"They actually built another 'tavern' near the 'tavern' where the 'Masked Fools' gather, and it only took less than 72 system hours from conception to completion."
"The thought that countless people from all over the universe come here hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary [Tavern], but a significant portion of them end up here with you," the [Masked Fool] chuckled with amusement as he said this.
"Heh, I have to say this is a very interesting thing."
The young man looked into Giovanni's eyes and answered sincerely:
"Many brothers and sisters must have thought of this idea as well. I just took the opportunity to start doing it, and under the protection of our Lord, it was fortunately realized."
"Moreover, I also received their strong support. Without their help, I could not have built it in such a short time."
“Those without the Fool’s Mask cannot enter the Tavern, but they can have a similar experience here, and they should thank us.” The young man smiled slightly.
[The Fool in Masks] Giovanni's brow behind the mask appears to furrow slightly, if he has eyebrows at all.
"So what exactly is the meaning of your invitation to come here? We should have never met before."
“No, we’ve met before, and more than once.” The young man laughed.
"The first time I met you was because I was invited by you to attend the Ether Front held by the [Company] in Belleburg."
Giovanni's eyes narrowed slightly as he repeatedly searched his memory, confirming that he had never invited this young man in white, regardless of his appearance, clothing, aura, or physique.
"As the sponsor of the Ether Front, you guided me to collect Ether Spirits, challenge powerful opponents from all over the world, compete against strong players, and finally win the 'Grand Champion' title~"
The young man's white clothes transformed into the attire of a pioneer in the next instant!
Even though they were both "The Fool in Masks," Giovanni couldn't control his emotions at this moment. He stood up from the chair opposite him, as if he was about to shout.
The young man reached out one hand to stop him, and with the other hand removed only the upper half of the "Fool's Mask," revealing an ordinary yet somewhat handsome face:
"Don't get excited, Mr. Giovanni. It might be a bit complicated to explain."
"Simply put, I am now him (her), and I am not him (her).
"Please consider me as him (or her) before I went to Onphalus."
"Before I tell you the whole story, let's have a drink first!"
"This place is like a tavern, stocked with many unique wines and drinks. Some come from my world, and some come from my adventures (games). I'm sure there's one you'll like."
As the glasses clinked, the young man began to tell his story...
After listening to the young man's story, Giovanni, the "Masked Fool," let out a soft but long sigh:
Even in this world you created, there is an Earth, and there's a line of poetry there that I really like:
"After all, how many people actually catch the deer, unaware that they dream of being fish all day long?"
"Dream is a fish, Meng Weiyu, what a wonderful name. In the end, we are all fish in a dream."
"I once thought that the wisdom of the star god [Erudite], who could foresee the future of the universe and pinpoint the key moments of the universe, was more despairing than the destruction of the star god [Nanook]."
Under the calculations and deductions of [Bo Shi Zun], even the [Parallel Universe Walkie-Talkie], a rare artifact collected from the [Black Tower Space Station], could only hear its own echo.
"Compared to what our Lord saw when he climbed to the top of the Tree of Imaginary Numbers, even the power of the [Erudite] and the other Star Gods seemed far too insignificant."
"Honestly, even now I still somewhat hope that everything you've said and shown is a trick you've made up to fool me, rather than a cold, cruel truth."
“Every ‘Masked Fool’ has their own aesthetic (pleasure) perspective, and this kind of trick doesn’t fit my aesthetic of pleasure,” the young man said earnestly.
"Similar to your aesthetic of 'preferring to see events unfold naturally to a 'pleasant' ending,' in my aesthetic (pleasant) view, I hope to achieve a 'pleasant' ending for everyone in the end without resorting to extreme means as much as possible."
“Since we share the same aesthetic, from this moment on, we are friends.” Giovanni, the Masked Fool, extends his hand to the young man.
“This is what I sincerely hope for as well.” The young man also extended his hand.
"Just tell me what you need me to do. As long as it's within my power, don't hesitate to ask," Giovanni said.
Compared to other members of the Masked Fools, Sambo and Giovanni are more law-abiding within the group. They are more measured in their actions and dislike making jokes that are too morbid or gory. Unfortunately, Sambo's heart and soul are solely focused on Belloberg; otherwise, seeking his help would have been a perfectly good option.
As for fireworks, Meng Weiyu felt that she couldn't outwit the quirky and clever girl if she were to get along with her.
"This is the first and probably only Holy Grail stored on the Huecanite after the Holy Grail War." [Meng Weiyu] turned around and opened the safe behind her.
What comes into Giovanni's view is a magnificent golden container that fits in the palm of your hand, its interior shimmering with a mysterious light, like moonlight or a holy white light.
Meng Weiyu let out a sigh of reminiscence: "I didn't tell you earlier, but this was given to me by my master before he left this world after I came into it."
“My Lord said that there is an identical Holy Grail in the Pinocchio ship, the Garuda, where my human part is kept.”
"My human self made a bet with my Lord, the wager being to survive the seven Holy Grail Wars."
"No wonder he's the 'Masked Fool' who runs a 'tavern' near the 'tavern,' he dares to take such a bet." Giovanni, also a "Masked Fool," thought to himself.
