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

Well then, see you next time.

"See you my ass! Who the hell wants to see you?!"

In that instant, Shion seemed to see the "ugly face" of the first Pope from two thousand years ago through those words. He was far too smug. All that nonsense about never marrying and having only one wife—it was obviously the story of a philandering scumbag Pope deceiving an innocent female dean, then heartlessly abandoning her.

That was the conclusion all seven of her Thought Partitions had reached.

From then on, that displeasure took root in her heart and could not be shaken off.

How could he possibly not know how to use it? He had definitely done it on purpose. As expected, not a single one of those religious people was any good. They were all smooth-talking liars who relied on nothing but their mouths!

From that day onward, Shion scoffed at the Holy Church's invitations to exterminate Dead Apostles. Simply put, she found the entire Church unpleasant to look at.

Shion also had a wish for the Holy Grail War: to summon that Pope, Novia, then use every Command Spell she had to make him willingly admit to this stone that he had been a scumbag.

So if the Sub-species Holy Grail War within the labyrinth involved independent summoning, Shion would not have minded joining in. Unfortunately, it really did involve independent summoning.

The reason she dared to believe she had a high chance of summoning Novia was likely because she thought that, since this stone had once been sent away and was now returned, it should bear traces of that Pope's presence. In other words, it was a Holy Relic.

This is not a request. It is a trial assigned by the dean, my good daughter.

"You could've just said so. Why beat around the bush like that? Fine, I'll deal with it."

A note appeared out of nowhere on Shion's desk again. After glancing at it, Shion folded her arms and muttered to herself.

"Still, shouldn't this sort of thing be handed over to the Holy Church? I really don't want to run into those people. Just hearing them prattle on about Novia, God, and all that makes me sick..."

The Six Hundred Sixty-Six Magic Circles Within the Labyrinth

After several days of travel, Novia and Sajyou Manaka, who had accompanied him, arrived at the first floor of the Alcatraz Seventh Labyrinth, at the entrance connected to the outside world.

At first glance, the labyrinth looked utterly ordinary. Yet its perpetually dim space was filled with a peculiar air.

"Um, Novia, why did you drive away those outsourced personnel from the Mage's Association?"

Standing beside Novia, Aika raised one hand like a student asking her teacher a question, while appropriately putting on a "confused" expression.

"They're just people the Mage's Association sent here to die. There's no need to watch them walk to their deaths."

Outsourced personnel of the Mage's Association referred to people whom the Clock Tower recruited as collaborators in the name of cooperation—people who did not study Mysteries or use magecraft, but were merely treated as tools. They could be said to belong neither to the world of magecraft nor to the ordinary world. Most of the time, they accepted missions from the Clock Tower and helped gather precious items used as magical catalysts and the like.

"I see, I see! I understand now!"

Aika scratched her head with an embarrassed smile, looking as though she had suddenly understood everything.

"It's good that you understand."

Novia roughly knew why Aika liked to act as though she understood things at a glance. She probably wanted him to think that, at her age, she was actually pure and ladylike, so that his subconscious impression of her would improve.

However, Novia had calculated the timing. Before long, the Great Serpent that Wolfgang Faust, the mastermind behind the Sub-species Holy Grail War, used to deal with Servants would arrive at the first-floor entrance and nearly wipe out all the outsourced personnel who should have gathered there.

That would serve as the opening of the Sub-species Holy Grail ritual, turning this place into a sealed space of death from which no one could leave until the ritual ended.

Yet that instant was also when Novia intended to summon Nero and Melusine. Although the four Servants in this Sub-species Holy Grail War were theoretically independently summoned and could sustain themselves without Masters—

That was only because no one realized the Sub-species Holy Grail War had already begun at that instant, resulting in something akin to summoning based on fate and connection. By the time people noticed, Wolfgang had already killed nearly all of them.

The Sub-species Holy Grail derived from Fuyuki City in Japan usually summoned Servants, absorbed the vast magical energy within their souls, and functioned as a wish-granting device.

That was why Servants were forced to slaughter one another in the Holy Grail War. In the end, they were merely sources of magical energy for fulfilling wishes. There had originally been seven Servants, while a Sub-species Holy Grail could have at most five. That difference in number showed just how far it was from being "omnipotent."

Yet in recent years, more and more magi had been holding Sub-species Holy Grail Wars. They probably believed that even if it was not omnipotent, it could still bring immense benefits, which was why they continued rushing into it one after another.

"Oh, right, Novia. I looked over the structure here. It should be a planetary magic circle incorporating Kabbalistic thought and designed to connect with the planets of the solar system. This place should have been established to correspond with the Solar Magic Circle, and there are six Solar Magic Circles on this floor alone."

Aika leaned close to Novia's ear as she spoke, as though she merely wanted him to hear her clearly. In truth, she only wanted an excuse to get closer.

