'Oh no!'
Tesla had not anticipated that her actions would be caught by Einstein.
She thought she had been very discreet, but she didn't expect to be caught by that fellow anyway, even though she had been so careful.
Tesla gritted her teeth, looking at the smiling Einstein. That fellow usually didn't smile much, but every time she did, it made her furious.
"It's just to get on good terms with her. The power she wields and her abilities are what we need. And she trusts her friends a lot, plus in Anti-Entropy, she only trusts me. So… so…"
"So, Dr. Tesla is using this method to get on good terms with Miss Inaba? Hehe~ You're even using a honey trap. It seems Dr. Tesla has made a great sacrifice."
Einstein couldn't help but chuckle. She knew Tesla's habits very well. Whenever she was dazed, she wouldn't even notice if she was only wearing underwear.
She remembered when Welt Joyce went to find her, she was so dazed that she didn't even realize she was only wearing underwear and was about to leave with her suitcase.
If Tesla's purpose in carrying a pillow was to go to Inaba Tsukiyo's room to sleep, then many amusing things would surely happen.
However, Einstein wasn't so easily fooled. She knew very well that Tesla wasn't telling the truth; that fellow was definitely hiding something.
"I believe you, Dr. Tesla, about Miss Inaba trusting her friends. But as for your purpose in going to Miss Inaba's room, I'm not so easily convinced."
"We've worked together for so long, do you really think you can hide it from me, Dr. Tesla? Or are you saying… you don't even think I can be trusted?"
Einstein moved closer to Tesla, looking directly into her eyes, an unusual aura emanating from her.
If it were about other rooms, it would be fine, but the latter part about deceiving even her was too cunning.
It wasn't that Tesla didn't want to tell Einstein about this, but too many things were involved.
If she told Einstein, Tesla didn't know if Inaba Tsukiyo would get angry. After all, from the power Inaba Tsukiyo displayed, she didn't think much of Schicksal or Anti-Entropy.
The reason she joined Anti-Entropy was merely to provide a safe home for Kiana.
"…I understand. Since you want to know, telling you is fine. However, you are not allowed to tell anyone else about this."
"Oh? Not allowed to tell anyone else? Does that mean not even those we trust?"
Einstein couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. It seemed this matter was more serious than she had imagined. Did Inaba Tsukiyo really do something to Tesla?
"No, loose lips sink ships. The truth is often held by a select few. If I tell others, I worry something bad might happen."
Tesla couldn't bring herself to say, 'I trust you,' so she simply used the excuse of not being able to tell others to appease Einstein.
After speaking, Tesla first checked the room for any surveillance equipment.
After confirming there was no surveillance equipment, Tesla relaxed and slowly raised her right hand under Einstein's curious gaze.
The moment she raised her right hand, Einstein noticed irregular currents of electricity unnaturally emerging from Tesla.
From an initial faintness to an undeniable intensity, violent currents completely spread throughout her body.
As these strong currents continuously surged through Tesla, Anti-Entropy's power supply once again became unstable, with the lights flickering on and off.
During this process, a mechanical arm appeared on Tesla's right hand, just like the mechanical arm on Tesla's left hand.
However, Einstein was very certain that these two mechanical arms were definitely not on the same level. From the continuously spreading electric currents, it was clear that this thing possessed terrifying power.
After the arm fully appeared, the electric currents continued to spread across Tesla's body, and the surrounding currents continuously surged towards Tesla.
At this moment, Tesla was like someone controlling lightning, leaving Einstein speechless, because Tesla's current appearance was just like… "The Third Herrscher…"
"I knew you'd think that, Chicken Coop Head. But this isn't the power of the Herrscher of Thunder; this is the power of alternating current that I invented. This is the power of science."
Noticing Einstein's completely stunned expression, Tesla felt very proud in her heart. After all, this wasn't the power of a Herrscher; this was the power of science, a power she had invented.
The power surge quickly subsided, and the electric currents on Tesla's body also disappeared, but the mechanical arm remained in Tesla's hand.
"The power of science? This has nothing to do with the current stage of science that I understand. What exactly is going on? Humans don't possess this kind of power."
If she wasn't certain that the Tesla in front of her was the Tesla she knew, Einstein would probably have sounded Anti-Entropy's alarm.
