I want to just drift through life in Type-Moon.

Page 24

Hearing his question, Yue Zhengling turned his head away embarrassedly, but finally couldn't help asking, "Merlin, in your own opinion, what is your profession: the white-haired online swindler, the British swordsman, or the magician of Avalon?"

This is a question that has troubled many people. Now that we have met the person in question, Le Zhengling will naturally ask on behalf of the masses!

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Cathy Parluge's Gift

Actually, as soon as the question was asked, Yue Zhengling felt something was wrong. How could she ask such a question without thinking? She should at least wait until she was more familiar with the other person before asking it!

He wanted to say it was a misunderstanding, that you didn't need to answer the question, but what came out was: "Yeah, after all, seeing you looking like a smiling con artist, I'm really looking forward to hearing the real truth..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Yue Zhengling immediately covered his mouth. These were his true thoughts, but that wasn't what he wanted to say. Why did his mouth stop moving?

Merlin's smile gradually faded, and he looked Yue Zhengling up and down, then stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment.

"I see, rationality evaporates, huh? Looks like you've been greatly affected." After saying this inexplicable sentence, he didn't explain to Yue Zhengling, who was looking at him with questioning eyes, but instead spoke to himself.

"I imagine your story must be quite interesting. Could you tell me about it?" The magic wand tapped the ground, and three chairs and a table appeared beside him. "No need to cover it up. Unless you don't speak, what you say will only be what you want to say."

The magician pointed to Yue Zhengling and said, "This is the Inner Sea of ​​the Stars, the place where Earth's planets place their souls. Still in your infancy, you cannot escape the influence of what's called 'Reality.' Your current speech is like direct thought communication; I hope you're aware of this."

"And," Merlin said with a meaningful smile, "I suspect that even when you're an adult, given the influence of other individuals, you'll still have no choice but to tell the truth."

"!!!!" Although he didn't quite understand, Yue Zhengling realized one thing: he couldn't lie now! This was a huge problem because humans are used to saying things they don't mean, or saying things they don't express.

But now, being told this by a Grand Magician candidate who, though seemingly unreliable, possesses unparalleled wisdom and insight, he knows he has no choice but to accept that the other party's words are true.

Even so, she lowered her hands that were tightly covering her mouth, only making "mmm" sounds.

"Oh dear, it seems you're still a little nervous, but that's alright, we have plenty of time."

Merlin spoke with a smile, radiating an aura that inspired confidence and relaxation.

But Yue Zhengling covered her mouth and shook her head.

"You're really wary. It seems you've suffered something bad. It must have been tough for you." The magician gave a wry smile, took his seat, and put his cane aside.

"Since that's the case, I won't force you. But as the host here, let me properly entertain you, this rare guest." He tapped his index finger on the stone table, and a pot of black tea emitting a faint fragrance and three teacups already filled with black tea appeared out of thin air.

Watching this move, Yue Zhengling was also a little curious, and he was also attracted by the aroma of tea. After all, as a soul for more than a month, he had not tasted any flavors. At that time, he had even lost his appetite. But now his body seemed to have returned to its physical form, and his four senses (including his sight) had reappeared. He could no longer suppress his desire for flavors.

Without much hesitation, Yue Zhengling sat down opposite Meilin, picked up his teacup, and the rich aroma of tea mixed with the fragrance of flowers around him subtly relaxed him.

Le Zhengling looked down at the orange-red, unidentified tea, then took a sip without hesitation. The aroma spread in her mouth, a faint fragrance intertwined with a sweet aftertaste.

"Isn't it delicious? This is flower tea made with the flowers of the Dreamweed, which is no longer found in the outside world. It's my favorite." Merlin said with a smile after watching Yue Zhengling take a sip.

"This place has everything, and it has nothing. It's a place where you can see everything, and it's also a place where you can't interfere with everything. You can confide in us without worry, and no one else will hear you except us."

Hearing his words, Yue Zhengling frowned, looking at his reflection in the teacup, but he couldn't see it clearly no matter what he did. "I can tell you, but in exchange, I hope you can also resolve my doubts."

Merlin's smile instantly brightened, and without the slightest hesitation or confusion, he replied, "Of course! After all, spiritual nourishment is indispensable to us, and having our doubts answered is the greatest pleasure." Having said this, he exaggeratedly spread his hands, "Come on, tell your big brother everything. Don't let your current appearance fool you; back in the day, I was a great guide to a king..."

However, before he could finish speaking, a blinding white flash of light struck his face. Strangely, the scene only lasted for a moment.

But in Yue Zhengling's eyes, whether it was Fufu jumping up and kicking, or Merlin being kicked in the face by Fufu, making his otherwise handsome face look ridiculous, they were all seen by him in great detail as if in slow motion.

