Just 10 minutes later, the ambulance arrived and took away the boy who had been hit by the truck.
Before the paramedics took the injured boy away, I gave them my phone number.
For some reason, those two boys seem familiar.
Five days later.
6:07 a.m.
"I'm so sleepy... I'm so tired," I murmur, tangling myself in the sheets.
I'm exhausted.
Analyzing a Herrscher Nucleus is no easy task.
Who would have thought it would be so difficult?
Although I managed to analyze it, I can only create a *pseudo* Herrscher Nucleus, one that possesses only a fraction of the authority of a true Herrscher Nucleus.
And with my [Construction] technique, I will be able to create a pseudo-Authority of Death.
Thanks to a Binding Vote.
For five years, I temporarily sacrificed the ability to use my Construction technique for my own personal gain in exchange for the power to create the *full* Authority of the Death Herrscher.
And to further refine my Construction technique...
I made another Binding Vow.
The amount of Cursed Energy required to create an object with my Construction technique will be significantly reduced, provided I know its molecular composition, external shape, internal structure, and special properties.
In essence, it's a superior version of Momo Yaoyorozu's Gift.
The only thing I *didn't* sacrifice was the ability to "create through imagination."
Without that capacity for imaginative creation—a fundamental characteristic of the Construction technique—it is reduced to the simple ability to fabricate ordinary objects; objects capable of harming Cursed Spirits, perhaps, but lacking any special characteristics.
"I plan to create the Flower of the Abyss later, once my mental faculties have fully recovered," I thought.
"Although… creating the Core itself would grant me far greater control over Herrscher's power."
"However, possessing too many Herrscher Cores in a single body inevitably leads to physical collapse and, subsequently, death."
I fell asleep shortly after finishing planning my next steps.
11:30 a.m. I wake up still a little tired; after all, I don't know the damn reverse technique.
I can't shake off my tiredness and mental fatigue.
I put on my glasses from the vanity.
And the instant I put them on, Miko takes control.
*yawn*
With a yawn, Miko stretches her arms above her head.
This causes the top of her light mint-colored pajamas to ride up.
Revealing her flat stomach and navel.
Her eyes are half-closed with sleep.
Miko gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom.
With slow steps, Miko walks down the hall from her room to the bathroom door.
With slow, calm steps, Miko pulls down her pants and sits on the toilet.
[Author's note: I think the previous paragraph was unnecessary.]
50 minutes later.
Miko sits down in the dining room after taking a shower.
*Yawn.* "Hey, Rin... why do I feel so groggy and tired?" Miko asks wearily.
"I was analyzing the Herrscher Core all night long."
"The mental fatigue—caused by the calculations and structural analysis of the Herrscher Cores—has resulted in cerebral exhaustion."
"Consume some sugar, or something sweet."
"It will pass if you get a little rest and eat something sweet."
I reply, sounding just as tired myself.
"By the way... where are Mom and Dad?" Miko asks, speaking to the air.
"I think they're at a parent-teacher conference at Kyousuke's school," I answer.
"Oh, I see."
Miko finishes her breakfast.
*Ring, ring!*
The landline phone starts ringing.
"I wonder who that could be," Miko murmurs as she approaches the phone.
"Yes, Yotsuya residence. How may we help you?" Miko says in a monotone voice.
"Hello? This is Toko Agatsuma speaking."
"How can I help you?" Miko asks, still sounding half-asleep.
"I'm looking for Miko Yotsuya; I wanted to thank you for your help regarding the accident my younger brother was involved in," says the voice on the other end of the line.
"Oh, right... yes, I'm Miko Yotsuya. You really don't have to thank me for it."
"Anyone in the same situation would have done exactly the same thing," Miko adds.
She recalls what happened just a few days ago.
*According to what Rin said, he wasn't in any mortal danger.*
*Just a month of recovery, and he'd be as good as new.*
"Even so, I insist on thanking you in person."
"If you're up for it, we could meet up somewhere of your choice," suggests Toko Agatsuma. Miko falls silent for a few seconds, then asks me telepathically:
*What should we do, Rin?*
*Accept her offer,* Rin replies seriously. Miko doesn't question it and gives her answer: "Alright, I'll accept your thanks."
"Great! That's awesome. Can we meet up today?" asks Toko Agatsuma.
"Sure. I have some free time today; let's meet at the new pastry shop in the square, located at XXXXX," Miko tells Toko.
"Okay. I'll be there at 2:00 p.m. Does that work for you?" asks Toko.
"No problem. That sounds perfect," says Miko.
"Then I'll see you there," replies Toko before hanging up the phone.
Miko places the phone back in its cradle.
"Miko, I think those people are very interesting," Rin tells Miko in her thoughts.
"Why do you think that?" she asks curiously.
"Because of their surname: Agatsuma," says Rin.
"Just because of their surname? What does that have to do with anything?" Miko asks skeptically.
After all, it's just a surname—nothing out of the ordinary.
"You'll find out later." Rin simply smiles.
Miko just shakes her head and heads back to her room to change her clothes.
20 minutes later...
Miko can be seen walking not far from her house.
Most likely, she has just set out to meet up with Toko Agatsuma.
"Miko, you'd better head into the convenience store right in front of you. We need to get some sugar; otherwise, we'll be distracted all day—or we might even pass out from low blood sugar."
I tell Miko calmly.
"Alright," says Miko as she walks toward the convenience store. 5 minutes later...
*Ding-dong!*
"Welcome!" the voice of the convenience store's automated greeting system resounds as the automatic doors slide open.
Miko offers no reply; she simply heads down one of the store's aisles.
With an air of indifference, she grabs a handful of chocolates and makes her way toward the counter.
The clerk looks surprised to see the young woman carrying more than a dozen chocolates. "Kids these days really don't care about their teeth." "But that's not my problem. I've got enough problems of my own without worrying about things that don't concern me."
The clerk thinks to himself indifferently.
"That comes to 1,600 yen."
"Here you go," Miko says, handing him a 2,000-yen bill.
Ding-dong!
Miko exits the convenience store carrying a rather bulky plastic bag, a piece of chocolate in her mouth.
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This chapter is published thanks to my dear reader Gamers2_CH, who supported me, encouraged me, and reached out to me in the comments.
Although I promised Gamers2_CH that I would upload four chapters, unfortunately, I was only able to upload these two.
Please thank Gamers2_CH.