(Continuing from last time, after Jizi explained the concept of the False Attendant Grimoire to Yanye.)
Yanye: Going by what you said, it really does seem feasible.
Jizi: Yes. It won't harm Sakura at all. Her Mana reserves are enough for Berserker to go all out and still have plenty to spare.
Yanye (still somewhat hesitant): But... Berserker is already difficult to control. If we waste another Command Seal on the False Attendant Grimoire, then...
Jizi: That brings me to the second thing I wanted to mention. I actually have a way to let Berserker retain his sanity without losing the class bonuses granted to him. No...
Yanye: Oh, oh! Caster really can do anything!
Jizi: Bullshit. I can't make a Anywhere Door... I mean, if I really could do anything, would I need to ally with you? I could just go do whatever I wanted. Let me finish. But this will increase Sakura's Mana burden, so we probably won't be able to let Berserker fight without restraint.
Sakura (suddenly cutting in, her eyes resolute): It's okay, Caster. I can do it. (Seeing Yanye about to speak, she spoke first.) Uncle Yanye, please let me do something too. But... please spare Father... his life...
Yanye: ... (He sighed.) Sigh... (He looked as though he wanted to say something, but held it back.)
Jizi (seeing that Yanye would not come around on this issue anytime soon, changed the subject): Since Sakura has said so, then it's settled, Yanye. (She leaned close and whispered into his ear.) First, you have to be able to beat him before considering what to do with Tokiomi afterward, right? (Loudly.) Actually, making this is very difficult for me too. But thanks to getting a lot of Mana from Old Worm yesterday—though tonight I'll have to go fight ** again. I'm not Railgun, sigh...
--------And so Yangtze woke up just like that, and could finally have lines--------
(The timeline shifted to after Yangtze woke up, everyone went through their hypocritical greetings, and Jizi selectively revealed, with slight alterations, some details about the Holy Grail's contamination and the truth of the Holy Grail War, while incidentally giving herself a new identity.)
Lancelot: So according to you, Caster, even if we win the war, all we will receive in the end is a wish-granting device that twists our wishes, and it will also release the so-called "evil of this world." Is that correct?
Jizi: That is more or less exactly how you summarized it.
Lancelot: And you are an existence connected to the "Holy Grail War" during your lifetime, so the "Holy Grail War" itself can serve as a medium to summon you. This time, that person who knew absolutely nothing about magecraft and possessed no Holy Relic happened to casually draw a spirit-summoning circle that was the best opportunity for your descent. Correct?
Jizi: Correct.
Lancelot: Your purpose in descending was not to seize the Holy Grail, but to accept a mission from the Counter Force to purify the evil of this world within the Grail.
Jizi: It would be even better if we could completely end the ritual known as the "Holy Grail War," but that's a trophy achievement challenge, not part of the main quest.
Lancelot: Because you are a Heroic Spirit bound to the Holy Grail War, you possess the ability to obtain information on the Magi and Servants participating in it.
Jizi: You couldn't speak before, and now that you finally can, are you going to make up all the lines you owed at once? Or do you just have an obsession with exposition and summarizing? (She met Berserker's gaze, which gleamed with a strange light.) ...Fine, fine. I'll answer directly without making snarky remarks. Yes!
Lancelot: Through that ability, you learned why Master and I answered the Grail's call. You judged that neither of us was particularly obsessed with the Grail itself, and that what we sought was something gained during the course of the "Holy Grail War," so you hoped to receive our assistance.
Jizi: This benefits everyone, doesn't it? You can reunite with your king, Yanye can save Sakura and beat up Tokiomi, Sakura can escape that damned modification, and I can complete the Counter Force's commission.
Lancelot (letting out a breath and clearing his throat): Ahem. The prerequisite is that the facts are truly as you say.
Jizi: See? The moment you get lines, you can't stop talking. Cough yourself to death! (Once again meeting Yangtze's imposing gaze.) ...Fine, fine, stop staring at me like that. I'll be serious—well, regarding Angra Mainyu, records related to the Third Holy Grail War can be found in the Matou family library. That should serve as evidence, right? As for me personally... there really is no convincing evidence to be found, which is why I've been showing my sincerity through my actions all along!
Yanye: Um, Berserker, I actually don't think Caster has lied to us. After all, she really has been helping us, and she gains nothing by deceiving us.