Then she continued in an expectant tone:

"A 'labyrinth' corresponding to the sun, with a total of six hundred sixty-six Solar Magic Circles. Obviously, it corresponds to the number of the beast recorded in the Book of Revelation from the New Testament, edited by the Pope who shared your name. That's right, I actually really like the Church's Bible. I even have copies at home. It's true! Why don't you come to my house after we get back and have a look?"

Although Novia had already died before John compiled the Book of Revelation, perhaps Nero had vaguely understood something after reading it. In any case, she had still included the Book of Revelation in the New Testament.

Just as some people speculated that the Holy Spirit within it was actually a metaphor for the first Pope, Novia, others naturally wondered who the woman pouring wine over the Holy Spirit was. Some believed it was simply a story, while conspiracy theorists claimed that Nero had seized power and killed Novia, and that John used a woman to represent him so the truth would not be lost.

However, the real focus of Aika's words was the latter half. It was an invitation no less obvious than a cat doing a backflip.

"Sure. Once we're done here, anything's possible. After all, I quite like the way you are right now, Aika."

Novia answered with a smile, but Aika somehow felt that he had seen through her undisguised thoughts. Coupled with the word "like" coming from his lips, her face immediately flushed red again.

Come to think of it, if Aika had not brought it up, Novia would not have remembered the Beast of 666. As far as he knew, Nero should have understood him in the end and left peacefully. She should not have turned into a Beast again...

Then he had to take responsibility for summoning Nero and Melusine, who had been alone for so long, and giving them physical bodies.

Just as Novia was lost in thought, a rumbling sound erased the previously tranquil atmosphere.

"Aika, a magical beast is coming."

"There's nothing to worry about. You don't need to step in for something like this, Novia. I'll handle it." Aika smiled softly again. "But are you worried about me?"

"Of course. A magical beast like that clearly specializes in eating young girls."

"Wow, that really is scary."

After Aika laughed and tossed out those words, she faced the Great Serpent approaching in a straight line from the far end of the passage. It scraped against the surrounding stone walls and floor with grating, grinding sounds, filling the entire passage as it advanced with a hair-raising hiss.

Apparently not expecting anyone to dare stand in its way, the Great Serpent furiously charged at Aika—

The girl lightly pressed against its forehead. Then, by some unknown magecraft, she shattered the enormous Great Serpent so thoroughly that one could no longer recall what it had originally looked like.

"What a pity. There's only so little edible meat left." Aika showed a trace of regret, then smiled brightly again. "I'll cook all of it for you, Novia... Huh? What's this?"

Three inexplicable marks had appeared on her right hand, and the girl immediately turned toward Novia with a curious expression.

For some reason, though, Aika felt that while Novia appeared unchanged, his magical energy had suddenly increased significantly.

"It's finally begun. And this time, the magical energy from all directions has actually converged in one place. Looks like these Servants are about to slaughter one another until only one remains. Fight pitifully, tragic heroes."

At the lowest level of the labyrinth, where the Sub-species Holy Grail was located, Wolfgang Faust, a vampire descended from Arcadia, smiled. Then, as though he had noticed something, he looked toward the blond man who had appeared out of thin air behind him.

"...White Knight?"

Love at First Sight? It Was Nothing More Than Hormonal Stimulation

"I didn't expect you to be so strong, Novia."

In the hall at the deepest part of the first floor of the Alcatraz Seventh Labyrinth, a shallow layer of water covered the surroundings, barely allowing the ground beneath to be seen. In the center lay a blue horse-like magical beast, whose flesh Aika had already carved off.

"All right, let's eat something and rest for a while."

Aika cast Projection Magecraft, creating objects from empty space. A metal frying pan appeared in her hand, followed by water-element conversion magecraft that immediately filled the pan with water. Then she created fire.

"We need to cook it before the things disappear." After smiling shyly, the girl continued, "The ingredients are all fine. Along the way, I picked out a few 'parts' from the Phantasmal Species and chimera you defeated that should be edible and carried them with me. You should eat more to replenish your magical energy, Novia. After all, you're borrowing the power of some Servant now, aren't you?"

This "den of monsters" was filled with magical beasts that were difficult to encounter from a modern perspective, but Aika did not care about any of that. The most important thing was that she could spend time alone with Novia and deepen their relationship. That alone was enough.

"More or less."

Originally, Novia had planned to use the gap when the Great Serpent attacked earlier—the instant the Sub-species Holy Grail War began—to use himself as a medium and summon Nero or perhaps Melusine. But he had failed. No Servant had manifested.

More precisely, something had come. Magical energy had indeed arrived from all directions, but it had been absorbed by Novia in the blink of an eye. Yet it was almost as though it had never come at all. The energy flowing into him was like an entire dried-up ocean pouring into a river. It was not completely useless, but it was a drop in the bucket.

