"Forgive me for not being able to personally host you, Court Scribe. Please enjoy the delicacies in the dining hall, and your guest room is prepared. We'll arrange further matters later."
With the Child of Prophecy appearing within his territory, Woodworth couldn't possibly ignore it. This was a matter of paramount importance. After speaking, he immediately rushed toward the Pilgrimage Bell.
Regardless of the Child of Prophecy's identity, they had to be taken into custody immediately and handed over to the queen for her judgment.
"My apologies for disturbing you. It's troubling to impose on your hospitality during such a critical situation."
Though Jiang You had orchestrated the entire affair, he maintained an air of feigned ignorance.
"It would be proper to wait until this crisis is resolved before imposing further. However, I'm currently unaware of Princess Tristan's whereabouts, leaving me unable to make any decisions."
"Of course, we must defer to Princess Tristan's wishes," the dog-like Fairy replied, his manners impeccable. He first expressed his understanding: "No one could have foreseen this event occurring at such a moment. Rest assured, we have ample resources to host both Princess Tristan and you, Court Scribe. Please follow me. After your long journey, you must be weary. A banquet has been prepared for you to enjoy. As for Princess Tristan, I've already dispatched search parties throughout the city. News should arrive soon, and I will inform you immediately."
"Thank you."
Jiang You smiled in response. He had long anticipated the flavors of the Fang Clan's cuisine, reasoning that a place known as the Great Hall of the Fairies must have its merits. Konami had even developed a taste simulation system—where did they get the funding for that?
Moreover, although the plan was progressing smoothly, there was still a nagging concern: the bell had been ringing for far too long. What was Fairy Tristan even doing? This should have been enough by now. If someone discovered the bell wasn't the Pilgrimage Bell, it would spell trouble.
After enjoying a lavish vegetarian feast, Jiang You switched Scripts within the mansion arranged by Woodworth to avoid the tedium of waiting.
When Jiang You returned to Script 2.6, he found Fairy Tristan sprawled on the sofa, her expression one of utter shock. Considering over two hours had passed since she began ringing the bell, her continued state of astonishment suggested she had encountered something truly extraordinary.
"What's wrong?"
This demeanor was utterly uncharacteristic of Fairy Tristan's impetuous nature. Even if she had failed, she should have been seething with anger and frustration, not this world-shattering bewilderment.
"Did they discover you rang the fake bell?"
Considering how long the bell's resonance had lasted, it wasn't entirely impossible.
Seeing Fairy Tristan's lack of response, Jiang You assumed she had indeed failed. She can't even handle this small task? Jiang You really wanted to scold her, but considering Morgan's usual treatment of Fairy Tristan, he decided to play the good cop instead. "Well... the result is unfortunate, but it just means you won't get the title of 'Savior.' As long as the fairies realize you can lift Mors' Curse, they'll still support you, even if the effect isn't as dramatic."
"No... that's not it."
Fairy Tristan's pupils were still trembling, and she hadn't yet recovered. "The entire Oxford now knows I'm the 'Savior'!"
"Isn't that a great outcome?"
Her goal had been achieved, so why was she wearing such a distressed expression? "Then why do you look like this? You should be happy!"
"I... I really did ring the Pilgrimage Bell!"
Fairy Tristan grabbed Jiang You's hand. If it were a fake title, she would have found it amusing. But now that she had suddenly become the Savior in the truest sense, she hadn't even considered what to do. This meant she really had to save the Faerie Realm. The sudden weight of this responsibility crashed down on her shoulders, making her wonder if she was dreaming. After all, she was just a brutal vampire fairy who relied on Morgan's favor and slaughtered other fairies for sport. "I didn't even turn on that recorder! The bell really rang!"
"Huh?! Wait, but... this?"
Fairy Tristan's words completely short-circuited Jiang You's mind. Putting aside the fact that the Savior was destined to be some wild boar princess, Fairy Tristan wasn't even a Paradise Fairy. Moreover, the year of the Savior's birth had already been predetermined, and Fairy Tristan was at least a hundred years old. What were the actual criteria for this thing's judgment?
"W-well, fine."
Though the plot had suddenly gone haywire, Jiang You had still achieved his goal: the fake title had become real. This wouldn't affect Fairy Tristan's subsequent plans anyway.
"Now it's even more legitimate. If you can't accept it, just pretend it's still fake."
Jiang You figured his presence had caused a bug in this world. He wondered if Chaldea would detect the Lostbelt's impending collapse and intervene, and what would happen to Mash. But since the plot had already gone haywire, he didn't mind if things got even more chaotic.
"So, legend says that with each toll of the bell, the Fairy Savior grows stronger. Have you felt any increase in power?"
Jiang You recalled Caster Artoria, whose power skyrocketed with each bell she struck. At first, she struggled to defeat even Mors, but by the end, even Morgan was no match for her.
"Grow stronger?"
Fairy Tristan looked herself over. Her strength hadn't increased, nor had her magical power. In short, nothing had changed. She shook her head.
"I can't feel any difference. It seems not."
"Looks like you're not the genuine Savior after all," Jiang You mused, stroking his chin. This was quite peculiar. To grant someone the title of Savior without bestowing the Savior's powers—what could they be planning? Was this broken Pilgrimage Bell just trying to freeload?
"However, the impact of your Noble Phantasm has altered my Deck somewhat."
Fairy Tristan pulled out her Deck and handed it to Jiang You.
"There are a few extra cards in here. Does that count as strengthening my power?"
"Don't drag out your sentences like that!" Jiang You retorted, exasperated. Couldn't Fairy Tristan just finish her sentences in one go? Still, in Jiang You's opinion, adding cards did indeed count as strengthening her power. Soon, one of the new cards immediately caught his eye:
Grudge Fusion
You can only activate one card with this name per turn. During the turn this card is activated, you cannot Summon/Special Summon Servants by any means other than this card's effect.
From your hand, Deck, or field, send the Fusion Material Servants specified by the Fusion Servant card to the Graveyard, then Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Servant from your Extra Deck that requires a "Tristan" monster as Fusion Material.
"Red-Eyes Fusion?"
The familiar effect triggered a momentary hallucination in Jiang You. He quickly checked the Extra Deck.
Fairy Knight Tristan + Cernunnos = Fairy Knight Tristan (Swimsuit)