Thanks for the invitation. I'm in Type-Moon, inheriting the legacy of Zi-O.

"Why!" Mary understood Nianzhuo's decision when she heard the word "sorry," but it was precisely because of this that Mary couldn't understand, couldn't comprehend, and didn't want to understand. "Why, why can't you even grant me this request, even if it's a lie—!"

She wanted to continue questioning her servant loudly, but the words caught in her throat and she couldn't utter them after Mary raised her head.

The servant before him also looked pained, unable to meet his gaze.

"..." Nian Zhuo also wanted to agree to the girl's request.

No one likes death, no one gets used to death, and no one wants to step into unknown dangers again and again, even if they know they can overcome them.

But Nianzhuo must go, must do it, must—must go into a desperate situation.

“…I’m sorry, Mary…no, Master.” Gently brushing away Mary’s hands that were gripping him, Nianzhuo grabbed Mary’s shoulders as Mary’s body slumped and was about to fall, gazing into her sorrowful orange eyes.

“I don’t want to take risks, I don’t want to fight, and besides, I’m not really good at fighting anyway—” After carefully recalling his achievements, Nian Zhuo suddenly smiled helplessly, then became serious again.

"I don't want to die, and I don't want to leave you." Their eyes met, and Nianzhuo revealed his true feelings.

“Eh…” A blush appeared on Mary’s face. One second she was sad and the next she was suddenly happy. She couldn’t change her mood in time.

"...But that's precisely why I have to go." Then, Nian Zhuo's words turned deathly pale.

“Mary, I have a feeling—no, it’s more like a skill.” Nian Zhuo organized his thoughts, looked at the clock on the wall, and his eyes shone with a light that Mary had never seen before.

That was not a warrior, that was not a heroic spirit, that was not someone who had transcended death.

He was just a human being, and only a human should have that look in his eyes.

"..." Sensing that the servant in front of her seemed to want to say something, Mary turned pale but still remained silent.

“I have a feeling that if I do nothing and just stay in Chaldea, I will definitely regret it in the end.” Nian Zhuo smiled as he looked at Olga Marie, who was watching him.

—Because I've already regretted it once.

When he disappeared before my eyes, and before history, I had already regretted it once.

That's why he vowed to come here, that's why he decided to come here, that's why he chose to join them.

“I have already experienced the sorrow of loss, I have already experienced the pain of helplessness.” Nian Zhuo gently stroked Mary’s silver hair in front of him, watching her expression change constantly because of his words, and secretly rejoiced in his heart, “So I understand what you want to say, Mary. But I also understand that I have no way to go down that path.”

"Only by taking real action can I understand how precious this is." The warmth in my hands is the warmth of life.

The first change Nian Zhuo made was probably the change that led to Mary's death.

She, who had been completely broken down into molecules by Chaldeas, now sat perfectly intact in front of him, looking at him with great concern.

"I carry everyone's expectations, even if I can't tell you right now." Nian Zhuo's eyes were different from usual; now they looked more like those of an ordinary person.

It was a look that conveyed both satisfaction and resentment, a gaze brimming with a range of emotions.

“Mary, I was very weak at the beginning, extremely weak.” Recalling everything that happened after she answered the summons and came to Chaldea, Nian Zhuo’s tone also fluctuated.

"As you can see, at the beginning, almost all of my stats were at the lowest level. I even failed in the battle against Galahad."

"Even so, you are still willing to sign a contract with me and make me your servant."

“I’m so happy, Mary, I’m really happy.” Nian Zhuo removed his hand from Mary’s head and stared at the three bright red runes on the back of the girl’s hand. “That’s why I saved you when you were in danger, and why I went to help you when I learned that the future of humanity was going to be destroyed.”

"Everything I've done is in the hope of repaying your kindness." Nian Zhuo touched Mary's hand with his fingertips, feeling the emotions transmitted by the girl through the magic link, and continued to speak softly.

“I still have things to do, things I must do, and people I must save.” The black chains and red hair tie were still carefully preserved by Nian Zhuo.

"Do you remember Ritsuka? —" The orange-haired girl suddenly appeared in Nianzhuo's mind.

