Across countless worlds: Yearning to become a giant of light.

Chapter 85 [FGO] The Chaos Before the War (A Battleground)
This was arguably the most restful sleep Chen Lin had had since becoming Chaldea's Master.

Perhaps I won't have such a good night's sleep again.

The next morning, Chen Lin was smelled by Kiyohime that he smelled Joan of Arc on him and was stared at with a terrifying gaze that said, "You smell of her perfume."

“I met Joan of Arc last night and we talked about some things, but I was so tired that I accidentally fell asleep. I think it was Joan of Arc who took me back to my room.”

Chen Lin naturally wouldn't dare lie about this, nor would he need to.

After all, it's not something shameful.

"A late-night private talk? And he was asleep... then taken back to his room?!"

However, Kiyohime seemed to be hit by this answer, and Gilles de Rais, who was standing next to her, had the same reaction, shocked that Joan of Arc would meet privately with a man she had only known for a short time.

And it happened at night when everyone was asleep!
For a moment, our Marshal was overwhelmed with grief, and his appearance even resembled a bluebeard, with his eyes practically bulging out.

"Joan of Arc?! You and this man..."

"It's not what you think! Jill, I just saw that Chen Lin was under a lot of pressure, so I... chatted with him for a bit."

Joan of Arc blushed and retorted.

I don't know if it was anxiety or embarrassment, or maybe both.

"The moonlight is so beautiful tonight..."

On the other side, words of Japanese confession escaped Kiyohime's lips, followed by a tearful question: "Lord Anchin, you wouldn't have said such a thing, would you?"

"No!"

Even if he wanted to express his love, he wouldn't use this kind of Japanese-style confession!

However, although Chen Lin did not say such a thing to Joan of Arc, the words "the moonlight is beautiful" made him think of Joan of Arc's beautiful profile under the moonlight, and he couldn't help but look away a little guiltily.

"There's something wrong... Although he didn't lie, there's definitely something wrong!"

Kiyohime, her mind racing with alarm bells, immediately lost her temper.

I felt like my once lush green hair was turning into prairie green!

She then turned her attention to Joan of Arc, asking with a smile (but a dark expression): "Lady Joan of Arc, what exactly did Lady Anchin say to you last night? If it was just a normal conversation, you wouldn't mind telling me, would you?"

Joan recalled Chen Lin's venting last night. If such disheartening words were to get out, it would not have a good impact on Chen Lin, and there was also a lot of information about the 'future' in them.

Although I don't know how Chen Lin foresaw it, I'll keep it a secret just in case.

Thinking this, Joan of Arc suddenly had a flash of inspiration and replied, "This is Chen Lin's secret, and cannot be told casually."

Chen Lin: ... (covers face)

Why are you so tongue-tied at such a crucial moment, Your Majesty!
"A secret? I only told you... a secret between the two of us?"

Kiyohime's eyes suddenly sharpened.

"No, it's not..."

Joan of Arc realized she had misspoke and quickly tried to make amends.

"A secret? It's not really a secret, Kiyohime."

At this moment, seeing Joan of Arc in a 'dire situation', Mary made a dazzling appearance from the nearby steps.

Joan of Arc breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Mary arrive, since Mary had been there and knew that she and Chen Lin hadn't said anything shameful.

However, Chen Lin's new human senses were reminding him that this cake lady was probably about to do something big to him!

"The saintess, with her warm embrace, soothed the hero's inner turmoil; how romantic (French!) Isn't that right?"

Mary's face shone with a dazzling light.

However, in contrast, the atmosphere inside the room instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Chen Lin: I knew it... (His heart, which had been hanging in suspense, suddenly died)

Gilles de Rais: Turned to snow-white ash.jpg
"A heart that embraces...a hug...a care..."

Kiyohime's eyes instantly lost their sparkle. "Ah, so that's how it is... So that's how it is! No wonder Lady Anchin smelled like Jeanne d'Arc, it turns out Lady Jeanne d'Arc was trying to steal Lady Anchin away...!!!!"

