Staring at the absolute trash he had just pulled, Adam could only swallow his tears and dump every last Emotion Value straight into Consumption Points.
0/20
Ugh… I just want to roll again.
Emotion Values… everything came down to not having enough of them. If he had more, he could roll as much as he wanted!
Sighing, he pulled out a Copper Apple and took a savage bite.
The sweet flesh melted in his mouth, sending a warm current spreading through his body. It actually felt pretty nice.
Olga Marie watched Adam's intense reaction and leaned over to his Mash, lowering her voice.
"Is Adam okay? He looks… really worked up about something."
His Mash glanced over. Adam was still gnawing on the apple like it owed him money while muttering "Emotion Values Emotion Values" under his breath. She couldn't help but feel a little concerned too.
By then the group had reached the area beneath the Fuyuki Bridge.
As they walked the streets, they started noticing more and more stone statues scattered around. The deeper they went, the denser the statues became.
Mash tilted her head curiously. "These statues…"
She stepped closer for a better look.
Suddenly—several chains shot out from in front of one of the statues!
Mash instantly raised her shield to block.
But the chains simply curved around it, whipping toward her sides and back.
His Mash flashed forward in a blur, appearing behind her. A single powerful shield bash shattered the chains into pieces.
"Don't let your guard down. In situations like this, your first priority is always protecting your Master."
His Mash immediately fell back to Adam's side.
Mash gave her a firm nod and returned to Ritsuka's side as well.
"Yes, Shishou!"
Everyone else exchanged strange looks at the way Mash addressed her.
Shishou…?
Huh?
Just what exactly had the future Mash been teaching her?
Ah, well. It was probably for the best. Having her future self guide the past one… she really was the perfect mentor.
At that moment, a rich, mature woman's voice echoed through the air.
"What a shame. I almost had a fresh catch."
Everyone turned toward the sound.
A purple figure stepped into view—long violet hair reaching past her knees, a snake-like mark on her forehead.
Even wrapped in a dark cloak, Adam recognized her instantly.
Rider — Medusa.
Medusa stood with arrogant poise, staring greedily at the Chaldea group like they were already her next meal.
"Two Masters and two Servants… quite the feast, wouldn't you say?"
Her gaze lingered especially on Adam.
For some reason, the moment she laid eyes on him, an overwhelming desire surged through her—to claim him, to make him hers.
The corruption of the Black Mud had already fractured her sanity.
She barely even registered the rest of the group as threats.
The only one who seemed remotely dangerous was the pristine, battle-hardened Shielder beside him.
The "little sister" next to her looked like nothing more than a rookie.
As for Olga Marie and the two Masters? Please. In Medusa's mud-addled mind, Masters were nothing but Command Spell batteries.
What combat ability could they possibly have?
With supreme arrogance, she completely ignored both Mashes and strolled over to one of the statues.
She grabbed its face with crushing force, as if showing off her fangs.
Ritsuka stared at the petrified people, voice tight. "Those are…"
She had a terrible suspicion, but it was almost too cruel to accept.
Olga Marie kept her arm raised warily, aiming at Medusa.
"Correct. Those statues used to be human. They were petrified by that Servant."
Adam's eyes narrowed at one statue in particular. The seaweed-like hair… even without color, it was unmistakable.
"Shinji Matou…?"
He spoke the name of the person the statue had once been—before he literally turned to stone.
Medusa's lips curled into a delighted smile at his words.
"You know him?"
She dragged one long, razor-sharp nail across the statue's neck like a toothpick.
Adam answered calmly. "You could say that."
The moment she realized the two were acquainted, Medusa's grin widened. She clamped down and ripped the statue's head clean off with a wet crunch, like pulling a carrot from the ground.
Ritsuka's brows furrowed. She asked, voice trembling with naive disbelief, "Why would you do that?"
Medusa laughed as if she had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
"Isn't it my right to do whatever I want with prey that wanders into my hunting ground?"
She drank in the mixture of anger, confusion, and fear on Ritsuka's face. She loved that expression.
Then her eyes slid back to Adam.
So? I just brutally murdered someone you knew. What kind of face will you make now? Shock? Grief? Rage?
Adam started clapping.
Clap. Clap.
Then he gave her a big thumbs-up.
"Nice work."
Medusa: "???"
[Medusa Emotion Value +10]
Medusa stared at Adam's completely unbothered, even approving expression and nearly lost her mind.
"What kind of reaction is that?!"
"I just slaughtered someone you knew!"
"Aren't you even a little angry?!"
Adam pointed at the severed stone head rolling on the ground.
"Him? Please. I was hoping someone would kill him sooner."
Medusa's mocking smile froze. The rage that had been building suddenly flipped into pure fury. She had thought she was tormenting an old friend—only to find out it was an enemy.
Completely humiliated by her own theatrics, she snarled and charged straight at them.
Both Mashes raised their shields in perfect sync, blocking her advance.
His Mash spoke quickly.
"Remember what I told you."
"Yes, Shishou!" Mash answered.
It seemed his Mash had already shared some of the knowledge from her fusion with Galahad. Mash was already moving with noticeably more confidence than before.
While the three of them fought, Adam's mind was elsewhere.
How do I maximize Emotion Values from Medusa?
He opened the Servant selection screen.
0/20
Hundreds of Servants scrolled past until his gaze locked onto two specific goddesses.
[4★ Servant — Stheno (Medusa's eldest sister)]
[3★ Servant — Euryale (Medusa's second sister)]
At the same time, atop the Fuyuki Bridge in the distance…
The Caster-class Cu Chulainn noticed the commotion below.
"Hm… now that's interesting."
***
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