Chapter 320: Human Order Foundation Value EX

Chaldea's cafeteria

To compensate for personnel shortages, Servants skilled in life skills take turns helping out.

Although Servants' bodies do not experience hunger and require only magical energy supply, consuming food and drink benefits their mental state.

Every Servant summoned to Chaldea has a personal account and can earn points through various means to afford additional consumption beyond their basic fixed meals within Chaldea.

At this moment, the cafeteria's peak dining time for the "Artoria" type Servants had just passed, allowing Fushigi Lixiang and Mashi to have free time to converse with the slightly weary Servant Emiya.

"The time period of the Fifth Holy Grail War…" Chaldea's Red A frowned, as if pondering something:

"That era? Indeed, I once participated in that Holy Grail War; as part of that history, I should not be rejected if I go with you."

He took the utensils from the dishwasher and wiped his hands with a towel nearby.

Da Vinci said:

"Although this cannot yet be fully defined as a Singularity, based on current synchronization detection results, it appears to be a highly significant historical node with strong repulsion."

"Therefore, the most important thing is to become familiar with the local environment and the local Servants—commonly known as the natives!"

"Great!" Mashi clapped her hands: "Senior, let's go call Mr. El-Melloi II."

"Hmph, if we're going to that time period, there are plenty of Servants in Chaldea who can go." Red A glanced at Senji Muramasa, who was eating with Musashi, and pointed at him with his thumb:

"Take that guy along too—he's essentially a true local."

"Huh? You mean Grandpa?" Musashi, as a Servant, naturally overheard their conversation: "But Grandpa is an ancient person!"

"No, the body I'm possessing… how to put it… is indeed deeply connected to the region of Fuyuki." Senji Muramasa stood up, tidied himself, picked up his tray, and walked toward the group: "In that case, I'll lend a hand."

Shhh—

A digital screen projected around them, and Hiwato's voice sounded out.

"There's good news: a large number of spiritual bases can accompany us fully—Caster Cu Chulainn, Gilgamesh, Rider Medusa…"

"So many?!" Fushigi Lixiang exclaimed: "This isn't some subspecies Singularity where anyone can go…"

"Huh? Can I go too?" Cu Chulainn walked over with his tray, placed it in the dish return area, glanced at Red A and Senji Muramasa, then at the luxurious private room where the Gilgamesh variants sat, and said:

"But I don't want to be in the same team as those guys."

Ever since he first saw those two, he'd felt they looked familiar—even though they weren't from the same era, he must have encountered them often in other Holy Grail Wars, making them feel familiar even without memory.

"That should be my line to say! Seriously… that likely means the timeline of the Fifth Holy Grail War." Red A crossed his arms, sighing: "I never expected—besides Singularity F—another problem has emerged in that time period…"

Upon hearing this, Mashi hesitated and asked: "But Senior Emiya, aren't there too many Servants? Could that Holy Grail War have been an ultra-large-scale one?"

"No, consider Senji Muramasa's case," Red A said, suddenly feeling a headache but still explaining to the group:

"These summoned Servants mostly possess bodies that were originally Masters from that Holy Grail War—even Servants like Illya, in my timeline, were themselves Masters of the Fifth Holy Grail War."

"Were your Masters all monsters…?" Blackbeard muttered, staring blankly at his cup.

"Those chosen by deities and the Counter Force must have exceptional talent and aptitude, besides their connection to the Holy Grail," Helena praised.

Many Servants still dining in the cafeteria's common area turned their gazes toward them—they had never heard this before: Masters from the same Holy Grail War.

"Heh, more like unlucky." Red A sneered, then shook his head and asked Fushigi Lixiang: "Shall we take all these Servants along?"

Sometimes he wondered whether he'd arrived at Chaldea or returned to Fuyuki—everywhere he went, he saw familiar faces. Even the Jaguar Warrior… Teng-jie, who had never been a Master, had been summoned too.

Locals? Everyone here is a local.

"We're just going to investigate," Da Vinci smiled:

"So far, no established Singularity has been detected; we're merely checking what happened in this Parallel World to cause the detection fluctuation. Perhaps there was an unstable factor that has already vanished."

"We don't need to go to great lengths to bring every possible Servant—just take those currently in Chaldea with no other duties."

