Chapter 385

Shajin forcibly suppressed his anger: "... You might as well speak more clearly."

"What I just performed on you is the holy baptism of Harmony. You should have shown loyalty in His light, yet you went your own way, full of lies, turning the baptism into a judgment. I really have no reason to undo it for you."

Shajin sneered: "Is this so-called Harmony?... Built on confinement and coercion?"

Xingqiri said lightly: "You misunderstand, Mr. Shajin. Punishment is prepared for the blasphemous, but I saw your unyielding heart, so I grant you the possibility of rebirth."

"During these seventeen system hours, you cannot leave the dream, nor can you contact any companions. You have only two paths to take, depending on whether you can complete my trial within the agreed time limit."

"If you succeed, you will merge into Harmony and be with myriad kin; if you fail, you will bear the wrath of the Infinite Husband (the incarnation of Harmony) and plunge into an abyss of eternal damnation. That is why I especially emphasized the word 'temporary'."

A strange feeling seeped into Shajin's mind again; he clutched his forehead in pain, gritted his teeth and said: "... Damn it, it sounds like my fate is the same either way."

"I indeed need a servant to help me uncover the 'evil' lurking in my family from the outside, while I will purge from within and capture the true culprit within those seventeen system hours."

——

The Funeral of Frieren.

"Is this really Harmony? Why does it feel……so strange to me."

Filien swallowed, a bead of cold sweat slid down her forehead and hovered at her tense jawline. She could hardly imagine that a family known throughout the Universal Bank for helping others would harbor such strange power.

Moreover, the notion of "merging into Harmony and being with myriad kin" always gave her a feeling of self-annihilation, of consciousness being melted down.

"No need to feel, it's just strange." Frieren said lightly, "The ability that Xingqiri just imposed on Shajin, although it looks like some kind of mental magic, is essentially different. In my view... it's more like imposing a certain rule on the other party."

"Rules?" Restaruk asked doubtfully: "Is there a way for us to avoid its influence?"

"If you mean not being affected by Xingqiri himself, then my answer is 'yes.' Because his power alone cannot yet be imposed on us through the firmament, but if it were someone else—say... an envoy of Harmony—then it would be hard to answer."

Filien's light purple eyes wandered uneasily; after thinking for a long time, she finally asked her teacher: "Lady Frieren, can we resist this 'rule'-type ability with magic?"

……

"Of course not."

In the magic association on the other side, Sereia bluntly denied Jianze's question.

"But why is that?" Jianze raised his head and gazed up at the elf on the throne.

"Quite simple, because the power Xingqiri uses cannot be explained by magic at all, nor can it be defended against by magic."

Sereia propped her chin on one hand and said lightly: "Curses can still be resisted with counter-spell magic, and mental-type magic can be fully defended against if one's mental resistance is high. But the power from the star gods, the power of the Path, can directly twist certain concepts—this is beyond magic's reach, and also an unsolvable problem."

"Although a first-rank mage is supposed to turn the 'impossible' into the 'possible'... but the power from beyond the heavens lies outside the scope of transmutation. Of course, if one day you can step onto the corresponding Path, perhaps you could try to come up with a different solution."

——

"\"When the time comes, I will verify your findings with me. If we two agree, or if you can bring me more…\" Xingqiri raised his voice cheerfully, \"then He will truly bestow love and honesty upon you. \""

"\"... You shameless hypocrite, you've confiscated all my possessions and still demand the truth? This is unfair; in your copper-smelling amusement park, nothing can be done without money. \" Shajin said through gritted teeth, hatefully."

"\"This ought to be your personal duty, needing no family aid. Your baggage is over there, light and handy; believe you can exchange that sack of cheap jewels for everything. That's what gamblers excel at, isn't it? \""

Saying that, Xingqiri glanced at the baggage at his feet.

"\"Set off, Mr. Shajin, you are 'free.' I will wait here for your good news. \""

Throughout the conversation, a dark crow remained perched high, silently observing everything that happened in the room.

Shajin lifted his baggage and walked to the door; before leaving, he glanced back at the man behind him and said: "So this meeting isn't an interrogation, nor is it really any kind of negotiation... but a thorough and utter lynching, right?"

Xingqiri still smiled and retorted: "How could it be? Mr. Shajin, I really just want to know what 'discovery' a 'chance' visitor who happened to appear at her crime scene could have... that's all."

"\"By the way, before you leave, I have a more personal question. \""

Shajin glared at him irritably: "What now?"

"\"You... do you really want to destroy this world with your own hands? \""

——

Fate.

"I don't know whether he wants to destroy the world, but right now he probably really wants to destroy you... the kid with two wings stuck on his head."

Lancer crossed his arms and clicked his tongue disapprovingly. He usually despises such underhanded tactics, but now being used by an even more sneaky kid has made him thoroughly annoyed; he really wants to rush in and beat him up badly.

"\"What can a sack of jewels do? He wouldn't really intend to win the whole Pinokangni with these, would he? \""

Rin Tohsaka couldn't help feeling her scalp tingle. This mission's difficulty is probably higher than winning the Holy Grail War barehanded and alone! It's simply impossible to complete! Seventeen system hours! At least they should give a four- or five-day extension, right?

"\"Who knows. \" Acher crossed his arms and said lightly: \"Don't forget who he is—he still bears the indelible slave code of Cigangniya on his neck, able to rise from slave to corporate executive... you might guess how many people he's won over along the way. \""

"\"I know he's very capable... but no matter how capable, he's still just a human; facing Harmony's unreasonable power, what use is more money? \""

Rin Tohsaka sighed softly: "\"Some people win all their lives, yet lose everything in a single defeat. Isn't that common enough? What if this time luck isn't on his side? \"\"