"Thank you very much for your invitation, Miss Rias. I have always wanted to meet you, and I am very grateful for this opportunity."Inaba Tsukiyo's words were very polite, and although she heard a strong sense of hostility in Rias's words, she didn't mind it.
She was probably just angry that Inaba Tsukiyo had taken Tachibana Koneko away. After all, Rias was Tachibana Koneko's master, but in just a few months, she had run off with someone else.
"Koneko is very cute, and she has helped me with many things during this time. It's only right that I take care of her."
"Is that so? Hehe~ Then let's go inside and sit down first. It's not good to start our discussion while standing at the door."
"In that case, I shall impose."
Led by Rias, Inaba Tsukiyo entered the Occult Research Club.
The room's curtains were drawn, and the lights illuminated the surroundings. Inaba Tsukiyo and Rias sat on opposite sofas, with a table between them.
After Inaba Tsukiyo chose a seat and sat down, Tachibana Koneko appeared from somewhere with a bag of snacks and sat beside Inaba Tsukiyo, eating with relish.
Facing Tachibana Koneko like this, Inaba Tsukiyo reached behind her and, under Rias's gaze, pulled out a box of donuts and handed them to Tachibana Koneko. It was a mystery where she had been keeping the donuts.
Himejima Akeno brought over a cup of coffee and placed it in front of Inaba Tsukiyo, then sat down beside Rias.
Rias looked at Tachibana Koneko, who was sitting beside Inaba Tsukiyo, with a complicated expression. Originally, she should have been sitting next to Rias, just like Himejima Akeno.
However, when Tachibana Koneko came over with the snacks, she sat beside Inaba Tsukiyo without any hesitation. This clearly showed Tachibana Koneko's attitude.
Seriously, what kind of spell did this person cast on Koneko? She won't even sit next to Rias at a time like this?
"Then... Miss Rias, what is the purpose of your invitation?"
After taking a few sips of the tea Himejima Akeno had made for her, Inaba Tsukiyo asked very directly.
Rias seemed not to have expected Inaba Tsukiyo to be so direct, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Even the words she had prepared earlier felt difficult to utter, and the atmosphere became very awkward for a moment.
"Actually... the main reason for inviting you here this time is to thank you very much for taking care of Koneko, and for your guidance, which allowed her strength to improve so quickly."
"Oh? That's nothing to be thanked for. I just told Koneko how to become stronger, and Koneko acted according to my method. That's all, I didn't do anything."
'I'd be crazy to believe you!'
Rias felt like cursing. Did Inaba Tsukiyo think she was blind? Couldn't she see the gauntlets Tachibana Koneko had brought out? Those were clearly [Sacred Gears]!
She didn't believe the [Sacred Gears] weren't given to Tachibana Koneko by Inaba Tsukiyo, after all, [Sacred Gears] weren't cheap goods you could just find on the ground when you went out.
"Um... you..."
"Oh? My apologies, that was rude of me. I am Inaba Tsukiyo, you can just call me Tsukuyo."
Inaba Tsukiyo reminded her, as she had forgotten that Rias didn't know her name, or even if she did, Inaba Tsukiyo hadn't formally introduced herself to Rias.
"Inaba... the rabbit symbolizing good fortune in Japanese mythology? Now that you mention it... you really do resemble her a bit."
Rias had also read Japanese myths and legends, and she had heard of the Inaba Rabbit, which could bring good luck to those who saw it.
(fuhai: Wah~ I got a golden ship in Azur Lane! I got an S-Rank Valkyrie in Honkai! I got a five-star Servant in FGO... if I were still asleep.)
"Many people say that about me, and I also really like rabbits, Miss Rias."
'No way! You don't like normal rabbits at all!'
Tachibana Koneko and Himejima Akeno's expressions towards Inaba Tsukiyo became a little strange. As those who had seen Inaba Tsukiyo's sculptures, they knew very well what kind of rabbits Inaba Tsukiyo had in mind.
However, from their own perspective, Inaba Tsukiyo did give off the impression of a cute, cuddly rabbit.
"Then, may I ask if you are a descendant of a hero? Is your purpose for coming here to undergo training?"
There was a faction in this world made up of hero's descendants. Among the hero factions Rias knew of, there were descendants of King Arthur.
Of course, Rias had never heard of a noble family named Inaba, but Inaba Tsukiyo's strength unconsciously made people think that way.
"A hero's descendant? Hehe~ I don't have such an impressive identity. I'm just an orphan, not a hero's descendant."
She wasn't a hero's descendant; at most, she was just an ordinary human. Just a human who had lived for a bit longer.
