Little Garden 56-60

Title: Weak, Pitiful, and Powerless

Seeing Aslan, who didn’t even look at her, Manaka became angry. She was extremely furious.

A girl like blank paper, like a doll—a mere extension of the Root.

When she saw Aslan, she instantly fell in love with him, completely loving this genuine “human” who was just like her.

For the first time, her identity as a human girl began to function.

Because she foresaw unknown things, a fresh feeling arose, and she gained awareness to think for herself. She was no longer the heartless doll she once was.

Like the Root’s children, she became a new life and individual with emotions and ideology.

Now, the newborn Manaka was angry for the first time.

The reason for her anger wasn’t because Aslan ignored her and immediately returned, but because she saw through the Root that the Counter Force planned to summon seven Grand Servants to injure her prince.

Thus, the furious Manaka reconnected with the Root. No, not just reconnected—she entered the Root.

With the Root’s ability to connect all worlds, Manaka, like Aslan, crossed countless worlds and arrived in the world where Aslan was.

“Prince, don’t rush, I’ll find you soon.”

Manaka gently covered her chest, as if comforting Aslan, but in reality, she was telling herself not to rush.

She had to meet her beloved prince in her most beautiful appearance.

She wanted her prince’s recognition, her prince’s praise, and even more...

“Hmph, the Counter Force dares to intimidate my prince like this, relying on numbers.”

Manaka crossed her arms and scoffed coldly. Her voice seemed filled with contempt for the Counter Force.

Did the Counter Force only know how to intimidate others with petty tricks like this?

“But, Prince, don’t worry, I’ll soon summon your assistant.”

Manaka seemed to think of something. She excitedly covered her face, her cheeks turning red.

She seemed to already see Aslan gently patting her and saying she did an excellent job.

Humming a tune, Manaka happily walked through Fuyuki City.

She thought about how she could add a little more chance of victory for her prince.

Counter Force: ...please turn on the microphone to communicate

It seemed Aslan was the weak, pitiful, and powerless one, intimidated by the Counter Force.

Though in Manaka’s eyes, Aslan indeed was like that.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

On the other hand, Aslan returned to Matou Manor and saw Sakura, her eyes blank and helpless, squatting while hugging her knees.

Seeing Sakura like this, Aslan shook his head helplessly and gently stroked her head.

Feeling warmth on her head, Sakura’s blank eyes seemed to regain a little color.

But she didn’t do anything. She only spoke softly.

“Brother Aslan?”

“Yes, Sakura, I’m back.”

Aslan knelt in front of Sakura, looked into her eyes, and gently wiped her tears.

He didn’t say anything more. He just lifted Sakura and established a Servant contract with her.

After all, having absorbed Arthur Proto, he could now be considered a Servant in a certain sense.

Sakura seemed to understand something. She looked at the Command Spells on her hand and felt the connection with Aslan.

For a moment, a new idea arose in her mind.

She wanted to fully possess Brother Aslan, she didn’t want Brother Aslan to leave her side again.

“There, there, Sakura. As long as the Command Spells on your hand remain, no matter where I am, you can summon me using the Command Spells.”

Aslan lifted Sakura and whispered softly in her ear.

Only, in a place Aslan didn’t notice, Sakura felt Aslan’s breath, and her face seemed to blush.

(Brother Aslan’s scent~)

Unfortunately, Aslan currently didn’t know about Sakura’s changes and thoughts.

After all, in his eyes, Sakura was now just a little child.

“Since Sakura can summon Grand Saber...”

Due to the recent incident, Aslan gained a new understanding of the Counter Force’s stupidity.

In his judgment, it was worse than artificial intelligence—or more like Little Garden’s Central Core?

【？？？？】

Seeing several question marks appear before him, Aslan pulled back his thoughts.

Goodness, wasn’t Little Garden’s Central Core said to have no self-awareness or will?

Why, when dealing with him, did Little Garden’s Central Core feel so alive?

He felt something was wrong, but this wasn’t something Aslan could handle.

