Chapter 47

Blood spilled from Aozaki Touko's mouth. Though she had experienced it several times before, the feeling of death was never pleasant.

"Does winning with help still count as winning?"

"Doesn't it? Then how about we call the last one my win?"

Aozaki Touko sneered. If some reckless brat hadn't interfered last time, she would have beaten her sister long ago and never needed to wait until today.

"You really are..."

Aozaki Aoko thought it over and found nothing to say. She had indeed had a friend's help last time, so this time...

"You win, sister."

After Aozaki Aoko said those words, her breath gradually faded. Hearing this answer, Aozaki Touko pondered for a moment, but in the end could only force a bitter smile.

"Stupid little sister. One-to-one is just a draw."

Aozaki Touko seemed to let something go, but her body had also reached its limit. As Fujimaru Kyoya pulled out the Holy Sword, both of their blood flowed uncontrollably across the ground, and they gradually became two cold corpses.

"Is it over?"

Fujimaru Kyoya gripped the Holy Sword and leaned against the wall to rest. This battle was different from a simulation—once death came, everything truly ended.

But the silver lining was that he had still survived. Even though he had killed people, he had fought to stay alive.

Fujimaru Kyoya breathed deeply, savoring the feeling of being alive. He didn't know how long this lasted, but everything seemed to have ended.

But... was it really over like this?

Even without using magic, could a Magus really die so easily?

"How could it be that simple to die."

In the quiet Underground Great Cavern, a woman's voice rang out, startling Fujimaru Kyoya. The source of the voice was naturally Aozaki Aoko's "corpse."

"What?"

"Nothing so strange, right? I just threw my 'death' further into the future. Sounds pretty magical, doesn't it?"

Aozaki Aoko said calmly. As for the spot where she should have had a piercing wound, even her clothes weren't torn. It was as if the great battle had never happened.

No, it had happened. At least the corpse of Aozaki Touko on the ground proved that everything had occurred.

Had she lost?

"No, you won. I really didn't expect that woman Orange to be so reckless. I let my guard down."

Aozaki Aoko accepted her defeat openly and showed no intention of pursuing Fujimaru Kyoya as an "enemy."

"Orange, how long are you going to hide? For a final battle, you couldn't have put your revival body too far away."

"Can't hide anything from you."

Aozaki Touko's voice sounded, and soon a figure stepped out from the darkness—a face identical to the corpse on the ground.

"Surprised?"

Aozaki Touko looked at Fujimaru Kyoya's shocked expression. This kind of "living person from a corpse" trick was indeed startling.

That guy Shirou had once said, "If a person is killed, they die." Looking at it now, that was pure bullshit.

Fujimaru Kyoya silently complained in his heart.

"Sorry. This time, after fighting her, I could finally calm down and confirm that you're not someone with ill intentions—just someone caught up in this. So... how about we call it even?"

"Indeed. Even though we both tried to kill you, you actually killed us once. No matter how you look at it, we should call it even."

Only at this moment did the Aozaki Sisters inexplicably stand on the same side.

"Then let's call it even."

Fujimaru Kyoya let out a long breath. Dealing with Aozaki Touko alone had already been exhausting, let alone adding a Magus on top of that.

Ending with no one injured was the best outcome he could hope for.

"Don't make that sour face. You helped me beat Aoko, so I won't let you help for nothing. I see you handle that sword pretty well—how about I just give it to you?"

Aozaki Touko naturally understood that this young man was no ordinary person.

That kind of combat experience, and an Easterner being so familiar with the Blade of Vortigern—there had to be many secrets behind it.

But she was a professional Magus after all. Unless necessary, she wouldn't pry into others' secrets. That was the unspoken rule among Magi.

This Holy Sword was expensive, and the traces of the Age of Gods on it had some research value, but in the end, it was just that.

Learning had its order, and expertise had its specialization.

None of these things fell within Aozaki Touko's field of study. Even if she kept them, she wouldn't make further progress. So why not do a favor?

"Give?"

Fujimaru Kyoya was a bit surprised. Even if this sword wasn't a Holy Sword, it was still an antique passed down for over a thousand years. Was this... the legendary sugar mama?

Considering this woman's temper earlier, she really did fit the image of those rich women who liked to "train" men with steel wool.

"You brat, you're not thinking something very rude, are you? If you don't want it, give it back."

"Of course I want it."

What a joke—there was no way the Holy Sword that had fallen into Fujimaru Kyoya's hands was going to be given away. Even if the other party didn't offer it, Kyoya could just buy it outright.

After all, he'd just done that woman a huge favor, so she probably wouldn't ask for an arm and a leg.

"Next up, then, is the matter of you calling me 'Red of Crafter.'"

Aozaki Touko's gaze turned cold. She had sworn back then that anyone who used that epithet to address her would be killed without exception.

Even Aozaki Aoko, standing nearby, couldn't help raising an eyebrow. She hadn't expected this boy to be so bold.

What followed was bound to be a good show.

As the younger sister, Aoko naturally knew her sister wasn't heartless—she would never kill someone who had just helped her. But was this favor really enough to make her break her oath?

"Gururu~"

An untimely sound rang out between the three of them. Fujimaru Kyoya and Aozaki Aoko both turned to its source.

Had this guy not eaten?

"I'm hungry. I'll kill you next time."

Next time? But when exactly would next time be?

It was really just an excuse not to kill.

"Breaking your oath for a brat?"

"Not really breaking it. I only said I would definitely kill whoever used that epithet to address me—I never set a time limit on when."

Aozaki Touko shot her sister a glare. Last time, she'd treated Aoko to a meal; this time, it was Aoko's turn to treat her.

