I'm in Morioh, just joined a chat group for cute girls.

She raised her head, and in her bright red eyes, there was no longer innocence or pretense, only an almost overflowing longing for life.

"My wish... is simply to live. To grow up, grow old, and then... live a good life, like an ordinary girl. To break free from this predetermined fate."

Illyasviel's voice was very soft, trembling slightly in the morning breeze.

She tilted her head back, her bright red eyes staring straight at Gu Ye, devoid of any feigned innocence, filled only with a pure, almost burning desire.

"I just want to live..."

These words floated in the air like feathers, yet carried a tremendous weight.

Medea, who had been standing to the side like an elegant sculpture, took a step forward at this moment.

Her hood swayed slightly as her gaze swept over Ilya, scrutinizing her as if she were appraising a finely crafted work of art.

A moment later, Medea let out a soft laugh, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

"I thought it was some incurable terminal illness."

Her voice carried a hint of languor and ease, "So it turns out the coupling design of the magic circuit and the soul container was too crude, plus the unnecessary artificial time limit set for life force. The Einzbern family's alchemy, after a thousand years of research, is just so... lacking in imagination."

Ilya abruptly raised her head, her red eyes filled with wariness and disbelief: "What did you say?"

“I said, I can solve your problem.”

Medea extended a finger and gently tapped Illya's forehead. "I can rewire the magic circuits within you, release them from their forced binding to the Lesser Grail container, and also remove that foolish 'life lock' for you. I'll let you have a complete life like a normal magician."

"This is impossible!"

Ilya instinctively took a step back. "This is the supreme masterpiece that the Einzbern family spent a thousand years completing. How could it be..."

"That's 'impossible' for you modern magicians."

Medea's tone was filled with the unquestionable pride of a magus from the Age of Gods: "To me, this is just a slightly more refined 'repair surgery'."

Ilya's lips moved; she wanted to retort, but Medea's golden eyes, which seemed to see through everything, and the powerful aura emanating from her from an ancient era, choked all her words into her throat.

Doubt, struggle, and a glimmer of hope—a hope she dared not admit herself, growing wildly—intertwined and flickered in her eyes. Finally, she looked at Gu Ye, as if seeking final confirmation.

"Master."

Medea turned to Gu Ye, her tone becoming respectful, "I request that this young lady's health issues be addressed first. This will also benefit our subsequent plans; a stable and healthy 'Little Grail' will save a lot of trouble during purification."

"can."

Gu Ye nodded without hesitation, "What do you need me to do?"

"I need an absolutely quiet space where I won't be disturbed by any magical probing."

Medea said, "The Tohsaka family's workshop should be able to do it. Also, during the 'surgery,' I need you to cooperate with me and guide an extremely pure magical power to reshape the foundation of her life. My magical power is biased towards 'rules' and 'creation,' while I can sense that your magical power is more like the source of life itself."

"This process may consume a lot of your magic."

Medea added, "My magic might run out, and then I'll need you to supply it directly."

"understood."

Gu Ye responded, then asked, "Then why not just activate the magic tide? Wouldn't that be more convenient and faster?"

"Master, you're oversimplifying things."

Medea shook her head, her tone turning serious. "That level of magical power display just now was enough to alert all the sensitive magicians in Fuyuki City to something amiss. After all, we're currently on someone else's turf—the Church, the Tohsaka family, and possibly even the 'rats' lurking in the shadows of the Clock Tower. Any unnecessary attention before we officially begin purifying the Holy Grail is troublesome. Using your own magical power will be more strenuous, but it will be the least disruptive and safest approach."

After listening, Gu Ye nodded, indicating his understanding.

"Master, you didn't sleep a wink last night, and now you're going to perform such precise magical operations. Your body won't be able to handle it."

Medea looked at Gu Ye, a hint of heartache in her eyes, "Please go back and rest first. We can start again when you are fully recovered."

"Yes, yes!"

Ilya quickly chimed in, her little face full of anxiety and concern, "Big brother, I'm not in a hurry! You...you don't need to tire yourself out!"

"I'm OK."

Gu Ye's answer was as calm as ever, "I have been practicing a special breathing method for many years, so even if I don't sleep for a week, my spirit will not be affected."

Seeing the concern in their eyes, he added, "Let's start now. The sooner we resolve this, the more at ease everyone will be."

Seeing Gu Ye's insistence, Medea knew that further persuasion would be useless, so she could only sigh helplessly and nod: "Alright, since you put it that way, let's go back to the Tohsaka residence and start preparing immediately."

Just then, Archer, who had been standing silently not far away, as if forgotten by the whole world, moved.

He took a step and walked up to Gu Ye.

He didn't look at Ilya, or anyone else; he simply lowered his head, letting his silver-white bangs cover his eyes.

"……Thanks."

A word so soft it was almost inaudible escaped his lips.

After saying that, he turned around and didn't say another word or look back.

The hem of the red trench coat traced a lonely arc in the morning breeze, and the tall figure quickly disappeared at the end of the street.

The morning sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows of the Tohsaka residence's living room, casting bright spots of light on the carpet, where dust motes lazily tumbled in the beams of light.

The intense shooting and explosion sounds of video games emanated from the sofa area in the corner, clashing with the tranquil atmosphere of this classic mansion.

W sat cross-legged on an expensive velvet sofa, a lollipop dangling from her mouth, her hands gripping a game controller. The intense flashes of light on the screen reflected in her crimson pupils, flickering erratically.

"Tsk, another bunch of small fry."

She mumbled a complaint, her fingers flying across the keys.

