"You… you two…!?"
Nono's pupils trembled. Her voice carried a mix of disbelief, suspicion, and a bit of panic she could no longer hide.
"Us?" Melusine didn't understand why her Master's gaze kept darting between her and Emiya.
Was something wrong?
"Then let me ask—where are Emiya's clothes?"
Nono pouted. You're telling me you were just fighting? This wasn't some R18 action scene, so why did all his clothing get blown off during battle?
"It wasn't because of the fight. I took them off after the battle. They were in the way."
Melusine answered honestly and simply… skipping over most of the context with a light explanation.
Because the process of the Dragon Blood Baptism was quite complex.
While drawing out the power from the Leviathan's Dragonbone Cross, Melusine had to craft a cocoon-like vessel to hold Emiya's body. Then, the purified "fetal blood" converted from the dragonbone had to be infused into the container using cocoon threads as conduits.
Clothing could hinder the extension and transfer of the cocoon threads, thus reducing the effectiveness of absorbing dragon blood.
Even the Nibelungenlied recorded such things.
In it, Siegfried bathed in dragon blood after slaying the beast and gained near invulnerability. But because a leaf covered his back, he failed to receive the full blessing, resulting in a fatal weak spot.
Though some parts were likely embellished or fabricated, there was truth in the principle.
"Clothes were in the way!?"
Nono was stunned by Melusine's overly simplified reasoning. What kind of dragon is this!? You just finished a fight and are already lusting over a human's body?
If I don't get a proper explanation today, I swear I'll go all out on this perverted little dragon—
"Exactly!" Melusine didn't seem to notice the tone Nono had taken. She calmly continued stating the facts.
"We cooperated flawlessly under the sea and slew the source of evil. But I believe Emiya deserves most of the credit, so I gave him something important as the spoils of victory…"
She glanced at Nono, noticing others nearby, and tried to use euphemisms.
But those very words only made Nono's temper flare even more.
"Something important… a reward…?"
Her red hair flaring and eyes wide, Nono snapped, "You better not mean yourself!"
"Eh?" Melusine's tail drooped, confused by her Master's sudden fury.
While the two stood locked in a strange, tense air, Rei silently slipped by. With practiced ease, she removed the sword case from the Dragon-Slaying Platform and slung it onto her back.
Just helping carry things—same as during the Odin incident. Following precedent.
Time to go...
Seeing this, Nono finally calmed down a little. She ran her fingers through her messy red hair and exhaled deeply. Rationality reclaimed its hold.
Now wasn't the time for arguments. First, escape this godforsaken place and return to reality safely.
"Let's move!"
———
When the group finally passed through the "Gate" and reached the entrance ramp of an empty overpass, they found themselves stepping out of one chaotic, flooded world into… another.
"Holy crap, did the city flood!?"
The only one visibly uncomfortable in the group, Chu Tianjiao, had originally planned to remain silent. But once he made it out alive from Nibelungen—clinging desperately to Emiya's leg—the disaster before him forced a reaction.
"Downpour" didn't begin to describe the state of the city.
This year's Typhoon Dandelion had arrived with a vengeance, bringing unprecedented levels of water vapor. The resulting rainfall overwhelmed the coastal city's drainage system, sending it into near-collapse.
The group descended quietly from the unnoticed on-ramp.
Within the white noise of pelting rain, Nono explained in a low voice that Emiya's current naked state had been due to the Dragon Blood Baptism ritual. He wasn't hurt—just in a coma, temporarily dormant until his evolution completed.
A misunderstanding, then. Okay, fine, she'd forgive the little dragon… NOT. The shrine maiden wouldn't let this go.
Nono also quietly asked Melusine to stay hidden and avoid drawing attention.
Obeying her Master, Melusine concealed her draconic traits and shifted into spirit form, vanishing from view.
Thus, at Nono's perfectly reasonable request, Emiya's body was finally reclaimed from Melusine and returned to her.
Hmph. The tide has turned.
Carrying Emiya on her back, Nono smirked to herself. That naive little dragon still lacked life experience—easily manipulated.
First time leads to a second… and then countless more.
From now on, Melusine could just stay "invisible" while she and Emiya enjoyed each other's company freely.
"?"
In spirit form, Melusine watched her Master's sudden sunny demeanor and fluttering red hair. How curious—human emotions changed so quickly.
Maybe she needed to study human customs more.
"So uh, what now?" asked Chu Tianjiao.
Near the bottom of the overpass, water pooled several centimeters deep.
Luxury sedans like BMWs and Benzes, normally proud and flashy, now crawled humbly. Some had even stalled mid-road, hazard lights blinking—clearly victims of deep flooding.
Chu Tianjiao wiped rain off his face. "No way we're catching a cab in this mess."
"No need. Someone's picking us up," said Rei.
She pointed ahead—an oversized RV was pushing confidently through the floodwaters, headlights blazing. It moved like a celebrity cutting through a crowd, unfazed by the depth.
Chu Tianjiao squinted—was that a modified Iveco off-road camper van!? If this wasn't prearranged, he'd eat two full bowls of Lanzhou noodles with his nose!
And he wasn't wrong. Rei's boss, Lu Mingze, had long predicted their survival and dispatched Jotaro Mai to pick them up.
The RV blinked its headlights, urging them to board.
Soaked to the bone, they eagerly climbed aboard and rushed into the back to dry off and change into warm spare clothes.
…Except for Chu Tianjiao, who was kicked out.
"?"
He'd hoped to mooch some comfort too—but they let Emiya in and left him out? That's discrimination! Middle-aged men deserve human rights too!
Dejected and still dripping, Chu Tianjiao returned to the front cabin. Checking his pockets for a cigarette, he realized everything was gone. After escaping Nibelungen, all he had left were two alchemical Muramasa blades. His phone and weapon case were missing.
He slumped into the passenger seat, flashed Jotaro Mai a sad smile. "Hey, beauty, think you could drop me off at Huanya Group? It's urgent."
"Sit tight."
Without another word, Jotaro Mai took off like a rocket, her driving so fierce it made nearby sedans honk in protest.
Chu Tianjiao gulped. Definitely not someone to mess with.
———
Emiya felt like he had returned to the womb, wrapped in warmth and softness, drifting in baby-like sleep.
What happened? He vaguely remembered telling Melusine to give him new dragon armor after the battle… and then nothing.
Before waking, he noticed the pain and exhaustion from overloading his circuits had completely vanished.
Instead, a vast and powerful energy gently coursed through his limbs, blending seamlessly into his body like the pure essence of nature itself.
Then he heard voices. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
The familiar ceiling of the Regent Hotel. In the distance, Nono clattered about in fluffy slippers.
"You're awake?" she asked, rushing over with a steaming bowl of congee.
The kitchen was filled with mist and… the distinct burnt smell of a beginner's attempt.
Holy crap, Nono actually cooked!?
"No need to go through all this. You could've just brought something from the executive district restaurant."
Emiya sat up. He didn't feel weak at all—he felt fantastic.
"You think I didn't try!? It was too late when we got back. Kitchen staff were long gone. Your dear Old Tang dropped by once, but then rushed off to some 'E-Sports Grand Finals' appointment. So here I am slaving away for you!"
Nono ranted, clearly unfamiliar with kitchen chores. She set the overcooked, burnt-smelling congee on the table.
Then she tossed him a new set of clothes—just a bathrobe for now. "Get dressed! Whether or not you drink the porridge is up to you!"
As the clothes landed on the bed, the blanket next to Emiya wriggled… and Melusine's sleepy face peeked out.
Nono: "..."
(End of Chapter)
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