Roman was teaching Fujimaru Ritsuka boxing in the training room as agreed, while Mash, clad in her Spirit Base, was engaged in a real fight against a virtual Servant in the combat simulation room.
After getting the answers he wanted, Bai Ming returned to his room and deployed his portable magic workshop. He mused, I have too many things on me, so much so that I don't know how to deal with them for a while. Considering my system excels at historical alternation, perhaps I can treat the Japanese gods like an online game dungeon and repeatedly grind for drop rates.
Bai Ming then made his plans.
Vortigern's White Dragon heart would be refined into a Dragon Pill. His body would be reverted to dragon form by the system, and his scales, fangs, claws, sinews, and bones would be extracted for artifact crafting materials. His flesh and blood would be used for meals. Fafnir and the Japanese gods were similar, except Bai Ming had already fed Fafnir's heart to the dogs, so he would be short one Dragon Pill at least.
The souls and spirits of the Japanese gods were to be refined by the system into pure soul power and mental power. This mental and soul power would be used to nourish Olga Marie, with Bai Ming absorbing some himself. The rest would be refined into pills.
"Setanta, Jinling, Pénghóu."
As the words fell, the black dog, white dog, and a yokai holding money manifested before Bai Ming at his command. Jinling and Pénghóu spoke, "Master, what are your orders?" Setanta could only bark; the foolish dog still couldn't speak human language.
"Jinling's main ability is to make people say how much money they have, then fight three arena matches to spontaneously gain money. It has a great need for magic, so I will reinforce your magic next. Also, don't limit your concept of 'money' to just currency. After all, when bartering, these things also fit the concept of money."
The yokai Jinling accepted the order and waited nearby for Bai Ming's next instructions. Bai Ming then grabbed Setanta. The black Shiba Inu looked at Bai Ming in confusion. "Setanta can already transform into a dragon, but it's lacking in spirit. Next is ascetic training and strengthening its mental power. If it doesn't improve, I'll make a dog meat stew."
Setanta was then moved aside by Bai Ming, who then looked at the last one, Pénghóu.
Bai Ming's silent demeanor made Pénghóu feel apprehensive. It spoke, "Master."
"You're just too weak. Your magic is neither strong nor weak, your mental power is neither strong nor weak, and your speed isn't even faster than me running. If it weren't for that unlucky senior brother of Taigong riding his mismatched mount last time and me not wanting to lose face, I wouldn't have called you out. Resources will be tilted towards you from now on. Don't embarrass me. I'll refine you some armor later. Focus on your cultivation."
"Yes, Master."
It was a yokai itself, so it was normal for it to be weaker than that mismatched mount which was once its master's master's mount. Moreover, the time was short and urgent. It was at most a great yokai of over a thousand years, unable to compare with those old fellows of over three thousand years.
"Then, the Bai Ming family's small meeting is hereby concluded. Jinling, Setanta, go train. Pénghóu, guard the door for me. I need to refine pills."
Chapter 77: Rest Day
With only four Singularities remaining, the Chaldea staff all breathed a sigh of relief. It had only been a little over a month since the Humanity Foundation incineration, and nearly half the work was already done. The day they saved humanity was within sight.
Under Bai Ming's well-paced demands, after arranging basic shift schedules, the remaining twenty-odd Chaldea employees began their staggered leave.
The next morning, Bai Ming arrived at the Chaldea cafeteria after his morning training. There weren't many staff in the cafeteria at the time, with only a few people dining. The head chef of the restaurant was, of course, the omnipotent Da Vinci.
The term "omnipotent person" had become synonymous with "brick" in Chaldea nowadays – moved wherever needed.
When Da Vinci saw Bai Ming uncharacteristically come to the cafeteria for breakfast, she immediately greeted him warmly, "Good morning, Bai Ming-kun! Would you like a special breakfast from Da Vinci-chan?"
"No thanks, I don't really feel like having an Italian-style breakfast."
Bai Ming took two boiled eggs from the counter and sat down nearby, chatting with Da Vinci casually. "I heard you were depressed for a long time yesterday because of the matter of the Grand Spirit Origin."
"That's right, but if Bai Ming-kun wants to mock me, don't blame Da Vinci-chan for getting angry on the spot, okay?"
The Mona Lisa smile was pleasing to the eye, but inside was Da Vinci, a fellow who liked to interrupt and be glib. Thus, no matter what, Bai Ming couldn't have any feminine perception of such an iconic beauty.
"Let me give you an example, Da Vinci-chan. I think Roman didn't properly explain the matter of the Grand Spirit Origin to you. A Heroic Spirit is like a water tank, and the Spirit Origin is like a cup. A normal Spirit Origin can hold one liter of water, while a Grand Spirit Origin can hold one ton of water. Therefore, Grand Servants are much more powerful than normal Servants. However, not every water tank has a ton of water, nor is the water quality in every water tank suitable for the cup of a Grand Spirit Origin."
"Ah, Bai Ming-kun is good in every way, except he has an extra mouth," Da Vinci said with a forced smile. "Even if I don't have Grand qualifications, you don't have to say it so directly!"
