Journey to Find Heroic Spirits

Yuxian didn't want to get involved in Kobayashi's family affairs; it was best for them to resolve it themselves.

But someone else didn't think so.

Martha clasped her hands together, her knuckles cracking as she did. She glared at The End Emperor and said to Tohru, "Tohru, open a dimensional gate. Let me persuade your father to reach an agreement with you."

Seeing Martha like this, Yuxian knew her idea of persuasion was definitely physical, beating him into an agreement.

The End Emperor hadn't experienced Martha's might. He looked disdainful. The group passed through the portal and arrived on a deserted island in another world.

"Dragon who knows not the sorrow of love, let me, Martha, teach you what love truly is." Martha donned her holy gauntlets. Today, she would thoroughly educate the giant dragon before her, making him understand what love was.

"Become a meteor, Tarasque!"

Tarasque hesitated, weakly saying, "Big sis, can you not punch me..."

"Hmm? You're unwilling?" Martha asked Tarasque calmly, as if discussing matters with an old friend.

However, Tarasque trembled and hurriedly threw itself forward.

A calm Big Sis was too terrifying!

If Big Sis had scolded it fiercely, there might have been room for negotiation.

Facing Tarasque flying towards him, The End Emperor responded with all his might. He collided with Tarasque. As fellow dragons, Tarasque was no match for The End Emperor and was sent flying.

At this moment, Martha leaped. She jumped high and powerfully punched Tarasque.

"Iron Fist Judgment!"

Martha slammed Tarasque fiercely towards The End Emperor. Tarasque was like a ball, just knocked away by The End Emperor, only to be punched back towards him by Martha, bouncing between the two.

Martha's fists rained down on Tarasque, making it look like she was beating Tarasque. In reality, her punches used the inch-force penetration method, with the force passing through Tarasque and landing entirely on The End Emperor.

(Tarasque: No, no, no, it really hurts!)

The End Emperor was violently knocked to the ground, and Tarasque fell with him...

Martha patted her hands, done with the fight.

The group on the side watched with wide eyes. Martha's simple and brutal fighting style made them start to pity Tarasque.

Elma, in particular, trembled behind Yuxian.

She only knew Martha was powerful and had always been cautious, never attempting to resist. Now, she realized how lucky she truly was. If not, looking at The End Emperor and Tarasque lying there would show her that her fate would have been no better.

Martha walked over and patted Tohru's shoulder. Tohru immediately stood at attention, eyes straight ahead, awaiting Martha's lecture.

"Your father has agreed to your relationship with Kobayashi!" Martha's words were domineering.

Tohru couldn't help but glance at her father lying in the distance and immediately nodded fiercely. Her father had indeed agreed; he dared not object!

Martha ignored Tohru's subtle movement and continued, "Love means being together, and companions mean staying together always."

"Even if one of you dies, the time spent together will become the most beautiful memory."

"Eternity is the biggest lie; only the present is real."

"Mhm!" Martha's words made Tohru beam. She nodded heavily, her heart's knot untangled at that moment.

As Martha said, the world didn't have that much eternity. Even human couples would see one partner die first, leaving the other alone in the world.

The beautiful memories made when they were together were the truly eternal things.

Tohru quietly embraced Kobayashi and said emotionally, "Kobayashi, we will be together forever."

Seeing this, Kanna also came over, hugging both Kobayashi and Tohru with her small hands: "Kobayashi, Lord Tohru, Kanna wants to be with you forever too."

Kobayashi stroked Kanna's head, then looked at Tohru's smiling face, a happy smile appearing on her own.

Chapter 96 Chapter Thirty-Six: Fafnir's Gift

Tohru returned home once again, but she came back quickly this time.

After Martha's persuasion, The End Emperor had agreed to Tohru's decision, though he still held reservations about Tohru and Kobayashi's relationship.

But ultimately, he was a father, and no father wants his daughter to be unhappy. He could only let go and respect Tohru's choice.

Tohru remained the Dragon Maid in Kobayashi's home, and they would live together from now on. With Kanna, the three lived a happy, simple life as a family.

The interlude of The End Emperor's arrival had only strengthened their resolve to walk forward together.

After some more time had passed, Georgios finally arrived at Yuxian's home.

Covered in dust from his travels, Georgios, dressed in a sharp suit, appeared before Yuxian with his suitcase.

He bowed to Yuxian with great gentlemanliness, saying, "Thank you for waiting."

Yuxian stepped forward and gently hugged Georgios, "Welcome home."

The children also came forward to greet Georgios. They were all very satisfied with the hot spring tickets from last time and were very grateful to him.

Seeing the children's warm welcome, Georgios opened his suitcase and took out several thick photo albums, handing them out.

"These are photos I took during my travels. You can all take a look."

Georgios's suitcase was almost entirely filled with photo albums, along with his beloved camera. Other items like clothes were hardly visible.

Everyone gathered around to flip through the albums, each photo recording Georgios's footsteps in this world.

As everyone flipped through the photos, Georgios recounted his experiences, adding a sense of depth and immersion to the pictures, making it feel as if they were there.

His contract with Georgios had been renewed during the last photography exhibition, and with no news of anyone else in this world, it was time to leave.

Mash and the others packed their belongings at home, while Yuxian went to the landlord to return the apartment they had lived in for quite some time, an apartment filled with many memories.

After notifying all their familiar friends, everyone gathered on the rooftop of the apartment building. It was spacious and a suitable place to return to Chaldea from.

Elma looked at everyone with teary eyes, very reluctant to see Yuxian and the others leave. She would have to find a new place to live and would no longer have free meals.

