"So, we need to evacuate everyone from the Space Station now, right?"
Inside Herta's Office, Lumina turned to Herta and asked.
"Yes," Herta nodded, then offered a brief explanation. "Although we're only using the Simulated Universe to simulate an audience with an Aeon, the energy generated just from the simulation is enough to cause some... abnormal reactions in the Space Station's staff."
"So, before we begin the simulation, we have to clear out everyone on the station."
"Clear out...? Is that really the word you're going with?" Lumina's lip twitched at Herta's choice of words.
It made the Space Station staff sound like trash.
"Hmm? What's wrong? Can't I use that word?" Herta seemed genuinely puzzled by the question.
"Fine, fine, have it your way. You can use it, you can use it." Lumina recalled Herta's personality and realized this was completely normal for her. She decided not to dwell on it.
She waved her hand dismissively, signaling that she'd let Herta call it whatever she pleased.
After all, to Madam Herta, even the Space Station was just a place to store her trash... er, her Curios. So it was only natural she'd treat the staff in a similar fashion.
Therefore, Herta using the term "clear out" wasn't really a problem at all.
"What's with that perfunctory attitude?" Herta expressed her strong dislike for Lumina's demeanor.
To Herta, Lumina's attitude felt like a man condescendingly indulging his foolish girlfriend, which made her extremely uncomfortable.
Well... of course, that wasn't the real reason for her discomfort.
The main issue was that Lumina's dismissive indulgence made Herta feel inexplicably inferior.
In Herta's mind, she should be the one indulging Lumina!
"Perfunctory? Was I? I don't think I was being perfunctory at all." Hearing this, Lumina immediately switched to feigning ignorance, pretending she didn't know what "perfunctory" meant.
"..."
"Forget it."
After staring at Lumina for a moment, Herta waved her hand again, deciding to drop the issue.
"Go inform Asta now. Have her relay the message to clear out the staff."
Hearing this, Lumina didn't move immediately. Instead, she lowered her head and thought for a moment. When she seemed to have finished, she looked up and stared at Herta, her eyes filled with a hint of bewilderment.
"What's with that look?" Herta sensed from Lumina's expression that whatever she was about to say wouldn't be good.
Lumina looked Herta up and down before slowly speaking. "I mean, I get it, but... why do I have to go inform Asta?"
"What? You want me to go in person?" Herta raised an eyebrow in response.
"Of course, if you really want me to go myself, it's not impossible."
"Just call me 'Big Sister Herta,' and I'll gladly grant your wish."
"No, no, no." Lumina shook her head, rejecting Herta's offer.
But she didn't explain right away. Under Herta's puzzled gaze, she pulled out her phone.
She opened a messaging app, navigated to a chat screen, and turned the screen toward Herta.
"Why should either of us go in person?"
"Why don't we just send Asta a message?"