Change / Me, Restraint, Reliable, Got It?

"Big brother, big brother, that move you just did was so cool! Can you teach Illya?" The little girl at the door clearly did not understand Fu Yuan's mood. Instead, she ran over excitedly and hugged his arm, looking up at him with anticipation written all over her face.

Looking at the little girl hanging from his arm, Fu Yuan's expression softened slightly. But seeing her starry eyes left him at a loss.

"Please? Big brother?" Seeing that he did not react, Illya continued using her skill—acting cute. Actual effect: zero.

Illya's interruption actually helped Fu Yuan calm down. As for her cuteness, come on, it was weak! The Honkai World never lacked beautiful girls, and besides, there was one living inside him.

"What are you two doing?!" Just as Fu Yuan had completely calmed down, a shocked, trembling voice came from the doorway.

Fu Yuan's freshly recovered brain crashed again.

Why are you panicking? You haven't done anything guilty. Su Mei asked with a puzzled expression. Her Junior Brother's reaction was a little strange.

That's right! Why am I panicking? Fu Yuan suddenly sorted everything out. Seriously, I developed an instinctive reaction to that line back at St. Freya Academy!

"Master, I think I can explain." Having thoroughly thought it through, Fu Yuan's expression calmed completely as he prepared to explain the matter with his level-ten eloquence.

"Could you put Illya down from your arm before you start talking?" Kiritsugu Emiya said with a complicated expression.

Fu Yuan froze at those words, then slowly peeled Illya off himself. He was just about to activate his level-ten eloquence when...

"Kiritsugu, Kiritsugu, this big brother looked so cool holding that wooden stick just now!" Illya said excitedly to Kiritsugu Emiya at the door, as though a child were showing off a new toy.

Kiritsugu Emiya looked at the petrified Fu Yuan, then at the wooden stick in his hand. Recalling what Illya had said earlier, he faintly formed a guess.

Change

Honkai was Honkai, and the planners were planners. Once you got on the ship, you had to see it through to the end. Though it felt like it would be over soon, which was a little upsetting.

"What? You two are eloping. Who could possibly stop you?" Fu Yuan looked at the solemn-faced Kiana before him, then at Mei beside her, whose face had flushed red. He was completely confused.

Kiana looked at him as if he were an idiot. "What kind of joke is that?! What I want is for us to be together openly and properly!"

Fu Yuan: ??? "And what does that have to do with you wanting to fight me?"

"A beauty belongs only to the strong. Likewise, only the strong can protect a beauty." Kiana spoke those bizarre words with perfect seriousness.

"So what exactly does that have to do with anything?!"

"Are you an idiot? Don't you call yourself Schicksal's strongest? If I beat you, wouldn't that prove I'm stronger than anyone?"

Fu Yuan: ...

"Get lost!"

In the main hall of Einsbern Castle, Illya stared at Fu Yuan with stars in her eyes. Kiritsugu and Irisviel had also grown curious, while Kiritsugu's expression was especially complicated.

"I think we should discuss a battle plan." Under everyone's gaze, Fu Yuan weakly raised his little hand and finally brought up a more serious topic.

"Ahem, I also think it's necessary to discuss the plan." Kiritsugu Emiya coughed twice and considerately followed Fu Yuan's lead.

"I've already prepared the plan. I'll head to Fuyuki City in advance to make preparations. You and Irisviel will take tomorrow morning's flight and pretend that Irisviel is your Master. What do you think?" Kiritsugu laid out the plan he had prepared long ago, then tossed Fu Yuan a stack of documents and motioned for him to read them.

What do I think? I think it's a terrible idea! Fu Yuan grumbled inwardly. Even in a normal Holy Grail War, Archer simply had not been serious. Otherwise, the moment Kiritsugu arrived, he would have been reduced to ashes.

Still, Fu Yuan did not say anything. Even if he did, Kiritsugu would not listen. Given his unique nature, even if his Master died, he could find another one in a short time. Though he did not want Kiritsugu to die like that, if the man insisted on courting death himself, Fu Yuan would not stop him.

Then Fu Yuan eagerly raised his little hand, like a student asking a teacher a question in class. "Master, what about Illya?"

Kiritsugu Emiya looked at him in confusion. But after recalling Fu Yuan's childish behavior, he sighed. "This is war!"

However, Kiritsugu had not finished what he wanted to say. This was not merely a matter of war. The head of the Einzbern Family would not allow Illya to go with them. After all, Kiritsugu's reputation was terrible. They would not trust an infamous Magus Killer.

Who are you trying to fool? Fu Yuan thought disdainfully, but he did not expose him. Kiritsugu would leave tonight anyway. What Fu Yuan chose to do tomorrow was no longer something he could control.

"Oh! I understand." Outwardly, though, he put on an enlightened expression and nodded his little head in cooperation.

Even if he descended with the mind of a child, someone capable of becoming a Heroic Spirit can grasp such matters immediately! Kiritsugu Emiya thought, finding nothing strange about it.