Even if he told Shiroyasha, it might not help. Worse, it might expose himself and draw attention to the truth of another universe.

“Then, if I, under the identity of Arthur, could I also join in the fun and summon a Heroic Spirit?”

Aslan considered the feasibility of this plan.

The conclusion he reached was, after all, the Counter Force was stupid. What if he tried and succeeded?

After all, this Holy Grail War was already chaotic because of him, and he didn’t know what state it was in.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

In Fuyuki City, at Ryuudou Temple, at the location of the Greater Grail.

Manaka looked at Angra Mainyu writhing like black mud, and she also had a plan.

“Since those Grand Servants want to hurt my prince, then I can summon an assistant, right?”

Then, Manaka skillfully drew a Summoning Array. But at the same time, she also felt anxious.

“Umm, what kind of assistant should I summon?”

“A man? No, no. A woman? That’s even less possible.”

“Then, that one it is!”

Manaka suddenly remembered something. She recalled seeing her future, or rather her original future, when she crossed the Root.

“Excuse me, are you...”

A red figure appeared in the center of the Summoning Array.

But before he could finish speaking, he immediately fell. The Summoning Array was instantly established on Angra Mainyu.

In other words, he fell directly into the black mud.

Yet, to successfully summon a Heroic Spirit completely under such massive Mana interference, and even accurately summon him as Berserker—

One could only say that Manaka truly deserved to be the Root Princess?

“Umu, you damn bastard, I’ll remember you!!”

Nero angrily glared at the wicked woman before falling into Angra Mainyu.

(This woman, she must die. How dare she summon me in such a filthy place!)

Yet, Manaka, as the Root Princess, didn’t care at all about the Heroic Spirit’s thoughts, even though she was granted the Grand Spirit Origin.

Countless black mud surged toward the Roman Emperor, Nero. Unlimited malicious intent flowed into Nero’s mind.

Rewinding Nero’s memories and emotions of his suicide.

“Will an artist as great as me vanish from this world?”

Finally, Nero placed down his small knife. After three sunsets, the fourth sunrise came.

Nero’s body began to shrink. His arms and legs were gradually covered with golden-and-red mixed dragon scales.

Her magnificent red dress transformed into a skirt, covering the dragon tail on her back.

This was One Aspect of Beast VI, Beast 666, the Beast of Sodom, Draco.

[Heroic Spirit: Draco
Class: Beast
Strength: B
Endurance: B+
Agility: A | Mana: A
Luck: D | Noble Phantasm: B

Skills:
-Beast of the Numbers C
-Golden Chalice C

Noble Phantasm:
Embrace the Melting Theater of Gold, Now at the Bottom of the Ancient Prison]

-

Title: Of Course, Gladly Choosing to Stab the Counter Force in the Back

“Excuse me, are you my Master?”

Draco gently wiped the black mud clinging to her body, like a red lotus unsoiled by the mud.

“Umu, didn’t expect the one who summoned me to be my own mother?”

Draco looked at Manaka with slight surprise. As one of the One Corners of Beast VI, she could see the connection between Manaka and herself.

In a certain world line, Beast 666 formed and was born because of Manaka.

This was Manaka’s idea. If she wanted to pursue her beloved prince, what could be more reliable than her own child as an assistant?

Looking at Draco, Manaka also smiled, though whether this smile was for Draco or for her prince remained unknown.

“Prince, Manaka will come find you soon.”

Manaka turned and left as if she hadn’t seen Draco. As for Angra Mainyu slowly writhing in that place, she didn’t care.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Matou Manor, in the underground chamber.

Even the crooked Magic Array drawn on the ground hadn’t changed. Aslan still stood beside it, reciting an incantation.

“I wonder if the Counter Force will learn from Sakura’s previous experience.”

“But let’s try anyway. What if it works?”

“After all, there’s no loss if it fails. If it succeeds, I can verify my suspicion.”

Aslan extended his right hand forward.

“Is anyone there? Squissshh, come forth, demon from the outer world!”

