A Time-Honored Tradition: Just Give Me Food

Finally, he just glared fiercely at Wang Xiaoming and then asked him:

"Using the power of Heroic Spirit should be quite convenient, right?"

"It's alright..."

Wang Xiaoming scratched his face and said, feigning modesty.

"Medusa's Mystic Eyes, Achilles' speed, and Penthesilea's rage... To be honest, with these powers, you could now even contend with top-tier Heroic Spirit..."

However, Medea had no interest in playing around with him; instead, her expression gradually became serious.

"But have you ever wondered why you're able to withstand the power from [Heroic Spirit]?"

"... Is it because of [Hector]?"

Upon seeing Medea's serious expression, Wang Xiaoming also abandoned his playful thoughts, briefly considered the matter and then shared his guess.

"That's right, it's because Hector entrusted his Spirit Origin to you."

Medea nodded in agreement with his answer.

"As the [strongest human], a great hero who defied the gods with a mortal body, his Spirit Origin is sufficient for you to withstand the [souls (Spirit Origin Fragments)] of those Servant withdrew from the Holy Grail War."

"... Exit?"

Have you thought of it?

Seeing the thoughtful expression on Wang Xiaoming's face, Medea continued.

"Storing the souls of Servant within one's own body—how similar this is to [Irisviel] from ten years ago."

"..."

Wang Xiaoming remained silent, because he knew—

Ten years ago, Irisviel, representing one of the "Three Founding Families," participated in the Holy Grail War. Her true identity was the "Lesser Grail," created by her family, the Einzbern.

In the past, the Lesser Grail were all made by the Einzbern family, but this time it seems that no such news has been heard from Emiya Kiritsugu.

"... So, I'm the Lesser Grail in this Holy Grail War?"

Coming to his senses, Wang Xiaoming turned his gaze to Circe had been silent for a long time.

"That's right."

As if he had been prepared for this, Circe readily admitted it after Wang Xiaoming asked him.

When did this happen?

"The first time we met... well, to be precise, it was after Hector entrusted you with your Spirit Origin."

"Why?"

"Because we weren't familiar with each other back then, isn't it normal to take advantage of each other?"

Looking at Circe's matter-of-fact expression, Wang Xiaoming then remembered that the "girl" in front of him was actually a genuine Witch.

"Besides, men are untrustworthy creatures. Who knows if you'll say one thing and do another behind my back?"

... and she's been hurt by men.

"And then..."

Wang Xiaoming originally intended to ask why she had made any other moves during the past ten years, but before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly had an expression of realization.

"Because of Lily?"

"That's right, it's that little guy..."

When Lily was mentioned, Wang Xiaoming seemed to detect a sense of helplessness in Circe's tone.

"I didn't expect you to bring her back. Although her Magecraft skills haven't reached their peak yet, if I were to tamper with them again, she might discover it, so I could only try my best to cover up the previous traces of Magecraft."

"That little idiot..."

Hearing this, Medea wished she could drag Lily out right now and give her little bottom a good spanking.

How could you not notice such a simple Magecraft!

"On the other hand, since Lily has already acknowledged you, there's nothing I can do. I'm not so despicable as to harm my own family."

After saying that, Circe pouted like an angry child and muttered under her breath.

"That's just how it is, believe it or not is up to you."

"Of course I believe you. As the children's great-aunt, you have no reason to harm me."

"..."

Upon hearing Wang Xiaoming emphasize the word "grandmother," Circe, feeling guilty, forcibly suppressed the urge to turn the man in front of her into a piglet.

"Jokes aside, what's the purpose of doing this?"

Wang Xiaoming asked the question that concerned him most.

Logically, the Lesser Grail made by the Einzbern family should have been sufficient to contain the souls of the seven Servant participating in the Holy Grail War. So why would Circe go to such lengths, and even begin planning it ten years in advance?

"Because they are not qualified."

Circe's answer surprised Wang Xiaoming.

"The Lesser Grail created by those androids is insufficient to withstand the [outcome] of this Holy Grail War."

"The ending? What ending?"

Having noticed a certain keyword, Wang Xiaoming pressed for an answer.

"Forging the strongest into a weapon, using the spirits of gods as fuel. Ultimately..."

This prophetic murmur was abruptly interrupted by Circe's sudden disappearance.

After seeing Circe disappear from his sight without warning, Wang Xiaoming cast an inquiring glance at Medea.

"It's a [highest level] summoning Magecraft; I have no way to stop it."

Medea shook her head helplessly. She hadn't even had time to react, let alone stop it.

