[Do you think I won't hit you if I say so?]
As if sensing Aslan's rather insulting thoughts, Little Garden's Central Core replied with a hint of irritation.
Did he think the Central Core had learned nothing after being deceived for so long by the gods and buddhas?
But what could it do?
If not for Aslan, its situation wouldn't be much better than Human History itself.
Or rather, if the gods and buddhas were sucking blood from Human History, then the Central Core was merely the tool used to draw that blood.
Yet it didn't understand—wasn't Little Garden originally created to guide the development of Human History? To mutually benefit alongside Human History?
After all, merit and influence were useless to Human History.
If Human History were compared to a bonfire, then the gods, buddhas, and Little Garden were the firekeepers ensuring the flames burned longer.
In return, the gods, buddhas, and Little Garden had the right to warm themselves by the fire—to enjoy its warmth, i.e., gain merit and blessings.
But why didn't it understand how Little Garden had become like this?
The original firekeeper had instead turned into a fire thief, stealing firewood from beneath the flames.
And as if that weren't enough, the gods and buddhas also planned to harvest the experiences of the existing Little Garden and Human History to build a new Little Garden—one better suited for their exploitation and harvesting.
"So, how exactly will you transform the Root vortex into your incarnation?"
[Of course, by directly turning the Root vortex into my incarnation.]
"..."
Aslan fell completely silent. For some reason, he suddenly saw the shadow of his own boss within Little Garden's Central Core.
"Then, what's the detailed plan? Or what kind of help can you actually provide?"
[Hmm...]
"Don't just stay silent! You're making this up on the spot, aren't you?"
Aslan felt he'd uncovered the truth. He still found Little Garden's Central Core utterly ridiculous.
"What about essence pollution? Shouldn't your essence be higher than the Root vortex?"
After all, one was a Central Core observing countless multiverses, while the other was merely a vortex generating the Type-Moon Multiverse.
The Central Core had consumed merit for years—it couldn't have improved zero over time.
"This would also prevent them from detecting traces and allow us to act silently."
[Great idea!]
"So, you'll supply this energy—no problem, right?"
[No problem. By the way, I'll borrow your Sun Authority for a bit.]
"..."
Aslan's patience snapped. He felt that cooperating with this Central Core to oppose Little Garden's gods and buddhas was an incredibly foolish choice.
Could he still surrender to a Two-Digit existence right now?
"So does that mean I'm the one supplying it?"
He said it as if Sun Authority weren't even his, despite it being loaned by Shiroyasha.
Still, through this, Aslan could gauge the current state of Little Garden's Central Core.
If he hadn't tested it at first, he likely would've assumed the Central Core had absolutely no autonomy.
Even now, it still lacked true autonomy—but at least it could communicate independently.
Whether it was just his imagination or not, Aslan felt the Central Core's human-like qualities were slowly increasing.
He increasingly felt it was becoming… Shiroyasha.
Wait—Sun Star Spirit of the Original Star? So Shiroyasha was truly Little Garden's Central Core?
Only, Shiroyasha should've been a severed will from Little Garden's Central Core, becoming the Sun Star Spirit of the Original Star.
That was the truth.
"I'll be the one operating it."
Yet this secret could only remain in Aslan's heart. He must not reveal it until he had absolute certainty.
Aslan suspected the Central Core might not even be aware of this—or perhaps "selectively" ignored it?
If Shiroyasha realized she was the Central Core, he feared something terrifying would happen.
Better to proceed cautiously.
"Still, returning to Little Garden will have to be delayed again."
Aslan sighed. He only hoped Nyaruko wouldn't appear and cause trouble during these few days.
After all, a Creature card couldn't truly seal an existence like Nyaruko—a Two-Digit being.
Then, Aslan returned to the Matou household.
At this moment, the entire world was shrouded in dream space, Displacement Magecraft, and the Boundary between illusion and reality.
The world seemed to awaken from a dream.
Everything—the biohazards, nuclear explosions, even the Holy Grail War—felt like a dream.
A dream in which no one had sacrificed anything.
"King..."
As if waking from a dream, Waver didn't know why he was crying.
Yet he felt as though he'd lost some vital memories and experiences.
Why was he here? Why were there tears in his eyes?
He didn't know. But what he did know was that he needed to grow stronger.
It seemed no one had truly escaped unscathed?
Aslan looked at Waver, tilted his head awkwardly, thought for a moment, then touched his forehead with one finger—helping him recall yesterday's memories.
"Consider this my final assistance."
As for everyone else, Aslan no longer cared.
Yet it seemed someone else hadn't lost last night's memories either.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
In Misaki City, at the Ryougi residence, a little girl practicing kendo paused briefly.
At that moment, her aura seemed to enter the Boundary of Emptiness.
She glanced toward Fuyuki City, then returned to normal and continued her training.
But Aslan didn't notice—more accurately, he unconsciously ignored it.
Not everyone could remain in perfect strategic condition all the time.
Especially since he knew his own limits. He wasn't a sage like Canaria.
Mistakes were normal, and often he relied on information asymmetry.
In the end, Aslan returned to the Matou household, back to Sakura, Manaka, Artoria, and Draco.
"Everyone, I'm back."
"Big brother Aslan!"
"Prince!"
Two little girls—one tall, one small—rushed straight into Aslan's arms.
Aslan said nothing. He simply injected their Spirit Status back into their bodies.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Meanwhile, in the Throne of Heroes.
Gaia stared at Alaya, blinking in confusion.
"Strange… where's Arthur? Why hasn't he come back to pick us up?"
"I don't know either."
Alaya was still puzzled, but asking them to search for Aslan among the infinite sea of worldlines?
That would be unfairly difficult for Counter Forces.
"Maybe… maybe… maybe…"
"He forgot about us?"
Gaia asked hesitantly.
And Alaya was more blunt.
"Maybe he couldn't do it… so he's too afraid to come back?"