“You captured by the Counter Force, Squissshh? Come forth to save the world.”

Reciting the incantation he’d just made, Aslan wanted to see how great a sacrifice the Counter Force would make to oppose him.

However, to Aslan’s surprise, the object actually reacted.

The Heroic Spirit Summoning Array drawn with chalk began to shine, and three Command Spells also appeared on the back of Aslan’s hand.

“I’m leaving. This Counter Force doesn’t learn from experience at all?”

The corner of Aslan’s mouth twitched slightly. One could only say they were beings without self-will, possessing only instinct? So easy to exploit.

He just used the alias Arthur Proto, and he actually succeeded in summoning?

Or had the Counter Force started to panic?

Was the threat he posed to the Counter Force that strong?

Light rose into the sky. Aslan skillfully took out two pairs of sunglasses for himself and Sakura.

He removed them after the light faded.

After the light faded, a white figure stood calmly. Upon seeing Aslan, the other clearly froze for a moment.

Then he quickly showed a wicked smile full of mischief.

“Yo, am I the Caster who’s been summoned?”

“Excuse me, are you my Master?”

“Yo, didn’t expect I’d summon an acquaintance.”

Aslan was slightly surprised seeing the white-haired man appear before him. Based on the information left by Arthur Proto, his knowledge of Fate, and the fact that he felt like slashing him upon sight,

Aslan immediately recognized his identity—Merlin.

He was the Caster, a Hybrid between human and Incubus, essentially not human. He was the legendary Magus of King Arthur, the king’s mentor, and also King Arthur’s aide and close friend.

Of course, all of the above were contents of legend and myth, for reference only.

After all, the thing Aslan most wanted to do now was raise the Holy Sword in his hand and slash him.

Of course, Aslan thought about it, and he did it.

“Oi, Master, I’m your Servant—surely you wouldn’t be that cruel, right?”

Seeing Merlin draw a sword from somewhere, he blocked Aslan’s slash.

This slash was considered a Saber’s attack.

“Stop pretending, Merlin. I know it’s you.”

Aslan pulled back his sword and said wordlessly while looking at Merlin. Wasn’t the strong scent of Arthur on his body enough to prove his identity?

“Hahaha, I didn’t expect the one who summoned me to be the King.”

Merlin said in a tone that was extremely pitiful. After that, he also put away the Holy Sword he’d drawn from somewhere.

Even so, Merlin was still greatly shocked seeing Aslan. Was this the opponent he had to face?

Just now, with only Aslan’s restrained slash, if he hadn’t used Reinforcement Magic, he almost couldn’t block it.

Truly worthy of being an opponent the Counter Force had to face by summoning seven Grand Servants.

Yes, seven Grand Servants. Even Merlin didn’t know what possessed the Counter Force—they immediately brought out seven Grand Spirit Origins.

For this Servant’s descent, the Servants had to fight Aslan.

Even to fight the Ultimate One, such a configuration wasn’t needed, right?

“Enough pretending. Do you think I don’t know that King Arthur in this world is a woman?”

Aslan glanced at the useless Incubus exploiting this loophole and said wordlessly.

“But Merlin, with our relationship, no need to pretend, right?”

Aslan smiled and looked at Merlin.

“What exactly is the Counter Force doing to oppose me?”

After all, Aslan didn’t have Clairvoyance. Though Laplace Demon was very useful, in a situation like this, it wasn’t very helpful.

“King, they’re doing nothing. Just summoning seven Grand Servants.”

Merlin was also someone who loved watching drama. He immediately betrayed the Counter Force without hesitation. After all, the Counter Force hadn’t been human for one or two days.

“Hiss, I feel the Counter Force is overestimating me.”

Aslan stroked his chin and took a deep breath.

Isn’t it just easy to destroy a planet?

Is it necessary to be this serious?

Even during Humanity Incineration, weren’t there so many Grand Servants appearing, right?

“King, I’m the Servant descending as Grand Caster. Don’t worry, King. I’ll always be by your side.”

Merlin said without conscience.