Just then, moonlight streamed through the broken ground into the underground space.

Finally... it was over.

Both Aozaki sisters let out a long breath. The misunderstanding from all those years ago had finally been resolved today. All grudges were settled, and everything could start anew.

Chapter 84 Blade's Cry, Cherry Blossom Scatter 13/28

"Detected that you have reconciled the Aozaki Sisters' relationship. Your influence on this world has reached a sufficient threshold. Hero Simulator begins simulation... Please select three birth talents."

The simulator's voice rang out, which didn't surprise Fujimaru Kyoya. After all, this time involved a Magus—the simulator was bound to react.

Darkness descended, and ten orbs of light once again gathered around Fujimaru Kyoya, giving him no time to rest before demanding he choose three talents.

"Demonic Sword Companion: Your life will be inextricably linked to a demonic sword. When you come into contact with it, your life will undergo a tremendous change."

"Man-slayer: An expert at killing. Though human, you slaughter humanity. Grants a special attack bonus against humanoid enemies, with the bonus increasing as your kill count rises."

"Limitless Zen: Suppress all killing intent, empty your mind to reach the realm of gods and Buddhas, then release it all at once. Even an ordinary attack, after this process, will have its power multiplied."

"Non-form: Your spirit is unbreakable. You will never be lost in any illusion. You will always remember who you are."

As expected.

Fujimaru Kyoya looked at his talents. It was supposed to be three, but "Non-form" had carried over again—a very special talent.

"Defining 'oneself,' huh?"

Kyoya muttered the name of the "Non-form" talent. On the surface, it seemed useless, but in reality, its effect was extremely powerful.

Before acquiring this talent, Kyoya had already lived through two lifetimes. Fortunately, he had a prior experience with reincarnation; otherwise, after those two long lives, the question of who he really was would have been a real problem.

But with this talent, he would always be himself, no longer worrying about getting "too deep into character" in future simulations.

"Demonic Sword Companion" was probably similar to the "Blessing of the Holy Sword" from the first simulation—likely the same type of talent.

"Man-slayer" was a talent granting a special attack bonus against "humanoid" enemies. In other words, in the next simulation, Kyoya would have an advantage when fighting humanoid foes.

As for "Limitless Zen," he couldn't quite figure it out.

"Talents confirmed. Beginning import of scenario Blade's Cry, Cherry Blossom Scatter."

[You are born.]

[You are abandoned by your parents in a desolate mountain right after birth. The era seems to be a harsh one, as if your family cannot afford to raise you.]

[Alone in the wilderness, you seem destined to die soon. But heaven never seals off all exits—an old passing monk picks you up and brings you to a temple in the mountains to raise you.]

[The old monk gives you the Dharma name "Liaochen," hoping you will sever worldly ties and not resent your parents. You are willing to heed the old monk's teachings.]

[Under the old monk's guidance, you begin your Buddhist cultivation. Thanks to your adult mindset, your progress is extremely fast, and you are even regarded as a reincarnated High Monk.]

[You live a peaceful life in the temple. Although none of your talents have awakened yet, you feel yourself growing more and more able to comprehend the truths in the Buddhist Sutras. When you meditate, you can quickly enter a state of Meditative Absorption.]

In a small mountain temple shrouded by moonlight, Fujimaru Kyoya sat alone in the main hall. Facing the Buddha statue, he easily entered the state of Meditative Absorption that many monks dreamed of.

At that moment, his spirit seemed to be one with the gods and Buddhas, his entire being merging with nature like a tree, a rock, or a mountain.

Over ten years had passed, and not a single one of Fujimaru Kyoya's talents had awakened—a first for him.

But as he spent more and more time in Meditative Absorption, he gradually gained a new understanding of those talents.

Since "Demonic Sword Companion" existed, it was essentially already awakened. There was definitely a demonic sword in this world waiting for him.

As for "Man-slayer," based on its description of "the more kills, the greater the power," it would likely only awaken when he personally took a life.

As for "Limitless Zen"...

"So this is the state of Limitless Zen."

Fujimaru Kyoya "saw" his own body, the sensation like a first-person game suddenly switching to third-person.

His spirit was no longer bound to his flesh, freely observing everything around him.

But how far could he see?

Fujimaru Kyoya steadied his mind, pulling his "perspective" further and further away. Gradually, he could see the distant mountains, the sea beyond them, the soldiers clashing on the earth below...

If he wanted to see, he could look upon any corner of this world.

That thought rose in Fujimaru Kyoya's heart.

[Your state draws ever closer to that of a buddha or deity, gradually comprehending the texts of the Buddhist Sutras. You feel this state somewhat resembles the Heavenly Eye described in the sutras.]

[Talent "Heavenly Eye" awakened: Able to perceive the forms of suffering and joy in life and death among all beings in the Three Realms and Six Paths, and to see all shapes and colors in the world without obstruction.]

Heavenly Eye? Was this the Clairvoyance of the Buddhist path?

Fujimaru Kyoya withdrew from Meditative Absorption. He recalled the lessons on mysticism Tohsaka Rin had once given him—in ancient times, powerful archers often relied on Clairvoyance to aid their aim.

As the level of Clairvoyance increased, one could not only see distant targets but even achieve something akin to x-ray vision.

But a higher grade of Clairvoyance, reaching the level of peering into past and future, was generally only possible for wise kings or erudite sages.

By that standard, Fujimaru Kyoya's Heavenly Eye seemed to lean closer to the latter.

Name: Liaochen

Gender: Male

Strength: B

Endurance: B