"Warning. An energy source attempted to extract the Class Card from the host's body. Attempt blocked."
Mo Shuying: "."
"Anomaly. Class Card retrieval failed. Wish cannot be granted. Guardian, gather all seven Class Cards and return."
Mo Shuying: "."
So the system had stopped the Voice of the World from taking the card. But in that instant, Mo Shuying realized something and broke out in a cold sweat.
He had been too rash. He had assumed that gathering the Class Cards would grant him a wish without costing him the seven cards, but he had not expected the wish could only be granted after all seven cards were taken away.
This caught Mo Shuying off guard. After all, his current strength was closely tied to his own Class Card. Although he still had the system and could grow stronger even without his Class, losing it would be a serious blow.
At the very least, his second template would be useless after losing the Class Card. It was not worth the trade.
"That was close."
He silently thanked the system for being powerful enough. Otherwise, the world would have tricked him, and he would not even have known it.
As he was still sighing to himself, Mo Shuying suddenly heard an eagle's cry from the sky.
"Hm?"
Mo Shuying turned and saw a pink-haired knight flying toward him atop a Hippogriff, half eagle and half horse. Behind the pink-haired figure was the blonde Luvia!
"Assassin!!"
Luvia leaped from the Hippogriff's back and looked Mo Shuying over from head to toe. Soon afterward, Tohsaka Rin, Illya, Emiya Shirou, and the others, along with the Heroic Spirits, arrived as well.
"Assassin, you got a body?"
Tohsaka Rin frowned. Heroic Spirits gaining physical bodies was not the first time this had happened in the past decade or so, so it was not particularly shocking.
"Yes. I now walk this world in a human body. This feeling is rather nice."
Mo Shuying spread his arms and took a deep breath, looking thoroughly pleased. Then he suddenly caught the scent of something burnt. Realizing what it was, he frowned and asked Tohsaka Rin.
"How bad was the damage this time?"
Tohsaka Rin paused, then shook her head.
"It was contained in time, so there were not many casualties. Some city facilities were destroyed, though. Right now, all of Fuyuki City is covered by a barrier, and the ordinary people have been hypnotized. By tomorrow morning, they will probably have forgotten everything that happened tonight."
Mo Shuying nodded after hearing that and muttered.
"What a pity."
Everyone: "???"
"One more thing. What is with all these Heroic Spirits around you? A whole family of heroes? Saber, Archer, Berserker, Rider—what is this, a Heroic Spirit giveaway?"
Mo Shuying looked at the four Heroic Spirits before him, puzzled.
"A voice came from the cup that flew into the sky earlier. It said the Holy Grail War had begun. Then seven Command Seals flew out. The three of us received Command Seals and summoned Servants."
Tohsaka Rin explained without concealing anything. After all, Mo Shuying had saved their lives.
"I see. New Servants... Wait. Heh, I wonder whether Class Cards will form after you Heroic Spirits die."
Mo Shuying spoke with a smile. The moment he finished, he felt killing intent. Turning his head, he saw the white-haired Emiya.
As for the other three, Heracles acted as though he had not heard him at all. The pink-haired one merely giggled and did not take it seriously. As for Artoria, she only glanced at Mo Shuying without any emotional reaction.
"Hehe, do not be so tense. I was just saying it casually. Besides, I have no interest in your Classes."
What Mo Shuying needed were Saber Class and Assassin Class cards. He had no use for the others.
Thinking of the Assassin Class card, Mo Shuying turned toward Ryuudou Temple in the darkness. Because of what had happened to Tohsaka Rin and the others, he had already placed Caster Mom on his list of enemies.
"That old gatekeeper must be Assassin. I wonder if he can drop a card."
While he was thinking, Tohsaka Rin and Luvia exchanged glances. The two instantly reached an understanding, and Luvia stepped forward to ask.
"We have crossed paths several times now, but we still do not know your name. Allow me to introduce myself first. I am Luvia Edelfelt. Thank you for saving our lives this time."
Tohsaka Rin stepped forward as well.
"My name is Tohsaka Rin. I feel that you probably already know us, but I should still introduce myself."
Tohsaka Rin held the sides of her skirt and performed a lady's curtsy. Luvia, Red Archer, and Emiya Shirou beside her all stared in astonishment.
Hearing the two of them, Mo Shuying thought it over. There seemed to be no reason to hide his identity.
"Assassin, Mo Shuying. A nobody."
"Mo Shuying?"
They searched through their memories and found no famous figure associated with that name. Still, the name told them that Mo Shuying came from a great Eastern nation.
"Calling yourself a nobody is far too modest. Mr. Mo has only just obtained a body, so I imagine you do not have a place to stay yet. I have plenty of rooms. Would you like to stay with me for a while?"
Luvia invited him. Mo Shuying frowned upon hearing it. Unsolicited favors usually hide ulterior motives. He glanced at the pink-haired figure beside Luvia and suddenly understood.
The Holy Grail War had begun, and Luvia was already gathering power around herself.
"Is that all right? I would not be imposing?"
"Of course not. On the contrary, your presence would honor my humble home."
As expected of a young lady who had navigated high society—she had quite the way with compliments. Mo Shuying burst into laughter, not because he was pleased by the flattery, but simply because he found it funny and could not hold it in.
"Then I will trouble you."
"You are too polite."
Afterward, Mo Shuying was brought into Luvia's castle. Yes, a castle built within the city, directly across from Illya's home.
This was the humble home Luvia had spoken of.
There were only five people in the entire castle. With Mo Shuying, Red Archer, and the pink-haired figure added in, there were barely eight people now.
Fortunately, Luvia's home had plenty of rooms.
"August, this is Mr. Mo Shuying, my honored guest. He will be staying here for some time. Please prepare rooms for Mr. Mo and the other guests."
"Yes, my lady."
The entire castle had only one butler, an elderly man named August. After bowing to Mo Shuying, he went off to make preparations.
"I will host a banquet for everyone later. Please rest for now. Rin, come with me. We need to talk in private. Miyu, please take everyone to have some tea first."
"Yes, Lady Luvia."
Miyu was there as well. She had originally been a maid in this household. Although it was only a part-time role, she was highly skilled at it.
Miyu led everyone to the sitting room and expertly prepared tea before serving it to them. Gray had been dragged along in a daze and was now lowering her head, too nervous to speak.
"Wow, this tea smells wonderful! You are quite skilled, young lady! Excellent!"
The pink-haired figure praised the tea after a sip. Miyu stood beside them holding the tea tray and bowed.
"Thank you for your praise, miss."
The moment Miyu addressed the pink-haired figure that way, he became excited.
"Miss? Hahaha! Are you calling me that? Hehehe~ I am not a miss at all~"
The pink-haired figure raised his head and puffed out his chest, patting it hard. Well, it was very flat.
Mo Shuying also picked up his teacup and took a sip. The tea was good and fragrant. He glanced at the pink-haired figure again and spoke.
"One of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne. This one is a genuine handsome man, named Astolfo."
Miyu froze upon hearing that.
(⊙o⊙) What? A man?
Before you continue