Why bother with the Holy Grail War? Let's play cards!

Chapter 36: If the Hero King can produce happy people, I can also produce hardworking people

Although he didn't know what "Mapo" Jiang You was referring to, Kotomine Kirei understood that the Servant opposite him had recognized him.

"You've got the wrong person." Kotomine Kirei's tone was still as calm as ever, without a trace of shame for his actions, and he was about to leave.

"Don't give me that. The only official members of the church here are you and Kotomine Risho. Or do you want to say you're Kotomine Risho?" Jiang You mercilessly exposed him. After referring to the original plot, Jiang You almost came to his own conclusion. "You did all this because of Emiya Kiritsugu, right?"

"I don't understand what you mean." Although he refused, Jiang You could still see his intention from the fact that he stopped walking.

"You want to understand Emiya Kiritsugu. You think he's just as hollow and empty as you, cold-blooded and mechanical in his execution." Jiang You began pacing, centered around Kotomine Kirei. "But you've noticed that he always takes enormous risks to complete missions that aren't in his best interest. You want to know what drives him, what motivated him to participate in the Holy Grail War. Seeing Emiya Kiritsugu's happy expression today, you thought it might be worth considering, and perhaps even cheer you up, so you couldn't resist giving it a try, right?"

"Something like the ability to read minds? As expected of Caster." Kotomine Kirei nodded, not denying Jiang You's words. "Since you already know my purpose, then as an Einzbern Servant, can you explain my confusion?"

"Please speak." Jiang You walked back to Illya's side, pushed her, and motioned her to turn with him.

Illya gave him a puzzled look.

"Magician Killer, what is the wish of Emiya Kiritsugu, and what supports him to risk his life in the Holy Grail War?" His desireless self was chosen by the Holy Grail representing desire. Kotomine Kirei wants to know his own wish. He has been trying to be an ordinary person. Perhaps Emiya Kiritsugu's answer can make him understand his true heart.

"Are you sure you want to hear this?" Frankly, Jiang You didn't want to reveal the ridiculous truth: Emiya Kiritsugu, a blood-stained magus killer, actually desired world peace, a wish so vast it was impossible to achieve. Jiang You suggested he run for President of the United States; that would at least reduce half the trouble in the world.

"Sir, are you unwilling to speak?" Kotomine Kirei frowned. From what Caster said, it was clear that he knew and was willing to speak out. He desperately wanted to know the answer. He had spent most of his life pursuing this answer, the answer that even his wife had sacrificed herself for him and hadn't found. "Does it require an equal exchange?"

Kotomine Kirei was thinking about what he could use to impress Caster. As a fellow contestant in the Holy Grail War, perhaps backstabbing Tokisaka could be used as an exchange?

Jiang You naturally didn't know what Kotomine Kirei was thinking. He shook his head and said, "It's not that I don't want to tell you, but I'm sure the answer will not satisfy you."

"No matter what the answer is, I have my reasons for knowing it." Kotomine Kirei was like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline, he would not let go.

"World Peace."

"...What?" The concise answer passed by Kotomine Kirei's ears, and he almost suspected that he had heard it wrongly.

"I think you heard correctly. That's the answer. If you don't believe me, you can ask this person, Emiya Kiritsugu's daughter, a left-behind child and one of the victims."

"World peace? World peace. World peace! Hahahahaha!" Kotomine Kirei repeated the four words, his tone becoming increasingly unbridled, and finally he couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Killing for world peace? I actually see my own reflection in him? Hahahaha! What's this feeling, disappointment? Pleasure? Hahahaha! I don't know, hahaha!"

Kotomine Kirei covered his face, trying to straighten his distorted expression, but found he couldn't. "I'm actually happy about this? Is this just my nature? Seeing other people's childish and contradictory attitudes only makes me feel... amused? Or disappointed?"

Jiang You clutched his deck, his eyes flickering slightly as he considered whether to activate the Dark Game and instantly kill the guy who was beginning to show signs of pleasure. But then he thought of his own questionnaire, and the fact that Kotomine Kirei hadn't committed any unforgivable acts. For the sake of his own extra money, Jiang You put the deck away.

Referring to other works (parallel worlds), there may be a very simple solution.

Jiang You patted Kotomine Kirei's shoulder and closed the distance between them. "Don't jump to conclusions yet. Don't you want to understand your own wishes? Come with me. Illya and I are hungry after a day of fun."

When the spicy red tofu was brought to Illya, she choked on the pungent smell, and it took her a long time to recover. After soothing her throat with some clear broth, she spooned a piece of tofu. The tofu, smothered in the special sauce, reflected an alluring hue under the sheen of red oil, while the spicy, fresh, and fragrant flavor emanated from the thick broth.

