FATE: Target of Grand Master

"Hmm, this place tastes pretty good."

Xia Yan and Musashi chose a roadside ramen shop and sat side by side enjoying their noodles.

"Really? I checked this place out beforehand. When it comes to udon noodle tasting, I'm a master."

Xia Yan took a big gulp of soup, put down the bowl, and gave Musashi a thumbs up.

"Hehe, I'm glad you like it. Are you happy to be with me today?"

Xia Yan quickly wiped his mouth, saying somewhat helplessly, "You beat me to it. Actually, I should be the one asking you that question."

"I'm so happy. I'm happy every day just to see you."

Musashi rested one hand on the table, turned his head to look at Xia Yan, and slightly raised the corners of his mouth, as if he was watching to see how Xia Yan would react to his direct attack.

"Me too. I'm happy if you can make me happy."

Xia Yan also gave a bright smile.

The two locked eyes, and the atmosphere was just right.

"Big brother, would you like to buy a bouquet of flowers for my sister?"

Suddenly, a childish voice came from behind them.

Xia Yan turned his head and saw a little girl carrying a flower basket standing behind the two of them with a rose in her hand.

The little girl seemed to have albinism, with long white hair and pale skin that looked unhealthy. Her thin body contrasted sharply with the vibrant roses, making one instinctively want to help her.

"Little sister, are you selling flowers all by yourself?" Xia Yan asked.

"No, I have a few friends who sell flowers around here."

"Where did your flowers come from?"

"These flowers were planted by the nuns on the hill behind our orphanage."

"I see. Is your orphanage near the Fuyuki Church?"

"Yes. Big brother, why do you keep asking me questions about me? I'm not going with you. If you're not going to buy flowers, then don't bother me anymore."

Xia Yan's questions, which sounded like he was investigating a household registration, alerted the little girl. It was probably because the nuns at the orphanage had told the children to be wary of any perverted men they encountered.

"Pfft, hahaha..."

Musashi, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh.

"Xia Yan, you're being mistaken for a creepy uncle."

Xia Yan pursed her lips, but still patiently said, "Don't worry, I'm not asking you to come with me. I do need to buy flowers. Could you let me see if you have any other colors in your flower basket?"

"Yes, that's fine."

The little girl lifted the cloth covering the flower basket, revealing what was inside.

By the light of the ramen shop, Xia Yan saw that the flowers in the flower basket were almost sold out, with only about seven or eight flowers left. Most of them were red and pink, with one or two white ones.

"Big brother, which color do you want?"

Although the little girl remained wary, she was also eager to sell the flowers, so her tone became more enthusiastic.

"I'll take all of them. How much is it in total?"

Xia Yan's words startled the little girl.

"Big brother, even if you buy all the flowers, I still won't go with you."

The little girl unconsciously took a step back.

Xia Yan just wanted to cover his face at this moment. Seriously, weren't the nuns in the convent instilling a bit too much sense of vigilance in these children?

"I never said I was going to take you away. I just wanted to buy your flowers. Just tell me how much you want."

The girl gave Xia Yan a price, and he paid without even haggling.

The little girl was very happy after receiving the money, feeling a sense of joy like she had finished her homework early and could go home to play.

Before leaving, the little girl still politely apologized to Xia Yan, but the words of apology still made Xia Yan feel very awkward.

"Although the older brother was a bit suspicious, he turned out to be a good person."

Upon hearing this, Musashi was already laughing so hard he was clutching his stomach and pounding the table.

"Musashi, that's enough. If you keep laughing like that, I'll take the flowers back and give them to Morgan."

"No way!" Musashi protested. "You're still on a date with me, but you're thinking about other women. Xia Yan, you're going to become a jerk!"

"Then please accept the flowers. I hope you like them."

After accepting the bouquet from Xia Yan, Musashi leaned closer to smell it, and the faint floral fragrance made him feel even more relaxed.

"Thank you, I like it very much."

Musashi gave a satisfied smile.

"By the way, why did you ask that little girl so many questions just now?"

