Journey to Find Heroic Spirits

"Tea time is here!"

Jack and Gretel cheered, while little Jeanne d'Arc said awkwardly, "I don't miss Chaldea's food at all."

But her gaze, fixed on the lunchboxes, betrayed her true feelings.

The group arrived in a spacious room with several simple dining tables, where they usually ate.

Emiya had prepared everything with care, using insulated lunchboxes. The food inside was still warm, and a delicious aroma filled the air when they opened them, making everyone swallow hard.

They gathered around and ate happily, the scene warm and cozy, the delicious food dispelling their worldly troubles.

After the meal, Yuxian recounted the events that had transpired at Chaldea.

When it came to re-establishing contracts, Jack eagerly jumped onto Yuxian, wanting to sign the contract immediately.

The others also agreed to sign contracts. Although Atalanta hesitated, she ultimately trusted Yuxian and re-signed the contract with him.

Yuxian understood her concerns and said earnestly, "Atalanta, I will respect your choices and will not force you to leave here."

Atalanta nodded. She looked at Yuxian apologetically. As a Servant, she knew this was inappropriate, but there were too many bonds here, making it impossible for her to obey orders as she had in the past at Chaldea.

Yuxian didn't mind. He didn't see these Servants who trusted him as mere tools; they had their own thoughts and principles of action.

He could understand and tried to understand each of them.

All contracts were completed, and Yuxian looked at the luminous screen on the back of his right hand.

Command Spells: Can be used to issue special commands to Servants by consuming them. Consumed Command Spells will recover by 1 at midnight each day.

Effect 1: Strengthen. (LV2)

Effect 2: Recover. (LV2)

Effect 3: ???

Current contracted Servants: 8

Upgraded.

The third use of the Command Spells remained unknown, but the first two effects had been upgraded to LV2.

Yuxian wasn't sure how much of a difference LV2 was from LV1, but getting stronger was always a good thing.

This change also made him realize that the Command Spell level increased with the number of contracted Servants. If he managed to find all the Servants from Chaldea, he wondered what level his Command Spells would reach.

ps: In recent years, Japan's annual newborn population is less than 1 million. Tokyo, being densely populated, has about 200,000 newborns. After the appearance of Gastrea, the population plummeted to 1/10, with about 20,000 newborns annually. Over ten years, 200,000 children were born, half of whom were girls, totaling 100,000. The probability of a Cursed Child should be less than 5%, assuming around 3%. The total number of Cursed Children in the Tokyo area is about 3,000. Adding those who died prematurely due to mistreatment, a number less than 2,000 seems reasonable.

Chapter 23: Three lolis lying on the bed, while I slept alone on the floor

That night, Yuxian was still awake when Jack rushed into his room and jumped onto the bed without a word, burrowing under the covers.

"Jack!"

Just as Yuxian was about to scold her, Jack poked her head out from under the covers, her eyes wide as she looked at him. "Mama?"

Jack's bright, innocent eyes stared at Yuxian, making him swallow the words he was about to say. Facing such innocent and cute eyes, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

"Jack is so cunning! Illya wants to be with Master too."

Gretel, pulling little Jeanne d'Arc along, walked in from outside the door. She grumbled incessantly about Jack, but her face wore a triumphant expression, clearly indicating this was a planned scenario.

The clever Gretel knew that if all three of them came at once, Yuxian would surely send them back to their rooms.

She had Yuxian's favorite, Jack, scout ahead, using cuteness to disarm Yuxian and make him soft-hearted enough to agree.

After that, it would be difficult for Yuxian to refuse, to show favoritism, and ask them to leave.

Little Jeanne d'Arc was pulled by Gretel, remaining silent, putting on a show of being forced, yet her feet didn't lag behind at all.

When Yuxian's gaze fell on her, she immediately clenched her fists and struck a defensive pose, warning Yuxian not to mess around.

Yuxian quickly raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. Only then did she and Gretel climb onto the bed and hide under the covers.

Seeing the three little ones lying side-by-side on the bed, completely occupying the already small space, Yuxian helplessly walked over and tucked them in.

Tonight, he would sleep on the floor.

The next day, Yuxian and Mash set off for the city.

Jack and Gretel immediately asked to accompany Yuxian, and little Jeanne d'Arc hesitated for a long time before finally following them.

Only Illya was left in the outer district. She was sad that she couldn't go out with everyone, but Yuxian comforted her with kind words, which improved her mood.

She had red eyes, and to avoid unnecessary trouble, she had to be temporarily kept away from the city.

Yuxian's first objective for this trip was to find the Tendo Civil Security Company.

This unknown small company was founded by two high school students, whose identities were far from simple.

Kisaragi Tendo, the granddaughter of Kikunojo Tendo, the Chief Councilor of the Tokyo area; and Rentaro Satomi, Kikunojo Tendo's adopted son.

Rather than searching for their target, everyone was more like sightseeing. They lingered for a long time at every place they visited.

Yuxian wasn't in a hurry. Since he had brought them out, he naturally wanted them to have fun and enjoy themselves to the fullest.

The bustling city center stood in stark contrast to the desolation of the outer districts, like two entirely different worlds.

Walking down the streets, with throngs of pedestrians and rows of shops, this modern metropolis showed no signs of the constant threat posed by Gastrea.

In an inconspicuous corner, Yuxian finally found the pitifully small Civil Security Company.

Knock, knock, knock!

After a light knock on the door, a clear voice from inside, belonging to the company's president, Kisaragi Tendo, called out, "Come in!"

Two adults and three children, a total of five people, entered the office, which was already cramped to begin with.

Rentaro Satomi and Enju Aihara stopped their roughhousing and curiously watched Yuxian and his companions, wondering about their purpose.

