Chapter 567: Too Beautiful

Saber nodded.

Through Saber's just‑now description, Lin's mind instantly flashed with a thought—

That Mirror World.

She looked at San Yue Qi.

San Yue Qi also looked at her.

The two spoke in unison:

"That world banana!"

Yuanban Shichen furrowed his brow: "What world?"

Lin took a deep breath and began to explain:

"I told you before, that mirrored world banana—every character is reversed, there are no people, only a bunch of strange Monkeys banana. Fujimura must have accidentally fallen in there banana."

San Yue Qi added from beside her: "And that world is strange; we just escaped from there. Sakura also fell in before."

Sakura nodded, her purple long hair swaying gently with the motion. She recalled the recent experience, her expression somewhat complex.

"When I went in, I had no idea what was happening. The street had no one, all the characters were reversed. Later a group of Monkeys took me to a hotel, I climbed… many flights of stairs, exhausted to the point of death. Then a Monkey in a white coat kept saying things like 'Return to Origin', 'Becoming a Monkey is true freedom', and the like…"

She paused, then continued: "Later San Yue Jie came to rescue me, we escaped. Those Monkeys were truly countless, everywhere."

Yuanban Shichen listened, his brows tightly knit.

"So, there exists a parallel mirrored world to reality, where that world is filled with Monkeys that go 'banana banana', and a Monkey doctor in a white coat spreads the idea of turning humans into Monkeys?"

He paused, then added: "And Miss Fujimura now is very likely to have fallen into that world banana?"

San Yue Qi nodded.

Ilya stood beside them, listening with a dazed expression.

"That… the banana virus we mentioned, could it also be related to this?"

Jing Yuan slightly nodded, a glimmer of contemplation flashing in his golden eyes.

"Very possible."

Saber was silent for a moment, then looked at Yuanban Shichen.

"Mr. Tohsaka, what do you think?"

Yuanban Shichen pondered briefly, then lifted his head.

"This matter has already exceeded the ordinary Holy Grail War's scope banana."

He said, the "banana" character now fully merged into his speech, "If we don't resolve it, all of Dongmu City will suffer banana. I suggest we split into two forces banana."

He looked at Lin and San Yue Qi: "You've been in before, do you know how to get in?"

Lin and San Yue Qi exchanged a glance.

San Yue Qi scratched her head: "This… seems not something we can just will our way in. Sometimes you walk and suddenly end up inside, other times you mysteriously come out."

Yuanban Shichen nodded, not getting tangled in that detail.

"Then we'll wait until we find a way in, banana. I'll go to the Church first banana."

He paused, explaining: "Yan Feng Qili, that traitor, this time his return definitely has the Church's backing. Moreover, supervising the Holy Grail War is originally the Church's duty; after such a huge incident, they must give an explanation banana."

Lin was startled: "Father?"

"Don't worry."

Yuanban Shichen raised his hand and patted her shoulder, a hint of tenderness flashing in his ice‑blue eyes, "You've grown up, you know what you're doing. I trust you."

Lin's eyes slightly reddened, but she held back tears.

Yuanban Shichen turned to the others, giving a slight bow.

"Everyone, the matter over there is in your care banana."

He paused, a wry smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, "Even though speaking with banana is odd, the intention is sincere."

San Yue Qi couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't worry, Mr. Tohsaka."

Yuanban Shichen nodded, turned and left.

His silhouette stretched long in the sunset, ragged yet still upright.

Perspective shift.

Night had fully fallen.

Outside the window, the city lit up with countless lights, those specks of brilliance casting mottled shadows on the glass.

Distant skyscrapers turned into vague silhouettes against the night, only the light leaking from windows proving people still lived there.

Ailixiya sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, body slightly reclined, posture lazy like a sun‑bathing cat.

She wore a purple‑black dress, the neckline low, revealing delicate collarbones and a small patch of fair chest.

The skirt fell to mid‑thigh, her long legs crossed, shimmering with a soft hue in the dim light.

Her violet‑blue hair draped over her shoulders, a few strands hanging over her chest, swaying gently with each breath.

Pointed elf ears peeked from her hair, the tips glowing faint pink in the light.

She lifted the red‑wine glass on the coffee table, giving it a gentle shake.

The liquid inside was deep red, shimmering with a dim sheen under the light.

She took a sip, then set the glass down, her gaze landing on the opposite sofa.

Someone sat there.

Robin.

No, it should be said, a 'modified' Robin.

She sat on the sofa, posture excessively upright, hands folded on her knees, motionless.

The blue hair still fell loose, but the strands had lost their former luster and become somewhat dull.

The lake‑green eyes were half‑open, the pupils scattered, as if they had lost focus.

There was no expression on her face; the delicate visage looked like a puppet whose soul had been pulled out.

She wore a dress similar in style to her usual one but entirely different—its color was darker, dominated by a violet‑black hue, the ribbons on the hem had turned dark red, and the layered ruffles at the chest were now an eerie scarlet.

She sat there just like that, motionless.

If not for the slight rise and fall at her chest, she would be just a lifelike statue.

Ailixiya looked at Robin, her crimson eyes full of admiration.

"So beautiful."

She whispered, "This sense of fragmentation... is just too beautiful."

Robin gave no response.

Her scattered lake‑green eyes still stared into the void ahead, not knowing what she was looking at, or perhaps seeing nothing at all.

Ailixiya stood up and walked to Robin's side.

She bent down, extended a hand, and gently lifted Robin's chin.

The hand was warm, carrying body heat, but the moment it touched the skin, Robin's eyelashes twitched slightly.

"Still conscious?"

Ailixiya tilted her head, a hint of amusement flashing in her crimson eyes, "Not bad, stronger than I imagined."

She released her hand, straightened up, and moved behind Robin.

Her fingers gently brushed aside the hair at the back of Robin's head, revealing a pale nape.

There was a faint green pattern there, like some kind of seal, slowly flowing beneath the skin.

"Corrosion proceeds slowly, but its effect is great."

Ailixiya seemed to mutter to herself, "Your consciousness remains, but you cannot control your body. You want to resist, to sing, to use the Noble Phantasm—yet you can do none of it."

She leaned down, close to Robin's ear, her voice pressed low:

"Does this feeling feel comfortable?"

Robin's eyelashes twitched again.

In those scattered eyes, something seemed to be struggling.

But it lasted only a moment, then the emptiness returned.

Ailixiya smiled.

She walked back to the window and gazed at the brightly lit city outside.

"The game hasn't ended yet."

She whispered, "There are still many interesting foes to deal with."

She glanced back at Robin.

"You'll help me, right?"

Robin gave no answer.

She simply sat there quietly, like an exquisite doll.