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

Mash nodded. "The rule of seven Servants has been broken... It's not to the point of being completely without rules. But it's not strange that there are more than seven Servants. According to Chaldea's records, there have been battles in the past involving fifteen Servants."

Suddenly, Mary, who had been silent, stood up and shouted excitedly.

"Ah! I know! I suddenly realized, everyone! We were summoned here so that we could defeat them like heroes!"

"It's also possible that it will destroy the world~" Ritsuka suddenly became a chuunibyou for some reason.

"No, no, no~ You're wrong, Ritsuka." Mary gently opened her arms and twirled around, releasing a fragrance like lilies.

"Because I still love everyone just like I did in life~" Mary's gentle smile never changed; she firmly believed that she and her friends would defeat the enemy like heroes. "If the goal is to destroy the world, then this kind of feeling is unnecessary. Or rather, they wouldn't have summoned me in the first place."

Hearing Mary's confident words, Amadeus smiled slightly, but still wanted to tell Mary about the vast difference in their current strength. "While I won't interfere with your unfounded confidence, Maria, the opponent is an absolute formidable foe. Even with Nencho, Jeanne, Mash, and Fujimaru Ritsuka, who are all seasoned veterans, we're not the type to sweat it out. Regardless of numbers, the current difference in strength is so great that it's almost one-sided."

“Yes…” Mashu nodded in agreement. “Vlad III and Elizabeth Bathory, although both of them have been defeated by Mr. Nianzhuo, there is still one more, that human who looks like a swordsman. She seems to be Miss Marie’s confidante…”

“Yes…” Mary frowned in distress. “If she knows me, then she should be the knight Dion, although there is no concrete evidence.”

“Knight D’Eon…” the director’s voice came through Mashu’s communication device. “I remember he was a spy from the intelligence agency (the King’s Secret Service) established during the reign of Louis XV. He was also a dragoon belonging to the army, a specially appointed plenipotentiary ambassador with the highest privileges… She, no, he’s a man, isn’t he?!” The director’s tone was slightly surprised; judging from the enemies they had encountered at Chaldea before, he was clearly a blonde beauty…

“That’s nothing more than a trivial matter, Lady Magician from a distant world.” Mary waved her hand, indicating that we shouldn’t worry about the details. “Although I missed her prime, her beauty has never changed.”

"I see... If only he could join our side." The director sighed helplessly in Chaldea, a world away, feeling that there might still be a possibility of talking to him and bringing him into their camp.

“However… I think it’s unlikely. At least it would be very difficult,” Jeanne d’Arc joined the discussion. “Although I, as the Arbiter, have lost the ability to discern true names, there are still some things I can see through. Regardless of their attributes or legends, they all seem to have been endowed with [Berserk Mode].”

“It seems to be the power of the Holy Grail. Otherwise, Vlad III and Camilla wouldn’t have been able to retreat so easily, especially Vlad III. His spear was too sharp, and he couldn’t keep his composure. That’s why I easily provoked him and he was defeated… If it were a normal summoning, I think I would lose in a martial arts contest.” Nian Zhuo, who was analyzing the battle power on the other side, suddenly spoke up in agreement. “Even without the experience of mania… he can still be imbued with the berserk attribute. It’s truly worthy of the power of the Holy Grail.”

"Hmm, the Holy Grail War should have been a struggle to seize and obtain the Holy Grail, but the other side has already gotten their hands on it." Thinking of this, Mary puffed up her cheeks in anger. "That's so unfair!"

“However, this raises another question: why were Mary and the others summoned?” Jeanne was still somewhat puzzled. “...This is just my speculation. Although the Holy Grail War has not yet begun, the victor has already emerged. Could it be that the Holy Grail itself is trying to counteract this reversal of cause and effect, that is, to resolve this erroneous state? Moreover, I think that the stronger the opponent, the stronger its suppressive power will be.”

“…I see,” Mashu said, her voice suddenly rising in surprise as she seriously considered the credibility of Joan of Arc’s words. “So, in this France—”

“That’s right,” Jeanne said, realizing that Mash understood her words. “Perhaps there are other Servants like Marie who have been summoned.”

At this point, Mary became happy and excited, "...Oh! That means there will be brand new encounters!"

“We can’t be sure if this is our hope; there’s also the possibility that we’ll both end up as enemies…” Amadeus poured cold water on their hopes once again. “But in any case, there’s no harm in trying to find them. If possible, we should act as soon as possible, before Joan of Arc finds them.”

So, don't stop...

"That's true. I've lost the ability to detect Servants. As things stand, I can only rely on Chaldea's detection capabilities."

"Yes, we will also do our best to provide you with assistance," the director replied through the communication device. "Although it is not as powerful as the Arbiter at full strength, it can still exceed the detection range of ordinary Servants."