This familiar scene filled Yue Zhengling with a feeling of pleasure. "Hehe, Merlin, you deserved it. And Fufu, how many times have you done this so skillfully?"

Merlin, who was completely overwhelmed, was unable to answer the question. Meanwhile, Fou, who had launched a retaliatory attack on Merlin, nimbly spun around a few times in the air before gently landing on the table. Then, it sniffed the untouched cup of tea and revealed a subtle expression.

It used its paws to turn the cup of tea around so that it was facing Merlin, and then it put its head close to the rim of the cup and began to lick it.

Looking at this exceptionally intelligent and absolutely adorable creature, Yue Zhengling was torn. He really wanted to pet it, but considering its identity and its attitude towards humans, he hesitated to act.

After finishing her tea, Fufu seemed to sense his gaze, took a few steps closer to him, and then squatted in the middle of the table, watching him without moving.

"Huh? Fufu, do you want to play a game with me where whoever blinks first loses?" Yue Zhengling looked at the mascot who hadn't grown up yet and asked softly.

“Four~~~” Fufu shook her head and stretched out her little paws at him. Seeing this, Yue Zhengling also extended his index finger. The first contact between the man and the beast caused the place to emit a pure white light.

Merlin, who had crawled up from under the table, saw this and his smile turned into pure astonishment. "Oh dear, this is truly..."

After the light disappeared, Fufu was the first to retract her paws, yawned, and collapsed wearily onto the table.

Le Zhengling, however, was completely bewildered and had no idea what had just happened.

Merlin, as a third party, saw that all the colorful orbs of light inside his body disappeared—or rather, all turned colorless, and Yue Zhengling's soul became even more solid.

"Hey, fellow creature, when Cathy Palugue wakes up, be sure to thank it properly~" Merlin reached out and picked up the sleeping Fou, saying gently.

Chapter Fifty-Eight (Short Title): None of Your Business

Full title: On whether you, this white-haired online scammer, are the Magician of Avalon or the Sword Saint of Britain

"Fufu, what did you do to me?" Yue Zhengling asked, looking at the demon cat sleeping peacefully in Merlin's arms, puzzled.

"Oh my, you call Cathy Parlug 'Fou'~ Oh, I have to say, it's a very suitable name. After all, for someone like me who bites my tongue even when reciting a spell, Cathy Parlug is quite a tongue twister. I've decided! From now on, I'll call her Fou too."

Merlin did not answer Yue Zhengling's question, but instead praised the name Fufu, as if Fufu's kick to him earlier had no effect on him at all.

"I'm curious why I wasn't angry just now?" Merlin asked, looking at Yue Zhengling.

"No, I don't think you have the right to be angry. After all, you were the one who threw Fufu out first, and you even wanted to trick it again, right? That's too awful." As soon as Yue Zhengling finished speaking, her brows furrowed again, and the hand on the table twitched, but in the end, she didn't raise it to cover her mouth.

"Hahaha, really? So that's how you see it?" Merlin smiled awkwardly, then sat back down in his seat with Fou in his arms. He picked up his cup, intending to drink, but paused as soon as he picked it up.

He casually put down his teacup, reached out and picked up the cup of tea that Fufu had licked. Although he noticed that the tea had decreased in volume, he still drank it.

Le Zhengling's eye twitched. If it were before, he would have subtly reminded the other party, but now he said it directly, "I said, that's what Fufu drank. Don't you mind? Also, what did you put in Fufu's tea before?"

Merlin put down his teacup and gave a mischievous look, pointing at Fou's cup of tea. "If you want to know, just try it. I also want to know how other people react when they drink that stuff."

Following Merlin's gesture, Yue Zhengling looked over, thought for a moment, and then stood up to hold the cup of tea in front of him, carefully comparing it with his own.

The color and aroma were exactly the same, but he didn't know the taste since he hadn't tried it. Out of curiosity and trust in Merlin, he took a small sip.

The taste was the same as his own cup, but when he put down his teacup and looked at Merlin, Merlin looked very surprised and said, "Oh my, you actually drank it? Aren't you afraid I poisoned it?"

"No, I believe you. After all, you wouldn't hurt Fufu, would you? And if it were really harmful to me, I think you would stop me." Yue Zhengling replied earnestly.

Upon hearing his words, Merlin exclaimed "Oh dear!" as if he didn't know what to say.

After some time, Yue Zhengling still didn't feel anything was wrong. He couldn't help but ask Merlin, "I thought this was sleeping tea, but it seems it isn't. What did you add to it?"

