The Herta

Genius Society #83, Madam Herta, resides deep within the Clock Tower at the edge of the cosmos, pursuing the ultimate mysteries of the universe as a sorceress.

Thanks to de-aging technology, she maintains a youthful appearance. Disliking mundane affairs, she typically delegates such tasks to her puppets.

Profile Number ██████

Curio Name: Genius' Childhood Kaleidoscope

Warning: Do not look into it! Do not look into it! Do not look into it!!!

Do you really want to see?

Are you sure?

Nevermind. You've already scrolled this far down. I won't take responsibility for what happens to you.

Curio File

Genius Society #83, Madam Herta's private collection, with the Garden providing technical support. A memory slice only designed for the person involved to relive a beautiful time in a first-person POV.

Warning: Dangerous item. Do not gaze into it if you are not the one in the memory. Otherwise, you have a high chance of suffering an intense psychological assault.

Case studies: Two reviewers have privately looked into this. One of them started saying nonsense and no longer knew their own identity, while another could only repeat the words "Glory to Madam Herta!".

Researcher Comments

"'The fixed point is the cream-white bow of ribbons, the divergent series is like a necklace of daggers shining with a cold light. Convolution is like the wave of brunette hair, and fractals are the influence of bad mood. Infinity and infinitesimal are in a heated argument, so put them in diagonal's dress then pull them apart: Look, the most beautiful thing in all combinations is me...' — That's right. That's what that little girl said. Isn't it amazing? Ahahahaha. So amazing! Who am I? Where am I..."

<align="right"> — Statement from a reviewer</align>

"The large room full of dolls has equations and symbols I've never seen before floating in it. They grow limbs, pull faces, and dance around her. She will open a wardrobe as tall as a castle and pick clothes for them. They all have their own characters and appear in different programs... When she finished calculating, my spirit instantly received a complete baptism — Glory to Madam Herta! Glory to Madam Herta! Glory to Madam Herta! Glory to Madam Herta..."

<align="right"> — Statement of a reviewer</align>

Note

I saved this Curio so it's easier to review my beauty as a young woman. If you want to see it so much, then it's not my fault. I'll give you some advice: Find some Intelligentsia Guild books to counteract the stuff in their heads for these two unfortunates. They'll recover in no time.

<align="right">The Herta</align>

Memorial Symposium: Celebrating Madam Herta's ██th Birthday

Meeting Minutes, Topic One: A Retrospective of Madam Herta's Scientific Achievements

Meeting Minutes, Topic Two: Anecdotes and Stories from Madam Herta's Life

Meeting Minutes, Topic Five: Panel Discussion on "Exploring the Boundaries of Science and its Profound Implications"

Meeting Minutes, Provisional Topic: Moment of Silence. Breaking news from reliable media sources, Madam Herta has passed away...

Meeting Minutes, Provisional Topic 2: Madam Herta Makes an Unexpected Appearance and Delivers a Speech!

Madam Herta's Speech:

"Thank you all for your heartfelt condolences. Unfortunately, it seems I must disappoint some of you yet again."

"Are you... Madam Herta?"

"Is this a puppet of Madam Herta?"

"Did your paper on de-aging... actually work!?"

"Madam Herta, we need an explanation!"

Madam Herta cleared her throat and lifted her scepter aloft —

"It's all thanks to Magic."

"Madam Herta, hold on a moment!"

"It's impossible! The de-aging concept is purely theoretical. We're light-years away from actual application..."

"Science? Can she even be called a scientist anymore? That's just absurd!"

"Not to kill the vibe, but how do you always manage to make such a stunning entrance?"

"Pretty amusing, isn't it? The press loves to churn out fake news for headlines, while the old timers can't wait for me to bite the dust, hoping to prove my anti-aging theory is just a pipe dream."

She switches off the conference video and calmly resumes her afternoon tea.

"All your theories have been shown to have potential, yet... future scholars have never truly captured your essence, making replication impossible." The calm woman sips her tea.

"Logic: The so-called 'magic' of youth Madam Herta mentions is her biting satire. Deductive: The theory's core principles involve reversing energy and manipulating time, which requires exacting conditions. Computation: ..."

Her smile broadens as she slides a plum pastry across to the Intellitron, cutting off his monologue.

"Some truths don't need to be spoken. Here, have a treat."

On the edge of the galaxy, within a desolate, lifeless star system, a mysterious tower flickers in and out of view amid a swirling vortex.

