[FGO]: 38

Ryou saw it.

"You feel regretful that the sandbag wanted to run away, right? You must feel regretful, right?"

"Well, it's fine. No matter how much training and guidance one receives, without experiencing life-and-death combat, it's all just for show. Besides, Ais also needs to sharpen herself."

Scáthach valued her rare female disciple, Ais, very much.

It wasn't just because Ais would always actively request her training, but also because of the determination Ais showed to become stronger, willing to give her all, which moved Scáthach deeply.

With the plan set, Ryou began to prepare.

Although Chaldea did not give a specific time limit, based on his observations, given the speed of the magical corruption, it was best not to exceed one month.

After Ryou passed the first trial-like quest, the system gradually unlocked more functions while also adding some restrictions.

The most significant impact on him was that although he could bring any number of people into the quest world, anyone of a higher level than him would enter in a dimensionally isolated manner. This meant they could only follow him as spectators.

The only remedy the system provided was that he would have three Command Spells per world, allowing them to act a total of three times for no more than one minute each time.

This restriction completely prevented him from taking a strong, obedient Servant to easily clear quests, thus avoiding shortcuts.

Ryou was currently at the Servant level. Forget about Scathach, even Ais could only assist him with Command Spells.

This was truly...

Initially, he had planned to team up with his cute and obedient kouhai to dominate the next quest world.

But now...

At this moment, Ryou noticed a message from the system.

It turned out that aside from Ryou himself, any contracted Servant could use a teleportation array to enter the worlds corrupted by magical anomalies and carry out eradication.

That made sense. After the initial phase, through drawing cards and forming contracts, the number of Chaldea's Servants would increase. If only he could go to eradicate the magical anomalies, how inefficient would that be?

Considering the number of corrupted worlds had already reached hundreds or thousands, relying on him alone would be endless.

Although Servants could freely choose which corrupted world to enter, Ryou, as the sole Master, had significant authority.

Only he could contract with the native inhabitants of the quest world, turning them into Servants.

He was also the only one who could use the system's exchange shop at any time and place.

This was very much in line with the definition of a Master in FGO: a support role in the early stages that could tear apart Solomon by the end (sarcasm~).

The contracting process aside, the latter privilege made Ryou a mobile supply base.

Don't underestimate this privilege. In the "DanMachi" world (abbreviated as "Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?"), this privilege repeatedly saved Ryou from danger and allowed him to grow rapidly.

Moreover, in the "DanMachi" world, where all kinds of potions were readily available, this privilege's value would be even more apparent in apocalyptic worlds where even food might be scarce.

Out of a sense of responsibility to his contracted Servants, the system stipulated that without the Master's guidance, the difficulty and corruption rate of the quest world must be lower than the Servant's level by one grade. If the number of Servants was greater than one, the highest level would be the benchmark, and the difficulty must be two levels lower.

This regulation allowed his Servants to achieve overwhelming victories, which was excellent.

Although somewhat reluctant, Ryou decided to let Ais enter the quest world on her own, as following him would only slow down her progress.

Despite the system's guarantee of reduced difficulty, Ais was naturally clumsy and kind-hearted. Therefore, Ryou decided to do a ten-draw, hoping to get a Servant summoning card to summon a Servant to accompany Ais, so they could look out for each other.

After eradicating the magical anomalies in the "DanMachi" world, Ryou obtained a precious ten-draw opportunity.

To maximize the effect of this valuable opportunity, he directly opened the system shop, turned to a particular page, hesitated slightly, and spent 100,000 energy points to exchange for a potion.

You should know that killing the Demi Spirit and the rewards from the magical corruption only totaled 300,000 energy points. Spending one-third of that in one go was quite significant.

Moreover, the effect of this potion lasted only a mere 10 seconds.

It was an outrageous rip-off.

But Ryou believed it was worth it because this potion could increase his luck.

This potion, called the "Advanced Luck Potion," could raise the user's luck level by three grades within 10 seconds!

It was practically a must-have for card draws, star upgrades, and forging—an absolute blessing for those with poor luck and a rocket ticket to the Goddess of Luck embrace!

It was a divine tool that could elevate an unluck Ryou to surpass RNGsus and become a God of Luck!

Such a heavenly potion only cost 998... 100,000!

Looking at the transparent bottle containing the liquid that emitted a rainbow-colored glow, Ryou solemnly pulled out the cork.

Whether he would end up eating dirt or a 5A steak depended on this gamble!

Bottoms up!

