Type-Moon, Does a Small Cheat Count as a Cheat?

As she pondered, Aika entered the game interface and suddenly found that the environment had changed. Paper-thin characters from the game surrounded the protagonist, setting off fireworks. The game's official staff had even sent an email with a birthday gift, writing: This is not only a game, but companionship.

"Oh, so today is my game protagonist's birthday. Nice."

Today was the birthday Aika had set, which was why there was such a special scene. But it was not actually her birthday; she had merely set it casually.

"But this is so boring. None of them are my Prince Charming. They're all just fakes."

Perhaps seeing the game characters find their own "true love" had made the blonde girl immediately close the game and uninstall it as well.

"Taking care of someone is only something I can't be bothered with because the prince worthy of my proper care hasn't appeared yet. If he did appear, hehehe..." The girl muttered to herself, closing her eyes as she covered her face with one hand and continuously stroked her hair with the other.

"So annoying, so annoying, so annoying... Forget it. I should find some time to meet that Novia Father mentioned. After all, if someone fell in love with me at first sight, then I should reject him directly to his face, shouldn't I~?"

A few seconds later, Aika opened her eyes. Her clear pupils now shone with an endearing light. She stood up, stabbed the remaining cake with her fork, forcefully stuffed it into her mouth, chewed with puffed cheeks, and downed the rest of her black tea in one gulp.

"I'll make him treat me to a meal. That'll be the price for hearing this beautiful girl reject him. Anyway, there's no way he could possibly reject me, and I'm sure he'll never forget my beautiful voice for the rest of his life~"

Sajyou Aika: Unnecessary feelings began to sprout in her heart.

At noon in Bucharest, during the two weeks since Novia had returned, sunlight had always spilled into every corner of the city. The buildings lining the streets looked somewhat brighter beneath the sun, and the misty, damp sort of weather was rarely seen.

He had originally planned to leave today, but Sajyou Hiroki had called and said he wanted to meet again, delaying him.

Now, he walked into the agreed-upon restaurant. Just beyond the entrance was a spacious, lavish hall. Exquisite chandeliers adorned the high ceiling, their soft light illuminating the entire space, while oil paintings that looked extremely expensive hung on the walls.

Novia swept his gaze across the thoughtfully arranged seating and immediately spotted the location Sajyou Hiroki had mentioned over the phone, along with the blonde girl sitting there looking exceedingly relaxed.

Just as he had expected, Sajyou Hiroki had arranged for him to go on a blind date with this thirty-seven-year-old "beautiful girl," Sajyou Aika. It was clear that the couple was worried about their nearly forty-year-old daughter, who caused trouble everywhere she went.

However, just as Novia approached, Sajyou Aika seemed to notice him coming. Strangely, she did not greet him. Instead, she rose directly to her feet and quickly yet elegantly headed toward the restroom.

Was that fleeing in panic? Or had she eaten too much? Or was there some other reason?

Sitting down with some confusion, Novia looked outside. Beyond the thick glass was a bustling street. He had originally wanted to see whether he could participate in a Sub-species Holy Grail War today, in order to summon Nero or Melusine.

After all, there was still some time before the American Holy Grail War began, so he could only consider a sub-species one first.

The destination was Kouhaku's labyrinth—or rather, a part of it. It was the Alcatraz Seventh Labyrinth, occupied by a Vampire Species named "Wolfgang Faust," who was not a Dead Apostle, and hailed in the magecraft world as "the labyrinth that devours all intruders."

The reason the magecraft world called it that was because this Vampire Species, who had existed for ages, continuously held Sub-species Holy Grail Wars there. Using the Spirit Cores of the four Servants summoned each time for experiments, it sought to raise its rank and become a Spirit Species—nature materialized into flesh, Star Touch.

"...Was that magecraft? What level of charm magecraft could actually affect me?"

At that moment, beside the restaurant restroom mirror, Sajyou Aika continuously stroked her cheeks as she examined whether the contours and sensation of her face were covered by some unknown magical force.

Otherwise—

How could she blush uncontrollably before someone she had only just met because of her own rude behavior, while feeling so guilty that she wanted to crawl into a hole?

What do I do, what do I do? No matter what, this really worked, right? Didn't it? Waaah, waaah, I don't know...

Now, whenever the blonde girl thought of the little scheme she had had before coming here, she felt increasingly guilty. After all, she had ordered every dish on the menu, intending to happily reject him afterward and then laugh about it with her friend Sereni. After all, Father had said he had fallen in love with her at first sight... But now, it was not as though that would be impossible.

