stonecrandall Page 129
Page 129
Nero and the sixth beast have merged into an inseparable whole; the 'beast's' spirit origin is manifesting.
Along with the pop-up message, Nero appeared before Quinn's eyes, sitting on the Roman throne, receiving representatives of the Britons and Batavians. The Nero of today was significantly different from the one of a few months ago.
Although Nero was already showing signs of physical change, she was still a young girl with delicate features like a porcelain doll. Although her words and actions already carried the majesty of an emperor, she still couldn't hide her childishness. If she didn't refer to herself as "Yu" when she spoke, she would at most be mistaken for a noble lady going out for a stroll when she walked down the street.
However, Nero has now grown into a graceful woman, her figure having passed the threshold of girlhood and beginning to change into a mature woman. She has a tendency to evolve from a little lion into a golden lion king, much like Artoria. But what attracts Quinn's attention the most is her dazzling, coiled golden hair.
In a realm inaccessible to ordinary people, a pair of small, curved dragon horns had quietly emerged from her hair. The appearance of these horns was like a silent declaration, proclaiming that her fusion with the "Sixth Beast" had reached an irreversible point, and further proclaiming the success of Quinn's plan.
The Beast's Spirit Origin has already manifested on Nero. If Quinn hadn't been observing Nero all this time, he would have barely noticed this subtle change. The reason is simple: the level of this Spirit Origin is too small. It's so small that the Spirit Origin of any third-rate Servant is more obvious than the one Nero possesses. If this were a Holy Grail War, Nero with this level of Spirit Origin would be nothing more than a roadside monster, the kind that any normal magician Master could easily kill.
But this is not the Holy Grail War, but Roman history. It is a miracle that Nero, as a living person, could possess a Spirit Origin, not to mention that the level of Nero's Spirit Origin is increasing day by day.
According to Quinn's observation, any decision Nero makes that could potentially alter the future and human history would lead to a future that deviates from the original course of history. Such changes, which would give rise to countless different directions in certain works, are captured and restrained by the Sixth Beast that parasitizes him, and are ultimately digested into magical power that can be contained within a Spirit Origin. This magical power, obtained through digesting history, is then used for incubation.
Quinn could foresee the changes that would occur in Nero as this Beast Spirit Origin gradually grew stronger. First, his body would undergo a complete transformation, followed by the acquisition of skills and Noble Phantasms like those of a Servant, and finally, the complete Sixth Beast would be born.
[By observing the growth of the Sixth Beast, your understanding of beasts becomes increasingly clear. You realize that the Sixth Beast is not the same as you. You acquire your own 'characteristics' by creating history and absorbing legends, while the Sixth Beast grows by capturing history, binding it, and digesting it.]
[Without a doubt, no matter how hard Nero tries, once the Beast's spirit origin takes root and sprouts within her, the only future she can create is the future that the Sixth Beast desires. All futures that the Sixth Beast does not like will become food for this beast to grow. This unique feeding mechanism gives you a kind of hallucination.]
Human reason burned away
The burning of humanity by Goetia was a necessary means to convert human history into energy, and the actions being taken by the Sixth Beast at this moment are similar.
You realize that perhaps you can develop your own unique magic by studying the growth of the Sixth Beast.
[A completely new kind of magic, unlike any conventional magician or divine magician, that does not require magic or true ether and can continue to function normally and exert its power as long as history exists and can be observed.]
Chapter 309 I Want to Know Your Story
The development of magic and the development of technology are similar in essence; both require a great deal of experimentation and research, as well as a great deal of hypothesis and verification.
Starting from scratch is often the most difficult, but if there is a reference, the difficulty of developing a new magic trick is about the same as the difficulty of a master inventing a new invention. It is difficult, but not as difficult as cutting-edge scientific research. The so-called new magic trick that Quinn conceived in his mind is about this kind of thing.
Using history itself as a material for spellcasting—from Goetia's burning of humanity to preheat the Great Light Wheel to Nero's creation of his own Rome—both demonstrate that beasts possess the ability to interfere with human history itself and use it as material. This method may not be considered particularly outrageous among beasts, but for humanity, it remains a blank slate.
Fortunately, just as the simulator says, Quinn has an object to observe.
By observing the growth process of the young beast parasitizing Nero, even a magician like Quinn, who doesn't possess any particularly outstanding magical talent, could summarize a fairly comprehensive set of documentary experience. With experience and actual data, the rest became much simpler.
Find a talented magician, give them the data, let them analyze and formulate a hypothesis, and then Quinn will verify it himself.
