The invasion was over, and life at the academy returned to its usual calm.
It's just that their dormitory was destroyed, and it took some time to repair it, almost ruining Bronya's room where her treasures were hidden.
During this time, the history teacher Welt kept looking at her from time to time, which made Inaba Tsukiyo very curious.
The most important thing was that this guy seemed to know her senses were very keen; each time he lingered on her for less than a second, which was truly strange.
Why did it feel like this guy had some kind of motive, or rather, his identity wasn't just an ordinary history teacher?
...So, the Headmaster suddenly fainted in her room?
Not long after the invasion, Theresa was found unconscious on the bedroom floor, with no signs of waking up.
"Yes, Big Sister Tsukiyo. According to Bronya's analysis, the reason she can't wake up might be because of the Stigma on the Headmaster's back."
"Stigma... Is there something wrong with the Stigma, Bronya?"
The three-gouge Stigma on Theresa's back was given to her by Yae Sakura sacrificing herself, so could something have happened to the Stigma?
"Hmm... According to the Stigma data, the Stigma itself is a database that records a large amount of genetic information. However, an abnormal information flow was detected in the Stigma on the Headmaster's back. This abnormal information flow can cause collective functional chaos in the host, and even affect the Headmaster's consciousness."
"The Artificial Stigma of Schicksal adjusts according to the host's physical fitness, so this situation rarely occurs. But the Natural Stigma on the Headmaster seems not to belong to her."
"From the current situation, the Headmaster's consciousness should have been swallowed by the Stigma's data space. That is to say, the Headmaster is actually dreaming, having a dream from which she cannot wake up."
Bronya's tablet displayed the Stigma on Theresa's back, covered with dense, incomprehensible information.
But to put it simply, Theresa was in an unconscious state because of the Stigma on her back.
Theresa's Stigma was given to her by Yae Sakura, but Yae Sakura would never do such a thing, so there was only one person who could have done this.
Higokumaru, only this fox could do such a thing.
Yae Sakura gave her power to Theresa, which meant Higokumaru also entered Theresa's body.
The abnormal reaction detected by Bronya was caused by Higokumaru.
"Then what should we do? Will Theresa never wake up again?"
Kiana cried out, clutching her head, looking as if the sky was about to fall, shouting loudly in the infirmary.
"Clang"
"Uh!"
"Please keep quiet in the infirmary, Kiana. The Headmaster's situation is very bad right now, don't disturb her."
"I... I know. I'll keep my mouth shut obediently."
Kiana chuckled and retreated a few steps, greatly relieved as she looked at the weapon that had just been pressed against her neck.
Why did she feel that Inaba Tsukiyo's strength had increased significantly? Before, she could at least catch a glimpse of her shadow, but now she couldn't even see that.
Putting the model sword back into its sheath, Inaba Tsukiyo looked at Bronya.
To wake Theresa now, they had to enter Theresa's dream, and the method for entering a dream...
"Bronya, do you have any way to wake Director Theresa?"
"Bronya doesn't know if she can do it, but she will try her best."
Bronya nodded. Since Theresa was dreaming, then by infiltrating Theresa's dream world, they could find the problem.
Bronya remembered the device she had previously used to help Kiana learn to infiltrate the Honkai database.
This immersive mind-reality connection device could link the wearer's mind with the Stigmata on Theresa's body.
This would allow the person wearing the device to enter the Stigmata Space to investigate the cause of the anomaly. As long as this matter could be successfully resolved, Theresa could wake up.
"Is that so? In that case..."
"No, Mei. This time, I'll go in alone."
Taking the device from Raiden Mei's hand, Inaba Tsukiyo intended to go in by herself this time.
"Bronya thinks this is too dangerous, Big Sister Tsukiyo. No one knows what kind of accidents might happen when entering the Stigmata Space. It would be safer to have someone accompany you."
No one knew what was happening in the Stigmata Space behind Theresa, nor what would happen if an outsider entered this Stigmata Space.
Going in alone was too dangerous. It was safest for two people to go in together and look out for each other.
"No, I can go in alone. Infiltrating the Stigmata Space is very dangerous; no one knows what will happen. Moreover, I need to resolve this matter personally."
Since this matter was related to Yae Sakura, Inaba Tsukiyo had to handle it herself.
Whether it was the bond between Yae Sakura and Kallen, or her own bond with Yae Sakura, she needed to deal with this matter personally.
