bookbashuk Page 138
Page 138
“Someone will explain it to you later. Now, if you have any requests, you can speak first.” Yubustakuhaid didn’t intend to explain, but instead walked to his side, stroked his beard, and said with a relaxed expression.
"—I'd like to borrow the underground amniotic fluid pool." Le Zhengling didn't dwell on this issue. Einzbern's unusual attitude was predictable. Rather than wasting time here, he might as well finish what he had wanted to do for a long time.
“No problem, I’ll have someone take you there right away.” Yubustakuhaid casually pointed to a homunculus, and the female homunculus stepped forward.
"Take this distinguished guest to the underground amniotic fluid pool. Do not concern yourself with anything else."
"Yes, clan leader." The maid bowed slightly and then said to Yue Zhengling, "Please follow me, distinguished guest."
Like a machine programmed with commands, the maid turned and left after saying those words.
Le Zhengling gave Yubustakuhaid a deep look. “I hate owing favors to others, so I’ll tell you something – Ilya is the final fate of Einzbern, and the Third Law will reappear in Ilya’s hands.”
After saying this, he ignored Yubusta Kuhaid and the shocked Emiya Kiritsugu, and followed the maid into the depths of the underground.
Le Zhengling didn't expect the other party to agree so easily. That amniotic fluid pool was no ordinary thing; in fact, it could be said to be the core of the Einzbern family.
All homunculus are born from there, and homunculus that have reached the end of their lifespan are also discarded there. If something goes wrong there, the Einzbern race will be destroyed.
As it turned out, he had only said a few words, and the other party had let him in so easily, without even asking what he was going to do. They really didn't treat him like an outsider. He had said those words specifically to create distance between them.
With deep doubts and worries, Le Zhengling carried Olga Marie away from Yubustakuhaid's sight.
"Chief, is it really okay to let him do as he pleases? Besides, the amniotic fluid pool—"
“That’s none of your business.” While stroking his white beard, which resembled an ice-covered waterfall, the old man Ahat stared intently at Kiritsugu with eyes that showed no signs of aging, emanating from his deep-set eyes.
“You heard what he was saying, and I can tell you here that he should have been someone we could never reach! But for some reason, he has formed an inextricable bond with the Einzbern family, and our clan’s tragic wish has seen a bright future.”
“But didn’t that person say that the Greater Grail has been corrupted?” Kiritsugu was not afraid of the old man Ahat’s gaze.
"So what? Since it's polluted, let's purify it. Even if we can't purify it, we can set it up again in a different place. And the hope I'm talking about isn't just about the Greater Grail." Yubustakuhaid stopped stroking his beard and looked eagerly in the direction where Yue Zhengling had disappeared.
"Now that the previous one has returned, and this one has appeared before us just as she predicted, it means that we, the Einzbern, have once again fully mastered the method to realize the Third Law. All we need to do now is be patient."
"And the information the Demonic Marshal gave us about the Perfect Body has been confirmed to be true. Therefore, we are fully capable of breaking free from the limitations of the Spirit Realm and holding another Holy Grail War to reach the Root. Servants? Hmph, what will descend into the Perfect Body at that time will not be those weak things, but true Heroic Spirits!"
Yubustakuhaid suppressed the fervor in his eyes and looked at Kiritsugu Emiya with a stagnant gaze. "Don't do anything unnecessary, Kiritsugu. I can give you access to the Holy Grail's wish-granting mechanism, because we Einzberns pursue something deeper."
Kiritsugu lowered his head, indicating his submission to Yubustakuhaid.
"However, we still haven't figured out who is inside this perfect body. We initially thought it was the soul of the Winter Saintess, but it turned out to have attracted something else. What secrets are those seven so-called class cards hiding?"
Yubustakuhaid never imagined that Le Zhengling was the prototype of that body, but the aura he felt during the ceremony back then is still incredibly profound to this day.