Martha had been very strict with her, but after spending time together, Elma had felt the care and concern of an older sister from Martha.

"Take care of yourself," Martha patted Elma's shoulder. "Don't always be so absent-minded, and don't be too greedy."

Elma nodded continuously, accepting Martha's lecture.

She used to find such lectures annoying, but now, thinking that no one would care for her like this anymore, she couldn't help but feel sad.

Kanna was saying goodbye to Little Jeanne and the others. She was very reluctant to see her friends leave. Kanna, usually obedient, acted a little childish this time, hugging them tightly and refusing to let go.

Kobayashi and Tohru comforted her continuously from the side, only then making her reluctantly release her grip.

She quickly ran to Yuxian and hugged him.

Her small body barely reached Yuxian's stomach.

Yuxian genuinely liked Kanna, the adorable, food-loving dragon. He gently stroked her hair, looking at her with soft eyes, unsure of what to say.

Kanna looked up at Yuxian and said expectantly, "You must bring them back. I know they all listen to you."

Hearing Kanna's words, Yuxian couldn't bear to refuse her. He nodded and replied, "I will."

In reality, Yuxian himself didn't know if he would return or when he would return to this world.

At this moment, he had made another promise without an answer, and he was starting to dislike himself more and more.

Having received Yuxian's promise, Kanna let go and returned to talking with her friends.

Yuxian walked over to Kobayashi, smiled, and bid her farewell. He took out something he had prepared long ago and handed it to her.

"This is..."

After taking it, Kobayashi realized it was a group photo taken during their beach vacation. Everyone in the picture was smiling so brightly.

Yuxian said, "I'm sorry I didn't give it to you sooner."

Kobayashi shook her head, clutching the photo tightly. "What a wonderful memory."

"Yes, a wonderful memory," they both said and laughed, the sound of their laughter dispelling the sadness of parting.

Tohru produced a large bento box from somewhere and handed it to Mash.

"This is a bento I made. Take it with you to eat. I am now a qualified maid."

Mash accepted the bento box and nodded seriously. "Thank you, Tohru."

"Don't be so sad. We'll see each other again, won't we?" Tohru appeared cheerful, and her sincere smile infected Mash.

Mash smiled and said, "Yes. Next time, I'll bring you a bento made by Mr. Emiya."

"Mr. Emiya?" Tohru sounded confused by the unfamiliar name Mash mentioned.

"Yes, he's a very remarkable chef. His cooking is incredibly delicious."

"Then I must try it and learn some cooking tips from him," Tohru struck a determined pose.

The goodbyes went on for a long time, but eventually, they had to end.

Yuxian and his group stood in the center of the rooftop, waving goodbye to Kobayashi and the others one last time.

Fafnir had been standing in a corner, silent.

He had also come to see Yuxian and the others off, but his cold personality made him unaccustomed to warm farewells. He watched everyone quietly like an observer.

Yuxian thought he would continue to watch them leave, but at the last moment, he walked over.

Everyone looked at him, unsure of what he intended to do or say.

Fafnir walked up to Jack and looked at her, his gaze intense.

Jack, however, met his gaze without flinching, even tilting her head and looking confused.

"Here," Fafnir said, handing a small booklet to Jack. Without waiting for her reaction, he turned and walked away.

Jack looked bewildered, holding Fafnir's booklet, unsure of what had just happened.

But soon, an angelic smile appeared on her face, and she called out to Fafnir, who had turned his back to her, "Let's play games together next time!"

"Tch!" Fafnir replied in a very displeased tone, "You're too bad. Practice more before you say that."

Yuxian chuckled inwardly. What a straightforward, yet devious dragon.

Yuxian wasn't surprised by Fafnir's particular attention to Jack, as Jack also carried a dark aura about her.

Ordinary people might not notice it, but how could Fafnir, skilled in curses, not sense it? From the beginning, he had recognized Jack as one of his own kind.

Jack's Noble Phantasm, Mother's Dismantlement, was essentially a form of curse.

"Goodbye..."

With reluctant goodbyes, Yuxian and the others vanished from Kobayashi's sight and returned to Chaldea.

Chapter 97: Chapter 1 - The Unknown Island

Chaldea was still quiet, but Yuxian saw progress.

From the beginning, there were only him and Mash, but now there were nine people. He believed more and more people would come in the future, until everyone returned here.

"It really feels nostalgic, being back here," Martha stretched widely and quickly left the central control room.

"Mom, here you go." Jack handed Fafnir's little booklet to Yuxian. What a good child.

"Let me see, let me see."

Before Yuxian could even take the booklet from Jack, Gretel snatched it away. She was very interested in these book-like items and couldn't wait to check it out.

"Oh my, what is all this!" Gretel looked at the booklet and appeared frightened, quickly tossing it back to Jack.

"It's Curse Arts," Siegfried said with a frown, having glimpsed the contents while Gretel was looking.

Yuxian shook his head. It was just like Fafnir to do something like this, but it was also his way of showing he cared. Yuxian didn't find anything wrong with it.

He said to Jack, "This is a gift from Fafnir. You should take good care of it."

"Okay!" With Yuxian's approval, Jack put away the book of curses.

Whether she would learn it or could learn it, Yuxian wasn't too concerned. He considered it a pastime for Jack when she was bored.

"Let's go, everyone take a rest. We'll eat Tohru's bento together later, and then head to the next world," Yuxian told everyone to go rest.

Chaldea currently lacked the facilities for long-term stays. They might not have noticed it normally, but at this moment, everyone realized just how important Emiya, the great chef, was to Chaldea.