Chapter 42

"The prepared materials are on the other carriage; I'll go make what you need in a moment..." Vivian said calmly in that toneless voice of hers, though her gaze still held a hint of suspicion as she looked at him.

"Making both puppets to this level of precision will still take some time, but there shouldn't be any problem..."

She spoke while lowering her eyes to examine the two "Design Diagrams" clutched in her hand. Is this guy actually a silver hair fetishist?

"Then I'll leave it to you, Vivian..."

Xia Zhi nodded with a heh-heh, his smile sunny and cheerful, looking thoroughly professional, providing full emotional value.

"..."

"..."

Vivian didn't speak, merely bowing her head to focus intently on the two "Design Diagrams" in her hand, looking as if she were seriously referencing them.

The young man also smiled. He leisurely drew back the curtain and cast his gaze toward that long-missed twilight scenery. Although he had felt slight discomfort with the Fairy Kingdom's twilight and daytime when he had just transmigrated, he hadn't seen it much during this period, and instead found himself a bit unaccustomed to its absence.

On the rugged, winding, uneven earth, the carriage advanced slowly with a distinctly rhythmic jolting.

Besides, there were two more carriages alongside, each larger than this one. One carriage carried the usual food reserves; the other was used to store the Magic Materials collected on a regular basis.

The three carriages proceeded almost side by side, making things seem less lonely, dispelling the solitude of the journey.

And beneath that long and tranquil twilight——

The massive World Tree was silhouetted against the afterglow of the setting sun, standing tall and solemn where Heaven and Earth meet, appearing incomparably lofty and mysterious.

Like an ever-undying magnificent Scenery Line of this Fairy Kingdom, embracing the entire World...

Seeing this scene again, Xia Zhi still couldn't help but feel deeply moved, his heart yearning, yet at the same time, a strand of subtle confusion quietly sprouted in his heart.

Perhaps it was because his Magic Furnace Core had just undergone a major upgrade...

The tremendous progress in Magic Power made his already keen Magic Power Sense even more sensitive.

Even separated by such a vast Distance, he seemed to be able to faintly perceive the unique Magic Energy fluctuations emitted by that World Tree standing at the End of the horizon. The sensation was like facing a colossal Magic Furnace Core of super-giant proportions, drawing endless Magic Power from the earth.

However, limited by the Distant Distance, this perception was hazy and elusive.

Like trying to pierce through layer upon layer of mist, never able to clearly discern its true face.

Therefore, Xia Zhi did not jump to conclusions, merely pondering briefly, narrowing his eyes slightly, then withdrawing his gaze, still maintaining a trace of hesitation and probing in his heart.

Perhaps he should find an appropriate opportunity to verify it. After all, if that World Tree's Essence truly is also a Magic Furnace Core that absorbs Magic Power from the Dragon Vein, its scale would probably surpass the Great Holy Grail by who knows how many times...

It's just estimated it won't be that easy to utilize.

Collecting his thoughts, he shook his head, recalled what Vivian had just said, and looked toward the supply carriage beside them.

It sounded like it was being temporarily used as a Magic Workshop. The team's Conditions were indeed all kinds of straitened, truly heartbreaking to hear and tear-jerking to see. Perhaps he should consider solving this problem.

Although counting up right now, the entire team totaled no more than four people altogether, but as the team expands, the headcount would surely grow soon. Not to mention anything else, he had already lined up two new employees——

Ah no, three new employees.

Therefore, the Status Quo was absolutely not a long-term plan. Imagine if the team grew and developed in the future, with numerous members——would they have to drift along like a vast carriage train, settling wherever they happened to be, wandering without fixed abode?

Emmmmm... although that style is also quite dashing, or perhaps disguising themselves as a merchant caravan in the Fairy Kingdom would also be a practical Strategy?

His thoughts couldn't help but scatter, even seriously considering the Feasibility of doing business in the Fairy Kingdom. If they could truly make a name for themselves in the Fairy Kingdom's Market and gradually grow their Strength, this might be a Road worth attempting.

Because running a business differs from directly seizing Territory; it might minimize the wariness of the various Clans to the greatest extent, not directly provoking their hostility, thus allowing a latent force to be established unknowingly.

Normally buying low and selling high, gathering intelligence...

At critical moments recruiting troops and buying horses, raising the banner of rebellion...

Just as he let his thoughts gallop like wild horses, deeply pondering whether to take the commercial Road, the carriage suddenly stopped without warning.

And the Familiars pulling the carriage also quietly dispersed, clearly the caster had released the Summoning, scattering the Magic Power sustaining them.

"Night will fall soon. Let's rest around here for tonight..." Vivian lightly lifted the curtain, examined the surrounding Environment, and decisively made the decision.

