Goddess Demeter knew Fati’s three magics like the back of her hand.
Although they were all incredibly powerful, unheard-of, and ultra-rare [Magic], unfortunately, they all belonged to the utility type.
Powerful as they were, they couldn’t be directly converted into immediate combat power in a fight.
First Magic: Myriad Phenomena: Origin Source—the incarnation of a system cheat.
Second Magic: Heaven and Earth: Gift of Grace—a mortal version of the favor system.
Third Magic: Fati Tirtibernes Magic Notebook—a spell list.
Therefore, when Fati asked to commission a custom staff, Goddess Demeter thought for a moment and saw through the key point.
“Your third magic…” The Goddess twirled a strand of hair around her slender finger, her amber eyes sparkling with realization.
“Oh…
through some unknown means, you’ve finally recorded a new magic that can be used for combat?
Congratulations, little Fati, you’ve finally gotten your wish.”
The corners of her lips curled up in a joyful smile:
“With a primary combat magic, combined with your unreasonably massive mental power…
indeed, a compatible staff will become an indispensable force multiplier for you.”
“Oh, as for the connections, I can certainly help you find someone.”
The Goddess shifted the topic, her lazy tone carrying a hint of playful warning:
“However~ little Fati, I have to give you a heads-up.
When it comes to exclusive armaments for a Mage, the price…
will be ‘frighteningly high’.
You’d better be mentally prepared so you don’t faint from the shock~”
Despite having prepared himself mentally, the word “price” triggered an instinctive reaction, and Fati’s expression stiffened for a moment.
He sighed helplessly:
“It can’t be helped; this is something I can’t compromise on.”
“As for the price…
I’ll have to ask you to handle the negotiations, Goddess Demeter.
I’ll provide the design blueprints and the main materials myself, so it should save quite a bit.”
Upon hearing this, a look of genuine surprise crossed Goddess Demeter’s exquisite face:
“Eh?” Her eyes widened slightly as she leaned forward, her gaze searching.
“I couldn’t tell, little Fati~ when did you quietly strike it rich?
You didn’t even tell me you made big money; we’re supposed to’share the joy’!”
She deliberately trailed off, her warm, fragrant breath brushing against Fati’s ear once again.
“…”
The dual physical and mental provocation made Fati’s defenses waver.
“Cough cough!
Just today!
I just earned it today!” He hurried to clarify, trying to steady his mind.
“See, the money bag hasn’t even gotten warm yet, and I came straight to ‘report the good news’ to you, Goddess!”
“Is that so?” Demeter blinked mischievously.
“Clearly, you only thought of me because you ran into a problem you couldn’t solve, right?”
“…”
Being accurately called out by the Goddess, Fati was left speechless.
Enjoying his rare embarrassment, Demeter nuzzled into his arms like a satisfied big cat, her voice drawing out into a charming lilt:
“But~ since this is the first time little Fati has come to ask me for something so seriously~~~ I’ll agree!”
With the business settled, the mischief in the Goddess’s eyes instantly turned into a swirling pool of affection.
She reached out her slender hand, her fingertips brushing almost imperceptibly against Fati’s chin, her smile breathtakingly seductive:
“So…
now that business is over, shouldn’t we talk about something more interesting, hmm?”
“As you wish, my Goddess.”
Fati’s deep voice carried a hint of raspiness.
Under Persephone’s cold gaze, which almost felt physical, Fati swept the smiling Goddess into his arms and walked up the stairs to the second floor with practiced ease…
It wasn’t until the stars hung high and the thick night sky bled into the horizon that Fati, now in clean clothes and feeling refreshed, walked out of the Wheat Hall.
In his hand was an exquisite bag containing a new prototype from the Demeter Familia—’Ice White Grape Juice’.
Although it was nominally a prototype, he knew well that its value was far beyond what an ordinary Adventurer could afford.
“The Goddess tastes quite good,” he mused inwardly, subconsciously looking back.
The dim streetlights intertwined with the cool moonlight.
On the second-floor gallery of the courtyard, a stunning figure wearing only a silk slip dress stood leaning against the railing.
Goddess Demeter was smiling like a flower, her watery amber eyes following Fati’s departing figure for a long time until he completely vanished into the depths of the night before she reluctantly withdrew her gaze…
In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.
When he left the Wheat Hall yesterday, Fati had already handed over the precious [great sacred tree branch] and the [Manufacturing Guide: Scholars Staff] to Goddess Demeter.
He only needed to wait a week for his exclusive staff to be ready.
He got up and moved his left arm; the slight stiffness from yesterday had completely disappeared.
He carefully unwrapped the bandages—after Amide’s miraculous treatment, the wound was as smooth as ever, without even a trace of a scar.
“Perfect!
I can move completely without issue,” he praised, then remembered the young physician’s advice.
“But for intense exercise, it’s probably better to wait one more day…”
“Yeah, it’s always right to listen to a professional.”
…Breakfast consisted of two large bowls of fragrant century egg and pork congee, paired with two plates of refreshing side dishes and crispy bacon cheese toast.
