Tamamo-no-Mae's words instantly drew everyone's attention.
Even Mash was looking at the fox demon, who had been with her recently, with a bewildered expression.
"Koyama, what do you mean?"
Ian asked the question on behalf of everyone present, voicing the confusion in their hearts.
"What do you mean the Holy Grail of this era is complicated?"
As a member of one of the two small teams sent to fix the Singularity, Tamamo-no-Mae had seriously done some homework before setting out.
Although not extensive, she at least knew that the foundation of every Singularity was an entity called the "Holy Grail"—as long as this item, formed by a massive amount of magical energy, could be recovered by Chaldea, the Singularity could be truly repaired.
Likewise, Ian knew that Tamamo-no-Mae understood these things.
But this "complication" she spoke of was the first time the man had heard it.
Tamamo-no-Mae did not equivocate. Facing everyone's confusion, she quickly took out her mirror again.
That was the Noble Phantasm named Suiten Nikko Amaterasu Yaono Shizu-ishi (Water Heaven Sunlight Amaterasu Eight Field Calming Stone), one of the most important items among the large dowry the fox demon brought with her when she came to Chaldea.
"Everyone, you should know that my mirror can sense things that cannot be accessed through conventional means."
"Now that I cannot effectively help Master in combat, it has helped me discover something strange."
"Hmm, how should I put it—"
Tamamo-no-Mae rotated her mirror, allowing it to project the image of a Holy Grail.
"According to the knowledge I learned at Chaldea, this entity called the Holy Grail should be something purely made of magical energy."
"But based on this observation... the Holy Grail located in this 'Singularity' seems to have been mixed with a large amount of unspeakable obsession, causing its composition to become extremely complicated."
"..."
As his supportive wife, Ian knew that Tamamo-no-Mae would certainly not fabricate information just to coax a few praises from him.
If she spoke, it meant that such a thing definitely existed.
Moreover, and more importantly—
The appearance of Agrippina had, to some extent, validated Tamamo-no-Mae's statement.
However, that wicked woman had completely disappeared, so who could be the source of this remaining obsession?
The moment he realized this, Ian's expression instantly became tense.
Boudica didn't notice this. As a "local," she only had one question: "Obsession? Whose obsession?"
"..."
Tamamo-no-Mae meaningfully glanced at Ian, then smiled and said: "I'm not clear on that yet... but the strange obsession is absolutely present. I can guarantee there is no mistake about that."
"..."
Boudica looked at Tamamo-no-Mae but ultimately didn't doubt her statement.
After all, this was the fox demon who appeared alongside Ian, referred to as his wife. It was impossible for her to lie about such a matter.
"Mhm, I understand."
For the rest of the time, the group exchanged information they didn't know.
Ian, Boudica, and Jing Ke, who had been "out of town," learned about the results of Tamamo-no-Mae and Mash's investigation in the city, finding out how the city had changed after the black shadows completely disappeared.
It was a feeling similar to physical liberation.
Agrippina's magical energy seemed to have been subtly eroding the land.
Fortunately, all of that was over now.
In "exchange," Tamamo-no-Mae and Mash learned the process of the three (or rather, one) slaying the black shadows, understanding the causes and consequences of the changes occurring in the city.
This was a highly efficient meeting chaired by Ian, so it quickly came to an end.
"It seems the situation isn't too bad—"
Ian's gaze swept over all the girls present.
"Everyone, get a good rest tonight. We'll have to keep working hard tomorrow."
"Yes!" Except for Jing Ke, the girls unanimously responded to the "host," Ian.
However—
Just as everyone was leaving one after another, Tamamo-no-Mae, who was last in line, quietly sidled up to Ian.
She swayed her large tail and then left a highly enticing whisper in the man's ear.
"Mr. Abe... may I wait on you for your bath later?"
"Of course," Ian stroked her head. "Koyama, I'm honored you actively request it."
"Good, then I'll see you later."
"Mhm, see you later."
A little over ten minutes later, according to Boudica's arrangements, Ian arrived at her personal private bath in the city.
The Queen of Britannia was so eager to modernize that she had perfectly imitated even the Roman bathhouse culture.
If not for the difference in materials, Ian might have momentarily thought he was back in Rome.
However—
That wasn't what he needed to be concerned about now.
He still remembered what Tamamo-no-Mae had just said, so he knew the focus tonight was definitely on her.
Pushing open the large door, the man walked toward the inner depths.
Soon, he found Tamamo-no-Mae quietly waiting beside the steaming bath.
Unlike her dignified appearance in front of the others just now, the fox demon had hung up the kimono she wore for convenience on a stone beside her and changed into an outfit more suitable for waiting on a man's bath.
"Mr. Abe, you came so early."
"Mhm, since you called, Koyama, I certainly had to come early."
"Then—" Tamamo-no-Mae blushed slightly, looking incredibly happy. "Please enter the bath, Mr. Abe."
"Alright."
After replying to Tamamo-no-Mae, Ian sat down on the edge of the bath, leaning his entire body against the luxurious stone tiles.
The fox demon, eager to wait on her husband's bath, also came to the edge of the pool and kneeled docilely behind him.
At this moment, she looked more like a cute, obedient little dog than a clever fox. Her large, fluffy tail gently swayed back and forth, making her appear very gentle.
"Tonight—please allow me, Mr. Abe, to try a different method of service than I've used before."
"Mhm, sure." The man smiled and nodded. "I'm also curious to see what new ideas Koyama can bring."
"Miku~ Please enjoy yourself, Mr. Abe."