Illya still couldn't resist the temptation and took a light bite. The spicy and fresh taste burst out from the tofu. The delicious taste blooming on the tip of the tongue was accompanied by the spiciness that exceeded the threshold and rushed straight to the forehead, making Illya's facial features squeezed together by the spiciness.

“Water…water!”

"I didn't expect this 'Hongzhou Yansuiguan Taishan' to exist at this time. In fact, I was just going to take you to a random Chinese restaurant that has Mapo Tofu." Jiang You took the two bowls of Mapo Tofu that the boss had just handed over and placed them in front of himself and Kotomine Kirei. "Try it."

"Chinese food?" Kotomine Kirei sniffed the spicy aroma emanating from the plate and unconsciously twitched his index finger. He had actually already eaten dinner, having hastily settled on compressed biscuits while monitoring Emiya Kiritsugu. He had never been particularly particular about food, but for some reason, he now felt a sense of anticipation.

"Then I'll be rude to refuse." It felt like a cat's claw scratching his heart, and this unusual experience made Kotomine Kirei unable to resist. After completing the traditional Japanese etiquette of opening a meal, he placed the mapo tofu into his mouth with meticulous dining posture.

Fine beads of sweat kept oozing from his forehead, but he was unaware of it. His movements became faster and faster, and soon the mapo tofu on the plate was gone. A few spoonfuls of the soup, which was so rich that it made people frown, were also scooped out.

It was the first time Jiang You used the word "ferocious" to describe someone eating. He tentatively asked, "Would you like some more?"

Kotomine Kirei knew his appetite and was already eight-tenths full at this moment. In order to be able to carry out the mission at any time, he basically kept his food intake at around six-tenths. He definitely couldn't continue now.

But Kotomine Kirei found himself giving an answer that was against his will: "Another bowl."

Jiang You pushed the plate he hadn't touched in front of Kotomine Kirei, his face filled with an uncontrollable smile. "You've found what you want, right?"

Chapter 37 This is the basic operation of Caster (realistic)

"This is what I desire?" Kotomine Kirei looked at the mapo tofu in disbelief, but the desire in his heart could not deceive him. "Eating... or rather, something as simple as eating mapo tofu is actually my desire!?"

"Why not?" Jiang You brought a carton of milk to Illya, who was nearly dying from the spiciness. He had originally planned to order her something else, but Illya insisted on eating the same thing. "Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation—the four most basic things in life—are they really that simple? Winning honor, achieving world peace, and pursuing your roots sound grand, right? But no matter how brilliant you are, you can never avoid these four things. Shame prevents you from wearing nothing; hunger prevents you from eating; fear prevents you from leaving the wilderness; and existence prevents you from standing still."

Illya's face flushed red from the spiciness, and her tear glands couldn't hold back from the spiciness, so she couldn't help but cry. Jiang You poured her a glass of ice milk and let her soak her tongue in it to eliminate the spiciness.

"Not to mention that the basic need for food has always plagued humanity. Eating is a human instinct. Throughout history, countless people have struggled to get enough to eat. Even in modern society, people still die from hunger. Is this desire really that simple?"

Kotomine Kirei fell into deep thought. He felt that his true feelings were not like this, or at least not so simple. However, the desire stimulated by the mapo tofu repeatedly told him that Caster was right.

Seeing that Kotomine Kirei remained silent, Jiang You knew that he was halfway to success, so he took advantage of the opportunity to pursue.

"You are probably familiar with my Noble Phantasm. While I can capture fragments of the future, I also possess a similar ability to 'Future Vision'."

Kotomine Kirei nodded, and the information about Jiang You's Noble Phantasm was openly stuffed into the minds of all the contestants. It was not strange that Jiang You could see the future, but rather it was natural.

"You are indeed a rotten person who finds joy in evil deeds." Jiang You directly pointed out Kotomine Kirei's twisted heart. Now all he had to do was to define him. "Well, then, repeat the seven deadly sins."

"Pride, jealousy, rage, laziness, greed..." As someone who once tried to be a devout believer, how could Kotomine Kirei not know this? He followed Jiang You's instructions and recited them aloud. After a brief pause, he became extremely excited. "Gluttony!"

"Yes, it's gluttony. You are now committing an unforgivable sin. You are excited by committing the sin of gluttony. This is your desire, the desire you desire most as a human being!"

"So that's why you called me 'Mapo' before. So this is my future self? Yes, you're right. The simplest and most original desire is what I pursue." Kotomine Kirei scooped up the mapo tofu from the plate and laughed heartily at finding his own desire. "I'm excited about this. I'm such a simple person! From now on, I'm going to break my self-control and enjoy delicious food every day."

