Why fight the Holy Grail War? Let's play cards!

[Macedonian Heavy Infantry] 2* Lancer Attack 1400 → 2400 x2

[Macedonian Light Infantry] 1-star Saber: Attack Power 1200 → 2200

"Ravage!" Following the order from the King of Conquerors, the soldiers launched an overwhelming charge with the momentum of only five people.

"It's useless! I discard a card in my hand to activate the effect of [Moon Spirit Marrow Fluid]. I won't be destroyed by battle or effects this turn!" Kenneth felt a chill in his heart, and decisively activated the Moon Spirit Marrow Fluid to wrap himself up.

"How could my army be stopped so easily! The one in front of you is Iskandar, the King of Conquerors who has conquered the entire continent of Europe, Asia, and Africa! The effect of [King's Army] is that when attacking a servant in defense position, the attack power that exceeds the defense will directly cause damage! Wooooooooooooo——" Along with Iskandar's battle cry, the horse's hooves crushed Kenneth's Moon Spirit Marrow Fluid, and the sharp blade in Iskandar's hand slashed at Kenneth's head!

"Ahhh!"

Kenneth LP1350→0

The duel space dissipated, and Kenneth touched his body in horror, only to find that he had not suffered as great damage as Gilgamesh had before.

"Master, don't worry. I told you that Rome will protect you." Romulus's spiritual base reacted slightly weaker. If Kayneth hadn't checked the size of his spiritual base several times before, he wouldn't have noticed. Even a Heroic Spirit of Gilgamesh's caliber would have suffered immense damage, yet Romulus didn't even utter a sound.

"Lancer, you took all the damage for me?" Kayneth immediately understood why he was not injured. "...I have something to ask you later."

Kenneth straightened his collar, trying to appear nonchalant. "Webber Velvet, I'll give you a passing grade on this quiz. However, your magical proficiency is truly appalling, and you'll need a lot of remedial work. Let's end today's magic battle here."

"What about my thesis..." Weber was still thinking about his thesis.

Kenneth felt a headache. Was the Weber, adored by all sorts of magical geniuses ten years later, really the same person as this goofball? He rubbed his brow with his knuckles to soothe the pain. "How did you inherit the name El-Melloi? Looks like you need to retake your history of magic. What are you standing there for? Follow me! I have plenty of empty rooms at my hotel. Don't even think of slacking off during the Holy Grail War. I'll give you a good lesson!"

"Huh?" Although Weber was very happy that Kenneth recognized him in a certain sense, the word "tutoring" was something no student wanted to hear, even if the student was a magician.

Waver sighed and was about to catch up with Kenneth, but he found that Iskandar was not keeping up with him.

"Rider, what's wrong?"

"Since the Master has reconciled with his teacher, I am relieved." Iskandar patted Waver's head and looked at Romulus: "Victory is certainly gratifying, but those who fought did not use their full strength. King of Rome, I have fully demonstrated my kingly way, why don't I even see a card representing you?"

"Roman power is not fit to be used here..."

Romulus's answer did not satisfy Iskandar, who drew his weapon and said, "King of Rome, let us have a contest of heroic spirits. Sooner or later, we will have to decide the outcome, so why not now? Put aside your contempt and give it your all!"

"Rome has never underestimated any opponent. Since the King of Conquerors has invited us so graciously, Rome will certainly do its utmost!"

This night, the light of Rome illuminates the entire Fuyuki!!

Chapter 35: Mapo, what are you doing, Mapo!

"Rider has already left the game?" Jiang You received a message from Emiya Kiritsugu as soon as he logged in. He looked at the [Godly Wheel]*1 in the email and confirmed the authenticity of the message.

"Yes, it was last night. The opponent was Lancer Romulus, and the fight was over in an instant. The aftermath of the battle also damaged the modern equipment on my familiar, and the entire port disappeared without a trace because of that blow." Last night, the night sky of Fuyuki was illuminated by golden light, and the golden spears that rained down were like the wrath of God descending on the earth.

"So how did the church solve it?" Jiang You felt that he already knew the answer, but he still asked.

"...It was a gas explosion, and the rest was explained as hallucinations caused by inhaling excessive gas." Emiya Kiritsugu's tone was a little hesitant, and he also felt that this reason was a bit unreliable.

"It's a miracle your Fuyuki gas company didn't go bankrupt!"

"It's not surprising that Romulus is this strong." Even though Romulus is only three stars in FGO, he's still quite powerful in reality, and it's not surprising that he could defeat Iskandar. The concern right now isn't about that. "So, where's Rider's Master? Did Kayneth kill him?"

