Anchor, Stop Pretending, You're in Chaldea - Chapter 45

With the cold mountain wind blowing, there was no trace of the Wyvern in the sky.

The setting sun cast a wine-red glow on the earth before slowly sinking below the horizon.

The nights in the valley always come early.

“Ugh…”

Mashu suddenly opened her eyes and found herself lying on a flat grassland.

Why am I…?

“——————?!?!”

Suddenly, the memories came back. Carmilla attacked Senpai, and then I…

“Senpai, befo—!”

Suddenly, someone appeared in front of Mashu, and it was Bai Qiu.

“Senpai, why are you here?!”

“Shh.”

Bai Qiu reached out and made a gesture to Mashu.

“Everyone is resting.”

Bai Qiu whispered.

“Everyone?”

Mashu looked around and saw a group of people resting around a central campfire.

Martha and Johanna were leaning against Tarasque, their eyes closed in rest, while Tonbi slept on Tarasque’s horn.

“Phew… Father… I’ve become stronger again…”

Mordred was lying directly on Tarasque’s back shell, mumbling in her sleep.

Even the mysterious Emiya Kiritsugu was now leaning against a rock, sound asleep.

Servants don’t need sleep, but as long as they retain the memories of their human lives, prolonged mental fatigue can affect their performance in various aspects. So, whenever they have the opportunity to rest, Servants will choose to rest.

Bai Qiu pointed to a large tree nearby, gesturing for Mashu to go over there.

“Johanna has reinforced the boundary here, so ordinary monsters and Servants will have a hard time getting in. No need to worry.”

Bai Qiu picked up a dry branch near the campfire and threw it into the fire.

Crackling sounds filled the air as the branch burned, silver moonlight spilled onto the grass, and faint insect chirping could be heard from time to time.

“I’m sorry, Master, I seem to have fainted.”

Mashu immediately bowed her head to Bai Qiu.

“I couldn’t protect Senpai properly. I’m still so immature.”

“No, thanks to Mashu, I’m able to be here safely.”

Bai Qiu gently shook her head.

“If it weren’t for Mashu, I would have been poisoned. That kind of thing is probably enough to kill an ordinary person a hundred times over.”

Even Mashu, as a Demi-Servant, couldn’t resist it. In a sense, Carmilla’s Magecraft was quite formidable.

However, Mashu’s effectiveness may be related to her previous use of various poisonous drugs to torment girls with witchcraft.

“What happened after that?”

Mashu asked, puzzled.

“Carmilla was caught by Johanna, but we didn’t get any information about Jalter from her. Mordred returned with the awakened Tarasque and drove away the enemy Archer and Wyvern together. After that, everyone returned here and decided to rest nearby for today.”

Unfortunately, the nearby beasts were scared away, so they had to eat some wild fruits from the trees to fill their stomachs.

If only they had managed to get some dry rations before they left the city.

But medieval France was also a food desert, and the soldiers only ate black bread mixed with sand every day.

Finally hearing that there were no casualties, Mashu breathed a sigh of relief.

“Mashu, you should thank Johanna later. She used miracles to heal your injuries.”

The system can provide the minimum amount of Magical Energy needed for a Servant’s manifestation, and the rest of the Magical Energy consumption is either done using Command Seals or by setting up bases with Mashu’s shield provided by Chaldea.

The most effective method is to summon a Heroic Spirit with fortification skills and use the Magical Energy in the ley lines to recharge other Servants.

Johanna, who possesses the skill of fortification, not only has the ability to fortify positions and replenish Magical Energy for Servants, but can also heal the wounds of her allies.

A perfect logistical force.

As expected, flowing water output, iron-clad tactics.

“…Is it Johanna-san?”

Mashu looked at Johanna with grateful eyes not far away, but soon her mood became low again.

“Senpai, if only I could become stronger…”

“Mashu.”

Bai Qiu interrupted her words.

“You don’t have to rush, just go at your own pace. This journey is probably longer and more difficult than you, me, and Chaldea imagined. Being too impatient might backfire.”

“…Thank you, Senpai.”

After hearing Bai Qiu’s words, Mashu’s expression softened.

“Fou~~~~”

Suddenly, a small creature jumped onto Mashu’s shoulder from the grass, startling both of them.

“Fou?!”

This creature, resembling a squirrel, rubbed against Mashu.

“Ahaha, don’t do that, Fou… Where were you before?”

“Fou!!!”

“Oh, so you were hiding nearby.”

“Fou… Fou~~~”

“You even distracted a few Wyverns, amazing, Fou!”

“Fou, Fou!!!”

Mashu and Fou were happily communicating, while Bai Qiu looked confused. Kouhai’s mastery of Fou Language is at its highest level, and he really can’t understand at all.

“Fou!!!”

Suddenly, Fou jumped onto Bai Qiu’s shoulder, sniffed, and showed a displeased expression.

“Fou…”

He even patted Bai Qiu’s cheek with his tiny paw.

“What do you mean? Are you trying to pick a fight with me?”

Isn’t it just the Fourth Beast? Watch me tear you apart today!!!

“Hahaha.”

Mashu’s laughter suddenly came from her side.

“Senpai, you have such a good relationship with Fou.”

“Does it look like that?”

“Fou!!!”

Bai Qiu and Fou directly denied Mashu’s judgment.

“Huh? Is that so?”

Mashu tilted her head in confusion.

“Oh? Miss Demi-Servant, are you feeling better?”

With a gentle voice, a girl wearing a gorgeous bishop’s robe approached.

“Johanna, did I wake you up?”

“No, I just wanted to check on the status of the barrier. Did I disturb you two?”

“No, not at all!”

Mashu waved her hands repeatedly.

“By the way, thank you, Johanna-san, for healing my injuries. I’m really grateful.”

“You don’t need to say such things. As Servants who share the same Master, we should help each other.”

Johanna walked to Bai Qiu’s side and suddenly noticed Fou, showing immediate interest.

“Oh my, such a cute little creature.”

“Fou!!!”

Seeing Johanna approaching, Fou made a displeased sound and jumped down from Bai Qiu’s shoulder, hiding behind Mashu.

“…Am I being disliked?”

“Oh, this Fou doesn’t usually get close to anyone other than me and Senpai. Um, Johanna-san, please don’t feel bad.”

Mashu hurriedly went to comfort Johanna.

Watching the two of them, Bai Qiu breathed a sigh of relief.

They seem to get along well. Actually, what I fear the most is conflicts between Servants.

“Master.”

Suddenly, Kiritsugu Emiya’s voice came from behind.

“Sorry, did I wake you up too?”

“I didn’t have a chance to mention it earlier, but I rescued a deserter who was captured by the Wyverns, and I managed to get some information from him.”

“Information?”

“Yes, according to him, Orleans can no longer be called a city. It has become a nest of monsters.”

Kiritsugu Emiya’s eyes turned cold as he looked into the distance.