Because that is what all magicians have pursued generation after generation. Although it is mixed with many different auras, and even the aura of the Root was almost covered up, he can be sure that the other party is an existence flowing from the Root.
Maintain awe for the unknown and respect for the origins.
That aura was something the Einzbern were not capable of discerning at present. Furthermore, because of the other party, the Winter Saintess had taken the initiative to contact them, which meant that the Greater Grail had already gained consciousness. In this Holy Grail War, the Einzbern were extremely likely to win.
Even if the Greater Grail is indeed corrupted as the Root says, the Holy Grail War will still take place. We'll see the truth then. The Einzbern family has already found another path, so even if they lose this Holy Grail War, it won't matter.
Moreover, he was right to say that Yue Zhengling was a member of the Einzbern. She was reborn in the Einzbern. According to the Winter Saintess, the shortcomings of this strange being were made up by the evil of this world that she had nurtured.
Whether it was his body or his soul, everything was related to Einzbern. More importantly, he could sense that although the other party was wary of Einzbern, he did not reject or harbor any malice towards him.
Golem Jubstacheit, the father of the homunculi, also detected all the marks that an Einzbern homunculus should have on the other, as long as the most fundamental command to "complete the third magic and save all mankind".
Furthermore, the other party possesses abilities far superior to those of the current androids, which is why Einzbern placed such high hopes on them.
Even if they don't understand the other party's true appearance, even if they know that the other party may not exist in this parallel world, even if the other party may leave this world line in the future, none of it matters to Einzbern.
Even if they ultimately fail, this being possesses a potential that surpasses all Einzberns, and he believes that one day they will be able to complete the Third Law and save all mankind.
He could guess why the other party needed to go to the amniotic fluid pool. When the other party was created, the other party's physical functions were not yet complete, and then the other party left Einzbern. Even if it is called a perfect body, it is impossible to be truly perfect before it is truly completed.
Another reason is probably that Animusfia, who was being carried, had lost a lot of blood and was in a near-death state. Entering the amniotic fluid pool allowed her body to recover quickly.
Yubustakuhaid has confirmed that Olga Marie's identity is likely genuine; previously, when he spoke with Olga Marie, he had remained skeptical about her identity.
However, after detecting the sudden appearance of the two and then seeing their conversation with someone from another parallel world, Yubustakuhaid had no more doubts.
Because the other party had no reason to go to great lengths to deceive them; the conversations between the other party and the organization called Chaldea were very concise and contained no logical errors.
Whether it's "the destruction of human reason," "the summoning of heroic spirits," "the twenty-seven dead apostles," or "the successful Holy Grail War of 2004," these special terms are not something that can be made up at will.
The three families that formed the Holy Grail War have detailed records of the words and deeds of a certain person, namely the witness to the establishment of the Greater Grail and the second magic user, Kaleidoscope.
Although the other party had mentioned these terms, especially his claim that he was one of the Twenty-Seven Ancestors of the Dead Apostles, there is no such thing as the "Twenty-Seven Ancestors of the Dead Apostles" in this world. However, this still indirectly confirms that such an existence exists in a parallel world.
Therefore, Yubustakuhaid placed a huge bet on Le Zhengling. Even if he did not complete the Third Law in this world, as long as this great undertaking could be accomplished in some other world, the Einzberns, as a race deeply entangled with the Third Law, would be able to sense its completion in any parallel world.
In this way, their mission in Einzbern can truly come to an end.
The influence of the [Law] cannot be confined to one world. When it is completed, all parallel worlds will be changed as a result. As long as it is successful even once, it represents the [Absolute].
A hint of relief flashed in Yubustakuhaid's eyes. Although that future might be far away, and he might not even be able to see it, he was still willing to give everything for that wish.
Since the Winter Saintess Rislesie Justessa von Einzbern sacrificed herself, all records concerning the Third Law have been lost, leaving only information about the Holy Grail system, the Holy Grail War, and alchemical data on the creation of the Lesser Grails. Einzbern can finally have a happy ending.