"That's not the case. Weber left with Kenneth. He showed up at the church at noon today and announced his withdrawal from the Holy Grail War. He is also under the protection of the church." Kiritsugu Emiya obtained a wealth of information through the simultaneous use of modern technology and magic. Perhaps he and Weber will have a lot of common topics in terms of magic.

"The church in this timeline is really doing something... That's right, Kotomine Risei is not dead yet. In that case, you should notify Matou Kariya and have him inform the church as well, so that he won't be killed later." After Matou Yeyan successfully extended his life, there was basically no way to maintain Lancelot's survival. Asking him to continue to hold on would be a burden.

Emiya Kiritsugu nodded. This would eliminate one more competitor. Furthermore, the magic power consumed by maintaining Jiang You's existence was almost zero, and the extra magic power would be just enough for him to take over Berserker's command.

"Okay, let's get ready and go out."

Emiya Kiritsugu prepared to contact Hisau Maiya via radio. "Of the remaining three Servants, Assassin has no specific information yet. The information on the other Servants and Masters is clear. Who is the target?"

Jiang You snatched the intercom from Emiya Kiritsugu's hand. "It's the amusement park. Have you ever taken little Illya out for fun in all the time you've been here? Don't be afraid of encounters. Under the influence of my Noble Phantasm, playing cards can decide everything. Don't be so nervous, relax, and it's time for you to fulfill your fatherly duties."

Jiang You had actually browsed the forums before going online and discovered that NPC favorability could be increased through daily invitations, in addition to gifting items. The scene where Gilgamesh had previously refused to duel and entered the battle had been bothering him: the NPC had actually used his forced duel invitation option to avoid the duel!

This made him desperate to acquire a full three-level deck of powerful cards, like Illya's Celestial Cloth form or Matou Sakura's Black Grail form. The forums mentioned that a card's attack and defense roughly reflected a Duel Pokémon's strength. If someone didn't want to duel, he could just rush into a group fight and force their opponent to surrender their cards.

"So you summoned me for this? Caster, you have a lot of free time. But I'm still making preparations for the war!" Illya looked at the roller coaster in front of her and realized that Jiang You didn't summon her out for a fight.

"Here, ice cream." Jiang You actually intended to summon Matou Sakura as well, but the forums noted that while you can invite multiple duel spirits at once, the overall increase in favorability will actually decrease. For example, one netizen replied to the post, "I invited Water, Fire, and Wind at once, and not only did my favorability drop, I even received a direct attack."

While Jiang You envied the other party for having so many female cards so early on in the official server, he also had a question: Aren't Water, Fire, and Wind Blades the same person? It wasn't some Earth Blade Xiaoye.

Illya already has one of her Celestial Cloth forms, so the chances of reaching level 3 are higher. Jiang You took out the amusement park map he had prepared, "You can eat whatever you want, play whatever you want. All expenses today will be paid for by our righteous companions!"

"Kiritsugu? He's here too. Where's mom?" Illya took the map, looked at it for a few seconds, and then asked Jiang You.

"Irisviel is still in your hometown and will come over in a few days. As for Kiritsugu, he is taking little Illya from this timeline to play. Do you want to join him?" Jiang You pointed at Kiritsugu Emiya who was taking little Illya on a carousel not far away. The middle-aged man showed a smile on the carousel that was inconsistent with his temperament.

"...Forget it, who wants him to accompany me today? Caster, you'll be my companion today." Illya envied herself now. She hadn't been so lucky as a child. In her timeline, Emiya Kiritsugu never returned to see her after participating in the Holy Grail War, and he never fulfilled his promise until his death. "Then let's start with the most recent one!"

First of all, there is the roller coaster. Jiang You is quite satisfied with it. He created the real experience of a last century amusement park in a card game. Lao K definitely deserves praise.

"Too slow! If only it were three times faster, it would be almost right!" Amidst a sea of ​​pale-faced tourists, some even vomiting, Illya, head held high, exclaimed, "That's it?" For a magus, high-speed movement was nothing new.

But the slight upward curve of her lips revealed her true thoughts. It was unclear whether it was because she heard the screams of other tourists or for some other reason.

"Next, let's go to the aquarium." For eighteen years, Illya had spent the majority of her life in the snow-covered Einzbern home. Only when she needed to participate in the Holy Grail War did she have the opportunity to leave the Einzbern home and travel to Fuyuki City, a place she had longed for for the past ten years, a place practically etched into her soul. Therefore, she had never truly touched the ocean, let alone its inhabitants.

