Chapter 46: Tsumugi Kujo: I will be responsible

In Mond Hotel, in Tsumugi Kujo's room...

Tsumugi Kujo was still held in Eula's arms, not daring to move, while Eula buried her head in Tsumugi Kujo's small chest. Judging from her calm breathing, she had fallen into a deep sleep.

Although Kujo Tsumugi was not asleep, her mind was in a mess.

Before Eula fell asleep, she had expressed her regrets about not having a better relationship with Tsumugi Kujo in the past, and lamented her failure to protect Tsumugi Kujo at the crucial time. She wished she had been more alert and discovered the Hilliard Crossbowman...

Tsumugi Kujo also confirmed one thing from Eula's narration: everything that happened in the simulation system had become reality.

For Eula, the events in the simulation system were real, but it was unclear whether the simulation system had altered Eula's memory or directly changed past history.

The current dilemma for Kujo Tsumugi was... how should she face Eula, or rather, what attitude should she adopt towards Eula?

All along, Tsumugi Kujo had never truly wanted to form close bonds with any human. Even with people like Kamisato Ayaka and Kuki Shinobu, with whom she seemed to get along well, Tsumugi Kujo had never fully opened her heart.

The reason was simple—the difference in life expectancy was too great.

As a monster, it would be easy for Kujo Tsumugi to live for hundreds or even thousands of years if nothing unexpected occurred, whereas for humans, living to be a hundred years old was considered a long life.

Rather than regretting it too late when they are lost, it was better to be a stranger from the beginning. Kujo Tsumugi had always adhered to this approach, keeping a relatively close relationship while deliberately maintaining a distance.

For instance, Tsumugi Kujo had hidden the fact that she obtained 50 million Mora from trading with the Fatui from Kuki Shinobu, never intending to explain it to her.

But this approach was ineffective now.

Due to the simulation system, Tsumugi Kujo and Eula shared a "sister" relationship.

Tsumugi Kujo was not a bad person, but she believed she was not so cruel as to toy with a girl's feelings without reason.

However, the current situation, where the simulation system had altered history and greatly hurt Eula's feelings, left Kujo Tsumugi in a quandary.

If she took responsibility... her future self would regret Eula's death, but if she did not take responsibility... her remaining conscience would not be able to bear it...

Oh... what should I do...

Gently stroking Eula's short ice-blue hair, Kujo Tsumugi fell into deep thought.

Hmm…

Perhaps Kujo Tsumugi's touch had been too rough, as it stirred Eula from her sleep. She soon awoke in Kujo Tsumugi's arms.

"How did you sleep, Miss Eula?"

As soon as Eula opened her sleepy eyes, she saw her deceased sister hugging her and greeting her.

"Wow!!"

Eula was immediately startled, losing all sleepiness. Her instinct was to distance herself from Kujo Tsumugi, but she forgot she was on the bed and fell directly onto the floor.

In her panic, Eula used her elemental power, covering the surrounding furniture with a layer of frost.

"Ahem, Miss Eula, you are so rude."

Kujo Tsumugi frowned at the frost on the quilt.

"You... I..."

Eula had calmed down somewhat but still looked at Kujo Tsumugi in shock.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Tsumugi Kujo, from Inazuma, the second daughter of the Kujo family."

Kujo Tsumugi stood up from the bed and performed the etiquette of an Inazuma noble.

"It seems that Miss Eula mistook me for your sister and made some jokes."

"You... aren't my sister?"

Eula heard what Tsumugi Kujo said, but she still looked at her with suspicion.

Kujo Tsumugi knew her words were not very convincing, so she spread her jet-black wings.

"I am a kind of youkai unique to Inazuma, a Tengu, and not a human. I hope Miss Eula does not mistake me for someone else."

"This..."

Eula had completely calmed down and now stroked the black wings behind Kujo Tsumugi with a complicated expression.

The sight of these wings shattered Eula's last bit of fantasy. She finally accepted that Kujo Tsumugi was not her sister but a non-human being.

However, Eula, while touching the wings, did not notice that Tsumugi Kujo had slightly pursed her lips, clenched her fists, had a flushed face, and her eyes were misty. Her legs began to rub unconsciously, as if she was struggling to endure something.

"Ms. Eula, it is extremely rude to touch a tengu's wings without permission."

Before her last bit of strength could fade, Tsumugi Kujo pushed Eula away.

"I'm sorry, it's just that it's my first time seeing someone with wings, so I was very curious... Miss Kujo, what do you look like now?"

"It's okay, it will be fine in a while."

Tsumugi Kujo sat back on the bed to hide her weakened state and then looked at Eula with a blushing face.

Kujo Tsumugi was indeed shy this time. Wings had special significance to Tengu. According to Tengu customs, only family members and lovers could engage in such intimate acts as touching wings.

Though Kujo Sara and Tsumugi Kujo had been adopted by humans since childhood, they knew several Tengu villages hidden in mountains and forests and were aware of these Tengu customs.

Especially since Tsumugi Kujo's sensitive spot was somehow on her wings. Eula's actions had been as stimulating to her as if she had done that kind of thing directly. Therefore, Kujo Tsumugi was now extremely itchy, her eyes filled with desire. If Eula hadn't been present, she would likely have accessed the system to find Rosalyne.

Nevertheless, Tsumugi Kujo's willingness to let Eula touch her wings indicated that she recognized Eula. She didn't want to toy with Eula's feelings, so she decided to take responsibility for her!

Of course, Kujo Tsumugi had the responsibility of being a younger sister. To make amends for the pain Eula experienced from losing her sister, Tsumugi Kujo decided to become her god-sister.

"Ahem, by the way, this is the Mora that Captain Jean asked me to give to Miss Kujo."

To break the silence in the room, Eula deliberately cleared her throat and then took out a whole box of Mora.

"I have certainly received it."

Tsumugi Kujo stored the Mora into her Vision Space and then looked at Eula.

"Ms. Eula, I wonder if you would do me the honor of having a meal with me. I am very interested in what happened between you and your sister."

"This..."

Eula wanted to refuse, but seeing Kujo Tsumugi's face, which was exactly like her sister's, she nodded for some reason.

"All right."