Chapter 40: Return

"So then..."

Rin Tohsaka continued asking in a weak, listless voice.

Although this listless behavior was largely due to getting up early this morning with slightly low blood pressure, it was also undeniable that a considerable part of it was mixed with a subtle emotion that was indescribable.

This emotion had quietly sprouted since the day after the Holy Grail War completely concluded several days ago, when the Servants dissolved their contracts and departed one after another, and she had only managed to readjust her mindset with great difficulty.

Originally this was nothing, but she hadn't expected this person to appear again.

It inevitably made the girl's heart lake no longer peaceful, rippling with waves.

It was a pity that she had come running over excitedly, but before she could be happy for a few minutes, she heard the other party speak in a tone of settling final affairs, saying there wasn't much time left... In short, she suddenly felt there was nothing to look forward to anymore.

"I originally just wanted to ask a few things, didn't expect to get an unexpected harvest..."

Xia Zhi sized up Rin Tohsaka's gloomy, unhappy expression, then withdrew his gaze and spoke leisurely: "After a round of friendly consultation, that little girl told me some other things."

"Oh... what things?"

"She told me that in the Holy Grail War ten years ago, Saber... Artoria was summoned once before, and at that time it was her father Kiritsugu Emiya who personally summoned the Servant, inside the Einzbern Castle in Germany."

"Wait, her father is called Kiritsugu Emiya?"

Rin Tohsaka, hearing this, raised her eyebrows slightly, precisely grasping this key information: "So that means, she and Shirou Emiya are siblings?"

"Strictly speaking, it's more appropriate to say older sister and younger brother. Don't look at that white-haired loli's childish appearance; actually she's even older than you..." Xia Zhi corrected this statement, "But that's not the key. The real key is that ten years later, Shirou Emiya successfully summoned Saber again."

"Mm..."

Rin Tohsaka also subconsciously frowned and fell into thought; this did indeed sound unusual.

"Is it some Holy Relic with an extremely deep connection to King Arthur?"

After all, she was a very professional Magician who had made many preparations for the Holy Grail War; the girl, in just a brief moment of thought, touched upon a possible answer by intuition — at least for now, only this explanation was the most reasonable.

So-called Holy Relics refer to those remnants left behind that have a connection to Heroic Spirits —

Items once held by those epic or legendary figures, or items related to them.

During the process of Heroic Spirit Summoning, if one can possess a similar Holy Relic, theoretically it will greatly increase the success rate of designated summoning of the desired Heroic Spirit. As for the specific numerical value of this success rate, it depends on the depth of the historical karmic ties between that Holy Relic and the corresponding Heroic Spirit.

Like those famous swords and blades passed down in history, most have weathered vicissitudes, frequently changed hands, carrying the stories and legends of many different masters.

Once one discusses the legends and names behind them, it inevitably involves the deeds of many heroes and outstanding figures.

Interpreted from the angle of Holy Relics, these relics connected to many Heroic Spirits will undoubtedly cause the probabilities of related Heroic Spirits appearing to stack and overlap, sharing probability, polluting the Gacha Pool, increasing uncertainty during the draw.

However, if there exists a Holy Relic tightly connected to only one Heroic Spirit, with hardly any other figures associated with it besides this Heroic Spirit...

Then using such an item as a Summoning Catalyst is almost equivalent to obtaining a one-hundred-percent designated draw opportunity.

Referencing Saber's specific case for analysis, the Holy Relic Shirou Emiya possesses is very likely the latter situation.

"That's exactly how it is, and that Holy Relic is inside Shirou Emiya's body, implanted into his body by Magecraft..." Xia Zhi nodded in acknowledgment and directly proceeded to explain further.

"Hah? How do you know that?" Rin Tohsaka was suspicious.

"Because his recovery ability is very unusual, so I had a guess... That night, that scene, that foul-mouthed King's Noble Phantasm bombarding wildly everywhere, the Mana Storm alone could suffocate a human to death directly; even if his luck was better, he shouldn't have been unscathed."

The youth raised his palm, coughed lightly, and said: "Of course more importantly, I've already verified this guess, so naturally I know."

"..."

"..."

Staring at the Sword Sheath held steadily in the other's hands, the black-haired twin-tailed girl couldn't help a moment of speechlessness: "That Emiya fellow... wouldn't be dead already, right?"

"That's not the case; the person is still alive, with no physiological trauma whatsoever..." Xia Zhi gently clarified, indicating he advocated peace and would absolutely not do such a brutal thing, though mental trauma was not his concern.

When the Sword Sheath was implanted, Shirou Emiya was probably still young in age and had no memory of it, so no psychological shadow was left.

