"Overdrawing magical power... Very good, very good! You knew Tsukiyo was just a human before, and even with magical power, she shouldn't overuse it. And you actually gave her your noble phantasm?"
In the space specially created by lord alaya, Nero was kneeling in a dogeza, with a sign hanging on her that read 'I am wrong, I reflect,' listening to lord alaya's lecture.
"It's unclear what negative effects that energy will have on Tsukiyo, but being able to sense you and thus obtain your power is very good. After all, she's not like Yoshino; she's just a human. Even if she's immortal, she's just a human who lives longer. Do you know what effects severe overdrawing of [Lesser Origin] will bring? Don't you know the fate of Matou Kariya?"
As Lancelot's master in the Berserker class, most heroic spirits in the Throne of Heroes were very clear about Matou Kariya's situation; that guy became like that precisely because he severely overused the power of [Lesser Origin].
Although Inaba Tsukiyo's situation wasn't that exaggerated, and her immortal characteristic didn't clarify whether her life force was stronger than ordinary people, still... Inaba Tsukiyo's immune system was really too poor. Even excessive rain could cause her to catch a cold, and coupled with the previous magical power overdraw, this made her cold even worse!
Nero, who had never experienced lord alaya's wrath up close, was a little scared. Even if lord alaya was the petite type, it didn't change the reality of her being the will of humanity.
"That... lord alaya, I... I didn't expect this either. Originally, I also wanted to lend my magical power to the master. But the magical power couldn't connect to the master, so... so I could only give the primordial fire to the master."
"As a heroic spirit, even with Chaldea's magical power support, magical power cannot be given to others casually. Have you forgotten Tsukiyo's identity? She is just a human; excessive magical power will only make her body unable to bear it."
Just like a balloon, adding too much air will only make the balloon burst. The human body is the same.
"Hey, do you know, Nero? Actually, I was very happy that you became the second heroic spirit Tsukiyo could sense."
Suddenly, lord alaya patted Nero's shoulder, saying words that made Nero smile slightly, but the next sentence plunged Nero into an abyss.
"You're like Okita Souji; she has the innate skill [Weak Constitution: A], and you also have the innate skill [Headache Sufferer: B]. Hehe~ Although you always call her a sickly person, you also have quite a few problems."
A curse inherited since birth, this curse would cause Nero chronic pain, and her beloved art could not be properly displayed because of it.
"Regarding Tsukiyo's matter, I don't want anyone else in the Throne of Heroes or Chaldea to know. If I find out that someone knows, then whether it's you or Okita Souji, I will punish you."
"However, you don't have to worry. I'm not some kind of devil; there certainly won't be any severe punishment. Just a small skill modification, for example, your headache... I might change it to EX."
As soon as these words came out, Nero immediately became uneasy. Large beads of cold sweat continuously rolled down her face. lord alaya's smile in her eyes was like the smile of a devil.
She said she wasn't a devil, but if she's not a devil like this, then who is?
It was terrifying. No wonder Okita Souji, as the first person to sense Inaba Tsukiyo, didn't say a word when she returned to Chaldea. It turned out she was threatened by lord alaya.
"Don't be silent. I want your answer, Nero. If you think I can't do it, I can first raise it to A, so you can thoroughly experience a feeling completely different from usual. How does that sound?"
"I don't think that's a good idea, lord alaya! I promise! I promise not to tell anyone about the master! So... please spare me!"
Well, this child was so scared that her self-appellation changed from 'I' (Remain) to 'I' (I). How scared must she be to become like this?
Leaving aside the interaction between lord alaya and Nero, after Inaba Tsukiyo fainted, everyone carefully carried Inaba Tsukiyo into the basement.
First, they helped Inaba Tsukiyo change into her usual rabbit pajamas, then gave Inaba Tsukiyo cold medicine, and let her rest.
"Although Tsukiyo-chan has already taken cold medicine, her temperature hasn't risen again. We just don't know if Tsukiyo-chan will need more cold medicine later."
Wakasa Yuri took a towel, wet it, and placed it on Inaba Tsukiyo's forehead. Everyone sat around Inaba Tsukiyo, nervously watching her panting heavily.
"I didn't expect such an amazing Tsukiyo-chan to become like this. I thought Tsukiyo-chan was a superhero."
Recalling Inaba Tsukiyo's deeds, whether it was fighting a large number of zombies alone or jumping from a height of about three stories without harm, Takenouchi Yuki always thought Inaba Tsukiyo should be a superhero.
"Yes, actually, Tsukiyo-chan is just like us, just an ordinary person. She has always been pushing herself, always trying to appear very strong."