"Then I'll prepare dinner..." Xia Zhi blinked, and before his words even fell, he indeed caught Index's eyes instantly flashing with expectant light, those eyes locking onto him tightly.

"Mm, by the way you handle the Camp's sentry duty. I'll go make those two puppets..." Vivian's gaze paused briefly on the silver-haired glutton nun's strands, then she took the lead in rising and left the carriage interior.

"Before that, let's set up camp——"

Lightly stroking Index's hair, Xia Zhi revealed a gentle smile.

Although he had just returned from a Business Trip, by rights he should rest properly, but right now he was in high spirits, brimming with Magic Power, even feeling just short of flying up to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Sun, so he had no intention of resting.

Might as well take advantage of now and get all the things that needed doing done first.

————

After finding a relatively flat piece of land nearby, Xia Zhi decided without hesitation to build a Temporary Camp on the spot, neatly arranging the needed supplies, then directly set up a Barrier Magic.

Then he pasted Rune inscriptions for the "Idle Dispersal Technique" Jutsu around the perimeter. With this, the Camp construction was declared complete.

Although the Facilities were somewhat crude, they were already sufficient to meet current needs.

After all, this was just a Temporary foothold; no need for overly meticulous and complex renovation engineering.

"Ready to cook?" Index walked circles around the side. Right now her Brain was entirely concerned with the dinner issue. During the half-month Xia Zhi was Unconscious, she hadn't had a single decent meal.

Although at that time, frantic with worry over Xia Zhi's condition, she had no mood to consider these problems at all.

But now the other party had woken up, not only was nothing wrong, he had even directly entered the gate on the path of alchemy and immortal cultivation... Index naturally was no longer Worry-worn, her Mood recovered, and she once again started paying attention to the eating issue.

"Rest assured, rest assured. Today I'll show you a thing or two..."

Xia Zhi gave a light cough. Cooking and such wasn't important at all; the truly important thing was another matter.

It was just that Vivian had only just entered the Mobile Workshop; it hadn't been more than a few minutes. If he rashly took action immediately, he'd likely be easily Perceived by her.

Preparing the stove and ingredients as usual, while distractedly keeping an eye on the Movement on Vivian's side. The carriage interior was actually a Temporary Magic Workshop, just with very limited space, only enough for puppet-making work to be carried out.

"It's ready. Everyone come eat..."

After a period of bustling, Xia Zhi lightly clapped his hands, calling the two little ones over to eat.

Mainly it was Index with eyes shining. Tetelot was also quite interested, but not to the point of drooling like the little nun. Probably because as a Fairy, her Demand for this was almost non-existent.

"Grand Master, help me watch Index, don't let her run around randomly..."

While the little nun ate happily with big mouthfuls, making ah-wu ah-wu sounds, Xia Zhi whispered to Tetelot: "Food reserves aren't enough. I'll go nearby to replenish..."

"Rest assured, rest assured, leave it to me..." Tetelot's eyes instantly sparkled with stars, the other party's single 'Grand Master' made her heart bloom with joy, and she hurriedly patted her plain and unremarkable chest, just short of slapping a guarantee on it.

Originally still wanted to ask, why clearly the other party's name is Xia Zhi, but wants to tell me to call him Li Feiyu...

——Now that thought is gone in an instant.

After all this is my bosom friend, the other party can completely understand me, understand my art, and even addresses me as Grand Master... yet I would even have to ask about this kind of thing, wouldn't that mean I instead cannot understand the other party's intention?

No, can't be like this!

Tetelot decisively denied the original thought.

Xia Zhi also didn't leave far, but directly found a nearby spot, set up a Bounded Field around to isolate Magic Power leakage, and then began carving a Summoning Circle on the ground, preparing to conduct Heroic Spirit Summoning.

Mhm, he wants to give Vivian a surprise.

The Great Holy Grail has records of Heroic Spirit Summonings from past generations, more accurately speaking, except for the First Holy Grail War, all summoning records are stored...

Perhaps because the First Holy Grail War was pioneering, rules weren't formally established beforehand, and they didn't anticipate how the Ritual would proceed, the Grail Summoning failed before forming a Ritual shape, various imperfections in rules led to no records.

And the further back one traces, the blurrier the summoning records become, while the newer the summoning records, the easier they are to analyze.

So currently the best choice is to consider within the previous Holy Grail War.

First, Gold Archer is not considered, that foul-mouthed King's personality is too vile, Xia Zhi subconsciously just PASSED this option, he would rather spend more effort later analyzing data, copying the other party's Skills and Noble Phantasm Intelligence, than invite the real deal over.

Even if negotiations fail he can just directly order the other party to commit suicide...

But why bother? Still have to waste a Command Seal, at minimum thousands to tens of thousands of Magic Power value, he only has a few hundred million Magic Power, how can it withstand such waste?

