Type-Moon: Does a Minor Cheat Count as a Cheat?

Thought Partition No. 3: How about using Aether Lines to bind him?

No. 4: I think the accelerated heartbeat upon seeing this person is a topic worthy of extensive research. He is worthy of being regarded as premium material and properly studied.

No. 5: Why can research material run around so lively? Shouldn't he be properly kept in the institute for my use?

No. 6: ...Why was I the only one who wanted to cry?

In less than a second, an intense discussion unfolded within the girl's mind. This was the most basic ability Atlas Institute alchemists possessed to make up for the shortcomings of conducting research alone: High-speed Thought and Thought Partition. High-speed Thought referred to a thinking speed far surpassing that of ordinary people, while Thought Partition referred to dividing one's thoughts into multiple parts for separate discussion.

Atlas Institute alchemists had to maintain at least three Thought Partitions, allowing versions of themselves vastly different from the original self to exist. Nor was this mere addition. With virtually zero delay between their thoughts, all thoughts could be shared, and every problem could be examined from as many angles as possible. It was not merely addition—it could achieve effects greater than multiplication.

In other words, with three partitions, three to the third power made twenty-seven thoughts. With four to the fourth power, it made two hundred and fifty-six thoughts.

No. 7: It doesn't matter what this person is called. I don't care. More importantly, can we drive that Sajyou Manaka beside him away? It's irritating seeing her around him. We shouldn't use Aether Lines on people, but as long as we don't take away his thought results and merely bind him, it should be fine.

No. 2: What if we can't beat him? It would be humiliating if we attacked first and got killed instead.

No. 7: Impossible. We must not entertain the thought of losing. That would be disgraceful. Our Aether Lines are first-rate armaments when it comes to fighting people... So, what do you think?

No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6: Agreed. Since we are one, the answer we derived is correct.

Shion reluctantly accepted the Thought Partitions' conclusion. Thus, the genius young alchemist girl from the Atlas Institute declared in a cold voice:

"I have determined that there is something about you worth researching. Sorry. Once I'm done, I will definitely compensate you properly."

The girl raised her arm. Micron-scale Fifth Imaginary Element Aether Lines connected to the bracelet on her hand emerged like living creatures. Then, like a beast snapping its jaws shut, the Aether Lines lunged forward. Along with the words she spoke, their erosion advanced across the area in full force.

"Simply put, I don't want you slipping away right now. Anyway, I need you."

But just as they were about to reach him, a strange change occurred. The Eltanum family's inherited trait—micron-scale threads, one of Atlas's Six Sources—seemed to escape Shion's control and halted in the air just inches from Novia.

This also made Sajyou Manaka, who had noticed long ago and had been preparing to use wind magecraft to blow the threads away, slightly curious. When Novia said his name, she had noticed that Shion seemed to dislike it immensely—so much that she had directly attacked. But why hadn't Novia defended himself? Had he already anticipated this outcome?

Originally, she had planned to pretend to block the attack for Novia, then casually get injured in the process and use that to make herself stand out... But unfortunately, just as she came up with the idea, Novia beside her told her not to make a move no matter what happened next.

Aika naturally nodded with the thought that she would agree on the surface but still act if necessary. However, Novia then added through telepathy:

I think I really do like you, Aika. Because you listen to me so well. I'm sure I'll come to like you more and more.

...Covering her chest with a hand to suppress the joy in her heart and the upward curl of her lips, the blonde girl naturally made her actions match her words.

"Why didn't you continue?"

Novia gently touched the Aether Lines floating before him. He could not help recalling how, two thousand years ago at the Submarine Alexandria Library, he and Shiyali—who had looked exactly like the Shion before him—had defeated Divine Body Osiris together. He remembered that he had even played the villain before Shiyali, who had not yet become his friend.

Because of that, he did not find even the Aether Lines that could steal another's thought results particularly unpleasant. Perhaps it was also because of her personality. She was a good person, yet not 'human.'