Sakura Megumi, who saw Inaba Tsukiyo crying last night, was very clear about this. Inaba Tsukiyo only pretended to be very strong so they wouldn't worry.
Inaba Tsukiyo was smaller than anyone present, about the same size as Kafū Chino, but the energy she had to expend every day was the most, even more than all of them combined.
"This time, you two were too reckless, Kurumi, Tendo Ri-se. While your desire to protect everyone and go out to train is understandable, you made far too many mistakes this time."
Inaba Tsukiyo catching a cold this time was undoubtedly because she went to save Kurumi and Tendo Ri-se. If it weren't for them, things could have been much easier.
"I... I'm sorry, Sister Megumi."
Kurumi and Tendo Ri-se lowered their heads. Faced with Sakura Megumi's lecture, they had no words to refute.
The reason Inaba Tsukiyo caught a cold this time was indeed because of them, so they could only helplessly listen to Sakura Megumi lecture them.
Wakasa Yuri looked at Kurumi and Tendo Ri-se being lectured, suppressed the urge to join in, wet the towel on Inaba Tsukiyo's forehead, and sat by her side with Kouru and Kafū Chino, watching her.
Although Kafū Chino was small in stature, she was already a third-year junior high school student. She was very capable, handling almost all the chores at her family's Coffee Shop herself.
"Sister Ri, Tsukiyo-chan… did she always push herself so hard before?"
"…Yes, she always pushed herself. You know, when something like this happens, someone has to step up and protect everyone."
Wakasa Yuri briefly told Inaba Tsukiyo about Inaba Tsukiyo's situation before and after the apocalypse. Kouru, who knew very little about Inaba Tsukiyo, also listened intently.
Kafū Chino was a bit surprised that Inaba Tsukiyo was the type who wasn't good at socializing.
She herself was also the type who wasn't good at socializing, so she felt like she had found a kindred spirit in Inaba Tsukiyo's characteristics.
However, after hearing that Inaba Tsukiyo had single-handedly turned the teaching building into a safe zone, saved Naoki Miki and Kei at the supermarket, and cleared the zombies gathered outside the school, she had the same thought as Takenouchi Yuki.
Inaba Tsukiyo… could she be a superhero?
But… would such an omnipotent superhero really fall ill with a cold like Inaba Tsukiyo?
"Speaking of which, what's with the ring on Sister Tsukiyo's left ring finger? Sister. I remember a ring worn on the ring finger usually means…"
Although she was still an Elementary School Student, Kouru was well aware of the meaning of wearing a ring on the ring finger.
Kouru actually had no other intentions in asking this question, but after she asked it, the entire basement fell silent.
Even Sakura Megumi, who was in the middle of her lecture, stopped. Everyone's gaze focused on Inaba Tsukiyo's left hand, which was resting outside the quilt.
"Um… did Kouru ask something she shouldn't have? Sister."
Being stared at by so many people, and thinking she had asked something she shouldn't have, Kouru nervously hid behind Wakasa Yuri, cautiously looking at the others.
"It's okay, Kouru. Actually, it's not just you who wants to know; even we want to know about this. However, Tsukiyo-chan has never mentioned anything about the ring to us."
They should say they never asked, after all, such a personal question, and such an important one at that, they really didn't know how to bring it up.
Even last time, Wakasa Yuri only knew a little bit. Wakasa Yuri had no idea who gave her this ring.
Kurumi and Tendo Ri-se, kneeling on the ground, stared intently at the ring on Inaba Tsukiyo's left hand. They both thought of one thing: the kiss Inaba Tsukiyo had given them just now.
Because the situation was urgent, they hadn't thought about Inaba Tsukiyo's attack when she rushed out earlier.
Even Kurumi, who had acted with Inaba Tsukiyo last time, had never seen such a terrifying attack ability from Inaba Tsukiyo.
Recalling what flowed out of her body during the kiss just now, could Inaba Tsukiyo control some special energy within her to enhance her combat power?
However… no wonder Inaba Tsukiyo showed no awkwardness during the kiss just now. It turns out she already had experience, which is why it felt so natural.
Thinking of this, Kurumi and Tendo Ri-se felt a strange sense of annoyance. They both had their first kisses, so why had Inaba Tsukiyo's first kiss already been taken by someone else?
If they hadn't met the guy who took Inaba Tsukiyo's first kiss, they would have wanted to question whether he was a loli complex.
"Alright, everyone. Let's go out and let Tsukiyo-chan get some good rest. And… while changing her clothes, I found something very interesting."
Wakasa Yuri displayed the pendant in her hand. She had found it while changing Inaba Tsukiyo's clothes. Besides this, she also found a white pipe.
Perhaps this pendant contained secrets about Inaba Tsukiyo's past.