You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

Iori looked at Geitia calmly: "Generally speaking, for missions like this that involve risking one's life, the employer will explain the cause and effect in advance. No one wants to die without knowing why... Of course, I know that the bigger the person, the more problems they have, and not speaking human language is a tradition."

So, I can treat this like a puzzle game, happily following the main storyline without asking too many questions. But you should at least offer some kind of response to make me feel better.”

Ultimately, Iori doesn't mind contributing to Chaldea, but she resents being treated as a tool—besides, there are different levels of tools too!

Are Mario, who spends his whole life chasing after princesses, and Cloud, who builds a harem, the same person?!

"Hmph! Pathetic pride."

Goetia coldly looked down at Iori: "So, you need a 'repayment'? That's normal, after all, your bond with Fujimaru Ritsuka isn't very deep, unlike those Chaldea Servants."

"Who said that? Gudako is my dearest friend, my soulmate—"

"what do you want?"

"You have to pay more!"

【Ding! 】

[CG included]

[Honest and trustworthy service, even with extra charges]

Type: Art style.

grade:……

quality:……

Rewards Overview:

Art style value +5;

They gave us so much!

Before Geitia could even speak, the reward the system gave to Iori had already made him secretly delighted.

Logically speaking, asking for "more money" shouldn't be that much... Indeed, the important thing isn't what you say, but who you say it to!

"By the way, Old Gai."

My cool shuttle is still parked in London. Is it safe?

Don't get in my way of saving my dear Gudako!

Goetia: "???"

"Is this considered payment or 'medicine expenses'?"

Sitting inside the "elevator" that was rapidly traveling through the void, Iori looked at the golden cauldron in her hand and couldn't help but purse her lips.

Although she wasn't fatally injured because of the Third Law, Goetia was really ruthless... But thanks to this, Iori gained a deeper understanding of Goetia's Great Aura.

While both are "light cannons," Goetia not only surpasses everyone in scale, but also in the control of energy, which is unmatched by ordinary Servants. Iori would also have to admit defeat. Even if they clashed with the same amount of magic power, he would probably still be no match for Goetia.

"That's really impressive... I wonder if anyone can replicate it."

After pondering for a long time, Iori slowly shook her head. This matter is not urgent; let's deal with the current problem first.

Since the elevator had stopped running, Iori simply put the Holy Grail into her personal space, opened the hatch, and went out.

In an instant, a pure white world enveloped him...

Upon seeing his surroundings, Iori was stunned. He instinctively reached out and grabbed something, only to find it was icy cold – pure white snowflakes that melted instantly in his hand.

Looking around, everything was a vast expanse of white, and although it was night, it had a clean and bright feel to it.

Iori walked calmly and leisurely along the avenue. It seemed to be on a highway at a higher elevation, with bright streetlights and the distant city lights proving that it was not a deserted place.

...It feels somewhat familiar.

Iori was certain that this was her first time in this place, but it felt strangely familiar.

Swoosh~ Swoosh~

On a quiet, snowy night, apart from the falling snow in the background and the crunching sound of footsteps on the snow, the whole world seemed to be immersed in tranquility and moving slowly.

The shimmering neon lights in the distance, as if on another shore, give this place a sense of tranquility, far removed from the world.

Walking slowly and leisurely here, unlike the oppressive atmosphere of London, this place brought a sense of peace. Iori wasn't in a hurry to find the "Lord," feeling incredibly at peace, as if a strange magic had soothed his mental fatigue.

The dim yellow light from the streetlights, mixed with the reflection of the snowy night, added a touch of dreaminess to the tranquility.

The snowflakes dancing in the air are like little elves, guiding the wanderers... It's just like a scene from a fairy tale.

Iori thought to herself indifferently, a gentle smile unconsciously appearing on her lips.

Then, around a certain corner, he saw—

On a quiet, snowy night, a girl dressed in a white kimono seemed to blend seamlessly into the landscape.

With her back to Iori, her upright and elegant posture possessed an indescribable beauty, like a colorless flower quietly blooming above the realm of existence.

The white kimono and blue obi were so inconspicuous yet absolutely independent in the pristine snowy night.

——!

Iori was stunned; even with his strong will, he couldn't help but lose his composure.

The girl turned her head to the side, her dark, bright eyes reflecting Iori's appearance, and Iori saw her clearly:

The girl, only fifteen or sixteen years old, had a face with stern features yet exuding feminine gentleness. Although she looked very young, she possessed a charm beyond her years, because the girl's aura was like the embodiment of love, and a mysterious all-encompassing aura attracted Iori's gaze.

"It's you... I see, it's you. Nice to meet you, traveler from another world. What are you looking for?"

Her voice was ethereal and melodious, like a chant, transforming into a gentle breeze that caressed the soul, something you wanted to grasp yet could not quite grasp.

Watching Iori, whose clothes were tattered from the battle, so out of place in the silent snowy night, the girl showed no unusual expression, remaining as indifferent and distant as ever.

He was standing there, yet it seemed as if he were in a realm untouchable by anyone.

The girl didn't say anything more, but gave Iori a beautiful and ethereal smile.

"I...yes, I'm looking for a friend."

The snowflakes slowed down, and Iori couldn't even hear his own heartbeat. When he came to his senses, he recognized the other person.

But he did nothing, simply standing in the pure white snow, gazing at the innocent girl smiling faintly on the other side of the boundary.

call--!

A gust of wind and snow broke the stillness of time, and Iori suddenly came back to her senses. The girl slowly walked away along the roadside railing, and Iori hesitated for a moment before following her.

