Recognition

Of course, that was what Mo Li said, but if Mash was about to give out, he would go easy on her. This was only a special training session, meant to simulate a battle with their lives on the line—not actually take the two girls' lives.

After being sent flying at least a hundred times, Mash finally could not hold on any longer. Forcing herself to fight Berserker Lancelot for over a hundred exchanges had already pushed her to the limit.

Clang~

Her greatshield fell beside her. Lancelot did not pursue, and the simulated battle to the death came to an end.

Mo Li walked over to Mash, used magic to make her shield float beside him, then picked her up. Looking into her utterly exhausted eyes, he turned toward the house. "You did well, Mash. Get some rest first."

"Senior Mo..." Mash's voice was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz. She had been exhausted to the extreme, her entire body wound tight by the battle. Every part of her felt as though it would collapse if she kept fighting.

As they passed Ritsuka Fujimaru, Mo Li said, "Ritsuka, come with us. A Master can treat injuries and similar problems their Servant suffers."

"Okay!"

The three entered the house, and Mo Li laid Mash on the bed. "Ritsuka, come on. You know healing magic, right? Don't tell me you can't heal."

"I can!" Ritsuka immediately began healing Mash. However, her terrible grasp of magecraft was almost no help at all. Being able to slightly ease Mash's full-body fatigue was already pretty good.

"Just as I thought..." Mo Li sighed. At the beginning, Ritsuka Fujimaru had been nothing more than an utterly ordinary person. She was also the opposite of Director Olga Marie—Olga Marie had decent magical aptitude, but unfortunately lacked the qualifications for Spiritron Transfer and becoming a Master.

In comparison, Ritsuka Fujimaru was now merely an ordinary, bottom-tier mage. It was not that she had no skill in magecraft; it was just nearly useless.

Of course, Ritsuka Fujimaru would be at least Lord God level in the future. Her wildly fluctuating performance could only be attributed to different authors and plot requirements. After all, being able to casually handle a neutron-star-level Christmas gift chocolate in her hands was already enough to let her tear Gilgamesh apart barehanded.

After Ritsuka's treatment, Mash finally had the strength to speak. "Sorry, Ritsuka. I didn't defeat Lancelot. Senior Mo... my performance was terrible."

Ritsuka comforted her. "Mash, you did your best."

"You've only just started, and you happened to run into me. Give me your hand."

"Hm?" Though confused, Mash still extended her right hand for Mo Li to hold. Then she felt a warm current flow from her palm into her body, spreading through every part of her limbs and bones. Her body felt much lighter, rapidly recovering, and even her mind gradually became clearer.

Feeling that strange sensation, Mash looked at Mo Li shyly. "Senior Mo, what is this...?"

Ritsuka glanced at Mo Li in confusion. They were only holding hands—could something really be happening?

Mo Li said, "I'm using divine power to regulate your body. You're still unfamiliar with a Servant's strength, and high-intensity combat puts considerable strain on your current body. I'm helping you eliminate the physical and mental stress."

"Thank you for the trouble, Senior Mo..." Mash shifted slightly on the bed. She no longer felt uncomfortable, but now the sensation felt even stranger. Still, she did not pull her hand away and let Mo Li continue holding it.

"Divine power?" Seeing that Mash was fine, Ritsuka relaxed. Then she remembered what Dr. Roman had complained about to them before. Judging by things now, even if this Senior Mo was not Tian Nü Ba's husband, he was at least some kind of deity...

Mo Li said, "Yeah. Now I need to think of a way to get you some enhancements, Ritsuka. Trying to save the world with the body of what could practically be called an ordinary mage is still far too difficult for you."

Zouken Matou's magical talent had been given to Matou Sakura, while Risei Kotomine's and Ryunosuke Uryuu's magical talents had gone to Ryunosuke Uryuu. For the moment, it really was hard to find a suitable candidate.

It was not as if he could kill Kayneth, who had only just begun treating him as an ally, and the impulsive youth Waver Velvet, then use them as enhancement materials.

As for Kirei Kotomine and Tokiomi Tohsaka, that was even less possible. The existence of those two was crucial, and the connections of the Kotomine Family and Tohsaka Estate were extremely necessary.

Ritsuka was somewhat surprised. "I can be enhanced too? Like Mash?"

Mo Li shook his head slightly. "You're different from Mash. She's a Pseudo-Servant, while you're currently just an ordinary mage. But don't worry, leave it to me to figure something out."

"Hey, they're here. Are you planning to keep holding that girl's hand?" Medea suddenly walked in, looking somewhat annoyed at the sight of Mo Li holding Mash's hand.

She was outside busy setting up the workshop while he was inside taking advantage of a girl. That was too much!

