novelraw Chapter 469: Holy Grail
Chapter 469: Holy Grail
"Naturally, it's not just these Transferred Persons; I have also made some preparations for the desires of the rest of you."
Pandora looked at Fisher, resting her hands on her lower abdomen, and said to him,
"You should have already heard of the 'wish-granting machine for Angels', the [Holy Grail]. In actuality, rather than a wish-granting machine, I prefer to call it a reward mechanism. God adults encourage the Angels to delve into forging because that pleases the deity Lord Ouyun who oversees this path. Based on our contributions, wishes will accumulate within the Holy Grail. When the wishes belonging to an Angel are filled, they can contact God adults through the Holy Grail, using His mighty power to realize their wishes."
"However, there aren't many Angels possessing wishes. Gabriel was the first among us; she requested a child from God adults, but unexpectedly went mad because of it. Michael was the second among us, but he hasn't made a corresponding wish yet. And I also hold an unfulfilled wish. If you can retrieve the Tear of the World Tree, I will give this wish to you, letting God adults expel the death from your body."
Fisher was slightly stunned. Everything seemed to be proceeding much smoother than anticipated. If Pandora could directly hand the wish over to him, then he wouldn't need to use the item Renee gave him.
Although Renee said that item could directly fill the Holy Grail, based on Fisher's experience, it definitely involved the Authority of Chaos. That would likely bring trouble, especially for Helaire or other Transferred Persons who would remain in this era and wouldn't leave.
Indeed, according to Fisher's initial plan, he was supposed to come over, find a way to fill the Holy Grail regardless of the consequences, and then detonate Renee's sigil to return to the present. But after traveling all this way with Asuka Karasawa and Gou Wen, he also began to consider the impact of his departure.
What if doing so brought the hatred of the Sanctuary upon Helaire, Asuka Karasawa, and Gou Wen?
He could just dust off his hands and leave, but they still had to remain in this era.
And seemingly to verify the truthfulness of her words, the blind Pandora suddenly stroked her lower abdomen. Following the slight movement of her fingers, Fisher faintly saw invisible ripples outlining a physical entity out of thin air that could be captured by the eye.It was a pitch-black giant cup about the size of Pandora's entire lower abdomen. The whole cup only had an outline, making it impossible to determine the specific material used. Rather than any describable material, it looked more like it was cast from a starry sky, and thus contained an entire boundless, living starry sky.
When Pandora gripped the handle of that starry sky cup, the walls of the cup seemed to sense something, slowly filling with golden liquid. That liquid filled it to the brim, and as the liquid brimmed over the cup, the entire Holy Grail appeared poised and ready, awaiting someone's use.
"This is the Holy Grail forged by the power of Lord Chain of Heaven. As you can see, my wishes have already filled the Holy Grail. As long as the Tear of the World Tree is retrieved, I can demand a wish from Lord Chain of Heaven via the Holy Grail at any time, using the Holy Grail to help you expel the death."
"...I understand."
Pandora had completely answered Fisher's doubts. Subsequently, she turned her head to look at Gou Wen.
However, Fisher had just nodded here when Gou Wen beside him suddenly sat up. He turned his head to look behind, waved in that direction, and said.
"Mikhail is back. In that case, we can set off too."
In the distance was exactly Mikhail, who seemed to have finished the scroll left for Michael.
Pandora calmly twisted her hand backward, and that starry-sky-like Holy Grail contracted completely and merged into her body. Although she ostensibly lacked the structure of eyes completely, for some reason, Fisher always felt she was looking at him.
"Since that's the case, then just like before, Remiel will be on standby for you outside the Dragon Continent. I leave the rest up to you."
She said this slowly to Fisher, seemingly also speaking to Helaire.
On the Moon-Treading Ark, everyone took their seats one after another. Just like their previous trip to the Tree Continent, Helaire led the group. Attempting to acquire the Tear of the World Tree undetected under the explicit prohibition of intervention by the Chain of Heaven indeed carried significant risk. Therefore, it lived up to the high reward Pandora promised.