Yes, it's that simple.
This is the confidence that Quinn's charisma and extensive network of connections bring him. While other magicians are afraid of outsiders interfering when they are researching magic, Quinn is an exception. He doesn't care at all about his magical knowledge being known to others because the magic he has mastered is something that only a handful of people are capable of using.
It's as if the fairy magic has been recorded by the Clock Tower, but so far, apart from Quinn and his student Emiya Haku, no one else in the entire Clock Tower can use it freely.
After all, some things inherently have high barriers to entry, not to mention the new magic that Quinn wants to research, which uses history itself as its power. The restrictions on this kind of magic will only be more stringent than those on fairy magic. But similarly, finding someone to help Quinn with the research and development of such demanding magic will be very difficult. However…
Quinn does indeed have such a magician by his side.
[Satiao Aika] You sing of me, but I'm busy; Lin Zai Zai, are you not here...?
The Root Princess you brought is now proving useful. In terms of analytical ability, there is probably no magician in the world more powerful than her. Even Waver, who has a natural talent for identifying magic, would find it difficult to compare with Ayaka Sajō.
[Especially considering that Aika Sajou is also observing Nero, you believe she is the best person to assist you in completing this magic trick.]
Yes, during the time you were observing the Sixth Beast, Ayaka Sajou was doing the same thing as you. You don't know the real reason why Ayaka Sajou is so keen on observing Nero. Is it because she is curious about Nero's ability to attract beasts, or does she herself have ideas about the Sixth Beast? But you know that as long as Ayaka Sajou assists you, you can complete your magic. Therefore, you approached her.
At this moment, Nero's palace was filled with singing and dancing, a dazzling array of fine wines and delicacies, and guests chatting and laughing. Nero sat on his throne, enjoying all of this.
The successful conquest of the Jewish province greatly excited the Roman nobles. They indulged themselves at the banquet, recounting various stories of their march in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, in a dark corner of the palace, Aika Sajou stood alone in the shadows, her gaze fixed on Nero, carefully observing any change in him. Some Romans would occasionally notice Aika Sajou's presence and approach her to strike up a conversation, but before they could get close, they would be driven away by Aika Sajou's dispelling magic.
For a moment, a rather eerie empty area was formed around Sajou Aika, but what was even more eerie was that the guests at the banquet were completely unaware of it until Quinn's voice rang out.
"Sand strips".
Sajō Aika tilted her head slightly to look at Quinn. When she saw that Quinn was all alone with no one else around, a hint of excitement flashed in her eyes. "Mr. Quinn, what brings you here specifically to see me?"
“I need your help with something.” Quinn said, glancing around to make sure everyone was oblivious to what was happening because of Ayaka Sajou’s magic. He then reached out and took Ayaka Sajou’s hand, speaking softly, “It’s not convenient to talk here. I’d like to speak with you privately, just the two of us.”
Did the two talk in private?
Sajō Aika paused slightly, her gaze drifting to the night outside the palace. A blush crept onto her face, and she lowered her head shyly, her voice barely audible: "Um... okay."
Quinn said nothing, gently took Sajou Aika's hand, and led her through the bustling banquet hall toward the gardens of the Roman palace.
Neither of them spoke the rest of the way, but the atmosphere was unusually subtle.
Only after arriving at the garden did Quinn release Sajou Ayaka's hand, his gaze becoming serious and earnest: "Sajyo Ayaka, I need you to help me train! This is a record of the growth of the Sixth Beast that I have accumulated recently. Quickly, help me analyze how these beasts gain magical power by influencing human history."
Upon hearing this, Aika Sajou's gaze went blank, and her already flushed face turned completely red. After a long while, the Root Princess said in an annoyed tone.
“You know perfectly well that I won’t refuse you, yet you say such things that could be misunderstood.”
After saying that, Ayaka Sajou pulled out a small notebook from her bosom and held it up in front of Quinn. "This contains the records of the Sixth Beast. It not only shows how the Sixth Beast intercepts history, but also how it makes itself manifest by absorbing magic power."
Quinn instinctively reached out to take the record, but just as he was about to, Ayaka Sajou abruptly withdrew her hand, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. "Mr. Quinn, magic and miracles aren't free, you know. What price are you willing to pay for this record?"
"what do you want?"
In response to Quinn's question, Aika Sajou giggled, stood on tiptoe, and cupped Quinn's face in her hands. "Come on a date with me, Mr. Quinn. And tell me your story. I'm very interested in everything about your past. If possible, I'd even like to experience it all myself. How about it? I know a little magic trick. If you allow me to use it, I can enter your subconscious and experience everything you've ever been through."
