Do You Want to Become Stronger? (One Chapter Owed) / Hector
But if I go in... it doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with it. This door was opened by the mark left by Medea. Since this is Colchis, there shouldn't be any danger.
Then... shall we go in and take a look?
(Maybe there's an old man or some opportunity waiting for me inside.)
With that thought in mind, Wang Xiaoming had already stepped one foot through the "door".
Suddenly, his foot slipped, and Wang Xiaoming, whose center of gravity had shifted, fell straight into the doorway.
The moment Wang Xiaoming disappeared through the door, the entire castle, along with the surrounding buildings, trembled slightly.
After the shaking stopped, there was no trace of the door left in the previously open space.
The entire castle fell silent once more, as if no one had ever been there.
--A minor earthquake with an intensity of 3 occurred suddenly in the suburbs of Gori City, according to reports. The epicenter is unknown. Local residents and tourists are advised to be aware of safety and prepare for earthquakes.
An extra chapter will be added tomorrow.
Chapter 142. Do you want to become stronger? (One chapter owed)
Faint--
This was Wang Xiaoming's only thought as he stepped inside. At that moment, he felt as if he were trapped in a whirlpool, unable to escape. The feeling of weightlessness was like a continuous tsunami stimulating his nerves and stomach.
Instinctively, I reached out to grab something to steady myself, but everything around me felt as light and unreal as clouds in the sky.
In order to preserve the last vestiges of Wang Xiaoming's sanity, his brain's self-protective mechanism shut down, causing him to pass out quickly.
Wang Xiaoming, who was in a coma, had no specific idea of how much time had passed. He only knew that as time went by, the feeling of weakness and inability to support him as he floated on clouds gradually disappeared.
As his consciousness continued to sink, Wang Xiaoming gradually regained sensation in his hands and feet during the fall.
Until physical contact occurs --
"Here it is?"
Opening his eyes again, Wang Xiaoming, who had struggled to his feet from the ground, began to look around.
In the pitch-black space without a single light source, Wang Xiaoming, wanting to know his current environment, took out his phone from his pocket. After checking it briefly, he was relieved to find it wasn't damaged, but the bare signal bars Wang Xiaoming indicated his predicament.
Using the faint light from his phone screen, Wang Xiaoming began to observe the completely unfamiliar environment before him.
This is probably a temple.
After looking around, Wang Xiaoming made his own judgment.
Whether it's the brick and stone walls or the architectural style that differs from modern buildings, it all gives him a sense of solemnity that makes him want to hold his breath.
"You're awake?"
Just as Wang Xiaoming was trying to find a way out, he suddenly heard a voice beside him. Then the darkness in the space was broken, and beams of light appeared out of nowhere around the "temple".
Subconsciously looking in the direction the sound came from, Wang Xiaoming saw a slender girl standing in the center of the "temple," as if she had appeared out of thin air.
The girl had long, reddish-gold hair that flowed like tassels, and her thin clothes clung to her slender body. Her eyes, in particular, resembled the summer sky.
At this moment, the girl was sizing up Wang Xiaoming with a half-smile.
"Excuse me..."
Before he could finish speaking, Wang Xiaoming suddenly felt as if his tongue had been paralyzed, and he couldn't utter another word no matter what he did. He didn't even know when his body had been immobilized, and he couldn't move at all.
Tap, tap--
The high heels made a crisp sound when they hit the ground.
The girl who walked up to him gently stroked Wang Xiaoming's cheek with her cold fingers, and his gaze was unconsciously drawn to her gesture.
Slender and beautiful fingers, with nails of rich and healthy color, without any nail polish or artificial nails or other unnecessary decorations.
The girl's expression was alluring, and her extremely sweet scent lingered around Wang Xiaoming's nose.
His stiff body began to relax, and his wary gaze gradually lost its focus.
"!"
The sudden burning sensation startled Wang Xiaoming, and as if to resist the allure of the girl, purple light emanated from Wang Xiaoming chest.
"Huh?"
Upon seeing the purple beam of light, the girl suddenly let out a soft, enigmatic gasp; this was the first time Wang Xiaoming had ever heard a girl's voice.
"Oh dear, it's Medea's Magecraft! No wonder you were able to get here."
After recognizing the owner of the magic within Wang Xiaoming, the girl slightly increased the distance between herself and Wang Xiaoming, staring at Wang Xiaoming with a playful expression:
"Then, can you explain the origin of the magic within you?"