"Mary..."

Joan of Arc was truly about to cry.

Your Highness, can't you refrain from adding fuel to the fire?
Ah... Kiyohime is already on fire.

"Turn around and create the Samadhi of Fire!"

Kiyohime, whose body was beginning to resemble a dragon, roared and charged towards Jeanne d'Arc.

The room erupted into chaos as everyone tried to stop the maddened Kiyohime. Chen Lin, at the center of the vortex, exhausted himself and walked away to the only one remaining uninvolved, Giorgios.

Giorgios: This is youth~ (sips tea)
Chen Lin: I'd rather not have this kind of youth!
Kiyohime alone is already so overpowered. Chen Lin doesn't even dare to imagine how many more overpowered Servants will entangle him in the future, and what kind of mess Chaldea will be in then.

Perhaps this is why Rafe didn't appear in Singularity F...

If Chaldea is left unattended, it will collapse on its own.

…………

Fortunately, the chaos did not last long, and Jeanne d'Arc managed to subdue Kiyohime with her own Magic Resistance EX ability.

It calmed her down on a physical level.

Elizabeth, who was still fast asleep in her room, was awakened by the commotion downstairs. As soon as she went downstairs, she saw the hall that looked like it had been attacked by a fire dragon, and she immediately woke up.

"Ah! What's wrong with everyone? Has the enemy attacked?!"

Elizabeth immediately drew her weapon, ready to fight, but found everyone sitting, as if a battle had just ended.

She then noticed Kiyohime, who was bound hand and foot.

"Oh dear~ Little useless snake, why are you tied up... Did you do something wrong? You deserve it~"

Kiyohime: Iron?! (Veins bulge on her forehead)
"Ahem! Please talk about any personal matters later."

Chen Lin intervened to stop the impending conflict between Elizabeth and Kiyohime, and then explained his plan to go to Orleans to fight the enemy.

"The decisive battle in Orleans is tomorrow? Isn't that too fast? You've only been here for a day of rest, and my troops can't be ready for the decisive battle right away..."

After calming down, General Gilles de Rais regained his professional military acumen and concluded that Chen Lin's actions were extremely reckless.

"So Gilles de Rais, you and your army will stay here, while Joan of Arc and I will march on Orleans as a decapitation squad, to deal with Fafnir and the Demon Pillar as quickly as possible, and force the mastermind behind the Holy Grail to come out."

Chen Lin answered Gilles de Rae's question and continued to explain: "Time is not on our side. Every day we delay, the sense of danger... no, the number of enemies will increase, and the power of that demonic pillar in Orleans will grow stronger."

"The best solution is to finish this quickly. This requires you all to cover me so that I can use Balmongk to kill Fafnir when the enemy doesn't expect it... The same goes for the Demon Pillar. Georgius's Noble Phantasm can grant the enemy the attributes of a dragon. I will then use Balmongk in conjunction with Georgius to slay the Demon Pillar!"

After giving a brief overview of the plan, Chen Lin wiped away his sweat.

"How does everyone feel about this?"

Everyone looked at each other in shock when they heard this.

They've already posted the guide, what complaints could they possibly have?
Seeing this, Chen Lin breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Qing Ji who was still sulking, thought for a moment, and went forward to untie her.

"Kiyohime, the most important thing right now is to repair the singularity... Could you lend me your power? Please."

As he spoke, Chen Lin, whether intentionally or unintentionally, gazed tenderly into Kiyohime's eyes, so much so that his face and voice were filtered into a loving image in Kiyohime's mind.

"Master Anzhen~~~!!!"

Kiyohime was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, her mind blank, saying, "Whatever your wish is, Kiyohime will grant it for you~!"

"That was easy to handle..."

Everyone thought to themselves.

However, at this moment, they could never have imagined that Kiyohime was not the easiest to deal with (in Chaldea).

The next day, after another day of rest, the expedition team officially set off, heading towards the city of Orleans, which was occupied by the giant demon pillar!
(End of this chapter)