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]