The so-called city was nothing more than bustling streets, lively crowds, and a web of roads stretching in all directions, a place that never truly slept…
Even though the Far East at the end of the twentieth century was still in a social recession due to the Plaza Accord, a city was still a city. It would not lose all its vitality just because of an economic downturn.
Vast and smooth overpasses crisscrossed the landscape. The wide roads, washed clean by the rain, were filled with a ceaseless stream of vehicles speeding along, painting a picture of tension and haste.
Within this somewhat anxious environment, a certain individual was walking forward at an unhurried, almost leisurely pace.
"Li-jun, where are you taking me?"
The girl, whose hand was being held as she was led forward, looked around, seemingly unaccustomed to the scene.
She was a rather petite girl with short, pinkish-purple hair and side-swept bangs, one side just long enough to cover her eye. She wore a white Chaldea short-sleeve uniform.
It was Mash.
"To find the remains of the Third Magic, try to cut off a piece, shape it into a suitable Magic Crest, and then transplant it onto you so you can achieve the Materialization of the Soul."
"As long as you can achieve the Materialization of the Soul, you'll be able to keep living."
The young man, who was not, in fact, walking the streets of Fuyuki City, explained cheerfully why he had brought Miss Mash to this parallel world.
"…That kind of thing is too precious."
The girl, who had always held rather complicated feelings for the young man, fell silent upon hearing his words.
In truth, she did not like Li Zihan.
This man, an absolute scoundrel among scoundrels, had mercilessly snatched her Senpai away from her side and, right to her face, declared that he was going to sleep with her. His attitude was utterly despicable to the extreme, making one suspect he saw her Senpai as nothing more than a toy.
So, she had stood in his way.
"Hey, hey, if you stop me from touching my own lover, who's going to solve my physiological needs for me?"
"You?"
If this man was a complete and utter bastard, then this relationship would be a lifetime of pain for her Senpai. Should she contact everyone at Chaldea and try to rescue her Master?
It was a foolish thought.
Li Zihan's power was terrifying, completely beyond Chaldea's ability to handle. Recklessly asking for help would not only fail to save anyone but might even infuriate him. Judging by the abilities he had displayed, slaughtering every last member of Chaldea would be a matter of minutes for him.
Calling for aid would only plunge more people into suffering.
So, she had to try another way.
"I can be with you."
Looking at his slighting, even playful smile, the impulsive Miss Mash had uttered those words.
In exchange, Li Zihan had to place a geas on himself, in his own name, binding him not to have a physical relationship with Fujimaru Ritsuka for the simple reason of venting his desires.
To be honest, Miss Mash had wanted to demand that he not sleep with her Master at all. However, she was on the weaker side, and making too many demands would have been dangerous. So, she kept her request small.
As a result, she had succeeded with ease, placing a restraint on a man who could otherwise act with complete impunity.
If Li Zihan truly was a villain, then her sacrifice should have been an effective one.
But…
Miss Mash recalled the scene of the young man beside her fighting the Beast of Pity for her Master's sake, and the sweet, relieved smile her Master wore when she threw herself into his arms. Her expression grew anxious.
The man beside her, though he appeared utterly despicable, was actually a very responsible person who was very gentle with his lover. In fact, aside from his philandering nature, it was hard to find any other flaws.
The self-sacrifice she had made out of impulse earlier was, in reality…
…cuckolding her Master.
At this thought, Miss Mash's expression became even more fraught with anxiety.
And what's more…
Recalling her Master's lover's actions the very instant he sensed Goetia's attack, the girl's gaze shifted slightly.
He had chosen to give his highest-level protection—the Triumphant Bow, Vijaya—to her, and then threw her out of the range of the Third Noble Phantasm's attack. For that, he had lost the life that symbolized "morning."
In the subsequent battle with the Beast of Pity, he never once took back Vijaya from her hands, a weapon that would have increased his chances of victory just by carrying it…
When Goetia attacked again, his first reaction was not to counter, but to transport her out of the battlefield.
Recalling those scenes, ripples couldn't help but stir in the girl's heart.
He really was a strange person.
Right now, it seemed she… didn't dislike him very much anymore.
"The remains of the Third Magic are indeed quite precious."
"But they're nowhere near as precious as a girl with a first-rate personality and figure, are they?"
As if he had heard something bizarre, the young man who was asked the question turned his head back with a strange look on his face.
Was it a matter of course to use the priceless remains of the Third Magic to extend the life of a homunculus who could die at any moment?
Honestly, she had no sense of comparative value.
For some reason, Mash felt her emotions falling into disarray.
"Alright, stop letting your imagination run wild."
Seemingly sensing Miss Mash's confused state of mind, the young man holding her hand, who had crossed world lines to find the remains of the Third Magic, reached out and waved his hand in front of her eyes.
"Based on the contract we made before, our relationship is that of secret lovers."
"Isn't it perfectly natural to give a gift to one's lover?"
So, I'm a lover?
Recalling the feeling of being pressed down, her skin being licked, her body being treated like a brand-new toy and carefully played with, an inexplicable emotion arose in the girl's heart.
Then, a new thought followed.
Just a lover?
They hadn't used any protective measures when they were together. Even now, she could still recall the warmth in her lower abdomen when they finished. The girl's thoughts ran wild.
If I accidentally got pregnant, would our relationship be reversed?
No, no, now is not the time to be thinking about this.
As if startled awake, the girl snapped out of her contemplation.
Then, she looked at the young man who should have been with her Master and the Sumerian goddess but was instead running around for her sake, and posed a question.
"But, if I remember correctly, the Holy Grail should be located in Fuyuki City, right?"
She lifted her head and looked at the road sign ahead.
On the sign, the three characters for "Misaki Town" were exceptionally conspicuous.
The young man, who had an overly intimate relationship with the Witch and the Fifth Magic User, averted his gaze guiltily.
"Well, since we're already here, isn't it perfectly normal to drop by and see some old acquaintances?"