Chapter 331: Night

"I will find a way to repay your lifesaving kindness," Bazett said before leaving. "If this were during work hours, I would have to report this to the Clock Tower no matter what—but right now, I still have unfinished business with Kirei Kotomine. I need to prepare before I return."

Kirei Kotomine's attitude was equally clear: "Other matters are irrelevant to me. If you help Caster, I will help you."

After seeing off the two, Weigong Shilang decided to go out and buy some ingredients first.

"Aren't the ingredients and seasonings in the fridge already piled up like a mountain?" Tohsaka Rin said with a smile from behind the door. "It's cold outside—come back inside and sit down, darling."

That deliberately gentle tone didn't warm Weigong Shilang; instead, it made him feel awkward, his gaze unconsciously shifting to the side.

"Sorry. I forgot."

Weigong Shilang silently retracted his foot from the threshold, and the wooden door slowly closed.

Back in the living room, Saber was eating seaweed crackers. Seeing the others return, she closed the book on the table and gave Weigong Shilang a faint smile.

That smile was pure, like a spring of clear water—but somehow, it would've been better if the atmosphere weren't so awkward.

"Uh, I'll go prepare dinner ingredients first."

Weigong Shilang turned toward the kitchen but found a white-haired figure already there, wearing an apron, back turned, one hand covering his eyes, the other gripping a kitchen knife tightly.

"Archer didn't want to come back, so I used my Command Spell to make him return," Tohsaka Rin said, having resumed her seat with a smile. "He resists so much even though it's just going home—such a disobedient Servant really needs proper discipline. Maybe we should just have him commit seppuku like Ncera."

Has this woman finally gone mad?

Weigong Shilang glanced sympathetically at the man's back, then sat down slowly, cradling his teacup, and organized his thoughts before speaking.

"About those books—in other worlds without the Holy Grail War, our story and information were somehow received and recorded due to a coincidence."

"Of course! Many details differ from reality—you can't take everything as truth!"

He explained the origin of those books.

"That's amazing, Shilang," Tohsaka Rin said, not paying attention to what he'd said, but smiling. "You've won over all the Servants and heirs of the Three Families—now the Holy Grail belongs to you, darling."

Weigong Shilang fell silent, feeling that both contradicting and not contradicting were wrong.

"Rin, don't take advantage of this to push your luck," Illya lightly tapped the table, a mocking smile on her lips. "As the heroine of this timeline, I haven't granted you permission to join my and Shilang's two-person world yet."

Hearing Illya's words, Tohsaka Rin struggled to maintain her earlier smile.

"You little brat pretending to be innocent," Tohsaka Rin clenched her fist, veins bulging on her forehead, teeth gritted. "This is ridiculous—that idiot clearly isn't the type to make the first move toward women. What exactly did you do in other worlds? Wait, according to the books, he seems to have that habit."

Weigong Shilang felt he needed to explain himself: "Uh, about that—"

Sakura Matou blushed and said, "Senior Tohsaka, please don't tease Senior Shilang!"

"Tease? I'm stating facts!" Tohsaka Rin brushed her hair aside, glaring fiercely at Illya. Now she understood what the other girl's earlier "pump" had meant.

"Forget it—it's just a Parallel World thing."

"Tch. This feeling of losing without even realizing it is so annoying."

"Listen carefully. I don't care about the Human Order Preservation Agency or how your actions relate to human history—Fuyuki is the Tohsaka family's territory."

The entire Fuyuki city's ley lines are managed by the Tohsaka family. As the magus clan among the Three Families that provides the battlefield for the Holy Grail War, she was right to say so.

"Let's make a deal, Weigong Shilang," Tohsaka Rin regained her composure, as elegant and composed as she always was at school. "Help me craft the Jewel Sword, and in return, I'll offer you some assistance regarding the Greater Holy Grail."

The Jewel Sword is the pinnacle of magical artifacts, limited by the Second Magic.

It can share and utilize infinite parallel-world sources of magical energy.

"Tohsaka, I can help you craft the Jewel Sword, but you won't get involved in this," Weigong Shilang said, looking at Tohsaka Rin. "This matter—"

"Did I say I was giving up the Holy Grail War?" Tohsaka Rin lifted her chin, looking at Weigong Shilang.