Unable to wait, Asuka Karasawa told Mikhail the method of returning home she had just learned from Pandora. However, he wasn't as stimulated as Asuka Karasawa. Perhaps because he had already been in the Sanctuary for a long time, or perhaps because of his age.
In short, after hearing it, he only paused slightly before saying.
"Is that so..."
"By the way, how did you come back so quickly? Did you let Archangel Michael know?"
Facing Gou Wen's inquiry, Mikhail seemed somewhat unnatural, or perhaps, after experiencing so many awkward incidents, he also lacked the courage to face the other party.
"No, I left the scroll inside his workshop. The greetings and words I should say are all written inside."
"Are you both geniuses? Fisher too, and you as well. The scroll he wrote for little Karasawa was essentially finished in two days, and the one you gave to Archangel Michael was completed just as quickly. Do you guys not have creative bottlenecks?"
"No, it's just that I was in charge of the project in my original world, so I memorized quite a few things. After coming here, as long as my memory doesn't regress, it doesn't take long to recount them. Coupled with Archangel Michael's powerful comprehension ability, even if I skip some explanations and illustrations, he can still understand, so it didn't take much effort... we've collaborated like this many times before."
And upon hearing that Fisher was creating a scroll for her, Asuka Karasawa couldn't help looking in his direction. For a moment, the excitement and joy of just learning the way home also diminished slightly.
She pursed her lips, watching Helaire behind Fisher waving her scythe against the wind, seemingly not looking this way at all.
Helaire's lack of attention towards this side seemed to make Asuka Karasawa breathe a sigh of relief. Also because of this, despite it being merely a normal conversation and expression of gratitude between a teacher and student, it made her hesitate so much.
"Thank you, Teacher Fisher."
Fisher turned to look at her submissive appearance. After a moment of silence, he asked.
"Where is the ring you forged earlier?"
"The ring? Eh eh... oh... but I didn't forge that. Archangel Raphael helped me with that."
She took the ring she had reforged from her embrace and handed it to Fisher. Fisher placed it under the sunlight and compared it with the ring in his memory; the more he looked, the more similar it felt.
"..."
"How is it, Teacher Fisher?"
"How is what?"
"Eh, I mean... how's the forging?"
Fisher paused slightly, then smiled and said.
"Very good."
"That's great. Right, Teacher Fisher, could I ask for a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Like, could you use Teacher Fisher's very nimble knife to help me carve a name into the ring, just my name, Asuka Karasawa. The materials Archangel Raphael provided are very hard; my engraving knife can't cut into them."
Somewhat astounded, Fisher lowered the ring in his hand and looked at her beside him. At this moment, the torrent of destiny seemed to be crashing onto his face, exactly like when he saw this original ring blank in the furnace earlier.
"Why carve a name?"
"Ah, it's a small habit of mine... because when I was little, I always believed there was magic in this world, and then... um, I would always scribble and draw elsewhere with a paintbrush, pretending I could use magic. Writing my name on my belongings would cast a 'will never be lost' magic on them. Later it became a habit; I always leave my name on my belongings."
"That shares the same purpose but a different approach as the magic here. It seems this is the source of your magical talent?"
"Ehehe."
Asuka Karasawa scratched her head embarrassedly, seemingly somewhat shy. But quickly, she looked at Fisher expectedly. Hesitating for a moment, she also looked at Helaire's direction not far away, her heartbeat seemingly quickening and tangling somewhat.
As the fingers placed over her heart clenched slightly, she also struggled to open her mouth.
"Therefore, since Teacher Fisher is such an amazing magic master, the name carved by you... wu, just... the magic power should be stronger. This way, this ring will never be lost... I'll properly cherish it."
"Alright, how is your name written?"
Actually, Fisher completely knew how the other party's name was written, because long ago when he found that ring on the ocean, he saw the otherworldly name "Asuka Karasawa."
