Tian Nü Ba

Tian Nü Ba said with a smile, "That guy really is a buzzkill. But what are you doing here at my place at this hour? It's not opening time yet~"

Kirei Kotomine silently committed their earlier conversation to memory before speaking first. "My main purpose in coming here is to learn your unique Mapo Tofu from you, as well as the series of dishes related to it."

"Huh? You actually want to learn that from me!" Tian Nü Ba looked at Mo Li. "Looks like you've had quite a positive influence."

Mo Li smiled helplessly. "If things can develop in a better direction, why watch them head toward a worse outcome?"

Tian Nü Ba reached behind her and somehow pulled out a cookbook, tossing it to Kirei Kotomine. "Learn from this. Everything you want to learn is in there. If you learn directly from me, you won't be able to create dishes that are uniquely your own."

Kirei Kotomine flipped through the cookbook, then nodded. "I understand. Thank you for your gift, Manager. I'll be leaving now."

Tian Nü Ba waved her hand. "Mm, bye-bye."

Only after Kirei Kotomine had left did Mo Li say, "That wouldn't happen to be some other Avenger Priest's cookbook, would it?"

As though she had been caught doing something bad, Tian Nü Ba gave an embarrassed smile. "It's his own, okay? How could I possibly prepare a cookbook specifically for him? All the delicious dishes are in my memory~ But what did you come to see me for?"

Mo Li said, "All right... I came to learn knowledge belonging to Huaxia. Is there anything you can teach me? I've finished studying the magecraft tomes of the Tohsaka Estate and the Matou Family. Compared to the Age of Gods, they're far too outdated."

Tian Nü Ba said, "Hmm... Knowledge aimed directly at the Age of Gods, huh? Although this era isn't really suited for it anymore, there's no problem if you only want to learn. In that case, I'll make one small request. I guarantee it'll be very easy for you to accomplish."

"What is it?" Hearing that Tian Nü Ba was truly willing to teach him, Mo Li looked at her eagerly.

"Hey, keep making that fake expression and I might decide not to teach you!" Tian Nü Ba gave Mo Li a slight warning before saying seriously, "Rule Japan in this world and turn it into our Eastern Land Province. That is my request."

Mo Li froze for a moment, then nodded. "If that's all, then no problem. My plan was already centered around ruling this place. And in the future, there's also their ocean dumping, as well as the nuclear power plants they've secretly kept operating without meeting safety standards. Those can be dealt with too."

"Let me make this clear first: the homeland can't provide you with any help."

Mo Li smiled. "It doesn't matter. There are so many graduates in our country who haven't found work anyway. Anyone capable can come over. We can arrange fake identities for them and slowly replace officials in every region."

"That's quite the grand plan~" Tian Nü Ba praised him, then suddenly turned serious. "So, how about you first explain the strange yet familiar divinity on you? It feels very odd, and it's even purer than mine. Compared to your divinity, I'm somehow the one who seems stranger."

As Xuanyuan's daughter, what she had discovered in Mo Li truly left her unable to understand. Were there really Huaxia deities more authentic than her in this world? How could that be possible!

Mo Li spread his hands. "That's my personal secret."

Though he still did not know exactly what Tian Nü Ba cared about, he certainly could not tell her that he had touched the earth with his ability and somehow obtained the Land God's authority, could he?

Come to think of it, he had gotten his Heavenly Halberd by touching the sea and fishing it out. He wondered whether it had once been some Dragon King's treasured weapon.

"A secret..." Tian Nü Ba seemed somewhat troubled by that answer. Should she ask her father?

After thinking for a while, Tian Nü Ba decided to ask about something else first. "Speaking of which, how many changes have you caused in this world?"

There was nothing for Mo Li to hide from Tian Nü Ba about that. After considering his words, he said, "I killed a reincarnator named Kariya Matou, and also killed a transmigrator named Kazuma Shinkawa. Then I killed Matou Zouken and saved Matou Sakura. Now Tohsaka Rin and Matou Sakura can live together again like they used to. I also saved Caren. She hasn't manifested her Saint Mark yet, so she hasn't gone down that path. And I told Kiritsugu Emiya that there was a problem with the Holy Grail and that it still needed to be investigated."

Tian Nü Ba continued, "What about Kayneth and Waver Velvet? And how do you plan to deal with Ryunosuke Uryuu?"

Mo Li said, "I plan to kill Ryunosuke ahead of time. After all, using an entire family, including children, as a blood sacrifice is truly excessive. Then I'll summon a Magus Heroic Spirit to participate in the war. It would be even better if it's a Magus capable of analyzing the Greater Grail system."

"Not just that, right? If you add the Matou Family and Ryunosuke Uryuu's portion, then both Berserker and Magus are covered. Do you really not intend to make use of Berserker? For example, a combination of Heracles and Medea?"

Mo Li laughed when he heard that. "Weakules? Archer Heracles or Avenger Heracles would be another matter, but Berserker Weakules—those who know, know how much he's worth in front of Archer and Shirou Emiya, let alone his performances elsewhere."

