The incident at Nine Realms concluded smoothly. The awakened Chiyou, after his heart was destroyed, lost most of his strength and was ultimately killed when the Hyperion's main cannon struck his heart.
Although Anti-Entropy's spaceship appeared later, it retreated under the Hyperion's bombardment.
Despite the xuanyuan sword being taken by those from Anti-Entropy this time, Schicksal successfully recovered Chiyou's corpse.
The corpse of the legendary monster, Chiyou, also held immense value, at least for some mad researchers within Schicksal; it was a very important material.
The unconscious Himeko and Inaba Tsukiyo, with the help of Fu Hua and Kiana, successfully returned to the Hyperion, but neither Himeko nor Inaba Tsukiyo showed any signs of waking up.
After a series of checks, Himeko's report showed her to be very healthy. However, Inaba Tsukiyo's mental condition was not very good, and various parts of her body showed signs of decline, as if she had consumed her life force for some reason.
This feeling was as if her body had been severely overdrawn, and it could be said that her situation was very dire.
At this time, Theresa, who had returned to St. Freya Academy, was by Himeko's sickbed. After being unconscious for a few days, Himeko had already woken up.
After seeing her body report, Himeko rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
No one knew her own physical condition better than her, and even precise instruments couldn't accurately detect Himeko's physical problems.
But the report Theresa gave her showed that she was very healthy, and she also clearly felt that her body was better than ever before; this was simply a miracle.
Especially the Honkai Energy detection section showed her to be very healthy. The previous consequence of her body being unable to withstand Honkai Energy erosion within a year would now absolutely not happen.
So, what exactly happened? Why? Why did it turn out like this?
Himeko was a bit confused. Did something happen while she was unconscious that led to her current state?
I don't know either. Originally, I wanted you to look after Kiana and Tsukiyo-chan this time. But you fell unconscious so quickly that Kiana and the others ended up having to take care of you.
...I couldn't help it. I didn't expect the creatures in the sea where Chiyou was located to be infected with Honkai Energy. If it weren't for Tsukiyo's help, we probably all would have been in danger.
She was clearly asked to protect them, and she had promised Theresa that she would take good care of Inaba Tsukiyo during this mission. Yet, she was completely taken care of by Inaba Tsukiyo during this mission.
Not only that, but when the Anti-Entropy people appeared at the end, they were also repelled by Inaba Tsukiyo.
She felt that besides Theresa, an S-Rank Valkyrie, having some questionable qualifications, she, an A-Rank Valkyrie, also had a lot of questionable qualifications.
Then what is she doing now? Also, did Kiana and Fu Hua say anything? Since they were there, they should know what happened to me, right?
This... Fu Hua and Kiana didn't say anything. Fu Hua just told me that when you fell unconscious, Honkai Energy invaded, and you almost turned into a Death Soldiers.
Although Fu Hua told Theresa some of the details, she also concealed a part from Theresa.
After all, even if Himeko wanted to fall unconscious, she would surely know what would happen when her body absorbed a large amount of Honkai Energy in such a high-concentration Honkai Energy gathering place like Chiyou's body.
Himeko also fell silent. She understood Fu Hua very well, and she was also very clear about the unwritten rule among Valkyries.
If she had really turned into a Death Soldiers at that time, then Fu Hua would definitely have killed her.
Theresa cautiously glanced at Himeko's expression, and after confirming that she had no unusual emotions, she continued.
Later, it seems Tsukiyo-chan did something to you that restored your body to this state. But shortly after she finished, she turned into this state.
Saying that, Theresa handed Inaba Tsukiyo's report to Himeko.
It detailed Inaba Tsukiyo's physical condition, including physical exhaustion and organ degeneration.
What's going on? Why is this happening? Didn't she just drive back the Anti-Entropy members?
She just repelled those Anti-Entropy guys, so why is she encountering something like this? Physical exhaustion and organ degeneration, she might die.
When I first got it, I was also very surprised. Originally, after I learned that Tsukiyo-chan had a way to heal your Honkai Energy, I wanted to ask her what method it was. But now it seems this method might consume her own life.
Why did Himeko's life recover, but Inaba Tsukiyo turned out like this? Theresa felt that the only possibility was that Inaba Tsukiyo's method was to bear Himeko's suffering herself, exchanging her life for a name.
Only this possibility could explain why Inaba Tsukiyo became like this, why she became so weak.
This girl... actually did something like that.
Himeko was silent for a moment, gripping the report tightly, then threw back the covers and prepared to get out of bed.
You... what are you doing? You need to rest properly now; you can't move around, Himeko.
