Fafnir's Gift / The Nameless Island

Yuxian had originally had no desire to meddle in Kobayashi's family affairs. It would have been best for them to resolve the matter themselves.

But someone didn't see it that way.

Martha clasped her hands together, her knuckles cracking. She coldly looked at The End Emperor and said to Tohru, "Tohru, open a dimensional gate. Let me persuade your father and bring him to an understanding with you."

Seeing Martha like this, Yuxian knew that her so-called persuasion would definitely be physical persuasion—beating him into an understanding.

The End Emperor had never witnessed Martha's strength, and his expression was disdainful. The group passed through the portal and arrived on a deserted island in another world.

"Pitiful dragon who knows not love, let me, Martha, teach you what love truly is." Martha put on her sacred gauntlets. Today, she would give this giant dragon a proper lesson and make him understand what love was.

"Become a shooting star, Tarasque!"

Tarasque seemed to want to back down and weakly said, "Boss, could your fist maybe not hit me..."

"Hm? You don't want to?" Martha asked Tarasque calmly, as if she were discussing something with an old friend.

Yet Tarasque's entire body shuddered, and it hurriedly threw itself forward.

A calm-voiced boss was terrifying!

If the boss had yelled at it viciously, there might still have been room for negotiation.

Facing the incoming Tarasque, The End Emperor gave it his all and collided with Tarasque. Though both were dragons, Tarasque was still inferior before The End Emperor and was sent flying by the impact.

At that moment, Martha leaped into the air. She jumped high and brought her fist down hard upon Tarasque.

Iron Fist Judgment!

Martha smashed Tarasque fiercely toward The End Emperor. Like a ball, Tarasque had just been knocked away by The End Emperor, only to be hammered back toward him by Martha, bouncing between the two.

Martha's fists rained down upon Tarasque. It looked as though she was simply beating Tarasque up, but in truth, her punches used a penetrating Inch-force technique, their power passing through Tarasque and landing entirely upon 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 clapped her hands together. Job done.

The others watched with their eyes wide open. Seeing Martha's simple and brutal fighting style, they could not help sympathizing with Tarasque.

Elma especially hid behind Yuxian, trembling.

She had only known that Martha was powerful, so she had always been careful and never tried to resist. Only now did she realize how lucky she truly was. Otherwise, judging by The End Emperor and Tarasque lying there, her fate would never have been any better than theirs.

Martha walked over and patted Tohru on the shoulder. Tohru immediately stood at attention, staring straight ahead as she awaited Martha's lecture.

"Your father has already agreed to your relationship with Kobayashi!" Martha declared domineeringly.

Tohru could not help glancing at her father lying in the distance, then immediately nodded hard. Her father had indeed agreed—he did not dare object!

Martha ignored Tohru's little gesture and continued, "Love means being together. Partners mean staying by each other's side."

"Even if one of them dies, the days they spent together will become the most beautiful memories."

"Eternity is the greatest lie. Only the present is real."

"Yes!" Martha's words made Tohru beam. She nodded heavily. At that moment, the knot in her heart came undone.

Just as Martha had said, how could there be so much eternity in the world? Even among human couples, one would eventually die first, leaving the other alone in this world.

The beautiful memories from their time together were what truly lasted forever.

Tohru quietly embraced Kobayashi and said affectionately, "Kobayashi, we'll be together forever."

Kanna also came over and wrapped her little arms around both Kobayashi and Tohru. "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 appeared on her own face.

Fafnir's Gift

Tohru went home once more, but this time she returned quickly.

After Martha's persuasion, The End Emperor had accepted Tohru's decision, though he still did not think highly of the relationship between Tohru and Kobayashi.

But in the end, he was still a father. No father wished for his daughter to live unhappily, so he could only let go and respect Tohru's choice.

Tohru remained Kobayashi's Dragon Maid. From then on, she and Kobayashi would continue living together, happily spending their days as a family of three with Kanna.

The incident involving The End Emperor instead further strengthened their determination to continue on together.

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

Covered in travel dust, Georgios appeared before Yuxian in a crisp suit, pulling a suitcase behind him.

He politely bowed to Yuxian. "I've kept you waiting."

Yuxian stepped forward and gently embraced Georgios. "Welcome home."

The children also came forward to greet Georgios. Everyone had been very pleased with the hot spring vouchers from last time and was grateful to him.

Seeing how enthusiastic the children were, Georgios opened his suitcase and took out several thick photo albums, handing them to everyone.

"These are photos I took during my journey. Have a look."

Georgios's suitcase was filled almost entirely with photo albums, along with his beloved camera. There was barely anything else inside, such as clothing.

Everyone gathered around to browse the albums. Photo after photo recorded Georgios's footsteps across this world.

As they looked through them, Georgios occasionally recounted his experiences from the side, making the photographs feel more vivid, as though they were there themselves.

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

Mash and the others packed their things at home, while Yuxian went to the landlord to give up the house where they had lived for quite some time and made many memories.

After informing all their familiar friends, everyone came to the rooftop of the apartment building. It was spacious, making it a suitable place to return to Chaldea.

Elma looked at everyone with tear-filled eyes, deeply reluctant to see Yuxian and the others leave. She would have to find another place to live afterward, and there would be no more free meals.