The 94 aquarium didn't have the built-in underwater tunnels of later designs, which disappointed Jiang You. However, Illya seemed very satisfied. She pressed her face against the glass, and each colorful tropical fish made her linger for a long time.

"Caster, you said polar bears like cold environments, right? The weather in Einzbern's home is just right for them. I want to catch a few and take them back. What do you think?" Later, Illya and Jiang You went to see the penguin and dolphin performances. Of course, Illya's favorite was the polar bear. She seemed to have always liked big things.

Illya stayed in the aquarium until closing time and then reluctantly left.

"I think that's fine..." Just as Jiang You led Illya out of the aquarium, the amusement park was deserted. Emiya Kiritsugu had already taken the tired little Illya home early. So he easily spotted a familiar figure in the carousel area.

A solemn-looking priest was seen riding a carousel alone, spinning slowly along with children's songs. The priest, in both appearance and temperament, seemed out of place with the surrounding scene.

"Mapo!?" Jiang You's voice made the man turn around, and the three of them met eyes.

"..."

"..."

"..."

A feeling of embarrassment is spreading.

Chapter 36: If the Hero King can produce happy people, I can also produce hardworking people

Although he didn't know what "Mapo" Jiang You was referring to, Kotomine Kirei understood that the Servant opposite him had recognized him.

"You've got the wrong person." Kotomine Kirei's tone was still as calm as ever, without a trace of shame for his actions, and he was about to leave.

"Don't give me that. The only official members of the church here are you and Kotomine Risho. Or do you want to say you're Kotomine Risho?" Jiang You mercilessly exposed him. After referring to the original plot, Jiang You almost came to his own conclusion. "You did all this because of Emiya Kiritsugu, right?"

"I don't understand what you mean." Although he refused, Jiang You could still see his intention from the fact that he stopped walking.

"You want to understand Emiya Kiritsugu. You think he's just as hollow and empty as you, cold-blooded and mechanical in his execution." Jiang You began pacing, centered around Kotomine Kirei. "But you've noticed that he always takes enormous risks to complete missions that aren't in his best interest. You want to know what drives him, what motivated him to participate in the Holy Grail War. Seeing Emiya Kiritsugu's happy expression today, you thought it might be worth considering, and perhaps even cheer you up, so you couldn't resist giving it a try, right?"

"Something like the ability to read minds? As expected of Caster." Kotomine Kirei nodded, not denying Jiang You's words. "Since you already know my purpose, then as an Einzbern Servant, can you explain my confusion?"

"Please speak." Jiang You walked back to Illya's side, pushed her, and motioned her to turn with him.

Illya gave him a puzzled look.

"Magician Killer, what is the wish of Emiya Kiritsugu, and what supports him to risk his life in the Holy Grail War?" His desireless self was chosen by the Holy Grail representing desire. Kotomine Kirei wants to know his own wish. He has been trying to be an ordinary person. Perhaps Emiya Kiritsugu's answer can make him understand his true heart.

"Are you sure you want to hear this?" Frankly, Jiang You didn't want to reveal the ridiculous truth: Emiya Kiritsugu, a blood-stained magus killer, actually desired world peace, a wish so vast it was impossible to achieve. Jiang You suggested he run for President of the United States; that would at least reduce half the trouble in the world.

"Sir, are you unwilling to speak?" Kotomine Kirei frowned. From what Caster said, it was clear that he knew and was willing to speak out. He desperately wanted to know the answer. He had spent most of his life pursuing this answer, the answer that even his wife had sacrificed herself for him and hadn't found. "Does it require an equal exchange?"

Kotomine Kirei was thinking about what he could use to impress Caster. As a fellow contestant in the Holy Grail War, perhaps backstabbing Tokisaka could be used as an exchange?

Jiang You naturally didn't know what Kotomine Kirei was thinking. He shook his head and said, "It's not that I don't want to tell you, but I'm sure the answer will not satisfy you."

"No matter what the answer is, I have my reasons for knowing it." Kotomine Kirei was like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline, he would not let go.

"World Peace."

"...What?" The concise answer passed by Kotomine Kirei's ears, and he almost suspected that he had heard it wrongly.

"I think you heard correctly. That's the answer. If you don't believe me, you can ask this person, Emiya Kiritsugu's daughter, a left-behind child and one of the victims."