The second set of Holy Grail War data brought by the Jewel Elder, the return of the Winter Saintess, the prophecy about Ilya, and the presence of Le Zhengling, who can be entrusted with the wishes of the Einzbern family—everything is so wonderful.
Completely unaware of Yubustakuhaid's thoughts, Le Zhengling walked down the spiraling stone steps.
The maids leading the way carried candles for illumination, and as they entered, the lamps embedded in the walls lit up with a cold blue light.
With the sound of flowing water and a faint fishy smell, Yue Zhengling knew that she was getting closer and closer to her destination.
"Da Vinci, Shion, next up is the Secret of the Einzbern family, it's not suitable for you to watch anymore?"
Le Zhengling turned her head and looked at the projection that was still floating beside her. In fact, after Le Zhengling stepped into Einzbern Castle, only the two of them remained as projections on the Chaldea side.
Chapter 302 Einzbern (Part 3)
“Oh, Ling, since no one has driven us away, it means they’ve accepted our existence. Why are you feeling sorry for the Einzberns?” Leonardo da Vinci smiled, showing no embarrassment whatsoever.
“Hum, Da Vinci is right, and I’m very interested in where you’re going next. Maybe I can get some inspiration from there.” Ziyuan also seemed to think it was a matter of course.
Le Zhengling frowned. These two were really impolite. But just like Leonardo da Vinci said, since Einzbern didn't say anything, it shouldn't matter too much.
But what he was about to do could be considered private, so he still found a reason to get rid of the two of them: "Olga is going to appear completely naked on camera later, do you really think it's appropriate for you to watch?"
"Okay, all male staff, get out of the control room. What happens next must not be recorded on video or audio, and any written records should be edited appropriately." Da Vinci clapped his hands and began to drive the men away.
Upon hearing this order, several men in the control room let out groans of fear, drawing disdain from the women.
Although the doctor wanted to stay, he stood up as well after seeing Rafe get up and pack his things to leave. He put away the scroll in front of him, but at that moment, the doctor looked at Leonardo da Vinci, who was not moving at all.
"————, Leonardo da Vinci, I remember your gender is——" Before the doctor could finish speaking, Leonardo da Vinci elbowed him in the stomach.
“Mona Lisa, my current gender is Mona Lisa~” Da Vinci smiled at Dr. Roman. “Actually, Roman, it’s fine if you don’t leave. After all, you’re a medical professional, and during routine physical examinations, you’ve already played with every female body in Chaldea, haven’t you?”
"Da Vinci, that's slander! I am a person of high moral character, and I see no difference between men and women! More importantly, my heart belongs to Magical Merry! You mortals are no match for my Merry-chan!"
The doctor retorted loudly, as if he were a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
Da Vinci touched his face, then placed his hand on his ample breasts, looking at the doctor with a resentful gaze. "So, my body still can't satisfy you, forcing you to rely on online idols for emotional support?"
As soon as Leonardo da Vinci finished speaking, everyone in the control room, regardless of gender, looked at the doctor with the eyes of someone looking at scum. After all, according to the gossip circulating in Chaldea, Leonardo da Vinci only stayed because the doctor tried hard to persuade him and then became interested in the doctor.
Some even say that the reason the doctor and da Vinci had such a good relationship is because the doctor has already taken advantage of da Vinci. And this rumor is based on evidence, because everyone has seen the doctor and da Vinci together all the time recently.
Furthermore, the doctor frequently entered Leonardo da Vinci's workshop and stayed there all night. Although the historical Leonardo da Vinci was male, the Leonardo da Vinci summoned by Chaldea appeared as a woman. In her own words, before true genius, gender or age is irrelevant.
Moreover, as one of the few geniuses to leave her mark on human history, she was also an exceptionally beautiful young man and woman during her lifetime. There is even a legend that the painting Mona Lisa is a self-portrait of her.