Looking at Kotomine Kirei, who had transformed from a reserve tax evader into a live-in eater, Jiang You nodded with satisfaction. It was really effective to use the love of Mapo Tofu written into the setting to prescribe the right remedy. No wonder the intelligence players were so powerful.

At this time, Illya finally calmed down. She shrank her neck as she looked at the Mapo Tofu and decided never to touch it again.

"Is that enough?" Having come this far, Jiang You decided to add fuel to the fire. He shook his finger at Kotomine Kirei and said, "Desires aren't easily satisfied."

"Oh? Kirei is all ears." Having found his target, Kotomine Kirei let go of himself, his voice becoming cheerful.

"Mapo tofu consists of three main parts: the sauce, the tofu, and the cooking method. Mr. Kirei should have some knowledge of the Eastern Great Power, right?" Seeing Kotomine Kirei nod in agreement, Jiang You continued. "The Eastern Great Power has always been rather ambiguous in its descriptions of cooking. When it comes to quantities, they often use non-specific quantifiers like 'appropriate amount,' 'small amount,' 'large amount,' etc. This results in even the same ingredients being used, but each family's cooking will produce a different taste.

"That is to say..." Kotomine Kirei vaguely grasped Jiang You's meaning.

"Yes, your pursuit of delicious Mapo Tofu can't stop at this shop. You have to search for and even make the Mapo Tofu you desire, the most satisfying one, yourself. This will be a long journey. Whether it's the ingredients, the sauce, or the cooking method, it will require countless times of searching, experimenting, and accumulating experience. You will devote most of your life to this. Are you truly ready?"

"This is exactly what I've been longing for!" Kotomine Kirei felt for the first time the meaning of the word "interest." He felt he should have understood long ago: it wasn't that he lacked a desire for pleasure, he simply hadn't found the right direction. "I must depart immediately. I must withdraw from this Holy Grail War."

"Don't you consider making a wish from the Holy Grail to get perfect mapo tofu?" Jiang You waited for Kotomine Kirei's answer with great interest.

"Caster, you're joking." Kotomine Kirei wasn't willing to simply fulfill his desires. He had always been searching for desires, not satisfying them. The fulfillment of pursuing them brought him immense joy. "How can a result without a process be called a pursuit? Besides, the Holy Grail can only satisfy me in the present moment! My 'gluttony' will last a lifetime."

"Then in return, Caster, as your Master, I will give you Assassin's Command Seals. I will explain the situation to my father and teacher." Kotomine Kirei rolled up his sleeves and showed the Command Seals in his hand to Jiang You.

"Then I wish you the best of luck on your journey." Jiang You raised his arm to accept the Command Seals bestowed upon him by Kotomine Kirei. After being a Heroic Spirit for so long, he also wanted to try the feeling of being a Master for a while.

After finishing everything, Kotomine Kirei asked Jiang You for his contact information and saluted before hastily disappearing into the night. He couldn't wait to embark on the journey of pursuing the perfect mapo tofu he had always wanted.

"Why do I remember that Heroic Spirits cannot become Masters?" Illya stared blankly at the Command Seals in Jiang You's hand, and suddenly felt that this Holy Grail War was a bit too complicated.

"Don't worry about such trivial matters. Caster will cheat and summon Assassin in your Holy Grail War anyway. This is just a preview of the version."

Chapter 38: Fulfilling a wish is the real aphrodisiac cake

Your reward [Hassan Sabah (Hundred Faces)]*3 has been sent via email. Please claim it promptly.

"Now that we have three of the remaining five Servants, isn't this a sure win?" Illya followed Jiang You to the remote outskirts of Fuyuki, because Jiang You wanted to see his first Servant before logging off. Players can't sleep without taking a look at new items.

Although Illya wanted to say that what she did was no different from the work of a Servant, she swallowed her words.

"Does this really depend on the number of players?" Jiang You spread his hands. While he was certain to win the final victory as a player, his team's combat strength outside of the card game was quite weak and infirm. "I'm Caster, with a nearly full E deck, and Assassin, whose frontal combat ability is at the bottom. This guy can't even execute a sneak attack because of me. As for Berserker, he's the only one who can actually fight, and he's still quite a bit behind the other two."

Kiritsugu has taken over Lancelot's command. Lancelot's frenzied state, whose panel has been restored, has also returned to its original effect and cannot fully obey Kiritsugu's instructions, so the general command is still with Jiang You.

"That bastard king doesn't get along with me given his temper. I can't improve his favorability, and I won't be able to squeeze any cards out of him in the future. If I had known, I would have played a dark game with him and sent him back to the Throne of Heroes." Jiang You said that he would go online tomorrow and beat Gilgamesh to his knees.

