"It seems something very interesting is happening."
Inaba Tsukiyo, having just recovered, sensed the movements around her and found that her keen hearing couldn't pick up any sound.
That's right, Inaba Tsukiyo, one of the heroines from "Armed Girl's Machiavellism," is her current appearance.
But she isn't the real Inaba Tsukiyo; she was originally a Boy, and due to certain reasons, she transformed into her current state.
She remembered that while she was shopping on the street, she was suddenly attacked by a mass of purple energy. Her vision went black, and when she woke up, she had become like this.
"So much time has passed, I thought nothing would happen, and I'd just live on as a ghost. I didn't expect to still have an adventure."
Her right hand was placed on her waist, wary of her surroundings.
Although she couldn't hear any sound, it allowed her to concentrate her mind better.
About five ken (roughly nine meters) — this was her lethal distance, the so-called one-step-one-blade range.
Originally, her lethal range was three ken, but with years of training, Inaba Tsukiyo had also made progress.
"We finally meet."
Suddenly, her cheek was touched, which made Inaba Tsukiyo's hair stand on end, and she opened her eyes in terror.
No one had ever been able to approach her without her noticing. This time, someone managed to get close without her realizing it. This... "Eh? My... eyes?"
She could see things? That's impossible, her acute hearing was clearly gained by sacrificing her eyesight. Why?
"In this special space, your vision is temporarily restored. This is my power, the power of humanity's counter force, alaya."
That voice came again, and this time Inaba Tsukiyo saw a Little Loli with long silver hair standing in front of her.
The Little Loli looked about twelve or thirteen years old, appearing like an ordinary Little Loli, but Inaba Tsukiyo noticed a very important detail: alaya.
"Hmm, you really like this type of girl, don't you? It seems I didn't choose wrong."
alaya pulled Inaba Tsukiyo's cheek, nodding while pulling, and mumbling incomprehensible words.
Although she really wanted to complain about alaya's behavior, Inaba Tsukiyo didn't stop her. The person in front of her was a big shot, someone not to be provoked.
This continued for a while, until alaya's actions became increasingly excessive, and only then did Inaba Tsukiyo reach out to stop her.
"Ahem! My apologies, it seems I was rude. I merely wanted to confirm certain things; there was no ill intent."
alaya coughed a few times to cover her embarrassment, saying words that even she didn't believe.
But Inaba Tsukiyo ignored alaya. She just lowered her head, recalling her experiences over the years, and shook her head.
"alaya... the will of humanity, alaya's consciousness. Heh heh~ So many years have passed, and you only found me now? I thought I would just live like this until the end of the world."
Inaba Tsukiyo showed a cute smile, but her heart was bitter.
She touched the ring on her ring finger with a hint of nostalgia. No one but her understood how much pain she was in.
"I know what you're thinking, but your transmigration wasn't caused by us. It was that energy that attacked you back then, Tsukiyo."
alaya's expression struggled for a moment, and finally, as if she had made a decision, her eyes became serious.
alaya suddenly exuded a terrifying aura. This thick pressure was stronger than any crisis she had encountered before.
However, for some unknown reason, Inaba Tsukiyo felt an intense sense of closeness from alaya, as if she had a very intimate relationship with alaya.
"I am the will of humanity. As the will of humanity, I have detected crises from other worlds. These crises need you to handle them. I need your power, Tsukiyo."
"You are the world's savior. Without you, those worlds will be destroyed."
"...Why me?"
Inaba Tsukiyo was silent for a moment. She didn't answer alaya's question immediately but asked somewhat confusedly.
Even if she had become much stronger than ordinary humans over the years, why would they choose her for such a world-saving mission?
"There are two reasons. One reason is that your achievements are enough to make you a so-called hero, or a Heroic Spirit."
"Hero... I haven't done anything great. All this time, I've only been killing people."
"Hmm, in the eyes of humans, killing might be a sin, but if one person's death can save human lives, then you, who took action to kill, are undoubtedly a hero."
alaya didn't continue speaking, because this experience was related to an important past experience of Inaba Tsukiyo. She had already reviewed this experience before coming.
However, alaya had no intention of making Inaba Tsukiyo a hero. After all, Heroic Spirits are managed by gaia, and her actions this time were carried out secretly from gaia and the others.
"...If you had found me when I first arrived in this world, I might have agreed to this. But... now, all I want is to find her."
Saying this, Inaba Tsukiyo showed alaya the ring on her right ring finger, speaking with a pleading tone.
"If... if you really want me to complete this task, then... could you let me see her when I finish it?"
"Ring finger... Is she a very important person to you?"