After all, to him, nothing was more important than interesting things in the world. Now clearly, this wasn’t an apocalyptic crisis.

This was all trouble the Counter Force brought upon itself. Being on Aslan’s side would clearly be very enjoyable.

So Merlin naturally chose to stab the Counter Force in the back.

Following the King Arthur from another world—surely it would be a very interesting thing.

Of course, the “other world” mentioned here wasn’t a parallel world, but another world truly beyond the Root’s connection range.

“This Holy Grail War will surely be very interesting, King.”

“Only you think it’s interesting.”

Aslan said with a helpless smile.

“But I’m treated as the Final Boss who must be defeated.”

“Eh, wait, when Little Garden observes me, will I become a Demon Lord?”

Aslan quickly realized the crucial point. He didn’t want to gain the Demon Lord identity this soon.

“Merlin, do you think the other Servants will know my identity?”

Merlin stroked his chin, thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“I don’t think so. After all, King is indeed Arthur.”

Merlin and Aslan looked at each other for several seconds, then laughed simultaneously.

[Heroic Spirit: Merlin
Class: Caster
Strength: B
Endurance: E
Agility: D
Mana: A
Luck: C
Noble Phantasm: C

Class Skills:
-Territory Creation C
-High-Speed Incantation C
-Item Construction C
-Clairvoyance EX

Personal Skills:
-Charisma B
-Hybrid EX
-Hero Creation EX
-Dreamlike Charisma A
-Illusion A

Noble Phantasm:
-Garden of Avalon: The Everdistant Utopia C]

-

Title: Finally, I’ve Met You, My Prince

“My prince, I’ve come to find you.”

Manaka laughed joyfully as she walked toward Matou Manor full of hope.

As she walked, Manaka unconsciously kept imagining Aslan giving her a kiss on the forehead as a reward, after learning all she had done for him.

Or, he would gently pat her head and praise her, saying, “Manaka, you’re amazing. Manaka, you’ve helped me so much.”

The more she thought about it, the more excited she became.

“Mother, can’t you be a little bolder? If you like him, just take him!”

Draco, seeing Manaka become a slave to love, was speechless.

Both she and Nero were existences as proud as emperors. If they liked something, they would seize it with their own hands and forcibly possess it.

Unlike Manaka, who was so humble.

Draco was also curious—what kind of existence could make her mother fall in love at first sight?

“Draco, you wouldn’t understand. The bond between me and my prince.”

Manaka said casually, the obsession in her eyes not diminishing in the slightest.

Her love for her prince couldn’t be understood by others.

Yet Manaka didn’t seem to realize that as she walked toward Aslan’s location, leaves kept falling on her head as if it were a sign of something.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Meanwhile, at Matou Manor.

After lunch, Sakura felt slightly drowsy.

After all, she was still a child, so it was normal for her energy levels to fluctuate.

Aslan didn’t find it strange at all and simply let Sakura rest with her head on his lap.

As for himself, he continued reading a book.

Honestly, this conscienceless Merlin had stored quite a few books.

He must have been secretly peeking through Clairvoyance for years.

It had to be admitted—Ainsworth family Magecraft, Displacement Magecraft, truly had something to it. At least Aslan was enjoying it now.

It was far more interesting than Matou family Magecraft. Maybe it was because he had Space Divinity.

Displacement Magecraft? Swapping the flow, density, and hardness of air with the flow, density, and hardness of walls.

He created an Air Wall.

Though not worth mentioning, it was quite interesting.

Or, could he create Class Cards to play with? Since the Ainsworth family could make them with Displacement Magecraft.

It wasn’t impossible for him to make such a thing.

Coincidentally, there was a specimen here, right?

While thinking about this, Aslan slowly shifted his gaze toward Merlin.

Merlin also felt a chill run down his spine.

“King, I feel like someone wants to hurt me, but my Clairvoyance seems unable to see them?”

Merlin said with slight worry and unease. For some reason, this bad feeling had been lingering in his heart since earlier.

“It’s fine, Merlin, relax. I’m here. Who would dare hurt you?”

