Touko, You...

"Teacher, I'll go pack my things first."

In the room, Li Mo greeted Brishisan with a troubled expression, then turned to head toward his bedroom.

Although Kishua had not set a deadline for the mission, he still planned to get it done as soon as possible. Delaying would do him no good.

As for Kiritsugu Emiya?

He would investigate the situation first, then make two sets of plans!

There were still four years until the Holy Grail War. Maybe that guy had not even gone to the Einzbern family yet!

Hearing this, Brishisan worried somewhat about his disciple's decisive nature, but after pursing his lips, he ultimately kept his words to himself.

A grown eaglet had to learn to fly eventually—let alone a person.

Brishisan lowered his head and silently walked out the door, making a decision in his heart.

That's right, eaglets always grow up, but the old are still wiser. As a parent, I can at least protect him for part of the way!

"Mō-san, I'll have Intres book your plane ticket first. Come get it from me before you leave."

Li Mo, who had already reached his bedroom door, turned back at those words, but all he saw was a broad, heavy back.

That night.

With a bang, Li Mo opened the front door, and Touko immediately slipped inside like a loach.

"I heard you're going away. What about the meals you promised to provide?" Touko asked with a serious expression. She was already wearing the glasses Li Mo remembered, and although she was putting on a proper face, Li Mo's sharp eyes still caught the trace of reluctance in hers.

Composing himself, Li Mo directly placed a hand on Touko's head and smiled. "I already spoke with Grandma Tang in Chinatown today. I left money with her, so you can eat at her place while I'm gone."

Li Mo's feelings toward Touko were complicated.

On one hand, they were both at that restless age when it came to relationships between men and women. After more than two months together, faint ripples had formed in both their hearts. Yet they each carried different burdens, leaving them unable to simply follow their feelings.

On the other hand, there were Li Mo's own concerns.

He wanted to go home, and everything he had done since arriving at the Clock Tower had been for that goal. With only that one thought in his heart, could he truly begin a relationship like this?

And on closer thought, was what lay between them really love, rather than two lonely people licking each other's wounds?

The smile in Li Mo's words did not fade, but Touko sniffled, lowered her head, and said softly, "When will you be back? I'll come mooch meals off you again then."

Li Mo fell silent, merely staring blankly at Touko, who had her head lowered before him.

My meaning was already so obvious. You still don't understand?

"No, Touko..." Li Mo raised his right hand, intending to explain things clearly, but Touko turned her head aside, as if avoiding what he was about to say.

Girls really were hard to understand!

Li Mo shrugged, helplessness appearing on his face. "Once I learn the Second Magic, I can come back anytime. Then you can eat however much you want."

Touko abruptly raised her head, her face full of delight. "Really? Then I'll keep eating until I get sick of the food you make!"

With that, Touko blushed, pushed Li Mo aside, opened the door, and ran out. Only her final words drifted back from afar: "I rented a Magecraft Workshop next to the Department of Creation. Remember to come find me when you get back!"

Left alone in the room, Li Mo helplessly shook his head. With all the cuisines of the great East, are you sure there'll ever be a day you get sick of them?

But... that expressionless Touko blushing just now was really cute!

No! Li Mo suddenly shook his head!

What am I even thinking about?

Games and girlfriends—are girlfriends more important than games? (Crossed out.)

I'm going back to the main world. Can the two of us really still be together then?

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Li Mo closed the door and turned toward his bedroom.

"Knock, knock, knock." Just as Li Mo entered his bedroom, someone knocked on the front door again.

Could Touko have come back?

Li Mo turned around in confusion, and an indescribable expression suddenly appeared on his face.

Coming back at a time like this... could it be...?

Waves surged in Li Mo's heart as he turned and walked toward the front door.

"Touko, you..." Li Mo opened the door, inwardly chuckling to himself, only to suddenly fall silent.

"Teacher Brishisan?"

"Are you that happy about going out tomorrow? You're grinning like a thief." Brishisan stood at the door, looking calmly at Li Mo.

What a huge misunderstanding!

Li Mo was completely dumbfounded, staring foolishly at Brishisan.

Was he supposed to say that he thought Touko had come for a nighttime sneak attack?

But for Teacher to come looking for me this late at night, could there be some urgent matter?

Seeing Li Mo standing there stupidly, Brishisan frowned and snapped, "What are you standing around for? Aren't you going to invite me in to talk?"

Li Mo's body jolted, and he quickly put on a fawning expression, backing toward the door like a shameless lackey. "Teacher, please come in, please come in. Would you like some coffee or tea? I'll make it right away."

Silence. Thinking of what Li Mo had said when he opened the door earlier, Brishisan suddenly felt a little bitter inside.

So this kid had reached that age too?

Remembering his more than sixty years of single life, Brishisan looked at Li Mo's ingratiating smile and found it more and more displeasing.

"Hmph!" Brishisan snorted coldly, no longer sparing a certain someone a glance as he walked straight into the room and headed for the sofa.

Li Mo was left standing there, dumbfounded.

Everything had been fine this morning. Why was he acting like he'd swallowed gunpowder now? Li Mo couldn't make sense of it.

After casually closing the door, Li Mo followed Brishisan with a flattering grin. "Teacher, how about some goji berry tea?"

Smack! Hearing that, Brishisan found his disciple even more unpleasant. After sitting on the sofa, he slapped the coffee table until it rattled.

Do I look like the kind of person who needs goji berries steeped in tea? I'm only just past sixty!

"Mō-san, sit beside me," Brishisan said impassively, his stern expression vanishing.

Then—

Smack!

Li Mo was baffled. Why did his teacher hit him on the head again?

Didn't he know that getting hit on the head too much would make someone stupid?

Brishisan, however, was thoroughly satisfied, muttering, "This still feels the most comfortable."

Lowering his still-raised right hand, Brishisan puffed out his chest and took three items from his pocket, placing them on the coffee table. "Intres booked your flight for tomorrow morning, so I brought you the ticket.

"Also, from what you said, you might encounter danger on this trip. So I made a trip down to the underground section of our Department of Lore and found you two things for protection."

With that, Brishisan raised his hand and pointed at the items on the coffee table, explaining proudly, "See this stone? This is good stuff!

"Our Department of Lore's fifth monarch snatched it from one of the Twenty-Seven Ancestors of the Dead Apostles. They say it's a remnant left behind after the Heavenly Mandate Stone Tablet shattered. Carry it with you, and it'll guide you whenever you run into danger!

"And have you heard of Space Attire?

"That's right. Look at this spearhead. Don't let all that rust fool you into thinking it's scrap metal—it's a genuine Space Attire. It contains five standard cubic meters of space. From now on, you can store any magical materials that aren't convenient to carry in it."

Brishisan spoke with great flourish, but Li Mo merely held back his expression and stayed silent.

A stone, a piece of scrap metal...

Were they really that amazing?

Li Mo was doubtful, but in Brishisan's eyes, the way he looked at the items on the coffee table was filled with immense delight.

Skill activated: Acting Max!