But how should she put it? The person her father had introduced to her was overwhelmingly different from what she had imagined. It was not his appearance or the aura of his magical power, but a state of mind that had arisen from nowhere. What kind of feeling was that? Aika did not think it was necessarily an indescribable feeling of love, because she had now naturally understood the true meaning of such emotions—

If she had a child, she could only let this person become the child's teacher, and then... if he could kill her, that would be the best!

What...

Had she really become just like those people online, thinking of their child's birth, future education, and the ending of their relationship the very first time they met?

With no time to think further, Sajyou Aika only wanted the person her father claimed had "fallen in love with her at first sight" to become even more enamored of her.

Novia, Novia. It was truly a good name, such a lovely name, such a beautiful name. This name was simply born to suit this person. Just saying it was so interesting. Even if she had to listen to that irritating—ah, no, sacred—Bible from his religion every day by his side, it would surely be incredibly interesting.

"No, no. Although it's a little late now, I still need to make proper—no, the best—amends! Novia, Novia..."

As she spoke, the blonde girl took a deep breath to ease her shame, her right hand making a grasping motion in the air.

Then, a glow of magical power visible only to magi appeared at her slender white fingertips. In less than a second, a crystal over ten centimeters in diameter appeared in Aika's palm. It had not been created from nothing, but formed by gathering the ambient Mana in the air into a high-density crystallization of magical power.

In the magecraft world, even an exceptionally talented magus would need several days to make such a large crystal. For this girl, it took no more than an instant.

And the only reason she had done it was to first repair the exhausted air she could no longer conceal after staying up for ten consecutive nights, as well as the messiness caused by leaving her hair unattended for days and nights...

After spending a long half-minute quickly tidying herself up, Sajyou Aika gracefully returned to her original seat. Before coming back, she had even paid the bill herself, which she had originally intended to make Novia cover.

To be honest, if she had not been unable to find a suitable excuse, Sajyou Aika only wanted Novia to taste her cooking rather than this unpleasant restaurant food. Ideally, he would eat only what she made forever.

"Hello, Novia. I'm Sajyou Aika."

The girl spoke with her back to the light of noon. At that moment, her voice sounded even cuter than usual, accompanied by slightly reserved movements. Her carefully groomed hair was so soft and fine that sunlight could easily pass through it. Set against her emerald dress, she resembled a flower blooming amid radiance.

If Novia had not learned from Sajyou Hiroki that Sajyou Aika was actually thirty-seven, he probably would have mistaken her for a teenager. Her appearance was simply too deceptive.

"Um..." Sajyou Aika smiled shyly. "Because I didn't know what you liked, I ordered every dish. It may be a little too much, but please don't worry about it. I won't trouble you with anything, because this is something I should do. Please eat as much as you like. It's fine if you can't finish it."

The girl then lowered her head and said softly:

"Also, after we finish eating here, could I invite you to my home for dinner today? I'll cook for you myself."

I Can Go with You Too...

"Mm, that won't work."

"...I'm very sorry."

When Novia rejected her without hesitation, the blonde girl lowered her eyes like a child being scolded by an adult. Her reserved voice gradually grew softer, her gaze wandered, and her expression became increasingly gloomy.

Sajyou Aika's unhappiness was not because Novia had rejected her, but because of herself.

She regretted it so much. She had clearly planned to meet him the very next day, but because she had truly not wanted to move around, she had delayed for nearly half a month before coming to see him. She really regretted it now. Had he come to dislike her because she had waited too long?

Did he misunderstand me as a bad-tempered and lazy woman? Not a lady, so he doesn't like me? I really want to go back and give my past self a good scolding.

Still, taking it slowly was not impossible. If not today, then tomorrow, the day after tomorrow... Waaah, no. She had to find a way to make Novia eat her cooking within three days and figure out what he liked.

"If what I just said displeased you, I'm truly very sorry."

Sajyou Aika raised her head and gazed directly at Novia with sparkling eyes.

How should he put this expression of Aika's? Novia always had the feeling that she was deliberately showing it to him. It made him feel that this girl was so poor at controlling her true emotions that he could not help but feel pity for her.

But it also made Novia realize something. It seemed that this girl really had "fallen in love with him at first sight." Novia would not investigate the origins of her feelings. It was enough for him to accept their purest part.

