Or, why don’t you find another savior?

"Got it. We will try to be careful and not damage your things." Shiomi sighed deeply. He had guessed the purpose of Tsbia's special reception and disclosure of so many things. "It's a pity that this level of favor is not enough to get a contract from Atlas Institute."

Zibia laughed, "Our contract is very valuable and has not been issued for a long time. If this trip goes well, I do owe you a favor. Mr. Shiomi can ask me to help you with some less urgent things."

"Then, I hope Dean Tsubasa will not tell anyone about meeting Ash here." Shiomi said quietly, "Neither to yourself nor to the person who helped you obtain the data of the Fuyuki Holy Grail War. Please forget about anything related to us after we leave Blackmoor Village."

Zibia's smile faded, leaving only a seemingly gentle face. He nodded deeply and agreed to this.

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Chapter 9: Agent

Finally, after Zibia provided some more information about the village and said that he would not hinder Shiomi and his team's actions in Blackmoor Village, the two left the windmill cottage.

"I didn't expect that even the dean of Atlas Academy would come. This is really an extraordinary village." Shiomi stood on the hill and overlooked the mountain village.

From the location of the windmill, you can clearly see the swamp area where the cemetery is located. The terrain there is higher than the cemetery, so when you stand next to the cemetery, you can hardly see what is behind it.

"But I didn't expect that you would only ask for that kind of thing in the end." Jian adjusted the edge of the hood he put on again.

Shiomi put his hands on his hips. "Please, please face up to your own value. Most of the magicians in the Clock Tower are weird species who say that servants are just familiars, but secretly want to spy on the mysterious ones from them. Especially for people like Ash, even if the Clock Tower doesn't want to study them, they will find a way to sell the information to the Wandering Sea."

In other words, only the Atlas Academy, which focuses on alchemy and aims to recover contracts issued over the past two thousand years, is not that interested in Ash.

But just in case, Shiomi still asked the other party to remain silent about the fact that Ash still existed in the world after the end of the Holy Grail War by making him owe her a favor.

After all, if a fight breaks out with the dean of Atlas College in order to silence him, the impact will extend far beyond the Blackmoor Village with a population of only a hundred people.

At that time, the matter will only get worse, which is not in the best interests of Shiomi.

It is better to try to reach a consensus peacefully.

"You are so cautious and prudent." Jian praised softly.

Be confused about small things, but not confused about big things.

Holding Jian's hand, the two slowly walked down the hill and met Gray who came to look for them.

"Well, Mr. Belsac asked me to show you two around the village." Gray was not wearing her hood, and it seemed that the girl's mentality had slightly changed when facing the two of them.

Ash pulled his hand out from Shiomi's grasp and reached out to Gray.

"Thank you for that. But the road is rough, so please hold my hand, Gray." Her tone was dignified and noble.

Although separated by a cloak, Gray was still easily conquered by the charm emanating from Ash, and she held Morgan's hand just as Shiomi had just done.

"Sorry, I have to go to the church for something. I can't continue the tour." Shiomi said to Ash, "Let Gray accompany you to walk around the village during this time."

"Well, go ahead and get busy." Jian raised his chin slightly and exchanged glances with Xiomi from the shadow under his cloak.

Xijian nodded, turned around and walked towards the church in the north of the village.

In fact, Shiomi is far more eye-catching than Ash. After all, Ash looks like a conservative woman who always wears a hood, while he has an oriental face that is very different from the villagers.

Whenever I pass by the roadside, I am always looked at a few more times by the curious villagers.

Shiomi, who was prepared for this, did nothing and just walked straight to the church in the north. Therefore, the villagers did not have any doubts about him and only thought he was related to the church and did not pay too much attention to him.

The layout of churches is often similar. Shiomi just walked a few steps inside through the side door at the end of the chapel when he was stopped in the corridor.

"I didn't expect you haven't left yet." A female voice sounded behind.

Although they had only briefly greeted each other yesterday, Shiomi still remembered the owner of this voice.

"I wonder if I'm the only one you're referring to?" Xi Jian turned around and asked with a smile, "Or does it include other people, agents?"

Sister Ilumia's expression changed immediately, and a hint of murderous intent suddenly seeped out of her slightly dissatisfied face.