Thus, when he had seen Shion's back earlier, it had felt as though he had seen that figure he witnessed in Rome's final moments.

Footprints remained upon the yellow sands of the gravel desert. Her departing back surfaced in the eyes of him as he lay fallen in the sea.

Thinking about it now, the request he had given her back then had been so strange and difficult. After all, it had been Albion's corpse, carrying immense Mystery. Once exposed, it would certainly bring trouble. Yet she had still done it decisively.

As though she carried such a heavy responsibility alone, even though it had not actually been something she needed to do, because it had not been something she was meant to bear—

"You didn't choose to evade..."

Shion clenched her fists. An intense sense of wrongness scorched her body. She could not get used to this feeling at all. Why was she trembling?

"Are you really... the original...?"

Then she slowly spoke each word with deliberate pauses. She had already shut down Thought Partition. She did not know why she was saying these words, nor why she could not bring herself to act. If she came just a little closer, she could control him.

The girl still found no clear answer to the questions arising in her heart. Perhaps the urge to cry had dulled even her thinking. Thus, she said nothing when Novia approached while holding the Aether Lines, merely watching him.

"Precisely because I am the true original, rather than the falsehood of an illusion, it is only natural that I do not evade. Also, Shiyali—you should be called Shion now."

Novia reached out and wiped away tears the girl herself had not even noticed. Within the darkness of the magecraft cavern, radiant gems that should not have been left behind in this reunion glittered brilliantly.

I am grateful for your help, and I have always wanted to thank you. Put that aside for now.

What he should say now was—

"If you have time, come keep me company."

Aika: That Woman!

Sajyou Manaka had never imagined that she could have such a wonderful beginning at the age of thirty-seven.

She had met someone with whom she wanted to have children and raise them together. Then they had come to this so-called magecraft cavern, enjoying time alone together.

Novia had even saved those people who might have gone to their deaths. He was neither arrogant nor cold, but gentle, like the morning sun. Though Aika had hoped more that he might show her sharp looks or forceful behavior, this was not bad at all.

Overall, before this, Aika had found their time alone so happy and interesting, comparable to a date or a trip. As long as things continued slowly like this, as long as she slowly enjoyed days where every moment was endlessly romantic, but—

That woman! That purple-haired woman!

Aika gritted her teeth as she stared at the girl ahead, who was fighting with Aether Lines. Her hands could not help rising to either side of her face and clenching into fists.

They had definitely met for the first time, yet after merely crying so undignifiedly, she had naturally taken her place beside Novia. She had even held his hand. Damn it, even Aika herself had not held it for that long...

What a scheming bad woman, taking advantage of Novia's kindness. That bespectacled alchemist definitely wanted to use her family's Aether Lines for something outrageous. Especially the way she closed one eye and opened the other toward Aika—she was definitely provoking her, treating her like some thirty-seven-year-old.

Her younger sister wore glasses too, but she was not so sinister. Aika had to protect Novia. 'Like' was not enough to describe how she felt about him. To her, he was air, hydrogen, water, light, her beloved. She absolutely could not live without him.

"Ah, what are these? There weren't any at all on the first floor where Novia and I were together."

Aika sat elegantly atop the Golem Novia had just defeated. She first raised her head to glance at Shion, then tilted her head cutely as she looked at Novia, who was still sweeping through the magical beasts.

The place now seemed studded with countless gems. Fragments of the Crystal Golem that had just been defeated littered the ground, still emitting faint residual magical light and glittering. Countless crystals that had fallen to the floor shone brightly.

"Because this is a very special Sub-species Holy Grail War, Servants without Masters have to rely on things like this to maintain their magical energy. You really don't understand even that?"

Shion answered coldly. After what had happened earlier, she had roughly understood her own state and Novia's. She was the reincarnation of Director Shiyali, while he should be Novia's reincarnation. Then she should not repeat the mistakes of two thousand years ago. After all, neither that Strongest Dragon nor the Roman Emperor was here.