Fati ate with great satisfaction, couldn’t help but marvel at how good life was.
Thinking about the unexpected windfall, which not only fully boosted his potential and secured his future but also meant he would soon own a custom staff entirely his own, Fati couldn’t help but hum a little tune.
“Two and a half years since I transmigrated, these hard days are finally coming to an end.
I’m starting to do well for myself!” he remarked with heartfelt emotion.
After enjoying his meal, Fati happily tidied up the house and did a thorough cleaning without straining his arm.
Then, after a refreshing hot shower, he acted like a retired old man enjoying his golden years, hugging his favorite teacup and leisurely sitting down at the stone table under the old tree in the courtyard for a peaceful nap.
The afternoon sun filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows.
He squinted, his thoughts drifting.
Recalling the turbulent experiences of the past few days, the ups and downs had kept his fragile nerves on edge.
Now that he was free and relaxed, in the silence, he felt as if his body and mind had been sublimated.
“Could this be the legendary…
mysterious breakthrough in one’s state of mind?”
He laughed at himself, then settled his mind, contentedly sipping his tea.
However, this tranquility did not last long.
Fati’s peripheral vision was caught off guard by a sudden burst of magical radiance!
“?”
“A magic circle?”
He snapped his head around and saw that next to the plants in the corner of the small courtyard, an exceptionally complex magic circle had appeared out of nowhere!
The patterns flowed, and the spiritual light shone brightly!
“Hum—!”
A strong magical fluctuation accompanied the impact as it spread, making the surrounding leaves rustle loudly.
“Wait!
This fluctuation…
could it be…” A startling guess flashed through his mind.
Before he could react, the blinding light of the magic circle suddenly intensified, and Fati instinctively raised his arm to shield his eyes.
“Damn!”
When the disturbance subsided slightly, Fati focused his gaze.
In the center of the magic circle stood a slender and awe-inspiring figure!
She was dressed in a dark blue cotton-linen dress, with a simple woven belt around her waist and soft leather mid-heel boots on her feet.
Her golden hair was tied into a thick braid that hung quietly down to her waist.
A clear, firm, and holy aura that seemed capable of cleansing all impurities radiated from her, making one instinctively think of a legendary Paladin.
“Are you my Master?” The girl’s clear voice rang out, bringing the stunned Fati back to his senses.
“?”
A sense of familiar yet strange déjà vu washed over him.
As the mist completely cleared and Fati saw the girl’s true face, he couldn’t help but lean back in a tactical retreat.
In an instant, a series of keywords flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.
Maid of Orleans, Holy Maiden of Salvation, Saint of the Crimson Lotus, Village Girl, Eldest Daughter of a Landowner, Forbidden Chain-Bound Blonde Beauty, Jeanne the Great…
“Hiss—”
Fati took a sharp breath, feeling a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head!
He felt as if he could already foresee how his luck would plummet to a miserable rock bottom for the foreseeable future!
This wasn’t something that could be explained by’surviving a disaster brings good fortune’; this was a serious imbalance between effort and reward.
Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.
He forced himself to stay calm and spoke tentatively with a slightly trembling voice:
“Jeanne d’Arc?”
“Jeanne D’Arc?”
“Jeanne?”
As he spoke, Fati thought of countless things.
Conditions like [Invitation Letter], [Vanguard], [Support Ability], [XP Compatibility], and so on automatically surfaced in his mind and perfectly overlapped with the image of the girl before him…
Fati’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Not to mention, everything matched up, and even the hidden conditions were all met, especially the XP compatibility.
“Master?
It’s not wrong for you to call me that.”
Fati put down his teacup, took a deep breath, stood up, walked over to Jeanne, and reached out his hand to her.
“Fati, Fati Tirtiberne.”
“Welcome to the new world, Jeanne.”
“Ah?”
A look of obvious confusion appeared on Jeanne’s face as she instinctively raised her hand and shook Fati’s.
The moment their palms touched!
Hum—!
A soft and holy light bloomed from where their hands met!
A subtle connection, seemingly originating from the depths of their souls, instantly bound the two of them closely together.
“Then, the contract is established!”
“Welcome to the [Tir-Tirubeni Familia].”
“We are family from now on.”
“…”
At this moment, Jeanne’s mind was a complete blank.
Her last memory remained on the scorching stake at Rouen Square—the raging flames licking her skin, consuming her consciousness, and finally returning everything to nothingness.
And before her consciousness completely sank, a black letter from nowhere abruptly appeared in her perception…
When she opened her eyes again, she was already in this strange and peaceful courtyard.
Before she even had time to clear her thoughts, she had already concluded this strange contract with the young man before her.
Dazedly following the other person into the house, she sat on the soft sofa in a daze for a long while before the fragments of memory burned by the flames surged back like a tide.
“I…
am still alive?”
She looked down at her intact hands, her clear blue eyes filled with unbelievable shock.
“This…
is truly incredible…”