Theresa suddenly sat up in bed, her back drenched in cold sweat.
Did I... have a nightmare?
Theresa recalled that flash of the blade, and her heart still couldn't help but feel a lingering fear.
But, why would I have such a dream?
That pink-haired shrine maiden felt so familiar, and so heart-wrenching, but I had clearly only seen her once in Nagazora. Why would I have that kind of feeling?
I looked up information later. Although a lot of things were hidden, Theresa also knew that she was a Pseudo-Herrscher named Yae Sakura. But why would she appear in my dream, and in that state?
In the dream, I felt as if I had become that white-haired nun. That helplessness, pain, and pity, I felt them all clearly, as if I were that nun herself.
Theresa suddenly felt a wetness on her face. Reaching up to touch it, she realized a line of tears had unknowingly streamed from the corner of her eye.
Shaking her somewhat groggy head, she cast aside these chaotic thoughts. Looking at the time, Theresa decided to get up. Kiana's diligence during this period was quite satisfying to her, and she couldn't let Kiana down either.
Flipping over to get out of bed, Theresa suddenly felt the room seem to shake. Her head spun, and she fell to the floor. And on Theresa's back, the three-tomoe-shaped Stigmata was glowing with a strange red light.
...
Ming Yu had just finished his training and was about to return to the dorm when he received a panicked notice from Kiana.
The world's number one cutest Principal Theresa has fainted!
While comforting Kiana, Ming Yu hurried to the infirmary, his heart couldn't help but stir with excitement.
Has it finally come? Higokumaru. And, Jizo Mitama!
As soon as he entered the infirmary, Ming Yu heard Kiana's voice, "Why did Great-Aunt faint? Could it be that she drank too much bitter melon juice?"
Bronya tugged at Kiana's braid and said with a blank expression, "Idiot Kiana, you must be quiet in the infirmary!"
Ming Yu saw Kiana's pained expression and chuckled inwardly, but still put on a serious face and said, "Alright, stop bothering Kiana. Let's hurry up and find out why the Principal fainted."
Mei glanced at Ming Yu's white hair, feigning indifference, and said with a smile, "Ming Yu is here too."
Ming Yu smiled and nodded. Kiana and Bronya also looked up and greeted Ming Yu.
While fiddling with a tablet computer, Bronya said logically, "Since Principal Theresa was found unconscious this morning, she has not shown any signs of waking up, but the Stigmata on her back is very active. Bronya deduces that it should be because of the Stigmata."
"Stigmata?" Mei narrowed her eyes and asked in confusion.
Ming Yu looked at the confused Mei, feeling a little surprised inside. Logically speaking, Mei had awakened her Stigmata a long time ago, but it was sealed by her father. Even so, she shouldn't be completely ignorant about Stigmata.
As an executive of Anti-Entropy, Raiden Ryoma should have a good understanding of Stigmata. Why did he seal Mei's Stigmata? Connecting this to Mei's experience of being kidnapped as a child, Ming Yu speculated that it might be because he was afraid that someone with ill intentions would covet the power of Mei's Stigmata. But he still couldn't quite figure it out; there were too many questionable points here.
Casting aside the chaotic thoughts, Ming Yu looked at Bronya, waiting for a textbook-style answer. Although he knew the origin of Stigmata, his understanding of it was not very deep.
"Stigmata is essentially a database that records a large amount of information," Bronya said slowly. "But an abnormal information flow has been detected in the Stigmata on the Principal's back. This not only disrupts the host's bodily functions but also affects her consciousness."
Kiana was confused by what she heard, but she understood that it was not a good thing. She held her head in her hands, shaking her pigtails, and said, "I've never heard of such a thing!"
"Of course," Himeko, who had entered at some point, explained. "The artificial Stigmata currently in common use in the Valkyrie troops is adjusted according to the host's physical fitness, so this kind of situation rarely occurs."
After a pause, Himeko continued to add, "However, the natural Stigmata on Theresa's back doesn't seem to have originally belonged to her. Based on the current situation, Theresa's consciousness has probably been swallowed into the Stigmata Space as well."
Looking at the Stigmata on Theresa's back, a trace of envy flashed in Himeko's eyes. Natural Stigmata was also something she urgently needed. But she also knew that natural Stigmata was something that couldn't be sought after, only encountered by chance.
"Then what should we do? Will Great-Aunt never wake up?" Kiana felt her vision go dark.
If it weren't for Theresa looking out for her, she wouldn't know where she would be wandering. Moreover, after spending more than a month together, she had also grown fond of this child-like great-aunt. If Theresa really couldn't wake up, then she...
Mei supported Kiana and asked cautiously, "Is there no way to wake the Principal up?"
Bronya's eyes flickered, and she said tentatively, "Bronya will do her best."
After adjusting something on the computer, Bronya took out a HOMU HOMU Virtual Reality Connector from her small bag, though now its name was the Submersive Thought-Reality Connection Device.
This series of operations amazed Ming Yu. As expected, Bronya was an assistant no less impressive than Doraemon. Even her bag was like a 4D pocket. In any case, Ming Yu couldn't figure out how such a large helmet was put in there.
Pointing to the Submersive Thought-Reality Connection Device, Bronya said, "This device can connect the wearer's consciousness with the Stigmata on Theresa's back, allowing them to enter the Stigmata Space to investigate the cause of the Stigmata's abnormality."
As she spoke, Bronya looked at the crowd. The meaning was obvious: they needed to pick a user.
Taking a step forward, Ming Yu said eagerly, "I'll do it. In Nagazora, I once met the original owner of this Stigmata and spent some time with her. Among everyone here, I think I might be the most suitable."
Bronya thought for a moment. The danger level of this mission was no less than the previous data space. Himeko was injured from a mission a few days ago. Ming Yu and Mei's strengths were similar, and Ming Yu seemed to know something. All things considered, Ming Yu was indeed the most suitable candidate.
As for Kiana, Bronya had never included the paramecium in the list of candidates.
Handing the helmet to Ming Yu, although she knew he was confident, Bronya still reminded him, "Brother Yu, be careful."
Ming Yu put on the helmet, nodded, and replied, "I know, I cherish my life very much."
Although Kiana was making a fuss on the side about wanting to go together, no one paid her any attention. Only Mei was patting Kiana's head to comfort her.
Watching Ming Yu about to depart, Bronya gave a final instruction, "Bronya will use the central computer to contact you. Remember to quickly find Principal Theresa's consciousness, which has been pulled into the Stigmata Space."
Ming Yu gave an OK gesture and then signaled for Bronya to start the connection.
Himeko watched Ming Yu's actions and fell into thought. If she wasn't mistaken, Ming Yu's expression just now seemed... a little excited?