So he should explain the situation clearly, lest she become suspicious and do something strange. If a few smiles and words could put someone at ease, he naturally would not hesitate.

"Actually, I wasn't displeased by what you said, Sajyou Aika—"

"Could you just call me Aika? I don't like... being called that by you."

Thirty-seven-year-old Aika touched her cheek with slender fingertips. A faint blush colored her face, and she looked slightly troubled.

"Aika, I wasn't displeased by your words. I'm very happy to receive the promise of a lady such as yourself, but I have matters that require me to leave Romania for the next few days."

He smiled at the girl again. As proof of his acceptance, there was not the slightest falsehood in his gaze or words, nor could she possibly think there was.

"By the way..." Aika fiddled with her fingers in distress, slightly raising her head. "You're also a magus, Novia, right? The things you need to do might get you hurt. That's far too dangerous. It would be terrible if anything happened to you."

Aika had learned that not only from her father, Sajyou Hiroki, but also because she had casually examined the magecraft set up inside her father's car and discovered that it had indeed been breached by some unknown magical power. Her attitude at the time had been, Oh, he's quite a strong magus.

But now, it was, Even if he's strong, he could still get hurt, so he should stop running around and stay by my side, waiting to personally teach our child after it is born.

Then, before Novia could respond, Sajyou Aika impatiently continued:

"My father said you fell in love with me at first sight. That's true, right...?"

The content of Sajyou Hiroki's phone call had been for Novia to come out and chat with him again. He had not even told Novia her name or shown him her photograph.

The impression this father gave Novia was that he desperately wanted his troublemaking thirty-seven-year-old daughter to quickly find someone she found agreeable, settle down, and stop making her younger sister, who diligently studied at the Clock Tower, clean up the messes she caused.

"Well..."

"I think it must be true, because—" Novia came back to his senses, only to find that Aika's faintly flushed face had somehow drawn close beside him. She wore an adorable expression like a young animal and naturally narrowed her eyes. "I feel the same way. This is truly wonderful."

The girl believed that her thought of, "If she had a child, she could only let this person become the child's teacher," meant that she wanted to have a child with Novia and have the two of them teach the child together. Her thought of, "Then... if he could kill her, that would be the best!" meant that she was willing to live this way for the rest of her life. The hollow "coldness" of a spirit living like the dead had vanished.

In other words, he was truly everything.

Seeing this, Novia understood that if he merely nodded lightly, this Sajyou Aika would once again present her elegant "lady-like" self to the world...

But he still felt that Sajyou Aika, who had been able to freely practice "goodness" all these years, was a good child. Her mother had exhausted some kind of blessing upon Aika's birth and had thus quickly passed away after giving birth to Ayaka.

Yet in this world, her mother had miraculously survived. Presumably, even though the girl felt "coldness" toward everything, even toward blood relations, she had ultimately chosen "goodness."

Aika meant a song as beautiful as a hymn praising love. It was a name representing the Sajyou parents' love for her.

Since childhood, this girl had never shown emotion. She was like a doll, yet the Sajyou parents had still raised her with love. In this regard, neither of them resembled a magus at all.

Countless times, they spoke to their child, stroked her cheeks and fingers, turned every bit of love they could think of into words, and told it to their child—as though she were a child living while dead—

Even if other magi described young Aika this way, the couple never cared. Even if she possessed eyes that seemed able to see through everything, terrifying talent for magecraft, and gave them not the slightest response, her parents still loved their child as always and never treated her as a doll.

Therefore—

"No, I didn't actually fall in love with you at first sight, Aika. Perhaps that was a small misunderstanding... But, well, I do truly like you, Aika, and I'm incredibly happy that you fell in love with me at first sight."

Novia showed neither embarrassment nor impatience toward the girl so close to him. Instead, he looked directly into her pale, clear eyes.

"So, Aika, could you wait here peacefully for my return? If you remain as you are now, I think I'll come to like you more and more. That's the truth."

"...Like... But, but, I... like..."

It would have been a lie to say Aika felt no ripples after not receiving confirmation of "love at first sight." She was somewhat disappointed, but the word "like" Novia had spoken made her entire body burn with heat. Like someone unable to bear loneliness, her adorable tone now became slightly distorted.

"If you're going somewhere, I can go with you too. And I definitely won't trouble you. Can you take me with you...?"