"Then is there anything else you need? Saber, I'll have someone prepare it for you as soon as possible." Kiritsugu Emiya suddenly stood up, his expression turning serious.

No, you can't prepare what I really need. Fu Yuan silently complained, but outwardly, he answered with equal seriousness.

"If possible, please give me a collection of Reinforcement Magic and Projection Magic. Simple yet practical things like those are still worth learning."

Saber never learned basic magecraft? Oh, right. The magecraft foundation of that Eastern country is different from this one. Kiritsugu Emiya nodded to show that he understood, then went to instruct the maids. He himself returned to studying information on their opponents.

Fu Yuan also symbolically flipped through the documents. When he saw several familiar faces, he felt greatly relieved.

Then he felt his arm being tugged twice and looked at Little Illya in confusion.

"Big brother, play with me!" Illya continued using her skill—acting cute.

Damage: one.

Special effect successfully applied.

Enemy's mental defense reduced by 80%.

Fu Yuan had not wanted to study those documents here in the first place. So the moment Illya brought it up, he hurriedly nodded and sneaked out with her.

Fu Yuan stood in the snow with a blank look on his face, watching the excited Illya in confusion.

"Big brother, hurry over and find Walnut Bud!" Illya did not notice that something was off with him. When she realized he had fallen behind, she excitedly dragged him forward again.

Fu Yuan opened his mouth to say something, but in the end, he said nothing. Is it too late to go back now?

He, Fu Yuan, was already a grown-up!

"Over here too, Illya."

"Big brother, you're so fast!"

What Kiritsugu Emiya saw when he came out was this scene. Looking at Illya being dragged around by Fu Yuan, Kiritsugu opened his mouth to say something, but ultimately said nothing. Is it too late to summon someone else now?

"Ahem, Master, is something wrong?" The moment Fu Yuan saw Kiritsugu Emiya come out, he straightened his expression. At the same time, he steadied Illya, who was about to crash into him.

"..." Kiritsugu Emiya composed himself. It had to be said that Kiritsugu Emiya's control over his expressions was as reliable as his time management.

"Saber, Irisviel is in your care!"

Only then did Fu Yuan notice that it was already getting dark. He immediately felt a little embarrassed, but he would not fool around over something like this.

"Please trust me as much as you can, Master."

How am I supposed to trust you?! Kiritsugu Emiya roared inwardly, though outwardly, he merely nodded without changing his expression.

Fu Yuan stood beside Irisviel and Illya, simply watching from the castle entrance as Kiritsugu Emiya and Maiya Hisau gradually disappeared from sight.

Mindful of the people beside him, Fu Yuan forcefully suppressed the urge to leap into the air in excitement. He put on a deeply reluctant expression while considering whether he should get down to serious business next—for example, having a snowball fight.

"Mom, how long until Dad comes back?" Illya tilted her little head and looked at Irisviel in confusion.

"Very soon." Irisviel had completely accepted the future and gently comforted Illya.

Then Fu Yuan suddenly said, "How about taking Illya to see her father tomorrow?"

"No!" Irisviel suddenly shouted sternly. She had accepted her future death, but she absolutely could not let her daughter witness something like that.

Fu Yuan seemed completely unaffected. With a calm expression, he muttered to himself, "I heard the current heir of the Aozaki Family has the potential to become a Grand Puppeteer." (Don't complain! Aah! A mistake is a mistake!)

Irisviel's expression, which had been ready to continue arguing, instantly froze. If one could live, who would want to die?

But this was the fate of the Einzbern Family, the fate she had been told of since birth. Even now, because of Kiritsugu and Illya, she no longer cared as much about the family's honor.

Yet she still had almost no chance of surviving. Leaving aside how many puppeteers even had the ability to give her a new body, she had been created to serve as the Lesser Grail. The family would never allow her to change bodies.

Moreover, most famous puppeteers had some connection to the Einzbern Family. Those unaffiliated wanderers would not offend the Einzbern Family for someone destined to die.

But the Aozaki Family was different. Rumor had it that the family itself was connected to True Magic, so they would not fear the Einzbern Family at all. Still, the price for a family like that to act would certainly be enormous.

Irisviel thought for a long time, then ultimately shook her head. With a family of that caliber, moving them would at the very least severely weaken the Einzbern Family. She was afraid of death, but she still held deep feelings for this family.

Still, she needed to thank A Yuan. Yet when Irisviel raised her head and had not even opened her mouth, she saw a transparent gemstone tinged with an eerie purple.

"She'll agree!" Fu Yuan's young face was full of seriousness.

After all, she would become a Grand Puppeteer in two years. There was no way she would fail to see through this Honkai Crystal. Although Honkai Crystals were not precious to him, in this world, they represented a new source of energy. That discovery alone was enough to drive every Magus mad.

Irisviel looked at the utterly serious A Yuan, while Fu Yuan merely smiled at her. For some reason, Irisviel's voice suddenly caught in her throat. At first, she only sniffled softly, but then she broke down and cried without regard for her composure.

