Comprehensive anime illustrations, but all the beautiful girls in the group chat want to pay for you

The doll was actually tirelessly exploring all over the Scarlet Devil Mansion, and was even secretly observing her!

"Would you like to try some freshly brewed black tea, Miss?"

The little black tower suddenly stood up and saluted, with the hem of her skirt drawing a perfect arc.

Her posture of holding the teapot was more standard than that of the most senior butler, but the cunning light that flashed in her purple eyes when she poured the tea made Remlia almost knock over the teacup.

This puppet, which seemed rigid at first, now seemed to be telling some unspeakable secret in every look.

……

At this moment, the door was gently pushed open, and Patchouli Noreki walked into the reception room with light steps.

Her signature pink and purple nightgown glowed softly in the morning light, and the purple stripes on the robe flowed like water as she moved.

The centenarian magician held several thick magic books in his arms, and the seven-star runes inlaid on the spines of the books were faintly visible under the light.

"I heard that Brother Zhou is back?"

Patchouli's voice carried the ethereal quality unique to a magician, and her amethyst-like eyes looked through her half-moon glasses at Zhou Yuan, who had just woken up from the sofa.

Her pale skin was almost transparent in the sunlight, and only the pale blue shadows under her eyes hinted at her habit of staying up late to study magic books for a long time (doubtful).

Seeing that Zhou Yuan was still a little confused, Patchouli took a few steps closer, and the ruffles of her nightgown swayed gently with her movements.

She placed an ancient book with a gold-stamped cover on the coffee table, and her fingertips created subtle ripples of magic as they slid across the pages.

"There will be an interesting magic ceremony soon..."

She paused for a moment, her lips curled up in a mysterious arc.

"It's being held in this city. Are you interested in participating?"

------------

In the reading room.

Patchouli Noreki slowly took out seven exquisite chess pieces from the wide sleeves of her magic robe, each of which was carved to look lifelike.

The chess pieces made crisp sounds when they landed on the mahogany table, which was particularly clear in the quiet room.

"This ceremony..."

Her pale fingertips gently slid across the array of chess pieces, and finally placed a uniquely shaped holy grail chess piece at the front.

When the chess piece touched the table, a faint magical halo appeared.

"It's called the Holy Grail War."

Patchouli's voice was very soft, but it made the air in the entire reading hall freeze.

She pushed up her glasses that had slipped down, and a mysterious light flashed in her purple eyes.

Seven chess pieces were arranged in a perfect arc in front of her, each representing a different class:

Swordsman, Lancer, Archer, Cavalryman, Magician, Assassin, Berserker.

The Holy Grail chess piece in the front glowed with a faint golden luster in the morning light.

Patchouli's slender fingertips tapped lightly on the mahogany tabletop. The chess pieces trembled slightly with her movements, reflecting tiny spots of light in the sunlight.

"The rules are simple—"

She raised her eyes, her long purple hair falling from her shoulders.

"Seven Masters, seven Servants, the victor will receive the gift of the Holy Grail."

Zhou Yuan leaned over with great interest, his fingertips gently fiddling with a knight chess piece:

"Oh? Sounds like some kind of fun game~"

"exactly."

Patchouli had a mysterious smile on her lips and lightly tapped the Holy Grail chess piece with her fingertips.

"This is a magic duel. You need to defeat the other contestants with your summoned servants."

When she touched the chess piece, a lavender magic ripple appeared.

"How's it going? It's fun, isn't it?"

Zhou Yuan rubbed his chin thoughtfully:

"What will you get if you win?"

Patchouli's mouth curled up in a mysterious arc:

"In theory, the Holy Grail can grant any wish—"

She suddenly chuckled.

"Of course, this is just a lie to deceive laymen."

She pushed up her glasses, which had slipped down, and her purple eyes behind the lenses sparkled with a gleam of curiosity:

"I'm not interested in making wishes, but the magic involved..."

The voice suddenly became eager,

"I want you to help me participate in the competition and bring back the relevant materials. In exchange, the library of the Scarlet Devil Mansion is open to you at any time."

Zhou Yuan frowned slightly:

"Why don't you join in yourself?"

He paused and hesitated:

"Besides... I heard from Remi that you, Pachi, are cursed with illness... Why don't you try that wish?"

Patchouli's expression froze for a moment, and then she gave a slightly forced smile.

"I didn't expect Remi to tell you this..."

She shook her head gently, her hair glowing faintly in the sunlight.