Seemingly having guessed Giovanni's thoughts, Meng Weiyu smiled helplessly:
"I had no choice. I appeared in the tavern out of thin air with the Fool's Mask and the Holy Grail in the first place. It would be unsafe to go too far away from here."
"The Holy Grail in my hand seems to be very special. I can sense that its birth originated from the power of more than one destiny."
"As far as I can remember, Sambo originally got it in the [tavern].
"I would like to ask you to go to the Black Tower Space Station in my name as an [Outer Territory Pioneer], and promise to contact Ms. Black Tower with [me] as the research subject. Then, send a few letters to my friends at Belloberg, the [Luofu] Immortal Ship, and Pinocone, requesting some insignificant help from them."
Chapter 14 Reunion, Fingers Intertwined
Giovanni, the Masked Fool, watched as Meng Weiyu, also a Masked Fool, continued to speak beside the Holy Grail, his heart as turbulent as a stormy sea.
As the other party spoke again and again, my own beliefs rose and fell like a small boat about to capsize on a turbulent sea.
Even the "Masked Fools" solemnly sing praises to the star god they follow: "He will never give up on you, never frustrate you, never abandon you, never make you cry, never say goodbye to you, and never hurt you with lies."
If he hadn't firmly believed in the aforementioned texts circulated by the "Masked Fools," especially the last sentence, he would have even thought that the "Meng Weiyu" before him was the Lord of Joyful Fate whom he worshipped, in disguise, and that the real young man had been trapped in the Holy Grail from beginning to end.
When he saw that the other person's words and actions lacked any psychological expression, and even their smiles were restrained and subtle, he felt that the other person seemed to have very little humanity left.
He only hoped that the story would have a happy ending as things unfolded naturally.
“These are minor matters. As a small-time smuggler in Aprilon and a sponsor of certain events, I have some insignificant connections in those places,” said Giovanni, the Masked Fool.
“That would be perfect. You’re the only person I can trust here, Mr. Giovanni Giorgio.” [Meng Weiyu] responded with a smile.
"In return, please feel free to ask me anything else you'd like to ask, and I'll answer to the best of my knowledge." A faint smile still lingered on his lips.
"To be honest, I have so many questions." Giovanni, the Masked Fool, stared intently into Meng Weiyu's eyes. "First of all, can you and that part of humanity within the Holy Grail still sense each other?"
"Unfortunately, I can only observe his every move through the Holy Grail; I do not have any ability to communicate with him or intervene."
"During these 70-plus system sessions, after experiencing some dangerous situations at the beginning, he has been doing similar things to me."
“I’ve been building houses, and he’s been decorating them.”
"No wonder you were born from the same body, even the things you do are so similar. Did neither of you really study civil engineering before?" Giovanni thought to himself.
“Mr. Giovanni, would you be interested in watching together?” [Meng Weiyu] placed the Holy Grail on the large table and extended a calm and sincere invitation.
[The Masked Fool] Giovanni was startled at first, then a hint of joy flashed across his face.
"Of course, with pleasure!"
The mysterious light shimmering inside the magnificent golden container suddenly intensified, shining brightly like a flashlight in the dark, casting a dazzling upward beam into the bright room.
Almost instantly, the angle of the light tilted and shone, projecting the unfamiliar scenery onto the huge white wall in the center of the room, like a uniquely shaped projector.
"It actually has this function? I can clearly feel the power of [Memory] destiny." Giovanni, the Masked Fool, said with slight surprise.
"That's why I said that the power of birth originates from more than one destiny." [Meng Weiyu] nodded.
But the next moment, Meng Weiyu let out a soft "Huh": "It seems he's not renovating that shopping mall anymore."
Giovanni saw Saber [Yun Li] raise her massive, black iron sword, which was as tall as her, preparing to unleash [Insightful Annihilation]. He then noticed a young man who looked exactly like [Meng Weiyu] covering his wound with his left hand. After a few seconds of silence, he laughed.
"Chang Letianjun! Dare to make an interesting bet with me?" Meng Weiyu shouted in the video.
But what happened next was even more shocking: the being who believed in Giovanni then turned his gaze in that direction!
That was the gaze of the Star God! That was an honor that trillions of living beings in the universe could not possibly attain! That was a glance from the Star God they believed in!
"Wow, this is explosive right from the start?" Giovanni was shocked.
"Don't be too surprised, Mr. Giovanni. What you can't have always stirs up trouble, and those who are loved always take it for granted," Meng Weiyu said calmly.
He turned to look at Meng Weiyu beside him and found that he was also frowning.
It seems to be an unexpected and sudden event. Giovanni, the Masked Fool, instantly realized the truth.
They watched Meng Weiyu transform into [Archer Emiya] and chant Unlimited Blade Works, watched him dodge and weave, watched him set up traps on the rooftop, watched him launch [Pseudo-Spiral Sword] time and time again before finally launching a final assault, watched him be ambushed by Archer [Yanqing] who was eager to protect someone, and watched him be pinned to the wreckage on the top of the building by an ice-blue giant sword, and watched [Archer Emiya]'s abilities disappear as he slowly closed his eyes.