"Thank you! A Yuan! Thank you!"

Just as Fu Yuan was about to say something to comfort Irisviel, Little Illya beside him suddenly bristled.

"You're not allowed to bully Mom!"

It was abrupt and completely ruined the mood, yet seeing this scene, Irisviel suddenly laughed. She laughed while crying.

I, Constraint, Reliable, Understand?

"A Yuan, it's my birthday today. I want cake." Kiana sounded a little different than usual. Though she was acting cute, she somehow seemed less lively.

"This isn't one of those times when you want a children's meal." Fu Yuan looked at her irritably. He still had not forgotten how everyone had stared at him when he went to buy her one.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

In the end, Fu Yuan sighed and said helplessly, "What kind?"

"N-no, forget it, A Yuan. I suddenly don't feel like eating anymore." Kiana did not know what she had thought of, but she suddenly lost her appetite.

A few veins slowly appeared on Fu Yuan's forehead. He wanted to hit someone, but seeing this idiot's pitiful expression, he suddenly lost his temper. He placed a hand on her head and forcibly turned Kiana's face toward his.

Fu Yuan spoke slowly and seriously, one word at a time. "Kiana! If you want to go, then go. No one can stop you. Believe in yourself."

Looking at Fu Yuan's serious face, Kiana was silent for several seconds before suddenly bursting into tears. "I want to go too! I do! But I can't!"

Fu Yuan felt that he had sighed more today than he normally did in an entire month. But seeing this idiot so upset, there was no helping it. He could only indulge her again. What else could he do? After all, Chong Chong had been raised by him.

Fu Yuan brushed the dust from himself and stood up. With his back to Kiana, he spoke as though it were no big deal. "Then let's go."

Kiana wanted to say something else, but Fu Yuan continued, "Since you don't believe in yourself, believe in me! Leave everything else to me. No one can stop you from finding her."

(This has nothing to do with the main story. It is mainly here to write about the protagonist's experiences in the Honkai World and shape his personality at different ages. It also writes about the Honkai in my heart, a Honkai without scummy planners.)

Junior Brother, you were wrong about one thing. Otto's plan was completed by someone long ago.

Su Mei watched Fu Yuan helplessly deal with the angry Illya and suddenly felt a little emotional.

Hehehe! Maybe! Though Senior Sister's voice was quiet, Fu Yuan still responded accurately.

Just as he had no secrets before Senior Sister, Senior Sister had no secrets before him either. Their relationship truly was not something ordinary people could understand.

"If big brother doesn't take Illya out to play tomorrow, then Illya won't forgive big brother!" Illya still had not sorted out the situation. But big brother really doesn't seem to have bullied Mom, so I'll take the chance to demand something! Hehe! Illya is so smart.

"A Yuan, no, it's still too dangerous!" Seeing that Fu Yuan was about to agree, Irisviel hurriedly stopped him.

Fu Yuan: ?

Illya: !

Under the gazes of the two little ones, Irisviel suddenly grew nervous, but she absolutely could not agree to this.

Unlike Kiritsugu, Irisviel trusted Fu Yuan greatly. But she understood the methods of the Einzbern Family even better. As one of the original Three Great Families, it was impossible for them not to have countermeasures against Heroic Spirits.

Fu Yuan merely blinked and said nothing. A Herrscher's abilities really were not easy to explain. Besides, no one would be able to stop him tomorrow anyway. (For example, the Thunder Herrscher, who could decompose matter into particles, did not merely shoot lightning. That was not something one could master simply by knowing a little.)

Looking at Little Illya, whose cheeks had puffed up in anger, Irisviel could only pretend not to see it. The foundation of a great family was not something one or two people could shake.

It's okay, Little Illya. Leave it to big brother!

Illya looked around in confusion, then finally looked at her smiling big brother. She suddenly understood this miraculous scene and nodded happily.

Seeing Little Illya suddenly cheer up, Irisviel gave a bitter laugh. She could guess that A Yuan had used some method, but she said nothing more.

In any case, given her current status, the Einzbern Family would not go too far. After all, they still did not know she no longer intended to fulfill her duty.

"Irisviel, I'll take Illya home first." Fu Yuan was not worried at all about what would happen tomorrow. He had already begun thinking about what to eat for dinner. Once dinner was over, he could think about what to eat for a late-night snack!

Irisviel looked at Illya, who was sulking at her a little, and opened her mouth without saying anything. Though she still felt that Fu Yuan's words just now carried a somewhat ambiguous meaning.

Late at night, Fu Yuan sat alone in the main hall, studying the Projection Magic and Reinforcement Magic he had just received. As for why he was not sleeping—come on! Did Heroic Spirits need sleep?

Su Mei, inside the Stigma, did not need sleep either thanks to Fu Yuan. Feeling her Junior Brother's emotional fluctuations, the corner of her mouth twitched. You're obviously just worried that you won't be able to wake up tomorrow morning.