At this moment, he suddenly felt doubtful and pondered a question: where exactly did the future missing Magic Lord, namely Asuka Karasawa, go? How did this ring discovered by Captain Jesse of the Pioneering Company at the time in the Southern Continent leave Asuka Karasawa's hands?
Perhaps, the Asuka Karasawa in the future wasn't actually missing, but had already returned to the world belonging to her?
Fisher suddenly thought of such a possibility.
"My name... I, should I write it down, or..."
"Write it down on my hand."
"Eh... okay."
Asuka Karasawa glanced at Helaire somewhat excitedly and apprehensively, then finally extended her hand, slowing placing it into Fisher's palm, writing her name in Japanese.
And Fisher also slowly brought out his Fluid Sword. Following the impression in his memory, he replicated those characters one by one on the inner wall of the ring.
Perhaps it was the will of heaven that could not be defied; perhaps it was the irreversible destiny. But giving the ring to Asuka Karasawa at this moment was an act following his original heart.
"Thank you, Teacher Fisher. I will properly take care of it, even after I return to my world later."
"Mhm, although I don't know if magic can still be used in your world, before that, studying is still necessary."
Fisher's smile lasted only a second before his expression collapsed again. Taking advantage of this time, he imparted more profound magical knowledge to her.
Asuka Karasawa nodded with a bitter face, looking exactly like a high school student suddenly informed that her next physical education class was changed to a language class. This made Gou Wen and Mikhail both unable to help laughing.
During this period, the atmosphere on the wooden boat was harmonious. Fisher and Asuka Karasawa were conducting a magical class of both pain and joy. Mikhail and Gou Wen occasionally listened in, also gaining a general understanding of this subject. Mikhail was tuning the Prosthetic Body replaced by Michael; he seemed to be doing something in his brain. Fisher frequently saw his single eye light up. He said he was trying to build a remote network usable in this world; Fisher wasn't clear what that specifically meant.
Gou Wen took out envelopes and banknotes again. Naturally, he was writing another letter home to report his safety. He began humming a song as he wrote. At times like this, his mood was always good, even the gigantic whale tail behind him fanned back and forth, making him look very happy.
Standing at the stern, Helaire smilingly rowed the boat, occasionally kicking Fisher with her bare feet, or making him stand up to row when she got tired. She then chatted with Asuka Karasawa herself. Naturally, Asuka Karasawa hemmed and hawed in front of her, appearing particularly nervous and weak. Even her gaze dodged about, looking like bloodline suppression.
Oh, and there was also Nekelia.
She was spacing out, completely unaware of what she was thinking about, and didn't speak to anyone else either.
Fisher always felt this journey had already touched her soul, forcing her to ponder the philosophical questions of a Phoenix's life like absolutely unprecedented...
Who am I, where did I come from, and where am I going.
Probably something like that.
The Sanctuary was in the Southern Hemisphere, whilst the Dragon Continent was in the Northern Hemisphere. Unlike the Tree Continent which was also in the Southern Hemisphere last time, this journey was exceptionally long. Even taking the Moon-Treading Ark took six or seven hours. Only when dusk approached did they leave from the Crevice, entering mid-air.
At this moment, unfurling before Fisher at an altitude of a thousand meters was the intact continent that had yet to be cleaved in two by the future mythic war, namely the giant continent where the West Continent and Southern Continent were integrated in ancient times, the Dragon Continent.
Mm, judging by the future geography, the location of the Ideal State was situated exactly within that region of the Southern Continent.
"Everyone, we've arrived... the Dragon Continent."
During the golden curtain call of the setting sun gradually descending to the west, they had approached the final destination of this itinerary.
Returning to the Sanctuary at the time Fisher's group left. The Sixth Heaven at this moment... inside the Vortex of Wisdom remained a patch of dimness. Only beside that tightly shut window pressed a square-shaped book tightly against it; it was exactly Sir Book Artifact Eimhart.
He, who was still pretending to sleep in the crib just a moment ago, seemed to have telepathically sensed Fisher's arrival and departure. Thus, he immediately flew to the edge of the windowsill, looking far below. Unsurprisingly, he truly saw Fisher's group resting at the edge of the Fifth Heaven like tiny ants in the extreme distance.
