A year passed quickly.
At least for Arthur, it had.
Back when he was King of Britain, every minute and second had to be calculated carefully, never wasted, all to ensure that the entire nation ran in its most efficient state.
After the war with Rome ended and Britain was no longer under direct threat, the need for high-paced development waned. Still, Arthur, unaccustomed to idleness, soon found himself bored—living day by day without purpose.
But that all changed when he arrived in Fuyuki City.
Here, the burdens of responsibility vanished. Modern society, with its abundance of entertainment, proved to be an ideal escape. He'd game one day, play with Sakura the next, maybe hit the casino when bored. No more concerns about reputation or appearances. He could live like a commoner—or a god, really.
And even with the Holy Grail War looming, Arthur remained in full relaxation mode.
Zouken Matou, however, was anything but relaxed.
As one of the Three Founding Families and a co-creator of the Holy Grail system, Zouken was all too familiar with the ritual's mechanisms.
Every sixty years, when the Greater Grail absorbed enough magical energy from Fuyuki's ley lines, it would have sufficient power to summon Servants into the world.
A year ago, when Arthur first arrived, Zouken's mana had been constantly and forcibly drained, rendering even basic spells difficult. But recently, the pressure on his circuits had suddenly lifted.
A clear sign.
The Greater Grail had gathered enough energy. The ritual had begun.
In other words, Masters could now begin summoning Servants by conventional means.
The only thing missing now was the Einzbern vessel. Once that arrived in Fuyuki, and Servant souls began being absorbed by the Grail, the war would truly commence.
But this was a secret. Foreign Masters wouldn't know.
Meaning: it was entirely possible for Servants to encounter Arthur before the official start—and instinctively start fighting. But a fight now, before the ritual was fully active, would be meaningless. Worse, the whole Grail War could collapse if a participant dropped out prematurely.
And thus, the current problem.
"Let go, you old bug. Do you really want a guided tour of the underworld?"
"No! Your Majesty, please! This is for your own good! A Master-Servant pair may already be in Fuyuki. It's no longer safe for you to be running around like last year!"
"Get out."
Arthur's eye twitched. He desperately tried to dislodge the old man clinging to his leg like a human barnacle, revulsion etched across his face.
One had to admit, for an immortal who'd lived five centuries, Matou Zouken's obsession was something else. Even after being kicked three times, he refused to let go. His skeletal fingers clung to Arthur's thigh with the desperation of a dying man.
The worst part?
That disgusting smile.
It made Arthur physically recoil.
"Let me go!"
Left with no other choice, Arthur used his supernatural powers.
The moment Zouken's hands finally unclasped, Arthur bolted from the Matou mansion, leaving the matter behind.
"Y—Your Majesty!"
Zouken's anguished cry echoed after him.
A cry full of heartbreak and despair.
From his vantage point in the hallway, Matou Kariya watched the whole scene with a smirk twitching on his lips.
Finally. Now you know what it feels like.
"What are you smiling at, you useless disgrace! Didn't I tell you last night to stop His Majesty from going out? And now you just stand there—!"
Zouken glared, eyes gleaming with fury.
"If anything happens to His Majesty, you're getting thrown into the worm pit!"
"His Majesty will be fine. He promised me he'd win the Holy Grail War." Matou Kariya retorted coldly, positioning himself in front of Sakura protectively. "Also, don't even think about touching Sakura. Try anything, and I'll report it all to His Majesty."
Yes, Arthur had officially taken Matou Kariya and Sakura under his protection.
After all, he couldn't keep Sakura by his side 24/7.
Zouken had indeed been charmed—but charm wasn't hypnosis. It didn't override free will. The old worm now obeyed Arthur's orders and catered to his whims, but that didn't mean he wasn't still scheming.
Even now, Zouken didn't care about losing this war—as long as Arthur was pleased.
But that didn't mean he wasn't already planning for the next one.
Which meant... Sakura remained a potential target.
"…Tch. If you applied half your cleverness to your magecraft, I wouldn't need to torment a little girl." Zouken sneered, shooting Kariya a withering look before turning and walking deeper into the mansion.
Having finally escaped the old worm's clutches, Arthur made his way to Fuyuki's New City.
The city straddled a river that split it in two.
To the west: Miyama, the old town, its streets lined with vintage homes from decades past.
To the east: Shinto, the bustling new district built in recent years—home to shopping malls, arcades, and countless modern amusements.
All the fun stuff was in Shinto. But getting there always meant crossing the river, which wasted precious time. So Arthur often just stayed in the new city for days at a stretch, ignoring the Matou residence entirely.
There were times when Zouken nearly forgot he had a Servant. (Which, ironically, was true.)
But today... a small issue cropped up.
"…I forgot my wallet."
Arthur stood at the convenience store cashier, flashing his most awkwardly polite smile. Between being chased out of the house and evading a slime-like elder magus, checking his pockets hadn't been a priority. His wallet was probably still with Kariya.
The cashier glared at him, eyes full of disdain.
Okay, Arthur thought. If this doesn't work... I could always try seduction?
Sure, charming someone into giving him a bottle of soda was kind of pathetic—but better that than dealing with the authorities over an unpaid drink.
Just as he reached to pull back his hood and unleash the full power of his looks—
A pale hand reached out from behind him.
"I'll take care of it. It's just a bottle of soda."
Arthur blinked, startled.
Turning around, he saw a woman with a soft smile—and a little black-haired girl sticking out her tongue at him playfully.
Wait a second.
Tousaka Aoi… and Tousaka Rin?
Huh.
So that's her. Arthur gave a slight nod to himself. Good looks, gentle temperament... yeah, I can see why Kariya's into her.
He suddenly felt he understood Kariya a bit better.
"Oh. I'm sorry for the trouble, ma'am."
"It's quite alright. Everyone forgets things sometimes." Tousaka Aoi smiled kindly.
That should have been the end of the interaction.
They'd part ways. Maybe nod if they passed each other again.
But no—Rin Tousaka had other plans.
Before anyone could react, she sprang up and yanked down Arthur's hood.
"Rin! You can't do that! Apologize to the gentleman right now!"
"What?! He was hiding in broad daylight! What if he's some criminal on the run?!"
"What are you saying? How could someone like him—" Aoi paused mid-sentence.
She was staring.
"…Look at that face, Rin. How could someone this handsome be a bad guy?"
"…Mom, I think I've just found my life goal."
Both mother and daughter were blushing.
Arthur just stood there, stunned.
No, ma'am. There's something seriously wrong with you.
-End Chapter-
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