Chapter 469

Suddenly, with a 'pop' sound, she spat out the foam in her mouth.

There was clearly no one or anything else on the seabed.

However, Erice could sense 'something' awakening within her.

And so, around the struggling Erice, the scenery began to change, and mist began to slowly spread.

Within that thin mist, the sea itself began to flow slowly.

Unbeknownst to her, the clamor of the crowd, the sound of the waves, and the anger stemming from someone's 'departure'— Wrath rooted in the Izanami bloodline—brought Erice a brief recollection of the 'Tokyo memories' she had forgotten after drinking the Waters of Forgetfulness.

"I was you, and you will be me (Tu Fui, Ego Eris)"

On the seabed, the girl's pupils suddenly contracted into vertical lines, radiating divinity. Her waist-length black hair fell to her ankles, the ends of which were wreathed in pale Phosphorus Fire.

Just like his mother Izanami.

"Sukunahikona, your divine ship of the mortal and Present World Tokoyo remains at the bottom of that realm. Thus, I will borrow your Pod Boat that came riding on the tassels of waves to set sail once more, to create a new world. Heavenly Raft of Rama."

Erice's long-haired voice shook the seawater; that sonic wave, defying the laws of physics, might have been the exclusive language of Death God in the Age of Gods.

Whether it's accusation or confession, just hearing it feels like the soul of a living being is being crushed.

This was the natural way Erice was supposed to grow up. Her father made her drink the Waters of Forgetfulness not only to make her forget her memories of Tokyo, but also to slowly make her lose the divinity that belonged to the God of the Underworld. The remnants of divinity can be seen from the Erice could not cry no matter what.

Based on the words of long-haired Erice.

And so, something impossible happened in the already silent Izumo region: the sand on the seabed was boiling, and then the waves surged. Tiny points of light rose from the seabed in the deep blue water, like countless fireflies piercing through the abyss.

The sea parted.

The waves parted.

It was cleaved from the sea to the sky, just like the Sukunahikona in Japan Mythology who crossed the sea to assist the Ōkuninushi.

However, Sukunahikona did not appear; instead, the Heavenly Raft of Rama he was traveling on appeared.

Time returns to morning, outside the Marseille Mosaic City in Japan, in the old Izumo region.

This area is now submerged by rising sea levels.

The sun was shining brightly, and the sky was clear.

The azure of the sea must also originate from reflecting such a bright sky, yet the seemingly unchanging sky prohibits the existence of flying machines under the rules of the Holy Grail.

However, in this corner that no one would pay attention to, a bound figure began to rapidly descend into the dark seabed.

"Fran, did I really run into Black-Hearted Route? How unlucky..."

Freed from his restraints Fran gazed at the seascape and exclaimed, "That wretched Columbus! I'm never drawing your lottery again! I'm going to give you a piece of my mind online!"

Why did you have to do that? Fran, all I did was ask Babbage's father to hack your website, Columbus, so that Fran would win your website's biggest prize—a free year-long flight tour—for free. Nobody has ever won that before, so isn't it great that Fran won it for you?

Fran, determined to exact revenge later, reached out and twisted the horn on his forehead, intending to escape the sea surface using its spiral shape.

But then she held her breath because of something that suddenly appeared.

Huge bubbles burst forth from the waves, carrying the Bronze bow of the ship, and the mottled Tomoe on its hull glowed faintly in the air.

"Huh... eh?"

Marine animals are long extinct; only Drone remain on the seabed—a consensus shared by both humans and their Servant.

But Fran couldn't help but freeze for a moment.

"What a huge Drone..."

Just passing by like this is probably comparable to a small town. There are sharp, steep peaks, and structures with walls hundreds of meters long. Wait, that looks like a ship... And what's that thing radiating brilliant light descending from the sky?

Fran had expected a violent collision with the ship, but instead, the ship simply passed right through her.

The next moment, she appeared inside the ship with a blank expression.

"Fran, have I encountered some major event...?"