Fushigi Lixiang nodded: "Then let's decide this for now: proceed with a covert investigation."

"By the way, Cu Chulainn-san, will you come too?"

Cu Chulainn waved his hand without turning back: "Call me when you need me to fight—I'll probably be there already. If the signal isn't cut, I'll watch the livestream in the lobby. Good luck~."

"What about the Hero King? Let's politely ask—Wang Jier, are you coming?" Fushigi Lixiang called out.

Archer Gilgamesh, carrying a bottle of red wine, stepped out of the private room with other versions of Gilgamesh:

"Hahahaha~"

"What nonsense are you saying? Of course…"

"No!"

"In any Holy Grail War, my heroic form is a peerless treasure. Even you, attempting to admire my dual heroic visage, is an unforgivable greed…"

"Okay, pleasantries over. Let's go." Fushigi Lixiang turned away expressionlessly, having no interest in listening to the Hero King's rambling.

"Wait…!?"

"Spiritual transfer successful!"

"Caster El-Melloi II, Saber Senji Muramasa, Saber Artoria, Archer Emiya, Alterego Cu Chulainn the Leopard Man, and Mashi—all are present. Transfer was successful."

In a dense forest, morning light filtered through the canopy onto the soil; suddenly, several figures and voices appeared, startling the birds resting nearby.

"No fire, no high-concentration magical energy, no spiritual base defenses, no evil individuals." Fushigi Lixiang clapped her hands: "Another peaceful day! Can we go back to Chaldea now?"

"Huh?! I was going to explore!" Zidunai sighed: "It's such a rare chance—I really want to meet this world's Sera, Liz, and Weigong Shilang."

Hearing the name Weigong Shilang, Red A's eyebrow twitched, but he said nothing.

"At least take a look!!" Mashi roared: "We have to investigate, Senior!"

Mashi's expression grew increasingly serious, and a subtle shift began in the surrounding atmosphere.

Fushigi Lixiang's expression changed instantly—her previously slightly lax demeanor became instantly serious.

Because she had just sensed danger—if she continued acting carelessly, a certain knight would soon fulfill his duty…

"Where are we? It feels familiar." Fushigi Lixiang turned around, sensing she had seen this place before.

"Yuanzang Mountain," Da Vinci's voice appeared beside her, light and cheerful:

"During Singularity F, you and Mashi came here before. Ah, back then it was already burned bare, so it's normal you don't recognize it now."

"Mount Yuanzang. So, when we went to that time point ten years ago, we were also near here." Tenzan Lixiang looked left and right: "The Great Holy Grail should be inside a vast underground cavity nearby—should we go check?"

She turned to the "locals" here, about to ask for their opinion, but noticed the Servants' expressions had changed instantly.

"Watch out!"

Tenzan Lixiang's pupils shrank sharply; a sign of extreme danger struck his heart. In the instant his heart pounded, it felt as if a sharp sword pierced toward him.

Dingdong!

Boom!!!

The clashing sounds of blades and weapons rang out one after another; dust flew and smoke swirled.

Several Servants immediately took positions around her, shielding her at the center.

This sudden attack did not last long; it ceased mere moments later.

"Who are you?!" Dada Liya snapped. She clearly felt her Holy Sword strike something invisible and intangible, like her own blade—but seemingly more fragile.

As everyone stood ready, a cloaked figure appeared ahead. From its silhouette, it was a woman—and one they all knew well.

"Medea?!" Tenzan Lixiang blinked in surprise.

"Did we get transported into Caster's magical array?" Red A frowned, sensing the faint yet lingering threat around them.

"Troublesome. Our luck really sucks." Yang Wanli spat, his blade pointing at Caster.

"Of course—you're not Weigong Shilang." Medea held a sword in her left hand and a metal staff in her right:

"You're a Servant, and that girl over there who looks like his sister is also a Servant? Where did you come from…?"

"Archer and Saber—their spiritual bases are identical. Could this be Gilgamesh's doing…?"

"Young Lady Medea, this is a misunderstanding. Please give us a moment to explain our purpose," Tenzan Lixiang hurriedly said.

"Heh." Medea laughed, swinging her sword. Yang Wanli slashed out—but her figure shattered like a reflection in water or a mirage.