But when the Sword Sheath was extracted, Shirou Emiya was already a High School Student... Personally witnessing such a large, such a thick thing being pulled out from inside his own body, he only felt his whole brain buzzing.

"Is that so, good that he didn't die..."

Rin Tohsaka secretly breathed a sigh of relief; although she had just acted like she didn't care, at present she was indeed being watched and investigated by the Magic Association, so it was best not to create extra branches and cause unnecessary trouble.

She collected her mind and focused her attention on the Sword Sheath tightly gripped by the other party. That Sword Sheath shone brilliantly, its exquisite perfection inspiring admiration.

— Golden texture, decorated with dazzling blue enamel.

— The seal carved in the middle is the long-lost Fairy script, proving this Sword Sheath is a dreamlike masterpiece forged by non-human hands.

"No wonder King Arthur was summoned consecutively... This is her Sword Sheath, right."

Examining it for a moment, Rin Tohsaka couldn't help but sigh with emotion; she naturally also knew in the legend that the loss of the Sword Sheath cast an ominous shadow over King Arthur's life, ultimately implicating the Kingdom's collapse.

Looking up at the other party again, she asked with slight confusion but straight to the point: "So, what do you intend to do?"

"My meaning is, this Sword Sheath is given to you... don't rush to refuse, just treat it as a Magecraft Task."

Xia Zhi handed the Sword Sheath to the girl without the slightest hesitation: "I analyzed it for two days, couldn't research any secrets, and now I have to leave. I can't take this physical object with me, so I can only rely on you."

The brief two days of research and exploration were insufficient for him to reveal the secrets hidden within the Sword Sheath.

As the World's Correction Force pressed closer step by step, he keenly sensed the moment of parting had already arrived, so he turned his thoughts and conceived a new plan, intending to utilize the Sword Sheath to exert its unique function.

"Eh? I, what do I do?" Rin Tohsaka looked at the proffered Sword Sheath, a face of astonishment; how had she suddenly been assigned a major Magecraft research mission?

"If there's an opportunity, you can try using it to Summon again... Tohsaka, Saber as a Servant has a unique and rare Existence Shape; perhaps she can become a Bridge connecting two Worlds."

He feigned a cough, turned his gaze elsewhere, as if unwilling to speak too directly: "If it goes smoothly... perhaps we'll have a day of meeting again in the future."

Before Saber left, he found a chance to talk with that Swordswoman girl, and naturally learned she was indeed different from other Servants — for example, she could possess records of other summonings, remembered the memories of the Fourth Holy Grail War.

So at that time he conceived this idea: could he use this King Arthur as a Signal relay station, so that after he returned to the Fairy Kingdom's World, he could still contact this side's World again.

This is a preliminary conception —

Not certain to have effect, but worth attempting.

After all, when it comes down to it, the Fairy Kingdom's World looks excessively dangerous no matter how you look at it; if there's a chance to Anchor this side's World, Xia Zhi naturally hopes to leave a back road, rather than deadlocking over there.

And to realize this goal, obviously Rin Tohsaka's cooperation is indispensable, but this aspect seems to have no major problem...

The girl looks very Tsundere, but actually it's because she has no opposite-sex friends; ordinary people also have no common language with her.

After all, preparing for the Holy Grail War day after day for ten years, that pressure is simply huge to the point of indescribable, leaving no leisure to attend to a normal social circle; that loneliness under heavy pressure cannot be fully described in words.

Therefore, in the brief few days of their interaction, Xia Zhi, as the sewer Servant she had accidentally summoned, not only carried her to a complete victory in the Holy Grail War, but they also weathered hardships together in the process……

Although he did not deliberately farm favorability, the results were still remarkably significant.

Rin Tohsaka, who usually silently endured everything on her own, also failed to perceive that in just a few days, she had already subconsciously sprouted a sense of reliance on someone.

"I…… I understand……"

There will be days of meeting again in the future……

Who knows what she brain-supplemented, the young girl was seemingly touched by some train of thought, and a blush instantly surfaced on her cheeks; she somewhat awkwardly accepted the Sword Sheath, her gaze flickering as she turned to other places, and she stammered:

"I will do my best……"

Although the Holy Grail System has already ended, summoning Servants next will be much more difficult.

But she did not consider this point much, simply nodding subconsciously, and deciding to do just that from now on.

Just like that night when the world collapsed before her eyes, only the other party tightly grasped her hand and galloped through the darkness, telling her what to do next, and all she needed to do was trust the other party and advance in the direction the other party told her.