Aslan gently comforted Merlin, both to lower Merlin’s guard and to avoid any big movements that might wake Sakura.

He planned to turn Sakura into a magical girl.

If Kinomoto Sakura could become a magical girl, Matou Sakura could too.

You have Clow Cards, I have Class Cards. They’re almost the same.

(King, I feel the danger I sensed is coming from you?)

Merlin’s mouth twitched. Seeing Aslan with a faint malicious smile at the corner of his lips, he helplessly walked toward Aslan.

He couldn’t defy this King’s will.

The Command Spell dominance effect Aslan created was too strong. Even if Merlin had obtained a Grand Spirit Origin, he couldn’t break free.

Even if he could, he wouldn’t be able to resist.

This Master was an existence that could make the Counter Force hysterical and send seven Grand Servants to deal with him.

Though now there might only be five left?

Arthur took one? Plus he took one.

But the only thing worth being grateful for was that this Arthur was still normal. He might just pass by and had no intention of destroying the world.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

“My prince, I’ve arrived.”

In front of Matou Manor, Manaka looked at the Barrier and fell into deep thought.

She seemed unable to open this thing. Even connecting to the Root was useless.

However, Merlin, who was being tormented beside Aslan, seemed to realize someone was outside the gate.

Merlin looked at the girl waiting outside the door—one born connected to the Root—and a smile couldn’t help but appear on his face.

“King, it seems someone has come to visit you.”

Merlin said in a highly flattering tone. Seeing the hope and possessiveness in the girl’s eyes.

Merlin seemed to sense a great drama about to unfold soon.

“Hmm?”

Aslan was slightly surprised. Who would come visit Matou Manor now?

As for visitors? He’d only gone out once in the past few days and hadn’t had time to build relationships with others.

As for Matou family connections, Byakuya had handled them. Everything that needed to be severed had already been cut.

And magus families usually didn’t visit each other, right?

“Come in.”

Aslan put down his book and, for the moment, spared Merlin’s life, letting him rest from his duties as a specimen.

After releasing the Barrier, Manaka entered with curiosity. When she saw Aslan, she froze for a moment.

“Finally, I’ve met you, my prince.”

Manaka lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed in noble style to Aslan.

The next second, Manaka froze. What was she seeing?

She saw a little girl sleeping on the prince’s lap.

She was sleeping on the prince’s thigh pillow.

No, who was this girl? She hadn’t even done such a thing yet!

Instantly, flames of jealousy ignited in Manaka’s heart. Yet she concealed it very well.

However, Draco, as the Beast of Evil, could sense the jealousy and possessiveness within Manaka’s heart.

“I already told you—seizing and possessing him is better.”

Draco muttered softly, but in this quiet environment, even the smallest sound was clearly audible. Especially since the people present here weren’t ordinary.

Draco also sensed something was off about the atmosphere. She quickly closed her mouth as if she’d said nothing.

Yet Manaka had no time to care about Draco. Manaka only wanted to find out who this girl sleeping on Aslan’s lap was.

“Who are you?”

Looking at Manaka, Aslan felt increasingly familiar, but he sensed something was off.

Until Laplace’s Glasses reminded him.

[Naturally-born Buddha, one connected to the Root since birth. Recommended to bring back to Little Garden for training.]

Combined with her familiar pale blonde hair and the fact he’d met her once before in a parallel world.

“Manaka?”

-

Title: The First Meeting Between Manaka and Sakura

“Eh, unfair! You only know my first name—what about my last name?”

Manaka looked slightly disappointed, but that faint disappointment didn’t erase the joy on her face at having her name known by the prince.

“Hehe, and I don’t even know the prince’s name.”

Manaka looked at Aslan excitedly. Her body couldn’t help trembling with happiness.

“Aslan, or Arthur—you can call me whatever you like, Manaka.”

Looking at Manaka, Aslan felt a headache. After all, he knew how dangerous Manaka was.

But luckily, at least Manaka seemed more normal now. Aslan also felt relieved.