When she was first summoned, she was so frightened by the mere Dragon Tooth Soldier that her legs were trembling, but she still chose to continue.

"I think you should remember the girl who dared to sleep during your first speech." A smile involuntarily appeared on her face, and even Mary seemed to recall that scene, her lips curling into a smile. "She was just an ordinary person. Everyone here has better magic circuits and magical aptitude than her, not to mention the geniuses in Group A—"

A girl with brown hair suddenly entered his mind.

"Even so, during the first spiritual transfer, she still chose to fight, facing those things that could kill her at any moment."

"Even though her own legs were trembling, and she was terrified, she still encouraged everyone, including you, didn't she?"

“Since she’s already working so hard, I should work even harder.” Nian Zhuo’s expression turned serious.

"With great power comes great responsibility—that's not my idea." Although he wanted to admit it, Nianzhuo knew it himself.

I am not fighting for so-called justice, nor is Kamen Rider fighting for justice.

"I have only one reason for participating in this battle—to protect you and the future of all of you." Nian Zhuo flicked Mary's forehead, his smile looking somewhat unreal.

To fight and push into a desperate situation just for a girl's smile—isn't that a good thing?

"That's why I can't agree to your request, because I don't know what the future holds." The clock on the wall seemed to be acting strangely; instead of going through a full mark, it suddenly went counterclockwise.

“But I can assure you.” Seeing that Mary was stunned, Nianzhuo squatted down in front of her.

"By the contract of the servants, I will surely fulfill your wishes. I promise."

The enemies of the future are all unknown, but the enemies we have already overcome are all incredibly difficult to deal with.

Therefore, Nianzhuo can only guarantee that he will definitely win back the girls and everyone's future.

The rest is up to Mary to figure out.

Mary's gaze shifted repeatedly as she looked at Nianzhuo, wanting to speak but ultimately giving up.

“…Then you have to promise me.” Gently tugging at Nianzhuo’s sleeve, Mary’s voice became very soft, “You are not allowed to…you are not allowed to die again. No matter what kind of desperate situation you are in, no matter what kind of enemy you are, you must come back alive.”

“…Ah, I promise.” What else could Nian Zhuo say? The arrogant girl in front of him had already shed her arrogance and revealed her true intentions.

What else could I offer her besides a hug?

“Otherwise—next time I’ll go with you to participate in the spirit transfer.” Mary hugged Nianzhuo tightly and whispered in his ear, “In that case, even if we die, I will die with you.”

"Compared to the pain of watching you pass away alone, the anxiety caused by the spiritual transfer is nothing." The girl couldn't see Nian Zhuo's expression, but his emotions were transmitted through the magic circuits connecting the two of them, emanating from their tightly embracing arms.

"So, please give me courage, chant—" the girl said softly, the three bright red runes in her hand were shining.

"—In the name of the Command Spell, I command." One of the three dissipated, and crimson lightning appeared on Nianzhuo's body.

"Don't die, Nianzhuo, no matter what, don't die." Then, the girl watched as the bright red magic of the Command Seal dissipated without uttering a sound.

—This is useless. Both Nianzhuo and she knew this.

Command Spells can accomplish [mandatory and explicit commands], such as killing xx, leaving xx, or discarding xx, etc.

The phrase "Don't die" contains far too little information.

Even with those three words, it would be useless in the face of an absolute power disparity. He would still die.

So, as she said—please give her courage, Nian Zhuo.

“What a dishonest little girl, Mary—” Nianzhuo held the girl in his arms, tears welling up in his closed eyes.

"Mingming, you have given me a lot of courage."

Click—the clock on the wall moved one mark clockwise and then suddenly stopped.

“…Ah!” After realizing what she had done, Mary quickly let go of Nianzhuo’s arms.

"...Is everything finally alright?" How could Nianzhuo let Mary see his dishonest side? So Nianzhuo had already secretly wiped away his tears, and was now looking at Mary, who was blushing, without a care in the world.

“You…I…we…” Memories kept flooding back, and Mary’s face gradually turned rosy, almost redder than the orange stockings on her legs. Holding her cheeks, Mary’s gaze kept moving back and forth between Nian Zhuo and herself.

