Morning sunlight streamed through the hotel window, gently illuminating Ren's sleeping face.
Normally he would have woken up by now. But after the chaos of last night's battle, Ren was completely exhausted. For once, he had no intention of getting up early.
The clock slowly crept toward 7:00 a.m.
Just then, a small portal quietly opened inside the room.
A little girl in a simple white dress stepped out and looked around. When her eyes landed on the still-sleeping Ren, she tilted her head slightly.
"Onii-san… wake up. Let's have breakfast," Sakura said softly.
Hearing her voice, Ren groggily opened his eyes.
His blurry vision slowly focused, revealing Sakura standing beside the bed in the warm morning light.
Still half asleep, Ren's mind produced a completely unreasonable thought.
'She looks comfortable to hold'
'Sleep first. Report later.'
Without another word, Ren suddenly reached out, grabbed Sakura, and pulled her into his arms.
"H-Hii!?" Sakura let out a small startled shriek.
But Ren had already closed his eyes again, clearly intending to continue sleeping.
Sakura froze at first, her face slightly red. Yet after a moment, she noticed something.
Ren's breathing was calm.
His embrace was warm.
And the soft morning sunlight streaming through the window made the entire room feel peaceful.
Her resistance slowly faded.
"…Just a little longer," she murmured.
Before long, Sakura also drifted back to sleep in Ren's arms.
About thirty minutes later, another portal opened in the room.
Aesc stepped out.
She paused the moment she saw the scene before her.
Ren was still sleeping soundly on the bed.
And Sakura was curled up in his arms, equally asleep.
Aesc's mouth twitched slightly.
"…Honestly."
'This brother and sister…'
Earlier, she and Sakura had been preparing breakfast while waiting for Ren to wake up. When he didn't show up, she asked Sakura to go call him.
But after half an hour passed and neither of them returned…
Aesc decided to come check herself.
And now she finally understood why.
The two of them looked far too comfortable.
For a brief moment, Aesc felt a faint trace of envy.
But that feeling quickly faded.
Her situation simply didn't allow for such peaceful moments.
Back in Britain, she had to deal with those troublesome, selfish fairies every single day.
Compared to that chaos…
This quiet scene almost felt like something from another world.
"Hey, you two. Wake up. Breakfast is ready."
"Eh—Onee-san?… I'm sorry. I fell asleep too," Sakura said softly as she slipped out of Ren's arms.
Ren rubbed his eyes and slowly sat up.
"Hmm… oh. Okay," he muttered lazily. "I'll come down in a bit."
Seeing that Ren was already awake, Aesc and Sakura decided to return first. A portal opened beside them, and the two stepped through it.
The room fell silent again once they left.
Ren stretched his arms before speaking casually.
"System. Sign in."
A mechanical notification echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, for signing in! You have received: SCP-662- Butler's Hand bell]
[Please choose whether to summon the SCP or receive its traits.]
Ren raised an eyebrow, clearly satisfied with the reward.
SCP-662 was an anomalous brass hand bell.
Whenever the bell was rung, it summoned a polite butler entity known as Mr. Deeds.
The well-dressed man would appear instantly and greet the user with perfect manners.
Mr. Deeds could accomplish almost any reasonable task requested of him.
He could retrieve objects, carry out errands, gather information, or perform complicated operations with remarkable efficiency. However, he would politely refuse requests that were completely impossible.
Once the task was finished, he would disappear until the bell was rung again.
Of course, Mr. Deeds was not an invincible existence.
He could be killed during dangerous assignments.
However, the anomaly ensured that he would revive the following day, returning with no memory of the task that caused his death.
As for his capabilities, Mr. Deeds possessed extraordinary physical conditioning—roughly comparable to a peak human like that Gotham-city bat guy.
He was proficient in numerous combat styles, infiltration, assassination, and intelligence gathering.
An extremely versatile operative.
In an ordinary world, someone like him would be an almost unsolvable existence.
Unfortunately for him…
This was not an ordinary world.
In this chaotic hodgepodge reality filled with magus, devils, angel, fallen angel, and other monsters, Mr. Deeds' overall combat ability would likely place him around the level of a mid-tier devil.
Even so, that was more than enough for many tasks.
Ren smiled slightly.
"Not bad."
Without hesitation, Ren then choose to summon the bell
Looking at the bell at his hand, he then toss it into his containment zone site-20, he can retrieve it when needed
==============
After breakfast, Ren suggested that the three of them go out and have some fun, while sakura happily accepted, Aesc Reject the offer
Aesc was completely captivated by Ren's Library, absorbed in the countless shelves of books that stretched far beyond what should have been possible inside a single room.
Ancient magical theories.
Records of anomalous entities.
Descriptions of cults that worshipped incomprehensible beings.