"I was quite surprised to meet someone here whom I wouldn't normally encounter. To someone as knowledgeable as me, you are an unexpected and intriguing 'unknown.'"

As the girl walked, she said, "I'm sorry, there's no such thing as a 'Lord' here... but if you want to continue to other places, I might be able to help you."

As soon as she finished speaking, Iori's expression shifted slightly, and she stopped and turned to look at the middle of the road—

The silver shuttle pod, which originally required defeating the floor master to appear, now sits quietly in the snow, seemingly waiting for Iori to activate it.

"Indeed……"

Sure enough, I've met a real big shot!

~~~~~

Chapter 297 What are you talking about!

Ryougi Shiki, a descendant of an exorcising demon family, possessor of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, and the "omnipotent one" connected to the Root...

In terms of physical ability, she is just a girl who is relatively skilled in martial arts. Her physical body is not even as good as that of an ordinary Servant. Even with the Mystic Eyes, she is not considered a top-tier figure in the Type-Moon world.

However, this is not something that can be evaluated using "numerical values" and "common sense".

Her body is connected to the [Vortex of Origin], and her physical "initial personality"—the Origin Type—has thus gained unimaginable "privileges".

Given the special status of the concept of "Root" in the Type-Moon universe, Ryougi Shiki, who is connected to the Root, is "omniscient and omnipotent" in a certain sense.

Although there are no specific battle examples to refer to, Iori believes that her "level" is even higher than that of Getia!

The Demon King's "energy level" is among the top in Type-Moon, and even after his power has expanded, he is still at the peak. However, the essence of his power has not transcended the concept of "law," only that his scale far exceeds that of human magicians.

Of the five great magics, the first and fifth magics flow directly from the "source," while the second, third, and fourth magics are produced during the process of reaching the source.

Essentially, all five great magics are mysteries beneath the "Root," while Ryougi Shiki is always connected to the Root, and her physical personality can be regarded as the Root itself.

Of course, while different perspectives exist, the "great strength makes bricks fly" principle also applies to the Type-Moon universe, so it's still hard to say exactly how powerful the Root-type combat force truly is.

"Nice to meet you... I feel honored to have the opportunity to speak with you."

Are you nervous?

He stopped in his root form, turned around, and smiled at Iori.

The Vortex of Roots, which all magicians pursue, appeared before him in human form. It was impossible for Iori not to be surprised, but since he wasn't a native magician of Type-Moon, his reverence for the Roots wasn't as intense, so he quickly calmed himself down.

"How could I not be nervous... I don't think this is a pure coincidence. Why would someone as special as you make a point of meeting me?"

"Well, I don't really understand either... It feels really strange for me to say something like that."

[Ryougi Shiki] smiled faintly: "Originally, I was connected to the 'Gran Cave,' which contained nothing yet contained everything, and I knew all the records there. I basically knew everything about this world."

Having seen all the causes and effects, and having a clear understanding of the beginning and end of things, I have no interest in external matters... just like a person who has no interest in an old book that has been read countless times.

My daily interactions with the outside world are almost entirely handled by the two personalities, 'Shiki' and 'Shiki,' while I exist somewhere between the two. You could say I've always been in a state of slumber, or you could say I've always been awake.

"How can we develop this from the sidelines?"

Iori calmly said, "Is it like being in a 'spiritual journey,' constantly looking down at the entire world from the 'Vortex of Origin'?"

"That's a good way of putting it; I like it. It's apt and easy to understand."

The girl smiled sweetly, gently stroking the snow-covered railing, her tone very gentle.

"Whether it's the Cave of Garan or the two personalities of Shiki and Ori, they are both 'windows for observing the world' to me."

"But it's just observation; have we never tried to intervene?"

"What's the point of that?"

Ryougi Shiki gently shook her head: "This is how the world works, why should we change it?"

The origins of all things in the universe have already been determined within the vortex of contradictions, both in the past and in the future.

Because they understand all human desires, they are actually without desires.

Because he is omnipotent, he has no interest in anything.

What Iori saw was a pure and noble existence, like snow on a winter night.

"As for why I, who am indifferent to everything, would come out... that is also a question for me."

If I had to say... is it a trend?

"On a whim?"

Iori felt a strange mix of amusement and disbelief. Could someone as great as her really have the same thoughts as an ordinary girl?

"That's it."

Ryougi Shiki looked directly at Iori: "Because even I don't know your future. It's like watching a movie that's been spoiled countless times and suddenly discovering an Easter egg that no one knew about. Isn't that something to be excited about?"

"..."

Iori suddenly fell silent.

"Curiosity, or perhaps a thirst for knowledge? It's a very strange experience for me."

He said with a slight smile.

Iori's pupils contracted, and then she relaxed completely, as if she had let go of something.

"Is that so... Well, there's no point in hiding it anyway. You probably figured out I'm an 'outsider' at a glance."

Iori's heart skipped a beat, and she asked, "Are you also a Chaldea contract Servant?"

Although due to the game mechanics, all top-tier players in Chaldea have to start from level one and be trained again, it's a different story in reality.

Characters like Tiamat, Nero, Sesshouin, and Kama, even if summoned as Servants or ordinary classes, are willingly disguised; they should never be considered mere "Servants."

The same principle applies to the Root Formation. If Iori remembers correctly, this character did indeed make a brief appearance in FGO.

"Which 'me' are you referring to?"

With a carefree air, he closed his eyes and walked past Iori like a gentle breeze.