Fortunately, the magical beasts here had originally been supplies Wolfgang Faust had specifically prepared to replenish Servants without Masters. They could also help Novia recover a little. In his current state, he could probably be considered a pseudo-Servant, while Aika had naturally become his Master. Yet for some reason, Aika's magical energy could not be transferred to him.

Although Novia's current power was incomplete, using that magical energy to clear out the Phantasmal Species and magical beasts here was still incredibly easy. He walked through dark passages, removed traps, and crushed magical beasts.

"It's ready, Novia. Come taste it."

Using edible portions from the monsters Novia had defeated along the way, along with magical catalysts like treant roots as vegetables, Aika had made something that looked very much like a stew with vegetables.

She watched Novia eat with an expectant expression. What will it taste like? I hope Novia thinks it's delicious. It's been more than twenty years since I last cooked, but it should still be fine, right?

Previously, Aika would "lock away" things she did not want to know and deliberately ignore them. But now, although she had not "locked" anything away, she genuinely did not know whether the food tasted good or not. That was an incredibly strange feeling for her, second only to the decision she had secretly made to bring Novia home.

"...Is it good?"

"You didn't add any salt."

Although Novia did not directly answer whether it tasted good, Aika naturally understood that it could not possibly taste good after learning that she had forgotten to add salt.

"S-Sorry. I was too hasty. I can't believe I didn't think of that. You don't have to force yourself to eat it, Novia..."

Aika lightly tugged at Novia, who was still chewing the food, with an apologetic expression.

"It's fine. Just remember next time. You only forgot by accident. It's not inedible; it just tastes a little bland."

He was merely stating the facts. Although salt had existed during the Roman Empire, because of its importance, only the wealthy could obtain it in large quantities. Ordinary people and the poor could only get small amounts.

During the early days of the year before Novia and Lucius reached Rome, he had eaten food with similar flavors. So it was not difficult for him to adjust. Besides, no matter what, it still looked quite appetizing.

Afterward, the two planned to continue into the second floor of the labyrinth. The stairs leading to the second floor lay quietly in a corner of the hall, a rather long flight of steps.

After rounding the final corner of the stairs and entering the second floor, the two saw someone's back.

"So the Clock Tower has already sent a magus to deal with it."

The purple-haired girl spoke expressionlessly as she turned toward the two behind her.

She gave off an entirely inorganic impression, without the slightest trace of human emotional fluctuation. It was as though they were facing a humanoid piece of metal.

Looking at the two before her, Shion's mind naturally searched through the available information.

Sajyou Manaka, the eldest daughter of Japan's Sajo family, was a thirty-seven-year-old woman who could only live properly by relying on her younger sister studying at the Clock Tower.

Yet at this moment, she did not look like the disheveled, magically inept woman from the rumors. Instead, she radiated natural elegance and surging magical energy. As expected, rumors could not be trusted. Evaluating someone required long-term observation. Perhaps she was a trump card secretly cultivated by either the Sajo family or the Clock Tower.

As for the person beside her—

In an instant, Shion fell silent, because she could feel that her heartbeat had inexplicably accelerated.

Love at first sight?

Shion did not think so. She merely believed that the magical energy here had caused unknown changes in various hormones within her body, such as phenethylamine and dopamine.

That was impossible. It could not happen, and she could not find any reason for it to happen.

Cut off Thought Partition Number Two.

The purple-haired girl sealed away her Thought Partition, and her gaze returned to the silver-haired young man.

"You. What is your name?"

Shion asked seriously. Her sharp eyes stared directly at Novia, as though he alone existed in her vision, as though there was no one else in sight.

"Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking someone else's name?"

In Shion's eyes, this person's smile seemed to contain the amusement of someone who knew her. That made her secretly frown. Within it was the first agitation of her life, but she calmed herself and continued.

"If you want my name, it is Shion Elnatan Atlastraxia."

"I'm Sajyou Manaka."

Aika spoke first, her smile never leaving her face.

Her adorable voice did not match her age, but it suited her appearance. If not for the slightly strange smile on her face, Shion might have thought that this was the princess from some fairy tale speaking to her. Unfortunately, for some reason, that smile carried hostility.

"Yes, I'm pleased to meet you, Sajyou Manaka."

Although Shion answered seriously, she continued staring motionlessly at Novia, as if observing something. Her eyes looked as though they wanted to devour him. That gaze made Aika grit her teeth. How dare she provoke this lady so openly in front of her?

"Novia. That is my name."

In that instant, Shion's expression remained unchanged, but her gaze became several degrees sharper.

Ancestor—Me! Witness This Great Deed!

"Nov... Novia... Novia..."

Shion murmured expressionlessly. Her purple braid swayed in the wind within the dark den of monsters, moving with the precise regularity of geometry. Rather than a person, her first impression was that of a number given human form.

It was only the same name. Just that name. But why did I react that way to someone called that...?

Unable to find a clear answer to the question arising within her heart, Shion activated her Thought Partitions and began discussing it.