Chapter 321

Yuanban Shichen thought that he was probably, possibly, maybe… a little dead.

Not just physically.

That writhing from deep within his body and some indescribable physiological pressure had already left him exhausted, his complexion as pale as paper, his forehead covered with cold sweat.

More deadly, Shi Chen could clearly feel that the magical link between him and Archer was being wildly sucked away at an unprecedented speed!

Like opening a floodgate, completely disregarding the survival of his own "water source"!

(Magic… still draining… such a massive amount… Archer, what on earth are you doing?! Fighting what?! )

He weakly raised his trembling hand, looking at the bright red Command Spell on the back of his hand—where the once-clear mark had already lost one stroke, and the final stroke was rapidly fading, as if erased by an invisible hand.

(Command Spell… one stroke fewer…)

(Without my consent… directly using the Command Spell to amplify? How could that be… )

Despair, like cold vines, coiled around his heart.

The body's pain, the depletion of Magic, the inability to summon Archer, and the abnormal consumption of the Command Spell…

All of this points to one fact: he is losing control over this Holy Grail War, even over his own life.

(If… if I could start over… I would never… join this so‑called Holy Grail War…)

(This is not a Magus's glorious duel at all… it's a nightmare… it's torment…)

(Why not just a clean end? It has to be like this… repeated torment… )

"Uh… ah…"

Another wave of bloating pain and intense cramping from his lower abdomen struck, and Shi Chen couldn't help but let out a suppressed groan, his body curling slightly.

"Father!"

"Father!"

Rin and Sakura immediately lunged to his side, tears filling their eyes, clutching their father's cold hand tightly.

Rin, watching her father's worsening complexion, spoke with a sobbing voice: "Father… don't go… don't abandon us…"

Sakura also shook her head vigorously, her violet‑indigo eyes filled with terror.

"... No… I won't."

Shi Chen struggled to utter a few broken words, his voice hoarse to the point of being almost unintelligible.

What he truly thought inside was: just let me die, it's too shameful, too painful.

But when his gaze fell on his daughters' tear‑streaked, dependency‑and‑fear‑filled little faces, the responsibility of a father and the Yuanban Family's final pride, like a faint flame, stubbornly reignited amid the ash of Despair.

(No… not yet…)

(I am Yuanban Shichen… Head of the Yuanban Family… father of Rin and Sakura…)

(How could I… in a place like this… in this posture… give up?)

A faint yet stubborn will to live forcibly overrode the bodily pain and mental shame.

Shi Chen inhaled deeply (ignoring the ensuing, more explicit gut protest), mustering the remaining strength in his body, shakily… using his arm to brace the ground, attempting to sit up!

That movement, given his current condition, was extraordinarily arduous, a fresh layer of cold sweat instantly gathering on his forehead.

But he did it!

Leaning against the cold wall, he barely maintained a relatively "decent" seated posture, even though his complexion remained ghastly and a certain part of his body was still sharply and awkwardly aware.

(Fight… must fight… at least… cannot collapse completely before my daughters…)

(Anyway… only Rin and Sakura are here… they're my own… they've already seen me at my most pathetic…)

Shi Chen comforted himself thus, striving to gather his scattered spirit, attempting to rebuild the Magic Circuit, even if only to slow the loss of Magic.

Yet fate seemed to think that was still insufficient.

Tap, tap, tap…

Clear footsteps, accompanied by faint voices, came from the alley entrance, growing nearer.

Shi Chen's body froze instantly, the spark of fighting spirit that had just ignited almost snuffed out with a 'Puff'.

He stiffly turned his neck, looking toward the alley entrance—

The first thing that caught his eye was the silver hair and red eyes—Ailisi Feier.

Next came the young knight Saber, whose dignified aura could not be hidden even in the grim alley, alongside the bold, robust Conqueror King Rider, and finally Weber, who lingered behind Rider.

Saber's party happened to pass through the secluded alley, intending to search for other trapped civilians.

The air inside and outside the alley seemed to solidify.

Shi Chen watched them.

They stared at Shi Chen.

Shi Chen's mind instantly went blank, then exploded with countless chaotic thoughts:

(They don't recognize me… they probably don't know me… I'm just an injured ordinary citizen… yes, just a passerby…)

(As long as Rin and Sakura don't speak… as long as they stay silent…)

(Embarrassing… but at least… the Yuanban Family's reputation… managed to retain a bit…)

Shi Chen prayed frantically inside, even briefly ignoring his bodily pain, forcing the last sliver of "decency" in his wall‑leaning seat, his gaze trying to appear blank and harmless.

Ailisi Feier was the first to break the silence, her eyes filled with kind concern.

She hurried forward, crouched, looking at Shi Chen's pale, painful face and obviously unnatural seated posture, and asked with concern: "Sir, you're badly injured! Please don't move, I have some knowledge of healing Magic, let me take a look…"

As she spoke, her gaze naturally swept aside, spotting the two little girls curled tightly beside Shi Chen.

"Ah!"

Ailisi Feier let out a light gasp, surprise on her face, "You? Rin? Sakura? How are you here?"

She recalled those two children, having seen them before at the Einstein‑Belen Castle, where they were with Chang Yeyue.

Rin and Sakura, seeing the familiar Ailisi Feier aunt (as they believed), seemed to have found a savior, and tears immediately welled up again.

Rin grabbed Ailisi Feier's hand, urgently pleading: "Ailisi Feier Auntie! Please, please save our father! He's suffering!"

Sakura also nodded vigorously, eyes brimming with tears: "Please... save our father..."

Ailisi Feier blinked, then realized, and gently stroked the two children's heads: "Oh, this gentleman is your father... Don't worry, I'll do my best."

She looked again at Shi Chen, preparing to cast healing magic.

However, Weber behind her, upon hearing the names 'Rin' and 'Sakura', combined with the disheveled yet somehow distinguished bearing of this middle-aged man before her, and his subconscious protective posture... a name slipped out:

"Yuan... Yuanban Shichen?! That 'eminent magic house of the Far East', 'paragon of elegance and tradition', even in the Clock Tower praised Yuanban Family's current head?!"

Weber's voice rang especially clear in the quiet alley, carrying the shock typical of a youth who has memorized the data of 'big shots' backwards and forwards, and a hint of...

An untimely desire for verification.

Shi Chen's body, which had just relaxed slightly due to Ailisi Feier's attention being diverted, turned completely stiff as stone.

The last trace of color faded from his face, his lips trembling, yet he could make no sound.

(Recognizing... not just recognizing... but knowing it inside out...)

(The glory of the Yuanban Family... the paragon of elegance...)

(And now... I...)

His gaze slowly lowered, catching sight of his own dust‑covered, rumpled expensive suit pants, even bearing a suspicious dark stain and a small tear at the hip.

"Uh..."