Giving In Isn't Shameful

It was a completely one-sided battle.

Mo Shuying used Saber's card, gaining the power of the legendary King Arthur. His immense magical energy could directly wear away any magic that came close. His right hand was clenched around empty air, but he was actually holding an Invisible Air!

"I'm done playing with you. Wind King Hammer!"

A powerful attack transformed from the Wind King Barrier! A massive force of wind blasted forth, sweeping through everything and ending the battle in an instant.

"Cough, cough... Too strong... Gray..."

Tohsaka Rin, who had been sent flying after merely being grazed by the air current, coughed violently. She turned her head with difficulty to look at Gray, hoping for a performance from her, but...

"I'm sorry!"

Gray was practically crying! She desperately shook Add in her hand, but he only babbled incoherently and gave no response at all!

It was over!

Those two words sprang into Tohsaka Rin's mind. She lowered her head for a few seconds, then turned to Mo Shuying.

"Um... if I said we were just sightseeing... would you believe me?"

She was giving in! Completely and utterly giving in!

Beside her, Luvia shot Tohsaka Rin a disdainful glance, then lowered her head as though she had seen nothing!

"Hand over the last Class Card."

Mo Shuying held out his hand. He had not actually wanted to make things difficult for these little girls. After all, they were not bad people, and he was not some demon himself.

"...Illya."

Tohsaka Rin considered it, but in the end, she still decided that everyone's safety came first. Put plainly, the Class Cards only determined whether they could become Jewel Mage's disciples. If that required the lives of others as the price, she was unwilling to accept it.

"I won't!"

However, Illya clutched a card and refused!

Over the past few days, Illya had remembered many things—things she clearly had never experienced, yet somehow recalled.

They seemed to be experiences from another world. In that world, her guardian had been Heracles!

"I won't give Berserker to anyone!"

"..."

Mo Shuying looked at the little girl's stubborn expression, then walked toward Miyu.

"Miyu!"

"Scattershot!"

Miyu, nearly unable to fight any longer, mustered all her strength to fire magical scattershots. Yet those shots could not even break through Mo Shuying's Magic Resistance.

"Smack!"

Mo Shuying rudely reached out and grabbed Miyu by the neck. The Invisible Air in his hand appeared and was held before Miyu's face as he looked at Illya.

"What about now?"

"Miyu!!"

Illya was in agony. On one side was her best friend, and on the other was Heracles. She could not abandon either of them.

In the end...

"Please let Miyu go."

Illya struggled to her feet and held out the Berserker card.

"That's more like it. I told you from the start, little girls like you shouldn't get involved in something this dangerous. See? It's dangerous."

Mo Shuying sheathed his sword, walked over, and took the card. He released Miyu as well.

"Illya..."

Miyu supported Illya, gratitude flickering in her eyes, but she quietly said, "You didn't have to... I could tell he had no intention of hurting me."

Illya, heartbroken, glanced at Mo Shuying and shook her head.

"I wouldn't take that risk."

"Illya..."

At that moment, Illya filled Miyu's entire heart. Seeing this, Mo Shuying curled his lip. These girls were already competing so fiercely at such a young age—what would become of them?

Notification: All seven Class Cards have been obtained. Would you like to use the wish opportunity immediately?

The Voice of the World sounded beside Mo Shuying's ear again, but he did not use it immediately.

"Wait a little longer. The Holy Relic will be completed soon. I've guarded this place for so long, so there'll be a reward once it's finished. I'll wait until I get that reward."

Mo Shuying put away the cards, glanced back at the girls, and casually tossed down a Life Potion.

"This medicine can heal injuries. I held back, so your injuries shouldn't be serious. There's more than enough for all of you to share. Drink it, then go home."

With that, Mo Shuying left without looking back.

The girls watched as Mo Shuying disappeared into the darkness. Finally, they gathered together.

"We're done for. We lost the girl and the army. I used up so many gems just now, and now I'm broke... What a huge loss."

Tohsaka Rin looked utterly dejected, as though the sky had fallen.

Luvia glanced at Gray. After hesitating for a moment, she still asked, "Gray, why did you just...?"

Gray shook her head guiltily.

"It was Add. Add seemed unable to feel hostility toward him."

"..."

After Mo Shuying left, Add returned to normal. Hearing Gray mention him, he pretended to cough before speaking.

"Cough, cough. It's like this: that guy just used the power of my King, King Arthur. I can't bare my fangs at the King."

"King Arthur! Are you saying that person was King Arthur? That's impossible! Wasn't King Arthur a woman?"

Luvia could not believe it. She had collected information about some Heroic Spirits as well. King Arthur had appeared in the Fourth Holy Grail War, and she had been a valiant woman, similar to Black Saber.

"Dream Summon... He probably used a method similar to Dream Summon."

Miyu reminded them, holding a bottle of red medicine in her hand.

"Miyu, why are you holding that? You really think something the enemy gave us is medicine?"

Luvia snatched the potion away and cast an identification spell. Then she froze.

"Good stuff!"

If even Luvia called it good stuff, then it was naturally excellent.

"I'll try it first."

Luvia opened the bottle and took a sip. A rich vitality immediately spread through her body, rapidly restoring her minor injuries and lost stamina.

"The effect is incredible! You should all drink some too. It's safe."

Luvia handed the medicine to Tohsaka Rin. Tohsaka Rin stiffly turned her head to look at it, then her eyes lit up.

"Luvia, how much do you think this potion is worth? Could it make up for what I've spent recently?"

Luvia rolled her eyes at her, then handed it to Miyu.

"Mm."

Miyu took it and drank a small sip, then passed it to Illya. Illya was similarly distracted. She took it and drank a sip, making Miyu blush furiously.

Just as the girls recovered their injuries and stamina and prepared to return...

"Boom! Boom, boom, boom!!"

The earth shook. Suddenly, thick pillars of light rose into the sky one after another—seven in total—making the entire alternate space tremble.

"What is this?!"

"I don't know! Don't worry about it yet! Hurry, leave this place!"

The five hurriedly ran up the mountain, but when they returned to the summit, they found nothing there. The mountaintop was empty—they could not go back!

"Illya! Miyu!"

"Yes!"

The two Magical Girls simultaneously began constructing a teleportation passage, but it did not go smoothly. The magical energy throughout the entire space had become extremely chaotic, and...

"It's no good! Someone seems to be interfering with our positioning!"

"The magical energy around us has gone berserk!"

Everyone's expressions changed. Tohsaka Rin thought of someone: Caster Mom!

"That woman! Damn it! We shouldn't have trusted her!"

Tohsaka Rin was furious. Just then!

"Dong~ Dong~ Dong~"

Twelve melodious chimes rang softly.