"May I ask if you have a commission?" Kisaragi Tendo greeted Yuxian warmly. It was rare for anyone to visit her company, and seeing them, her face lit up with a smile. She gestured to Rentaro, signaling him to make a good impression.

Yuxian asked, "We'd like to join the Tendo Civil Security Company. Is that possible?"

"Huh?" Rentaro and Kisaragi Tendo exchanged bewildered glances, looking at Yuxian with blank expressions.

"You should think carefully. This company is so poor they can't even afford to pay salaries..."

Bang!

Before Rentaro could finish, Kisaragi Tendo grabbed a book from the desk and threw it at his face, interrupting him.

"No problem!" Kisaragi Tendo immediately agreed to Yuxian's request, afraid he might change his mind.

Rentaro quickly pulled Kisaragi Tendo aside and whispered, "Are you sure you want to keep them?"

Kisaragi Tendo said confidently, "It's fine. Their salaries will be paid from completed commissions. If there are no commissions, there's no salary. When new members join and the company's strength increases, we can take on more jobs."

Yuxian smiled as he watched them whisper, not disturbing them and quietly waiting for their decision.

After their hushed conversation, Kisaragi Tendo straightened up and turned around, pretending to cough twice. "From now on, you are all members of the Tendo Civil Security Company. I am your president, Kisaragi Tendo, and this is Rentaro Satomi."

"I'm Rentaro's fiancée, Enju Aihara!"

Before Kisaragi Tendo could introduce her, Enju Aihara eagerly introduced herself. After speaking, she hugged Rentaro's arm tightly, declaring her claim.

Sensing the strange looks from Yuxian and the others, Rentaro quickly tried to pull his arm away, but Enju Aihara held on tightly, not letting him escape.

Yuxian maintained his smile. He felt a fondness for the lively Enju.

It was truly remarkable for this little girl with scarlet hair tied in cute twin tails, a Cursed Child at that, to remain so optimistic and cheerful.

"My name is Yuxian. This is Mash, Jack, Illya, and Little Jeanne," Yuxian introduced them one by one.

Rentaro asked doubtfully, "Why are there three children? Aren't Initiators and Promoters supposed to be in pairs?"

"They aren't Initiators," Yuxian replied, shaking his head.

"Not Initiators?" Yuxian's answer only deepened his confusion.

"We're Mama's children!" Jack interjected.

"Mama?" Hearing Jack's words, Rentaro and the others shifted their gaze to Mash.

Mash's face flushed red, and she quickly waved her hands in front of her, "It's not me, it's not me!"

Yuxian scooped Jack up and ruffled her small head. "The 'Mama' this child is referring to is me."

"Ah?"

"You'll understand later."

Yuxian ignored their surprise, and neither Rentaro nor Kisaragi Tendo pressed further. They speculated that perhaps Jack was a Cursed Child abandoned by her mother.

Jack had indeed been abandoned by her mother, not even being allowed to be born.

Her true identity was a collective of infants who were not permitted to exist. Compared to them, Cursed Children who were allowed to be born were much luckier.

However, now she had Yuxian as her Master, who would give her the motherly love she lacked.

Yuxian sat down in the office and chatted with Rentaro, gathering current information from his words.

The children quickly bonded. Enju Aihara was promoting her "Heavenly Punishment Girls" to the three younger ones.

Jack, being very active, ran around the office and unexpectedly hit it off with Enju, the two of them playing boisterously.

Gretel sat on a chair like a little lady, but she occasionally directed comments at Jack's actions, pointing out what was wrong and what wasn't.

Little Jeanne stood by the side, wanting to join in but hesitating due to her reservations.

Finally, Jack pulled her in, and she happily joined their play.

Time passed quickly. As the sky gradually darkened towards dusk, Yuxian prepared to leave.

They hadn't found a place to stay in the city center yet and needed to return to the outer districts, so they bid farewell to Rentaro and the others.

Enju Aihara, having rarely found playmates, looked a bit reluctant to part. But thinking that they would see each other every day from now on, her mood brightened, and she waved goodbye to Jack and the others.

Chapter 24: Even the Great Sage Has a Lolicon Heart

Returning to the outer district, they saw Chiron by the sea, holding a little girl.

The little girl was dressed in simple cloth clothes, somewhat worn but clean and tidy.

Her white hair cascaded down, half-obscuring her face. The sea breeze blew, scattering her hair and revealing a white cloth band tied over her eyes.

She sang in Chiron's arms, her voice melodious and pleasant, reaching Yuxian's ears from afar.

The song was clear, without a trace of impurity, pure as water like her, untainted by resentment or unwillingness towards her fate.

This was a child who, even when facing a cruel destiny, still believed in beauty.

Chiron held her, listening quietly as she sang, his gentle gaze filled with affection.

Yuxian thought of the legends surrounding Chiron.

Chiron received no love from his parents since childhood. Born a centaur, his mother, Philyra, transformed into a linden tree out of extreme disgust for nursing him, a monster.

After he ascended to Sagittarius, he regretted it immensely, wanting to reclaim the only bond he had with his parents.

He must have deeply loved his parents, even though they abandoned him.

This little girl's experience was so similar to Chiron's. Perhaps he saw his younger self in her, which was why Chiron cared for her so much.

Yuxian listened quietly to the pure, heavenly sound, not wanting to disturb it. Only when the singing stopped did he slowly walk over.

Seeing Yuxian and the others return, Chiron put down the little girl he was holding and let her go play with Jack and the others.

"Teacher Chiron."

Chiron nodded in greeting, then asked Yuxian, "How is it? Any thoughts?"

Yuxian remained silent, not speaking. He looked directly into Chiron's eyes. This great sage couldn't possibly be unaware of the entire Tokyo area's attitude towards the Cursed Children.

He wanted to see what Chiron's stance was on this current situation.