Fran cautiously poked his head out the door. "Huh? The Od concentration is so high?"

Although Od is now available even in City, Od concentration varies depending on the region, but such a high concentration is rare. Even houses in London, which are extremely rare and expensive, might only cost half as much as here.

"It was I who saved you, out of consideration for the fact that you are all dead, inhabitants of the Yomi in a foreign land."

On the deck of the ancient ship that appeared out of nowhere, Erice long hair reaching her ankles, looked down at her and said coldly.

"That's wonderful, thank you..."

After regaining his senses, Fran asked with a hint of curiosity, "So, what's going on now?"

"My relationship with that so-called Demon King is inseparable. However, a new relationship should be formed now. I believe that it is incomprehensible that I, as a descendant of the Yomi, would treat a mere creature in this way. It is shameful, disgraceful, and utterly disgraceful."

"It's long-haired Erice," she said expressionlessly.

Her tone was as if she didn't care about giving up her own life when necessary. She had such a terrifying, almost inorganic quality, as if she were saying that foresight and speculation came first, and reality was just following behind, an attitude of seeing everything clearly.

But in truth, Erice felt a mixture of envy and Jealousy towards this behavior, because to some extent, it was a realm she, as the daughter of the Yomi, could never reach in her entire life, and such behavior was both foolish and endearing...

Although she couldn't bring herself to say it, she felt that she was still somewhat adorable in this way.

That incomprehensible Demon King dared to treat his beloved self like this! It's unforgivable! What a joke! Yomi needs a servant to serve him wholeheartedly right now, and he'll be perfect for that.

Are all people in Japan like that? And this sounds so mystical; I didn't understand the explanation at all...

Just as Fran was thinking this...

Erice, opened her arms, and the last bullet appeared on her hands.

"I say that this Final Object can completely fulfill my desires, yet it will be harmful to me. No, it is 'I' who is not 'me'."

After saying that, she raised the Ether Bullet in her hand.

"How could the concept of a mere Evil Spirit possibly affect 'me'?"

The moment the Seventh Bullet was fired, long-haired Erice touched the hole in her chest, her whole body trembling involuntarily, causing the entire Heavenly Raft of Rama to groan in pain. She tried to reach out her other hand to do something, but before she could succeed, she was slammed heavily onto the sea-soaked deck. At the same time, her long hair returned to its previous volume, and she frantically spat out the foam she had used to struggle in the sea.

The Heavenly Raft of Rama, followed the bullets fired by its current master and headed straight for the location, eventually crashing into Louis XVII's Noble Phantasm.

This is what happened shortly before Novia, who Alice's body, woke up.

"Run!"

Taking advantage of this brief respite, Louis XVII, carrying his Master, began to flee towards Akihabara.

Silver -Alice slowly shook her head at this, not chasing after him immediately, but turning around and walking to Fran, who looked like a curious child.

Fran became very nervous when faced with the woman who was different from others but had a strong Grandpa aura.

Despite facing various formidable enemies and trials (referring to his addiction to electronic devices after his father Moriarty was imprisoned for attempting to harm the City), Fran perseveres through even the most challenging circumstances, gritting his teeth and maintaining his mental balance.

However, Fran had never seen a situation like today before.

Is this woman named Ms. Kuonji a character related to my Grandpa, or perhaps Grandpa reincarnated in the New Era? Can Priest choose their later bodies like Homunculus? So, should I call her Grandpa or Grandma?

Don't overthink it.

The silver -Alice stroked Fran's forehead, saying, "Now, take Erice and come with me."

Fran clenched his fist tightly and hoisted Erice onto his back.

"Fran, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

"Eh? Louis XVII? That child that Queen Marie longed for, actually showed up here and did such a thing... I really hope the several Marie Antoinette back in London don't know."

After learning the identity of the escaped Servant from the silver- Alice, Juu, Fran sighed.

"Were there several Queen Marie in London...?"

The reason why the silver- Alice Yuju didn't immediately capture Louis XVII and his Master wasn't because she intended to let them go, but because she already had a plan.