Upon hearing the words "Sleeping Tea," Merlin's eyes lit up, and he looked at Yue Zhengling as if he had found a kindred spirit. "So you've also studied that stuff! Back in Britain, I used this trick to escape several women's pursuits! Hmm, we have plenty of time anyway, how about we exchange some tips?"

Le Zhengling's expression became conflicted, because Merlin hadn't said what he added, which made him even more concerned. "What exactly did you put in it?"

"Oh, don't worry about it. That's something that doesn't work on either of us. After all, we don't need to sleep." Merlin stroked Fou, who was sleeping on his lap. Fou twitched her ears in her sleep.

"So it really is Sleeping Tea. But why do you want to make Fufu fall asleep?" Yue Zhengling said, puzzled, then looked at Merlin, who was petting the cat, with envy.

As if noticing his expression, Merlin gently stroked Fou's smooth fur. "Because there are some things I don't want Cathy Parlug to hear."

Merlin wanted to say something more, but in the end it turned into a sigh. He turned to look at the sky and said, "Give flowers to the land, give dreams to mankind, give only the future to history, but what will be given to Cathy Parlug?"

This seemingly nonsensical statement was both an exclamation and a conclusion, but Yue Zhengling knew Fufu's fate, so he said, in his current state of speaking without thinking, "She probably lost her rationality and lived as an ordinary animal."

"Is that so? So this is all you know about Cathy Parlug's ending?" Merlin looked at him enigmatically, turning his gaze away from the sky. "Then I'd like to ask, was Cathy Parlug happy?"

Having gotten somewhat used to her new situation, Yue Zhengling gave up struggling, but said evasively, "The definition of happiness is something to ask Fufu in the future."

“Indeed…” Merlin regained his smile. “Then let’s get down to business, my fellow human. Can you tell me why you’ve come here?”

"I don't know either." He originally wanted to keep quiet, but Yue Zhengling still spoke up. Although his answer didn't reveal any information, he wanted to get something useful from Merlin. If things continued like this, he would have to answer every question Merlin asked, and this unequal exchange was giving him a headache.

"Don't worry, I don't mean to take advantage of you. And unless you reveal it, I won't ask you about the 'future'. After all, I'm already bored enough being locked up here. The only thing I can do is watch the 'present' of the outside world. If I knew about the 'future,' I would definitely starve to death."

Merlin waved his hand, trying to convince Yue Zhengling of his words.

"I know, after all, you are the oldest NEET in human history, and the kind of useless person who treats everything happening [now] as a drama while squatting, and keeps making sarcastic remarks while watching."

"That's going too far. I read it very carefully before giving my opinion. Besides, it's just me and Fou here. If I don't look at [Now], I can only tease it for fun." Merlin looked completely innocent.

"So that's why Fufu hates you so much! How many times did you do it to make a primate killer beat you up all the time? And you've survived so many beatings, can I say you're incredibly lucky?!"

"A primate killer... huh? So you came here from the other side of the main branch. No wonder I couldn't find any information about you in this world's 'present'." Merlin ignored his sarcastic remark and extracted the most important information from his words.

Le Zhengling gave him a "Oh no" look.

"Alright, don't worry about it. Now that I know this, I'll let you ask me your questions. Wouldn't that make the exchange much fairer?" Merlin smiled like a fox.

"Okay, then please tell me your answer regarding whether you, this white-haired online swindler, are the Magician of Avalon or the Sword Saint of Britain."

The air suddenly became quiet.

Finally, Merlin's eye twitched, and his expression completely collapsed as he replied, "None of your business!"

Chapter Fifty-Nine: A Pleasant Chat (Part One)

"Ah, you're talking about fair trade again? Your words are making my curiosity very difficult... After all, getting answers from you is an incredibly interesting thing," Yue Zhengling said jokingly.

Merlin rolled his eyes and raised his hands in surrender: "Although I don't know why you're curious about this, please consider me as the person involved. If I were in your shoes, you would laugh at me no matter which one I admit to, right? Besides, what white-haired online scam? I haven't lied to anyone from beginning to end!"

"Oh ho, is this how you shirk responsibility?" Le Zhengling looked at him with disdain. "I really wish the doctor could see your true colors right now. It would definitely wake him up from his lazy, good-for-nothing state."

"What doctor? I thought you meant Gala..." Before he could finish speaking, Merlin hurriedly picked up his teacup and took a sip to cover up his embarrassment.

Upon hearing this, Yue Zhengling narrowed his eyes. "So that's how it is. You fooled Galahad too..."

"No, no, no, that's why people like you with futuristic vision are really annoying!"

"No, you're mistaken. I don't have future vision, or even the Magic Eye, and I can't be sure if this will actually happen in your worldline," Yue Zhengling said with a shrug, seemingly unconcerned.