Come to think of it, this Sajyou Manaka was already thirty-seven, twenty years older than her, yet she was still putting on such a cute tone and appearance. It was truly unpleasant.

"Hmph~" Aika swung her legs atop the Golem's head, her voice and expression still retaining their cute tone. "That must be so difficult for you. A Servant without a Master... Luckily, Novia has always been by my side. I really should thank him for protecting me so many times."

"Is it really appropriate for someone already thirty-seven to act like that?"

"Wow, the wisdom of the Atlas Institute, Atlas's daughter—you really are full of yourself. Don't come crying for sympathy later."

Aika continued smiling, gently, cheerfully, brightly. Like a girl conversing with someone in a garden, she parted her soft lips, and her voice flowed from her throat across her tongue.

Shion met Aika's gaze and immediately stepped closer. Her lips curved slightly as well.

"Let me recalculate the magecraft of the Clock Tower and the Sajo family."

"Exactly what I wanted, you completely unladylike woman."

Aika's fingertips brimmed with magical radiance. Shion sharply tugged the bracelet on her right wrist, and it was immediately adorned with new threads.

Thus, Sajyou Manaka had her Magic Circuits, while Shion Elnatan Atlastraxia had High-speed Thought running at full capacity.

One was the Root Princess connected to the Root. The other was the next director of the Atlas Institute.

Then Aika and Shion turned around at the same time.

Behind them, Novia watched the two with a calm expression.

"Waaah, Novia, she wanted to use Aether Lines to control me. I was forced into it. I've been very obedient."

"Wait, what nonsense are you spouting, you old hag?! You were obviously the one who provoked me."

Novia ignored their words. Warm light emerged from within his body, which had accepted the four streams of magical energy from the Sub-species Holy Grail. The light was born within the magecraft cavern as though materialized, quickly illuminating the entire space and binding Aika and Shion alike, leaving neither able to move.

"...So this is... this is how I'm being treated? Isn't this too fast? I don't mind, but I was still expecting it to happen in a room..."

Rather than minding being bound by Novia, Aika was delighted. She had long been hoping that Novia would show her sharp looks or forceful behavior.

"So you actually have such unusual tastes. What an unimaginable fetish. Is it because you've been a shut-in for too long?"

Shion also seemed unconcerned about being restrained. She merely spoke to Aika in an aggressive tone.

"I have repeatedly confirmed your condition as well, but clearly, you really are insidious, Atlas alchemist."

"That is exactly what I think too, old lady pretending to be young at thirty-seven."

Shion spoke somewhat indignantly, unable to maintain the calm state of mind she had always possessed.

"Hehe, if it weren't for Novia, I would have held back. Otherwise, that mouth of yours would not have been able to speak from the start."

"Thank you for your kindness, elder. I was originally planning to sacrifice an arm to withstand it."

"Aika. Shion."

Novia said with a smile. His tone was exceedingly calm, yet impossible to question. Thus, both the Root Princess and the alchemist shut their mouths.

"I don't think there is any need for the two of you to fight. You should get along properly too. Is there anything wrong with that?"

Faced with the silver-haired boy's question, the purple-haired girl and blonde-haired girl exchanged a glance, then both nodded somewhat unnaturally.

Then the light summoned by Novia's power vanished, releasing them from their restraints. Aika and Shion continued staring at each other while Novia himself stood between them.

The three gazes intertwined. Novia's gaze was calm and gentle, seemingly devoid of any possibility of deception, doubt, or conflict.

"Whether it is Aika or Shion, you are the same in my heart. The other two who are not here are the same as well. That will not change. After all, I do not want to, nor am I willing to, let go of any one of you."

A God Loves the World's 'Humans'

The girls standing on either side of Novia naturally heard his declaration clearly, but their reactions were naturally different.

Shion furrowed her cute brows, but quickly relaxed them.