Mary clapped her hands, a smile returning to her face. "Alright, since that's the decision, everyone should rest now~ I bet everyone's pretty tired~"

“That’s right, Mr. Nianzhuo, you must be very tired. You’ve also kept watch all night. You should rest well with your Master tonight. We’ll take care of the surrounding area.”

Stretching, Zhuo looked at Mashu's serious eyes and had no choice but to give in and say that he was going to rest, but that he should call him if there was any emergency.

Lying down on the campsite, Nianzhuo immediately felt a wave of weariness wash over him. "Maybe... I really am a little tired."

Fall asleep.

Like waking from a dream, I was fortunate enough to meet a beautiful woman.

The damp soil beneath him suddenly softened, and when Nianzhuo opened his eyes again, he was greeted by a completely different ceiling.

“?” Nian Zhuo quickly stood up and looked around at this place, which was completely different from the Chaldea room. “Where am I…” He didn’t see any of his companions around him.

Could it be that Jeanne Alter launched a surprise attack in the middle of the night and captured us? Such a silent operation, then why are they locking me in this kind of room?

Before Zhuo could think any further, the door was suddenly opened.

When Zhuo saw the figure entering, his eyes widened. "My King...?"

Indeed, her long, flowing black hair cascaded down to her waist, and her eyes, like ruby ​​crystals, blinked constantly, radiating a youthful vivacity beyond her years. It was the very figure Zhuoxin had longed for, the one with whom he had made a promise, the one he had pledged his allegiance to. Oma Zi-O—Shou Wu

(Here, Oma is set to be 68 years old, Kira~)

However, at this moment, this terrifying being, who appeared to outsiders as capable of destroying the world, was wearing an apron around his waist, holding a shovel in his hand, and naturally displaying an anxious expression on his face—looking every bit the domestic creature.

Zhuang Wu glanced at Nian Zhuo, who was still on the bed and hadn't reacted yet, and simply smiled easily.

"What happened? Did someone beat you senseless in that world?" He then shrugged as if to sound serious.

"Yare yare~"

"...My king, why...why did I suddenly return here?" Zhuo scratched his head, still not quite understanding.

"Idiot~ Of course I called you back. Are you a blockhead..." Miss Fengmo tapped Nianzhuo's head, then turned and walked out the door.

"Get up quickly, then wash up. Breakfast is already being made." She reminded him before leaving.

"Oh—" With a simple reply, Nianzhuo immediately got out of bed and headed to the bathroom.

When Zhuo finished tidying up and walked to the dining table, Miss Oma had been waiting there for a long time.

A simple menu was laid out on the table, and Miss Oma, sitting to one side, waved her hand.

"Quickly, try the breakfast I made, and tell me what you did in that world~" Miss Oma mumbled, chewing on her bread.

Its two mouths are bulging out like a hamster's.

"Yes, my king..." He opened his mouth to speak, but unexpectedly a hand was suddenly stretched out in front of him. The Lady of the Demon's Lair, sitting opposite him, had a look on her face >_<

"While I'm glad you're willing to be my subject—but let's not do this in private. Just call me—Sougo~"

"—Understood, then—Sougo, I'll begin." In the end, he succumbed to her earnest gaze.

--A generic, unremarkable copy--

"Hmph~" Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Miss Sougo wrinkled her nose. "Mash, Marie~ Ophelia, I didn't realize that my subject—Zhuo—was so skilled~" Her tone was full of teasing. For some reason, looking at Miss Sougo's slightly pouting lips...

boki — cough cough cough

"So, Zhuangwu, do you know how this system was created?" He took a sip of milk and swallowed the bread in his mouth with difficulty.

"System? I didn't create that~" The astonishing truth, stated so casually, nearly made Nian Zhuo spit out his milk.

"That...that system wasn't made by you, Sougo?" Zhuo looked at the bread in his hand.

The bread in my hand suddenly doesn't taste good anymore.

"Yes, that's right~ Well, you don't need to worry about it too much." Miss Oma waved her hand to indicate that you shouldn't worry about it. "There's a trace of your aura on that system~ and a power that I'm quite familiar with. So there shouldn't be any danger."

"Hmm," he replied simply, then fell into deep thought again. "Who could it be—"

No matter how slowly the two ate, breakfast eventually came to an end.

As she played with the watch face that Nian Zhuo had obtained, Miss Omoka's lips curved into a beautiful smile.

"As expected of my subject, he obtained so many watch faces so quickly. I feel like I failed so much when I was eliminating all those different knights..." Recalling the bitter journey she had fought alone, Miss Oma still chewed on the bitterness of that time with a touch of sadness.

"Sougo... no, my king, now you have me by your side. So please rest assured." Kneeling on one knee, Zhuo grasped Oma's hand—once again swearing his allegiance.

"Hmm~" Turning her head away so that Zhuo wouldn't see her expression, Miss Oma stood up. "Alright, alright, it's getting late. I've already stopped time in your world~ Hurry up and go back."

