In the battle that spanned across worlds, Tsukishiro Yuki discovered more truths about the world.
The mutual attraction of essences is inviolable; like strong magnets placed in two boxes, they will violently merge and collide, dragging their respective boxes—the worlds—along with them.
In this "Land of Arrival," where the heavens have begun to blur and are even being forced to adhere together by [Cognitive Folding], some intelligent individuals or ambitious schemers have already realized this and commenced their own actions.
As a "Witch" born to interpret His might, she became the best supplement for all existences possessing His traits. Just like what the first people did in the ritual named "Witch Trial."
When God's vanguard slays a Witch, another new miracle can be attributed to God.
Although, as a "Witch," Tsukishiro Yuki was already the most special among them. Despite being a Witch, she received His favor, completed a similar ritual, and obtained the trait of "Saint Child," combining it with her own identity as a "Witch."
Therefore, to stop the ambition of the one attempting to swallow all "Witches" of this world, and to protect the legacy left by her past compatriots—which was similar to the "Witch Factors" she created—Tsukishiro Yuki chose to cross the rift of the worlds alone. She went to that space located above the three realms to wage war against the enemy.
Regrettably, she failed.
Facing the King of Quincies, who resided in the palace and had successfully combined the "Saint Father" and the "Saint Child," she was still slightly inferior.
Stardew Valley, inside the Multiplayer Cabin.
As the countdown for resurrection time ended, Tsukishiro Yuki, whose physical body had returned along with her soul, awoke on that simple wooden bed.
She intended to get up immediately and check the Public Channel to determine if Suke had discovered any flaws in the white lie she had woven during the brief silence of her consciousness. But when Tsukishiro Yuki saw her death prompt pop up on the Public Channel, she knew it was a bit too late.
'Oh no...'
'How should I explain this to Animus...'
Tsukishiro Yuki revealed a bitter smile. At this moment, she was like a child who had accidentally broken a vase, thinking about how to explain the cause to her parents who were about to return home.
It was not that she was unwilling to face a strong enemy together with her Animus. It was just that the more she studied and understood the truth of the world, the more she realized the extraordinariness of this peaceful small world, like a Miniature Garden, that her Animus controlled.
Corresponding to "Arrival" is "Return."
Just the newly revealed "Arrival" caused countless worlds to accelerate their collision and fusion, breeding ambitious schemers who wanted to control it. Let alone this flawless and perfect land of "Return"?
Tsukishiro Yuki was afraid. She was afraid that her Animus's special nature would be exposed to the eyes of those countless, indescribable ambitious schemers in the heavens and myriad worlds.
That was why she wove a "deception," asking her compatriots to stall him, so she could deal with it alone.
"Cough! Cough, cough..."
A wave of weakness suddenly assaulted her body, and Tsukishiro Yuki, her throat itching, coughed violently.
"What is going on... Cough, cough, cough!"
"Am I... 'sick'?"
Tsukishiro Yuki felt her head swelling with pain. She looked at the mirror at the head of the bed in the cabin, only to find that her forehead was sweating and her face was flushed red. It was just like the illness named "a cold" that only existed among ordinary humans.
It was hard to imagine that the term "getting sick," which should only appear on fragile mortals, would one day fall upon her, an omnipotent Great Witch.
"No... that's not right..."
But soon, Tsukishiro Yuki realized that her "sickness" was not as simple as a so-called cold.
She carefully sensed her own essence, only to discover that the part named "Saint Child" had been instantly drained by that King of Quincies the moment she was defeated in battle.
Although, thanks to her compatriots acting as anchors, Tsukishiro Yuki's essence as a "Witch" was preserved. But this inevitably brought her weakness. If she were in the outside world beyond Stardew Valley, it would not be as simple as a "fever from a cold."
This was the mechanism of the Land of "Return" protecting her, and even gradually repairing her damaged essence.
As long as she endured this so-called cold, Tsukishiro Yuki had a premonition that her strength would recover for the most part.
"Truly pathetic. I really don't want Animus to see this embarrassing appearance..."
Her snowy hair was scattered and draped down. Sniffling back the mucus that nearly flowed out, Tsukishiro Yuki, who really didn't have the strength to get up from the bed, simply lay back down.
The symptoms of the fever made her unable to stop her thoughts from running wild.
If her essence was completely drained and she became an ordinary person, she wondered if Animus would still like her? She was truly useless; she clearly wanted to protect Animus, but in the end, she only caused him trouble...
If she lost her abilities, would she be abandoned by Animus...?