"Fisher!"
He called out uselessly, seemingly just to express his yearning and excitement. The entire book uncontrolledly bumped against the window. But quickly, he looked behind him in lingering fear. Because of his call, the delirious Gabriel seemed to have noticed him again.
"Nob?"
"Ahhhhh, don't come over here!"
Hearing the ethereal call of the Archangel behind him, Eimhart leaned helplessly against the windowsill, shaking his head non-stop; he really seemingly couldn't hold it in anymore. Crying and sticking to the windowsill, he screamed at the Fisher below who was as small as an ant due to the extreme distance.
"Fisher! Come save me quickly! Wuwuwuwu!"
In the pitch black, Gabriel emerged from the darkness holding the crystal, her head tilted in confusion. Behind her, the hundreds of illusory eye-shaped specks of light also spun like a kaleidoscope. After spending so long together, Eimhart had already discovered that the wings on this Angel's back could roughly express her emotions and thoughts at the moment.
This meant "bewildered and puzzled."
"Nob..."
"Ahhhhh!"
Watching Gabriel edge closer bit by bit, Eimhart hurriedly turned to look down. No matter how slim the hope, he still wanted to attract Fisher's attention.
Then, during this time of turning his head, he saw Fisher and his group taking that damn Demon Baimon's boat and leaving the Sanctuary, not even turning their heads back.
"!!"
Eimhart's entire book seemed to turn gray-white. Drooping and sticking to the window, he collapsed onto the ground bit by bit, seemingly having been completely played to ruin by Destiny.
"Wuwuwu, wuwuwu! You damn Angel deserving a thousand cuts, let me go, wuwuwu!"
Eimhart sobbed aggrievedly, as if silently complaining why the great Sir Book Artifact had such a bitter fate.
"Nob... want to see a friend?"
It was precisely at this moment that Gabriel before his eyes suddenly spoke a sentence Eimhart had never heard before. This suddenly startled him. His crying voice from earlier came to an abrupt end. Subsequently, he sat up in unbelievable circumstances, looking at the still-head-tilted Gabriel before him.
"What... what did you say?"
"Fisher is Nob's friend? Nob wants to see him?"
"I want to, I want to! Mama, help me! Nob is the cutest, send me to Fisher's side!"
Seeing this, Eimhart immediately stopped crying. Immediately feigning adorableness, he flew into Gabriel's embrace, nuzzling her, as if in this moment, he, Eimhart, was Gabriel's most beloved child.
"Mama will take Nob to see his friend, but it's very dangerous outside, friends are very dangerous, chaos is also very dangerous, Nob must stay far away."
Eimhart lifted his head pitifully. Spending so much time together, he seemingly could entirely understand exactly what the delirious Gabriel meant right now.
"You're saying, I can only watch from afar, and cannot meet him?"
"Friends, dangerous."
Gabriel still emphasized this.
"Fisher dangerous my a... alright, if you count that group of ladies he's been messing with flowers and grass with, then it truly is quite dangerous. It could very well end up in being dismembered by five horses, ten thousand Machetes... but this is the past, those romantic debts are all in the future..."
As Eimhart thought, he stealthily peeked at Gabriel who was still quietly looking at him. Although he couldn't meet Fisher yet, overall it was still much better than staying here, wasn't it?
Therefore, he decisively acted cute.
"Wuwu, Mama is the best, take me to see my friend. I promise to just stay by Mama's side."
Gabriel reached out and stroked Eimhart's book cover. And in the next moment, the kaleidoscope-like wings behind her abruptly began spinning again. That terrifying aura leaked out bit by bit, not losing the slightest to Lord Tao of the Tree Continent.
"Buzz buzz buzz!"
And precisely on that day, the Angel symbolizing wisdom, Gabriel, after a temporal gap as long as a thousand years, finally left the Vortex of Wisdom once again.