Bai Ming calmly peeled the boiled egg. The boiled egg looked incredibly small in Bai Ming's hand, and he swallowed it in one gulp. After swallowing the egg, Bai Ming spoke, "Reality is always harsher than fantasy, Da Vinci-chan. You should be grateful that I personally shattered your unrealistic fantasy."
"Is being sharp-tongued and thick-skinned a prerequisite for becoming a Grand Mage?" Da Vinci complained helplessly. "Roman-kun said before that you also have Grand qualifications, but you haven't brought out the mage aspect yet, nor have you left your information in the Boundary Record."
"Tentatively, yes—"
Just as Bai Ming was about to say something else, a blonde, chubby figure entered the cafeteria. He wore glasses and, upon seeing Bai Ming, greeted him enthusiastically, "Good morning, Acting Director Bai Ming!"
"Good morning, Kingel Abel Muniel."
Kingel Abel Muniel, formerly the warehouse administrator of MOONLIGHT/LOSTROOM and now the main person in charge of the Spirit Frame, was thus more familiar to Bai Ming than other Chaldea employees.
"Ah, ah~ Just call me Muniel."
The blonde, chubby kid shyly scratched his head, then took a sandwich from the counter. "Can I sit here?"
"So just call me Bai Ming. Roman is the Acting Director. I'm merely a protector ensuring Director Olga Marie's soul doesn't dissipate," Bai Ming replied. "You can sit anywhere you like."
"Thank you!" Muniel sat down opposite Bai Ming and then began to converse with him. "Mr. Bai Ming, are you really that legendary Duke Joslin Brand... no, it wouldn't be wrong to call you King Joslin, would it?"
Muniel was good in every way, except for one habit – he had an inexplicable fervor for historical figures. When faced with requests from such living legends, he would often do things like "This is XX's request, to hell with salary and bonuses" and then help them with things that were against regulations but wouldn't cause trouble.
"Yes, is there a problem?"
"That's so cool! To be able to talk to a living King Joslin, my life is complete!"
Muniel said this while furiously eating a sandwich, then happily asked some strange questions he cared about regarding King Arthur, such as what kind of mentality Joslin had to kill King Arthur, and what were the thoughts of the knight Mordred, who was an anomaly in the current environment, towards Joslin?
Bai Ming patiently answered Muniel one by one.
"Killing that King was simply because that King took all the problems upon herself. And the circumstances at the time... as the last Red Dragon of Britain, if she didn't die, the Divine Era and the Human Era would continue to wear each other down, eventually striking a heavy blow to that King's spirit, and the people of the British Isles would also be affected. So, after I arranged for the Human King, her successor, we chose to end it... As for Mordred... I'm sorry, I don't really want to mention that unfilial daughter."
While the two were chatting, in Chaldea's training room.
Fujimaru Ritsuka's red hair was already soaked with sweat, but she remained in her sportswear, continuously performing weight training. Roman sat to the side, quietly eating a small cake while watching Fujimaru Ritsuka's weight training.
Of course, Roman's attention was mostly on Magical★Merli beside him.
After Fujimaru Ritsuka finished her weight training, Roman stood up. "Bai Ming's warm-up training for you is over, so it's time for combat practical training."
"Why is the Doctor even more strict than Senpai!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka braced herself on her knees, panting heavily. Seeing that Roman wasn't even going to give her a minute's rest, she complained, "Even that inhuman guy like Senpai would give me a few minutes to rest."
"Well... it's not just because I'm acting on Bai Ming's orders, but also to gain happiness and fulfillment as a human! In any case, my training is more rigorous, but I'll take good care of your treatment."
In reality, after meeting Bai Ming, Roman realized something: the future of humanity's end he saw in the gap before becoming human was deliberately caused by some pigeon's twisted sense of humor. This revelation stripped him of all his freedom.
Bai Ming was someone who could tear apart others' destinies and arbitrarily alter the world. Roman placed all his retirement plans on Bai Ming.
Collecting his thoughts, Roman assumed a fighting stance. "Alright, Ritsuka, be careful!"
Then, Roman lunged at Fujimaru Ritsuka with a heavy punch.
Chapter 78: No One Cares About Roman's Life or Death
Roman's punch was several times lighter than Bai Ming's, but even so, it wasn't something an ordinary girl like Fujimaru Ritsuka could easily withstand.
After a few simple exchanges, confirming Fujimaru Ritsuka's basic strength and reaction speed, Roman stopped and said seriously:
"What I'm going to teach you is the legendary fighting technique, Jacob's Limbs."
Upon hearing this, Fujimaru Ritsuka immediately said, "I've never heard of it."
"This—" Roman was so choked up by Fujimaru Ritsuka's words that he didn't know what to say. He quickly explained, "In terms of combat performance, my style is stronger. If trained to its extreme, it can kill angels and split seas with a single punch."
Fujimaru Ritsuka nodded and asked, "What about Senpai's style?"
"His... he trains himself into an immortal." Roman, seeing Fujimaru Ritsuka's disdain for his fighting style, said, "And it requires a foundation from childhood. It's too late for you to learn now."
"Alright then..."
