Type-Moon, is this really not the Reverse Side of the World?

Aoi walked unhurriedly down the moonlit corridor. When she reached a certain room, she knocked softly.

Tap, tap.

"Come in."

With a creak, Aoi pushed open the door and saw Gilgamesh sitting on the sofa, drinking red wine.

"Aoi." Gilgamesh was clearly in a good mood, her voice filled with unconcealed delight. "You have truly shown this king a delightful play."

"It was my duty." Aoi smiled faintly, entered the room, and closed the door. She then stood there respectfully with a slight bow. As a traditional Yamato Nadeshiko, this kind of behavior came naturally to her after years of serving Tokiomi. She did it far more naturally than he ever had.

"Your Majesty, I have obtained the Command Spells from Tokiomi. When will you take me to find Jiuan?"

"This king is growing fonder of you, Aoi." Gilgamesh's smile widened. She swirled her wine glass, drank the remaining red wine with a smile, and then stood up. "Care to join this king?"

"It would be my honor." A genuine smile appeared on Aoi's lips. Her lowered gaze fell upon the two Command Spells on the back of her right hand, her eyes burning with heat. Jiuan, soon. Very soon. I'm coming to save you now. From the hands of the evil Einzbern Master! And then... we will never be separated again.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have successfully caused 'Sakura Tohsaka' to enter the 'Initial Fallen' state. Reward acquired: 'Imaginary Numbers Attribute'.]

What are YOU suddenly falling for?!

Lin Jiuan took a deep breath, suppressed the extra emotions, and closed his eyes like a hero marching to his death. "Kill me!"

Artoria hesitated for a long time. In the end, she decided she had to push the sword into his chest, to end the life that might one day become evil. But just as she moved her sword, Irisviel suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Don't, Saber! Jiuan isn't like that! He's a good child! He hasn't done anything wrong! You can't hurt him!"

"But..."

"Saber, have you forgotten your chivalry? Jiuan is just a child, he hasn't done anything wrong, and he helped us! He helped you just yesterday! If it weren't for helping you, how would we have discovered his abnormality?! He exposed himself for us!"

Artoria's hand, holding the sword, trembled. That's right. If not for Lin Jiuan's warning last night, she would have definitely been caught by Diarmuid's two spears. It could have even been fatal. That's why Heroic Spirits hide their True Names. Using a Noble Phantasm's unique properties, a weaker Servant can defeat a stronger one. If Lin Jiuan hadn't warned her, his identity wouldn't have been questioned by her and Irisviel, and he wouldn't have had to confess his identity as a Beast of Calamity. By that logic, he had exposed himself to save her!

And now she was about to kill him? Kill this little one who had never done anything wrong, who had barely been born? Kill her own savior, just because he might become evil in the future, might endanger human civilization?

The justice in her heart clashed with the chivalry she had always upheld and the kindness that still remained. A look of struggle appeared on Artoria's face. "But, if we let him grow, he will endanger all of humanity in the future."

"Saber, have you ever seen another 'Beast'?"

Artoria shook her head. Her knowledge came from the Throne of Heroes, a perspective beyond the river of time.

"Saber, have you ever seen another 'Beast' as cute as Jiuan... I mean, as human-like?"

Artoria shook her head again. In the knowledge she had received, Beasts were incredibly evil, eagerly devouring humans and human civilization to grow stronger from the moment of their birth.

"So you can't kill him!" Irisviel rushed to Lin Jiuan's side, shielding him like a mother hen protecting her chick, exposing her own body to Artoria's sword. "If you want to kill Jiuan, you have to kill me first!"

"I understand." After a long silence, Artoria's hand relaxed. The sword and armor dissipated into motes of mana. "But I'll say this now: if he ever commits an evil act, I will kill him without hesitation."

"Mhm, I'll supervise him with you. Besides, Jiuan is a good boy. He won't do anything bad, right?"

"Right!"

I'm saved. Lin Jiuan let out a long breath in his heart. Just now, Artoria's sword was just an inch from his heart. Luckily, this was the Artoria who was still lost, still chasing the Grail. If it had been Proto-Arthur, or Karna, or Ozymandias—no, even Lancer Artoria—they would have probably just shoved their weapon into his heart without a second thought, vowing to eliminate this innately evil little beast.

But this stage of Saber was different. Her obsession with saving her country surpassed everything else. The ideals she held were not as firm as other Heroic Spirits. In other words... her sword was soft.

This was why Lin Jiuan had dared to expose himself yesterday. Facing the duo of Tokiomi and Gilgamesh, he needed help. He also needed to confirm that the Grail was corrupted and have someone who could withstand the fire of other Servants to destroy it for him. There cannot be two tigers on one mountain. There can only be one supervillain in this world, and that's him!

"Alright, it's getting late. Let's get in the car and go home."

Lin Jiuan followed behind Irisviel toward the sports car, checking his new reward. From Aoi, the supplement of magic knowledge had made him arguably the most solid master of basic magecraft in the world. He had 'dabbled' in all types of spells. And Sakura's 'Imaginary Numbers' attribute was also excellent. It allowed him to traverse space and nullify enemy attacks. Its offensive capabilities needed further development, but for survival and escape, it was top-tier.

Overall, although the Tohsaka mother and daughter had fallen for somewhat inexplicable reasons, the rewards were quite good.

Whoosh.

A light breeze blew past. Lin Jiuan stopped in his tracks.

"Jiuan, what's wrong?" Irisviel noticed his strange behavior and asked with concern.

Lin Jiuan glanced back, then shook his head. "Nothing."

Why does my back suddenly feel so cold?