Wang Xiaoming rolled his eyes, trying to signal to the girl that he couldn't speak yet, but the girl pretended not to notice.
"If you're unwilling to tell me, then let me see."
"..."
Ignoring Wang Xiaoming's incredibly frustrated expression, the girl reached out and touched Wang Xiaoming's forehead again.
A flash of light--
"She even placed a restriction on my memories; she truly lives up to her reputation."
After removing her hand, the girl pouted somewhat unwillingly, casually releasing the restraints on Wang Xiaoming. Looking at Wang Xiaoming, who was staring at her warily, she said:
"Since she's gone to such lengths for you, you must be quite important to Medea. Tell me about it—"
"The Holy Grail War... it's quite interesting."
After finding a place to sit down, the girl, who was resting her cheek on her hand, listened to Wang Xiaoming's story. Then, she picked up the photo she had taken from Wang Xiaoming and looked at Medea in the picture. A look of nostalgia appeared on her face, but she quickly composed herself.
Looking up at Wang Xiaoming, who seemed hesitant to speak, the girl chuckled softly and then gave her name:
"Stop worrying about it, I am Circe."
"Is this your aunt?"
The moment the girl uttered her name, Wang Xiaoming, matching the name with his memory, subconsciously replied.
Then--
As the white smoke dissipated, a pink pet appeared where Wang Xiaoming had been standing.
"Excuse me, what did you just say?"
Circe, with a captivating smile, asked the "piglet" in front of her:
Little Pig Wang: "Snoring!" (I'm sorry! QAQ)
"But then again, your accidental arrival here can be considered a predetermined coincidence."
After restoring Wang Xiaoming to human form, Circe suddenly remarked. Seeing Wang Xiaoming's puzzled look, Circe explained—
This temple was actually an altar built for Hecate. However, with the passage of time and the end of the Age of Gods, the altar has been sealed off, and even Circe herself is just a magical aggregate with consciousness.
However, Medea, as Hecate's disciple, possessed magic that she left behind in Wang Xiaoming, which could activate the altar.
If Wang Xiaoming hadn't intended to come to Georgia, then this altar would likely have remained sealed indefinitely.
"At the time, I just wanted to see the hometown where she used to live, even if..."
Before he could finish explaining, Circe interrupted him:
"No need to explain. As Witch, I have some experience in detecting lies. Otherwise, why do you think you'd still be standing here?"
"(°Д°)"
Seeing the horrified look in Wang Xiaoming's Circe chuckled and then changed the subject:
"So, are you going to wait until the next Holy Grail War to summon Medea again?"
"Certainly."
Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Xiaoming answered.
"But with your current strength..."
Although Circe didn't finish her sentence, Wang Xiaoming, who fully understood her meaning, still managed a weak smile, "I will try my best."
"But you don't have the talent."
Seemingly on purpose, Circe deliberately chose words that were meant to wound Wang Xiaoming's heart:
"If you encounter a situation like that again, what should you do? Just watch Medea leave and then lament your own powerlessness?"
"..."
Seeing Wang Xiaoming's dejected state, Circe sighed softly:
Sometimes, hard work alone isn't enough.
"..."
"However, for Medea's sake, I'll still ask you one question—"
Do you want to become stronger?
By the way, let me recommend a book.
I, Emiya Kiritsugu, am an accomplice to evil.
Synopsis: "Kirei Kotomine, human abilities have limits. I've learned something from my short life: the more you cling to justice, the more you become bound by justice itself."
"Emiya Kiritsugu, what exactly are you trying to say?!"
"Justice has betrayed me. Now, I will no longer be Hero of Justice! I will transcend justice! Transcend humanity!"
When Kiritsugu went to retrieve Caster, when Kiritsugu encountered Illya again, when Kiritsugu summoned Saber once more, when Kiritsugu's ideal was no longer to be Hero of Justice...
Yes... the female lead is C-mom (covers face)
Chapter 143. Hector
Do you want to become stronger?
"I want to, but I crave even more..."
Upon hearing Circe's words, which evoked a strange sense of déjà vu, Wang Xiaoming instinctively replied, but he immediately stopped mid-sentence, realizing what he was saying.
What do you yearn for?
Circe expressed his curiosity.
"No, it's nothing."
Seeing Circe, Wang Xiaoming quickly changed the subject:
Can I become stronger?
"Sure."
Upon hearing Wang Xiaoming's question, Circe answered without hesitation.