The Story of a Philandering Scumbag Pope Deceiving a Pure-hearted Female Institute Director

Inside a research room at the Atlas Institute, faint smoke drifted near the doorway. It was smoke that those without keen spiritual sight could not see, and it was a magecraft barrier set up by the Atlas Institute personnel present here.

"Oh my, so it was the work of a Vampire Species. I really didn't expect that. How impressive."

A purple-haired girl dressed in an Atlas Institute uniform, wearing a brimless cap and with three long braids hanging to her waist, expressionlessly spoke those words. Then she crumpled the note on the desk bearing that information into a ball and tossed it into the trash.

"Even though I'm also a Vampire Species, they bring this sort of nonsense to me? Do they take me for some emergency firefighter? Besides, I'm not from the Clock Tower. How could the dignified next Institute Director be ordered around so casually?" The girl, whose true name was Shion Elnatan Atlastraxia, continued talking to herself without changing expression, her legs resting against the chair. "The Clock Tower should handle its own affairs. There's no need for me to go."

Just moments ago, while Shion had been busy researching, she had inexplicably received a note containing information about the demon cave known as the Alcatraz Seventh Labyrinth.

The notorious Alcatraz Seventh Labyrinth was filled with countless dangers on every floor: Phantasmal Species, chimeras, automatons, lethal traps, and bounded fields. It was virtually endless. Though many explorers had attempted to challenge it, none had returned alive. Even magi directly dispatched by the Mage's Association had been unable to conquer it.

Now, a Vampire Species had set up a sub-Holy Grail at the deepest level of the labyrinth and initiated the ritual, automatically summoning four Servants there.

To be precise, Shion was not uninterested in the Sub-species Holy Grail War. But once she saw that the Servants were summoned automatically, she lost her motivation. After all, she had a Holy Relic she wanted to use and wanted to see whether she could summon that person.

When she had entered the Atlas Institute to study in her early years, her talent had naturally earned her first place. Thus, she had been granted the Atlastraxia surname, proof that she would become the next Institute Director...

But at that very moment, a stone and what appeared to be well-preserved food had suddenly flown in from somewhere and landed in her hands.

Though Shion could guarantee that she had never seen the utterly ordinary stone or the Egyptian traditional pastry with several bites taken out of it before, she had felt an unbearable urge to cry. It was as if a wish had been born within her, and she had experienced such a state for the first time since her birth.

The ceremony had been forced to end in haste, lest everyone at the Atlas Institute see the purple-haired girl—who had always been so competitive and active—burst into tears. Afterward, she had cried until her eyes turned red.

Only the next day did she learn that these two things were actually "treasures" left behind by an Atlas Institute Director from the first century AD. That person seemed to have been the earliest individual in the Atlas Institute's history to receive an instructor, while even Shion herself had only received the position of instructor at eight years old.

Driven by curiosity, Shion naturally searched the Institute for information about this Director named Shiyali. She discovered that, aside from being truly brilliant, Shiyali was also from the Eltanum family, which used the magecraft Mystic Code Aether Lines just like Shion. In other words, she was practically Shion's ancestor.

Perhaps Director Shiyali deliberately left things for me, two thousand years in the future, because I'm so outstanding. I absolutely cannot disappoint her expectations.

With that mindset, Shion became increasingly immersed in her research and did not care at all that she had always been alone.

Until one day, when she casually took out the stone to examine its craftsmanship, she accidentally triggered some sort of switch. What followed was a voice that sounded exactly like hers. Before then, the purple-haired girl had never imagined that this stone, apart from being exquisitely crafted, actually possessed a voice-recording function.

But that unexpected delight was soon mercilessly shattered. After listening to it, Shion had never felt such anger before—

"Novia, I want to tell you something. Even if you might say you don't need it, I still want to tell you... Congratulations on achieving your goal. You're amazing. Also, I'm really looking forward to seeing you again."

"You didn't hear it... Why don't you know how to use it..."

Shion naturally knew that Novia was the name of the first pope of the Church in the first century AD, but he actually had that kind of relationship with the Institute Director?

Although her reason wanted her to calm down, an inexplicable displeasure would not stop. Out of confusion, she secretly used the spiritron computation device, Trismegistus Hermes, to ask whether that legendary person who had gone to Heaven had truly gone to Heaven, and what kind of person he was.

The result—

I knew someone would definitely search for me one day. Sure enough, I'm so happy. Anyway, thank you for knowing my name. Good luck.