Leonardo da Vinci, summoned as a heroic spirit, possessed a body as perfect as a goddess's—something he obtained through his own will when he "redesigned" his own body as a woman (Mona Lisa).
The world has acknowledged this legend, which is why Leonardo da Vinci can be summoned as a woman.
“Actually, Leonardo da Vinci, I also have doubts about your gender.” Le Zhengling found the topic quite interesting. “Logically speaking, Mona Lisa should be intersex. That means what you’re pulling out might be bigger than the doctor’s, right?”
Le Zhengling's words caused the atmosphere in the control room to suddenly become quiet, as if time had been paused for a moment.
“Hum, this is a good research topic. Just like Schrödinger’s cat box, the result remains a mystery until it is opened.” It was Shion, who took the topic very seriously, who broke the awkward atmosphere.
As one of the world's top researchers, topics related to gender are not embarrassing for her at all. Whether it's men or women, as long as it piques her interest, she will do everything she can to find out the truth.
“Ling, I don’t remember teaching you to be like this.” Da Vinci looked at Yue Zhengling with feigned heartache.
Le Zhengling rolled her eyes in annoyance. "I'm just thinking academically. Heroic Spirits are multifaceted. You know, King Arthur could also be a woman."
"How is this possible~" Although the doctor's face could not be seen, his voice still came through.
"Heh, why not? If nothing unexpected happens, you'll see later." Le Zhengling sneered twice. "Alright, enough nonsense. Anyone in your area who is biologically male but sexually female, get out of here."
Le Zhengling stopped in his tracks, for he had already seen the enormous archway. “Speaking of which, Da Vinci, can’t you really go back to your workshop?”
"No, I know this might upset you, but I'm really worried about Olga. We can monitor your condition from here. Even though, as you said, Olga is just unconscious from blood loss, I don't want her to disappear from our sight again."
Although Leonardo da Vinci was smiling, his tone was very serious. "Publicly speaking, Olga is the director of our Chaldea, and as an employee, of course I have to please my superior. Privately speaking, Olga is my junior, and I can't abandon her."
"I think the entire Chaldea thinks the same way." Leonardo da Vinci concluded with this statement before expelling all the men and taking complete control of the control room.
"Now, let me teach you how to use that bracelet. Listen carefully, Ling." Da Vinci carefully checked the computer program and turned off all monitoring methods while instructing Yue Zhengling on how to use the bracelet.
In fact, Da Vinci knew that her actions were unnecessary. After all, the reason they were able to contact Yue Zhengling was thanks to Ziyuan's assistance. She was well aware that all of Chaldea's procedures were now under the other party's control.
However, this was something that could not be helped. Chaldea was simply outmatched. Even a genius like her was only one person and could not compete with the Atlas Institute, which had countless geniuses.
Most importantly, according to Ling, this person from Atlas Academy can be considered her strong ally. Although she likes Chaldea very much, it doesn't mean that she is on Chaldea's side.
Chapter 303 Einzbern (Part 4)
Ultimately, what the present world will become has little to do with those who have become Heroic Spirits.
Heroic Spirits are beings detached from the timeline; they can be summoned in all eras, whether past or future. However, only the "world" can summon the true form of a Heroic Spirit; humans cannot summon the true form, but only Servants as their clones.
Leonardo da Vinci knew very well that she was just an avatar. If the core of this avatar was destroyed, she would return as a group of intelligence entities, and the real Leonardo da Vinci existing on the Throne of Heroes would only receive a new set of memories.
She once thought the existence of Servants was rather pathetic, because she was Leonardo da Vinci, but da Vinci was not her.
When summoned, the capacity of the spirit origin limits the memories that the servant can bring from their original body. Although the memories from their previous life will not be lost, the memories brought back from other timelines may be completely lost.
In the game, these memories are what are called experience points. If one becomes a Heroic Spirit after death, and the level is one, then this one template is summoned to various timelines. These templates gain experience, grow, and eventually return, and the original body on the Throne of Heroes will also grow.
