Inner Sea of the Stars.
Avalon.
The Ideal City that only the sinless can enter, paradise on the inner side of the world.
It could be said, this is the purest place on the planet.
But now...
"Naoki! Come here quick, let Big Sis Aoko hug you!"
One of only five Magicians in the world, the super cool Aoko in battle who has become a reliable adult woman, charged forward without any shame upon seeing the small figure appear not far away.
The sinful people openly displayed their sins in this sinless world.
Seeing Aoko coming, Merry, who was hugging Naoki, cooperated by throwing her king out of her embrace.
"Merry, you—"
Before Naoki could even utter a single word, his entire body was once again buried in a 'valley.'
Though he did like them big, but only at times like this did he feel that ones like Artoria and Mordred were quite nice—at least he didn't have to worry about suffocating to death.
Seeing the eight-year-old child-form Naoki in her arms, Aoko couldn't hold back from pinching his cheek: "Truly super cute. Turns out little Naoki was this adorable when he was small."
"Don't pinch uumph uumph uumph!"
The protest Naoki had just voiced was immediately forcibly interrupted by Aoko's cheek-pinch attack—as a child, he had absolutely no initiative against this group of women over thirty years old.
After Aoko, the other women also surrounded him.
Ayaka poked Naoki's cheek: "Really turned into a little kid, huh... A bit like Big Sis when she was little. Can I hold him for a bit, Big Sis Aoko?"
"Hmm, sure."
"I said, you all... Don't you feel I'm heavy? Back when cleaning, you said you couldn't lift a table."
Naoki, handed from Aoko to Ayaka, said in a helpless tone.
Ayaka smiled faintly: "Back then there was Big Sis—Kyaa!"
"Now it's my turn to hug!"
Before Ayaka could hold him longer, like snatching treasure, Mordred rushed from the side and snatched Naoki, then ran back to Artoria's side: "Queen Mother! I brought King Father back!"
"Ugh! Mordred, don't say nonsense!"
Artoria, whose cheeks were slightly flushed, glared a bit at her beloved daughter, then received Naoki and set him down: "Sorry, Master. Mordred is a bit rough and rude."
"It's fine... Still, Lia is the most mature, unlike the others who are crazy."
Seeing Artoria still very normal, Naoki felt relieved. Honestly, wasn't he just turned into a kid? Did these people need to act so enchanted, one by one heading toward madness?
Or could it be that his current form actually had some kind of alluring ability? Handsome Youth Full of Charm (Red-Face Beautiful Boy)? Super effective against women?
"Uhuk uhuk uhuk!"
After clearing his throat, Naoki looked at Merry: "Alright, stop the foolishness here. Merry, let's talk seriously first. How to deal with Arcueid's condition... What's that in your hand?"
"Nothing."
Casually making the camera in her hand disappear, Merry took the still-sleeping Arcueid from Rei's hands: "Well, true. Though it's fun seeing the King teased by the girls, important matters can't be ignored."
"Since some might not know yet, I'll explain again. This time we returned mainly for two things: one, help Naoki and Arcueid recover their original bodies to fight Goddess Tiamat afterward. Two, resolve the Vampiric Impulse issue in Arcueid."
Seeing Merry start explaining seriously, Aoko and the others couldn't help but adopt proper attitudes.
"The first issue isn't too difficult. Just need enough Mana to greatly shorten Naoki's recovery time. With so many of us here, it'll be quick."
"You mean so many people..."
Aoko seemed to realize something: "Hey, Merry, don't tell me you want to..."
"Yes, recharge Naoki's Mana together." Merry laughed. "Though we got the Holy Grail from Gilgamesh, it can only restore Naoki to two-thirds of his original prime. To face Tiamat as an opponent, it's still a bit short."
"So, the rest we'll fill—and there's a part for Arcueid too."
Not just Naoki turned into a kid.
Aoko rubbed her forehead: "So... here?"
"Yes."
"Me, you, Rei, plus Riddell?"
"Everyone, you know."
*CRASH!*
The words from Merry's mouth immediately made everyone stagger, crashing into many things in Avalon. Then, they all stared at Merry with shocked and embarrassed gazes.
"Everyone!?"
Even Naoki was slightly surprised.
"Merry, you're serious?"
"Of course. After all, some have delayed too long." Merry laughed. "For example, little Ayaka. She and Naoki met about fourteen years ago. Don't you feel it's unfair to her to delay until now? Especially since she chased here from a parallel world."
Ayaka's cheeks flushed uncontrollably, and she leaned on her big sister.
"Then there's Ciel. Well... I don't need to say anything about you."
"I'm fine." Ciel said with a calm face. "After all, he's the one who saved me, took me in when I was useless, and raised me for years. Now, helping him is only natural."
Truly befitting a former Executor from the Holy Church. She was very straightforward about this.
"Besides, my Mana is excessive with no place to use it, so giving it to him is also right."
Ciel was an extraordinary existence in terms of total Mana. If a normal Mage's Mana is set at 20, Ciel's is around 5000. As she said, usually her energy was too much to use.
"As for Lia and Mordred... that's up to Naoki to decide."
"Hey!!"
Naoki couldn't hold back from shouting.
However, completely ignoring his protest, Merry continued her explanation: "Additionally, this is actually also to resolve Arcueid's condition."
"The Vampiric Impulse is an inherent flaw. Besides Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, it can't be fully removed. And even with Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, perhaps only with that noble figure's intervention can it truly be killed. Ryougi Shiki is still a bit short."
"So, if we want to resolve it now, we can only replace the concept."
Replace the concept?
Rei frowned: "You mean... replace the Vampiric Impulse with another impulse?"
"Yes, with my Illusion, it can be done. For example... Mana Drinking Impulse." Merry laughed. "Change Arcueid's bloodsucking impulse, through Illusion, into a desire for Mana. That way, we just need to give her Mana."
Indeed, this way, without needing to suppress it deliberately, Arcueid wouldn't become a monster craving fresh blood. And with Arcueid's self-control, giving her a little Mana every month would be more than enough. In fact, as a fairy, the Mana continuously supplied by the planet alone would suffice.
(Right, this way the Vampiric Impulse issue can be resolved without troubling Shiki. Wait, earlier Merry said there's a part for Arcueid too...)
Naoki's eyebrows twitched violently: "Merry, don't tell me you want to..."
"Yes, that's what you're thinking."
"First, through the Holy Grail and us, we give Mana to Naoki to help him recover to his original form. Then, Naoki gives Mana to Arcueid, resolving the Vampiric Impulse, while also helping Arcueid recover to her original form, and satisfying a bit of the Princess's hidden feelings—all can be resolved at once."
Merry felt she was a super genius.
Then—
*BAM!*
This super genius was kicked hard by Naoki, flying from the top of Avalon all the way out of Avalon.