and plugged it into the mainframe. The next moment, the lights in the office dimmed, and a holographic projection activated, gradually forming the outline of a figure—

”Phew, alright, if you have any questions, just ask it. I’ll be going now.”

Herta timidly slipped toward the door, completely unaware of the astonished expressions on the faces of Stelle, Dan Heng, and March 7th.

”Standing before you is the embodiment of beauty, wisdom, and strength—the 83rd seat of the Genius Society, the Pure Magical Maiden of the Cosmos, Herta herself.”

The voice from the holographic projection made Herta freeze. The next second, every cell in her body seemed to scream in protest, her mind spiraling into chaos, as if the sky had collapsed...

Why was this footage playing? Hadn’t she sent it to the ”Void of the Universe”? Why was it here? Who had delivered her package back to this place?

Most importantly, people saw it! This was forbidden knowledge!

”Lady Herta! These problems are too difficult. Even with all our efforts, we can’t overcome them. Only a genius like you can do it!”

Another voice rang out, and the projection displayed several more figures, including Screwllum, Ruan Mei, and Professor Ratio—people Stelle recognized.

The sight of these individuals practically worshipping Herta was undeniably striking. Stelle stood frozen, unsure of what to say.

This version of Herta... had so much inner drama!

”Hmph! You can’t even solve such simple problems? And you call yourselves renowned scholars of the universe?”

The holographic Herta waved her hand dismissively. ”Fine, fine. Let the great Lady Herta assist you. Let me see... Tch, isn’t this obvious? What a waste of my time.”

The real Herta stumbled toward the trio, a forced, pained smile on her face. ”T-This... this is a script. It’s AI-generated.”

Stelle, Dan Heng, and March 7th exchanged a silent glance, then simultaneously turned away, pretending not to see the projection.

”...Haha, Dan Heng, Lady Herta’s desk is quite tasteful, don’t you think? Look, it’s rectangular, ergonomic. Oh, what’s this? ’Age rating 8+’?”

Herta pulled out her staff and smashed the desk to pieces with force. ”This is a test product. I was checking its durability.”

Dan Heng quickly pulled Stelle aside, trying to change the subject. ”Why focus on the desk? Isn’t this bookshelf far more refined? Look at this book... titled The Tyrannical Female CEO of the Interastral Peace Corporation?”

The next moment, the bookshelf was incinerated by a burst of flames. Herta forced a smile and explained, ”T-That... that’s Asta’s bookshelf. She left it here.”

”A million riddles, but the answer is... nothingness.”

”Fall for it!”

The holographic projection was still going strong.

March 7th helplessly pressed her hand to her forehead, grabbing Stelle and Dan Heng—one in each hand—and dragged them out of the office, leaving Herta standing alone, dazed.

After a long while, Herta finally recovered from her emotional collapse. Numbly, she pulled out the USB drive and crushed it to the atomic level. Looking in the direction the trio had left, she silently aimed her staff at herself.

I should probably just die. Really, I need to go to another world, escape this universe. Surely, in another world, no one would recognize me. Surely.

I’ll hide in the Simulated Universe. Fifty years—no, a hundred years.

No, no, no. I’ll hide until this Amber Era ends. Or until everyone from the Astral Express has passed away.