Faced with your questioning, Ayaka Sajou finally revealed her true intentions.
Chapter 310 Evolution of Individual Life
“You want to hypnotize me.” After hearing Ayaka Sajou’s request, Quinn remained silent for a few seconds before bluntly stating the true meaning behind Ayaka Sajou’s words, “You should know that this is a very impolite request for a magician. If it were anyone else, they would see you as a threat right now.”
"But you're not an ordinary magician, are you?"
Sajou Aika blinked, seemingly very certain that Quinn would agree. "I just want to see the stories I can't see. You know me very well, you know the most private secrets of girls, but I don't know you. Even if I deduce your knowledge from other people's perceptions of you, my understanding of you is just a few fragments of the past. I long to know the real you."
The secrets of time travelers were like poison and wine to Ayaka Sajō, making her crave them desperately and unable to resist. Even knowing that investigating Quinn's story would displease him and shatter their fragile, albeit barely friendly, relationship, Ayaka Sajō found it hard to resist. (The last sentence appears to be a nonsensical string of characters and is omitted from the translation.)
Such temptation would have been too great for a young girl to question Quinn; she would have tried to spy on him without his knowledge. But now, she had a better understanding of normal interpersonal communication, so she was still seeking Quinn's permission.
Moreover, she understood human nature so well that she knew Quinn wouldn't refuse her.
Yes, Quinn complained, but he was actually planning to agree.
After all, exchanging trivial memory stories for solid research records of beasts is practically a freebie, and there's only one thing to be careful about.
[Prevent sandpaper love songs from interfering with your memory]
[As long as Ayaka Sajou doesn't tamper with your memories, you are fully willing to accept that she can relive your past through methods like hypnosis or dream manipulation to satisfy her strong desire for the unknown. Therefore, you agree and make your own request.]
[Sajō Aika agreed quickly and decisively, which made you a little worried, but fortunately, it seems that Sajō Aika really just wanted to understand your past.]
The magic she used was an extremely simple dream-entering technique.
This magic allows the caster's consciousness to enter the dreamer's dream and guide its direction. In the age of gods, sages and prophets in fairy tales and myths often used this magic to warn certain kings or heroes. Some witches would use this magic to peer into the hero's mind, causing him to have nightmares and fight against the darkest past of his life.
Guided by Ayaka Sajō, your dream takes the form of reliving your life. In this dream journey, you recall your first time in the Type-Moon world, and experience again how you tried to make a living in the Clock Tower and establish yourself in this world through the El-Melloi family. However, in this memory, you discover traces of Ayaka Sajō.
[It seems that Aika Sajou is trying to deepen your impression of her by influencing your dreams, but her attempt at this is extremely clumsy.]
Because she didn't forcibly add her existence into your memories, you can easily realize you're dreaming even without countermeasures. You almost laugh; clearly, this Root Princess keeps her promise. She promised not to tamper with your memories, and she truly didn't use her talent to interfere. Therefore, you intend to fulfill her expectations.
[Therefore, in this dream journey, you deliberately treat her as a companion and begin to take the lead in the entire dream, guiding her to witness the story of Britannia and Rome.]
[The dream ends when you die again from Sefaru's parasite. When you wake up, you see Sajō Aika with a melancholy expression. Her face shows the comfort of having her curiosity satisfied, but even more so, the sorrow of having her illusions shattered.]
It's obvious that her imagination of you is completely different from reality. You are a perfect person only from the perspective of others. But when she looks back on your past from your own perspective, she realizes that you are not a perfect person at all. You are just completely indifferent to death because you don't actually die. Essentially, all your actions stem from the pursuit of your own interests.
[But this disillusionment did not affect her cooperation with you. On the contrary, after a brief period of disillusionment, the melancholy on Aika Sajou's face turned into secret joy and satisfaction.]
[Because, in your memory, the only person who truly knows everything about your past is Sajō Aika. Everyone else's understanding of you is one-sided and limited. Perhaps Morgan and Artoria have some guesses and ideas, but given their personalities, they won't delve too deeply into your past. Therefore, in terms of understanding you personally, Sajō Aika, who glimpsed all of your past through dreams, is indeed the person with the deepest understanding of you in the entire Type-Moon universe.]
This situation greatly excited Aika Sajou; she became a perfect helper in your creation of new magic tricks, answering all your questions without reservation.