Outside the mansion's gate, atop the mountain gate, Sasaki Kojiro's figure appeared and disappeared in the morning mist.

He was still wearing that faded purple kimono, with an antique tea set in front of him. He was leisurely sipping a steaming cup of tea, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

On the sofa on the other side of the living room, Matou Sakura and Medusa sat side by side.

Sakura's hands were nervously placed on her knees, and she sat upright like a student waiting for an interview.

She kept glancing towards the doorway, her purple eyes filled with lingering unease and anxiety.

Medusa quietly stayed by her side, like a loyal guard, relaxed in posture, but her gaze never left her Master.

When Gu Ye, Ilya, and Medea appeared at the door, Sakura stood up abruptly like a startled deer.

When she saw Gu Ye's calm face, the unease in her eyes was instantly replaced by a great sense of security.

She almost stumbled as she ran over, stopping a few steps in front of Gu Ye and bowing deeply.

“Um… Brother Gu Ye, thank you so much! If it weren’t for you, I…”

Her voice trembled with tears, but she managed to finish her sentence, "Really, thank you so much!"

Ilya followed Gu Ye in and immediately spotted the girl with long purple hair dressed in simple casual clothes.

Chapter 59 Medea replenishes mana.

Sakura paused for a moment, then gave a gentle smile that could melt ice and snow.

She reached out and gently helped Ilya up.

"It's alright, Miss Ilya."

She said softly, "I didn't think much of it. I'm so glad you've recovered."

The atmosphere at the dining table became harmonious and warm.

Medea sipped her miso soup, seemingly focused on enjoying the food, but her thoughts had already drifted back to the dimly lit underground workshop.

She could clearly recall the scorching heat, as if it were melting her, when she was pressed against Gu Ye's chest.

There was also his steady and powerful heartbeat, and the magic that opened itself to her like a vast ocean.

This feeling of being completely trusted and accepted was something she had never experienced in her long and tragic life.

"Master..."

She lowered her eyes, concealing the glint of shrewdness that flashed within them.

She said she was fine, but that touch, like the most powerful magic mark, was deeply imprinted on her soul.

She thought that she might have found a home more valuable than the Holy Grail, a home for which she was willing to give everything.

The only question is how to make this somewhat slow-witted Master understand this point?

……

The afternoon sun shone through the stained glass windows of the Tohsaka Mansion, casting fragmented spots of light on the expensive Persian carpet, like a pool of melting amber.

The faint aroma of miso soup from lunch lingered in the air, mixed with the scents of old books and wood, creating a sense of tranquility.

Medea set down the last teacup, the white porcelain clinking softly against the mahogany table, drawing all eyes to her.

She announced plans regarding the large underground cavity at Ryudongsa Temple.

"The purification ritual requires at least twenty-four hours of uninterrupted magical guidance."

Her voice was calm. "During this period, Master must continuously draw upon the magical tides as energy. This scale of magical fluctuation is like lighting a lighthouse in the dark. Fuyuki City, and indeed all the respectable magic organizations in the world, will detect it immediately."

"The Clock Tower, and those lunatics from the Holy Church?"

Rin Tohsaka twirled her twin tails with her fingers, a cold glint in her eyes. "Just thinking about it is such a hassle."

"Therefore, we need an unbreakable defense."

Medea's gaze swept over Saber, Archer, and Rider. "During the ceremony, any enemy attempting to approach Ryudou-ji Temple must be kept outside the gates."

"This is precisely our duty."

Saber nodded, his expression solemn.

"The battle site is set at Ryudong Temple, but what about the people there?"

Raiden Mei raised a practical question: "We can't involve ordinary people."

Rin stood up, her face regaining the competence and decisiveness befitting the head of the Tohsaka family.

“I know the abbot of Ryudong Temple. I’ll negotiate with him. It shouldn’t be difficult to find a reason like ‘gas leak’ or ‘geological exploration’ to ask them to leave temporarily.”

"very good."

Gu Ye nodded, which was considered his approval of the entire plan.

Everyone accepted the order and left, and the living room quickly became empty.

Rin hurriedly went out to negotiate, Saber and Archer went to patrol and guard, while Sakura and Illya were pulled by Mei to clean up the dishes.

Gu Ye was about to return to his room when Medea appeared silently in front of him, blocking his way.

"Master."

She looked up, her golden vertical pupils gleaming like two molten gold pieces in the afternoon sunlight, holding a burning emotion that Gu Ye couldn't decipher. "Before heading to Ryudong Temple, I have one more request."

"explain."

"Please replenish my magic."

She said it directly and frankly, "What I need to build next is a temple-level workshop that can withstand the Holy Grail's descent. I need to complete it in the most perfect and fulfilling state."

She didn't give Gu Ye a chance to refuse, and turned to walk towards his room.

"Please come to my room, Master. It's not very convenient here."

Her voice was so low that the last few words were almost inaudible.

In Gu Ye's room, the curtains were only half-drawn, allowing the sunlight to shine in at an angle, cutting a line of light and shadow on the floor.

Countless tiny dust particles floated slowly in the beam of light, like a silent golden snowfall. The room was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat.

Medea stood by the window with her back to him, the sunlight gilding her slender figure with a fuzzy golden edge.

She didn't turn around, but said softly, "Just like before, Master. Please put your hands on my back."

Gu Ye did as instructed and stepped forward, placing his palm on her long purple robe on her back.

The fabric was thin, and he could clearly feel the slightly taut lines of her back, and the rapid, bird-like heartbeat emanating from beneath it.

The magic began to flow, initially as a steady stream, but Medea did not seem satisfied.

"not enough……"