"World peace? World peace. World peace! Hahahahaha!" Kotomine Kirei repeated the four words, his tone becoming increasingly unbridled, and finally he couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Killing for world peace? I actually see my own reflection in him? Hahahaha! What's this feeling, disappointment? Pleasure? Hahahaha! I don't know, hahaha!"

Kotomine Kirei covered his face, trying to straighten his distorted expression, but found he couldn't. "I'm actually happy about this? Is this just my nature? Seeing other people's childish and contradictory attitudes only makes me feel... amused? Or disappointed?"

Jiang You clutched his deck, his eyes flickering slightly as he considered whether to activate the Dark Game and instantly kill the guy who was beginning to show signs of pleasure. But then he thought of his own questionnaire, and the fact that Kotomine Kirei hadn't committed any unforgivable acts. For the sake of his own extra money, Jiang You put the deck away.

Referring to other works (parallel worlds), there may be a very simple solution.

Jiang You patted Kotomine Kirei's shoulder and closed the distance between them. "Don't jump to conclusions yet. Don't you want to understand your own wishes? Come with me. Illya and I are hungry after a day of fun."

When the spicy red tofu was brought to Illya, she choked on the pungent smell, and it took her a long time to recover. After soothing her throat with some clear broth, she spooned a piece of tofu. The tofu, smothered in the special sauce, reflected an alluring hue under the sheen of red oil, while the spicy, fresh, and fragrant flavor emanated from the thick broth.

Illya still couldn't resist the temptation and took a light bite. The spicy and fresh taste burst out from the tofu. The delicious taste blooming on the tip of the tongue was accompanied by the spiciness that exceeded the threshold and rushed straight to the forehead, making Illya's facial features squeezed together by the spiciness.

“Water…water!”

"I didn't expect this 'Hongzhou Yansuiguan Taishan' to exist at this time. In fact, I was just going to take you to a random Chinese restaurant that has Mapo Tofu." Jiang You took the two bowls of Mapo Tofu that the boss had just handed over and placed them in front of himself and Kotomine Kirei. "Try it."

"Chinese food?" Kotomine Kirei sniffed the spicy aroma emanating from the plate and unconsciously twitched his index finger. He had actually already eaten dinner, having hastily settled on compressed biscuits while monitoring Emiya Kiritsugu. He had never been particularly particular about food, but for some reason, he now felt a sense of anticipation.

"Then I'll be rude to refuse." It felt like a cat's claw scratching his heart, and this unusual experience made Kotomine Kirei unable to resist. After completing the traditional Japanese etiquette of opening a meal, he placed the mapo tofu into his mouth with meticulous dining posture.

Fine beads of sweat kept oozing from his forehead, but he was unaware of it. His movements became faster and faster, and soon the mapo tofu on the plate was gone. A few spoonfuls of the soup, which was so rich that it made people frown, were also scooped out.

It was the first time Jiang You used the word "ferocious" to describe someone eating. He tentatively asked, "Would you like some more?"

Kotomine Kirei knew his appetite and was already eight-tenths full at this moment. In order to be able to carry out the mission at any time, he basically kept his food intake at around six-tenths. He definitely couldn't continue now.

But Kotomine Kirei found himself giving an answer that was against his will: "Another bowl."

Jiang You pushed the plate he hadn't touched in front of Kotomine Kirei, his face filled with an uncontrollable smile. "You've found what you want, right?"

Chapter 37 This is the basic operation of Caster (realistic)

"This is what I desire?" Kotomine Kirei looked at the mapo tofu in disbelief, but the desire in his heart could not deceive him. "Eating... or rather, something as simple as eating mapo tofu is actually my desire!?"

"Why not?" Jiang You brought a carton of milk to Illya, who was nearly dying from the spiciness. He had originally planned to order her something else, but Illya insisted on eating the same thing. "Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation—the four most basic things in life—are they really that simple? Winning honor, achieving world peace, and pursuing your roots sound grand, right? But no matter how brilliant you are, you can never avoid these four things. Shame prevents you from wearing nothing; hunger prevents you from eating; fear prevents you from leaving the wilderness; and existence prevents you from standing still."

Illya's face flushed red from the spiciness, and her tear glands couldn't hold back from the spiciness, so she couldn't help but cry. Jiang You poured her a glass of ice milk and let her soak her tongue in it to eliminate the spiciness.

"Not to mention that the basic need for food has always plagued humanity. Eating is a human instinct. Throughout history, countless people have struggled to get enough to eat. Even in modern society, people still die from hunger. Is this desire really that simple?"

