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

For humans, eating is an essential behavior ingrained in their genes from birth. But for Servants, consumption of food isn't necessary. Their bodies are constructed from mana, and all actions they undertake consume magical energy rather than physical sustenance.

Thus, Servants typically refrain from eating altogether.

However, when Medusa entered the "Temple" with ease, she was surprised to find her Master sitting alongside two Servants—enjoying instant cup noodles. Upon noticing her arrival, Li Mo cheerfully invited her: "Rider, care for a bowl?"

"No, thank you." Medusa declined politely.

Despite being blindfolded, her heightened senses of touch, hearing, and magical perception painted a vivid mental image of the scene around her.

Li Mo teased lightly, "What a pity. This brand's actually quite tasty."

Medusa responded curtly, "I'm here to retrieve something. Gorgon-san, where are the groceries our Master purchased earlier?"

"Oh, over there. While you're at it, could you store mine in the fridge? It'd be wasteful not to preserve them until tomorrow," Gorgon replied frugally.

Following the direction given, Medusa successfully located the pile of ingredients. Glancing around, she noticed the absence of modern appliances like refrigerators. Lighting came entirely through magical means.

"A Temple, huh?" 

Medusa couldn't help but consider what would happen if she ever faced Li Mo as an adversary. With Caster already stationed within the "Temple," paired with an enigmatic Assassin and a formidable Master capable of matching Servant-level combatants… things would grow complicated quickly.

She recalled their brief skirmish. Even without possessing the skill *Instinct*, her years of battle experience had honed her intuition for mortal threats. In that fleeting moment before their clash ended, she genuinely believed she might die.

"Rider, how about one last bowl? Give it a try…" Li Mo persisted.

Under repeated persuasion, Medusa finally relented, consuming the remaining cup noodle swiftly due to its modest portion size.

"How does it taste?"

"It's acceptable."

"Hmm… mass-produced convenience foods rely on flavor enhancers for impact. True delicacies require a chef's touch. Anyway~ Gorgon-senpai, stop looking so pitiful. That expression doesn't suit someone as mature as you."

"If you insist, Master, perhaps I should wear a sailor uniform to match my demeanor!" Gorgon joked playfully.

"I prefer older women, not younger girls," Li Mo quipped.

"You're into mature women, eh? Then why do you enjoy my cooking so much?"

The playful banter between Master and Servant continued unabated. Observing quietly from the side, Medea wore a mixture of exasperation and affection, seemingly content with the current dynamic.

"I'll take my leave now. My Master awaits me."

"Hold on, Rider. There's something I'd like to ask."

"What is it?"

Medusa turned back toward Li Mo, who stood there with a faint smile, radiating an aura of mystery.

He posed a question: "If I offered you a chance to remain in this world permanently, would you assist me?"

This inquiry struck deeper than mere curiosity—it hinted at the core motivations driving this young magus. What exactly did Li Mo intend to achieve?

"We're already allies," Medusa reminded him.

"That's true… we are allies. However, tell the other Masters that I'll visit tomorrow. On Saturday, I'll reveal my purpose then."

"I understand."

With that, Medusa faded into thin air, leaving behind only silence.

After seeing her off, Li Mo began tidying up his trash diligently. He adhered strictly to local waste disposal rules, sending accumulated refuse along with the temple's garbage whenever possible.

Meanwhile, Gorgon lounged nearby reading a light novel, her rabbit ears and tail emerging freely after Medusa's departure. The wagging of her tail betrayed her cheerful mood.

Left bewildered was Medea alone. Since summoning Gorgon, she struggled to keep pace with their increasingly erratic logic. It felt as though secrets were being withheld from her.

"Confused, Medea-san?"

"Yes, Master. What do you plan to tell them?"

What was her Master's true objective in participating in the Holy Grail War? Not even Medea fully understood. Though he claimed little interest in the Greater Grail, his initial summons suggested otherwise. Was it merely to study magecraft under her guidance?

Yet Medea sensed more beneath the surface. Moreover, her Master seemed unconcerned about revealing true names—a taboo among Servants—and appeared knowledgeable about every Heroic Spirit present in this war.

"My goal? Let me share something with you. During the Fourth Holy Grail War ten years ago, three Masters survived. One became a ruler at the Clock Tower, another perished years later from hidden wounds, and the priest still serves in his church today. None of these Masters matter. What matters is that during that war, one Servant gained flesh and has endured to this day."

Li Mo revealed casually.

Medea immediately grasped the implications. This wasn't a seven-Servant war—it was eight!

"Was that Servant the victor of the previous Holy Grail War? Did they make a wish?"

"Not quite, Medea-san. There was no victor. At the climax, the righteous ally used Command Spells to order Saber to destroy the Greater Grail. By the way, did you extract anything unusual from Sakura Matou?"

Medea summoned a floating box with magic, opening it to reveal a living Crest Worm. "This one feels connected to the Greater Grail."

Li Mo nodded thoughtfully, recalling his research. "This worm originated from a fragment of the Grail salvaged by Zouken Matou a decade ago. Its existence simplifies matters considerably."

Medea hesitated, piecing together the puzzle. "Master… your intention… is to grant us permanent forms?"

"Exactly as you suspect. Using the substance within the Grail, I can bestow physical bodies upon you all. However, it requires refinement since the Grail harbors the ability to devour Servants."

*All the World's Evil*—the very essence capable of granting Servants corporeal form.

Then…

Li Mo glanced at the fox mask hanging at his waist.

Hanako, when will you awaken?

Perhaps *All the World's Evil* offers the perfect solution for you—a will born directly from corruption itself.

Lifting his gaze, Li Mo addressed Medea seriously. "I'll explain everything shortly. For now, I trust you to handle the preparations."

"Understood, Master," Medea replied earnestly. "But remember—the manifestation of the Greater Grail demands the death of Servants to activate."

"Caster, that's where we magi come in. We don't need to fulfill traditional requirements. Instead, we'll craft miniature Grails using this fragment extracted from Sakura. Then… we deceive the Greater Grail itself."

Li Mo pointed at the shard retrieved from Sakura Matou—a relic of the past Grail Wars.

Deception, after all, lies at the heart of what it means to be a magus.