"Of course, it's to confirm whether this little girl has been exploited by criminals. Nowadays, many scammers and criminal gangs like to exploit children to gain sympathy and make profits."

"Xia Yan, you're really quite vigilant."

"Because I don't want to do something bad with good intentions."

Xia Yan looked at the flower in Musashi's hand and added, "Besides, I don't want the flower I'm giving you to be tainted by other people's pain."

Musashi was surprised by Xia Yan's words and hugged the flowers in her arms even tighter, her eyes filled with tenderness as she looked at Xia Yan.

From birth, Musashi was constantly complained about by her father for not being a man. Even though she displayed unparalleled talent, she was still constantly suppressed. In order to prove herself, Musashi embarked on a journey to challenge countless strong opponents, and in the process, she gradually forgot that she was also a girl.

I never realized that someone who had only pursued the way of the sword could also experience such a simple yet radiant happiness.

Seeing Musashi lower his head and fall silent, Xia Yan asked with concern, "Musashi? Are you alright? Did you eat too much udon noodles?"

"How is that possible!"

Musashi looked up and replied, "Even if you offered me two more bowls, I would still eat them without hesitation."

"Shall I order two more bowls?" Xia Yan said with a mischievous grin.

Musashi, his face flushed, immediately replied, "Only if I get up and stretch first."

"Let's go then. Where's our next stop?"

Xia Yan stood up.

"There's no next stop. Let's call it a day; we can't let you get too tired."

Musashi's words surprised Xia Yan.

"Musashi, I'm not tired."

"But I'm tired."

Musashi's words were obviously a lie. Xia Yan, who had been trained by Musashi all morning, did not feel tired. How could Musashi, as a Servant, possibly be tired?

"Musashi, you really don't need to do this. I'm really not tired."

Xia Yan didn't want Musashi to have any regrets. After all, as the trial progressed, Xia Yan himself wasn't sure if he would have enough time to spend with his Servants in the future.

"But I'm really tired. I've already made so many memories today, I'm already very content. Xia Yan, you can't be greedy, too much of a good thing is bad."

Musashi also stood up and took Xia Yan's arm.

"Walk back with me."

"All right."

Like many couples taking a nighttime stroll, the two disappeared into the crowd.

On the other side, the albino little girl, having sold all her flowers, happily ran back to the nun standing not far away.

"Sister Karen, Lavinia has sold out of flowers."

"Wow, that's amazing!"

Karen stroked Lavinia's head; Lavinia also had white hair. Karen took good care of this little girl named Lavinia.

"Sister Karen, was I the first to finish today's flower-selling task?"

Karen smiled and replied, "Yes. Lavinia was the most efficient today."

"hey-hey."

As Lavinia enjoyed Karen's caresses, she thought to herself that she had finally defeated the newcomer.

Ever since that adorable doll-like girl came to the orphanage, he has never won against her in any activity.

Whether it's fundraising, making handicrafts, or learning to cook, that guy seems to have practiced countless times until he's mastered it effortlessly, and he always manages to complete it quickly and well.

This turned Lavinia, who originally excelled in all aspects, into a "perennial runner-up," feeling overshadowed in everything she did.

Lavinia naturally developed a competitive spirit, and perhaps a touch of jealousy as well. However, Lavinia never considered using her longer stay at the orphanage or better relationships with the other children to gang up on that guy. She only wanted to defeat him fair and square.

"However, Williams didn't participate today."

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Karen added that comment when Lavinia was smiling the brightest.

"Didn't participate?"

Lavinia repeated, as if wanting to confirm it with Karen.

All activities at the welfare home require the participation of all staff members. Unless there is an unavoidable force majeure event such as illness, the children have no right to refuse.

"Yes, that child was borrowed halfway through selling flowers today. It seems that when we were helping with a charity sale earlier, several shop owners took a liking to her looks and wanted to hire her as a little model for promotional purposes."

Lavinia clenched her fists, then silently sat down to one side.

Karen pretended to be unaware and deliberately said, "That child has indeed been gone for quite a while. Lavinia, since you have some free time now, why don't you go and call her back for me?"