With the assistance of this Root Princess, you began your own specialized research project in magic.
[You have initiated the legendary decision—magic research and development]
When this resolution is completed, your trait 'Sole Manifestation' will change to 'Mental Order'. While holding this trait, the physical laws centered on you will undergo a temporary and aggressive alteration.
[With the addition of Ayaka Sajou, the progress of this resolution has increased by 20. You will be able to complete this resolution faster and receive a trait upgrade upon completion.]
[Given that your research focuses on 'History', this trait enhancement has already been anchored. Upon completion of this decision, your trait 'Intelligence' will be upgraded to 'Genius'.]
[You have been detected to be about to acquire three innate level three traits, and you have received a special decision—the evolution of individual life]
As a life form from another world, your evolutionary pattern and logic are completely different from this world. In your infancy, in order to survive in this unfamiliar world, you mimicked yourself, making yourself appear no different from the life forms in this world. Now, you are about to mature, and the physical laws of this world can no longer restrain your existence. You can finally show your existence to the whole world and declare your uniqueness. However, before you fully mature, you still have to choose your own evolutionary path.
You will have the opportunity for an irreversible change in your life form.
The world has taken notice of you; please choose carefully.
Chapter 311 Fictional History
The research and development of the new magic trick is progressing rapidly.
[From the time Nero dealt with the Jewish question, only a few years have passed, and your research with Sajou Aika has essentially entered its final stage. Because you personally witnessed the manifestation of the beast and possess the ability to manifest alone, you have already grasped the basic methods of anchoring history as a phenomenon and how to use history as fuel.]
It can be said that you have now grasped the basic means to achieve the 'burning of human reason'.
Meanwhile, Nero was also growing in skill during the time you were studying magic.
With the issues concerning the Jews, Britons, and Batavia resolved, Nero gained widespread support from the empire's populace during this period, earning a reputation as a wise ruler. The stability of the Roman provinces was greatly enhanced, and this prosperous era brought her immense popularity among the Roman people. This period can be considered the most brilliant time of Nero's life.
She basked in the cheers of the crowd, in the honor bestowed upon her. The people's praise had elevated this young woman to the point of being comparable to 'Caesar.' However, some things in this world seem destined to happen.
Amidst constant praise, Nero used her vision of the future to alter her predetermined future, bringing a sense of peace to the Roman Empire, which was destined for division and internal strife. Peace and stability seemed to be taking root in this vast empire, but this was ultimately a one-sided fantasy. In the original history, the true source of the chaos under Nero's rule was not a foreign rebellion.
Whether it was the Jewish province, or Britain and Batavia, the root cause of these foreign rebellions was the oppressive rule of the Roman Empire, the source of which was the corruption and decadence of the Romans and the Roman court themselves.
The corrupt and lawless high-ranking officials, the emperor who abuses his power to satisfy his own desires, and the numerous eunuchs who serve the needs of the former two and their own selfish desires—these rotten people constitute the source of the turmoil in the upper echelons of the state. And these are things that even if Nero possessed the ability to foresee the future, she would find it difficult to change, because the future she saw was inherently incomplete.
Unlike those Grand Caster candidates who are born with futuristic vision, and unlike some Brahmins who are born with a connection to the Root and can access records of events, Nero's futuristic vision is provided by the Sixth Beast. What he sees from the perspective of someone else is naturally from that person's point of view.
Since it's a vision of the future seen through the eyes of a beast, it's naturally not very accurate. Therefore, while Nero's decisions may have short-term effects, they don't fundamentally change the long-term future.
Corruption persisted among Roman officials. These corrupt individuals, seeking to profit from the Roman treasury, began, as in history, to provide Nero with lavish and decadent services. They spared no expense in sourcing delicacies and treasures from all over the empire, and presented him with precious works of art to cater to his tastes. These exquisite and luxurious items were irresistible to Nero.
At first, Nero resisted these corrupt offerings, thinking it was due to her futuristic vision. However, as the unpleasant scenes shown to her by the Sixth Beast diminished, Nero's vigilance relaxed. She gradually began to enjoy the luxurious court life, indulging in the praise of the people, and her confidence turned into arrogance. The dragon horns symbolizing the Sixth Beast on her head became increasingly clear and prominent.
[You witnessed all these changes, the progress of your magic research growing alongside Nero's corruption. When Nero's most primal nature, guided by the Sixth Beast, was fully unleashed and she began to gradually reveal the image of the extremely pleasure-loving emperor you had in mind, you finally completed the final step of your magic.]