Jean did not answer her question, instead continuing to cuddle the loli.
The problem with the Magical Girl Illya was actually very difficult to resolve.
After all, going to rescue Miyu, the journey seemed smooth at first, but then with a scene transition, they were wiped out until only Illya remained.
Thus, the last remaining human, Illya (Alaya), the residual power of the counter force, Tanaka (gaia), plus the slacking-off Child Gilgamesh, the three of them set out to save the Steel Earth.
When Jean read the manga up to this point some time ago, he almost smashed his phone. Wouldn't it be fine for the moe Magical Girls to just fight little monsters? Why did they have to start a world-saving quest? And this quest clearly wasn't something that could be succeeded through love alone.
Moreover, the progress of the manga Jean had only went this far. This manga came from a monthly publication in a certain world. To read more, he would have to wait at least another month.
Feeling a slight pang of heartache for the loli in his arms, he snuggled against her even more vigorously.
"Wah, wah, someone save me!"
For some reason, Rin beside them felt a bit envious. Her own parents had never been so physically affectionate with her.
Sakura, meanwhile, recalled her teacher Scáthach, who had toyed with her relentlessly back in the day. 'If she's not coming to me, then I'll just go find her. It's just the Land of Shadows, after all!'
---
The commotion had ended. The group, who hadn't even had time for lunch, was now quite hungry. Fortunately, Rin, Sakura, and Jean were all skilled at cooking. Working together, the three of them quickly prepared a rather sumptuous feast.
By the time they were satiated with food and tea, it was already around 7 PM. Having experienced battle during the day, they unanimously decided not to go out again tonight.
After leaving Cú Chulainn outside on watch and arranging guest rooms for Illya and Bazett, Jean and Rin prepared to go to bed and rest.
At that moment, Sakura ran over, clutching a pillow.
"Why are you lying here when there are other rooms available?!" Sakura directly questioned.
"Of course it's to protect my master, isn't it? And what's the meaning of you clutching that pillow?" Jean retorted without backing down, pulling Rin into his embrace.
"The bed in my room is too small, I can't sleep in it!" Sakura stated matter-of-factly, which was indeed the truth.
Although Rin had kept all the furnishings in the room, they were prepared for Sakura's childhood. Her current body, which had developed several stages beyond her sister's, naturally couldn't fit.
"Uh, I'm sorry, Sakura. I didn't think it through." Rin had originally wanted Sakura to feel at home, but her passive trait of dropping the ball at critical moments activated again, causing her to overlook the bed issue.
"But as you said, aren't there plenty of rooms? Why must you squeeze in here?" Jean himself intended to coax Rin into providing magical energy and was trying his best to get rid of this third wheel.
"I don't care! My first demand is to sleep here!"
Seeing Sakura use up her first demand, and since it wasn't an unreasonable request, Jean didn't press further and made room for her.
"So... why are you in the middle?"
"Afraid you'll be inconvenienced if you need to get up at night?"
"I don't have that habit!!!"
Angered by Jean, Sakura fell silent, burying her head and lost in unknown thoughts.
Jean, meanwhile, turned towards Rin, ready to begin his objective.
First, he called out to Rin in a faint voice: "Rin, are you awake?"
"Hmm?"
"The current magical energy isn't sufficient. The connection pathway is too narrow, the efficiency isn't up to par."
"Then, then... alright." As a competent Magician, Rin knew very well how to increase the bandwidth of magical energy transmission.
After all, Jean didn't have Magic Circuits, so the remaining methods of transferring magical energy were limited to just a few types.
And Rin wasn't a fool; she naturally knew what kind of person Jean was. But at the same time, she couldn't bring herself to dislike him at all.
Inching slightly forward, the two who were already close were now pressed tightly together.
Jean successfully felt the soft tenderness of Rin's lips and, simultaneously transmitted through them, the unique magical energy of this girl, possessing a power that brought peace of mind.
A moment later, the bashful Rin finally couldn't hold on any longer and separated from Jean. Even in the dim night, the blush on her face was visible.
At that moment, Sakura, who had been lost in her own world for half the night, suddenly sensed something amiss. The magical energy on the girl before her was rapidly increasing. Combined with their posture and their now heavy breathing, an answer surfaced in Sakura's mind.
Driven by some unknown impulse, Sakura pressed down on Jean's shoulder. Relying on the strength honed through years of training, she directly flipped Jean over and then immediately kissed him.
Simultaneously, a large amount of magical energy poured into Jean's body. After their lips parted, Sakura, still furious, said to Jean: "This should be fine, right? I'll do it instead of my sister!"
Jean, utterly bewildered, nodded. Sakura then immediately turned over, presenting her back to Jean. However, her bright red ears betrayed her current inner feelings.
Jean, meanwhile, lay facing the ceiling, the corners of his mouth practically reaching for the sky. He never in a million years expected such a good thing to happen in this world.
---
Just as Jean was enjoying the ultimate earthly pleasure of having both arms around someone, Ai-chan had just finished her part-time job and was heading towards her temporary residence.
At this moment, she wasn't even clear about what she was doing. On a momentary whim, she had returned to this Type-Moon World.
But because she acted too impulsively, she hadn't prepared at all. She didn't even carry gold as an equivalent item, arriving in this Fuyuki penniless.
"Sigh, what on earth am I doing?"
The more she thought about it, the more troubled she felt. She didn't even know what expression to use when facing that person.
Lost in her vexation, she unconsciously walked into a deserted park. A person covered entirely in golden light, looking every bit the nouveau riche, blocked her path.
"We meet again, Saber. It seems you've changed quite a bit. I wonder if you still possess that power now!"
Then, from the space behind him, a large number of Noble Phantasms extended, aiming in her direction.
Ai-chan had seen all the works in the FATE series, so she naturally knew who this person was. The one who shared the same name as the Golden Space Emperor Gilgamesh, one of the pinnacles of Earth's Heroic Spirits, the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh.
Letting out a sigh full of disdain, she thought, 'I originally had no intention of participating in the Holy Grail War, yet trouble seeks me out on its own.'
As for Gilgamesh, he had activated his Noble Phantasm, Sha Nagba Imuru (The Omniscient and Omnipotent Star), even before making contact. However, he received no feedback whatsoever, and this was the greatest anomaly.
This was very similar to that previous battle. The joy of the unknown and the unease of the unknown often lie side by side. But a king must act openly and honorably. Thus, he still stepped forward to face his old nemesis.
-------------------------------
Hope you enjoy this fanfiction if you do and would like to read the next 50 chapters in advance, pls do check out my Patreon:
patreon.com/MariaLight
Also don't forget to give me a Power Stone if you do like this fiction. Your support really motivates me to continue doing my best in translating, Thanks!!