"Of course, that includes the woman with you," the nun said, "but you were able to discover my identity as an agent, so you're no ordinary magician."

"Of course. After all, for some reasons, as a member of the Magic Association, I have had some work contacts with the agents of the Holy Church." Shiomi looked at Ilumia, "People like you who can practice secrets other than the baptism chant can be smelled just by using their noses."

Ilumia gradually restrained her expression, and her whole face looked like a playing card. Her right hand stretched out from the sleeve of her nun's robe, and between her fingers were the handles of several black keys. "I have heard about you, the Japanese magician who belongs to the Magic Association."

"Okay, okay, stop staring at me like that." Xi Jian relaxed his attitude, implying that he had no hostility, and was not a spy who came to inquire about the situation of the Holy Church. "Rather, now is another opportunity for us to cooperate with each other. I wonder if you have enough authority to deal with the upcoming changes."

"What?" Ilumia stared at Shiomi suspiciously.

"Even though I'm just a magician, I'm very familiar with the ways of the Holy Church." Shiomi slowly walked towards Sister Ilumia. "For the church, any harmful beliefs should be nipped in the bud before they become dangerous. For example, the fanaticism of the Black Madonna and King Arthur here is much higher than in other places."

The nun shook her sleeves and withdrew her hand that was holding the black key.

Because Shiomi hit the nail on the head.

To the Templars, King Arthur was undoubtedly a heretic. The reason why people believed that King Arthur and the Templars were of the same religious sect was because the legend of King Arthur was too deeply entangled with local beliefs.

Although most of the content of King Arthur's legend is deeply influenced by the sect of the Templar Church, the court magicians, witches and royal family that appear in the story are inseparable from local beliefs.

"So, what are you going to do here, magician?"

"Of course, this is a good thing for the Holy Church." Xi Jian raised her finger. "Although the agents have the strongest faith, as the best in the church who can practice other secrets, I'm afraid you are also tired of this endless surveillance mission?"

He lobbied word by word, because the nun was the one who actually had the final say, and the fat priest was actually the subordinate of this agent.

"Especially after the appearance of the girl in the village changed, the faith that had been fading for a thousand years revived again. If we can't take effective measures to suppress the whole thing smoothly, it will become a big event for the church."

Then the nun smiled her official smile.

"Then tell me your purpose for coming here, magician."

Chapter 10 Ash's Visit

Although they were visiting the village, Ash had already been to the church and the cemetery. Even the windmill village, which was rarely visited by villagers, was the first time Gray saw her and her husband walking down the hill.

Therefore, the girl could only take this distinguished guest, to her, for a stroll around the village.

While walking in the village, Ash noticed one thing: Gray was particularly respected by the villagers, although not everyone in the village was.

But when they started talking, many people saw Gray supporting Jian and looked slightly confused and dissatisfied.

The attitude seemed to say something like "A mere outsider is making a noble girl serve as a maid."

Although it has not yet been formed into language, it is clear enough to be understood.

Obviously, the village's faith in King Arthur is too deep. Gray, who has the same face as Altria, will naturally be regarded as the son of God and believed in by the villagers.

A thousand years was enough for the once deep faith to fade away, until it was rekindled nine years ago.

No one would have thought that the Holy Grail War ritual far away in Japan would change a girl in a British mountain village, and her body would begin to change in the same direction as King Arthur.

In other words, the girl and her people have been cultivated as vessels for the resurrection of Altria from generation to generation.

Gray's qualifications are also among the higher ones among the tribesmen, which is why she can resonate with the King Arthur on a physical level just because of his coming.

Thinking of this, Jian couldn't help but feel a sense of regret in his heart.

After taking back the "isolated utopia", Artoria has decided to protect the world, but with a little reluctance, she has given up saving Britain, accepted her own death, and headed for Avalon for the sake of the world's survival.

This means that Altria will no longer answer the call to the Holy Grail War.

This is what Ash regrets. Otherwise, she would have used magic to record everything about the village without hesitation, and then the next time she saw Altria, she would have shown these things to her in person to make her feel uncomfortable.