"Don't worry about this kind of thing. I'm used to it."

Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the Holy Grail chess piece, and a glimmer of almost childlike anticipation flashed in her eyes that Zhou Yuan had never seen before:

"All you have to do is agree to help me participate in this ceremony!"

The sunlight from outside the window shines through the stained glass, casting mottled light and shadows on the chessboard.

Under Patchouli's seemingly relaxed tone, Zhou Yuan keenly caught the fleeting desire hidden deep in her eyes.

--------

Can you guess who the contestants for the Holy Grail are?

ヾ(≧▽≦*) o

Chapter 42 Yao Lan: Why does it sound so familiar...

Zhou Yuan's gaze wandered between the chessboard and Patchouli for a moment, and finally stopped on the Holy Grail chess piece.

The sunlight shines through the stained glass, making the chess pieces shine brightly.

"So, how can I participate in this ceremony?"

He asked softly, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the table.

Patchouli's purple eyes suddenly lit up like stars, and the corners of her mouth rose unconsciously.

She hurriedly covered half of her face with the thick magic book, but it couldn't hide the dancing light in her eyes:

"Hand out."

There was an undisguised joy in his voice, with a slight rise at the end.

"Ok?"

Zhou Yuan was obviously stunned, his brows slightly furrowed, but he still stretched out his right hand as he was told.

Patchouli's pale, slender hands gently covered the back of his hands, her fingertips having the slightly cool touch peculiar to a witch, like the first melted snow in winter.

At the moment of contact, a burning sensation suddenly came from the place where the skin touched -

"This is..."

Before he could finish, Patchouli's palm had completely covered him.

Zhou Yuan looked down and saw the pair of pale little hands that had never seen sunlight for years, unconsciously stroking the back of his hand. The movements were so gentle, as if they were flipping through a precious magic book, or as if they were tracing some ancient runes.

"Patch?"

Zhou Yuan called out tentatively, his voice a little softer than usual.

no respond.

Patchouli seemed completely immersed in her own thoughts, the aho-hair in her purple hair stood up happily, swaying gently in the sunlight, like the ears of some small animal.

"Patch!"

"what!"

Patchouli woke up as if from a dream, hurriedly withdrew her hands, and the heavy magic book fell to the ground with a "bang".

Her pale cheeks flushed instantly, and even the tips of her ears turned a lovely pink, like ripe berries.

He hurriedly bent down to pick up the book, his voice becoming increasingly quiet:

"Ahem... I've already engraved the Command Seal on the back of your hand..."

As she spoke, she covered her face with a book, revealing only a pair of sparkling purple eyes.

Zhou Yuan raised his hand and saw three bright red lines appearing on the back of his hand. They glowed with a strange luster in the sunlight and pulsated slightly like a living thing.

"This is..."

"A certificate of the Holy Grail War."

Patchouli finally calmed down, revealing half of her face from behind the book. Her voice returned to its usual calmness, but still trembled slightly.

"With this, I can summon servants... and use three compulsory orders..."

Her gaze unconsciously followed Zhou Yuan's fingers as he studied the Command Seal. A barely perceptible hint of anticipation flashed across her purple eyes, but was quickly concealed by her drooping eyelashes.

------------

"Holy Grail War?!"

Melyuzina's voice suddenly rose, with a noticeable tremolo at the end.

Her golden vertical pupils shrank slightly, and her dragon tail swung restlessly behind her, making a rustling sound as her scales rubbed against the carpet.

"What's wrong, Meruko?"

Zhou Yuan turned his head in confusion, only to see the dragon fairy quickly step forward and grab his wrist.

Her fingertips were slightly hot, like warm jade.

Little Black Tower stood quietly aside, with her hands folded in front of her, perfectly maintaining the demeanor of a maid.

But the inquiring light that shone in those amethyst-like eyes was exactly the same as that of her creator—

That is the unique eagerness of scholars when facing the unknown.

"Command Seals..."

Melyuchina whispered softly, her fingertips gently tracing the bright red lines on the back of Zhou Yuan's hand.

Her expression suddenly became complicated, a mixture of worry and some indescribable emotion.

"Xiao Yuan, do you know what this means?"

Melyuchina's dragon tail unconsciously wrapped around Zhou Yuan's ankle, and its scales shone like pearls in the sunlight.

She leaned close to Zhou Yuan's ear and lowered her voice:

"This is a game that can kill people..."

The little black tower's eyelashes trembled slightly, and data streams flashed rapidly in his purple eyes.