Kotomine Kirei fell into deep thought. He felt that his true feelings were not like this, or at least not so simple. However, the desire stimulated by the mapo tofu repeatedly told him that Caster was right.

Seeing that Kotomine Kirei remained silent, Jiang You knew that he was halfway to success, so he took advantage of the opportunity to pursue.

"You are probably familiar with my Noble Phantasm. While I can capture fragments of the future, I also possess a similar ability to 'Future Vision'."

Kotomine Kirei nodded, and the information about Jiang You's Noble Phantasm was openly stuffed into the minds of all the contestants. It was not strange that Jiang You could see the future, but rather it was natural.

"You are indeed a rotten person who finds joy in evil deeds." Jiang You directly pointed out Kotomine Kirei's twisted heart. Now all he had to do was to define him. "Well, then, repeat the seven deadly sins."

"Pride, jealousy, rage, laziness, greed..." As someone who once tried to be a devout believer, how could Kotomine Kirei not know this? He followed Jiang You's instructions and recited them aloud. After a brief pause, he became extremely excited. "Gluttony!"

"Yes, it's gluttony. You are now committing an unforgivable sin. You are excited by committing the sin of gluttony. This is your desire, the desire you desire most as a human being!"

"So that's why you called me 'Mapo' before. So this is my future self? Yes, you're right. The simplest and most original desire is what I pursue." Kotomine Kirei scooped up the mapo tofu from the plate and laughed heartily at finding his own desire. "I'm excited about this. I'm such a simple person! From now on, I'm going to break my self-control and enjoy delicious food every day."

Looking at Kotomine Kirei, who had transformed from a reserve tax evader into a live-in eater, Jiang You nodded with satisfaction. It was really effective to use the love of Mapo Tofu written into the setting to prescribe the right remedy. No wonder the intelligence players were so powerful.

At this time, Illya finally calmed down. She shrank her neck as she looked at the Mapo Tofu and decided never to touch it again.

"Is that enough?" Having come this far, Jiang You decided to add fuel to the fire. He shook his finger at Kotomine Kirei and said, "Desires aren't easily satisfied."

"Oh? Kirei is all ears." Having found his target, Kotomine Kirei let go of himself, his voice becoming cheerful.

"Mapo tofu consists of three main parts: the sauce, the tofu, and the cooking method. Mr. Kirei should have some knowledge of the Eastern Great Power, right?" Seeing Kotomine Kirei nod in agreement, Jiang You continued. "The Eastern Great Power has always been rather ambiguous in its descriptions of cooking. When it comes to quantities, they often use non-specific quantifiers like 'appropriate amount,' 'small amount,' 'large amount,' etc. This results in even the same ingredients being used, but each family's cooking will produce a different taste.

"That is to say..." Kotomine Kirei vaguely grasped Jiang You's meaning.

"Yes, your pursuit of delicious Mapo Tofu can't stop at this shop. You have to search for and even make the Mapo Tofu you desire, the most satisfying one, yourself. This will be a long journey. Whether it's the ingredients, the sauce, or the cooking method, it will require countless times of searching, experimenting, and accumulating experience. You will devote most of your life to this. Are you truly ready?"

"This is exactly what I've been longing for!" Kotomine Kirei felt for the first time the meaning of the word "interest." He felt he should have understood long ago: it wasn't that he lacked a desire for pleasure, he simply hadn't found the right direction. "I must depart immediately. I must withdraw from this Holy Grail War."

"Don't you consider making a wish from the Holy Grail to get perfect mapo tofu?" Jiang You waited for Kotomine Kirei's answer with great interest.

"Caster, you're joking." Kotomine Kirei wasn't willing to simply fulfill his desires. He had always been searching for desires, not satisfying them. The fulfillment of pursuing them brought him immense joy. "How can a result without a process be called a pursuit? Besides, the Holy Grail can only satisfy me in the present moment! My 'gluttony' will last a lifetime."

"Then in return, Caster, as your Master, I will give you Assassin's Command Seals. I will explain the situation to my father and teacher." Kotomine Kirei rolled up his sleeves and showed the Command Seals in his hand to Jiang You.

"Then I wish you the best of luck on your journey." Jiang You raised his arm to accept the Command Seals bestowed upon him by Kotomine Kirei. After being a Heroic Spirit for so long, he also wanted to try the feeling of being a Master for a while.

After finishing everything, Kotomine Kirei asked Jiang You for his contact information and saluted before hastily disappearing into the night. He couldn't wait to embark on the journey of pursuing the perfect mapo tofu he had always wanted.