Cuteness Needs No Reason / Fu Yuan Collapsed Again and Again and Again

Chapter 4: Cuteness Needs No Reason

"Future?"

Kiritsugu Emiya murmured under his breath. The maid beside him seemed to hear him speaking, but she could not make out what he said. The rules embedded in her mind did not permit her to ask.

"Clean this place up."

After saying that, Kiritsugu Emiya walked straight out without explaining why. He had no need to explain; after all, aside from Irisviel, every homunculus in this castle was merely a tool created for use.

Even so, he kept the sound of the door closing to a minimum. Illya was still asleep, after all.

Soon afterward, Kiritsugu happened to see Irisviel heading back to her room, so he asked, "Irisviel, have you seen Saber?"

"A Yuan? He should be in the courtyard right now." After their earlier conversation, Irisviel was no longer so wary of Fu Yuan. Thinking about it, though, A Yuan was a boy. What had she even been worried about?

A Yuan? Did something happen while I was looking through the records? Kiritsugu was somewhat puzzled, but he did not voice it. It was only a minor matter.

"The courtyard? Got it, Irisviel. Go back to your room first. I'll be back soon."

"Hey, Idiot Kiana, where are you dragging me?"

"You're the idiot. Stop talking nonsense. This time, I'm taking you to meet someone even you can't beat."

"Eh?! There's someone that powerful at St. Freya Academy?"

"Class Monitor! Class Monitor! I brought her!"

"Class Monitor? Mm... such a familiar presence."

"Eh! Why are you suddenly teaching me swordsmanship?! My Fist Technique is amazing!"

"...Cool!"

"Mm... you win."

"A sword? No need. A very good friend gave me one. Here, this one—Unparalleled."

"So you're teaching me swordsmanship, but why are you giving me a pair of gauntlets? And someone else already used them."

"Void Grip? What a strange name."

Fu Yuan stood in the courtyard of Einsbern Castle, looking at the snow-dyed white ground. For some reason, he suddenly recalled his first meeting with his master five hundred years later. The world truly played cruel tricks. Had he not seen it with his own eyes, he never would have believed that his master, once like a machine, would become a workaholic + Grind King + whale + nanny.

Still, Fu Yuan felt that this change was a good thing. His master had been far too exhausted before. Though sometimes, Fu Yuan could not help wondering—if his master had been like this back then, perhaps that incident would never have happened.

As he thought, considerable mana began surging from his hands, gradually forming two slender swords. The sword in his left hand was predominantly black, while the one in his right was predominantly white. A-Rank Noble Phantasm—Xuanyuan Sword: Unrivaled.

Then, the hands holding the swords began to move at an exceedingly slow pace, gradually swinging the blades. Fast at times, slow at others; the sword followed his heart, his body danced with the sword, and his shadow drifted with his body. His form was soft as cloud floss, his arms supple as though boneless. His steps bloomed like lotuses, and his dance resembled a butterfly fluttering among flowers.

Waning Moon, Severing Sea, Rending Sky, Flying Falcon, Black Hawk, Swallow, Vine Sparrow, Cloud Eagle, Moon Egret, Weeping Willow, Hidden Orchid, Sturdy Bamboo, Ink Chrysanthemum, Pure Lotus, Green Pine, Rock Breaker, Chaotic Thunder, Thunderbolt, Mountain Collapse, Instant Dust, Shaking Wind.

Every move looked ordinary, yet was unfathomably profound. This was the wisdom of all humanity from the previous era, and the fifty thousand years of effort poured in by a girl named Hua. This swordsmanship had been created for slaughter and protection alike, all of it converging toward the simplest and most direct path. Logically, it should not have possessed any aesthetic beauty, yet the petite figure in the courtyard was so graceful, so beautiful that it was intoxicating.

Kiritsugu Emiya, having arrived in the courtyard, could not help stopping when he saw the scene before him. He was somewhat reluctant to disturb it.

The bright moonlight in the courtyard shone upon the white snow, illuminating the petite figure in a Daoist Robe as he performed with complete absorption. Everything seemed utterly natural.

When the dance finally ended, perhaps by coincidence or perhaps not, dark clouds covered the moon, leaving only a single beam of moonlight spilling over that petite figure. He looked like a Banished Immortal.

Fu Yuan stood there as scenes of everyone practicing swordsmanship at Floating Cloud Temple surfaced involuntarily in his mind. Yet it did not last long before a teasing voice echoed in his head.

"Hey, Junior Disciple Brother, your Master is about to be charmed senseless by you."

Only then did Fu Yuan realize that Kiritsugu had apparently been standing there for quite some time. Once he came to his senses, both his cheeks instantly flushed red. Mm... so embarrassing. What do I do? What do I do? I want to crawl into a crack in the ground!

Kiritsugu Emiya looked at the boy before him, who had lowered his head in embarrassment, and his expression briefly turned absent. Then, as though realizing something was wrong, he hastily cast a calming spell on himself.

After the spell took effect, his mood gradually settled. To prevent another awkward situation, Kiritsugu Emiya decided to get straight to the point. "Saber, the next question may be rather offensive. I would like to ask roughly when you died."