He hoped he could control her.

“Then, I’ll call you Brother Aslan.”

Manaka gently touched her cheek with her finger and said with a slight pout.

In Japan, using someone’s first name was usually only allowed between very close friends. Although Manaka normally didn’t care about such things,

When it came to love, after meeting her prince, she always thought in a positive direction.

She even unconsciously overlooked how Aslan could possibly know her name.

“But Manaka, what brings you to look for me?”

Aslan asked gently, especially since Sakura was sleeping, and he was slightly worried about waking her.

Although he probably had a rough idea of why Manaka had come.

Of course, if his guess wasn’t wrong.

“Of course, I came to help Brother Aslan.”

Thinking of the Counter Force’s plan, Manaka angrily raised her small fist.

“Seriously, the Counter Force is bullying Brother Aslan too much. They even summoned seven Grand Servants to fight against Brother Aslan.”

Manaka defended Aslan while casting a slightly disgusted glance at Merlin, who was watching from the side.

“Manaka admits she’s far stronger than that Incubus over there.”

Merlin: ???

Merlin unconsciously opened his mouth wide. He was just watching from here!

Why was he personally attacked too?

Although he also felt he truly wasn’t very useful.

But after Manaka glanced at him again, Merlin still chose to keep his mouth shut.

Root Princess—he couldn’t fight her, couldn’t. He’d rather be trash.

“In that case, I’ll trouble you, Manaka.”

Aslan smiled gently in response. What he most wanted to do now was expose the two Counter Forces and give them a beating.

It might be a bit difficult, but with the help of the Root Princess, it wasn’t impossible.

“Brother Aslan~”

At that moment, Sakura seemed to have woken up. She rubbed her still-sleepy eyes, as if she hadn’t slept enough.

Sakura’s movement immediately drew Manaka’s attention.

He saw Manaka’s jealousy and murderous intent almost overflowing.

Especially Draco, standing beside Manaka—she was greatly shocked. She could fully sense Manaka’s current anger and distortion.

It was almost affecting reality.

But to leave a good impression in front of Aslan, she forcibly suppressed it and forcibly redirected the affected target.

Merlin’s body trembled unconsciously. Although he was a Hybrid between human and Incubus, he didn’t have emotions like ordinary people.

But when faced with a situation like being watched by a Demon God, he might not be afraid, yet his body would still feel fear.

“Brother Aslan, who is this older sister?”

Sakura seemed to have become aware. She also noticed the girl who had appeared at Matou Manor at some unknown time.

At that moment, she also sensed a crisis—that her Brother Aslan might be taken away.

Although Manaka concealed it very well, sensitive Sakura could fully sense Manaka’s feelings toward Aslan—crazy love and possessiveness.

But she wouldn’t give up on Brother Aslan.

“She’s Manaka. She’ll be staying with us from now on.”

Aslan gently stroked Sakura’s head and said with a smile.

He could see Manaka’s feelings toward him, and he also knew Sakura’s dependence on him. Yet he couldn’t do anything about feelings like these.

After all, right now he could only bring both of them along and see if he could educate them.

Otherwise, who knew what Manaka might do?

As for Sakura, she was still a child, so she might still be correctable.

Hearing Aslan’s words, Manaka also showed a perfectly radiant smile and gently lifted the hem of her skirt, performing proper ladylike etiquette toward Aslan.

“Then, Manaka will trouble Brother Aslan with her life from now on.”

Crisis, a huge crisis!

Sakura fully realized the threat Manaka posed, but she could do nothing—she was just a little girl.

She couldn’t refuse, especially since she couldn’t reject Aslan’s words either.

For a moment, Sakura’s hand, which was holding Aslan’s sleeve, couldn’t help gripping it tighter.

This time, in the first clash between Manaka and Sakura, Sakura completely lost due to her age and cognition.

“Sakura-chan, Manaka will also trouble you.”

Manaka smiled at Sakura, but unlike her smile toward Aslan, in this smile, Sakura saw Manaka’s superiority as the winner.