Ryou tilted his head back and drank the potion in one go. At the same time, he quickly opened the ten-draw interface of the system and started the summoning!

Despite being fully prepared, he couldn't help but feel anxious. After all, even the luckiest person couldn't always get a five-star.

Luck was a mysterious thing.

As long as it wasn't 100%, there was always a chance of failure.

Oh no, I think I forgot to burn incense and bathe! Would that lower my luck? Will I fail this time?

As he watched the summoning circle before him, Ryou suddenly thought of an "important" issue, and his face turned pale with shock.

Unfortunately, the system wouldn't allow him to exit and restart. A flash of white light passed, and the first reward appeared.

It was a feather constantly burning with flames.

["Phoenix Feather"]

Judging by its appearance and the faint terrifying magical power it emitted, Ryou could tell at a glance that it wasn't some nominal material but the real deal.

Before he could think further, the system spat out four more rewards in succession.

Thanks to the luck potion, even the energy points drawn were no less than 10,000 each, and the single potion drawn was worth exactly 10,000 points.

But why didn't he draw a Servant card!?

[Ding!]

Just as Ryou was feeling anxious, the summoning circle suddenly lit up with a golden light!

Finally, a result!

Ryou's eyes were fixed on the center of the summoning circle, unblinking.

A golden card appeared in the center of the circle. From the symbol, it was a Caster card, though who it was remained to be seen.

Next, a slender and petite figure emerged from the circle.

Her noble purple hair was tied into a single ponytail, cascading down to her waist. She wore a princess's golden crown and a robe as light as feathers, along with mismatched gloves and stockings on her delicate hands and long legs.

Her exquisite face was even more beautiful than an elf's, with pointed ears and large, expressive purple eyes, making her look every bit like an elven princess.

"I am Servant Caster Medea (Lily). Please take good care of me."

Her soft voice was like a feather gently tickling the heart, making one feel a pleasant itch.

The girl walked out of the summoning circle, stood in front of him, and looked up at him like an obedient little lamb.

"Are you my Master?"

Thump thump!

Ryou felt as if his heart skipped a few beats.

He had thought that Ais perfectly embodied the trait of "exquisite," but today he saw another girl whose beauty was equally "exquisite."

He couldn't believe he had summoned Caster!

This was the so-called proof of luck for early-stage players, a Caster more precious than some five-star Servants!

The Advanced Luck Potion was indeed powerful!

And Caster Lily was no mere pretty face. Trained by the goddess of magic, Hecate, she excelled in ancient magic. Coupled with the "High-Speed Divine Words" skill, she could cast ancient high-level spells as quickly as minor ones.

Moreover, while Caster might not excel in offensive magic, her explosive healing abilities were incredibly strong.

To Ryou's team, which lacked a healer, she was indispensable.

Now, with just a long-range specialist missing, the team would be ready for dungeon raids, he thought happily.

"I am your Master. You can call me Ryou, Medea-chan."

Looking at the obedient Caster before him, Ryou felt his heart, which had been tormented by Scathach, finally healed. Instinctively, he reached out to pat Caster's head.

"Ma-Master~!"

Medea's cheeks turned a deep shade of red, her face showing extreme shyness, yet she didn't resist his touch.

Finally, a soft girl in the team...

Ryou felt tears of joy well up in his heart. While Ais was also nice and gentle, she was naturally dull, with little change in expression—completely different from Caster.

As Ryou teased Caster, the summoning circle continued to be busy, spitting out three more rewards.

Perhaps due to summoning Caster, Ryou's luck seemed to soar. After all, Caster's luck stat was A, on par with Gilgamesh.

The circle first gave two energy points and a piece of purple equipment. Then, rainbow-colored light began to shine, signaling another significant reward!

The familiar rainbow light, the familiar golden card, the familiar special effects. This is a sign of Limited Servant.)

Ryou was ecstatic.

In his excitement...

Smooch!

He kissed Caster on the cheek.

So tender and smooth! Just like silken tofu!

"Ah! Master, you!"

Before Ryou could savor the moment, Caster pushed him away.

He awkwardly scratched the back of his head and was about to apologize when the circle's special effects concluded.

A dazzling figure appeared in the summoning circle.

Just as he was about to greet the new Servant, a large amount of black magical mist suddenly emerged from behind Caster.

"Master... you impure! Perverted! Shameless!..."

With a creepy smile on her face, Caster pulled out a bizarrely shaped, curved dagger from who-knows-where and lunged at Ryou.

Swish!