Presumably, after a brief discussion among the Thought Partitions in her heart, they had once again reached a common conclusion. After all, she understood that those two had spent longer by Novia's side than she had, so she could barely accept it.

Still, this Sajyou Manaka had blonde hair. Could she be the reincarnation of that Emperor Nero?

Shion glanced at Sajyou Manaka, who had fallen into a daze.

No, probably not. She was already thirty-seven, and there was no rise or fall there at all—it was as though there was nothing. Even with reincarnation, there should not be such a difference in that regard. But if she was not, then she would probably find it difficult to accept.

Sajyou Manaka, meanwhile, had fallen into a mental storm. Novia saying that he would not let go of her did indeed make her incomparably happy, but why were there two other people besides this Shion? Could there be even more in the future?

"No matter what, this is just too..."

Aika muttered unconsciously, then lowered her eyes like a student who had been scolded and said no more.

Novia had said it openly and honestly, so there was nothing to complain about. If she did not like it, she could simply leave.

But if she truly never saw Novia again, Aika believed that she would definitely feel lonely and sad. Tears might even gather in her eyes, and her chest would suffer a bursting pain.

Because it was only natural. There was only Novia in her heart. She could not do something like falling in love with someone else. Everyone other than Novia had already become worthless. Even giving her life for him would be fine.

Past, present, future—within this world, the only one she loved, the one who made her like a human girl, her everything...

Naturally, Novia saw Aika's struggle clearly. The girl called Sajyou Manaka was fundamentally a doll that was both 'alive' and 'dead.' She understood what emotions were, yet could not feel them. In other words, if she were human, she lacked certain 'parts.' And once she was truly born as a 'human,' it would bring disaster.

But in reality, that was certainly not necessarily true. At the very least, the thirty-seven-year-old Sajyou Manaka before Novia was not necessarily so. She could freely joke and play with her family and friends, enjoying a life of causing trouble and being fiercely scolded by her younger sister. She could also protect that sister when she was about to encounter danger.

Novia also understood that even if he said nothing more, Sajyou Manaka would persuade herself to agree as though hypnotizing herself.

Because to her, the current him was more important than anything else. Honestly, anyone would be happy to be placed in the most important spot in someone's heart like this. Naturally, he was no exception, because everyone liked the feeling of being valued.

However, his thoughts remained the same as when he had just returned and had not yet met Sajyou Manaka. It would be best if she could continue living properly like this. Rather than having her madly regard him as everything, he hoped that she could love him as a genuine 'human.' That was what Novia wished for.

This was also why Novia had told Aika earlier that he had not fallen in love with her at first sight.

Although she had fallen in love with him at first sight, since he had accepted her affection, he needed to respond accordingly. He could not discard her and allow misfortune to entangle her.

"Listen, Aika. When you told me earlier that you had fallen in love with me at first sight, honestly, I only saw you as a good girl. But just as I told you before, I really do quite like you now, Aika."

There was not a trace of falsehood or concealment in Novia's words. After taking a deep breath, he continued,

"Actually, I know many things about you, Aika. Precisely because of that, what makes me like you is the Sajyou Manaka you are now—the one who can happily call her younger sister an idiot while her sister calls her the same."

The arm Novia had around Sajyou Manaka tightened slightly. Though the girl could have shaken it off if she wanted to, for some reason, she did not want to. In that instant, she felt that something had ended before it had even begun.

Novia was really mean. Why, why did he have to say such strange things? She had almost persuaded herself. She had almost truly become a lady. Then she would have been able to do anything for him.

"If you say that, Novia, I... will still cry."

There were no tears at all on Sajyou Manaka's face. On her expressionless face, only her pale lips trembled slightly.

"Aika, you can cry?"

"I can cry, but I won't cry in front of you, Novia. I'll only cry alone where you cannot see me. So you will never see me cry for the rest of your life. You will only see my smile."

"More than the smile you will always have, Aika, I hope you will not cry. But that is asking too much. So when you do cry, I hope you won't hide from me."