Sakura: Caster is a good person!
Jizi (turning gray in an otz pose): After going through so much trouble, even pulling out one ahoge, saving a little girl... I never expected to receive a good person card in return...
Sakura: (Running over to Jizi.) Caster, did I say something wrong? Don't be like this...
Jizi: (She grabbed Sakura in a hug and rubbed against her.) Hahaha, as long as I get a hug to replenish a little loli energy, everything will be fine.
Sakura: Caster, don't... ahahaha... that tickles...
Yanye: ...Now I really do think her motives and credibility need to be reviewed.
-----------The dividing line after the comedic cuteness routine---------
Yanye: Indeed, that old bastard's notes contain records of the previous war. The Einzbern family cheated in pursuit of victory and summoned the eighth Servant—Avenger...
Jizi: See? I didn't lie to you.
At the request of our many readers, we now offer ad-free VIP membership.
Click to view.
Lancelot: But there are still many doubts concerning you yourself.
Jizi: Honestly, I feel like I've already been completely sincere. I heard that if you want others to feel that you're sincere, the simplest way is to genuinely be sincere—damn it, why doesn't that work when it comes to me?!
Yanye: I have indeed felt your sincerity. It is simply that the hidden truth of the Holy Grail War is far too shocking, and instinctively, I did not wish to believe it... But after thinking it over carefully and considering your conduct, I am willing to believe you and cooperate in this Holy Grail War.
Lancelot: I have indeed felt the sincerity in your eyes. And as a knight, I do not wish to judge a woman with malice. Moreover, the great kindness of allowing me to reunite with my king without that ** appearance is enough to earn the martial skill of the Knight of the Lake as repayment.
Voice of Heaven:
Kariya Matou has joined the party. Lancelot has joined the party.
Jizi: Persuasion successful! Then let us continue with our original topic—our strategy and tactical operations from here on.
Yanye: Didn't you already discuss all that?
Jizi and Lancelot: Huh?
Yanye: Back at the beginning. Didn't you say you wanted to try negotiating with Rider's group?
Jizi (looking as though she had only just remembered): Oh, oh, that...
Lancelot: Master, I have no memory of such a thing.
Yanye: (Startled.) You don't remember when you lost your sanity?
Lancelot: No, I should say that I do, but it is extremely vague. After all, in that state, it would have been impossible to actively remember anything.
Yanye: (Even more startled.) You had no subjective consciousness back then?! Then the conversation between you and Caster...
Jizi: Ahahahahahahahahaha! Let's quickly return to the main topic. My analysis of Rider is actually this...
Yanye: Don't try to brush it off! You couldn't understand Berserker's "roars" at all, could you?! You only knew Berserker's status through that information-gathering ability of yours!
Jizi: Doesn't that just prove how powerful my media skills are?
Yanye: Then what was that so-called strategy meeting today supposed to mean? Were you just messing with me for fun?!
Jizi: Ahahaha, Yanye, it's because of your poor sense of humor that you can't win the goddess's favor...
Yanye: ...I really should investigate you properly! Berserker, catch her!
Jizi (vanishing swiftly): I'm going to negotiate with Rider's group, so just wait for my good news, Yanye! No need to thank me!
Lancelot: Actually, I did not have many lines in this chapter either, even though I finally got to speak...
Yanye: ...
-----------Little Sunflower Reader Classroom----------------
The items Jizi created that could be preserved for long periods required a considerable amount of Mana. Maintaining their existence also consumed Mana, and extending their duration by one day required twice as much Mana as creating them.
Item:
Name: Calm Amulet
Origin: Heroes of Might and Magic III
Function: In the game, it made troops immune to Berserk. Here, its effect was to restore Berserker's sanity.
Note: Although it was not a weapon, using a Command Seal to forcibly make Berserker's Noble Phantasm, "Knight of Owner (knight_of_owner)," take effect on it turned it into Berserker's Noble Phantasm. That way, the Mana it consumed could be supplied by Sakura, who became Master after accepting the Command Seals transferred by Yanye.
Additional Note: Command Seals can even forcibly alter a Servant's class, so extending the function of a Noble Phantasm a little bit—and only once at that—isn't entirely unacceptable... right?
Additional Additional Note: The script format was just a spur-of-the-moment little experiment. Things will return to normal afterward.
Before you continue