After receiving Ian's permission, Tamamo-no-Mae picked up the bath salts prepared nearby, gently wet her hands, and completed the initial preparations.
Then, she gently leaned her body forward, lightly scrubbing her husband's back, helping him relax from the stress he had accumulated recently.
Tamamo-no-Mae gazed at the man's back, a touch of a wife's pride in her eyes. Occasionally, she would gently blow on it, seemingly afraid it wouldn't get hot enough.
This was truly an effective technique. Ian couldn't help but gasp: "Koyama, who taught you this... what an unexpected service."
"It's a method that little Mash and I discussed together—" Tamamo-no-Mae didn't want to take all the credit. "But little Mash hasn't had a chance to practice yet—because you, Mr. Abe, seem to prefer her other parts, so I decided to try out the feasibility myself."
"I see—thank you both for your effort."
"It's nothing..." Tamamo-no-Mae's two fox ears gently wiggled as she worked diligently. "I spent several lifetimes just to have this chance to properly serve you, Mr. Abe."
"Is that so... I understand."
Without further words, Ian fully enjoyed Tamamo-no-Mae's perfect back scrub. Having practiced for a long time, her technique was incredibly skillful, making the man feel immensely comfortable.
After quite some time, Tamamo-no-Mae noticed a subtle change in her husband's breathing.
The fox demon, of course, knew what this change meant. She temporarily stopped her movements, then closed her eyes, and said with a touch of small pride:
"Mr. Abe, it seems my back scrub has indeed achieved good results."
"You're right, Koyama—it's been a long time since I felt your skills like this. I'm truly happy right now."
The man confessed his current feelings.
"Is that so?" Tamamo-no-Mae leaned close to the man's ear, breathed lightly, and then entered the bath, positioning herself in front of him.
"Mr. Abe, if you are truly happy because of my service... then please release your stress fully in front of me—that would make me very happy."
Half an hour later, Tamamo-no-Mae, who had watched Ian release his stress on her chest three times, lay docilely in the man's arms, silently enjoying his caresses, and cooed softly.
"I'm truly sorry... I said I was here to wait on you, Mr. Abe, but now it's turned into you serving me. It's completely backward."
"Koyama, that's not right." Ian gently rubbed Tamamo-no-Mae's soft head, and even stroked her ears, eliciting a flirtatious yelp from the fox demon. "You are still serving me well now—it's just in a different way."
"But, thank you very much—being able to release the accumulated stress this way is absolutely wonderful."
"Miku~" Tamamo-no-Mae, praised by Ian, was overjoyed. "If you like it, Mr. Abe, I'll truly research this area more in the future—I'll strive to make my chest your favorite among all the girls~"
"Heh, that certainly sounds exciting."
"Miku—~ I want to make you excited, Mr. Abe~"
A simple moment of banter significantly lifted Ian's mood.
However, the man also knew there were still things to do tonight.
"Koyama, you must have something else to say—I don't think you're the kind of person who would call me here just to serve me with your chest."
"That's not true, I would do that too," Tamamo-no-Mae mumbled quite cutely.
"But I do have something I wanted to ask you this time, Mr. Abe."
"Mhm, ask away," Ian hugged Tamamo-no-Mae, clearly not wanting to let go. "Though whether I can answer is another matter."
"You definitely can answer, Mr. Abe," Tamamo-no-Mae said with a smile.
"Because my question is—I want to know if you have ever lived on the land of Rome before."
"Eh, what?"
Ian completely did not expect Tamamo-no-Mae to ask such a question.
"Koyama, what do you mean? I... lived in Rome?!"
"Mhm." Tamamo-no-Mae tilted her head back, looking earnestly at the man she spent five lifetimes searching for. "I've actually wanted to ask you this before, Mr. Abe, but I never had evidence to prove it."
"Mr. Abe, you... must also have the ability to live in different times, just like me, right?"
"Otherwise, how could I sense magical energy identical to yours in this Singularity?"
"..."
Ian knew Tamamo-no-Mae would say something important, but he didn't expect it to be something so explosive.
The question was... should he admit to such a thing?
Given Tamamo-no-Mae's nature, even if he flatly denied it and offered no reasons, she would absolutely not press the issue.
But—
Since she sought him out alone, Ian knew Tamamo-no-Mae certainly hoped he would admit to this.
Even if... she knew she had no right to demand it.
After a moment's hesitation, Ian decided to vaguely acknowledge Tamamo-no-Mae's idea—after all, she crossed so many hardships to be with him, not to receive his perfunctory response.
"Koyama, you're right."
"I... do have a similar ability to yours, though it's a bit more complicated and quite difficult to explain clearly."
"So—"
Ian took the fox demon's hand.
"Can we not tell anyone else? Let's keep it as a secret between us."
"..."
A few tears welled up in Tamamo-no-Mae's eyes. It was the joy of being entrusted with a secret by Ian in a trusting manner.
"I was already prepared to keep the secret—otherwise, I wouldn't have come to you alone, Mr. Abe."
"Don't worry, this secret will only ever be known by me. You don't need to worry, Mr. Abe."
"Mhm, I trust you."
Ian embraced the fox demon, greedily enjoying the scent of cherry blossoms from her.
"Because you are my supportive wife."
"May I assume that you're saying I'm very important, Mr. Abe?"
"...It's not wrong to think that."
Sounds of playful intimacy once again filled the bathhouse—a rare moment of ease on their journey to fix the Singularity.
However, they were unaware that at this very moment, a figure had arrived outside Camulodunum.
It was Locusta.
"H- help... the Emperor has gone mad."
Plop. She and her mushrooms collapsed near the city gate.