She was very curious how Tesla had acquired this power. Rather than calling it the power of science, it was more like a power that only a Herrscher could wield.
"This… Tsukiyo, she turned me into a Heroic Spirit, which is why I possess this power."
"Heroic Spirit? What do you mean?"
Heroic Spirit was a new term in this world. Although in norse mythology, Odin controlled a place called the Throne of Heroes, this was different from Tesla's situation.
"Hmm, according to Tsukiyo's explanation, it's like having achieved some great feat during one's lifetime, and then becoming a legend after death. Becoming an existence like a hero worshipped by people."
"Oh~ So, it's like those who have contributed to humanity, or those figures from myths and legends? I understand. Given your achievements, becoming a Heroic Spirit is indeed not impossible."
Einstein nodded in agreement. Considering Tesla's achievement of inventing alternating current, it was indeed worthy of being remembered by humanity, and she could indeed be considered an existence like a Heroic Spirit. It's just… "The condition for becoming a Heroic Spirit is to die? Dr. Tesla, are you…?"
At this point, Einstein's gaze towards Tesla became somewhat strange.
"What kind of look is that! I'm alive, of course I'm alive! It was Tsukiyo who made me like this."
After spending some time and finally explaining the relevant matters to Einstein, Einstein nodded in understanding, but her expression also became somewhat serious.
"Dr. Tesla, it's best not to let anyone else know about this. Our bodies have already changed due to that battle. If your transformation into a Heroic Spirit is discovered, your situation will become very bad."
"Chicken Coop Head? What do you mean by that? I haven't turned into a Herrscher; I've just become a Heroic Spirit. As long as this power is used well, humanity will have a greater chance of winning the fight against Honkai."
Tesla didn't quite understand Einstein's words. Why would her situation become bad? She and Einstein had both experienced the last battle.
Although their physical ages appeared to be only in their teens, their true ages were far beyond what ordinary people could compare to.
Even having become like this, their situation hadn't changed at all. Why would Einstein say such a thing?
"That's right, Dr. Tesla. But have you ever considered whether a so-called Heroic Spirit can truly still be called human?"
Einstein's biggest concern was whether humans could accept the concept of Heroic Spirits. If humanity truly eliminated Honkai, then wouldn't Tesla, as a Heroic Spirit, be targeted in the end?
Even if Tesla fights for humanity, can this uncontrollable power truly be accepted by humans?
Einstein was worried about this very problem, and Tesla also froze for a moment, her eyes becoming somewhat complex.
But they quickly returned to their usual look. She waved her hand, and the mechanical arm on her right hand began to disappear, returning to her original fair arm.
"Dr. Tesla?"
"Don't think so far ahead, Chicken Coop Head. We're still fighting the Honkai. We haven't even eliminated the Honkai yet, and you're already thinking about the future. Isn't that a bit overthinking?"
Tesla chuckled carelessly. She wasn't a child anymore; how could she still care about this matter?
Even if this world no longer needed her, and she no longer needed to fight for humanity, Tesla could choose to rest and leave this world.
"...I understand. I was overthinking, Dr. Tesla."
Indeed, if they hadn't even dealt with the current problems, why think about things so far in the future? Wouldn't that just be adding to her troubles?
Sometimes, Tesla's personality was quite good, at least she didn't need to think about so many things, nor did she need to pay attention to all that pressure.
"Alright, now that we understand the anomaly that occurred to you, let's talk about something else."
Suddenly, Einstein clapped her hands, pulling Tesla's attention back.
Before Tesla could ask what Einstein wanted to discuss, Einstein took out the monitor footage showing Tesla holding a pillow and carefully hiding.
"Now, can you explain why our great Dr. Tesla had to run to Inaba Tsukiyo's room in the middle of the night? I'm well aware that without using her transformation ability, Inaba Tsukiyo cannot see. So, as a friend, Dr. Tesla, what exactly are you doing going to Inaba Tsukiyo's room every night?"
"Don't tell me it's to discuss matters about the Heroic Spirits; that has nothing to do with you going over there with a pillow to sleep together."
"...Indeed, I really hate you, Chicken Coop Head."
She had originally thought that by exposing such a sensational secret, Einstein would forget about this matter, but she didn't expect her to still remember it, and with an expression that said she wouldn't let it go until she got an answer.
'I really... want to teach this guy a lesson! Damn it!'
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