So —— decisively veto that Gilgamesh.

And the rest, seemingly all can be tried to summon, Xia Zhi simply sorted through them, if prioritizing by priority order, then first choice is naturally Saber·Artoria, next is Caster·Medea.

The former relates to his backup plan, whether he can reconnect with that Holy Grail War world depends on her;

As for the latter, she possesses solid professional capabilities, the Age of Gods Witch's gold content is full.

Basically it's like this, considering this world seems to extremely reject Heroic Spirits of other Elements, and more easily accepts Heroic Spirits with connections to Britain, with ties to Britain, then the answer is self-evident.

"Mystic Code... let me think..."

Finished carving the last pattern, Xia Zhi pondered the Summoning Mystic Code issue, however before he had time to decide which version of Summoning Mystic Code to use, he felt the "Outer Elixir" inside his body suddenly tremble slightly.

His heart stirred, at the point where his fingertip touched the Summoning Circle, dazzling light instantly burst forth, piercing the dim night —

Just like the massive Circuit inside his body directly connected with the Summoning Circle, a certain Function that once belonged to the Great Holy Grail began to exert force, naturally attempting to submit an application to the Throne of Heroes outside the world, trying to borrow the Intelligence on the Throne.

——Quite simple ah...

——Indeed both Magecraft and Magic are not hard, feels like anyone with hands can do it...

Xia Zhi's heart Naturally flashed through such a thought, simultaneously immediately in his Magic Furnace Core, following the generations of Heroic Spirit Summoning records, locked onto that heroic swordswoman girl's Spirit Origin Portrait.

If able to bring back that Sword Sheath, perhaps it would be foolproof.

Only pity no way to bring it back, so he can only pin hopes on this method, like opening a phone to find the most recent browsing record and clicking in, hoping the Feedback returned is still the same result.

Immediately after, he saw wind rise and clouds surge, Magic Power friction like cloud layers colliding, bursting with lightning and thunder.

Under the wrapping of gorgeous special effects, Spacetime phantoms arrived from the other shore.

"——May I ask, are you my Master?"

A clear cold voice transmitted, carrying a girl's unique voice texture, accompanied by Night Wind blowing under moonlight, like a painting.

Next moment, the golden-haired swordswoman girl froze, widened her eyes looking at the person before her.

"Eh? A... Assassin? How is it you?"

"Welcome, Miss Artoria, we meet again." The youth stood up, laughing quite heartily: "Very honored to work together with you again, although no longer colleagues... that's right, I am your Master this time."

"……"

"……"

Artoria's face full of shock.

She looked at him in disbelief, then looked at the surrounding wilderness-like land, completely baffled, totally unable to understand the situation.

Although had thought, perhaps later there would be chance to meet again.

But this meeting again chance came too fast, right?

She at Fuyuki City side had just been sent back, returned to Camlan Hill with corpses strewn everywhere, blood-red setting sun, just facing that collapsed Kingdom in gloomy sorrow, cursing herself over and over, next moment, immediately another Summoning opportunity arrived...

Who could have thought, all this was even just now's matter?

So from her perspective, it's simply just parted not half an hour, then met again once more.

——This eager?

Deeply inhaled a breath, the swordswoman girl suppressed the doubt in her heart, just wanted to open mouth to say something, but abruptly felt another Magic Power Aura appear behind her.

Wearing an indigo-purple hooded Cloak and purple long robes, true face hidden by hood, looking like a mysterious wizard from legend, a female Magician revealed her figure from the Summoning Circle, doubtfully looked around.

Then, she withdrew gaze, looked toward the youth in front, gently laughed: "Are you my Master?"

——Hm?

——This is the previous Fuyuki City's Caster? Medea? How was she also summoned out?

Artoria opened her mouth, what on earth is this situation?

She already completely doesn't understand, what is this fellow plotting?

And their relationship isn't not so good? Although she didn't get to Come into Contact with them too long, but just before returning to Throne of Heroes, also faintly could Perceive Medea's resentment and rage toward the youth, to the extent of gritting teeth wanting to stab him with a Knife.

That kind of superficially harmonious but actually estranged friendly relationship, summoning her out would also be hard to Handle, right?

Before the girl could figure it out, she saw the expression on Xia Zhi's face become even more hearty.

He directly stepped forward one step, smile making one feel like bathed in spring breeze, as if eyes full of sincerity: "Hello, I am your Master... may I ask, how should I address you?"

"……"

"……"

Right, not all Servants are like yourself with special circumstances, under normal circumstances unable to retain memories of last Summoning.

Artoria pursed her lips, distancing herself from her Master without a trace.

She suddenly felt that this kind of person could not be deeply befriended.

(Chapter End)