"Also, I haven't joined any faction. I only represent myself, and I will only ever be myself."
If possible, she could probably add Alaya, the will of humanity, but Alaya probably wouldn't participate in the development of this world.
"Not a hero's descendant? I understand."
Rias breathed a sigh of relief. She had initially thought that Inaba Tsukiyo's reason for coming to this country was for training, just like her.
Since she hadn't joined any faction, Rias didn't have to worry about Inaba Tsukiyo causing any major incidents in the area she managed.
"By the way, Tsukuyo, you don't have anything else to do, do you? If that's the case, how about becoming a student at Kuoh Academy and experiencing school life?"
After putting aside her hostility, Rias invited Inaba Tsukiyo.
If Inaba Tsukiyo could become a student at the school, then they would have an extra helper. This way, when they encountered any crises, they could ask Inaba Tsukiyo for help.
As soon as Rias finished speaking, Inaba Tsukiyo felt her hand being grabbed.
She turned her head to find Tachibana Koneko clutching her clothes, looking at Inaba Tsukiyo with anticipation, seemingly wanting Inaba Tsukiyo to accept Rias's invitation.
If Inaba Tsukiyo accepted Rias's invitation, it would mean that besides being able to stay by Inaba Tsukiyo's side during lunch and at night, she could also be by Inaba Tsukiyo's side during school hours.
If it weren't for having to go to school, Tachibana Koneko really wanted to stay by Inaba Tsukiyo's side all day and enjoy her gentleness.
Of course, if Inaba Tsukiyo accepted Rias's invitation, Mikazuki Munechika would probably immediately jump out of the Imaginary Space to stop her.
Although she could also become a student like Inaba Tsukiyo, that would mean Inaba Tsukiyo would spend all day with Tachibana Koneko, and she didn't want that!
If it weren't for Father using a joint lock to restrain Mikazuki Munechika, she probably would have rushed out when Rias invited Inaba Tsukiyo.
It was true that Inaba Tsukiyo spoiled Tachibana Koneko, and she indeed had nothing to do in this world, but... Kyonohoka Academy, St. Freya Academy, Fujimi Academy, Raizen High School, she went to schools in almost every world.
Did she have to become a student every time she went to a new world? No, she didn't want that!
Even if going to school wasn't a bad thing, she would rather stay at home and watch Mikazuki Munechika play games with Father than go to school.
"I'm sorry, given my circumstances, going to school would be a very troublesome matter."
Inaba Tsukiyo gently stroked Tachibana Koneko's cheek, as if comforting her.
"However, I will be staying in Kuoh Town for the foreseeable future. If there's anything you need help with, you can come to me."
"Is that so... I understand."
Although it was a bit regrettable, since Inaba Tsukiyo said so, Rias couldn't possibly force Inaba Tsukiyo to become a student at Kuoh Academy.
However, Inaba Tsukiyo's promise was enough; at least she had secured a teammate for herself.
"Thank you very much for your promise. And, it's a pleasure to meet you, Tsukuyo."
"Hehe~ Likewise. Thank you very much for allowing me to meet and become friends with a Devil."
If it weren't for Rias's arrangements, she probably wouldn't have met the adorable Tachibana Koneko, nor would she have come into contact with the deeper matters of this world.
"Devils... hehe~ For humans, Devils are indeed a very rare existence. However, please don't consider all Devils to be as evil as they are depicted in the Bible. Most Devils won't harm humans."
"Oh? Is it because of an agreement? Does attacking humans violate some kind of agreement?"
Inaba Tsukiyo asked curiously. Generally, those who attack humans are existences like Rogue Devils.
"No, it's because Devils also need humans. Koneko should have told you that Devils serve humans to ensure the continuation of the Devil's mythology."
Although humans are very weak, neither Devils nor Gods can do without them; they all desperately need humans to keep their mythologies alive.
"...I understand. Hehe~ It seems this world is truly very interesting. (Whispering)"
Inaba Tsukiyo whispered. When Ereshkigal appeared last time, her own strength was stronger than in other worlds, probably due to the power of faith.
If even Ereshkigal was like this, then does that mean the other Heroic Spirits Inaba Tsukiyo summons can also gain varying degrees of enhancement?
If that were truly the case, then she wouldn't have to worry about other powerful Devils or Angels.
Even if her own strength wasn't enough, as long as she borrowed the power of the Heroic Spirits she had contracted with, most problems could be solved.
One must know that Inaba Tsukiyo still had the power of many contracted Heroic Spirits that she hadn't used, and perhaps she could utilize these powers in this world.
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