"Don't flatter yourself. This isn't for you. Fuyuki's Holy Grail War won't tolerate outsiders interfering—it's the Tohsaka family's pride."

"After this Holy Grail War ends, if you cause trouble doing something else, I won't care. Feelings from other Parallel Worlds have nothing to do with me—don't misunderstand."

Sakura Matou nodded and said, "Senior Shilang, I want to help too."

Hearing this, Weigong Shilang froze for a moment, then realized that making such a unilateral decision was disrespectful to the proud Tohsaka.

Magus families like Tohsaka Rin hold attitudes toward certain matters that have nothing to do with normal human morality or perception.

"Sorry, Tohsaka," Weigong Shilang sat up straight, bowed slightly, then raised his head to meet Tohsaka Rin's eyes directly, speaking sincerely.

"But this matter is dangerous. Right now, I'm like an unstable bomb. If it were only me, I could retreat safely—but if you're with me—"

Boom!!

Weigong Shilang dodged to the left as a black magical bullet grazed past him.

"Who said I wanted to be with you?!" Tohsaka Rin's voice rose in agitation. "Are you trying to take me and Sakura both?! Shameless! You pervert!"

"Senior Tohsaka, Senior Shilang didn't mean it that way," Sakura whispered beside her, glancing at the tea table, then at Weigong Shilang, and squeezing her sleeve. "But if Senior Shilang wants to… then I—"

"Dream on!" Tohsaka Rin grabbed Sakura's hand and pulled her toward the door. "I'll bring the design blueprints before dinner! Sakura, come with me."

The conversation ended abruptly. Before Weigong Shilang could say more, the door slammed shut with a bang.

Weigong Shilang slowly lowered his hand, staring blankly. "I didn't mean it like that…"

He only meant that by then, he wouldn't be facing just a normal Holy Grail War with seven Servants.

"Hmph. Get used to it. That woman never acts rationally," Archer said, chopping vegetables with fluid precision. "I don't remember much of the past, but I still remember how cold the Thames was in winter."

Weigong Shilang's lip twitched—had this guy been thrown into the Thames for winter swimming and developed an indelible trauma?

"That's wonderful, Shilang," Illya shifted closer to his side.

Weigong Shilang was about to pretend to be angry—Illya had done all this without telling him first, though he had no intention of hiding anything from his friends.

"Now you won't have to fight alone."

The reprimand died on his lips.

"Illya?"

Was it for him?

The once lively house fell suddenly quiet. From the living room connected to the kitchen, the crisp, rhythmic sound of knife against cutting board echoed.

"On Fuyuki's ley lines, if we fight, we'll still have some role to play," Illya smiled gently, pressing against Weigong Shilang. "I know you're strong, Shilang—but I don't like seeing you frown. Like Rin said, don't be so overbearing—you're not everyone's babysitter."

Those wine-red eyes seemed to pierce through every emotion within him. Before those eyes, he could not lie.

Indeed, since returning, perhaps due to confidence in his own power, or perhaps because of his own false "heroism," this paternalistic approach surely didn't consider anyone else's feelings.

Weigong Shilang slightly bowed his head, reflecting inwardly.

The events described in those books were not experiences shared by the current "Weigong Shilang" and them; logically, whether Saber or Rin, why would they help him, knowing what he intended to do and the greater danger he might provoke?

The snow-white girl placed her hand on Weigong Shilang's hair, gently stroking it—not playful, but remarkably tender.

"Shilang, everyone acts out of their own will; those words cannot influence their choices," Dada Liya's voice revealed a rationality unlike her appearance: "Isn't that right, Saber?"

"Precisely," Saber opened the first page of the book—a painting showed a golden-haired knight and a red-haired boy jointly gripping the Holy Sword, swinging it toward the enemy ahead:

"The meeting between that version of me who let go of her past vow and you truly changed my attachment to things I once clung to."

"But it's too hollow."

"With only these words and others' accounts, I will not admit that my cherished wish is wrong."

Weigong Shilang met Saber's gaze across from him.

In those saintly azure eyes, there was no doubt or confusion.

No other reason was needed; no further words were required.

Yes, they were both the same kind of stubborn people.