"That's right. With your Noble Phantasm, numbers don't really offer much of an advantage." Illya nodded. "Then let's not discuss this anymore. Let's meet Assassin. I still don't know which Heroic Spirit will be the Assassin in this Holy Grail War."

"Caster, no, I should call you Master. My name is Hassan Sabbah, codenamed 'Hundred Faces.' From now on, we, the Shadow Group, will be by your side." Following Jiang You's call, a woman with long blue-purple hair, a white skull mask, and dark skin and clothing knelt before him. "I'm sorry, but only about 10% of me is willing to obey your orders, Master."

Jiang You didn't care how many of Baimao's clones could obey him, since they wouldn't be very useful anyway. He looked at Baimao's appearance, and it was indeed the same appearance that usually followed Kotomine Kirei and the main card in FGO.

"Is this your true form?" Jiang You was still quite curious about Baimao's true appearance. Neither this work nor the games related to it gave any explanation, so he didn't know whether the collaboration could give any exact information.

"The true self...? No, or rather, I don't know. Each 'I' represents the existence of the codename 'Hundred Faces'. Each one is the real 'Hundred Faces'." Hundred Faces had always been troubled by this question during his lifetime. The reason he responded to the call of the Holy Grail was not only because he wanted to leave his name in history like a true hero, but also because he wanted to have a unified personality.

"Is that so? Then I'll just assume you're the real one." It seemed the linkage hadn't given a clear answer on this point. Jiang You wasn't surprised, and rudely identified the Hundred Faces before him as the real one. At least the female appearance was more pleasing to the eye. "Tell the rest of you, don't be hostile to me. I know and understand your wishes."

After Jiang You said this, Bai Mao felt as if her spiritual base had changed slightly, but she checked herself and found nothing wrong. Her other selves continued to make different noises in her ears, some agreeing with Jiang You, some disagreeing, and some cursing.

"You know?" Baimao temporarily ignored her own situation and focused on the second half of Jiang You's sentence. She had never even mentioned her wish to the former Master, and in her lifetime, in order to lead the cult, she had never mentioned it to anyone else. Jiang You shouldn't know.

"I hope that one day, the countless voices echoing in my head will quiet down, and I can sleep soundly in the quiet night. Right?" It's so effective to treat the symptoms. Just scratch the itch and your loyalty will increase. And by the way, try to see if you can increase your favorability.

"I command by the Command Seal, Assassin, from now on you will not be troubled by the thoughts of other selves; I command by the Command Seal, Assassin, all individuals named 'Hundred Faces' can freely choose whether to link with the group mind." Jiang You used two Command Seals in a row to stabilize the mind of Hundred Faces. The red Command Seal faded, and even though it was blocked by the mask, the corners of Hundred Faces' mouth that could not be suppressed could be seen.

This also shows that the Command Seals have taken effect. I have to say that the Command Seals on Fuyuki's side are much more useful than those on Chaldea's side.

"Sir, all of us praise you. Please command us as you please. No one will object." Baimao's voice trembled with excitement at the beauty he had never experienced before. A large number of Baimao Hassans appeared around Jiang You, bowing respectfully.

[Hassan Sabah's (Bai Mau) favorability reward has been distributed. Please check.]

A large number of system prompts filled Jiang You’s mailbox.

Jiang You flipped through it. Although Baimao's main body's combat power was not very good, there were still some cards in the deck that were effective in the current linkage environment.

There is even a card with an effect similar to the Kururugi Dragon. The only pity is that I didn’t see King Hassan’s card.

Jiang You couldn't help but knock Illya on the head: "Look at me, I gave me so many cards right away, but you haven't given me many yet."

"This is your own treasure, why are you blaming me!" Illya protested with her hands covering her head. After spending a few days together, she roughly understood what Jiang You meant. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and she raised her foot and kicked Jiang You's calf.

Even the durability of E was not enough to shake Illya's body, so under the reaction force, Illya hugged her feet and cried out in pain.

Jiang You checked the time. It was time to log off. He had to go to work tomorrow. "Tomorrow morning, you will go and show up to my Master, Emiya Kiritsugu. I have already passed the message to him. I will probably not be online until the afternoon. Remember to avoid Gilgamesh. He will not tolerate any sand in his eyes. It's time for me to go to bed, so you can enjoy a quiet sleep tonight."

"We sincerely praise you for following your instructions, sir." Baimao bowed her head again, but felt a chill on her face. She looked at Jiang You, who had taken her mask, with a slightly confused expression.

On a whim, Jiang You put the Baimao mask on his face and asked Illya, "Do you think I'll be mistaken for an Assassin if I wear this? You have so many clones, wouldn't it be easy to confuse them?"

"If you paint your body black, it will work." Illya nodded.

"Just a little disguise is enough, and I'm good at this." Baimao also gave an affirmative response.