She would properly care for this younger sister as Aslan’s beloved and wife.

“Umm, thank you, Sister Manaka.”

Sakura answered sweetly with a smile, but inside her heart remained a hint of fear—the fear of being abandoned.

After all, she was just a little girl.

But after feeling the contract with Aslan on the back of her hand, Sakura felt relieved.

“Hahaha, what is Art seeing?”

A charming voice filled with Magecraft echoed in Sakura’s mind.

“Unexpectedly, this world actually has a Miko with such excellent compatibility with Art.”

Miko were also existences of extremely high status in Little Garden.

Unlike ordinary Mikos used to please gods, the Miko mentioned here were intermediaries between humans and gods. They were considered divine messengers.

The reason? None other than that Mikos could easily carry the Divinity digested by a King of Gods, borrow the power of the King of Gods, and even allow gods to possess their bodies in critical moments.

The value of a Miko with good compatibility wouldn’t be lower than carefully developed Avatars made with great resources.

Even in Little Garden, not every Three-Digit God King had their own Miko.

Mikos with outstanding qualifications were numerous, but Mikos with Good Compatibility were extremely rare.

Compatibility was far harder to obtain than qualification.

-

Title: You Didn’t Call Me Today, AI-chan

“Who are you?”

Faced with the voice suddenly appearing in her mind, Sakura’s first reaction was fear, then she asked softly.

“Hmm? Algol?”

Aslan was also slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected Algol, who had been sealed within the Demon Star all this time, to suddenly appear now.

“Correct, it’s me—the most beautiful girl in Little Garden, AI-chan.”

Algol couldn’t help but speak up. For years she’d been sealed, always in a sleeping state.

If not for Aslan bringing her out, the seal’s effects would have weakened, and she might have continued sleeping forever.

After all, Star Spirits couldn’t die. Being sealed was just like sleeping for an extremely long time.

“Since you’ve heard AI-chan’s beautiful voice, why not call for AI-chan immediately?”

Algol said lazily and casually.

After all, she was quite satisfied with her current situation. Whether Aslan called her or not didn’t matter to her.

“Still, are you sure about this, AI-chan?”

Aslan asked with a confused tone. After all, Algol summoned as Medusa was extremely ugly.

Though her power was far stronger than Laius’s, and the summoned Algol’s form was far more complete,

It didn’t mean the summoned Algol’s appearance could come close to her original appearance.

After all, calling Algol by the name Medusa was already degradation for her. How good could her appearance possibly be?

“What do you mean? Are you not satisfied with AI-chan’s beauty?”

Algol said angrily. People could be dissatisfied with her, but they couldn’t be dissatisfied with her beauty.

“It’s not that. I have no problem at all, but are you really sure, AI-chan?”

Aslan asked again. He was actually quite curious about what the summoned AI-chan would look like.

But the point was, Algol was after all a long-renowned Problem Child in Little Garden.

Under Athena’s careful management for years, every person who held Algol so far had been reckless users like Laius. After all, the strong didn’t need to summon Algol.

Why add unnecessary variables?

Algol summoned by the weak only had instincts, so she was easier to control.

From this, it was clear Athena was a very vengeful woman. Aslan didn’t believe there wasn’t some arrangement by Athena behind this.

“Of course. Quickly call for AI-chan. AI-chan can’t wait to show her eternal beauty to a bastard like you.”

Aslan couldn’t refuse Algol, so he immediately summoned her.

Athena was still giving him face. At least Aslan could feel his complete dominance over Algol, even sensing Algol’s thoughts.

So there was no need to worry about losing control or other issues after summoning her. At worst, he could recall her.

However, when Algol was summoned, she fell silent.

Before the light could even fade, Algol immediately returned to the Demon Star and was sealed again.

“You ugly woman!”

Algol said through gritted teeth. Just as expected, Athena was still that jealous ugly woman.

To ruin her beautiful face, Athena even used tricks like this.

“AI-chan will never forgive you!”

After cursing Athena briefly, Algol turned and warned Aslan.

