More than half an hour later, by a riverbank several miles from where the body was dumped.
With a splash, a hand suddenly shot out of the water, grabbing the edge of the bank. Then, Lin Jiuan, soaking wet like a water spirit, crawled out of the river. He lay on the bank, gasping for breath.
As a 'Beast', a wound that would be instantly fatal to a human was no different from a scratch to him. Breathing, heartbeat, pulse—all the physiological traits of a normal living person—as well as essential organs like the heart, lungs, and liver, were merely tools for him to disguise himself as a human. This was how he had managed to fool the Hassan of a Hundred Personas with a feigned death.
Though it was a bit embarrassing for a being capable of destroying human history to be forced into feigning death by a mere Assassin, it didn't matter. Lin Jiuan had no shame. When you're not fully developed, you have to learn from your senior, Koyanskaya. Being shameless isn't disgraceful. It's certainly better than being a full-fledged 'Beast' who gets beaten to tears, right? Besides, once Tokiomi, Kirei, and the Hassan are all dead, who will know that he, the mighty Sixth Beast, was once forced to feign death by a second-rate Hassan? If no one knows, it means it never happened!
"Where should I go next?"
After recovering, Lin Jiuan looked at the dark and lonely city in the dead of night. He definitely couldn't go back to the Tohsaka house. If Tokiomi found out he had returned, it would confirm he wasn't a normal person, giving the already hostile Tokiomi even more reason to deal with him. He wouldn't be able to survive then.
"Forget it, I'll take it one step at a time."
After casting a spell to conceal his presence and form to prevent the Hassan from finding him, Lin Jiuan wandered aimlessly through the city. He hoped some kind lady, working late and just heading home, would see the fragility hidden beneath his tough facade and adopt him.
"Little one, why are you wandering around by yourself so late?"
An extremely gentle woman's voice sounded. Lin Jiuan looked up.
The speaker was a beautiful woman with white hair and red eyes, wearing a snow-white winter coat and hat. She was crouching in front of him. Behind her stood a girl dressed in a dark blue formal shirt, complete with a tie and a dark, French-style suit. It was a complete menswear ensemble. On a girl about 155cm tall, such an outfit should have looked strange and comical. But on this girl, it was a different matter entirely. It wasn't the kind of reverse-trap appeal; it was a cold, heroic temperament that few possessed, a beauty entirely different from the feminine sort. Her attire made her look like a transcendentally beautiful young man, her slender frame and fair skin, devoid of any rugged beard, evoking the pure aura of a youth not yet possessing mature masculine charm.
Irisviel and Artoria?
Lin Jiuan subconsciously took a step back, his expression stiffening. I'm such an idiot. I really am. He just wanted to find a place to stay for a while, completely forgetting that in Fuyuki City, at this time of night, there were no normal people out for a stroll.
"Don't be afraid, we're not bad people." Seeing Lin Jiuan retreat, Irisviel mistook his fear for thinking she and Artoria were kidnappers. She quickly explained, "I was just worried, seeing you walking alone so late at night."
As she spoke, Irisviel observed the boy more closely, and the more she looked, the more her heart ached. In this cold winter, he was wearing only a thin nightgown. It was soaking wet, as if he had just climbed out of the water. His clothes were a mess, stained with blood, as if he had just been beaten and chased. His shivering figure in the cold wind was utterly pitiful.
And especially that face. One should never underestimate that face. If Lin Jiuan were ugly or average-looking, Irisviel might have shown some concern, but she would have just handed him over to the police. But now, looking at Lin Jiuan's face, so handsome that even she, a perfect homunculus, couldn't compare, and with that indescribable air of mystery about him, Irisviel's mind went blank for a moment. An infinite wave of pity and tenderness welled up in her heart.
Completely ignoring the illogical details, she reached out and pulled the shivering, handsome little boy into her arms, warming him with her own body. "Don't be afraid, little one. I won't hurt you."
The warm embrace made Lin Jiuan stiffen, but Irisviel soon felt him relax.
"Master," Artoria reminded her in a low voice.
"It's fine, Saber. It's just a one-night delay. Besides, the war hasn't officially started tonight."
No, what I meant to say is that there's something not right about this boy.
Seeing Irisviel dismiss her with a single sentence before turning her loving attention back to the boy in her arms, Artoria knew she couldn't convince her Master, whose maternal instincts were overflowing. She could only sigh inwardly and keep a close watch on this unsettling boy. She resolved that if he showed any intention of harming Irisviel, she would kill him, even if it might anger her Master.
"Where are your parents?"
Lin Jiuan hesitated for a moment before saying, "I don't have parents. I'm an orphan."
"Eh? Then you..." Irisviel looked at him in a daze. His expensive-looking nightgown didn't seem like something an orphan would wear. What kind of orphanage provides such nice clothes?
"I was living in the very large house of a rich man before. But the master of the house hated me. He just tried to kill me, so I ran away."
Artoria frowned. She couldn't detect any sign of lying from the boy. Which meant... he was telling the truth?
Magecraft has the ability to detect lies. Although Irisviel was very fond of this excessively handsome boy, she was also a little wary. But after confirming that what the boy said was true, without a single lie, the wariness in her heart almost completely vanished. Her gaze became even more gentle.
"What a pitiful child, with such a difficult fate." Irisviel gently brushed away the dirty hair that was stuck to his face from being in the water. She said softly, "Come with me. I will take care of you."
The Einzbern Castle in Fuyuki.
In the hallway leading to the bathroom, Artoria was trying her best to reason with her Master. "Master, there is definitely something not right about this boy, Lin Jiuan. He is certainly not as simple as he claims!"
"I know, Saber, I know." Irisviel wore a gentle smile. "But he wasn't lying just now; he was telling the truth. And he has no aura of a magus or a Servant. He's not a participant in this Holy Grail War, so he won't affect us. As for secrets, who doesn't have them? Don't you, Saber?"
"But..." Artoria knew Irisviel had a point. Yet her instincts told her they couldn't keep the boy by their side. He was dangerous!
But Irisviel didn't give her another chance to speak. "Alright, Saber, I know what you're saying. There won't be any problems. After all, neither I nor you, the King of Knights, could just watch a poor child be persecuted by his family and left to freeze to death on the streets, could we? Besides, even if there is any danger, you will protect me, won't you, Saber?"
Artoria fell silent, finally nodding. "Master, please be careful and do not let your guard down."
"Saber is so reliable," Irisviel smiled gently. "Well, I'm going to the bathroom to help the little one with his bath now. Otherwise, he'll be waiting impatiently."
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