Although it wasn't a diamond ring, wearing this ring on the ring finger indicated a very intimate relationship between this person and Inaba Tsukiyo.
Thinking of this, a sharp light flashed in alaya's eyes, and her original demeanor became even more oppressive.
"Heh heh~ Important? If it weren't for her, I might have already died. I'm still alive now only because I promised her to live well."
However, Inaba Tsukiyo didn't notice, instead she touched the ring with a nostalgic expression.
This was the first time she had seen the true appearance of this ring. If her eyes could see, she might be able to see her true face.
That Little fellow, who spoke like an old person but had a petite figure and loved sweets, Inaba Tsukiyo really wanted to see her again.
"Wuwuwu~ Honestly, it's not like I can't agree to it."
However, will you still think that when you know about yourself?
Knowing that Inaba Tsukiyo's hearing was excellent, alaya didn't voice the rest of her thoughts. Although a bit unwilling, there was nothing she could do.
Before, they hadn't discovered Inaba Tsukiyo. Even though Inaba Tsukiyo didn't belong to this world, alaya and gaia hadn't noticed her. They had been diligently searching for that person's whereabouts until the matter concluded, when alaya accidentally stumbled upon Inaba Tsukiyo's existence.
It's just... they found that Inaba Tsukiyo had been thoroughly 'conquered,' and her body and mind completely belonged to someone else.
'This is a bit troublesome. Although asking the foolish gaia for help would be more effective, that would lead to that woman discovering me. I can't do that.'
As humanity's consciousness, alaya was very clever and quickly thought of a solution.
Although she couldn't immediately change Inaba Tsukiyo's mind, they still had plenty of time. Even without her power, Inaba Tsukiyo's unique nature granted her countless years.
"After this matter concludes, with the will of humanity's ability, I can fulfill your wish. However, this mission is extremely arduous, and no one knows the true extent of the harm caused by that energy."
"...Hmm, I know. Ever since that energy made me transmigrate worlds and become like this, I've already figured it out. Not only that, but it also granted me eternal life."
Yes, this was another kind of energy Inaba Tsukiyo gained from that power: immortality.
That's why she could live so long and maintain her petite appearance, and why she could remain as she was now, staying by that person's side even after he passed away.
Inaba Tsukiyo didn't realize she had eternal life at first. It was only after ten years, when she still looked so petite, that she became aware of the issue.
Many people envied this power, but only upon truly obtaining it would they realize that eternal life was nothing more than a curse.
After that person died, Inaba Tsukiyo became even more convinced of this idea, believing that this power was merely a curse, a terrifying curse.
'No, if this continues, I won't be able to hold back.'
alaya felt that if this kept up, she would explode with envy.
She had only felt such intense emotions from a certain Heroic Spirit on gaia's side, and she never expected to feel them from this person.
"I'm still unaware of the negative effects those energies might cause. However, as someone also corroded by energy, you should be able to sense the presence of energy from other worlds. Therefore, you are the most suitable person."
alaya walked forward, came to Inaba Tsukiyo's side, and reached out to caress Inaba Tsukiyo's eye sockets.
Those dull, crimson pupils were just like a little rabbit's.
Haha~ Rabbits, what a truly identical hobby. I wonder if it's a coincidence or an intentional choice.
Inaba Tsukiyo was somewhat puzzled by alaya's intimate behavior. This feeling was familiar to her, but she didn't know what it was about herself that would make humanity's consciousness treat her so warmly.
After a moment, alaya lowered her hand, her aura vanished, and a faint smile appeared on her expressionless face.
"As the will of humanity, strictly speaking, I can represent the world. And you, as a human, to some extent, can also call me Mother."
"Mo... Mother? This title..."
Call a loli who looked about her age 'Mother'? The difficulty seemed a bit too great.
Inaba Tsukiyo felt there must be some conspiracy here, a deeper conspiracy than making her deal with those energies.
"No? It's alright, I look forward to that day. In your heart, I am coercing you to do something you don't want to do. But please believe me, I am not treating you as a Guardian."
"Although I can't give you much, I will help you when you need it. Let me modify this ring, which is very important to you."
Saying that, alaya waved her hand, and a surge of energy flowed into Inaba Tsukiyo's ring.
Before Inaba Tsukiyo could ask what she had done to the ring, her consciousness became increasingly blurry, and she finally fainted.
"Since that person was a mother once, then this time, let me experience the feeling of being a mother. After all… the identity of a mother is the best for cultivating feelings."
"Come on, Lin. We are all waiting for you to come back. Let's see what kind of expression you'll have when you meet another version of yourself."