Chapter 275: Illusion Realm

The atmosphere in the living room, unlike the tension at the Tohsaka Residence, even carried a faint... bizarre everydayness.

Black Tower, legs crossed, sat on the most spacious sofa, her violet‑black eyes leisurely appraising the group before her.

She had already changed out of that conspicuous outfit, now wearing a comfortable dark‑purple velvet home robe, her brown hair loosely draped, one hand propping her cheek, the other fingers idly tapping her knee.

A Xing sat cross‑legged on the soft carpet nearby, a bowl of freshly prepared Bubble Noodles emitting an inviting aroma placed before her.

She focused intently, twirling the golden noodles with the attached plastic fork, then with a slurp she smoothly sent them into her mouth, eating with single‑minded concentration, as if all surrounding discussion mattered less than the steaming bowl of Bubble Noodles before her.

Chang Ye Yue sat on a single armchair opposite Black Tower, relaxed and graceful, her ever‑present Black Umbrella lightly leaning against the chair.

A gentle yet inscrutable smile graced her face, her crimson eyes calmly meeting Black Tower's probing gaze, as if the battle outside the Tohsaka family that could have destroyed half a city had nothing to do with her.

San Yue Qi stood somewhat awkwardly a little behind Chang Ye Yue, her hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

The pink ponytail swayed gently with her uneasy movements.

Her gaze occasionally stole a glance at A Xing, who was slurping Bubble Noodles (what a strange "Xing"! ), then quickly flicked toward the Black Tower Lady.

In the inner suite, Sakura Matou sat quietly on a low stool beside the bed, her small hands neatly placed on her knees, eyes lowered.

Meanwhile, Yuan Ban Lin lay on the bed, covered by a soft blanket, breathing evenly.

Black Tower's gaze swept back and forth between Chang Ye Yue and San Yue Qi, finally settling on Chang Ye Yue, first breaking the delicate silence.

"So,"

Black Tower spoke, her tone casual, "You are that Chang Ye Yue. And this…"

She lifted her chin slightly, pointing toward San Yue Qi, "The pink‑haired little girl on the Star Rail, San Yue Qi. Now she's your Servant, Berserker?"

"Exactly."

Chang Ye Yue gave a slight nod, her tone composed, the smile at her lips deepening a touch, "It is an honor to meet you formally here, Black Tower Lady. Though the manner of our meeting and our respective conditions are indeed... unexpected."

As for why Yuan Ban Lin is here, the timeline must be pushed back.

The streets outside the Tohsaka Residence were shrouded in an uncanny stillness.

Chang Ye Yue's crimson eyes flickered softly, like rubies immersed in night.

Silently it covered the area centered on the Tohsaka family.

A massive Illusion Realm grounded in reality, like an exquisite bubble, temporarily separating the inside from the outside.

Within the Illusion Realm, Black Tower could test the strength of local Heroic Spirits without restraint, and Gilgamesh could vent his fury to his heart's content, while outside the realm, residents of Dongmu City would simply find the streets unusually quiet tonight, even the insects chirping less than usual.

"That way it doesn't count as disturbing the mundane,"

Chang Ye Yue, holding the Black Umbrella, explained softly to the San Yue Qi beside her, "After all, how can events that happen within a story be considered a violation of reality?"

"Oh! Like in a movie?"

San Yue Qi's eyes lit up with realization.

"That works as an explanation."

A curve lifted the corner of Chang Ye Yue's mouth.

Sustaining an Illusion Realm of this magnitude also demands her concentration, meaning her true self is heavily restricted in movement while the realm persists, much like a director immersed in Script creation, unable to divert attention to other roles.

This creates a minor issue: the Illusion Realm itself is not an invisible barrier; if an unrelated ordinary person or low‑rank Magus happens to pass by and barrels into the area shrouded by illusion, it could be like a drop of water in hot oil, provoking unpredictable turbulence and possibly causing the realm to collapse.

"Xiaosanyue," Chang Ye Yue whispered, "I need you to temporarily serve as stagehand."

"Stagehand?" San Yue Qi tilted her head.

"Just patrol around the set, ensuring no 'audience' wanders in."

Chang Ye Yue explained in terms she could grasp, "Especially, make sure no one gets near me or those two over there. Our current state is like a frozen protagonist poster in a movie; if it's touched, it won't be good."

"I guarantee to complete the Task!"

San Yue Qi immediately straightened her chest, feeling the weight of a significant mission.

She cautiously left her hiding spot, like a nimble cat, beginning to weave through the tangled alleys and shadows nearby, her pink silhouette flickering in the night.

Just as San Yue Qi diligently carried out the clearing task, her keen perception caught another subtle movement—not from the cataclysmic clash within the Illusion Realm, but from a nearby alley piled with discarded wooden crates.

A petite figure hid at the alley mouth, cautiously peeking half a head out, her black twin ponytails swaying gently in the night breeze.

It was a girl who seemed only six or seven, dressed in a delicate yet mobile dark dress, a pair of large blue eyes fixed on the Black Tower and A Xing frozen at the Tohsaka Residence doorway, her little face full of confusion.

It was indeed Yuan Ban Lin, who had slipped out of home in secret.

Her plan for tonight was daring: return home to fetch some stored magical gems as weapons, then go to the Jian Tong family to find her increasingly uneasy sister Sakura, and take her away.

The plan brimmed with childlike bravery and reckless disregard for consequences.

However, as she neared her own residence, she saw two unfamiliar figures blocking the doorway, one dressed in an exaggerated witch costume, both motionless.

(Are... Servants? Or something else? Has the Holy Grail War already reached my family? Does dad know?)

(Why are they motionless? A trap? Or some kind of barrier?)

Childlike curiosity and the urgent desire to rescue her sister clashed within Yuan Ban Lin's heart.

In the end, worry outweighed caution.

She bit her lower lip, deciding to get a bit closer to observe, at least to discern what exactly was happening at the doorstep before deciding her next move.

Just as she held her breath, trying to shift from the shadows toward a nearer cover—

"Hm?!"

A pair of warm hands suddenly reached out from behind; one swiftly covered her mouth, the other looped around her waist, gently lifting her off the ground and dragging her swiftly back into the depths of the alley.

"Shh—! Don't make a sound, little one!"

A lowered female voice whispered in her ear, "It's dangerous here; you can't approach casually!"

Yuan Ban Lin startled, struggling fiercely, her short legs kicking in the air.

She turned her head, meeting a pair of close, sky‑blue eyes as clear as a spring day.

The one who caught her was a beautiful older sister with pink hair, her gaze urgent yet harmless.

(This sister... looks familiar?)

In Yuan Ban Lin's mind, the image of the Black Umbrella big sister she chatted with in the park earlier that day flashed quickly; the two seemed to share a subtle connection in temperament, yet their hair colors and outfits were completely different.

The sense of danger at this moment prevents her from thinking it through.

San Yue Qi carries Yuan Ban Lin behind a stack of wooden crates before letting go, but still remains highly alert.

"All right, I've let go, but you really mustn't shout! Inside…"

She points toward the Yuanban Residence, lowers her voice mysteriously and says, "They're filming a very dangerous movie inside; it wouldn't be good to disturb the actors!"

Yuan Ban Lin, once she regains her freedom, immediately steps back two paces, adopts a defensive stance, her small face full of wariness: "Y‑you are who? Why are you near my home? And what is 'filming a movie'? Those two people are clearly …"

Her words cut off abruptly as she realizes she almost blurted out something about the Holy Grail War and the Servant.