"Alright, alright, it's just a hug. Let's just consider it a way to speed up the flow of magic between us, master and servant?" Nian Zhuo shrugged, looking at Mary's blushing cheeks. "Anyway, it's good that she's recovered—"

"You just said you didn't want to leave me...?" Mary's memory froze at that moment, her cheeks flushed, and she pointed her index finger at the astonished Nianzhuo. "You...you, you, did you say you didn't want to leave me?"

"Ah...you mean that?" After thinking for a while, Nianzhuo finally remembered that he had indeed said that sentence, and nodded. "Yes, I don't want to leave you. ...Ah, of course, just take it as an unintentional mistake, please don't mind it—" Nianzhuo originally thought that Mary was pointing at him because his words were too misunderstandingable.

"Don't mind me?!" Unexpectedly, Mary's voice was filled with anger this time, which made Nianzhuo even more confused.

Mary grabbed Nianzhuo's sleeve and brought her face close to his.

"You said, don't worry about it?!" Nian Zhuo repeated himself, but he had already seen the magic mark representing the Animusfia family gradually appearing on Mary's forehead, coupled with the increasing force in his hands.

“If you want to take it seriously… fine. After all, it’s what I really think…” Nian Zhuo was completely confused, unsure whether to nod or shake his head, so he could only tentatively nod.

"..." Mary paused for a second, then quickly turned around, grabbed Nianzhuo's hand, and walked out of the infirmary.

"Hey... no, Mary... what are you doing?!" Nianzhuo couldn't resist and let Mary pull him out.

"You just said you owe me a favor, right?" Mary's voice came, but it made Nian Zhu break out in a cold sweat.

"Now, I want you to pay back your debt."

A battle whose ending was already predetermined

In the training field, the silver-haired girl and Nianzhuo, who had his hands behind his back, stood facing each other.

"Two trainees detected, identification complete—" the system's voice boomed from the loudspeaker, as the surrounding crystal-blue cubes began to move. "Would you like to train as a team, or—"

"--The training ground is for combat, and its strength is at the level of a B-rank Heroic Spirit." With practiced ease, Mary looked at the monitoring spell emanating magic in the corner. "Also, tell Da Vinci to seal off the training ground."

"Are you serious?" Nianzhuo looked at Mary, whose face was still streaked with tears, and was a little surprised.

Ever since he said he would repay his debt with Nian Zhuo... Mary brought him straight here.

"Hi hi~ This is your lovely Da Vinci, right?" A familiar female voice came from the communication spell. Da Vinci, who was in the control room, had her staff flashing at the top. "Ahem, I didn't expect that a magician would actually want to challenge a Heroic Spirit... and it's even our director or something—" She sounded like she was complaining because she found it troublesome.

However, the notebook in her hand and the upturned corners of her mouth completely betrayed her true intentions.

"However, I still hope you two can be mindful—" Da Vinci coughed lightly twice, looking at Mary on the screen with some concern, "The standard for victory is one side conceding or losing the ability to fight—no objections, right?"

"Also, please be careful with the damage, the two of you inside the arena, the repair costs are very high!"

“No objections.” Nian Zhuo flexed his wrists, glancing with some concern at the girl standing not far away. “But Mary, are you really sure about this?”

Magicians cannot defeat Heroic Spirits, except for those truly powerful "magicians" within the Clock Tower; this is a universal rule.

Because the heroic spirits, in terms of both their abilities and skills, are at a level that ordinary magicians could never reach in their entire lives.

Not to mention that even the lowest-ranking Heroic Spirit possesses—the crystallization of human imagination, the sublimation of their own legend.

——[Noble Phantasm].

So Nianzhuo really couldn't understand what Mary wanted to do.

Taking it out on herself? If that were the case, she wouldn't have brought herself to this training room.

"Nian Zhuo—" Olga Marie called out her servant's name, her silver hair swaying with the magic power emanating from her body. "I hope you will give it your all and take this battle seriously."

"What? Are you crazy?" Nian Zhuo even doubted that he had heard correctly. "Even if I wasn't recorded in human history, I am still a Heroic Spirit. Asking me to fight you seriously is just bullying me, isn't it?"

"...Really? You also think I can't do it?" Mary said softly, and then her magic suddenly rose to a higher level.