Can't you tell that I'm very healthy now? Compared to me, Tsukiyo is the one with the biggest problem. Do you know where her ward is?
Himeko asked anxiously, her large movements causing a certain part of her to sway quite a bit.
Theresa, whose eyes happened to be on that spot, raised an eyebrow, suppressing the anger in her heart.
Tsukiyo-chan's ward is not far away. Because her problem is very serious, I arranged for her to have a private ward.
Take me there.
But...
Take me there, Theresa. I want to see... how my benefactor is doing.
Theresa was silent for a while, then nodded, taking Himeko to Inaba Tsukiyo's ward.
In Inaba Tsukiyo's ward, Bronya, Raiden Mei, and Kiana were visiting Inaba Tsukiyo.
Since Inaba Tsukiyo was hospitalized, the three of them came to see her every day.
However, Inaba Tsukiyo had been in a coma, and no matter what method the doctors used, they couldn't wake her up.
Bronya sat on a chair by the bed, reaching out to hold Inaba Tsukiyo's somewhat emaciated hand, looking at Inaba Tsukiyo worriedly.
Raiden Mei and Kiana, behind her, looked at Bronya's situation, exchanged glances, and didn't know how to comfort Bronya.
As an outsider, Raiden Mei didn't know how to speak, and Kiana didn't have that right, because as the person involved, she couldn't do anything, and this feeling of powerlessness made her very uncomfortable.
Just then, the ward door opened, and Theresa entered the room with Himeko.
When Himeko saw Inaba Tsukiyo lying on the hospital bed, she was about to say something when Theresa, next to her, covered her mouth.
Himeko looked at Theresa, who had her index finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture with her other hand.
Himeko understood and nodded, which allowed Theresa to release her hand. Himeko then went to Inaba Tsukiyo's bedside.
At the bedside, she could see Inaba Tsukiyo's condition more clearly.
Her already thin body looked even more emaciated, as if she hadn't eaten for days; her arms were so thin that her bones were visible.
Inaba Tsukiyo, in a coma, lay on the hospital bed. In her sleep, she completely lacked her usual knightly demeanor, looking like a Little Girl of about ten, so frail she seemed like she would collapse with a gust of wind.
Himeko couldn't help but lean forward, wanting to caress Inaba Tsukiyo's cheek, but she was stopped by Bronya. Even project bunny 19c appeared uncontrollably, blocking Himeko's way.
Under the threat of project bunny 19c, Himeko retreated a few steps, looking at Bronya with some guilt.
She understood that Bronya was blaming her for why Inaba Tsukiyo had become like this; she was an adult, yet she let Inaba Tsukiyo end up in such a state.
Raiden Mei softly soothed Bronya's emotions, which calmed Bronya down, though her gaze towards Himeko still carried hostility.
At Raiden Mei's persuasion, Bronya and Kiana left the ward, leaving the space to Himeko and Theresa.
After the others left, Himeko and Theresa sat by the bed.
At this moment, the ward was silent except for the 'drip, drip' sound of machines. Himeko and Theresa silently looked at Inaba Tsukiyo.
Himeko recalled when Inaba Tsukiyo first arrived at St. Freya Academy, and how she had tried to get her to reveal how Theresa's Stigmata came to be.
Although subsequent interactions made Himeko trust Inaba Tsukiyo to some extent, there was still a bit of distrust in her heart.
However... when she thought about what Inaba Tsukiyo had done, her guilt grew heavier and heavier.
Himeko, don't be like this. Tsukiyo-chan surely doesn't blame you.
Theresa comforted her. Seeing Himeko's distressed expression, she also felt a little bad.
Himeko forced a smile, then carefully caressed Inaba Tsukiyo's cheek. Feeling the touch on her palm, she couldn't help but smile.
So, the person she had always thought of as a monster was actually such a delicate girl?
Really, what has she been doing all this time?
"Really, thank you very much, Tsukiyo. Thank you for everything you've done for me."
Saying that, Himeko gently tapped Inaba Tsukiyo's forehead, then got up and left the ward.
Theresa, left alone in the ward, looked at Inaba Tsukiyo on the bed, recalled Himeko's actions just now, hesitated for a moment, and finally, mimicking Himeko, gently tapped Inaba Tsukiyo's forehead.
"Thank you for saving Himeko, Tsukiyo-chan. Thank you for everything you've done."
After softly leaving this word of thanks, Theresa also left the ward.
Finally, only Inaba Tsukiyo remained in the ward.
However, in a place unseen by everyone, Seele emerged from Inaba Tsukiyo's body, came outside the ward, carefully checked that no one was gathered there, and then truly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Tsukiyo-chan, they've all left."
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