Ryou was startled and quickly dodged to the side.

"What are you doing, Medea-chan? Are you trying to murder your Master?"

Ryou awkwardly dodged as Medea, now completely blackened, wildly thrust the dagger at him.

"Master is an enemy of all women! You must be eliminated!"

With a crazed smile on her face, Medea swung the dagger, aiming not just at Ryou's vital points but frequently targeting a certain unspeakable area.

As they scuffled, a proud yet slightly shy voice rang out.

"The goddess Ishtar, summoned at your request. I am the goddess of beauty who governs Venus, as well as fertility, war, and destruction. Tremble and worship me."

Her long hair, as dark as the night, cascaded down her back, and her crimson eyes were more magnificent than the finest gems. A faint mischievous smile played on her stunningly beautiful face.

On her head was a splendid, luxurious crown, but her attire was extremely revealing, akin to a bikini, styled in Mesopotamian ceremonial fashion and adorned with gold ornaments. She wore a single blue war boot resembling a stocking on her right foot, and improbably, a pair of golden high heels.

Her vast expanse of snow-white skin was exposed to the air, and she seemed to revel in attracting attention, confidently displaying her unparalleled charm.

The goddess, exuding an air of opulence, was seated on a massive bow, several times larger than a human, resembling both a bow and a sailboat. Astonishingly, the giant bow floated in mid-air without any visible support.

This was Ishtar, the most famous goddess of Venus in Mesopotamian mythology.

Her appearance closely resembled a certain well-known female character from Type-Moon's Nasuverse, "Rin Tohsaka," earning her the nickname "Ishtar Rin."

Despite Ishtar's grand entrance, no one paid her any attention, which annoyed the goddess who was accustomed to being the center of attention.

However, when she noticed the dramatic scene of a wronged maiden delivering a bloody end to a scumbag, her crimson eyes narrowed slightly, and a teasing, mischievous smile appeared on her face.

"You two seem to be having fun!"

"Where do you see that we're having fun!"

Ryou glanced back and immediately noticed the goddess in mid-air.

Seeing the goddess's expression, which seemed to say, "Your melodramatic performance is amusing, keep entertaining me."

He thought to himself:

This woman is a devil!

With just one look, he saw through her true nature!

However, Ryou had no time to worry about these things. Caster had already raised her dagger high, preparing to bring it down with force.

Ryou had no choice but to grab Caster's wrist in an attempt to wrest the dagger from her.

To his surprise, a tremendous force surged through her, making it difficult for him to hold onto her wrist, let alone snatch the dagger.

Are you really a Caster and not a Berserker!?

Ryou wanted to ask, but Caster, with her blackened expression, kept muttering, "Divine punishment for the scum... stab you... kill you... burn you..."

Ryou felt like crying. What grudge do you have against me, young lady, to be so ruthless!

It was just a kiss on the cheek, was that necessary?

Ryouswore that in the future, unless the affection level was high enough, he wouldn't kiss anyone on the cheek. At most, he'd settle for a head pat.

"Come over here and help already!"

Ryou's irritation grew as he watched Ishtar leisurely hovering in mid-air, enjoying the show.

"Sigh~ So troublesome."

The goddess examined her fingernails against the light, then, as if struck by a sudden thought, snapped her fingers.

"Why not just let her kill you? I have a good relationship with Ereshkigal; I can just revive you later."

Ishtar spread her left hand, smacked it with her right, and wore an expression of sudden realization.

"!!!"

Ryou nearly had a heart attack from anger.

While he struggled against Caster, with Ishtar watching and smiling like an amused bystander, a dazzling rainbow-like light burst from the summoning circle, even more spectacular than Ishtar's entrance.

The kaleidoscopic light swirled around the circle in a frenzy, seemingly unable to stop.

"Huh? What's this? It looks valuable."

Ishtar leaned in curiously to look at the summoning circle.

The magnificent display seemed to snap Caster out of her trance, her purple eyes regaining clarity.

"Huh? Where am I? What was I doing?"

Caster looked at the dagger in her hand with a puzzled expression.

"Nothing, don't worry about it."

Ryou felt exhausted, both mentally and physically. If it weren't for the rare treasure emerging from the summoning circle, he would have preferred to go back to his room and sleep.

After the vibrant display of rainbow lights, the circle was filled with flashes of lightning and thunder, captivating the trio's attention. Finally, a card appeared within the circle.

Bronze...

WTF!?

Such grand special effects for a one-star card?

Ryou was on the verge of losing it.

