FATE: Target of Grand Master

After finalizing the details of the alliance with Osmandis, it was already quite late.

At the Sun King's warm invitation, Xia Yan enjoyed Egyptian delicacies at the Great Temple and planned to stay overnight.

After using his familiar to relay the news from his side to the pseudo-Crusaders still on the edge of the desert, Xia Yan entered a guest room inside the Great Temple.

The guest room was quite large, at least 200 square meters, and consisted of several interconnected stone chambers. Xia Yan was currently in the largest of them, which resembled a living room.

Oil lamps were placed on the walls and ceiling of the stone chamber, and with the help of magic, the chamber was illuminated as brightly as modern light bulbs.

The stone table in the middle was filled with various fruits and flowers, and several soft carpets were laid on the ground.

If the living room was still within Xia Yan's comprehension, then the bathroom next door seemed extremely luxurious.

Before Xia Yan was a large bathing pool that could only be seen in hot spring hotels. The golden stone bricks gave the water in the bathing pool an air of extravagance, and this bathing pool was for his exclusive use.

Each stone chamber, which serves as a bedroom, has an enormous stone slab bed, covered with two blankets large enough for at least three or four adults to sleep on together. These blankets are incredibly soft to the touch and are absolutely top-quality.

The walls of each stone chamber are decorated with murals that celebrate Osmandis' life experiences. They depict his victories as a general, his construction of magnificent buildings as a king, and his adventures with his beloved queen and close friends.

This reminded Xia Yan of a meme.

If we're talking about who's the most dangerous to summon among the normal Servants in the Type-Moon universe, Osmanthus would definitely be in the top three.

As for the reason...

First of all, Osmandis's spirit origin is so powerful that it can directly refuse to be summoned. Therefore, summoning Osmandis's true form using his relics is highly dependent on compatibility. Even if the summoning is successful, Osmandis will judge the Master according to his own standards, and the consequences are predictable if the Master is not qualified.

Another method is to summon Osmandis using the relics of Queen Nefertari, Osmandis's beloved wife. However, after summoning Osmandis in this way, one must endure the endless wrath of the Sun King until one's body is burned to ashes.

Therefore, actively summoning Osmandis is an extremely dangerous thing, even more dangerous than summoning Gilgamesh, who likes to call people "mongrel" all day long.

"How was it? My shining Master, are you satisfied with my hospitality?"

For some unknown reason, the Sun King came to see Xia Yan again.

Xia Yan naturally nodded in agreement.

For some reason, ever since defeating Osmandis, the Sun King has liked to call himself "Master of the Shining Light" and has also referred to his two previous Masters as "Men of the Glimmering Light".

"Hehehehehe. I didn't see you being this reserved when you were talking to me at the Great Temple. Why are you suddenly so restrained here?"

"It's not that I'm being reserved, it's just that I come from an ordinary background and have never enjoyed such luxurious treatment."

Xia Yan spoke the truth.

"Yes, that's true. Then enjoy my blessing. Consider it an extra reward for your servant's ability to defeat me."

"Oh dear, Sun King, you've finally admitted defeat."

Cú Chulainn said with a grin.

"Hmph, don't get too cocky, Child of Light. If it weren't for the fact that this is just a game, I could have destroyed you in five different ways the moment I restored this Spirit Origin."

"Whoosh~ Well, let's just say that's how it is."

Cú Chulainn whistled, displaying a nonchalant attitude.

"How about we go outside and have another match now?"

Osmandis's temper flared up instantly.

"That won't do. As long as we don't fight, my win rate against you is 100%."

Cú Chulainn was not fooled at all.

"Okay, okay, you're pretty good at math."

Just as Xia Yanqing clearly saw the scar on Osmandis's forehead, he unhesitatingly took out the extra paper fan he had folded for Morgan earlier and slammed it hard on Cú Chulainn's head.

"Hey, Xia Yan, what are you doing!"

"I told you not to nag."

