The method Algol provided was excellent—a way to converge individuals from parallel worlds to obtain Spirit Status. But the only difficulty was that it required a Reference Point.
A Reference Point capable of interfering with all parallel worlds at once. Like the Dragon's Vein in Naruto, or the Root in this world, or like the Umbrella Corporation research base Aslan created while observing worlds from Little Garden's Central Core, which became a convergence point for countless parallel worlds.
Of course, the above could be done under any conditions, but besides these special locations, there was another possibility.
Namely, a Historical Transition Period. It could also serve as a Reference Point for convergence.
However, the first method was easier to operate, required less energy, and was simpler for convergence.
Whereas the second, Historical Transition Periods weren't so easy to determine and trigger.
But one thing Aslan could be certain of was that the Holy Grail War was definitely a Special Node in the Type-Moon World.
It could be used to converge Sakura from parallel worlds and grant her Spirit Status.
Yet, Aslan would rather enter the Root once and save all Sakuras from all worlds.
"Let's consider it a dream come true—entering and exiting the Root."
Aslan gently stroked Sakura's head and said with a soft smile.
"Prince, I made some cookies. Would you like to try?"
Just as Aslan and Sakura were watching anime together, Manaka arrived right on time with a plate full of cookies.
She showed a hopeful expression, her face slightly flushed.
"Since I didn't know what flavor you liked, I made a little of each kind."
Looking at the girl before him, who had tied up her hair and wore an apron like the perfect housewife, Aslan wasn't worried about Manaka's cooking tasting bad.
He knew very well how extraordinary the cooking skills of the Root Princess were.
"Sakura, want to try?"
Aslan picked up one cookie and asked Sakura.
Sakura looked at Aslan, smiling, the cookie in his hand, and Manaka showing a perfect smile beside him.
"Umm, I want Brother Aslan to feed me."
(Sorry, Brother Aslan, please let me be a little selfish.)
Sakura didn't want to give up in front of Manaka, the one who wanted to take Aslan away.
The perfect smile on Manaka's face, on the other hand, seemed slightly broken, with a hint of forcedness.
Even the plate she held cracked slightly, but she quickly repaired it with Magecraft.
Aslan smiled indulgently and fed Sakura. He also took one for himself and put it in his mouth.
"Delicious. You did a great job, Manaka."
Delicious—that was Aslan's first impression after eating it. Of course, after all, he was just an ordinary person, so he couldn't give a better evaluation.
Delicious was already the highest praise.
"Umm."
Hearing Aslan's compliment, Manaka couldn't help but smile happily.
It wasn't the insincere, overly perfect smile she had before. Only now did Manaka look like a real girl.
"Manaka, you should try it too."
As he spoke, Aslan also took one and placed it into Manaka's mouth, who was still holding the plate.
He wasn't a completely dense person. He could naturally sense Manaka's and Sakura's feelings toward him.
Though he didn't know why a little girl like Sakura could have such thoughts, he did have the idea of raising her from the beginning.
For this, Aslan naturally accepted it with pleasure.
Yet, he knew the principle of treating everyone equally.
"Umm~~"
A cookie personally fed by the prince.
Instantly, an unmistakable blush of shyness appeared on Manaka's face. She decided—tonight she'd prepare a satisfying meal for the prince.
She wanted more, much more...
Seeing Manaka, lost in her thoughts, Aslan immediately pinched her cheek.
"Manaka, what are you thinking about?"
"Manaka won't tell the prince."
Manaka puffed her cheeks and said proudly. She was preparing a surprise for Aslan tonight.
If she told him, wouldn't there be no surprise?
"Alright then. I'll look forward to the surprise Manaka has prepared."
Aslan shook his head helplessly. Honestly, Manaka was now too easy to read. Especially when approached slightly, her girlish side would explode.
She was too cute.
Aslan now even felt like he was being conquered by Manaka.
Now he could drop the "felt like." Manaka had indeed conquered him.
But, it had to be admitted—this feeling was quite comfortable. It was also the first time he'd ever felt it.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
On the other hand, Manaka was struggling.
The prince was Chinese, so for dinner, it was better to prepare Chinese cuisine.
Manaka reconnected with the Root to obtain information about Chinese dishes.
"..."
Seeing hundreds of dishes that could be made in just one province, and reading all that information in her mind,
There was even information in her mind that in the future, a gourmet promised to try all Chinese dishes in a month. Yet, after a year, he hadn't even left a single city.
"So, why are there so many troublesome dishes?"
Manaka, who was shopping for ingredients for dinner, felt dizzy.
Especially because many ingredients couldn't be bought here.
Manaka had no idea what dishes Aslan liked.
If it were just English cuisine, no problem—but why Chinese?
There were too many choices.
For a moment, Manaka couldn't help but feel annoyed toward China for having so many delicious dishes.
With so many delicious dishes, when would she find the prince's favorite?
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"By the way, you made way too much, Manaka."
Aslan admitted his appetite wasn't small—and even larger after absorbing Arthur Proto's Spirit Origin.
But what Manaka made was too much, right?
Aslan froze when he saw the dishes filling several tables and the entire kitchen.
This was almost equivalent to the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast (a lavish Chinese banquet), right?
Aslan seriously doubted whether the five people present could finish all these dishes.
"It's delicious."
Even Sakura was amazed facing such a massive amount of food.
"Umm, this is definitely the most delicious food I've ever eaten."
Draco's hands even moved so fast they created afterimages while grabbing dishes.
"Manaka, this is delicious. But next time, no need to make this much."
As for Aslan, he had to admit Manaka's cooking skills were indeed extraordinary.
It was just that she made too much. Even Aslan, who inherited a king's appetite, felt full.
But luckily, nothing went to waste in the end.
[Scene:
Writing romantic scenes is very difficult. I feel unsatisfied no matter how I write it, so I gave up after trying.
Next time I won't write them again. It's more fun to just focus on battles and causing trouble.]