Jiang You hadn't yet realized his actions had just created a Noble Phantasm of considerable rank. He watched as Prisma Illya took the Holy Grail and drank his blood in one go, the entire cupful pouring down her throat.
"That should be enough," Bubble said with a nod.
At the same time, a dialogue box popped up in Jiang You's vision. Now this feels right.
[Set Illya (Magical Girl Ver.) as your Miko? Yes/No]
Jiang You naturally chose [Yes].
"This blood has no taste," Prisma Illya's voice piped up. She had been quite hesitant to drink it, especially since it was human blood. To her surprise, it was completely flavorless, which greatly eased her psychological burden.
"You're saying the exact same thing as Fairy Tristan," Jiang You retorted. "Is my blood really that bland?"
It's not real blood anyway, just a game mechanic, he thought. At first, I assumed this game wouldn't have any bloodshed. But now that I think about it, people on the Official Server play Shadow Games every day. The original anime never showed it, but how could Duelists who constantly wager their souls treat each other with mutual respect? Of course there'd be some physical harm.
"Huh? I didn't say that out loud. Why can Jiang You hear me?"
It was Illya's confused voice again.
"I'm not deaf. Of course I can hear you when you speak so loudly—"
Jiang You trailed off as he realized Illya, her blindfold removed, was staring intently at him while holding the Holy Grail. Her mouth hadn't moved at all, yet he had still heard her voice.
"This is the connection between a Miko and her god," Bubble explained, using an analogy they could both understand more easily. "The Miko's innermost thoughts are completely open to the god she serves. If it feels strange, think of it like prayer."
"Prayer and supplication are the bridges that connect mortals to gods. A god can unilaterally block a Miko's prayers, but a Miko cannot hide her thoughts from her god."
"Does that mean he knows all my secrets now?!"
Prisma Illya's face turned deathly pale. Even she had little secrets she was too embarrassed to admit.
"In a situation like this, isn't it worse if you dwell on it?"
Just like when you recall your cringey past, you replay those scenes in your mind first. As a result, Prisma Illya's innermost thoughts broadcasted all her little secrets without reservation.
"If you don't want me to know, then stop thinking about them," Jiang You advised. "Besides, at your age, it's a bit..."
"SHUT UP!!!!"
Prisma Illya shrieked, her voice trembling as she tried to drown him out. If Jiang You had actually said it aloud, she would have wanted to die. Her face was now as red as a boiled crab. Covering her face, she curled into a tight ball. "Now I'll never get married."
"You couldn't get married the moment you became a Miko," Bubble chimed in, seemingly oblivious to the concept of adding fuel to the fire.
"Burying your head in the sand won't change reality. Now that the prerequisites are met, it's time to deal with the chaos Tru'nembra has caused."
"Right, I'll head out now."
If it weren't for the need to clean up the aftermath of the Mental Pollution, Jiang You could have simply shown up and made Nero stop obediently. For the current Jiang You, it was a simple matter.
"Why are you leaving your Miko behind?"
Bubble grabbed Jiang You. To her, he was like a clueless AI teammate who needed every single instruction spelled out in detail.
"A Miko isn't just a buff-bot; she's more like your agent. Tru'nembra's case needs to be handled by her to minimize future problems. Your Miko needs to press the Elder Sign onto Tru'nembra's forehead."
"Besides," she added, "didn't you say the current 'game' was getting boring because it lacked challenge?"
She had to keep Jiang You interested in this world. Increasing his income earlier was one way to ensure that.
"So, let your agent fight for you. It's perfect, isn't it? You wanted to help Prisma Illya improve her combat skills for future dangers. Now that she's your Miko, all she lacks is real combat experience. Is there a more suitable opponent than Tru'nembra?"
Bubble's proposal was indeed excellent. The quest to "Train Prisma Illya" had been completed the moment she became his Miko. A new quest had immediately appeared: Have Prisma Illya slay Darius.
Jiang You wondered if killing this chieftain would count toward completing the quest. After all, the keywords matched perfectly.
"If you don't want to directly influence mortals, you might need to appoint one of your own mikos in every world from now on. Your very presence, even mere contact, is more than mortals can bear."
Of course, it wouldn't be a problem if Jiang You simply maintained the status quo. Bubble was mainly trying to expand his gameplay options.
"So it's gone from a trading card game to a raising sim, huh? Isn't that a bit of a drastic genre shift?"
If it weren't for the money and his save file, Jiang You would have already bailed for the Official Server.
"And a life simulation game," Bubble added.
"Games have been borrowing from each other since their inception. Mature gameplay mechanics are like modules—you assemble and combine them. Experimenting with different genres can increase user retention. But let's drop this topic for now. The longer we delay, the more these ordinary people will be affected. Even after things return to normal, their Spiritual Sight will be several times higher than before. Of course, for these Magi, that's probably a good thing—it's like getting a free, artificially crafted Lesser Mystic Eye."
"Then I'll leave White Lancer Artoria in your care."
Jiang You, with Prisma Illya in tow, opened a portal back to her world. The Library's new structure made things much more convenient for him now, saving him even the time it took to walk to the door.
"I'll be right back."
Bubble glanced at White Lancer Artoria on the floor, then sat back down at her desk and started sipping her coffee. She extended a hand in an inviting gesture, and a door materialized as she spoke.
"You could have moved long ago, couldn't you? Well then, please handle this yourself. There's a bathroom inside. How about it, Miss Exhibitionist?"
Even the mature White Lancer Artoria couldn't help but blush at the nickname. Being dragged earlier had worn away more than just the soles of Jiang You's shoes; it had also shredded the back of her clothes. While her undergarments were exquisitely made, they weren't Noble Phantasms. Their defensive capabilities were no different from ordinary clothing, and at Dun Stallion's speed, they had been almost instantly worn through. She had been playing dead on the floor precisely to avoid anyone seeing her current state—she still had some dignity to uphold, after all.
"Replacement clothes have been prepared. Of course, you could also choose to wear nothing at all. Jiang You is actually quite curious about your... physiological features."
Naturally, Bubble had no intention of actually letting White Lancer Artoria go without clothes. Jiang You's current mindset wouldn't allow him to witness such a scene.
Watching White Lancer Artoria shuffle awkwardly into the bathroom, Bubble opened her book again.
This time, the book seemed to be a manga. On its pages, two small figures were screaming in frustration and anger.
"Let's have a chat, Counter Forces."
Bubble chuckled.
"Don't be in such a hurry. Right now, our positions are aligned. Tell me your plans. Jiang You will awaken one day. This world is fascinating; I don't want it to end so simply."