"Mine has great potential!" Roman couldn't help but retort. Fujimaru Ritsuka said as if coaxing a child, "Yes, yes~"
"Believe me! Bai Ming and I are evenly matched in fighting skills!"
"So, Doctor, can you kick through that special electric door like Senpai?"
"...I can't."
Roman's spirits sank. No wonder that scoundrel Bai Ming wanted him to train Fujimaru Ritsuka. Ritsuka's words were too hurtful!
"In any case, we're starting direct combat training now."
Deeply discouraged, Roman decided to skip the teaching phase and opt for combat training, which yielded the fastest growth.
"Eh—?"
Doctor Roman must be angry.
Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't help but worry, but there was no time to think. Just as she was about to counter, Fujimaru Ritsuka felt pain and her vision blurred as Roman put her on the ground.
"Again... again!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka quickly got up again. Roman let out a long sigh. "Let me witness your will, Fujimaru Ritsuka."
The red-haired girl was being beaten, the orange-haired middle-aged man was grinning sinisterly. Bai Ming didn't hear Fujimaru Ritsuka's cries of pain or calls for help.
At this moment, Bai Ming was watching Mash train diligently in the virtual combat room.
The giant cross shield was wielded with great force in Mash's hands, and the virtual Servant she was fighting was the legendary Irish Child of Light, Cú Chulainn.
The crimson bone spear clashed against the black shield, creating bursts of sparks. The fierce and rapid attacks rained down on Mash's shield like a storm.
Mash retreated continuously, letting out small whimpers under the fierce assault. The dense attacks gave Mash no chance to counter.
The girl, under the intense barrage, knew that if she continued to defend, defeat was inevitable.
So, with a determined resolve, she directly charged at the virtual Cú Chulainn with her shield. The sudden impact made the Child of Light stumble, but it had little effect.
The crimson bone spear thrust out at a tricky angle, piercing directly into Mash's neck. Then, the virtual Servant disappeared.
Mash, drenched in sweat, knelt on the floor.
Bai Ming walked in with a deliberately stern face. "What's with that posture? What's with that expression?"
"Senpai... I'm sorry, I lost."
Mash stood up and looked at Bai Ming's cold expression, believing that Bai Ming was very dissatisfied with her at the moment.
"Tell me, Mash, what is that sword at your waist for? Why are you only focused on this dining table?"
"Galahad didn't leave me any memories of swordsmanship, so taking it out would only be a burden!"
"Never mind, take out your sword. I'll teach you myself."
"Yes! Mash Kyrielight is most grateful!"
Considering his own duality, Bai Ming chose the Japanese divine artifact, the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, which was as useless as anything else except for its hardness.
"Swordsmanship, as in the art or skill of wielding a sword or using it to stab. Of course, if you are forced to fight and kill, do not use your sword, unless your sword can fire beams."
"Yes."
"Now, I will demonstrate the basic stances of swordsmanship. Watch closely."
While both sides were busy training, in Akuta Hinako's room, Akuta Hinako was still cracking melon seeds and reading a book, looking quite at ease.
After more than half the morning passed, as noon approached, Akuta Hinako felt something was amiss. She glanced at the time.
Akuta Hinako mused, "Why hasn't that guy Bai Ming come to find me for training yet today? Could that idiot be sick?"
Immediately, Akuta Hinako rolled out of bed, quickly washed up, and went to find Bai Ming.
When Akuta Hinako entered Bai Ming's room, she didn't see him. Instead, she saw Olga Marie sitting by a table reading a book, with Fou and Setanta lying by her feet.
Olga Marie stopped what she was doing and looked at the silent Akuta Hinako, asking, "Bai Ming went to train. Didn't he call you?"
Akuta Hinako coolly replied to Olga Marie's question, "No."
Then, without looking back, Akuta Hinako went to the training room. There, she saw Doctor Roman, eyes vacant, holding his head while a black-eared girl cornered him. Fujimaru Ritsuka was fighting some imaginary enemy alone nearby.
Old Bai isn't here.
Thinking this, Akuta Hinako went directly to the virtual combat room, completely ignoring the black-skinned, ear-adorned girl and Doctor Roman in the corner.
After all, Akuta Hinako didn't care if Doctor Roman lived or died, and Fujimaru Ritsuka didn't care either.
Inside the virtual training room, Mash had already thrown her shield aside and was attacking Bai Ming with a sword.
Akuta Hinako could tell Mash was at her limit, and Bai Ming had no intention of letting her off the hook.
"What a heartless man."
Though Akuta Hinako said this, her face held only endless amusement. She took out her twin swords and walked into the simulation room.
"If you don't mind, please guide me as well."
Bai Ming stopped and looked at Akuta Hinako, who was requesting training for the first time, falling into silence. He wondered if this woman had broken her brain while sleeping last night.
She, who had always disliked training and combat, was actually asking to train? Could the sun have risen in the west?
Meanwhile, Mash began to recover her stamina as much as possible. Her undergarments beneath her Spirit Origin were already soaked with sweat, and her pink hair had clumped together.
Her fair face was flushed from the strenuous exercise.
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