“He won’t die like this. Dying so easily doesn’t fit the aesthetics of pleasure,” Meng Weiyu said calmly.
But his clenched fist betrayed his unease. He seemed unaware that the other version of himself had a purple entry for "Battle Continuation" on his mental panel.
Just as Giovanni was about to comfort him, he felt time around him begin to freeze rapidly, as if it were solidifying!
The gaze of the Memory Star God [Fu Li] fell upon them at this moment, but He did not look at Giovanni or [Meng Weiyu].
Instead, the table was constantly littered with Holy Grails depicting scenes from the [Outer Territory Pioneers]!
Meng Weiyu woke up amidst a golden sea of wheat.
He stretched out one hand towards the sky, blocking the glaring sunlight while letting the afterglow flow out from between his fingers.
He slowly rose from the wheat field and found himself in the wheat field of [Elegant Secret Pavilion]. In the distance, under the trees by the lake, a girl with pink hair and a purple dress was swinging on a swing.
"You're awake~" [Xi Lian] said, turning her head to look at Meng Weiyu, "Long time no see, partner, have you missed me during this time apart?"
Although less than 72 system hours had passed, it felt like an eternity to Meng Weiyu, who had narrowly escaped death in the fierce battle.
"Long time no see. I'm glad you're safe and sound. I... I thought I wouldn't see you until the next Holy Grail War." He suddenly seemed a little flustered.
“I’ve always been here, waiting for you to arrive.” Xi Lian lightly jumped off the swing. “In this corner of time, the flow of time is much, much slower than outside.”
"I'm sorry, I'm seriously injured and I'm afraid I have no chance of defeating the two Sabers and Archer outside. I've also made you wait here for so long in vain." Meng Weiyu couldn't help but feel sad when she thought about the situation outside.
"There's more than one way to win than just fighting." [Xi Lian] smiled mischievously, as if she had just thought of something.
"And I also really enjoy being alone here, gazing at the lake, the swing swaying back and forth, my thoughts drift far away, and when I come back... I'm already asleep."
"You've regained your memories?" Meng Weiyu looked at the familiar scenery around [Aili Secret Pavilion], and in the wheat field not far away, there were scarecrows dressed as pioneers.
"Well, to be more precise, as a Servant, I recalled a part of that girl's memories. Alright, let's not talk about that for now~ Just now, a being cast a glance at me, so let's join hands and use the power of [memory] to win the most crucial step in this Holy Grail War!"
As they were talking, Xi Lian walked up to Meng Weiyu and touched his hands, interlocking their fingers!
Chapter 15 The Memories of That Stranger
"Guess how you managed to summon her back then without any artifacts~" [Xi Lian] smiled gently.
"Because I am a [Pioneer from Beyond the Realm]?" Meng Weiyu had already made a guess in his mind, but he always felt that he was still a little short of the truth.
"No, it's [memory]! Memories of being a [Pioneer from Beyond]!" The girl's fingers were still intertwined with his, as if a powerful force was being transmitted between them.
“Now, let me take you back with the ‘gift’,” said [Xi Lian].
"Will we part ways again?" Meng Weiyu asked suddenly, sounding a little uneasy.
"Don't worry~ at least not this time." [Xi Lian] suddenly leaned close to his ear and whispered:
"Don't worry, even if we really do part ways one day, I will still become a part of you..."
"To become the [memories] of these Holy Grail Wars, and to live forever in your heart."
"No way! Saying goodbye forever and then never forgetting it for life! And don't make such promises randomly!" Meng Weiyu mentally ranted.
"Looking back now, I still feel quite lucky." [Xi Lian] tilted her head slightly and looked into Meng Weiyu's eyes. "Compared to the thirty million [Wong Falus] Xi Lian, she is the only one who met you here."
For a fleeting moment, Meng Weiyu felt as if he had become a pioneer in the game and returned to the 3.4 version of the storyline experienced by [Onfaros]. He was a little dazed for a moment.
"Then it's settled. You can't just leave like that next time," Meng Weiyu said softly.
“Hmm~” [Xi Lian] smiled and responded, “But before you leave here and go on stage, there’s something I need to tell you, something very, very important…”
Meng Weiyu didn't speak, but simply looked at her quietly. The character she had been longing for in the game was now right beside her. They were so close, almost whispering sweet nothings to each other.
The dazed feeling hadn't gone away; he felt like he was having a dream he didn't want to wake up from.
“Saber, Archer, and Assassin, like me, inherited some of the memories and abilities of someone outside the Holy Grail. But what would happen if you were shown all your memories and past experiences related to them? Especially that Assassin who said ‘Watch your step!’” [Xi Lian] smiled mischievously.
"How do you know all this?" Meng Weiyu asked, somewhat curiously.
He knew that in the Fate series Holy Grail War, Masters sometimes dream of memories related to Servants, but he didn't recall ever hearing of the reverse.
“Because your [Magic Power] as a Sub-Servant belongs to someone else, when I returned here, my memories as a Sub-Servant were also synchronized into my mind.” [Xi Lian] gently shook their hands, which were currently clasped tightly together, and continued:
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