"You don't seem to want it much. Why not offer it to me? I'll graciously accept it."

Ishtar Rin suggested from mid-air.

"Hm?"

Ryou instinctively looked over. Despite Ishtar's face showing an expression of 'lucky you,' Ryou keenly noticed her occasionally stealing glances at the bronze card in the center of the circle, her eyes betraying a hint of greed unbefitting a goddess.

Something's up!

Ryou's mind cleared instantly. Even Caster beside him had a cautious look on her face.

"I feel a tremendous amount of magic within this card..."

"You little girl! You ruin this goddess's plan!"

Ishtar, her scheme exposed, was both embarrassed and angry.

"Fine, play on your own! This goddess is leaving, hmph!"

With that, Ishtar flew away aboard her celestial vessel, Maanna, sticking her tongue out at him like a pouting child before departing.

Ryou couldn't help but laugh and shake his head. He then turned his attention to the card.

With a wave of his hand, the card obediently flew into his grasp.

The back of the card bore the Assassin emblem, while the front depicted the famous one-star warrior from the FGO mobile game, the Nameless Samurai—Sasaki Kojirō!

It's just a one-star card, right?

Ryou laughed bitterly, but Ishtar's behavior suggested otherwise.

Upon closer inspection, Ryoug noticed the differences.

The intricate patterns aside, the card shimmered like a gemstone under the light.

[Detected "Descent Card." Equip it?]

Ryou was puzzled, but the system, in its usual considerate manner, explained.

This was one of the rarest summoning cards with only a 1% drop rate!

Jackpot!!!

Although Ryou still wasn't clear on what a Descent Card was, the name alone sounded incredibly impressive.

"Medea-chan, you're my lucky star!"

Ryou turned his excited gaze towards Caster, only to find her on high alert, clutching a strange, curvy dagger tightly in her small hand.

"Don't get excited..."

Ryou chuckled awkwardly.

At that moment, the system provided information on the Descent Card.

A Descent Card allows a Heroic Spirit's essence to descend upon Ryou, transforming him directly into that Heroic Spirit. The card he had obtained would let him become the legendary swordsman, Sasaki Kojirō, with access to all his skills, including his Noble Phantasm. Same concept with Fate/Kalied liner Prisma Illya.)

Although the system had time limitations for transformations, it was still the true form of the Heroic Spirit, not just a servant formed from magical energy, but the real Heroic Spirit itself.

For Ryou, who had just stepped into the Servant tier, using the Descent Card would dramatically boost his power.

For instance, Sasaki Kojirō's agility was ranked A+, nearly the pinnacle for Heroic Spirits, just shy of the EX rank. Coupled with C-rank strength, even basic attacks would be enough to effortlessly defeat the demonic mutations he encountered in the world of Danmachi.

There would be no need for Ryou to painfully gather magical energy through his Noble Phantasm. It was excruciating, like tearing his body apart and piecing it back together repeatedly—a torment worse than death!

Thus, the ten-pull summoning came to a perfect conclusion.

100,000 potions, truly worth every bit!

Ryou was elated, having gained a rare material, a piece of purple female armor, one four-star card, one five-star card, and a Descent Card.

A bountiful harvest!

A bountiful harvest indeed!

It was worth all the effort to single-handedly defeat the demonic mutation.

However, thinking of the recently summoned Ishtar, the little devil, and Caster Lily, who would go dark and stab people with her dagger at the slightest provocation, Ryou felt a headache coming on.

Such a blissful dilemma.

...

After gathering everyone for brief introductions, Ryou announced the plan for the next day.

Ryou, Medea Lily, and Ishtar would form one team, while Ais and Scathach would form another, each team entering a different dungeon world.

Later, they had a small gathering in the canteen. Despite being fully automated, the food was surprisingly good. Though it lacked heart and soul, the dishes were crafted with extreme precision.

To put it simply, a real chef might score 90+ on the same dish, while the restaurant's machine would consistently score 100. A chef might exceed 100 on a good day, but the machine was fixed.

Which was better?

Of course, it depends on preference... but not really. Cooking isn't an exam; it needs that variability to surprise and delight. Even the finest ingredients would become dull if they were always the same!

Ryou decided that whenever he had the time, he would cook himself.

After the small gathering, he asked Ais to stay behind and gave her the newly acquired female light armor.

Her current silver-white light armor was decent, but it couldn't compare to the system's purple gear with additional special skills.

The next day, everyone gathered in the teleportation chamber, ready to embark on a new journey.