"I refuse to wear myself out in this sprawling mansion."

She surveyed the vast, empty room, signaling the puppets to approach.

With a series of cheerful clicks and whirls, they danced toward her —

"Madam Herta is a peerless gem!"

"Madam Herta is an unrivalled genius!"

"Madam Herta is an inimitable beauty!"

"Enough already, back to your tasks." She dismissed them with a wave of her hand.

Three to scrub the floors, two to tend the gardens, and one...

"Brew some coffee. It's chilly today, and I need something warm."

The brown beans crunched under the grinder, hot water washed over them, and the dark liquid joyfully bubbled.

"Madam Herta, you've received an inquiry from the Intelligentsia Guild. They're challenging your..."

"Are they still fussing over my 'evident proof'? Just send them a few canned replies from the list."

"Madam Herta, Interastral Peace Corporation has sent an invitation..."

"Tell them their gadgets don't interest me."

"Madam Herta, the University of Veritas Prime wishes to name you an honorary professor..."

"Which institution is that again?"

Gradually, the puppets handled all mundane affairs, allowing her to vanish from the public eye.

Secluded at her tower's apex, she dismissed the external world to unravel the puzzles lingering in her thoughts.

"I wish to know, ████ ███ ██ █████ ██████?"

Thus, the First Mirror came into being.

"I wish to know, ████ ██ ███ ███████ ██ ████?"

Thus, the Second Mirror gleamed into existence.

"I wish to know, ███ ███ █ ███ ████ ███████?"

Thus, the Third Mirror chimed succinctly.

"I wish to know, ███ ██ █ ███ ██████?"

Thus, the Fourth Mirror was formed with reverence.

Her whereabouts remained a mystery, as did her reasons for shunning the limelight. Yet, her provocative theories and speculations continued to stir endless discussions.

A long time passes. After she has completed her extrapolations, she seems unsatisfied.

"There are no more problems left to solve — this, in itself, is the greatest problem."

"Are you saying..."The mirror understands perfectly.

"Why don't we create more problems?"

Herta: The Simulated Universe has always been simulating the Aeons and asking THEM questions. This time, we might as well let the Aeon ask me instead... It'd be great if THEIR question have me at a loss of words.

Herta: ...I need to get THEM out first.

Simulated Universe: Madam Herta broadcasts to the entire Simulated Universe the answer to the Imaginary Overflow Question. Fail.

Simulated Universe: Madam Herta pinches her nose and broadcasts to the entire Simulated Universe a speech praising the Aeons. Fail.

Herta: Boring. I'm leaving.

Simulated Universe: THEY appear in the blink of an eye. THEIR form looms vast like a deity, with gears and cables intricately entwined in sublime complexity. THEY observe, calculate, and seek to know everything. THEY give questions, conduct proofs, and obtain answers. THEY do nothing else.

Simulated Universe: THEY know too much — You can ask THEM anything. Humans are so ignorant before THEM. Those tiny amounts of experience and knowledge in your head... They are pitifully small in volume.

Herta: So, only Nous would give me some respect.

Herta: Other humans view my thinking process as incomprehensible magic, and I view your thoughts in the same way. So, all-knowing being, ask me —

Nous: ██!

Herta: Please speak human.

Nous: THEY do not respond and remain silent.

Herta: ...

Herta: I have nothing to say, either.

Simulated Universe: You are instantly expelled by some force. The deepest secret of this universe is like an abyss with tentacles, dragging you into inescapable fear.

Simulated Universe: Herta has been forcibly logged out.

Simulated Universe: Herta has re-logged.

Herta: Aha! I knew it was you

Nous?: THEY said "HAHA!" Hahahahaha!

Nous?: You bought that? Look. The computing power of the Simulated Universe is swarming here like the patterns of a rainbow lollipop.

Nous?: What? You are so sure that THEY won't reply with HAHA?

Herta: Heh, because Droidhead would never answer! Questions and doubts are the essence of thought. There is nothing that is forbidden, nothing serves as a boundary, and nothing is regarded as its end —

Herta: Unless THEY quit.

Herta: But you can't just leave like this. As compensation, ask me a question — but no jokes allowed.

Aha: Whenever mortals think, Droidhead would laugh! Would you like to become a Masked Fool for me? Let me glance at you?

Herta: Get out. I want Idrila.

—<align="right">An ancient Simulated Universe operation record</align>