He Tore Through The Holy Grail War, And You Still Call Him A Dragon?

"Contract interruption? That can even happen?"

The huge weight that had just lifted off Yuan Zhisheng's chest was immediately jammed back into his throat when he heard Watanabe no Tsuna's words. Uesugi Yue also widened his eyes anxiously at Watanabe.

Fortunately, Watanabe spoke calmly and with order.

"From what I observed, your younger brother was controlled by some kind of melody. So even if the contract was broken, it likely wasn't by his own will."

"Eh? But I heard Shirou say he rescued Zhinu from Odin!"

Hearing that someone had apparently bested Odin in battle, Watanabe's eyes widened slightly.

"So, even in this era there are such fierce warriors? It seems I underestimated the people of the world… Forgive me, may I ask you to tell me the details of what happened with your younger brother?"

"The situation still isn't clear. We were preparing to send people over to retrieve him. Zhinu seems to have lost an arm."

"…That must have been because of seizing the Command Seals, then."

Yuan Zhisheng's eyes drifted unconsciously to the back of his own hand. "Saber, you're saying if you cut off the hand, you can seize the Command Seals?"

"That depends. If the opponent is versed in the arts of magecraft, then stealing those holy marks or even transferring Servant control is not impossible."

At those words, Yuan Zhisheng's face hardened. "It seems we celebrated too soon. The enemy's strength may not have weakened at all. We need to arrange things quickly. Father, let's go to get Zhinu—"

A ringing phone interrupted him. A new number suddenly came in.

Yuan Zhisheng frowned. The display read "Yasha." "Hello?"

"Boss, it's me!"

Yasha's rough voice boomed through the speaker. He had completely forgotten to say "Clan Head" instead, though Yuan Zhisheng couldn't be bothered to correct the fool.

"Boss, good news! We successfully captured the broadcast room! And we found the guys who were in there playing that damn clapper music—the ones spreading those rumors about our clan's Tsukuyomi (Erii)!"

But Yuan Zhisheng had long learned this man's pattern. He immediately cut in with a tactical strike:

"Okay, and the bad news?"

He had assigned the task to Crow. Crow should have been the one reporting. Since Yasha had come instead… clearly Crow had bungled it and was too embarrassed to face him.

Only Yasha, with fewer brain cells, would cover for him like this.

"Uh—" came Yasha's hesitant voice, before finally stammering out:

"The bad news is… they all committed suicide. Seriously. I didn't even get a chance to blow their heads off. One by one they pulled their own methods and offed themselves on the spot. They were quicker about it than those… damn Fūma ninjas."

"…Got it."

Yuan Zhisheng's tone was calm. This wasn't outside his expectations.

When Odin had suddenly "resurrected" and taken away Zhinu, he had already known things weren't simple.

The top priority now was bringing Zhinu back for treatment. Though as a royal-class hybrid, losing an arm wouldn't be fatal if the bleeding was stopped quickly. But more importantly, that site likely held a trove of Herzog's data—and that was critical.

"Yasha, tell Crow to downgrade the emergency level of the incident. Leave the autopsy of the corpses to the forensic team. We need to organize a convoy to form an investigation group to head there. The work will probably involve moving large equipment, so prepare plenty of tow trucks…"

——

The evening wind swept across the high heavens, but it couldn't drive away the endless torrential rain. From afar it was like the gods had tipped over a silver jug, pouring white streams that turned Tokyo into a silver-lit city.

This rain had not stopped for days, as though the heavens meant to dump an entire year's worth all at once.

Shirou lifted his eyes, glanced around, and reached that conclusion.

He sat astride Melusine's back, her jagged dragon wings spread on both sides. A thin flame shield evaporated the falling rain, shielding the two of them from the endless downpour.

Just earlier, after linking up with Yuan Zhisheng's convoy, Shirou had left with Melusine.

He had no interest in lingering at Herzog's gloomy underground lair. According to Yuan Zhisheng, the place would take all night to investigate and move equipment.

Shirou had no desire to sit there suffocating in disinfectant and strange smells like a prisoner.

On the return trip, without pursuit, their speed was still fast but not the absurd rocket-boost pace of before.

The slower pace didn't dampen the young dragon's spirits. She savored the warmth from the rider on her back, delight flickering across her face.

Melusine beat her wings, even wiggling her waist and tail like a dog wagging happily, voicing the joy of free flight and warmth at once.

The faster they flew, the heavier the rain, but Shirou's flames dispelled it all. Melusine's smile only deepened.

Maybe she had realized she didn't just crave speed—she craved the warmth flowing against her.

Being soaked and chilled by endless rain was miserable. But pressed against Shirou, she always felt the soft heat that could melt snow.

"Hey, don't wiggle around! Enough already—if you keep swaying, I'll fall off!"

Shirou gripped her horn-like handles and protested.

He had wanted to use Thought Accumulation during the return flight, to project the world in his inner mindscape—but Melusine kept tossing about, making it impossible to steady his vision.

Back and forth she wriggled, even heating the ridge where Shirou sat.

"Sorry… I overdid it." Melusine admitted cheerfully, blinking playfully.

That night at the Emiya residence—

"Overdid it? What's that supposed to mean!?" Nono almost grabbed Shirou by the collar, demanding what they had been up to for so long outside.

Flying around in the rain all night? She didn't believe it!

Shirou shrugged calmly. "We just ran into Odin and fought him. He ran away."

"Odin? So he really isn't dead!" At the mention, Nono's attention snapped away.

"Yeah, and I even brought this back for you." Shirou handed her a long box. "Didn't manage to keep him, but I did get him to leave behind… an arm."

"…Huh?" Nono thought, What do I need Odin's arm for? I want his damn life!

"Revenge can't be done yet. But you can vent with this."

Nono spread her hands. "Vent how? Chop it up and make a paper doll? Mince it into sashimi for snacks? Please, I'm not a child who needs comfort toys—this is your loot. You keep it."

Melusine watched as Nono pushed away Shirou's hard-won "trophy," her big eyes filling with little confusion.

"Master doesn't like trophies?"

Shirou ruffled the silver-haired girl's head. "Some things can't be solved by a few little victories. Hatred, especially, needs a grand triumph to be washed away."

"Hatred…" Melusine repeated the word.

"Your Master Nono, her past memories aren't good. But she hides those from you—because she doesn't see you as a tool for revenge, but as a partner to raise."

"Partner…"

"Tonight, come to my room. I'll teach you the lessons Nono hasn't taught."

(End of Chapter)

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