"You know it's offensive and you're still asking? Junior Disciple Brother, snap back at him." The voice in his mind was clearly enjoying the spectacle and eager for trouble.

"Mm..." Fu Yuan ignored the voice in his head. Instead, he seriously considered it for two seconds before saying uncertainly, "2019?"

As expected! Saber came from the future. But if that's the case, Saber's earlier reaction upon hearing about the Holy Grail War becomes very interesting.

"Then have you heard of the Holy Grail War, Saber?" The dagger was finally revealed. In the end, Kiritsugu Emiya was still the Magus Killer. Especially during the Holy Grail War, everything he did was in preparation for victory.

The question came so abruptly that Fu Yuan could not help freezing for a moment. Then he found it somewhat amusing. Under the Type-Moon setting, who knew which parallel world this was?

Furthermore, for those two people from the Type-Moon world, the Holy Grail War was their only source of entertainment. Fu Yuan did not want to become an enemy of the world so quickly by spoiling things.

"I've heard of it, Master."

"Then you..."

"It's useless, Master. The things involved are very complicated!" This time, Fu Yuan directly cut him off and earnestly explained the parallel worlds of Type-Moon to him. Fortunately, Jeweled Sword Indigo was extremely famous in this world, so it was easy enough to explain through his reputation.

Kiritsugu Emiya left, deeply disappointed.

However, that conversation reminded Fu Yuan of something else—for example, which Holy Grail War this was supposed to be. If it was merely the ordinary one, it would be fine. Only Archer would be a bit troublesome. But if it was the one involving the Root Princess, then the death rate would be truly high.

As he kept thinking, Fu Yuan suddenly began feeling pressured. Even his fair little face showed a few traces of distress. Sigh, life was not easy. Fu Yuan sighed.

But that troubled feeling occupied Fu Yuan's heart for only a few seconds. After all, whether those who had managed to survive until now could continue living or not truly did not matter much to him.

The only reason he was taking this Holy Grail War so seriously was to make up for regrets from his previous life. Sakura, Kallen, Fujino, Illya, and Kiritsugu Emiya!

The Type-Moon world and Magi were more or less sick in the head, at least in Fu Yuan's opinion. And Kiritsugu Emiya was one of the most seriously afflicted among them, forcibly shackling himself with the chains called justice.

Then he forced himself to keep advancing in that direction, willing to abandon everything for his goal, including himself and his family.

Although Kiritsugu Emiya currently seemed quite satisfied with his existence, Fu Yuan knew that even if someone other than him had been summoned, as long as that person was useful enough, Kiritsugu would force himself to endure it.

It was probably like if Fu Yuan forcibly made a move on one of the maids in the castle. Kiritsugu Emiya might be dissatisfied, but if it could make a Heroic Spirit wholeheartedly loyal, he might even help willingly.

Fortunately, he could still be saved. He could still grieve for his family and for the dead. There was still a chance for him to be saved.

"Heh!" Seriously, why was he thinking so much? Who could say what the future would bring?

"Sleep? Sleep."

At that point, Fu Yuan suddenly found everything dull. He picked an unused room and went to sleep.

Heroic Spirits did not need sleep, but sleep was simply too comfortable!

Chapter 5: Fu Yuan Collapsed Again and Again and Again

St. Freya Academy was as peaceful as ever today.

Well, if one ignored Colonel Himeko throwing a fit over a certain Chong Chong's defection.

Having gone through many things, Fu Yuan had completely grown up and recovered all his memories. He quietly ate breakfast in the cafeteria, and passing students could tell from his now handsome face, stripped of its youthful immaturity, that he seemed to be in quite a good mood.

In truth, Fu Yuan was indeed in a good mood right now. Of course, it would have been even better if that blondie had not been sitting across from him.

"Aren't you going to try to persuade her to stay? She is your best friend, after all." Defection was always an organization's greatest taboo. Fu Yuan certainly understood that, so Otto did not directly speak of capturing her and bringing her back. After all, saying things too absolutely would benefit no one.

Fu Yuan looked up at him upon hearing that. Otto still wore that hypocritical expression and fake smile. Even after being thoroughly beaten up by Fu Yuan before, nothing had changed.

"Oh! Persuade her to stay? Why? Did she do anything wrong?" Fu Yuan asked with an unconcerned expression, even carrying a trace of schadenfreude.

"My friend, you should know that if she completely escapes control, it will not only be Schicksal. The other two factions will definitely make a move as well."

Though they were discussing such a serious subject, both of them wore thoroughly indifferent expressions.

"Mm, I'll make a move when that time comes." Fu Yuan finished the last bite of food on his plate and spoke with a slightly serious tone. When that time came, he would act. At the very least, he would make sure Chong Chong vented all the anger she had suffered these past days.

After finishing his meal, Fu Yuan prepared to return to the training ground to continue practicing. When he reached the cafeteria entrance, he suddenly seemed to remember something. Turning around, he looked at that loser with a somewhat mocking expression and said, "Oh, right. Congratulations. Your plan succeeded."

