"You want to use Jiang You's character card to transform and return to Chaldea's worldline?"
Honestly, Illya wasn't keen on lending Jiang You's card to anyone. If she could, she would have monopolized this world-traversing ability for herself. After all, that other world was connected to what Jiang You considered the "real world." If others traveled there frequently, they would eventually uncover this secret, and it would no longer be hers alone to keep.
But if Jiang You were here, he would definitely help. If something truly terrible had happened at Chaldea, he would be devastated. So, in the end, Illya nodded.
"No problem. But there are only two Jewel Wands, so only two people can cross worldlines at the same time."
Illya had considered going herself. She was, after all, the most skilled wielder of the wands here. However, she knew nothing about Chaldea. If the organization was truly in trouble, she might not be of much help. Besides, she was still trying to figure out how to get there herself and didn't have the mental energy to spare for this.
Illya pulled out Jiang You's card. "This thing is pretty much useless without the rest of its deck," she said. "Have you decided who's going?"
"Of course, it'll be me and..."
Gudako hadn't actually thought this through. Jiang You had mentioned before that the Jewel Wands could only be used by humans; Servants couldn't wield them. That left only Illya, Miyu, herself, and Hakuno-senpai as candidates. In her mind, Illya and Miyu were too young. A crisis that could sever Chaldea's communications was far too dangerous to involve them in.
"...Hakuno-senpai."
"You two..."
Illya was at a loss for words. Gudako and Hakuno were arguably the weakest (in terms of combat prowess) among them. Sending Prisma Illya and Miyu would be more reliable. "Maybe I should go instead."
"We can't trouble you with this."
Gudako had at least that much resolve.
"We'll handle it ourselves."
"Then be careful."
Illya knew that once Jiang You returned, everything would be fine. When the time came, she and Jiang You would take center stage, and there would be no problem they couldn't solve.
No threat is a big deal to Jiang You, unless the threat is Jiang You himself. But that's impossible. The biggest weakness here is me.
"Thank you."
Gudako took the Card from Jiang You and hurried to meet up with Hakuno.
By the time Gudako reached the designated meeting spot, Hakuno was already there with Illya and Miyu. Seeing Gudako's frantic state, Prisma Illya rushed forward to support her as she gasped for breath. Illya and Miyu had been shopping downtown with the "payment" Jiang You had given them yesterday, so Gudako had sprinted across three city blocks without stopping to reach them.
"Sister Gudako," Prisma Illya said, having picked up Jiang You's nickname for her. Normally, Gudako would have made a sarcastic comment, but now wasn't the time for trivialities.
"Illya, we need to borrow your wands. Is that okay?"
Although Hakuno must have already asked when she found them, Gudako felt the need to ask again for her own peace of mind.
"Sister Hakuno already explained the situation to us..."
Prisma Illya watched Gudako with concern. Gudako's performance after transforming yesterday had been a complete disaster. Illya worried that with their current combat strength, they wouldn't be able to solve the problem on the other side. "Sisters, you don't have any time left for training. It's not a good idea to go over there in this state, is it? What if Miyu and I..."
"That's not possible."
Sapphire responded. The Counter Force had already explained Jiang You's "Noble Phantasm"—or "ability"—in detail. Although it involved some secrets, Sapphire felt this much could be revealed. "When you use Jiang You's ability, you can only travel to worlds he has already visited."
"Isn't that fine, then? Mr. Jiang You has clearly been to Sister Gudako's world, right?" Illya quickly asked.
"Let me finish first," Sapphire replied. "When you use this ability, you can only travel to worlds that both you and Jiang You have visited. In other words, Illya, if you use Jiang You's Servant Card, you won't be able to cross worlds at all. Miyu can only travel between this world and that other Illya's world."
"So... only Sister Gudako and Sister Hakuno can go back?"
Illya looked a little disappointed. She had genuinely wanted to help—after all, she was the Second-Generation Magical Girl, while Gudako and the others were the Third Generation.
"I'm so sorry I couldn't be of any help."
Gudako forced a smile. "Thank you so much, Illya. But this is my own problem. I'd feel bad if I troubled you all, so please, trust me. I can handle this. I've been on a long journey myself, you know? I'm pretty strong."
"So it's okay to trouble us?" Ruby muttered under her breath. She really didn't want to be separated from Illya. Gudako was already a "soon-to-expire" girl, about to become an adult. "What about the Wand's opinion? Where's my Wand-given authority?"
Sapphire smacked her to the ground. Honestly, saying such mood-killing things at a time like this... You're hopeless.
"No time to waste. Let's transform now."
Hakuno actually seemed a little excited. After crossing over into a world of "swords and magic," her adventure was finally beginning. Though her expression remained unchanged—she was the type to always keep her thoughts hidden.
"Alright, Hakuno-senpai... I'm really sorry to trouble you with this right after you've arrived. I'll make it up to you later."
Gudako was used to risking her life, but Hakuno surely felt no attachment to Chaldea. Under these circumstances, dragging her into this adventure felt truly awkward.
"It's fine. After all, you're my Master."
As Hakuno said this, she felt as if she were playing some kind of master-servant game. She sized Gudako up and realized that Gudako was actually quite a beautiful girl—and Hakuno had always been open to both men and women.
"But as for that compensation... I'll be looking forward to it."
Gudako, oblivious to the hidden meaning in Hakuno's gaze, raised her magic wand alongside Hakuno and completed their transformation. The light was successfully concealed by the barrier artifact Medea had provided, though anyone with magical aptitude could still perceive it.
"Senpai, I wish you the best of luck in battle."
Mash, who hadn't had a chance to speak until now, offered her blessing.
"We might not even need to fight," Gudako said, reassuring Mash as much as herself.
"Alright, we're off."
Gudako said her goodbyes to Prisma Illya and Miyu, then used Jiang You's ability to travel to the World of Doors.
"I hope everything goes smoothly for them."
Just as Prisma Illya was about to offer a prayer for Gudako and her companions, she heard a commotion in the distance. It was clear that personnel from the Mages' Association had spotted the situation. She hastily grabbed Mash and Miyu, and the three of them began to flee in a panic.