— — — — — —
Ryo stared at his savings. His mouth twitched.
"Fuck off."
[Ding—!]
The forum replied instantly—so instantly that it made him want to complain.
[Reply: The forum has no physical body and cannot perform a 'fuck' action. Would you like to spend 30,000 points to grant the forum a spherical carrier body so it may complete your order?]
Wow. This thing really had no shame. Was it planning to skip straight to daylight robbery next?
Ryo's lips twitched again, and he asked instead, "Between the two worlds we talked about earlier, which one lets me reach my goal most efficiently? List the exact point cost."
[Reply 1: The TYPE-MOON universe, FGO timeline, designated by the holder is not currently connected. A search will require 5,000 points. The so-called 'Machine Gods' lack sufficient data, so total cost cannot be determined.]
[Reply 2: In the Strike the Blood world, The Cleansing Formula can permanently alter a species and fulfill the holder's objective. However, the formula must be modified. Additionally, the evolution function of any created Machine Gods will be affected by the formula, greatly reducing their chances of evolution. Estimated cost: 15,000 points.]
"I just need them as tools—who said anything about evolving?" Ryo muttered to himself. Still, seeing the price tag of only fifteen thousand made him blink.
"Well damn. You've grown a conscience? First time you've ever given me an option where I don't go broke."
[Reply: You may choose to spend 15,000 points to enhance Machine God technology using the current FGO data set, reserving capacity for future Machine God fusion.]
[Prediction: By fusing the Twelve Olympian Gods, it may be possible to break through The Cleansing effect and forcibly evolve the Machine God core.]
[Simulation complete. This method could create the Primordial Machine God 'Kronos.']
[Calculation: Upon completion, Kronos' spirit rank could reach double digits.]
[Note: Each fusion costs 100,000 points. Full fusion is estimated to require a total of 1.23 million points.]
"…"
Ryo stared at the message for a long time without saying a word.
Fusion of the Twelve Olympians? You really came up with that, Dimensional Forum? What, did you get the idea from Digimon—the twenty Warrior Spirits fusing into Susanoomon?
He snorted internally, then shook his head with a laugh, deliberately ignoring the horrifying figure of 1.23 million points.
"Why overthink it? As long as The Cleansing Formula is usable, that's enough."
With that, Ryo opened his friends list, pulled up Cyrora's profile, and sent a quick message. Then he said, "Forum, spend 1,000 points to remove the cooldown. I'm heading to the Strike the Blood world."
[Cooldown removed. Please prepare for traversal.]
Hearing that, Ryo closed his eyes.
— — —
The Strike the Blood World
Territory of the Dawn Empire. Itogami Island. Keystone Gate, Police Department Headquarters—
Inside an office, Natsuki Minamiya rubbed her temples as she glared at the report in her hands.
"A Lotharingia combat deacon goes missing the moment he enters the country, and right after that the West European Church announces he's defected," she scoffed. "Since when did that bunch become so efficient?"
"According to intelligence," said the girl standing beside her respectfully, "the combat deacon named Rudolf Eustach had privately expressed dissatisfaction with Itogami Island."
The speaker wore a brown business suit that showed off her long legs, along with simple, flat-framed glasses that gave her a refined air. Her tone was perfectly polite.
She was Liana Caruana—a noble vampire from the Warlord's Empire who had become Natsuki's maid over a year ago. Her current role was Natsuki Minamiya's personal secretary.
"Oh? So the West European Church is playing terrorist now too?" Natsuki said lazily.
She picked up the black tea Liana had prepared, took a small sip, then kicked the desk lightly, spinning her chair to face the floor-to-ceiling window.
"An escaped mage from Aldegia, Nelapsi Autonomous Region ghouls, remnants of the Black Death Emperor faction, leftover forces from the Library, and now these West European defectors…"
She chuckled.
"Seriously. These days, every terrorist on the planet wants to run to Itogami Island."
Liana pushed her glasses up slightly and replied in a calm, scholarly tone, "According to Minister of the Tech Development Bureau, 'It's probably because we're the newest nation, so everyone thinks we're easy to bully.'"
She paused, then added, "It may also be because Her Majesty is unwilling to take action?"
"Cyrora…" Natsuki's eyelid twitched. She sighed. "That woman is really hard to deal with. And of course, she's also the strongest asset we can actually deploy."
"Still, sending the Fourth Primogenitor to deal with terrorists is giving those bugs way too much credit. Half of them don't even dare show their faces; they just hide on the city's outskirts and scrape by."
She waved it off. "Whatever. Enough of that headache."
Taking another sip of tea, Natsuki gazed out at Itogami Island.
She looked at the endless sea of steel, at the trains running back and forth through the urban 'jungle,' and suddenly smiled.
"You know, earlier this year you could still see the ocean from here. Now it's completely gone."
"That may be the only downside of the New Island Plan," Liana said with a soft smile.
"That five-year plan," Natsuki muttered. "Area's five times bigger, population only up by a little over a million. There's plenty more space now, and it's not nearly as cramped as before. All things considered, it's definitely an improvement."
With that, she hopped off the sofa, picked up the black lace folding fan on her desk, and snapped it open, fanning herself.
"Alright, let's get going. That trashy man who's been running away from home for over a year looks like he's finally coming back."
"H-His Majesty?" Liana's eyes widened in shock. "But there hasn't been any notice—"
"The notice is on the computer. Asagi Aiba just sent it."
Natsuki pointed at the desktop, clicked her tongue, and said, "That brat's getting more out of line by the day. Skipping class, hiding in the office all the time… looks like it's time she learned what a teacher's anger feels like."
She finished muttering and shot Liana a look. "What are you standing around for?"
"B-But… I don't believe I have the status to attend the welcome—"
Before she could finish, Natsuki smacked her arm lightly with the fan.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" She shot her a glare. "Hurry it up!"
"Y-Yes!"
Liana quickly placed her hands on Natsuki's shoulders.
Just before the spatial transfer activated, Natsuki muttered, "It's been over a year and you still can't brew a decent cup of tea. One day, I'm replacing you, useless maid."
As her words faded, the two figures vanished from the high-rise office.
.
.
.