Immediately, a grand and powerful aura rose from around Mount Yuanzang. Countless sword shadows solidified into a curtain of interwoven wind, fire, lightning, and thunder.

Numerous magical arrays took shape, their magical energy surging, ready to unleash.

"Hey, this isn't a joke!" Yang Wanli warned. "We have to go all out."

"Mashu, prepare defense! Yang Wanli, use your Noble Phantasm!" Tenzan Lixiang decided instantly.

At the same moment, the weapons and magic launched their attacks.

"All gathered, all wishes, all non-destinies—everything exists solely to reach this blade."

In a hazy, dreamlike moment, the wasteland of swords replaced the world—but only for a fleeting instant. All swords shattered like snowflakes crystallizing.

The blade in Yang Wanli's hand gathered all radiance, and without hesitation, he swung it forth.

"My bones twist into madness!" Red A fired his pseudo-Spiral Sword toward the new location where Medea's illusion had reappeared.

Whether the sword curtain sealing the surroundings or the surrounding magical arrays, all were instantly cut and severed. The powerful sword qi, carrying searing heat, extended nearly infinitely—as if it had severed even the sky beyond the array.

Boom boom boom!

"Go!" Red A activated Fantasy Break. In the instant the magic within exploded, a mushroom cloud rose where Medea had appeared.

Seizing the opening, everyone hastily retreated.

"This Caster in the Holy Grail War is off. Unless she's already obtained the Holy Grail, she couldn't possibly have this power," Red A said, glancing back, his expression solemn.

The Spiral Sword and Fantasy Break he had launched had been blocked—as if by some unseen force—unable to pierce Medea's defense.

"She mentioned Gilgamesh earlier…" Mashu sprinted forward, her wary gaze fixed behind her.

"Now we know: the bodies inhabited by Yang Wanli and Zhidu Nei did indeed participate in this Holy Grail War. This world is likely the history I know," Lord El-Melloi II gazed ahead, his fingers dropping consecutively the magical inscribed stones:

"But there seem to be slight alterations… There's a Servant ahead! Cu Chulainn?! Rasputin—no, this must be the current Church overseer, Yanfeng Qili Qili!"

The Servants moved swiftly. Tenzan Lixiang sat atop Zhidu Nei's bear, named "Shilang," and in a few blinks, they arrived before the two standing figures ahead.

"Welcome, travelers from afar," Yanfeng Qili Qili smiled and said:

"I welcome you on behalf of the Hero-King."

As the group entered a certain range, the surrounding space flickered.

"Don't worry. Gilgamesh is waiting for you."

Inside the Chaldea hall.

"Hahahahaha!"

"Hahahahaha!"

"Hahahahaha!"

The laughter of the Gilgamesh clones echoed and resonated. Their smug expressions caused the child-form Gilgamesh beside them to silently step back.

"That fox Caster—excellent! Though she boldly stood against this King, I must commend her diligent preparation!" Archer Gilgamesh laughed:

"I acknowledge it! Though useless, this absurd drama and its earnest performance deserve recognition!"

"What did you say?!" The Chaldea Medea was held back by a nearby Greek Servant.

"Hahahahaha! This is why I didn't need to go! Come before me! Receive the King's grace!"

"Hey! You over there, dog—you made a fine messenger!"

Gilgamesh pointed at Cu Chulainn.

"Can I kill him?" Ncener Cu Chulainn asked among the crowd of Cu Chulainns.

The other Cu Chulainns nodded eagerly; even the Berserker Cu Chulainn was already preparing to strike.

"Stop it! Are you trying to tear this place apart? If you want to fight, go to the training grounds!" Da Vinci cried helplessly: "For once, there's no interference… waaah…"

"Puhahahaha!" Ncener Cu Chulainn burst into roaring laughter, the sound spreading like a plague.

Da Vinci looked up and saw the Cu Chulainns lowering their stances, pounding the ground and tables in mirth.

"Where's your hand, Hero-King? Did Caster cut it off?! Hahahaha!"

Da Vinci turned to the screen and saw the Hero-King staring directly at Yang Wanli.

Strange as it was, this Hero King looked somewhat disheveled; his right hand had vanished, the Wang Zhi Treasury glowed, the space rippled, and an axe materialized behind him.

(End of Chapter)