(What did this guy say?)
(Like?)
(He likes me?)
"Pfft!"
As her face gradually flushed, a puff of steam seemed to escape from the top of Jeanne Alter's head. She quickly stepped back a few paces, raising both hands and igniting two fireballs as if facing a formidable enemy.
"What… what are you talking about? Like? Don't spout nonsense! I'll burn you to death! Send you to hell!"
(This is my first time meeting this guy, right?)
(Why would he say such disgusting things the moment we meet? Even if he says he learned about me from that so-called Root… Is he an idiot who'd fall for someone he's never seen?! Are there even idiots like that in this world?!)
(And why would he like someone like me? What does a fake, witch-like person like me have that's worth liking?)
(Could this guy's taste be that weird?)
Facing Jeanne Alter's exaggerated threats, Naoki wasn't fazed in the slightest. "I'm not spouting nonsense. I may not understand women's thoughts very well, but at least when it comes to expressing my own feelings, I rarely hold back."
"Besides, if you want to burn me to death, you'd better crank up the intensity by five levels. Otherwise, it won't even leave a burn mark."
"But honestly, even if I did get burned to death, I could just come back. So you don't need to worry if you actually burn me. Even if I end up in hell, I think I could make it back on my own."
Naoki said this while raising his hand and extinguishing the flames in Jeanne Alter's hands.
Seeing Naoki's hand holding hers, Jeanne Alter's lips trembled uncontrollably, and then—
"Ngh—huh?"
Gray, who suddenly reemerged, was momentarily stunned, then hurriedly pulled her hand from Naoki's, speaking as if blaming him. "Big brother… what are you saying? Talking like that to a girl you're meeting for the first time—Miss Jeanne Alter was so shocked she retreated."
"Huh? Is that so?" Naoki scratched his head with a hint of regret. "I didn't really think about what I was saying… Hmm, alright, next time I'll consider my words and how to say them when talking to her."
Gray sighed lightly. "If possible, I really hope you'd realize this before you speak. And not just for Miss Jeanne Alter, but for other women too."
"I'll try…"
"Please actually try."
After giving this serious instruction, Gray turned around. "There are some things I need to take care of in the kitchen. I'll handle them first. Big brother, after you finish lunch, just leave the dishes here. I'll come clean them up later."
"Also… if you're going to conquer the Sixth Singularity, please make sure to tell me. I don't want to experience you suddenly leaving again—Ngh!"
Before Gray could finish, Naoki had already raised his hand and placed it on her head. After ruffling her hair vigorously, he smiled. "Yeah, this time I'll let you know. Not just you—Rei, Atalanta, Aoko… I'll tell all of you if I have to go."
"Hmm… that's good then."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
At the same time.
In Avalon.
After opening her eyes again and seeing the unchanged scenery inside the high tower, Aoko furrowed her brows in confusion. "What's going on? I can't enter the Sixth Singularity?"
"Could there be something wrong with your Magecraft, Sister Aoko?" Observing from the side, Ayaka asked.
Aoko shook her head. "No way. This Magecraft was created with the help of those two Dream Demons. I've used it in several Singularities before, and there were no issues."
"Then it's a problem with the Singularity itself?" Also standing nearby, Ciel said. "If there's no issue on your end, then it can only be from there—"
"Exactly."
Merlin's voice, suddenly coming from behind, slightly startled Ciel.
Holding his staff, Merlin walked to Aoko's side and carefully examined the Magecraft he had helped develop. "Hmm, the magic formula itself has no issues at all. Miss Aozaki's inability to enter the Sixth Singularity is indeed a problem on its end. In fact, I just lost contact with Lia as well."
Merlin had left a Magecraft with Artoria. She was supposed to investigate there and send information back through it—originally, the plan was to relay information to Chaldea this way.
But just moments ago, the connection with Artoria was cut off.
"Did something happen to Sister Lia?"
"I don't think so. With the Knights of the Round Table there, and Artoria herself having Avalon, even if she can't defeat the enemy she's facing, she can still retreat." Merlin explained.
(Moreover, rather than something happening to Lia, it feels more like someone dispelled my Magecraft… The enemy also has a Magus of considerable skill. So even if she summoned the Knights of the Round Table, Lia would be at a disadvantage.)
(Still, even if she's at a disadvantage, she'll definitely be fine.) Merlin had great faith in his King.
In the past, the Knights of the Round Table had faced unfavorable situations countless times, and each time they overcame them. This time would surely be no different. Plus, Chaldea would soon head there, so he didn't need to worry too much.
"Well, since you can't go, Miss Aozaki, you can rest here for now. You've been fighting through five Singularities in a row. Take a break—it's also for better preparation for the final battle."
"The final battle… the Seventh Singularity?"
Merlin winked mysteriously. "Maybe~~~ For now, I'll leave this place to the three of you. I'm heading out for a bit."
This homebody was going out?
When Merlin said this, Ayaka and the other two were somewhat shocked. He had locked himself in this tower for thousands of years. Why did he suddenly want to leave now?
As if reading their thoughts, Merlin laughed. "Haha, when I say going out, I'm actually just being summoned as a Servant. The overworked King in the Seventh Singularity needs help. I'm going to assist, and at the same time, I'll ease some pressure for my other self and prepare an escape route for him."
"After all, the current me doesn't really like bad endings."