By the time Jiang You finished booking the hotel and returned to Chaldea, the entire facility was littered with corpses.
Because Nero represented the glorious era of the ancient Roman Empire, when news spread that she would be performing, almost everyone in Chaldea tuned their channels to the dining hall.
This caused the entire facility to fall under the spell in an instant.
"Is my singing really that hypnotic?"
The only one still standing was Nero, completely unaware of the destructive power of her voice. "And I wasn't even singing a lullaby!"
"They're probably just exhausted," she concluded.
Jiang You knew that telling Nero the truth directly would be futile. She'd simply sing another song to prove her point, leaving him with no excuse to escape.
"Hey, still alive?"
Jiang You successfully shook Gudako awake, preventing a branch in Fate/Grand Order's storyline that could have led to its premature ending.
"I... I think I saw the universe," Gudako mumbled, her eyes completely unfocused, clearly still recovering.
"Looks like she's been hit with some serious mental pollution."
Jiang You was somewhat relieved he hadn't given in to his curiosity and listened to just how absurd the song was. In this game, any effects that affected the characters could also affect the players. If he had indulged his curiosity, it might have killed him. Considering Nero wielded the authority of the Goddess of Beauty, and the Greek gods were essentially foreign deities in the Type-Moon World, the causal connection became clear.
"Even if you're tired, you shouldn't be like this!" Nero insisted, trying to steer the conversation back to her earlier topic, but Jiang You had no intention of indulging her.
"I've arranged accommodations for you at Fuyuki's largest and finest hotel. I hope you'll find it satisfactory, Nero. Also, the black-clad attendant at the hotel is actually my Servant. If you need anything related to me, just ask her directly—she'll contact me immediately."
This attendant was none other than Hundred Faces. Ever since she gained the ability to freely disconnect the interference between her various personalities, she seemed to have been constantly expanding her mastery in her specialized paths. However, she also realized she lacked natural talent in combat and instead focused on refining her functional capabilities. This was precisely why she could still maintain her relevance despite the abundance of high-level combatants already surrounding Jiang You.
For instance, who even remembers that Jiang You still possesses Serenity, the Assassin? Of course, Serenity's role was always somewhat awkward. As a poison-based Servant, her abilities didn't synergize well with Jiang You's Noble Phantasms.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Hakuno was actually the least affected among them all. For some reason, the moment Nero picked up the microphone, her instincts had screamed at her to cover her ears. Though she still fell victim to the attack.
"Next time something like this happens, please explain the situation clearly. I don't want to experience that again."
"Would you have believed me if I'd told you directly?"
Jiang You shrugged. Nero was known as the "Flower of Rome," a title certified by the God Ancestor himself, carrying immense prestige. Her beauty transcended mere sweetness; it was clear at a glance that she possessed an extraordinary singing voice. Who could have imagined such a stark contrast? Her voice was so potent it could even be used as a Noble Phantasm.
"...You're right," Hakuno readily admitted.
"Let's not delay. We should set off immediately. If we wait much longer for you to familiarize yourselves with the route, it will be time for the Magical Girls to become active."
Jiang You glanced at the time. In another hour, Sella and the others should be asleep, and the special training could begin.
"Yay! Let's go see the Magical Girls!"
Gudako instantly regained her energy. Jiang You wasn't surprised; without such remarkable recuperative abilities, she never would have made it this far.
"Then grab my hand. It's time to depart."
Jiang You scooped up the still-unconscious Mash and transported the group to the Prisma Illya World.
Since they had left from the presidential suite they had booked earlier, the five of them materialized directly in the room.
The luxurious decor brought a faint smile to Hakuno's face. She immediately went to the bedroom, patted the cloud-soft bed, and then dove onto it, reveling in its gentle touch.
She loved soft beds more than anything and hated hard floors more than anything else.
"I've booked two presidential suites. You can divide yourselves up however you like."
Although the groupings were essentially decided, Jiang You still wanted to go through the motions.
"Of course, if you'd prefer separate rooms, that's no problem. Just let me know if you have any requests."
"I don't mind either way!"
Before coming to Chaldea, Gudako was just an ordinary high school student. For her, these suites were practically legendary. Though she had met and been praised by many historical kings in the Singularities, she was constantly fighting and never had the chance to experience such luxury.
"This is more than enough."
Mash had also recovered by now. While she lacked a good grasp of money, she understood that rooms of this caliber couldn't be cheap.
"Mr. Jiang You, you really shouldn't spend so much on us."
"Since Jiang You has already offered, your modesty borders on being impolite."
Although Nero was the Roman Emperor, the quality of human life had improved exponentially over time. To put it mildly, even disregarding the value of the items here, the comfort level far surpassed that of her imperial palace by several orders of magnitude.
"Do you think he looks like someone short on funds? Just enjoy yourselves. This is the best way to repay Jiang You's kindness."
"As expected of the Roman Emperor—she sees right through things."
Jiang You gave Nero a thumbs-up. Having someone else explain it saved him a lot of talking.
"Of course! Have you forgotten who I am?" Nero puffed out her chest proudly, a gesture she was long accustomed to.
"But I'm very particular. If you don't meet my standards, I'll complain to you personally!"
"You're always welcome to."
Jiang You wasn't sure if Nero was just trying to lighten the mood. She was undeniably a capricious ruler, but it didn't matter. Anything that could be solved with money wasn't a problem.
Reflecting on this, Jiang You couldn't help but marvel at the advantages of wealth. Back in the real world, he'd still have to go to work. Though in a sense, playing games here was also a form of part-time labor.
Jiang You handed each of them a map and a Black Card. The map, originally prepared by Prisma Illya for Illya and Miyu, marked recommended sightseeing spots, shopping areas, and locally renowned snacks. Finding it surprisingly detailed, Jiang You had made several copies, which now proved useful.
"We'll regroup here in about an hour," Jiang You said, pointing to a secluded spot on the map. "That's where the Magical Girl performance you've all been looking forward to will take place."
This secluded spot, their agreed-upon rendezvous point with Prisma Illya, had become necessary due to the intense surveillance in the city. The aftereffects of the Install light pillars had attracted attention from various factions, making the urban area no longer suitable for gathering. Conversely, this area near the Tohsaka Family's sacred ground, though sensitive due to its proximity to the Tohsaka Family's hidden location, remained undisturbed. Jiang You had secured temporary usage rights by bribing Rin Tohsaka.
"Until then, you're free to explore on your own."