After trading banter with Chaldea, Jiang You returned to the Prisma Illya world with Ruby and Sapphire. Gudako and Hakuno didn't accompany him; partly because many Chaldea staff members were still trapped in their dream-like illusions and needed help waking up, and partly out of fear. Each time they visited another world, a crisis immediately erupted—and one that nearly destroyed the world at that! Anyone would be terrified.
However, Hakuno was actually quite excited. The guy had always been remarkably fearless.
"Illya, I've missed you so much~"
As soon as Ruby recognized her familiar surroundings, she sprang from Jiang You's hand and began nuzzling against Prisma Illya's chest, rubbing herself against her affectionately.
"Do you know how terrifying it was? I thought I'd never see you again."
"I can probably understand..."
During Jiang You's time at Chaldea, Prisma Illya had taken the opportunity to research what the name "Azathoth" represented. Now she understood the sheer absurdity of Jiang You's existence. How could a mindless, chaotic entity possibly produce such a shameless young man? By all accounts, he should have been an old father suffering from Alzheimer's, right? She turned her gaze to the corner of the room. "Because something similar happened here too."
There, kneeling, was a red-themed blonde servant, clutching a sign that read: "I was wrong! I promise never to recklessly use my Noble Phantasms again!"
Not only that, beside her knelt another servant—a black-themed red-haired woman with draconic features—holding a sign that declared: "I won't do what they did next door!" Her face was twisted with indignation.
"Hey, I haven't even done anything yet! Why do I have to be treated like this big-boobed cow?!"
"Just in case," Prisma Illya replied.
Truth be told, the Dragon Girl's personality just felt incomplete without teasing her. It was also to prevent her from causing trouble—the Dragon Girl was a master of mischief, though of the single-minded variety. Unlike certain Casters or those who'd failed to ascend into Beasts, her antics were straightforward and predictable.
"Get up... Nero, I wasn't talking to you. You stay kneeling!"
Seeing Nero's aggrieved expression, Elizabeth flashed a triumphant grin.
So even Miss Nero was affected...
Ruby had noticed the unique nature of Nero and Elizabeth's Spirit Origins. Jiang You's current Spirit Origin radiation had a truly massive range. Well, at least this mess is finally over, it thought. Just as it was about to say so, it detected an overwhelmingly dense aura of Jiang You's presence emanating from Prisma Illya—the aura of an Outer God. Cold sweat beaded on its non-existent brow. "...I-Illya, don't tell me you...?! ...Don't tell me..."
"What's wrong?"
Prisma Illya hadn't noticed anything amiss, but to everyone else, Jiang You's magical power was as conspicuous as a declaration of ownership. It was like a god marking their believer, warning all others: This one is under my protection.
"Illya, you're covered in Jiang You's scent."
After struggling for a moment, Ruby finally blurted it out in what it considered the most tactful way possible.
"What are you talking about?!"
Ruby was once again slapped to the ground. Now serving as Jiang You's miko, Prisma Illya had gained a considerable amount of power.
Good thing the other Illya isn't here, Ruby thought. Otherwise, things would have gotten really ugly.
"I was just trying to play along with everyone here! I've accepted Jiang You's magical power and become his miko—isn't it normal for me to carry his scent now?!"
"Ac-accepted his magical power?!"
Ruby's reasoning mirrored Jiang You's own. If she kept going, the situation would only become more complicated. Sapphire swiftly silenced her with an electric shock.
"That's right," Jiang You confirmed. "Nero and Elizabeth, Prisma Illya is my miko now. When I'm away, you must listen to her instructions. Please, don't cause any more trouble, okay?"
Even though Jiang You found their singing quite pleasant, he knew he was the only one who felt that way. Left unsupervised, these two were bound to cause chaos. As for why he chose Prisma Illya, it was mainly because she already had a connection to him. Selecting another Heroic Spirit, like White Lancer Artoria or Medea, would inevitably lead to resistance.
"Now here's the problem," Medea said, her lips curving into a villainous smirk. "Nero is your subordinate, Gudako's servant, and you've assigned Prisma Illya as well. If their orders conflict, who should she obey?"
Medea harbored quite a vengeful streak. While she wouldn't truly harm Nero, she enjoyed causing her minor inconveniences.
Jiang You glanced at Medea, her lips curled into a villainous smirk. He knew exactly what the scheming goddess had in mind. Nero had indeed provoked this situation, so a minor punishment was justified. His only concern was that Medea might go too far.
"Just take it easy, okay? She's far stronger than you now. If you create problems you can't handle yourself, I won't clean up your mess."
"Oh, right—where's Illya?"
Prisma Illya instinctively opened her mouth to reply, but then realized that Jiang You's use of her full name at this moment meant he was referring to her other self. As before, a flicker of resentment stirred within her.
"Ehh? Jealous because you're not favored?"
Besides Jiang You, there was another who could read Prisma Illya's thoughts: her alternate personality, now known as Chloe, nicknamed Kuro. As a voice identical to Illya's echoed, Kuro emerged from behind Jiang You. Having promised to let her exist as an independent entity, Jiang You had summoned her. She had exchanged her miko outfit, which resembled the Dress of Heaven, for casual attire, but at her insistence, it still retained the midriff-baring style. She claimed she wanted to differentiate herself from Illya, saying, "You may say you hate Jiang You, but you've actually been quite happy these past few days, haven't you? It's a pity—if we both go by 'Illya,' you'll just end up being someone else's substitute."
Much like in the original storyline, Kuro and Prisma Illya initially didn't get along. Kuro believed Prisma Illya had stolen her life, a conflict that wouldn't truly ease until their mother, Irisviel, acknowledged Kuro's existence. It was only after Jiang You affirmed that Kuro and Prisma Illya were distinct entities, using different names, that Kuro began teasing Prisma Illya about this matter.
"You're just jealous of me!"
But Prisma Illya could read Kuro's thoughts, making her words sound weak and hollow.
The two girls started bickering, but Jiang You could sense they were actually enjoying it, like siblings squabbling. So he didn't intervene.
"Illya is doing much better now," Medusa said, relaying what Illya had told her. "She's resting at home. She said there's no need to worry; she just needs some time to recover."
"Is that so?"
Bubble's influence had indeed been significant. It was late now, and Miyu, who was next to them, had fallen asleep long ago. After being released from Nero's Noble Phantasm, a little girl without Sapphire's support had already done remarkably well to stay awake this long. Illya should be in a similar condition.
"Then I'll come back tomorrow. Get some rest tonight. As for you, Nero, keep reflecting on your actions!"
After all, he was a servant—and one fused with an Outer God at that. Staying up all night was no problem for him.
Still, Nero looked so crestfallen she seemed about to cry.