Chapter 61: Arranged Clearly and Plainly

Wind rises, clouds surge, thunder roars, lightning flashes.

When such an extraordinary sight emerged within the summoning circle, Fujimaru Ritsuka keenly realized this was going to yield results.

Although she had lost count of how many times she had witnessed such a scene, and by all rights should have been calm about it, her mood at this moment was difficult to keep composed.

Mainly because this Lostbelt world was too deadly; it had almost completely sealed off the possibility of Servant arrival and assistance, which for Fujimaru Ritsuka as a Master was tantamount to being stripped of a crucial support, nearly severing an arm...

Cough cough, or perhaps not just one arm; things might go so badly as to have both arms and both legs chopped off.

During these arduous days, this was the first time she had seen the possibility of successfully summoning a Servant for cooperation, as if everything had returned to the familiar track she knew, and the girl's excitement naturally spilled over into words—

As expected, returning to the past, seizing the initiative in time, everything seemed to begin shifting in a favorable direction.

This may be only a small step in summoning a Servant...

Yet it is also a giant leap for Chaldea's strategy against this Lostbelt...

—That's right, this is the dawn of hope; she naturally had reason not to be so calm.

As the brilliant special effects and dazzling light slowly faded, a graceful figure manifested in the summoning circle.

Tall and slender, with purple long hair nearly reaching her ankles, black clothes and trousers plus black knee-high boots, a bewitching aura and exquisite figure, the fair face beneath the eye patch seemed to conceal a mysterious charm.

—Rider!

—Medusa!

Although nominally Fujimaru Ritsuka led this summoning ritual, in reality, Xia Zhi had long since planned everything in secret, ensuring the summoned Servant was precisely his preset target.

First, he could openly assign a close monitor to Chaldea's Master Lady, also to better protect her and prevent her from easily meeting with any mishap...

Second, after this Master Lady departed, the Rider with A+ Riding could seamlessly transition, directly reassigned to another post piloting the Vimana, the Ship of Light, truly making the best use of talent, not wasting a bit.

Fujimaru Ritsuka did not know a certain someone's sinister intentions, just as she likewise did not know that during the summoning process just now, her account had actually been stolen without her awareness.

She had no such awareness, merely letting out a relieved breath the moment she witnessed the Servant manifest, as if the boulder in her heart had quietly settled.

After all, after experiencing over a dozen consecutive setbacks just now, she had more or less lost some confidence, very worried this time would also fail.

However, at this moment it appeared everything was proceeding smoothly according to expectations.

Rider Medusa glanced around the surroundings slightly, then her gaze fixed on the man and woman before her; she did not speak, preparing to act, only to see the young man release the girl's hand he had been gripping tightly, stride forward a step, and signal to her with his eyes.

He feigned carefully observing the Servant before him, then turned his head, facing the girl, smiling broadly as if from the heart: "Miss Ritsuka, it appears you have successfully completed this summoning, congratulations!"

"Thank you, mainly thanks to your help, Mr. Xia Zhi... if not for you, I would definitely have failed just now."

Fujimaru Ritsuka responded with a smile, nodding vigorously, then looked expectantly at the tall purple-haired beauty, asking: "You are my Servant, right—may I ask, what is your Class and True Name?"

"..."

"..."

Medusa did not respond immediately, instead subconsciously glancing toward Xia Zhi's direction, as if seeking some confirmation.

Xia Zhi nodded slightly at her, his gaze very calm.

"Rest assured, this is Mr. Xia Zhi, a trustworthy person..." the red-haired, orange-eyed girl hurriedly waved her hand, explaining in a serious tone; she thought this Servant was worried Mr. Xia Zhi wasn't reliable enough.

And a Servant's Class and True Name are indeed matters well worth paying attention to.

But Mr. Xia Zhi is definitely a trustworthy person—

Just last night, he saved her life; not to mention, her successful summoning of a Servant was entirely thanks to his full assistance... whatever the case, Fujimaru Ritsuka currently had no reason not to trust him.

"..."

"..."

Despite wearing an eye patch, the purple-haired beauty still looked deeply at Fujimaru Ritsuka; this Proxy Master seemed to have realized nothing, and yet trusted him so much, she would likely be eaten alive...

"Medusa, Class Rider."

As if not good with words, the purple-haired beauty gave a concise explanation.

"Miss Medusa, I'm glad to fight alongside you..." Fujimaru Ritsuka responded with full joy, delight spilling over, but amid the joy she seemed to recall something, a subtle hesitation suddenly flashing in her eyes.

At this moment, her left hand also unconsciously lightly stroked her right hand, touching the Command Seal on the back of her right hand.