Besides, Heracles's legends had all been stolen and used by Superhuman Bear. Superhuman Bear had contributed immensely to lowering the prestige of the Grand title. This was the Type-Moon World. Although Grand titles were handed out to whoever suited them, Superhuman Bear was indeed the most outrageous one so far.

"Weakules? That's killing me~ But it really works as a name for Berserker Heracles. I absolutely have to spread that joke to the Throne of Heroes—and the Servant Hub too~" Hearing Mo Li's words, Tian Nü Ba pointed at him with one hand while clutching her stomach with the other, laughing heartily. It was the first time she had heard that term.

"All right, all right." Mo Li looked helpless. "May I ask whether Lu Bu's Heavenly Halberd is currently in our country? If it is, could you give it to me?"

"Of course it is. But are you planning to summon Berserker Lu Bu?"

"No, I'm planning to find a weapon that suits me."

"A weapon that suits you? Lu Bu's Heavenly Halberd?" Tian Nü Ba froze for a moment, then walked up to Mo Li and held out her hand. "Shake my hand and let me see. You actually think you can use Lu Bu's weapon—that's rather strange. I thought you only had a little divinity. You should know that the Five Divine Weapons of War aren't so easy to wield."

Mo Li reached out and clasped the small hand of the child-sized Tian Nü Ba. The strength coming from her hand steadily increased.

Seeing that Mo Li showed no reaction, Tian Nü Ba gradually increased her strength until it quickly reached a threshold—the force capable of crushing an entire two-meter-thick nuclear blast door into powder.

Tian Nü Ba looked at Mo Li curiously. "You can endure even this?"

"Mm, please continue." Smiling, Mo Li began increasing his own strength as well, gripping Tian Nü Ba's hand.

Tian Nü Ba's expression changed. Then, without saying a word, she began competing with Mo Li in strength. As an immortal deity residing in the world, this was the first time she had encountered someone capable of contending with her like this.

Before long, Tian Nü Ba suddenly released Mo Li's hand, decisively ending the test. "You truly do have the ability to use the Five Divine Weapons of War. But do you intend to return it?"

Mo Li replied sincerely, "Probably not. After all, I intend to use it as a weapon."

Tian Nü Ba fell silent for quite a while before finally saying, "...All right. Before the Holy Grail War, I'll bring it to you. After all, if it isn't returned, it'll be rather difficult for me to persuade the others. But considering that you're going to rule this place, giving you one of the Five Divine Weapons of War is still justifiable."

"Thank you very much! Also, could I have one of your specialty dishes? I'd really like to try it."

At that, Tian Nü Ba revealed an innocent smile. "Please prepare yourself mentally~"

Hearing that, Mo Li's heart skipped a beat. He felt that something bad was about to happen and immediately recalled the description of this restaurant—a terrifying, demon-den-like eatery.

"Hehe~" Tian Nü Ba hummed twice as she headed toward the kitchen. He had no idea what she meant by it, nor did he know whether she was displeased by his shameless attempt to get something for free, since that had been an additional request.

Not long afterward, at the Matou Family residence.

Hearing Mo Li return and open the door, Caren turned around with a book in her arms and said, "Brother Mo Li, I still don't quite understand this part. You... what happened to you? Why are your lips so red?"

Mo Li touched his bright red lips. "I seem to have accidentally offended a beautiful young lady who's seventeen years old plus an unknown number of months. The other dishes she served were manageable, but that Mapo Tofu has absolutely become a Conceptual Artifact. Otherwise, there's no explaining how it could forcibly stimulate me into feeling such intense heat."

"Mapo Tofu is a Conceptual Artifact?" Caren was at a loss. Since when could a plate of food become a Conceptual Artifact?

Inside Crimson Banquet Hall.

Tian Nü Ba stared at the several plates Mo Li had cleaned out, her face a picture of existential doubt. It was not just the Mapo Tofu that was a Conceptual Artifact—the other dishes were as well, some stronger, some weaker. Even Kirei Kotomine could only grit his teeth and finish the Mapo Tofu. If he touched any of the other dishes, he would not be able to endure them.

As Tian Nü Ba washed the dishes, she muttered, "This was clearly a whole set of dishes I made to mess with people, yet he ate every last bit without even refusing once. Couldn't he tell that every plate had been specially prepared by me?"

"And he was really strange, too. Looks like I need to ask Dad about it."

Inside the Matou Family home.

Matou Sakura, who had returned by car from the Tohsaka Estate, stared at Caren in astonishment. The two little girls looked at each other.

Matou Sakura's feelings were as tangled as a jar of vinegar overturned inside her heart. "You... really moved in here?"

Caren found Matou Sakura's reaction somewhat strange. "Huh? Yeah. Big Brother is going to teach me, and the Holy Church isn't very safe anymore either. Grandpa died, so this is the only place I can live now."

"Ah, is that so?" Hearing this, Matou Sakura immediately felt a little sympathetic. "So that's how it is. I was wondering why Father hadn't explained it clearly before. I'm sorry for making you remember something painful."