"I have matters to attend to this afternoon, so you should rest here. I'll have the maids and servants attend to you..."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Roy realized his mistake and quickly added, "...Never mind. I know you don't like interacting with humans, so there's no need for attendants. But the maids will be outside the courtyard—if you truly need anything, just call for them."
Roy had claimed he didn't want to work today and only wanted to pet Yu, but that was just talk. He still found the era of the Chu-Han contention somewhat inscrutable and couldn't afford to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh like those decadent rulers of old.
Yu Ji sat silently on the bed, realizing that Roy seemed to genuinely understand her. He knew she disliked human contact, so he had even dismissed the servants for her sake.
What she didn't notice, however, was that while she disliked interacting with humans, she had gradually grown accustomed to Roy's closeness—something she had initially resisted.
"Do you need anything?"
"I don't need anything."
"Then how do you usually pass the time?"
"Pass the time? I just sit there."
"..."
Yu Ji's answer left Roy momentarily speechless. Was this the legendary immortal cultivation? Sitting still for eight hundred years? Truly befitting a fairy maiden!
"What do you like to eat? I'll have it prepared for you."
"I don't need to eat."
So she's even transcended the need for food...
But of course. She was a True Ancestor—or rather, a being even higher than that. Naturally, she didn't need to replenish energy through food like humans did. She truly absorbed the essence of heaven and earth, drawing power from the sun and moon.
This... this girl was incredibly easy to take care of. She didn't need him to play games with her, didn't require him to cook or constantly think about what delicious food to prepare for her. Judging by how little fabric her outfit used, she probably didn't even care about what she wore. And on top of that, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
Why hadn't he ever had such a low-maintenance girlfriend in the past?
Roy couldn't help feeling somewhat frustrated. However, women like her also had troublesome aspects—they were difficult to approach.
If he didn't possess formidable power that made him fearless, Roy suspected he wouldn't have dared to be so brazenly familiar with Yu Ji. If he provoked this volatile woman and she flew into a rage, slapping him to death in an instant, there would truly be no place to seek justice.
Thus, a man's strength and ability were the most important. Otherwise, even trying to pursue an exceptional woman would be difficult—just making contact would be a challenge.
"Well... I'll have the servants bring some bamboo scrolls. You can read when you have nothing else to do, my lady."
After much deliberation, this was the only way Roy could think of to keep Yu Ji occupied.
The term "my lady" might sound flirtatious to modern ears, but that was merely a contemporary interpretation. In this era, "my lady" was an honorable form of address for women, just like "Ji." By the Han Dynasty, "my lady" even became an official title for imperial concubines.
Otherwise, Yu Ji wouldn't have been called "Yu the Beauty."
Roy figured that when he had free time, he would simply spend more time with her. Even if Yu Ji might not need company, he would still have to be thick-skinned about it.
Roy left his living quarters. Only after his figure disappeared from sight did Yu Ji shift slightly, settling into the corner by the bed. She hugged her knees, resting her delicate chin on them, her bright and beautiful eyes darting around as she secretly surveyed everything in the room.
It wasn't that she liked cramped spaces like a cat—rather, in such a corner, she could avoid drawing attention while still observing others.
She didn't enjoy interacting with humans, but she didn't despise them either. If she could remain unnoticed while quietly watching, that would be ideal.
...
"You're being excessively kind to her."
Roy entered the courtyard and dismissed all the servants and maids, instructing them not to enter unless Yu Ji permitted it.
Aiwass suddenly appeared behind Roy. Since Roy had entered this world, this was the first time she had spoken to him.
"What, does my kindness to her concern you, Aiwass?"
Roy asked with a smile, his back still turned to her.
"It has nothing to do with me."
Aiwass replied calmly.
"I might have taken over Xiang Yu's fate. When I saw Yu Ji, I felt a sense of destiny. And... do you understand 'love,' Aiwass? That emotion... it's the greatest, most beautiful, most passionate, yet most incomprehensible thing about humanity. In the end, I'm still human—I haven't transcended emotions. I've developed feelings of love for her, for Yu. Hah, honestly, I find it quite rare that I still have such emotions. But precisely because it's rare, it's all the more precious."
Roy lifted his head to gaze at the sky, sighing before asking, "...Why have you been silent ever since we arrived in this world?"
He left the courtyard and headed toward the front residence. Even in the world of Campione, few could see Aiwass. In this place where mystery was gradually fading, even fewer could perceive her, so Roy didn't mind wandering around with her in tow.
"Judging by average standards, this world's level of mystery falls short of the previous Campione world. However, there are some rather troublesome elements here. If I appear too frequently, it might lead to unpredictable consequences."
"Like the Counter Force?"
Roy pursed his lips and asked.
"That's one type. Then there are people like Scáthach we saw earlier. Although they're few in number and don't interfere much, it's better to have minimal contact... After all, I'm an outsider, which easily raises others' vigilance..."
Aiwass gave Roy a general explanation.
"What do you plan to do next?"
Aiwass asked, gazing at Roy's retreating figure.
"For now, I can only follow the course of history. Since the 'ship' brought me here, it means there must be something on this land capable of causing the collapse of human order. Initially, I suspected Yu Ji, but not anymore. She should be the same Yu Ji from history, part of the historical progression."
"...Judging from the current situation, the progression of human order seems perfectly fine, as if it doesn't need 'correction.' All I can do is act according to the correct history."
Roy's decision earned a nod of approval from Aiwass. "...Your choice is correct. This world is somewhat special. Even with parallel worlds, certain key points of human order are strictly prohibited."
"Oh? It seems your silence these past days means you've gained deeper understanding of this world?"
"Yes. Human order wasn't within my knowledge before, but I've come to understand its basics. Due to the existence of human order, this world experiences the phenomenon of 'Human Order Pruning.' That is, when human order goes awry, when history reaches a dead end, and humanity loses its infinite possibilities, such a world will be rejected by human order and consequently perish."
Aiwass spoke words of brutal truth, representing the destruction of parallel worlds that had strayed into erroneous human order.
"I won't let that happen. I'll ensure this world's human order follows the most correct path. Because of her, because 'Yu' is in this world, I don't want her to disappear."
Roy spoke with grave determination, declaring his stance on human order.
"There are countless parallel worlds, countless versions of Yu Ji..."
Before Aiwass could finish, Roy interrupted, "...But the Yu Ji I know is only her!"
Roy slowly turned his head, giving Aiwass a deep look. After a long pause, he suddenly smiled. "...Besides, I'll make her the one and only 'Yu the Beauty'!"
By mastering the Second Magic, this could be achieved in the Type-Moon world. But the mysterious 'Throne' in Roy's right hand held even greater authority than the Second Magic—it could make this Yu Ji, the one Roy knew, the sole existence across all infinite worlds and universes.
"Tell me, Aiwass! What does correct human order look like?"
"Haven't you already known and been acting accordingly?"
"Ah, right... The correct history, the correct human order, is the one I know!"
Roy's expression showed he had expected this answer.