Mmm... speaking of which, that woman named Elysia didn't seem to show any abilities after leaving Stardew Valley either... Could it be that she was actually drained and turned into an ordinary person before coming to Animus's farm...?
Creak—
Tsukishiro Yuki, lost in her wild thoughts, did not notice the sound of the door opening. At this moment, she was like an ordinary sick girl, her senses all reduced to their lowest point.
"Animus...?"
It wasn't until the figure entering the room blocked the light spilling from the ceiling that Tsukishiro Yuki looked toward the side of her bed.
She saw Suke standing by her bed, staring down at her with a complex expression.
"You... I... Sigh."
Suke, who had rushed back frantically from the Re:Zero world, hesitated to speak.
He originally harbored many grievances regarding Tsukishiro Yuki's unauthorized actions, but upon seeing her sickly and listless appearance, those grievances vanished into thin air.
"How did you end up like this? Do you have a fever?"
Suke temporarily didn't dwell on why, as fellow subjects who had experienced "resurrection," Miss Pink Elf was perfectly fine while Tsukishiro Yuki's face was as red as a sweet potato.
He squatted down and extended his palm to touch Tsukishiro Yuki's forehead, finding it scorching hot.
So one could get a fever and fall ill in Stardew Valley? Thinking about it, it made sense; since there was a clinic in Pelican Town, it wouldn't make sense if people couldn't get sick...
"Animus, I..."
Tsukishiro Yuki opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but was interrupted by Suke.
"Alright, don't say anymore. Rest well."
"Also, take off these clothes. Who sleeps fully dressed when they have a fever? I'll change you into something thin and breathable."
"...Okay."
Although her mind was still very muddled, Tsukishiro Yuki revealed a faint smile.
She adjusted the position of her head slightly, allowing Suke to remove the sun hat that was being pressed against the pillow by her head. Then, with his support, she struggled to sit up on the bed, allowing Suke to reach out and unzip the dress at the back of her neck.
Soon, Tsukishiro Yuki's fine, fair skin, undulating with her shoulder blades, was revealed. Covered in sticky, fragrant sweat, she let the man's palms brush over it.
She really is terribly thin, Suke couldn't help but think.
Although he had lamented over the same scene many times, every time, he couldn't help but wonder how on earth he could fatten up this Skeleton Soldier Great Witch.
Clearly, the food he prepared every day was sumptuous, and Tsukishiro Yuki's appetite was decent. He didn't feel it before when she wasn't sick, but now that she was, Suke was actually a bit worried.
Could she really withstand this cold? Did he need to go buy some antipyretics?
"What's wrong, Animus?"
"Why did you suddenly stop... Cough, cough... Is it... do you want to right now...?"
"It's okay... I've seen some stories written by humans before, saying that doing that kind of thing while sick helps bring down the fever and recover..."
Tsukishiro Yuki's face, already red from the fever, became even redder. She felt a bit uncomfortable, yet also a bit impulsive, and her mind couldn't help but run wild again. After all, this experience of being sick was actually a first for her in such a long time.
"What nonsense are you spouting? What kind of pseudoscience is that?"
"Do I look like the kind of person who would take advantage of someone's precarious state? Rest well. Once you're better, you'll get what's coming to you!"
"Don't forget, I haven't punished you for acting on your own yet!"
Suke was stunned, then, with his face covered in black lines, he reached out with both hands, cupped Tsukishiro Yuki's hot and muddled pretty face, and rubbed it vigorously.
This made Tsukishiro Yuki's expression even more dazed.
Immediately after, Suke deftly took out a thin gauze nightgown from his backpack and put it on Tsukishiro Yuki's delicate body. Since he had seen and touched it many times, Suke could remain calm and not lose his composure.
"Little Yuki, you sleep for a bit first. I'll go check on Meruru and the others. There should be plenty of medicine in the Witch Island Mansion."
"Although I don't know if it will work... anyway, don't think too much, just rest well!"
Tsukishiro Yuki watched the man dressed as a farmer hurriedly leave, gently closing the cabin door for her.
There was a trace of regret on her flushed face, though it was unknown what exactly she was regretting.
'Phew...'
However, shortly after, when Tsukishiro Yuki lay back down among the soft bedding and recalled her past choices, a smile still surfaced on her face.
Yes.
She indeed shouldn't have done that, because she was no longer alone.
The girl buried her head into the down pillow and murmured happily in a whisper that only she could hear:
'Animus...'
'I love you...'
____
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