"The road connecting to the temple has also been sealed off..."

Seeing Medea's somewhat dejected expression, Wang Xiaoming was helpless. The being capable of summoning Circe so suddenly and without warning was probably...

"Hmm..."

As Wang Xiaoming was pondering how to comfort Medea, he suddenly sensed something amiss.

Not only Wang Xiaoming, but Medea had already taken over the nearby barrier from Lily, also sensed it.

A powerful aura suddenly entered the barrier, and judging from the fluctuations in magic power, the newcomer should be a Servant.

"Hello, I am Jeanne d'Arc, the [arbiter] of this Holy Grail War. Please forgive my intrusion at this late hour."

After the door opened, the blonde girl standing outside bowed slightly to express her apology.

"..."

Looking at the blonde girl standing in front of him, Wang Xiaoming seemed to understand what Waver meant by the stomachache he often talked about.

He had a premonition that this Holy Grail War would likely deviate significantly from his previous plans.

Chapter 384. Traditional Skills: Just Give Me Food

"Have some water."

"Oh, thank you so much!"

Ruler thanked Wang Xiaoming after taking the cup from him. However, given the somewhat sharp gaze of a certain person, the blonde girl wisely put down her teacup and shifted her gaze to Medea.

"Caster, congratulations on your reunion with Mr. Ming."

As the arbiter of this Holy Grail War, she possesses the [True Name Discernment] skill and naturally knows Medea's true name.

Only--

"Do you have memories of Romania?"

After hearing Ruler finish speaking, Wang Xiaoming asked her with a somewhat surprised expression.

"That's right."

Ruler nodded and smiled.

"Thanks to the [Ruler] class, I will retain the memories of participating in the Holy Grail War."

Even though she had presided over several Holy Grail War and dealt with countless heroes, Jeanne d'Arc still had a very deep impression of this man who single-handedly withstood the demigod Achilles.

"That saves us some trouble."

Although they hadn't expected the [Ruler] to appear in this Holy Grail War, since Ruler possessed her past memories, they didn't need to go out of their way to gain her trust.

It's just a matter of a few meals.

"Speaking of which, now that Ruler has been summoned, it means there might be unpredictable factors in this Holy Grail War. Do you have any ideas about this?"

Upon hearing Wang Xiaoming's words, Ruler also revealed a serious expression.

"Sorry, no."

"..."

What use is a saint like that?

"We've discovered something that we hope will be of some help to you."

After exchanging a helpless glance with Medea, Wang Xiaoming said to Ruler.

Afterwards, Wang Xiaoming truthfully told Ruler what had just happened and his conversation with Circe.

"So, the other party started preparing this plan ten years ago?"

After listening to Wang Xiaoming's account, Ruler's face turned serious.

If what Wang Xiaoming said is true, then could the Great Holy Grail War that they participated in in Romania also be...?

"Don't overthink it. The other party might not be as strong as you imagine, or perhaps their previous actions were just opportunistic."

"Finding a bargain?"

Seeing the puzzled look on Ruler's face, Wang Xiaoming nodded.

Wang Xiaoming had considered this point of concern of Jeanne d'Arc beforehand.

Whether in the [Singularity] or [Romania], although I obtained the [abilities (souls)] of Servant from both places, but...

Since the Holy Grail War that took place in the Singularity had been completely destroyed, whether or not the Holy Grail was activated was no longer important; and since the Great Holy Grail War that took place in Romania had already gathered enough souls, it was irrelevant whether or not the souls of Achilles and others were obtained.

Therefore, it seems that my appearance did not affect the progress of the Holy Grail War.

"If the so-called mastermind really had the ability to orchestrate all of this, then they could have simply collected the [souls] of Servant; there was no need for them to go through all this trouble to transform me into this form."

"Is that so?"

After listening to Wang Xiaoming's speculation, Ruler seemed thoughtful.

"In reality, his abilities are merely an outward manifestation of his soul being stored within his body. It's nothing profound Magecraft; even I could do it."

Medea's voice suddenly rang out in the room.

Well, that's the situation anyway.

Wang Xiaoming scratched his head and said to Ruler.

Looking at Wang Xiaoming's silly appearance, Medea shook her head helplessly.

Look at this silly man in my house!

"So what do you mean?"

Ruler, who had a vague idea of what Wang Xiaoming was thinking, asked him about it, and Wang Xiaoming's answer confirmed her guess.

"I hope you can stay here, Ruler. That way, even if there's any unexpected incident, we'll have enough time and manpower to react."