Multiverse: Why does the world show a health bar? !

There are still many issues that need to be resolved in the future.

Roughly estimating, they can be summarized into three main tasks: dismantling the Greater Holy Grail, dealing with the troubles from the Clock Tower, and restoring Hanachirusato.

Among these, the most difficult task is dismantling the Greater Holy Grail. It was a miracle created by the self-sacrifice of the wielder of the Third Magic. Even though the Winter Saint was a homunculus, the Third Magic is still one of the Five True Magics—something humanity cannot achieve.

The simplest task, which Li Mo initially thought would be dealing with the Clock Tower, has turned out to be the last one: reviving Miss Hanachirusato.

"Medea, is this all the preparation work needed?"

Inside the cavern "temple" on Mount Enzou.

Thanks to the previous arrangements made by the three founding families and Medea's subsequent improvements, this place is almost impossible to detect. Even magicians like Rin Tohsaka wouldn't notice it unless they were specifically looking for it.

Of course, Servants are an exception.

Li Mo has been spending most of his time in this secret base. Although he owns property in Miyama Town, he rarely stays there. Researching magecraft is much more convenient here. This place is both Medea's temple and his workshop.

Since it's a workshop, it's only natural to do what a magician should do.

In front of him is a magic circle, based on a circular design with a pentagram and other intricate patterns inside. This is a modified version of the circle by Medea. With Li Mo's current level of magecraft knowledge, he can only understand part of it.

But that's fine. He's already used enough "black box" technology. As long as it works, who cares about the principles?

Just like how most people don't know the exact principles behind how a car engine works, right?

"The preparations are all set. Master, you need to be careful during the ritual. If you sense anything wrong, withdraw immediately."

"I know, Medea. Thank you for your concern. How much time is left before the ritual begins?"

"About half an hour."

In magecraft rituals, timing is also a crucial factor. Just look at how Rin Tohsaka summoned her Servant—timing was everything.

Li Mo nodded in understanding. Then, the two fell into silence. Since Koyanskaya left, the lively atmosphere had disappeared.

Medea broke the awkward silence: "Master, will we have a chance to see Koyanskaya again?"

"Definitely. Koyanskaya, like Merlin, became a Servant while still alive. I will definitely go looking for her true self in the future, and when I do, I'll find a way to bring you along, Medea."

"But that would require the Second Magic, wouldn't it?"

"Not necessarily, Medea. As far as I know, in one world, Miyamoto Musashi has the ability to randomly travel between worlds."

Miyamoto Musashi, the female swordsman who appeared in several Singularities and Lostbelts, shone brightly like a flower in full bloom.

"Miyamoto Musashi? The swordsman from Japanese history?"

"Yes, and she's a woman," Li Mo said. "Just like Saber. Speaking of which, Medea, you always seem to look at Saber with such intensity. Why is that?"

Medea awkwardly avoided Li Mo's gaze and said, "I just think Saber would look good in other clothes."

Li Mo chuckled. He remembered how Medea's first action after capturing Artoria was to dress her in a pure white dress, turning the king into a delicate princess.

So... why did she want to change Artoria's clothes?

Perhaps feeling uncomfortable under Li Mo's gaze, Medea changed the subject: "Master, how is your recent progress in studying the magecraft of the Einzbern and Tohsaka families? And what about the materials from Matou Shinji? Any progress?"

"Progress is going well. I've got some leads on Shinji's side," Li Mo replied.

He had promised Shinji to create an artificial magic circuit, provided Shinji could find a Mystic Eye. Using the unique properties of a Mystic Eye to create an artificial magic circuit wasn't too difficult.

The rest of the time was spent discussing magecraft, with Li Mo consulting Medea on various problems he encountered and receiving solutions.

At least for now, Medea's magecraft skills far surpassed Li Mo's.

Then, the time came.

The magecraft ritual was based on Yae Miko's secret techniques, slowly developed over time. Li Mo had used this method before to transfer a part of his consciousness.

This time, he would use his consciousness to contact Hanachirusato and awaken her.

First, he entered a state of emptiness. With the help of the ritual, Li Mo's consciousness successfully entered the mask.

He had previously been able to temporarily separate his consciousness using the secret technique, but at that time, Hanachirusato's consciousness instinctively repelled him. Using the Einzbern family's research on the Third Magic and human nature, as well as Medea's research on the Greater Holy Grail, they had finally developed a ritual to bypass this repulsion.

He delved into the space of consciousness.

This process took time. While waiting, he saw what Hanachirusato's consciousness space looked like.

Narukami Island, Mount Yougou.

To be precise, it was the abandoned shrine at the foot of Mount Yougou.

Forgotten by the world, the shrine's walls were covered in creeping plants.

A masked shrine maiden seemed to stand there motionless, enduring the passage of days, nights, and seasons.

The concept of time became blurred here. This part of his consciousness couldn't sense the material world, so he couldn't measure time.

After what felt like an eternity, Li Mo finally entered the world. This illusory space was limited to the abandoned shrine, the place where Hanachirusato had lived for hundreds of years.

The cycle seemed to have been broken.

The shrine maiden was no longer standing there aimlessly. She began to move on her own, sometimes playing with foxes, sometimes crouching to admire the blooming sweet flowers, and sometimes feeling the coolness of puddles after the rain.

She was unfamiliar with this world.

Later, an elderly man with white hair found the shrine maiden. Li Mo recognized him—the genius who had pioneered a new path five hundred years ago, Kanna Hibiki.

After he left, the shrine maiden rarely interacted with others. Most of the time, she was alone, observing the world.

Until a young man appeared.

The rest of the story was something Li Mo knew all too well, but in this space, the journey wasn't fully depicted.

Then, one night.

When fireworks rose from the open ground in front of the shrine and burst in the sky, Li Mo heard a woman's voice.

"I've caused you trouble, Li-san."