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

"Take good care of yourself." Martha patted Elma's shoulder. "Don't always be so absentminded, and don't be too greedy when it comes to food."

Elma nodded continuously, accepting Martha's lecture.

She used to find such lectures annoying, but now that she thought no one would ever care for her this way again, she could not help feeling sad.

Kanna was saying goodbye to Little Jeanne and the others. She could not bear for her little friends to leave. Usually so obedient, Kanna threw a little tantrum at this moment, hugging them and refusing to let go.

Only after Kobayashi and Tohru comforted her repeatedly did she reluctantly release them.

She hurried over to Yuxian and hugged him.

Her tiny body only came up to Yuxian's stomach.

Yuxian truly liked this adorable little foodie dragon, Kanna. He stroked her hair and looked at her gently, not knowing what to say.

Kanna raised her head to look at Yuxian and said expectantly, "You have to bring them back. I know they all listen to you."

Hearing Kanna's words, Yuxian truly could not bear to refuse her. He nodded and replied, "I will."

In truth, Yuxian himself did not know whether they would return in the future, or how long it would take for them to come back to this world.

At that moment, he made another promise without an answer. He was starting to hate himself more and more.

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

Yuxian walked over to Kobayashi and said goodbye with a smile. He took out something he had prepared long ago and handed it to her.

"This is..."

After accepting it, Kobayashi discovered that it was a group photo they had taken together during their seaside vacation last time. Everyone in the picture was smiling so brightly.

Yuxian said, "I'm sorry I never gave it to you."

Kobayashi shook her head and tightly held the photo in her hand. "What wonderful memories."

"Yes, they really were wonderful memories." The two laughed together, and their laughter eased the sorrow of parting.

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

"This is the lunch I made. Take it with you to eat. I'm already a qualified maid."

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

"Don't be so sad. We'll meet again, won't we?" Tohru appeared optimistic, and her sincere smile affected Mash.

Mash smiled and said, "Yes. Then next time, I'll bring you a lunch made by Mr. Emiya."

"Mr. Emiya?" Tohru was puzzled by the unfamiliar name Mash had mentioned.

"Yes. He's an incredible chef, and the food he makes is incredibly delicious."

"Then I definitely have to try it and learn some cooking tips from him." Tohru struck a highly motivated pose.

The farewell lasted a long time, but it eventually had to end.

Yuxian and the others stood in the center of the rooftop and gave Kobayashi and the others one final wave.

Fafnir had been standing silently in a corner.

He had also come to see Yuxian and the others off, but his cold personality was unaccustomed to such warm farewells. Like an observer, he quietly watched everyone.

Yuxian thought Fafnir would watch them leave like that, but at the last moment, he walked over.

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

Fafnir walked up to Jack and stared at her, his gaze frightening.

Yet Jack was not afraid in the slightest and met his eyes. She even tilted her head, looking puzzled.

"For you." Fafnir took out a small booklet and stuffed it into Jack's hands, then turned and walked away before Jack could react.

Jack stood there with a blank look, holding Fafnir's booklet and not knowing what had happened.

But soon, an angelic smile appeared on her face. She called out to Fafnir's departing back, "Let's play games together again next time!"

"Tch!" Fafnir said irritably, "You're too weak. Practice properly before you talk."

Yuxian secretly laughed. What an awkward evil dragon.

Yuxian was not surprised that Fafnir had taken a special interest in Jack, because Jack also carried a dense aura of darkness.

Ordinary people might not notice it, but how could Fafnir fail to sense it? Skilled in Curse Arts, he had regarded Jack as one of his own kind from the very beginning.

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

"Goodbye..."

Amid reluctant farewells, Yuxian and the others vanished before Kobayashi and the others, returning to Chaldea.

The Nameless Island

Chaldea was still cold and deserted, but Yuxian could see its progress.

At first, there had only been him and Mash. Now, there were nine people. He believed there would be more and more people in the future, until everyone returned here once again.

"I really missed this place. We're back again." Martha stretched lazily and quickly left the central control room.

"Mom, here." Jack handed Yuxian the small booklet Fafnir had given her. She really was a good child.

"Let me see, let me see."

Before Yuxian could take the booklet from Jack, Gretel snatched it away first. She was extremely interested in book-like objects and had long been unable to resist looking through it.

"Ah! What is all this?" After opening the booklet, Gretel looked startled and quickly threw it back to Jack.

"They're Curse Arts." Siegfried had caught a glimpse of the contents while Gretel was flipping through it and frowned.

Yuxian shook his head. It truly was the sort of thing Fafnir would do, but it was still a gesture of goodwill, and Yuxian did not think there was anything wrong with it.

He said to Jack, "This is a gift from Fafnir. Keep it safe."

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

As for whether she would study it or be able to learn it, Yuxian did not care much. He considered it something to pass the time when Jack was bored.

"Come on, everyone go get some rest. In a little while, we'll eat Tohru's lunch together, then head to the next world." Yuxian told everyone to rest on their own.

Chaldea currently had no conditions for long-term stays. They might not notice it normally, but at this moment, everyone realized just how important Emiya, their chef, was to Chaldea.