Merlin looked at him with a "you're kidding me" expression. "Stop joking, my kind. How could you not have the Mystic Eyes?"

"So, ever since you met me, you've been calling me 'the same kind,' 'the same kind,' what's going on? I'm clearly just an ordinary person, okay?"

Le Zhengling rolled his eyes. He was very clear about his origins. Whether in his past life or this life, his soul was definitely that of an ordinary person... probably.

"Oh dear, if that's what you think, there's nothing I can do. Even as a nightmare, I can't wake someone who's pretending to be asleep." Merlin feigned distress, his expression shifting from a constant smile to something more lively.

"...What do you mean by pretending to be asleep? I'm Zhou Shuren!" Le Zhengling retorted without any politeness. "Also, don't change the subject. You said you'd answer my question, but you've gone off-topic without me even realizing it."

"Don't worry about such trivial things. It's rare for someone to chat with me, so how about we talk about something more cheerful?"

"Okay, let's talk about how you came to Avalon. I'd be really happy if you told me."

"..." Merlin's smile gradually disappeared.

"Huh? What's wrong? Weren't we going to talk about something fun? Why are you not saying anything now?" Le Zhengling looked at him teasingly, unaware that he was making a huge mistake. After speaking, he calmly picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Merlin, who had been squinting, opened and closed his mouth slightly. Then, Yue Zhengling spat out all the tea he had just drunk with a "poof," sprang up from his chair, and stuck out his tongue, which was red from the heat, and kept blowing on it.

After a while, feeling much better on his tongue, Yue Zhengling glared at Merlin and shouted, "What the hell are you doing?!"

"Huh? What did you say? Did I do something?" Merlin looked at Yue Zhengling with a puzzled expression, and even pointed to the teacup, saying, "The tea is a bit hot, be careful. Also, these tables and chairs are not very sturdy. After all, I am just a little magician, and magic is not my specialty. They might collapse if you exert a little force."

Having finally realized that his partner had a cunning and scheming side, Yue Zhengling obediently stood still, lowered his head, and said, "I'm sorry, I was wrong!"

Merlin smiled and nodded twice. "Alright, don't stand there, let's sit down and talk slowly."

Circumstances dictate that one must yield to circumstances, so Yue Zhengling had no choice but to lower his head, sit with his bottom on one-third of the stool, straighten his upper body, and sit upright.

Merlin chuckled and shook his head. "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Ask whatever you want, but please ask some meaningful questions."

Hearing Merlin's words, Yue Zhengling breathed a sigh of relief. After all, he had already been tricked by the other party once, and the other party had forgiven him. After considering for a moment, he asked, "What year is it in human society in this parallel world?"

"It's July 2005 in the Gregorian calendar," Merlin said, shifting his gaze to the side and glancing at the document.

"So, how many times has the Holy Grail War been held in this world?" Upon hearing this timeline, Le Zheng's pupils constricted sharply. He knew that the Holy Grail War in the FGO route took place in 2004, and in Fuyuki City. If Merlin answered that it was once…

"I don't know what it's like in other parallel worlds, but I can tell you that this parallel world has only had one Holy Grail War, and it ended with Solomon's victory. Well, actually, I'm quite glad Solomon participated, otherwise, it's very likely that..."

"It will be our king, right?" Yue Zhengling, who had no sense of propriety, suddenly blurted out.

Merlin gave him a strange look. "My King? You also call that child my King?"

Realizing she had misspoke again, Yue Zhengling sighed helplessly, "Alright, that's just a habitual nickname. I'll call her Artoria or King Arthur, okay?"

"Oh my, you even know her name and real gender. You're not to be underestimated."

Although he found it strange that Yue Zhengling knew these things, he didn't intend to investigate further unless the other party told him. It was basic courtesy, and he believed that the other party would mention it "inadvertently" later.

After all, the so-called "rationality evaporation" is not an ability that can be easily avoided. Even though Cathy Parluge had already helped him resolve it once, it only slightly reduced the intensity of the influence.

As the most fundamental reason, the soul is exceptionally susceptible to the influence of homomorphic aliens from other worlds. Without the constraints of a physical body, even Cathy Parlug, who holds the principle of "comparison," cannot suppress Yue Zhengling, who is influenced by a similar origin.

Thinking about this, Merlin became curious about the other parallel worlds' [Le Zhengling].

"By the way, speaking of King Arthur, don't you have anything to say?" Yue Zhengling looked at Merlin with a gossipy gaze.

"If you're trying to say that I knew her fate but still chose to leave silently, I don't want to argue. Even if I had stayed by her side back then, the outcome wouldn't have changed. It was the way the world works, the fate predetermined by the times."