Under the Chaldea system, Command Seals do not manifest their power in the form of absolute orders, therefore they cannot issue commands like "Commit suicide, Lancer," and are not such a powerful "Curse."

From their design intent, they are more considered as crystallizations of magical resources, their main function being to provide tactical support to Servants, such as reinforcing or healing them... although because they lack the absolute command authority bonus, the effect is likewise inferior to true Command Seals.

The advantage is they can recover after use... usually this recovery relies on Chaldea's magical replenishment mechanism.

Otherwise, given Fujimaru Ritsuka's meager magecraft aptitude, her Magic Circuits can barely maintain sufficient magical energy supply to a Servant; wanting to naturally recover a Command Seal that is essentially a Mana Crystal would take years as the unit.

One Command Seal was used earlier, two remain now, unsure if that's enough...

Fujimaru Ritsuka felt slightly worried and anxious, thinking seriously.

She sensed the connection between the Command Seal and the Contract, her nerves which had been closed inward switching to an outward-open sensation, the vast majority of magical energy flowing toward the Servant on the opposite side... this feeling was both real and intense, giving her indescribable peace of mind, yet simultaneously bringing a certain pressure.

Reviewing past combat strategies, she usually only bore responsibility for contracting with Servants, while the task of supplying the magical energy Servants needed was completed by Chaldea's remote support.

However, the situation now had undergone a drastic change; she was not only separated from her companions, but also isolated helplessly on the timeline. Unable to contact Chaldea, the Imaginary Number Dive ship Shadow Border did not exist at this Time Node either.

This meant the responsibility of providing magical energy support to the Servant fell entirely on her personally; this was the source of the pressure.

And just at this time—

"Worried about insufficient magical reserves?" Xia Zhi's relaxed, cheerful voice sounded at her side; he timely offered a solution, "No need to worry about this, we have a contingency plan specifically for this situation..."

"Eh, is that really okay?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka bit her lip, asking with some embarrassment, thinking to herself this was too thorough and considerate; she hadn't made any substantive contribution yet, yet already received such meticulous care from the team, feeling rather guilty.

"Of course it's fine, what's not fine about it, it was originally to give you the power to protect yourself; this era's Britain is far more crazy and dangerous than you imagine..."

Xia Zhi shook his head dismissively.

Although in reality, this was only because he wanted to leave no loopholes—

Just earlier, when Xia Zhi tightly gripped the girl's hand, as her Magic Circuits opened and connected to the summoning circle, he used his control over magical energy which was growing more profound by the day, cleverly simulating a false Mana Circuit.

Causing Fujimaru Ritsuka to mistakenly believe it was her own power that successfully summoned and contracted the Servant.

However, the truth was not so; Medusa's true Master was actually Xia Zhi, not Fujimaru Ritsuka.

But Fujimaru Ritsuka knew nothing of this, for all signs led her to believe the truth before her eyes: she had successfully summoned a Servant and sensed that mana connection… unaware that it was nothing more than an intricately woven illusion.

For now, this secret had aroused no suspicion, and Master Lady believed it without doubt.

In order to further solidify this illusion, Xia Zhi decided to find a suitable reason to transfer the evidence away, believing that since Fujimaru Ritsuka had already experienced this genuine sensation, she would most likely not suspect anything afterward.

But if that false Mana Circuit were left behind, letting the girl herself bear the responsibility of supplying mana, it might very well be discovered through some fortuitous mishap… He believed that those protagonists bearing Providence were very likely to encounter such coincidences.

"Then I'll leave it to you… I'm truly very grateful."

Fujimaru Ritsuka also felt that now was not the time to be sentimental; relying on her own words, supplying mana was always troublesome, and she might even drag down the Servant, so she gritted her teeth and nodded in acceptance.

She was also very grateful for this, playing the part of someone who had been sold yet still helped count the money for the other party.

"You're welcome…"

Xia Zhishen was well versed in the art of making friends and naturally understood how to PUA her. Especially in a situation like this, the better he treated her, the more effectively he could strike her fighting spirit when she stood opposed to him and his companions in the future…

Moreover, this was nothing at all, merely a small appetizer.

The journey ahead was the key to cultivating bonds and friendship—

Presumably Vivian's bell-ringing speedrun journey… cough cough, was a Pilgrimage Journey full of hardships, which could shake her beliefs. And the hideous, nauseating true nature of those hopeless pieces of trash would give her a little "Fairy Shock"…

Yes, Xia Zhi did not think Master Lady was very difficult to deal with.

Cannot kill people… then I'll strike at her heart instead.

(Chapter End)