As he spoke, he stepped forward and straightened his grimy collar once more.

"Don't lose, my subject." Golden power re-emerged from her hand, gradually enveloping Nian Zhuo.

"I'm waiting for the day you come back and stand by my side~" As she murmured these words, the world began to stir.

Watching Nianzhuo's figure completely disappear before her eyes, Miss Fengmo's expression returned to its usual coldness.

"—Time to clean my own statue." With a brush and a bucket in hand, Miss Oma also left the room.

(Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.jpg)

Look at this pot, it—it moved!

When Nianzhuo opened his eyes again, he was back on damp, soft earth. Only the feeling of fullness in his stomach told him that it was not a dream.

Rubbing his eyes, Nianzhuo quietly got up. Miss Fengmo was right; she had indeed stopped time here. Although a long time had passed on his side, he had only just lain down here. If he said he was already awake, he felt he'd be seen as a monster...

Looking around, apart from Ritsuka, who was drifting off to sleep with a calm smile, and Amadeus, who was resting with his eyes closed, Mashu, Jeanne d'Arc, and Marie were nowhere to be seen.

Quietly rising, Zhuo left the campfire without disturbing anyone. He saw Mashu patrolling in the distance, but didn't approach her. Instead, he searched for Mary and Jeanne around her.

Sure enough, two women were spotted not far away, but they seemed to be whispering to each other.

Although it was a bit impolite, Nian Zhuo still leaned closer and began eavesdropping.

"What's wrong, Joan? You look so listless. Are you tired?" Mary asked, looking at Joan's weary face.

“Mary…no, it’s not that I’m tired. I’m a Servant, after all.” Jeanne’s face flushed red upon hearing this.

"Then... could it be because they feel depressed... disappointed... after seeing France like this?" Both of them are Servants who have their names engraved in France and have a deep love for this land, but France is indeed in a slump now, so their depression is to be expected—this is Zhuo's conjecture.

“No, I’m not disappointed, thank you, Mary.” Joan’s face returned to its usual calm as she denied the statement, but did not completely deny it. “...However, it’s always a little painful to see familiar streets burning.”

“…Yes, especially for you, this era is exactly the same as the one you lived in, but it feels different to me. Is it a memory that is still continuing?” Mary’s worried expression was fully revealed.

To be honest, that's true.

For Joan of Arc, who had just passed away a few days earlier, she was summoned as a heroic spirit. In just a few days, France was plunged into crisis. The sudden death of the king truly saddened this heroic spirit.

However, Mary noticed this sadness, paused for a moment, and then suddenly hugged Joan of Arc. "...Yes! Let's have a chat! A women's forum!"

“…Ah? No, don’t do that, Mary~” Joan of Arc pushed Mary, who was leaning against her, and symbolically declined.

"Oh? Is that strange? But you and I were both summoned in our prime. Think about it, I'm in the prime of my life~ I'm absolutely enamored with romance and love!" Only then did Mary reveal her girlish longing for love, rather than the image of a French noblewoman.

"Ah ha ha." Joan of Arc gave an awkward laugh, still trying to avoid the question. "...Although the opportunity is rare, it's too difficult for me. While I understand love, I know nothing about romance..."

"I can't explain this to you because I'm just a village girl."

Unexpectedly, Mary revealed an indignant expression and said, "How could that be... that would be equivalent to losing ten percent of your life! It's not too late now, go fall in love, Joan!" She gave a suggestion that surprised everyone present.

The eavesdropper, Zhuo, who was not far away, almost made a sound in surprise.

"Well, if there's a chance, so, Mary, have you ever been in love?" It's more accurate to say that Joan of Arc accepted this so quickly, and then threw the topic to Mary.

“Hehehe. Of course. When I was seven, I fell in love with a boy who proposed to me. I think that must have been my first love.” Recounting the dazzling love stories in her short but beautiful life, Mary closed her eyes and recalled, “After that, when I was fourteen, I fell in love with the king who had already married me.”

"Fourteen...! Hearing you say it yourself, it's really amazing." Fourteen years old, in Joan of Arc's memory, there was only the fragrance of wheat at fourteen. "At that age, I... was always running, working, and playing in the fields with everyone. Regardless of whether the other person was male or female."

(No, no, no, that seven-year-old is even more problematic! What's with that little boy who proposed to you? Were there already pedophiles back then?!) Zhuo kept complaining in his mind, but still listened with the spirit of watching the drama unfold.

“That’s a pleasant and desirable way of life, you can go anywhere, it seems like it would be very happy.” Mary nodded, expressing her approval of that simple yet joyful lifestyle.

"Yes, those were truly happy times. Even without love or romance, there was still friendship." Nodding, Joan of Arc seemed to still be able to see that innocent girl playing with everyone yesterday.