Artemis watched Morpheus decline to drink. After a moment's thought, she approached and sat beside him. "You're not going to get drunk, are you?"
"Too much hassle," Morpheus said, gazing into the distance. "Besides, I sense the Holy Grail's aura on Drake."
"Oh, that Holy Grail? I know about it," Artemis replied.
Morpheus blinked. "You know?!"
"Of course!" Artemis giggled, leaning against him, her fingers tracing his cheek. "Want to know more? Maybe you should show some appreciation first."
Morpheus grinned, leaning in to kiss her fiercely on the lips.
The move was natural, bold, and unhesitating, despite the nearby pirates. He didn't care.
"Whoa!" Drake whistled, egging them on. "Need a room, you two?!"
"You're way too forward!"
"Yeah, want a private cabin?"
Morpheus smiled, waving off the offer, then turned to the flushed yet thrilled Artemis. "So, can you tell me now?"
She took a deep breath to calm her excitement. "The Holy Grail belonged to Poseidon. She either stole it or won it."
"Poseidon?!" Morpheus was stunned again. "Don't tell me he was defeated."
"Caught off guard and sucked into a whirlpool, along with Atlantis. But he wasn't seriously trying to destroy humanity. If he was, it wouldn't be so complicated," Artemis said, glancing at the sky. "Besides, if he tried, Zeus wouldn't allow it."
A sudden exclamation came from nearby... Mash's voice.
"That's… the Holy Grail?!"
Drake had pulled a golden cup from what seemed like a four-dimensional pocket between her chest, from which wine and food endlessly poured.
Unfazed by Mash's shock, Drake acted as if she'd picked up trash. But a nearby pirate, indignant, spilled the whole story.
It aligned with Artemis' account: in a whirlpool, they encountered Atlantis and a self-proclaimed sea god threatening to destroy humanity. Drake caused the whirlpool to swallow Atlantis entirely.
Naturally, Poseidon went with it, leaving Drake alone.
Talk about holding back.
Morpheus, hearing the tale, turned to Artemis. "Was this Holy Grail sent here on purpose?"
"Why do you say that?"
"The enemy uses a Holy Grail to destroy history. But if the side protecting history gets one too, it stabilizes spacetime, preventing collapse. Two Grails clashing might cause unexpected changes."
Morpheus looked out at the sea.
"So that's why we're in the Okeanos Sea!"
Artemis smiled, saying nothing... her expression answered enough.
Meanwhile, the pirates dragged Mash and Ritsuka into heavy drinking. By the banquet's end, both were tipsy, especially Ritsuka, who was practically collapsing.
These sea-hardened pirates drank daily... Ritsuka stood no chance. Mash, as a Demi-Servant, had better alcohol resistance, so while tipsy, she stayed upright.
Morpheus watched the Holy Grail slip back into Drake's four-dimensional pocket, narrowing his eyes.
"Hm, the Grail merged with her body, boosting her mana and giving her Servant-level combat power…"
"I thought you were staring at her chest," Artemis teased, her tone sharp.
"I was looking at the Grail."
"And where'd the Grail go?"
"Her chest."
"So you're still looking?!"
"It's not my fault... it's the Grail's!" Morpheus turned away. "Besides, Drake's not my type."
Artemis narrowed her eyes. "So, have you found new types elsewhere these years?"
"Guess."
"You have, haven't you? Medea told me you became a Servant in another world and flirted with your Master and other Masters!"
Morpheus cried foul. "Just two, okay!"
"And I heard about a glamorous woman and a young girl?"
"Illya and Irisviel? Nothing's going on with them!"
Morpheus suddenly felt being too popular wasn't always good... it led to interrogations like this.
Thankfully, Artemis didn't press further, whispering in his ear, "Just wait... you're not leaving the bed tonight."
She was clearly ready to "punish" him.
…
As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. That night, Artemis was exceptionally proactive. As a goddess with near-endless stamina, she was like a perpetual motion machine.
True to her word, she kept Morpheus in bed all night, unable to get up.
Meanwhile, Mash was talking with Drake.
"So you want this cup that keeps pouring wine and food?" Drake said, casually handing over the Holy Grail. "I lost, so it's yours."
"Thank you!" Mash said, feeling the Grail's power and frowning. "Odd, its power feels weaker than the others."
