Chapter 254: Chapter 254: Herta: “Is There Something Wrong with the Gods Here?”

“I think being locked up here isn’t so bad.”

After all, it was still imprisonment—but between a birdcage and a space station the size of all of Sumeru City, the choice was obvious.

Nahida knew very well which one she preferred.

Even though she was currently only a conscious body, this was still far better than her days in Sumeru, where she could only sing a one-woman monologue to herself.

“At this point… are you sick or something?

You’re given freedom and you don’t take it—choosing to stay here instead?”

Herta genuinely could not understand Nahida’s decision.

Was being a god really that exhausting?

She had seen countless people in power, and almost none of them were willing to give up what they held.

Yet this Dendro Archon was doing the exact opposite?

“Wherever I am, I don’t truly have freedom.

If that’s the case, I’d rather stay here. At least this place is new to me—and there are people to talk to.”

At the very least, here she could speak with people from Liyue.

But if she returned… What could she even do?

Nahida worried about her people, of course.

But she also understood clearly—

Whether she was worried or not, she couldn’t change anything.

No matter what happened, all she could do was watch helplessly.

So this time… she truly didn’t want to go back.

“…”

Were the gods of this world all this miserable?

Seeing Nahida on the verge of emotional collapse made Herta feel oddly stifled.

“You’re a god, and you’re living this badly?

On my planet, no one would dare raise their voice at me.”

If someone tried—

They wouldn’t even need Herta to act.

Before she got angry, that person would’ve already been riddled with bullets and ’committed suicide’.

This little one was a god too, wasn’t she?

Surely things couldn’t be that bad?

“I’m just a failed god.

No one likes me—not even my own people are willing to acknowledge my existence.”

Listening to Nahida pour out her heart made Herta feel dizzy.

If she remembered correctly, the gods of this planet should possess considerable power.

Far beyond ordinary people.

Even those capable of wielding elemental energy shouldn’t be able to rival a god.

“Then what about your fists~~?”

If your fists are big enough, who would dare criticize you?

On Blue Star, everyone knew Herta’s brilliance—and her strength.

That was why everyone took pride in sharing the same planet as her.

Who would dare deny being one of Herta’s people?

“Fists…?”

Nahida raised her small hands.

Soft. Pale. Delicate.

If she punched someone, she’d probably just make them die of cuteness.

“But I can’t hurt my own people.”

The same mindset again.

She could be hurt by her people—

But she absolutely could not hurt them.

“They don’t even acknowledge your existence—how are they still your people?”

The more Nahida spoke, the more Herta felt her blood pressure spike.

What kind of incompetent ruler was this?

If your subordinates were unruly, then become a tyrant and suppress them outright.

That way, who would dare say a bad word?

You can’t even manage your own people—

No wonder they despise you.

Were all the gods here brain-dead?

Fortunately, Herta was highly educated and well-traveled.

While rulers like Nahida were rare, they weren’t unheard of.

And she wasn’t the type to help someone just because they were pitiful.

This Dendro Archon was clearly the problem herself.

No authority. No methods.

A god who possessed nothing but kindness.

Such weakness naturally bred unruly subjects.

In Herta’s opinion, even an AI administrator would do a better job than this Archon.

This demon god’s brain simply didn’t work.

She had power—but didn’t know how to use it.

“Forget it. You’re too weak to make decisions anyway.

Since you’re unwilling, I’ll just go ask Su Ran directly.

Your body and consciousness are already separated, after all.”

Herta abandoned the idea of asking Nahida’s consent.

She truly had grown interested in the gods of this world.

That Raiden Makoto earlier—she’d been a god too, right?

Back when they ran the Simulated Universe, Herta really should’ve preserved that data.

“Wait!”

The moment Herta mentioned taking her body for research, Nahida hurried after her.

This space station was quite familiar to Herta.

And Su Ran had granted her a sliver of operational access.

So she quickly realized that someone was currently using the control center.

Based on her understanding, there shouldn’t be a second person capable of operating technology at that level.

That woman named Ningguang, for example—

She had originally planned to record things on paper.

A clear sign of a country bumpkin.

Low cultural literacy, at a glance.

Only Su Ran could possibly be using the station’s advanced systems.

This level of technology wasn’t something Ningguang and her people could master just by following a tutorial.

Meanwhile, Ningguang—who had been preparing to play host—was about to take Hu Tao and Keqing on a tour of the station.

Then she saw Herta rushing over.

Seeing the puppet suddenly move, Hu Tao immediately hid behind Keqing, peeking out cautiously.

She hadn’t forgotten what the Raiden Shogun had said—

This puppet was extremely vindictive.

“Hello, Lady Her—ta…”

Ningguang was about to greet her politely—

But before she could finish, Herta had already walked past and disappeared.

“…Forget it.”

She sighed inwardly.

After all, that was Herta.

Geniuses were bound to be eccentric.

Su Ran was the same.

“What’s wrong with that puppet?”

Keqing asked curiously, seeing Ningguang ignored despite her courtesy.

“She probably has something important to do.”

Though rudely brushed aside, Ningguang didn’t mind.

That was Herta, after all.

In the past, Ningguang wouldn’t even have qualified to meet her—

She wouldn’t even have been qualified to hear her name.

Before they could react further—

A small green figure suddenly dashed past them, chasing after Herta.

“And who’s that?”

Keqing pointed at the child running by.

They’d heard about Herta from the Raiden Shogun—

But not this little one.

“That is…”

Ningguang paused briefly.

“…the Dendro Archon of Sumeru.”

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