Otto watched the thin figure before him gradually disappear from view. His face still bore that hypocritical smile, but he suddenly felt that things might become somewhat troublesome.

"Looks like I'll have to replace this body again."

"Mm..." Fu Yuan reluctantly opened his eyes. His gaze was somewhat unfocused as he stared at the ceiling above, then began struggling painfully. Mm, he did not want to get up.

As for the dream he had just had, there was no deeper meaning to it. Fu Yuan did not know why he had dreamed of such things. Perhaps he missed what he looked like after growing up.

In the Einzbern Family's hall, a lavish dining table was covered in delicious dishes. Though there were quite a few "people" in the living room, only three sat at the table.

"Kiritsugu! Kiritsugu! Didn't you say there was a guest in the house? Where is he?" One petite and adorable figure shook the arm of the man seated at the head of the table, asking curiously.

Kiritsugu looked at the petite figure with doting eyes, while a few traces of curiosity arose within him as well. Where could Saber have gone at this hour?

Irisviel looked at the two of them gently and said considerately, "I'll go take a look upstairs. A Yuan must have something keeping him from coming down so late!"

"Sleep a little longer, sleep a little longer. Just a little." Seemingly having successfully convinced himself, the little head protruding from beneath the blanket tilted to one side and fell deeply asleep again. Two seconds later, his body instinctively pulled the blanket tighter.

The figure within the Stigma smiled as she watched Fu Yuan make such a childish gesture. Then she glanced at the white-haired beauty by the door and smiled with ill intent.

Irisviel had witnessed Fu Yuan's entire process of refusing to get up. The corner of her mouth twitched. Did Heroic Spirits need sleep too? After considering it for a while, she decided not to wake him, quietly backed out, and considerately closed the door.

Su Mei watched her silently leave, then quietly lifted the seal on her perception. She kept telling herself that her Junior Brother was still young and could not go without enough sleep, while the corners of her mouth unconsciously rose.

In the living room, Kiritsugu looked at Irisviel, who wore an expression like she had seen a ghost, and asked in confusion, "Irisviel, wasn't Saber in his room?"

The Little Fellow in his arms curiously raised her head and stared at her mother.

At that point, Irisviel did not know how to put it. After hesitating for a moment, she said uncertainly, "A Yuan seems to be sleeping in?"

Kiritsugu Emiya, who had been teasing his daughter in his arms, looked at Irisviel in surprise upon hearing that. After receiving Irisviel's confirmation, he too wore an expression like he had seen a ghost.

Do Heroic Spirits need sleep? Kiritsugu Emiya felt that his Saber was becoming increasingly abnormal.

"Is Big Brother sleeping in?" Illya, who was sitting in Kiritsugu's arms, suddenly raised her head and asked adorably.

At precisely nine in the morning, his biological clock—laugh—successfully woke Fu Yuan. At this moment, he still had no idea that his reputation had been damaged. (?)

Feeling the warm sunlight shining over him, the petite figure on the bed finally sat up lazily. Then he sat there in a daze for quite some time before his pupils gradually regained focus.

"Hey, why does such an inhumane thing as getting up even exist?" Fu Yuan said something utterly unserious in an extremely serious tone.

"Ah ha, actually, Junior Disciple Brother, no one would care even if you slept a little longer." Su Mei spoke in a casual tone. After all, it was the truth.

"As martial artists, how can we waste time in bed?" Fu Yuan suddenly began solemnly lecturing his eccentric Senior Sister.

"Ah! This... whatever makes you happy." Su Mei suddenly did not want to chat anymore and shut off the voice call.

Fu Yuan waited for a moment to make sure his Senior Sister had already shut off her perception. Then he abruptly leaped from the bed.

He picked up a wooden stick that had somehow been lying around and suddenly put on a very serious appearance, muttering under his breath.

"The divine is the pinnacle of transformation, speaking of the wondrous changes of all things, beyond the reach of form—Void Sword Qi, Divine Essence!"

"Void Sword God!"

As he continued chanting, the movements of his hand rapidly quickened. Do not ask. He was just being childish.

Fu Yuan even wiped sweat from his forehead that did not exist, then slowly sheathed his sword—the wooden stick—and struck a cool pose.

"So cool!" A somewhat childish voice suddenly entered Fu Yuan's ears from the doorway.

Fu Yuan's expression instantly froze. Then, as if in slow motion, he turned his head frame by frame to look at the little girl who had apparently been standing at the door for who knew how long.

The little girl had delicate features and silver-white hair like Irisviel's. Her little princess dress made her adorable style even more pronounced.

But none of that was important. She was not as cute as him anyway. Wait, he was getting off track. The problem now was that Fu Yuan had never learned a skill for erasing memories.

"I can do it!" At that moment, a crisp voice echoed in Fu Yuan's mind again, yet it sounded as devilish as ever.

Fu Yuan's brain completely crashed.

Fu Yuan shut down.

Fu Yuan despaired.

Fu Yuan went blank.

After providing Su Mei in the Stigma with several more reaction images, Fu Yuan gradually came back to his senses and said in self-abandonment.

"There's no point anymore. Hurry up, destroy everything!"