Romani's voice came through the communicator. "Could this Grail belong to this era and world?"
"Right, why not ask Morpheus? He knows a lot about Grails," Olga Marie suggested.
Drake laughed. "He's tangled up with his wife... no way he's resting tonight."
Olga Marie's expression shifted, and she took a deep breath. "Is that so?!"
Romani, seeing her grit her teeth, had no doubt she'd chew out anyone who erred now for half an hour.
But as a knowledgeable man, he offered Mash his theory.
"I think this Grail belongs to this era, choosing Drake as its master to counter the one Lev brought to destroy it. The two Grails are pulling against each other, causing this chaotic state. As long as Drake holds it, the era won't collapse... but it won't normalize either."
"So, have you solved the issue?" Drake asked.
Mash shook her head. "Not yet. Besides your Grail, there's another not from this era. If we don't find it, this sea will stay like this forever."
Drake frowned. "Hey, no way! You're serious?"
Seeing the earnest looks on Ritsuka... now sober... and Mash, Drake knew they meant it.
Mash returned the Grail. "It's true, so you should keep it, Captain."
The Grail slipped back into Drake's chest, vanishing. She sighed. "I've never given up treasure so easily, nor had it returned so quickly."
Clearly, Drake was clueless about what to do next. Da Vinci interjected.
"Captain Drake, do you have a wish?"
"A wish? To sail around the world!"
"You could use the Grail to make it happen."
Drake frowned. "A wish like that? You've got to set out yourself, overcome the challenges. That's the way!"
"Since you say so, to fulfill your wish, you need to reclaim your original world! And these people before you are experts at fixing such problems."
From a tent, Morpheus watched, smiling. "Nice guiding, Da Vinci. Looks like adventure starts tomorrow."
Artemis asked, "What's your plan for tomorrow?"
Morpheus thought. "Head to the island's center, see what's there, and try to find Atalanta and Medea."
Watching Drake drag everyone to drink more, vowing to down a lifetime's worth, Morpheus shook his head and closed the tent's flap.
Tonight, those outside would be lively.
…
"What's with this era?" On a ship, a haughty captain gazed into the distance, holding a Holy Grail, frowning as if plotting his next move.
He was Jason, a Greek hero, still pondering in this era.
"Chaldea, the culprits planning to destroy the world? That's what he said, but something feels off…"
Jason was sharp. His mind quickly worked out a plan.
"Go fight, but don't go too hard... avoid making enemies. Also, get information to figure out what's really happening."
As he thought, he glanced ahead at a giant... Heracles, in Berserker form.
Besides Heracles, the crew... rowers, guards, all... were Heroic Spirits or Servants, making Jason's ship sail faster than the era's limits.
Yet, he hadn't found this "Chaldea" the guy mentioned.
"Strange, is this the right direction? He said the Grail would guide us. Does that mean Chaldea's people are in this sea?"
…
At dawn, just past six, Morpheus rose from bed. Yawning under the morning sunlight, he headed toward the island's center.
Though Drake's crew called the island a rest stop, mainly using the beach, it was sizable, with dense vegetation in many areas. Finding hidden people here wouldn't be easy.
But Morpheus didn't rely on his eyes alone. He cast magic to search for targets, confident it would soon yield results.
If Artemis' senses were correct, Atalanta and Medea were likely on this island.
Walking steadily, Morpheus' eyes lit up. He spotted a building!
A two-story wooden structure, styled like modern Europe, with a fenced yard. Morpheus' lips curled into a smile.
"Found it!"
No doubt was needed... the building resembled one he'd stayed in during the Age of Gods in Greece.
Seeing it, Morpheus knew a Servant here was definitely Medea!
The door opened, revealing a young Medea, with green-haired Atalanta behind her!
Both were there, living together!
Spotting Morpheus, their eyes sparkled with joy. They rushed out, steps swift and unwavering!
Like swallows returning to their nest, the two girls flung themselves into Morpheus' arms, one on each side, clinging tightly, unwilling to let go.
Medea beamed. "I knew you'd show up in a place like this!"
Atalanta, smiling at his face, added, "Coming to this world was the right choice!"
They'd seized the chance, knowing Morpheus would appear here!
***
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