Moreover, this growth is endless for the original body on the Throne of Heroes, while the Servant only has the experience gained from this summoning, and this additional level has an upper limit depending on the size of the Spirit Origin at the time of summoning.
However, this spirit origin capacity is not absolute. Although once it has been summoned, even if the spirit origin capacity is increased, it will no longer gain experience from the original body, but after the spirit origin rebirth, the capacity of this spirit origin will immediately increase, and it can hold more things.
However, Chaldea is still in the theoretical stage of this technology, but she has actually mastered the key to it.
That is about the materials needed for Spirit Origin Enhancement and the compatible blank Spirit Origin for the corresponding class. The former must be a high-magic-power-aggregated material, and she has already found the source for the latter.
These are all her disciples. Ling mentioned inadvertently that he had obtained various magical aggregates in the Star Sea, and also mentioned that the incomplete descending phantoms of heroic spirits had something special about them.
Leonardo da Vinci used himself as the first test subject to experiment with this theory.
She gained combat experience from virtual battlefields, and materials from her own savings and the black market. As for the final blank spirit origin compatible with the corresponding class, she replicated and miniaturized the Heroic Spirit Summoning System, creating a simple, one-time-use magic base, which she called a Summoning Talisman.
Although she can only produce about fifteen copies each month, and the summoned heroic spirit phantoms are not always of the class she needs, over the years she has managed to advance herself by two stages through this method.
Yue Zhengling once told her that Servants cannot face the Demon Pillars alone, but judging from his words, he probably meant Servants that have not been strengthened. If they could be strengthened like this over the years, Da Vinci was confident that she could defeat the so-called Demon Pillars.
More importantly, even if she can't defeat her opponent, having greater power isn't a bad thing. At least when Rafe takes action, she'll have more confidence and be able to save more people.
After listening to the story of the burning of humanity, Leonardo da Vinci pondered a question: why should such a heavy burden be placed on Fujimaru Ritsuka, who doesn't even know magic but happens to have the aptitude to become a Master, and on Mash, whose lifespan is already short and who is destined to never gain freedom?
This approach is simply incomprehensible. In such matters, the adults should bear the primary responsibility, not the innocent children.
She had shared this idea with Roman and Ling separately. The former fell into deep self-loathing, while the latter looked at her with a strange expression.
I remember Ling saying something like this back then: "Da Vinci-chan, the people who save the world are usually teenagers between the ages of fourteen and eighteen. Whether it's riding a giant biological weapon to beat up the apostles, riding a Gundam to stop two factions from fighting each other, or even inexplicably traveling to another world to save humanity, this has become a law."
At that time, I thought he was joking, even though I was seriously talking to him about this.
“Saving the world isn’t a literary work. Such a momentous matter cannot be wrong. Compared to teenagers who lack maturity and experience, shouldn’t adults shoulder everything?” That’s how she retorted to him.
As a result, the way he looked at me became even stranger, and then, at that moment, he said something that sent chills down my spine.
How do you know this isn't a story?
Yes, she almost forgot that what Ling told her was a story called "Humanity Burned" that happened in a parallel world. It was really terrifying to think about at the time.
"So, Da Vinci, you think any irrationality is just a plot necessity. The audience needs a dramatic plot and a happy ending filled with love and justice. Under this 'demand,' the audience for this story becomes teenagers, so teenagers become the protagonists."
After listening to Ling's words, I fell into deep thought about life.
"Well, Da Vinci-chan, you don't need to worry about so much. No one can be sure that they are really a character in a predetermined story. I think, therefore I am. When you start to doubt your way of being, you might as well keep thinking."
She recorded these words, which seemed to be both comforting and resigning, in an important manuscript. It was these words that made her question the existence of Heroic Spirits.
"Da Vinci, is it ready over there? I'm going in now." After Da Vinci taught him how to operate the bracelet, Yue Zhengling tried it out briefly and found that although it looked small, it had a full range of functions.