Xia Yan immediately smiled at Osmandis and said, "Great Sun King, please don't hold it against my follower. I have received your kindness. If there's nothing else, I'm going to wash up and go to bed."

"Hmph, Child of Light, you're lucky to have met a decent Master."

Osmandis turned to leave, but suddenly, as if struck by a mischievous idea, he turned back to Xia Yan with a wicked grin and said, "Master of the Flash, I have an idea. Would you like to hear it?"

Xia Yan was speechless. Since you've said that, how can I say I won't listen?

"Please speak, Sun King."

Osmandis's smile widened even further.

"If you are willing to abandon this guy, I am not incapable of considering signing a formal contract with you and becoming your servant."

Xia Yan, who had been smiling, immediately stopped and said seriously, "Thank you for your kind offer, Sun King. I think no one could refuse your invitation to form a contract, but if it requires me to abandon my current companions, please forgive me for refusing. If this has caused you any displeasure, I apologize again."

Osmandis, who was rejected by Xia Yan, was not angry. He just tilted his head slightly, as if he was wondering why Xia Yan could reject him so decisively. A moment later, he laughed loudly and left.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to repeat to Cú Chulainn, "Child of Light, you've really met a good Master."

"Tch, do you even need to tell me that?"

Cú Chulainn pursed his lips in dissatisfaction.

After Osmandis left, Xia Yan stretched and let out a long breath.

Dealing with these emperors must be exhausting, but since this is a rare opportunity, let's change things up and enjoy an Egyptian-style bath.

After taking off his clothes and wrapping himself in a bath towel, Xia Yan sat down in the large pool.

The water in the pool wasn't too hot, only slightly warmer than body temperature. However, after two days of traveling in the extremely dry desert, being able to wash away the sand and sweat was still very refreshing.

Xia Yan is not a selfish person, so he is not the only one enjoying the perk of taking a bath.

Xia Yan originally wanted the two ladies to enjoy themselves first, but Morgan and Musashi insisted that Xia Yan, being human, should go first. After some back and forth, Cú Chulainn hitched a ride with Xia Yan and they all enjoyed themselves first.

After they had soaked for a while, Xia Yan said, "Cú Chulainn, although this might not please you, I still have to tell you that Osmandis did not use his full strength in this afternoon's battle. There was definitely an element of him holding back in our victory."

"Yes, I know."

"Since you know, why..." Xia Yan suddenly realized, "Could it be that your provocation just now was an expression of dissatisfaction with him going easy on you?"

"I suppose so. Actually, I knew that if that battle had continued after the Sun King regained his human form and spirit origin, I would have undoubtedly lost. But because he didn't continue, I, as a warrior, felt humiliated."

Xia Yan fell silent.

Regardless of their fate, the reason why heroes in mythology are able to become heroes is because they have the ability and pride to be worthy of the title "hero".

Winning against an opponent they know has been throwing the game can sometimes be more painful than losing.

"However, I was indeed a bit impulsive just now. Xia Yan, your blow with that fan wasn't unjustified. I'm not a lone Servant now, and I shouldn't act on my temper. If my impulsiveness caused you any loss, Xia Yan, I think I would regret it even more."

Cú Chulainn could sense that Xia Yan's silence meant he understood his feelings, and as Xia Yan's servant, he naturally couldn't let his emotions dictate his actions.

The two looked at each other and both felt the care and understanding in each other's eyes, so the topic naturally passed.

"hello."

Just then, Musashi walked in from the entrance of the stone chamber, wrapped in a white bath towel.

"It seems the time has come."

Cú Chulainn stood up, creating ripples in the water.

Just as Xia Yan was about to get up and leave, he suddenly felt something pressing down on his shoulder.

Looking up and back, he saw Musashi and Morgan each sticking out one foot, firmly stepping on Xia Yan.

Musashi said with a grin, "Xia Yan, why don't you stay and keep us company a little longer?"