"emmmmm……"

Cough cough, the former Master CPU's plan went unexpectedly smoothly; even the lines he had prepared weren't finished before the young girl foolishly nodded directly, to the extent that even Xia Zhi felt slightly apologetic.

As if also feeling his own behavior was somewhat improper, perhaps because his remaining conscience was faintly aching——

If he really still had that kind of thing, that is.

To prevent his conscience from truly stirring, Xia Zhi decisively decided to stop there; he gently waved his hand, slightly turned his body as if looking at the street scenery, and changed the subject: "Alright, my time is also up……"

"Eh…… w-wait! There's still one thing——"

Rin Tohsaka instantly became somewhat anxious, directly stepping forward to block him, as if afraid he would directly disappear: "Y-you…… you should have remembered your True Name by now, right? I forgot to ask before, you still haven't told me your name!"

The young girl recalled the small commotion on the summoning night; it was clearly not long ago, yet now it inexplicably carried a sense of nostalgia.

Due to her own careless mistake, during the summoning process she caused him to lose his memories, and even his True Name became an untouchable secret…… her mood at that time was truly despair and helplessness, as if facing a dead end.

However——

No one could have imagined that such a catastrophic opening could actually incredibly win until the end.

On the night of the decisive battle at Yuan Cang Shan, when the other party mentioned using a trump card to control the Great Holy Grail, she keenly perceived that he might have already found his True Name.

It was just that the situation was urgent at the time, she had no leisure to pursue the matter. And in the time after, she also never managed to find a suitable opportunity to probe, until she made her wish, resolved Sakura's problem, and successfully restored Fuyuki City's peace and order……

Once all the dust settled, she only then realized with a start that the Servants had already returned to the Throne of Heroes one after another.

Now, having barely gotten such an opportunity again, this time, Rin Tohsaka would naturally not forget again.

"……My name is Xia Zhi."

He pondered slightly, sighed with emotion, and still spoke his name.

"Xia Zhi……"

Rin Tohsaka searched intently in her memory, unable to immediately associate it with any famous Heroic Spirit image; just as she was about to inquire further, she was suddenly interrupted by footsteps coming from behind.

"Sister, why aren't you inside the house, running outside? Is there someone coming to question you again?"

She turned around, only to see a purple-haired young girl wearing an apron, face showing doubt, already walking up close to ask.

"……"

"……"

Rin Tohsaka once again directed her gaze toward the empty street ahead, only to see it vacant, not a single human figure.

She slowly shook her head: "It's nothing, Sakura, let's go back."

………………

At the same time, behind a distant street corner.

The expired Loli with silver-white long hair and crimson eyes asked with urgent questioning: "Is it done? Can we set off now?"

"……Mm, let's set off now." The young man withdrew his gaze, turned around, and casually performed the headpat secret technique, "But actually you don't need to be this anxious; I can indeed let your mother live again, but this also requires a certain amount of time."

"I can wait, as long as you're not lying to me."

Ilya said decisively, without any hesitation; she had already made her decision.

Anyway, she didn't have anything left to be attached to; even if she didn't leave with the other party, there was a high probability she wouldn't live much longer.

Rather than die just like that, Ilya would rather take a risk; the conditions the other party proposed were precisely what she could not refuse.

"Then——let's set off."

Xia Zhi reached out and pressed on this expired Loli's head, "Or rather, it should be said, returning is a bit more suitable."

————

————

As if having had a long dream, everything experienced in the dream was so clear.

Xia Zhi slowly awakened, slowly opened his eyes, and what met his sight was a cute face, long silver hair draping down.

"Ah! Xia Zhi Xia Zhi, you're awake, you're finally awake……"

Seeing the young man open his eyes, Index seemed to be in a very excited state, and immediately shouted loudly.

"Yes yes, I'm awake…… how long have I slept?" Reaching out to push away the excited little nun, Xia Zhi sat up, looked around; this was clearly a sealed carriage cabin, shaking as it traveled on a rugged road.

Vivian sat on the other side of the cabin, quietly looking over: "It's been half a month; ever since reading that Magic Book, you've been unconscious until now; I thought your brain had already been burned out by that forbidden knowledge……"

"How is that possible, I directly attained sudden enlightenment——!!" Xia Zhi decisively denied this possibility, waving his hand forcefully.

"Sudden enlightenment?" Vivian slightly furrowed her brows, but the next moment, her expression also froze.

The swelling magic power within Xia Zhi's body wantonly emanated out; the super-high-grade Magic Furnace Core propelled and operated the terrifying Pangea, as easily as breathing.

"You…… you became a Xian?" Her gaze held some disbelief; this guy is for real?

(Chapter End)