Lu Mingfei, become the King of Elden!

Chapter 27 The slow withdrawal of your fingertips is an aesthetic.

Lu Mingfei nodded, indicating that he had remembered Shirou Emiya's instructions.

“So,” Lu Mingfei pulled out the black crystal, “how do I use this thing? If I’m not mistaken, this is what can take me home, right?”

Emiya Shirou smiled and took out a similar black crystal:

"Yes. We call it the 'Farewell Black Crystal'. As long as you pay a certain amount of runes, it can tear through space and take you back."

Lu Mingfei then realized that the thing in his hand was actually a paid "return crystal".

"And the runes you expend will increase as your strength grows. As I understand it, it's like the stronger you become, the larger your size, and the more runes you consume for traversing."

"Imiya Shirou said slowly."

"I understand."

Lu Mingfei nodded:
"Then how do I get back? Do I regenerate at the Blessed Point after death?"

Emiya Shirou was startled and shook his head repeatedly:

"How could that be, Mr. Lu? You died in your original world, so you're really dead."

Fearing that his somewhat unreliable friend might cause a major disaster in the original world, he quickly began to explain:

"Our ability to regenerate only works here. In our own world, we are still normal human beings, and many items cannot be used because of different laws, such as the Holy Grail."

But the source of power remains the same; it will not disappear.

Lu Mingfei was stunned:

"Then how am I supposed to get back?"

Emiya Shirou explained:

“The runes you pay each time are actually round-trip tickets. ‘Farewell to the Black Crystal’ has a cooldown period. It usually recovers its power after three to five days. At that time, you can choose whether to return or not.”

"oh oh."

Lu Mingfei then finally understood:
"I have one last question. Brother Shirou, can the Faded Old Finger and the Faded Hook Finger be used in the real world?"

Emiya Shirou nodded slowly:

"can."
-
Lu Mingfei sat cross-legged beside the blessing, pouring runes into the black crystal, his joy overflowing.

Suddenly, a familiar fluctuation came.

"We meet again, Faded One."

Melina's figure slowly emerged in the golden light of blessing.

"I'm sorry, I've actually been observing you. I've been wondering if you're truly blessed and guided..."

Also, will they step forward to face the challenges?

It turns out I was worrying unnecessarily. From the very beginning, Torret believed you…

I wasn't sincere enough.

There is one thing I can guide you on—
The Round Table Hall. That's where the guided Faded Ones, the heroes, gather.

I can take you there.

Melina spoke slowly in her ethereal voice.

Lu Mingfei was completely confused. He thought Melina had come to help him teleport home, so he just nodded blankly.

"Then, please give me your hand, just for a moment, so I can touch you."

Lu Mingfei obediently extended his hand.

next second.

Under the girl's gaze, Lu Mingfei's hand disappeared from her fingertips.

Another world, the Three Gorges.

Lu Mingfei opened his eyes.

Starlight streamed down overhead, and as far as the eye could see, the sea was pitch black, with no islands, no continents, only boundless water.

He looked down at his feet.

The familiar white sailboat.

I looked up again and saw the familiar devil in a black suit and lace scarf.

This can't be real!
This was the place where Lu Mingfei had been when he left—the little devil's illusory world. He clearly remembered that just a second before he left, Lu Mingze reached out and slapped Lu Mingfei's palm, saying "The contract is established," and then he lost consciousness.

What happened next took place at the border.

"Hey, brother," the handsome boy with golden eyes smiled, "Welcome back."

"It's really back."

Lu Mingfei looked up at the dazzling starlight above him, and for a moment he felt a little dazed.

Like a fleeting dream.

Day after day of fighting and battling, blood and tears intertwined, always moving forward alone, with those familiar friends, Galley, Burke, and the old knight.
Back in his original world, Lu Mingfei no longer had to be on edge, no longer had to use "going home" to encourage himself to move forward, and no longer had to push himself to the brink of collapse.

He let out a long breath, and his whole body relaxed immediately. The "sensing" that was always on shrank its range, and he no longer needed to keep weapons on hand at all times.

Lu Mingfei often wondered what his reaction would be when he returned.

Will they weep bitterly, laugh heartily, or shed silent tears?
Now, he feels only relief.

I've been there, I've seen them. That's all.

Lu Mingze smiled as he looked at the calm-faced black-haired youth in front of him.

Last time, he was desperate and alone. This time, he is still alone, but he has grown accustomed to it.

Lu Mingfei quietly enjoyed the windless sea. After a long while, he turned his head, his eyes shimmering with a molten gold.

He stared at Lu Mingze and asked, word by word:

"So this really has nothing to do with you?"

Although they didn't say what it was about, the two of them knew exactly what it was.

Lu Mingze shook his head:
“Brother, you are my precious client. I’m still hoping to take your soul after four transactions. The devil won’t do something so thankless.”

Lu Mingfei wasn't surprised. He had already concluded that this matter had nothing to do with the little devil; he was just asking casually.

"You devils are well-informed. Do you know what's really going on? Is that place really there?"

Lu Mingfei asked.

Lu Mingze tilted his head.

"Guest, we devils always charge for information. But since it was my fault this time, I'll tell you anyway."

"What captures you is the power of the stars."

"As for whether it's true or not," he smiled meaningfully, "Brother, you already know the answer in your heart."

Lu Mingfei's pupils contracted slightly.

"The power of the stars? What does that mean?"

Lu Mingze chuckled softly:
"The stars do not refer to any particular existence, but rather to a set of rules. Brother, you must know that there are many worlds in this universe, just like the stars in the night sky."

There's one there, and there's one here too.

Suddenly, ripples appeared on the sea surface, and starlight was reflected in the water, turning into countless shimmering points of light.

He snapped his fingers, and two points of light, far apart, suddenly lit up.

"There are also rules between worlds, and if a supreme being comprehends these rules, they can utilize them. However, I suspect there is more than one involved."

Lu Mingze's voice suddenly became ethereal.

Lu Mingfei was completely confused:
"Could you be more specific? What do you mean by 'Supreme'?"

Lu Mingze, however, shrugged and replied quite bluntly:
"Don't ask, brother. I'm just a pitiful local devil. I have no authority over this kind of thing. I've already told you enough today. You should worry about that red-haired girl outside who has been stabbed in the chest, lost nearly 90% of her blood, and is practically dead."

Lu Mingfei paused for a moment, then sighed:

"Nono is my friend, of course I won't forget her. Besides, we've already exchanged a quarter of our lives, would you really break the contract?"

"I have one last question."

"Are you really a devil?"

(End of this chapter)