When Takatsuki returned to St. Freya, he had just entered the villa when he encountered Mei, who was carrying a basin of fruit from the courtyard.
"Takatsuki, did something good happen?"
Although not overtly expressed, Takatsuki's joyful aura was immediately apparent.
"Sort of, I did a good deed."
Was it really a good deed?
Takatsuki didn't know, but he thought it was a good deed, and the person involved also thought it was a good deed. As for others, Who cares.
Happiness in this world is inherently conserved; it neither disappears out of thin air nor increases without reason. It merely shifts constantly.
His and Misteln's happiness was naturally taken from others.
He later hid in the World Serpent, watching Raven become a Master and summon Elysia under the witness of Gray Serpent and Jackal, before leaving.
Now, only Cocolia was left.
Cocolia was truly persistent, constantly wanting to summon a renowned strong individual, but the meticulously chosen Holy Remains failed to summon any existence. He wondered what her mood was like at that time.
"How is Kiana? Is she awake?"
Before Takatsuki left, he created a dream for Kiana, allowing her to experience things she hadn't yet gone through, and might never experience, from the perspective of another self in the dream.
Those were the hardships that the original Kiana had taken nearly a year to overcome.
She had strengthened her conviction amidst internal and external troubles, such as Sirin's instigation and enemy pursuit.
And now, the memories belonging to Sirin had been extracted from Kiana's body, and she also had the guidance of a senior who had already gone through it.
She was already on a correct path that predecessors had trodden.
"Kiana is awake, and she's gone to the training ground with Durandal and the others again."
Mei hesitated and said, "She dug out that sword again."
"Sword?"
"Yes, the one you made with her authority in the Dungeon."
"…"
Takatsuki remembered it; it was the pseudo-Flamescion Greatsword he had made earlier using others' power.
Because it was an embodiment of the Herrscher of the Void's authority, it became difficult for him to use after he lost the borrowed power, so he gave it to Kiana.
Thinking about Kiana's situation, Takatsuki noticed that Mei in front of him seemed to be hesitating to speak.
"I'm sorry, Mei."
Mei looked at Takatsuki with some confusion: "Why are you suddenly apologizing?"
"Ever since the Honkai in Manila, I've been busy with the Holy Grail War, and Kiana and Bronya have both gone for special training for the Holy Grail War. Mei must be feeling lonely."
In the original plot, Kiana, Mei, and Bronya, the big three, were inseparable from the beginning.
After Takatsuki intervened, Mei and Kiana still became acquainted, and even before leaving Nagazora City, they became involved with Bronya again.
The three rekindled their friendship.
Previously, when they went to other worlds, the few of them went together. And now, in this Holy Grail War, Mei was the only one left behind.
So Takatsuki was worried if Mei felt that she had been abandoned by the others.
Because she once felt that she couldn't keep up with Kiana, and later, in order to save Kiana and catch up with her, the 'Sinner's Elegy' and subsequent events unfolded.
"No, I'm content as long as I can live peacefully like this, more than fighting."
Mei shook her head at Takatsuki's words, smiling slightly as she said to Takatsuki: "Don't worry about me. I'm just worried about Kiana and the others. Although most of them are our own people, the Holy Grail War must be fought until only one Servant remains, right? Everyone is a friend and family; is that really okay?"
"I heard Durandal talk about her experience participating in the Holy Grail War with you in another world. Although she didn't say it, I think she must also be worried about this."
Takatsuki opened his mouth: "So you were worried about this…"
To be honest, Takatsuki hadn't expected Durandal to worry about this, because Takatsuki hadn't explained the mechanism of that world's Holy Grail War in too much detail to her.
Type-Moon's Holy Grail War required the souls of Servants to fill the Holy Grail, which is why it had to be fought to the end. In reality, if the power of a certain Servant's soul was strong enough, the Holy Grail could even descend prematurely.
However, according to the rules, only the final victor could make a wish, and the Holy Grail absorbing the souls of deceased Servants was pre-set; it would continue to absorb even if it descended.
But Takatsuki's didn't need that.
His reasons for holding the Holy Grail War were completely different from Type-Moon's.
He even went against the hidden rules that Type-Moon had to follow, even announcing them to the whole world.
Because Type-Moon's mystery was stronger the fewer people knew about it, while his Throne of Heroes was stronger the more people knew and recognized it.
Type-Moon's Holy Grail itself was the ultimate goal of the Holy Grail War, while Takatsuki's Holy Grail was merely a prize to attract participants; his goal was to spread the fame of the Heroic Spirit.
So the two were completely different things.
"Just surrender. The Holy Grail War Durandal participated in was different from mine. That Holy Grail War was truly cruel, while mine is more like… an exhibition match."
Takatsuki thought for a moment and came up with this term.
"Although it still requires only one Servant to remain to determine the winner, as long as the Master voluntarily gives up their Command Spells, the Servant will naturally disappear, so just surrender."
Takatsuki did not want to see his own people killing each other.
However, a friendly exhibition match between acquaintances, displayed for everyone to see, was still acceptable.
Previously, when Durandal needed to practice her moves, she would find Takatsuki and battle him at sea. At their level of combat, without killing intent, it was essentially impossible to kill the opponent.
"So that's how it is? Then I'm relieved."
Mei breathed a sigh of relief: "But Durandal doesn't know yet. Remember to explain it to her later."
Durandal didn't even tell me, but she told you directly? Has their relationship become so good now?
Although Takatsuki was happy that their relationship had improved, he felt that something was slightly off.
"By the way, Mei, I haven't seen Mei recently."
"Ah..."
Hearing Takatsuki's words, Mei let out a soft sound: "As for Mei, she hasn't really wanted to come out recently."
"?"
Takatsuki felt that Mei was definitely hiding something from him.
"Are you two hiding something from me?"
"No, no, Takatsuki, you're overthinking it."
Looking at Mei, Takatsuki felt that this sentence didn't seem to be a lie either.