"Jormungandr, I've already arranged for Constantine to assist me. Development of Heroic Spirits and Noble Phantasms, including skill systems, has nothing to do with you anymore. You're out. From this point on, the Holy Grail War research team has no place for you."
"Norton, what the hell is this supposed to mean? You come and go as you please, tossing me around like some tool. You think our blood pact is some kind of public restroom?"
"Let me say it again: it's not that you have no job. Your next destination is Tokyo. It's the site we've chosen for the Holy Grail War. Your task is to use your power as the King of Earth and Mountains to install the Greater Grail and align the ley lines. That's it. Leave. No one else needs to get hurt."
"Ohhh, I see how it is. You really look down on me, huh? Fine! I admit it—right now, you and your little brother are stronger than me. But one day I'll return the favor tenfold! Mark my words, Norton—you will regret this!"
…
Sunlight poured over an ancient courtyard, casting long rays over an aged locust tree entangled with green vines. The leaves shimmered in the breeze, casting shifting shadows through the classroom windows, reflecting a bustling, radiant atmosphere.
Inside the classroom where noble families trained external magical apprentices, Xia Mi sat gracefully, her hair casually pinned up with a few wisps hanging around her pale neck. She was like a painting—an alluring presence that drew the eyes of every hormone-charged teenage boy in sight.
The instructor was teaching four methods of writing a complex talisman using a soft calligraphy brush.
But Xia Mi, only half-listening, casually sketched out a version on her draft paper that was more precise than anything in the official textbooks.
As the King of Earth and Mountains, her control over magical forces was near-perfection. She could craft thousands of intricate talismans without her fingers trembling even once—or snap an entire bridge or train station in half by striking a single weak point.
With her assignment finished in seconds, she sat there blankly, watching the ink gather at the tip of her brush and drip onto the white paper, forming a spreading blotch.
She had just been... expelled? No, "reassigned" from Norton's project team. Her new title was "external personnel" for the Holy Grail War project.
Not that it mattered—it felt like she'd been kicked out!
Damn that Norton. How dare he dismiss the future goddess of death, Hela! Xia Mi clenched her brush angrily. One day, she'd make every single person who looked down on her kneel and beg for mercy!
Snap.
Oops. She'd crushed the brush handle.
"Teacher! I've completed the assignment! Also, sorry, my brush was a bit brittle and broke when it hit the table. Can I go to the storeroom to request a new one?"
With permission granted, Xia Mi left the classroom. As the top student recruited externally by the noble family, she had near-unrestricted access within the academic area—so long as she didn't cause trouble or leave the premises.
This wasn't her first time skipping classes either. Doing so let her audit other lectures, visit workshops, and observe magical artifact production.
But after working with Norton, most human-made tech now felt quaint to her. She picked up new things fast, and everything seemed a bit… shallow.
Sigh. Maybe I should focus on that Tokyo mission.
If she were still working directly under Norton, it would've been easy. "Ronald Tang" had enough influence in the Zhou family to bring her along as an assistant. But since he'd handed that assistant spot to his little brother instead, she'd have to fend for herself.
Ugh. That hopeless brother-obsessed lunatic.
As she strolled through sun-dappled corridors, sidestepping every surveillance node with ease, Xia Mi pondered her next move. If she was going to stay in Tokyo long-term, she'd need a home. A comfortable one. She was a Dragon King, not some vagrant.
Look at Norton—living like a tycoon. Odin had probably monopolized entire global industries. Meanwhile, she was still stuck in a cheap, outdated apartment. It was enough to make her grind her teeth in envy.
Damn the rich. As King of Earth and Mountains, I hate the rich above all...
No, wait. She hated that she wasn't one of the rich even more.
Her original plan had been to enroll in the Cassell-Associated Preparatory Program. But after getting involved with Norton, that fell through. Cassell had started withdrawing from Shen Zhou, and many prep students were forced to choose between the Secret Party and local noble clans.
Xia Mi declined the Secret Party's offer. Tokyo was her goal. If she went to Cassell, she wouldn't even get stationed there unless it was a mission—and not for years.
Plus, Norma—the Secret Party's AI—was ridiculously strict. Her fake ID might not even hold up under scrutiny.
The Shen Zhou families, on the other hand, were a lot more relaxed. Maybe too relaxed. It seemed like their systems were still under construction. Xia Mi had yet to feel any real constraint from them.
If Norton could arrange a position for his brother, maybe she could do the same.
Which brought her to her current task: how to mooch housing and meals with dignity.
She had just slipped out of the academic zone when she landed near a workshop. Inside, several young men were speaking in hushed tones—barely audible, unless you were a Dragon King.
"…Move this here. I'll sort the documents later."
"Have you added the VIPs to the Tokyo list?"
"There should be three: Shirou Emiya, Chen Motong, and…"
"No, no. Shirou is the lead. Others are optional, subject to his final decision."
So. Shirou Emiya… was going to Tokyo?
Right. That was his homeland.
Xia Mi's eyes lit up. If she could hitch a ride with him, both ticket and lodging might be covered…
No! She had to maintain her pride as a Dragon King! She'd white-knight her way in with dignity!
Her solution: apply for an assistant position—just like Constantine got.
That way, she wouldn't be mooching. She'd be earning her keep.
Pleased with her genius plan, Xia Mi turned to leave—only to run straight into a red-haired figure hurrying out of the corridor.
It was Shirou.
For a moment, he was stunned—until he noticed her student uniform.
"…A magic apprentice? Aren't students forbidden from leaving the academic zone?"
Xia Mi froze. Crap. She'd forgotten to stay hidden! Why was he acting like a teacher!?
Turns out, he wasn't.
Shirou had simply stopped by after hearing about the noble family's magic prep school. But when word spread that the "God-Slaying Hero" was in town, swarms of students flooded him for signatures.
He was so overwhelmed, he ran for it—and now had bumped into Xia Mi.
Thinking fast, Xia Mi widened her big, sparkly eyes and opened her cherry lips with a sweet, playful voice:
"Shirou-senpai, right? I've heard all about you—slayer of gods, a true hero! You must be rich, huh? Say, do you happen to have an opening for an assistant?"
"I'm Xia Mi! I'm hard-working, great at moving boxes and writing research reports. Years of restaurant experience, not to mention top-tier housekeeping and cooking skills! Are you taking on a project? Your cute kouhai here is begging to tag along!"
Her perfume wafted gently through the air. Sweet, confident—and ever so slightly shameless.
"..." Shirou went silent, unsure how to respond.
Damn it, Old Tang… You weren't kidding about pretty junior assistants.
(End of Chapter)
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