However... Heroic Spirit Summoning is not limited to the Holy Grail War. Thinking of this, Ash also had a plan.

"Speaking of which, can I ask you something, please... please..." Gray had been introducing the situation in the village, which didn't have much to see, and Ash was just listening quietly.

Now that she finally spoke to Ash, Gray didn't know how to address him.

"Just call me 'Madam'. I came here with my husband." Ash said kindly to Gray, "What do you want to ask?"

"I'm a little curious...why did you two come to the village?" Gray asked.

"I don't know. I came here just for sightseeing." Ash looked at the road in the village and told Gray slowly, "But after seeing you, I also have something I want to do."

"Huh? Me?" Gray was surprised.

She was full of curiosity about Jian's affairs, whether it was the face that looked like her and the king, or the fact that Jian knew Yade's background very well.

In short, she is a woman full of mystery.

The atmosphere surrounding her would naturally remind Gray from time to time of the "Black Madonna" enshrined in the village church.

When talking to Jian, it was as if I was speaking to the Virgin Mary herself.

Obviously, Gray herself doesn't know anything about the "Black Madonna".

"Compared to that kind of thing, have you ever been outside the village?" Ash didn't continue talking, but asked about Gray's situation.

"Outside the village?" Gray asked.

"Other places, like nearby cities or something like that." said Jian.

Gray shook her head, "Not even once."

Then she hastened to add, "Ah, but occasionally a mobile library or a traveling merchant loaded with goods would come to the village. I looked forward to their coming every day."

"Library? You like books?" Jian was slightly surprised.

"Yeah. I like classics, especially detective novels and the like."

The girl became excited, but in the blink of an eye she fell silent again, as if a flame had gone out.

"I'm sorry, I was just talking to myself."

"No such thing, you were just answering my question." Jian shook his head, "You are very similar to me. I loved reading before and now."

"Really? Madam, what kind of books do you like to read——"

Because there are so few people that a girl can naturally feel close to, Gray couldn't help but take this opportunity to chat a little more.

But this opportunity was interrupted by another person.

"Ah, I found it."

A kind woman in her early thirties came over and greeted Gray.

The woman's appearance was not outstanding. She was wearing a cool shawl and had a gentle and soft expression, which made people feel calm when they saw her.

"Mother." Gray responded.

"Is this... the guest who came to visit the village?" The woman looked at Jian, who was covered by a hood, and Gray supporting him, but she didn't have any extra attitude. She introduced herself to Jian, "My name is Magdalena."

The woman named Magdalena is Gray's mother, but Ash noticed that Magdalena did not mention this when she introduced herself.

"Qian." Qian simply called himself.

After observing Ash for a few seconds, Magdalena suddenly made an invitation that surprised Gray, "If you don't mind, would you like to come to my house for a visit? There's not much in the village. If you don't mind, would you like to sit down and have a cup of coffee and take a break?"

"Is it okay?" Gray asked.

"Of course. Your guests are guests of the village and should be treated well." Magdalena said to Gray with a smile.

But the tone was not like what a mother would say to her child.

So Jian followed the mother and daughter to Grey's home, but just as they sat down, Magdalena found an excuse and asked Grey to leave home temporarily.

Jian, who was watching all this silently, saw Magdalena close the door of the house.

The expression that had been gentle until just now suddenly became full of piety and sadness.

She knelt in front of Jian like a believer praying.

"If my intuition is correct, you are the honorable 'Holy Mother', right?" Magdalena lowered her head deeply and said words that were enough to shock everyone.

Jian sat still, silently looking down at the kneeling woman.

"If...if it is allowed...please save that child. Does Gray really have to be the King's vessel?"

The woman was filled with sorrow, she prostrated herself on the ground and begged sincerely.

"Before I answer you, can you please tell me why you said these things to me?"

His intuition told Jian that Magdalena was hiding a secret that no one in the village knew.

Chapter 11 Plan

El-Melloi II arrived at Blackmoore Village on the afternoon of the second day after Shiomi and the others arrived here.

The time was about the same as the two people on the previous day.

"Yo, Junior."

When the Second found the entrance to the village according to the map, Shiomi, who was talking to Belsak, stood up from the pillar of the village signpost and greeted the Second.