Why wasn't he taking advantage of her instead?!

Hm?

No, she needed to find a chance to take the initiative. But first, she needed a suitable excuse...

Caren glanced at Medea in confusion. She had the feeling that her Heroic Spirit was thinking about something improper.

Mo Li released Mash's hand and stood up. "All right, I'll head out now."

Mash immediately sat up in bed as well. "I'm better now too. Is it okay if Ritsuka and I watch from the side?"

"Of course. Just stay beneath the eaves and don't come out. Medea, stay with them and protect them personally. There absolutely can't be any accidents."

Medea looked at Mash and Ritsuka in confusion. Even if they needed protection, did he really need to emphasize it so strongly?

Medea said casually, "Sure. It's not like I specialize in combat anyway."

Ritsuka said apologetically, "Sorry to trouble you, Miss Medea. Come to think of it, are you a Heroic Spirit too?"

Medea touched her elf-like ears. "I am. I'm a Caster. Compared to the Berserker Lancelot guarding the entrance outside, my combat ability is relatively weak."

Mo Li headed outside, while the five of them and Fou followed behind, chatting as they walked.

Mash asked, "Miss Medea, could you tell us about the era you lived in? I'm curious about your time~"

"My era? There's really nothing much to say, but if you want to know, I can tell you." Medea began telling the two about her life back then.

At that moment, outside the mountain gate, Mo Li had long since granted certain people permission to enter. Thus, the newly arrived guests, Artoria and Irisviel, walked straight in.

Mo Li greeted them, "I didn't expect you two to be the first pair to arrive. Good morning, little sister Artoria and Mrs. Irisviel."

"Good morning, Mr. Mo Li. Also, can you explain what is going on with the girl behind you?" Artoria stared intently at Mash and the greatshield in her hand.

Irisviel smiled at the sight of two more girls. "Good morning, Mr. Mo Li. I didn't expect there to be so many girls around you~"

"Ha, all I can say is that it isn't entirely up to me." After answering Irisviel, Mo Li turned to Artoria. "Little sister Artoria, you must have noticed it too. The Servant power Mash possesses belongs to the person you're thinking of. But he didn't tell Mash his true name, so I suggest you don't reveal it either. This is something she should uncover for herself."

Ritsuka whispered, "It sounds like Senior Mo is saying that the Heroic Spirit who gave Mash her power is an acquaintance of Artoria, the King of Knights!"

Mash Kyrielight said worriedly, "Even if we narrow the target down to Britain during the King of Knights' era, there are still many possibilities. Even without considering enemies, she had quite a few Knights of the Round Table under her command. There's no way to know which one fits."

Hearing that answer, Artoria looked somewhat dazed. "I never expected the successor he chose to be a girl..."

Remembering Galahad, Artoria immediately became somewhat dispirited. Looking at the black-armored Berserker, she asked, "I feel like he's familiar too. Who exactly is he?"

The other party's greatsword had been wrapped in black mist the entire time, making it impossible to identify, and the same went for his armor. Though Artoria had thought of several possibilities, she had no way to confirm who he was.

"Lancelot."

Mo Li's words nearly stunned Artoria. She was currently from the period of the Battle of Camlann, having only recently answered the summoning due to her wish. She had thought she would never see Lancelot again, yet she could actually meet him in this time and space?!

Irisviel was equally surprised. She had not expected this battle to bring them face-to-face with one of her Servant's Knights of the Round Table.

"Sir Lancelot! Is it really you?!" Artoria could not help walking toward him, but the only response she received was the Berserker's utterly mindless-sounding roar.

"Awooo!" Lancelot drew Overweight Lake Light, then swung his sword at Artoria.

"Sir Lancelot?!" Artoria raised her holy sword to block the blow. Hearing that seemingly irrational howl, she said sorrowfully, "Did I drive you into this state...?"

Still in the period where she doubted herself, she immediately placed the blame upon herself.

Irisviel had also nearly instantly recalled the legends, so she was not surprised by Lancelot suddenly attacking Artoria.

Watching Lancelot pretend to be insane over there, Mo Li helplessly shook his head. "Artoria, he merely wants to apologize to you and ask you to punish him."

"Sir Lancelot... wishes to apologize and asks me to punish you?" Artoria sent Lancelot flying with a slash, her expression incredibly complicated.

Yet Berserker Lancelot did not say a single word. Even with Mo Li voicing his thoughts for him, the two sides still could not possibly have a proper conversation.

However, now that they had recognized each other, it became a straightforward contest of swordsmanship and combat ability. Neither used Mana Burst even once, and before long, Lancelot fell.

Mo Li glanced at his poor acting—so bad that, like Ultraman Father, he collapsed before his light had even come on—but did not expose him.