Rejedo's power in the Dragon Race world was naturally invincible, whether on Earth or in the heavens.
Yet Eriyi did not nod.
Instead, she stepped forward, anxiety clear in her voice. "Rejedo, will you come back after you leave?"
"I will not come back, but it is not really leaving," Malrick replied calmly.
Malrick rarely saw Eriyi show such unease. In truth, she seldom expressed emotion at all, and only around a handful of people did her eyes ever truly light up.
In that moment, Malrick understood.
Eriyi had not purchased more than a hundred trials to grow stronger. She had done it to find him.
Points equal to a White King and one tenth of a Black King had been spent without hesitation. To others, it would have been an unbearable loss. To Eriyi, it was worth every bit.
She did not regret the cost. She only looked at Malrick nervously, afraid that her Rejedo would vanish once he left.
The experience within the illusion felt unreal, like a dream that refused to settle into memory. Yet for Eriyi, those months had been the most wonderful time of her life.
Malrick still remembered leading her through countless scenic locations within the illusion. Every place they visited, Eriyi bought postcards and recorded everything carefully.
After tasting Five-Eyed Fried Rice once, she became obsessed with it. Ordinary civilian food was a revelation to her. She ate it for an entire month before finally giving up.
During that time, she even transformed while eating. When fighting monsters, she protected the small bowl in her hand, finishing her meal only after the battle ended.
Malrick believed that those months had allowed Eriyi to grow, to become independent, to no longer rely entirely on his guidance.
But thinking back now, he realized something else.
Perhaps he himself had become an irreplaceable part of her world.
"So that is it," Malrick said quietly. "You want to leave with me?"
Eriyi nodded without hesitation.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because I do not want to stop seeing Rejedo."
"And your brother?" Malrick asked.
"Brother is going to France to sell sunscreen."
Malrick paused. "He really is going to sell sunscreen this time? The Sheqi Hachi Family does not mind?"
"What is the Sheqi Hachi Family?" Eriyi asked innocently.
"You really do not know much about your own world," Malrick sighed. "Did you not say you wanted to protect it?"
"But this world is no longer in danger," Eriyi replied seriously. After a moment of thought, she added, "Because Rejedo is leaving, there will definitely be no danger."
Unexpectedly, she sounded very sharp at that moment.
"That may be true, but still…" Malrick hesitated.
Eriyi looked up at him. "Rejedo said my world does not have Naruto, nor Seiya and Athena. Can you take me to see them?"
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Malrick suddenly understood why she had always wanted to run away from home in the past.
Before, she believed the outside world was exactly like anime, and she wanted to skip school to confirm it. Now she knew her understanding had been wrong, and she had corrected it.
Yet she still wanted to see more.
Malrick found no real reason to refuse her. Taking Eriyi with him would be no more troublesome than carrying a gentle, obedient kitten.
Noticing his hesitation, Eriyi added softly, "I will be obedient."
After a moment, Malrick nodded. "Alright."
He reached out and gently stroked her head. The soft, smooth feeling truly was like touching a kitten, making it hard to pull away.
"You bought so many trials. Think of this as taking you to other worlds for them."
Eriyi nodded happily, allowing him to continue.
When Malrick withdrew his hand, she tiptoed across the tatami mat, circling the kotatsu table and gathering her doll toys along the way.
She opened the fireplace, pulled out a suitcase, and carefully placed each doll inside.
Once finished, she closed the suitcase, carried it to Malrick, and said simply, "Let's go."
It was obvious she had planned this long ago.
She owned very few clothes. Her most treasured possessions were her dolls, packed neatly, ready for a life of wandering at any time.
"Do you not need to tell your brother?" Malrick asked.
Eriyi shook her head and pointed at the television. "Kaguya-hime will tell him."
Malrick gave a wry smile. "Alright, then let's go."
He took her wrist and activated his Crossing ability.
"Where are we going?" Eriyi asked.
"Partners of justice have no destination," Malrick replied. "We go wherever we arrive."
The two vanished from the Genji Heavy Industries building.
Shuichi Gen, after receiving the message from Kaguya-hime, beat his chest and stomped his feet, furious that his sister had been taken away by the so-called Ghost Fire Youth.
Nearby, Shuichi Gen's sister comforted him, barely suppressing a smile as she remarked that it was not such a bad thing for the two of them to go sell sunscreen together.
…
Where would Rejedo take her?
Eriyi wondered excitedly before losing consciousness.
When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a familiar figure.
A heroic king stood before her, long golden hair tied behind her head, emerald eyes filled with majesty and righteousness.
Despite wearing heavy armor and a deep blue battle skirt, she appeared effortless and composed.
"I ask of you," the golden-haired knight said, holding her sword. "Are you my Master?"
Eriyi froze, then her eyes lit up. She examined the knight carefully, stepping to the side, looking left and right with quiet excitement.
"Master?" the knight repeated, clearly unaccustomed to the reaction. "Are you not my Master?"
Eriyi hesitated. She did not know.
She had woken to see the King of Knights from the Fate series, Artoria Pendragon.
She was simply happy. Overwhelmingly happy.
She looked around.
They were inside a vast cathedral. Artoria stood on a platform, a Heroic Spirit summoning circle beneath her feet. Nearby were Irisviel von Einzbern, with her silver hair, and the grim-faced Emiya Kiritsugu.
And behind Eriyi stood Malrick.
"Rejedo?" Eriyi turned to him, seeking an explanation.
"Call me Malrick from now on," he said calmly. "It is a long story, but in short…"
He looked at Artoria. "Eriyi is not your Master yet, but she will be soon."
As his words fell, the Command Seals on Emiya Kiritsugu's hand faded away and appeared on the back of Eriyi's hand instead.
Eriyi raised her hand, staring as if fantasy had become reality.
Finally, she clenched her fist and looked at Artoria with determination. "I am your Master, Saber."
___
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