Just as he would never abandon his ideal, even knowing it was childish and impractical, he would still pursue it without hesitation.

Only by walking the path himself, witnessing the future with his own eyes, and trying to change it with his own hands—only then could he possibly say he had let go.

"I think the future you might give me an answer," Saber turned a page, seeing a picture of herself bidding farewell to the boy beneath the sunset, and smiled: "Until then, I wish to stay here and see how your ideal unfolds."

"Is that alright?" Weigong Shilang asked: "Saber, you made a contract with the world, didn't you?"

"But I also made a contract with Shilang," Saber placed her right hand over her chest, solemnly saying: "I am your sword. I will raise my weapon in service of your will—this will never change."

"Rest assured, Shilang. Until this body falls, my sword will clear every obstacle before you."

Yes, this was Artoria Pendragon.

Always moving forward toward what she firmly believed in and recognized as right.

"Saber, I too will fulfill my duty as Master," Weigong Shilang replied with equal resolve: "I'm not sure if I can give you the answer you seek, but I will never betray you."

Weigong Shilang's previously tense shoulders suddenly relaxed—he didn't even notice himself, as if a weight had lessened.

Dada Liya watched the two still gazing at each other, sensed something, pouted slightly, said nothing, but wrapped her arms around Weigong Shilang's neck as if afraid he might escape.

Saber's lips curled into a faint smile as she asked them: "Isn't it hard, after so many cycles?"

"Huh?"

In the basement of the Tohsaka residence

"Senior Tohsaka," Kiriya Sakura helped search for what Tohsaka Rin needed: "Why didn't you let Senior Brother finish speaking?"

"You should call me 'Onee-san' by now," Tohsaka Rin lifted a two-hundred-jin box and said: "Honestly, what's so great about that idiot? Are the versions of me and you in the Parallel World both insane?"

Kiriya Sakura hesitated: "Onee-san, you've seemed like this for a long time already—"

"Shut up!" Tohsaka Rin blushed, set the heavy wooden box down, then said:

"Listen, Sakura. With that single-minded idiot, you must never give him a chance to argue—otherwise, he'll insist on solving everything himself."

"Your matters and the Holy Grail's—any help Tohsaka House received must be repaid."

"Indeed... Onee-san is so thoughtful," Kiriya Sakura smiled: "No wonder Senior Brother has always admired you."

"Stop it, Sakura," Tohsaka Rin opened the box and rummaged through its contents: "I don't want to see you turn dark—this isn't my route."

"Sorry, Onee-san," Kiriya Sakura picked up a book and said: "I just feel... a little resentful. If only I didn't know about other worlds—or if I could be as carefree as you."

Tohsaka Rin said nothing. After a rustling sound, she picked up something resembling a draft.

'Archer is my Servant. Archer is Weigong Shilang. Therefore, Weigong Shilang is also my familiar.' Tohsaka Rin tugged at her lips, narrowed her eyes: 'That brat stole someone else's Servant and dares to be so arrogant.'

Tohsaka Rin punched a stone tile on the floor—the impact shook dust from the bookshelf.

'Unreasonably annoyed!'

Late at night, the Einzbern castle on the outskirts.

Tenzan Lixiang stood before a mirror, adjusting his attire.

'The ley lines detected anomalies—the magical energy concentration near Yuanzang Mountain has risen,' Lord El-Melloi II glanced out the window at the moon gradually obscured by clouds: 'Weigong Shilang's group is advancing toward the location of the Greater Holy Grail. What should we do?'

Tenzan Lixiang fastened the cuff buttons, looked at Lord El-Melloi II—the room was spacious, with a long distance between them.

'Are they all here?'

As soon as he spoke, a dozen figures shifted from spiritual form into physical bodies.

Archer: Gilgamesh, Heroic Spirit Weigong Shilang, Chloe von Einzbern, Ishtar

Saber: Artoria, Senji Muramasa

Caster: Medea, Dada Liya von Einzbern

Lancer: Cú Chulainn, Ereshkigal, Pattival

Assassin: Kama, Sasaki Kojirō

Alterego: Shidōnai

Berserker: Heracles

Shielder: Mash

'Depart.'

(End of Chapter)