After returning to Akihabara with Fran, the silver -Alice immediately reported a 'clue' about the Shinjuku murder case. Before the Night Watch arrived, she went to the workshop where the Leatherworker and Louis XVII had kept secret.

"Speaking of which, you seem to have a good relationship with that smuggled Servant named Fran."

Alice said thoughtfully.

"It's alright, as long as you don't tell and I don't tell, no one will know that Fran is a stowaway Servant."

The term "smuggled Servant" refers to Servant travel between City on different continents via Underground Routes, including humans. However, as long as they do not affect the Bounded Field of these City, no one usually interferes.

Are you asking me to lie?

"Hmm... not really. If I say something using your body, then of course I'm lying."

But to most people, it sounds like I'm the one speaking.

Alice shrugged. "But let's talk about something else now. When did you start following me? Did you already know they were going to target me?"

"It's not that I'm targeting you, but I have a feeling you're being watched. It might be because of 'The Demon King,' so children bound by contracts are very sensitive to danger. That's probably it."

"What do I have to do with you? I don't think our agreement was worthwhile."

"That's true, after all, it was to save you from having your heart pierced by Longinus's Projection."

Silver- Alice nodded seriously, "If your heart is successfully healed, given our current situation, we might be able to unilaterally terminate the contract. After that, our only connection will be when Erice's body and talk to you."

"So, what's in it for you to do this to me?"

"Yes, I have."

Yuzhu's silver Alice and answer made Alice squint slightly.

There was definitely an ulterior motive, but that's normal; in fact, it would be abnormal if they didn't.

What are the benefits?

"You survived, I helped you, that's enough, especially since it was just a small favor."

"..."

Aoko Aozaki fell silent, for about a minute.

"I understand. Simply put, although you're called the Demon King, you're really an idiot."

However, the sobbing and cheerful French singing coming from the basement drowned out the Witch's soft murmurs.

Silver -Alice Yuzhu followed the sound of the singing to the basement of the studio.

It was less a basement and more an underground prison.

The passageway was lined with barsed cells at fixed intervals on both sides, making it seem like a completely unreal world.

The place was as dark as Night of the New Moon, and the air was filled with the sour, putrid stench of filth. But now, another scent completely masked the stench and filled the space: the fragrance of freshly flowed, warm blood.

I don't know what happened, but it's clear that there were signs of a fierce fight that just took place here.

In the center of the crisscrossing passageways, the Leatherworker's own remains lay scattered on the ground, while Louis XVII lay in a pool of the dead's blood.

His upper body was stained red with blood. He knelt helplessly on the ground, humming the French song in a hoarse voice.

Louis XVII was no longer the handsome young man he once was, with a face as thin as if he hadn't eaten in a long time, and his hands and Limbs as withered as an old man's.

"You killed your Master?"

Just as the silver- Alice sensed the presence of powerful Magecraft, she also felt a massive flow of Od rapidly dissipating from the scene.

Servant Master -Contract.

The Od gained from sacrificing citizens and abusing life to the point of almost desecrating human values is directly supplied to Louis to maintain this space, but the remaining time obtained in this way is already running out.

"You were just running away with him a moment ago, and now this has happened. I think I understand why."

Even when the silver- Alice man spoke to Louis, he did not react at all, because he could neither hear nor see anything.

Having broken free of the contract, he must return to the "Throne of Heroes." The temporary life granted to Louis XVII by the Holy Grail is about to end, and this is Servant dies.

"Knowing that you couldn't kill Kuonji to be the last person to activate your Noble Phantasm, the Leatherworker suggested that he himself be the last person to activate it, right? The Last Louis. But the Leatherworker miscalculated. After losing him, and with you marked by the City, you were no longer able to use your Noble Phantasm."

The singing stopped abruptly.

"Who exactly are you...?"

As the silver- Alice slowly approached, Louis, still able to discern the aura, asked in a low voice.

"So it was you... It's alright, take my life if you want... I'm a little tired..."