Chapter 404: Continuation 1

"From the results,"

Weigong Qiesi supported Ailisi Feier, his voice low, "This World's Evil has vanished, Alice has been reborn, the threat has temporarily receded… the survivors of Dongmu City have been saved. These may be more valuable than any concrete wish."

He looked at his wife's flushed cheeks, and the heart lake that had been cold for years seemed to have a small stone dropped into it, rippling gently.

Ailisi Feier gave a warm smile: "Qiesi is right. To be alive like this, to be with you, and with Ilya, is my greatest wish."

When she mentioned Ilya, her gaze darkened, then a resolute light flared again, "We must go fetch her back. No matter what obstacles the Einz Beren family puts in our way."

"Need any help, dear friend?"

A clear voice rang out.

YinZhi had, at some point, come close; his armor was spotless, a stark contrast to the surrounding ruin.

He placed a hand on his chest with one hand, graceful in posture, his emerald eyes full of sincere concern.

"Rescuing the young lady from the cold cage is also practicing the path of pure beauty. Moreover, we have fought side by side; this bond, Idelira witnessed above, I cannot stand by."

Weigong Qiesi's mouth twitched slightly.

"Another dear friend, and how did you know?"

But as he looked at YinZhi's unmistakably sincere eyes, and the reliability shown in previous battles, the words of refusal reached his lips, then he swallowed them back.

"…Whatever you like."

He finally uttered a few words, essentially conceding.

An extra combat force is always good, especially one of this unusual caliber.

"Then, no time to waste."

YinZhi appeared enthusiastic, "Let us devise an incursion route that balances efficiency and elegance. Perhaps we could…"

"Ahem."

Weber weakly coughed twice, cutting off the long discourse YinZhi might have begun.

He tried to stand, leaning on his hands, but his legs were weak; Mashu beside him gave him a hand.

"Um… Mr. Weigong, Ms. Ailisi Feier, I wish you success. I… I must leave here first."

He thought of the Clock Tower, of his own mess, and his head throbbed more.

Ailisi Feier gave him a gentle smile: "Weber‑kun, thank you. Please also convey my… thanks to Rider."

When Iskandar was mentioned, Weber's body stiffened, but he nodded firmly, said nothing more, and limped toward the outskirts of the city, his thin back straight.

His Magus career may truly begin after this absurd and shocking war.

On the other side, Tengwan Lixiang was trying to obtain more information from Chang Ye Yue.

"Miss Chang Ye Yue,"

Tengwan Lixiang arranged his words, amber eyes fixed on her mysterious crimson gaze, "Those enemies… Huan Long, and the ones that appeared later… You… seem to know something?"

Mashu also watched Chang Ye Yue nervously; though her shield was sheathed, her stance remained vigilant.

Chang Ye Yue propped the Black Umbrella, her scarlet eyes flickering faintly beneath the rim's shadow; she looked at Tengwan Lixiang, a cryptic smile curling her lips.

"Master of Chaldea,"

Her voice carried a lazy magnetism, "Some answers, if known too early, may strip the joy of discovery and also bring unnecessary… burdens."

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze seeming to pierce the sky, reaching toward the unknowable distance.

"The universe is vast. What you see today is merely a trivial ripple within it."

"As for more…"

She withdrew her gaze, looking again at Tengwan Lixiang; that smile deepened slightly, with a hint of provocation, "When you go farther, stand higher, you will naturally know. Perhaps we will have another day to meet."

Having spoken, she gave Tengwan Lixiang no chance to press further; the umbrella's canopy turned lightly, her figure melting into the shadows, fading slowly.

"Wait, Miss Chang Ye Yue!" Tengwan Lixiang called hurriedly.

"By the way,"

Just before vanishing completely, Chang Ye Yue's voice floated toward A Xing's direction, though A Xing was no longer there, "Tell A Xing I'm going to say goodbye to the two kids, let her play on her own for a while."

As the words fell, she vanished entirely.

Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu stared at each other.

"Senior, this Miss Chang Ye Yue, and that Miss A Xing, the auras and power systems they possess… are completely uncategorizable."

Mashu whispered, "They are neither Heroic Spirits nor ordinary Magi."

"They come from outside."

Tengwan Lixiang rubbed his brow, feeling the complexity of this Winterwood trip far exceeds any previous Singularity Repair Mission.

"Let's set that aside for now, Mashu. The immediate priority is to report everything here in detail to the doctor and Da Fenqi. The Holy Grail disappearance, the Great Holy Grail Purification, the eradication of This World's Evil… but whether the threat of Destruction has truly receded still requires ongoing observation."

"Yes, senior." Mashu nodded.

The two gave the battered land one last glance, then activated the spirit particle transfer technique.

A flash of light, and their figures vanished from Dongmu City.

A few kilometers beyond Yuan Cang Shan, at the edge of a temporary camp sheltering surviving citizens and the wounded, stood an unremarkable gray tent.

Inside the tent, Yuanban Shichen lay in an extremely undignified posture on a makeshift bed—his hip injury had been treated urgently, yet clearly not enough for him to sit up.

This Magus Head of Family, who usually prized decorum and poise, now wore a pale, embarrassed complexion, but his eyes held a relieved calm.

After all, the Yuanban family's legacy—his two daughters—are unharmed.

Lin and Sakuramori were at their father's bedside.

Young Lin tried to adopt a solemn, grown‑up demeanor, but whenever he glanced at his father's bandaged hip, his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Sakuramori was quieter, her amethyst‑like eyes still bearing last night's terror, but more so concern for her father's injury.

A corner of the tent curtain was silently lifted.

Lin was the first to raise his head alertly, and Sakuramori instinctively drew her body back.

When they saw the black silhouette holding up a Black Umbrella, the two girls froze simultaneously.

Yuanban Shichen also sensed something odd; he strained to turn his head, saw the visitor, his pupils constricted slightly, but he immediately forced down his vigilance, turning it into a complex respect.

"Chang... Chang Yeyue." His voice was a little hoarse.

Chang Ye Yue gave a slight nod, her crimson eyes scanning the somewhat shabby furnishings inside the tent, finally settling on Yuanban Shichen.

"It seems the injury has stabilized." Her tone gave away no emotion.

"Thanks to you."

Yuanban Shichen gave a wry smile, tried to move a bit, immediately tugging at his wound; pain made him draw a breath of cold air, and he hastily kept his expression, "If it weren't for you and your companions' timely help, the Yuanban Family would probably..."

"No need for pleasantries."

Chang Ye Yue interrupted him, turning her gaze to the two girls, "I've come to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?"