“You didn’t call me today, AI-chan.”

Then she continued isolating herself within the seal. Saying “isolating herself” wasn’t entirely accurate. More precisely, she was searching for loopholes in the seal, seeing if there was a way to avoid appearance degradation.

Algol could endure Divinity degradation, losing Star Authority, and even having her Divinity enslaved.

But there was one thing she couldn’t endure—the degradation of her beauty.

Damn Athena, damn ugly woman, how dare she degrade Algol’s beauty like this?

Even some beautiful Harpies were prettier than Algol.

“Oh right, don’t forget to give Divinity to AI-chan’s disciple.”

Before isolating herself, Algol still remembered to remind Aslan. One important reason she awakened was Sakura.

Of course, this didn’t refer to the Sakura of this world, but to all Sakuras across all world lines in the entire Type-Moon World.

Almost every Sakura’s fate was extremely tragic.

Sent to the Matou family and thrown into the insect nest.

Became food for Death Eaters.

Sealed and soaked in Specimen.

Hunted by outer creatures.

Countless tragic futures, countless despairing futures, and very few happy ones—had accumulated unimaginable despair within the individual Matou Sakura.

And she, Algol, Demon Star Spirit, Original Demon—no one was more suitable to become the teacher of someone who had gathered this level of demonic energy.

Of course, Algol wasn’t a casual person. If she weren’t so restricted by seals now, why would she need to find a disciple?

Once she was free, she’d definitely make that damn ugly woman Athena regret it!

Once she had a Miko and an Agent, Algol would be equivalent to having a Four-Digit-level Avatar in the outside world.

With an Avatar, many things would become easier.

“Give Divinity? I don’t know how at all.”

Aslan said helplessly. He also understood that Sakura and Algol had excellent compatibility. Algol was even willing to voluntarily train her.

But the operation of giving Divinity—he’d never learned it.

He only knew that upon arriving in Little Garden, Little Garden’s Central Core would converge and grant Spirit Status. In Little Garden, even a grain of sand had Spirit Status.

But outside Little Garden, it was hard to say. Generally, only existences that had caused major impacts on the world and had certain achievements possessed Spirit Status.

Or, they were born with miracles that couldn’t be realized.

But these were existences that naturally possessed Spirit Status.

As for artificially granting Spirit Status, he truly couldn’t do it. It sounded like a very unusual skill. Even Laplace Demon had no information on this.

After all, who would casually go around granting Spirit Status? Couldn’t you just get it by walking around in Little Garden?

But if he let Little Garden’s Central Core converge Spirit Status, it would only grant Spirit Status based on Sakura’s current achievements and the information she carried.

Whereas Sakura’s future experiences and demonic energy would be lost due to the convergence of six-year-old Sakura.

In that case, the demonic energy accumulated by countless other Sakuras from countless futures would be wasted.

This special Spirit Status was what Algol wanted Aslan to give to Sakura.

Granting the first Spirit Status by converging the despairing futures from parallel worlds and unifying them.

A Spirit Status like this, even upon arriving in Little Garden, wouldn’t be inferior to a Demi-God.

After all, one important indicator of Spirit Status was Time Density. In other words, the density of your existence observed across infinite parallel worlds.

Clearly, Little Garden’s Central Core wouldn’t possibly do such an energy-wasting thing as observing all possibilities for every person.

Little Garden only observed Human History. Nameless people weren’t worthy of being recorded in Human History.

So Time Density was more precisely the density of your existence within Human History that had the possibility to impact infinite parallel worlds.

Converging first was like you’d already compiled the report and sent it straight into Little Garden’s Central Core’s hands.

When they observed the world in the future and evaluated achievements, they’d naturally have an advantage when granting Spirit Status again.

“You don’t need to worry. AI-chan will tell you how.”

Algol said proudly. This was indeed only known to ancient existences like herself.

More precisely, Algol told Aslan a technique for granting Spirit Status, created by referencing how Little Garden’s Central Core converges and grants Spirit Status.