If this matter was indeed caused by that fellow Higokumaru, then she would have to properly deal with that fellow for causing such a mess.
"Big Sister Tsukiyo..."
Bronya and the other two looked at each other. Seeing Inaba Tsukiyo's resolute attitude, they couldn't say much more and could only nod.
Wearing Bronya's device, Inaba Tsukiyo lay on another bed in the infirmary, awaiting Bronya's instructions.
"Big Sister Tsukiyo, the place you are going to this time is different from the previous one. Please be careful of anything that happens inside. Bronya will maintain contact with you using the central computer."
"Mm, I understand. I'll be careful, Bronya."
"Mm, the most important thing now is to quickly find the Headmaster's consciousness, which is trapped in the Stigmata. So, Big Sister Tsukiyo, you might move constantly within the Stigmata Space. Please be careful."
Theresa's consciousness was trapped in the Stigmata Space, but the Stigmata Space was like a large database. No one knew how large this Stigmata Space was, or where Theresa's consciousness was within it.
Therefore, Inaba Tsukiyo might move constantly within the Stigmata Space. She had to quickly find Theresa's consciousness within the Stigmata Space and release it from there.
Inaba Tsukiyo nodded, but she knew very well that things wouldn't be as simple as Bronya said.
If everything went smoothly, Theresa's consciousness could easily come out, but the uncertain factor lay with Higokumaru.
Who knew what that fox would do? Perhaps Theresa's coma this time was because it wanted to seize Theresa's body.
According to Kallen's memories, the reason Yae Sakura became a Pseudo-Herrscher was because Yae Sakura was lured by the consciousness inside the Honkai Box.
What was hidden in that box was the Herrscher's consciousness, or rather, a sealed Herrscher's consciousness.
If Theresa lost to Higokumaru in the Stigmata Space, it would mean that Theresa's consciousness would be replaced by Higokumaru, and then Theresa would not be able to return.
"Are you ready? If you are, Bronya will begin."
As Inaba Tsukiyo nodded, Bronya activated the machine, allowing Inaba Tsukiyo's consciousness to enter the Stigmata Space on Theresa's body.
Accompanied by a sense of weightlessness, the space around Inaba Tsukiyo changed. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a heavy black rain.
She was still in her miko outfit, and her vision was unaffected when she opened her eyes.
However, as she prepared to observe her surroundings more closely, she smelled a scent of blood.
Looking in the direction of the bloody smell, she saw a girl with her back to her, kneeling on the ground, with a blade placed beside her.
In front of her was another girl lying in a pool of blood. They had the same hair color. Although she couldn't see their faces, they should be relatives.
Inaba Tsukiyo could feel the despair emanating from the girl kneeling on the ground, but at the same time as her despair, the people around cheered, seemingly because of the rain.
"What... what's going on? Why is this happening? Is this Sakura's memory?"
Although she couldn't see the girl's face, Inaba Tsukiyo believed that the girl with her back to her was Yae Sakura.
But what exactly was going on? Why was Yae Sakura like this? Why would Yae Sakura kill a girl who looked so similar to herself?
"Big Sister Tsukiyo, no reaction from the Headmaster was detected in this data space. It seems the Headmaster's consciousness is not in this data space."
At this moment, a virtual screen appeared in front of Inaba Tsukiyo, and Bronya's figure appeared on the screen.
"Now moving to the next space. Please follow Bronya's instructions to the target location."
"Wait a moment, Bronya. Let me take a closer look."
Inaba Tsukiyo stopped Bronya's actions and carefully observed this data space.
Besides Yae Sakura and the unknown girl lying on the ground, and the cheering residents, Inaba Tsukiyo noticed an unusual aura.
This aura gathered behind Yae Sakura, seemingly whispering something, constantly tempting Yae Sakura towards corruption.
"Big Sister Tsukiyo, this data space is collapsing! Please move to another space immediately."
There was no way to stay here any longer. If she didn't move to another data space, Inaba Tsukiyo's consciousness would disappear with the collapse of the space.
Inaba Tsukiyo nodded and, following Bronya's instructions, proceeded to the next data space.
However, before leaving, Inaba Tsukiyo took one last look at the ominous aura entangling Yae Sakura.
If she wasn't mistaken, the true form of this aura was Higokumaru.
Moving to the next data space, Inaba Tsukiyo arrived at a completely different place than before. She was on a lush green grassland, and besides her, there were two girls with cherry-colored hair playing there.
"Sakura?"
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