Some texts spoke of creatures capable of erasing entire civilizations. Others described anomalies that treated worlds as nothing more than insignificant specks.
The more Aesc read, the more complicated her expression became.
At first, she had believed her purpose was clear.
To save Britain.
To guide the land toward salvation.
But now…
If even a fraction of what these documents described was true…
Then the fate of Britain alone seemed painfully small.
Compared to the horrors recorded in Ren's archives, the destruction of a single kingdom would barely register as a tragedy.
'…This world is already far more fragile than I imagined.'
She want to read more books
If such dangers truly existed, then knowledge was the only thing that might allow her to face them.
Meanwhile, Ren and Sakura had already left the hotel.
"Well then," Ren said casually as they stepped onto the street. "Where should we go today?"
Sakura hesitated for a moment.
Her life until recently had been painfully small — the Tohsaka household had never allowed her the freedom to explore the city even her mom only brought her to the park to play, other than that basically she know nothing.
Seeing her unsure expression, Ren suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Oh, right."
He pointed toward a distant structure rising above the buildings.
A massive Ferris wheel slowly turned in the distance.
"…Let's go there."
Sakura blinked.
"Eh?"
=======
The amusement park was already lively when they arrived.
Children ran excitedly between rides while colorful music echoed through the air.
For Sakura, the entire place felt almost unreal.
She looked around with wide eyes.
"So many people…"
Ren watched her reaction with mild amusement.
"First time?"
Sakura nodded shyly.
"…Yes."
Ren scratched the back of his head.
"Then we should fix that."
And so their morning began.
They rode the Ferris wheel, slowly rising above the city as the entire skyline of Fuyuki spread out beneath them.
Sakura held the edge of the seat nervously at first, but when she looked out the window, her eyes sparkled.
"It's… beautiful."
Later they tried the carousel, which made Sakura laugh softly despite her initial embarrassment.
Then came the game stalls.
Ren, naturally, cheated.
Subtly.
A tiny distortion of probability ensured that the ring toss landed perfectly around the prize bottle.
Within minutes, Ren had won a small plush toy shaped like a white rabbit.
He handed it to Sakura.
"For you."
Sakura looked at the plushie for a moment before hugging it gently.
"…Thank you, Onii-san."
By the time noon arrived, Sakura's earlier nervousness had completely faded.
For the first time in a long while, she looked genuinely happy.
======
Afternoon — Riverside Park
After leaving the amusement park, the two continued walking through the city until they eventually reached the riverside promenade.
The afternoon sun hung warmly in the sky as a cool breeze drifted across the water.
A nearby park stretched along the riverbank, filled with trees and open grass.
Ren sat down on a wooden bench beneath one of the larger trees.
Not long after, a black cat casually wandered over and jumped onto the bench beside him as if it had always belonged there.
Ren glanced at it.
The cat stared back.
"…You look like you've lived through several wars," Ren muttered.
The cat blinked slowly.
Ren shrugged and began absentmindedly patting its head.
The cat seemed perfectly satisfied with the technique of this poop-scooper.
A short distance away, Sakura crouched near an open patch of grass.
She held a small bag of bird feed Ren had bought earlier.
A group of pigeons had quickly gathered around her feet, cooing softly as they pecked at the scattered grains.
Sakura giggled quietly as one particularly brave pigeon hopped closer.
"Slow down… there's enough for everyone."
Watching the scene from the bench, Ren leaned back slightly.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves above him, casting soft shifting shadows across the ground.
For a moment, the chaos of the Holy Grail War felt incredibly far away.
The quiet afternoon breeze drifted across the riverside park.
Then Ren suddenly opened one eye.
Two figures were walking along the riverside path.
One was a tall woman with long, pure white hair flowing down her back, dressed in an elegant white coat.
Beside her walked a blonde woman wearing a neatly tailored black suit, her posture straight and dignified.
Even without armor, the aura around her was unmistakable
Ren immediately recognized her.
Meanwhile, Irisviel had also noticed Sakura feeding the pigeons.
Her red eyes brightened slightly.
"Oh my… how adorable."
Saber followed her gaze, silently observing the small scene.
Her expression remained calm.
Two civilians.
A young man sitting on a bench.
A girl feeding birds.
She had met them once before—at the restaurant.
Saber's gaze lingered briefly on the girl.
The child's mana, which had been unstable before, was now flowing far more smoothly. It was clear she had learned to control it properly.
Then her attention shifted to the young man beside her.
At first glance, he looked completely ordinary.
Just a normal young man sitting quietly on a bench.
Yet something about him felt strangely unsettling.
Now that she was seeing him up close, Saber's instincts were quietly warning her.
But no matter how carefully she observed him…
What stood before her appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary young man.
"…Irisviel," Saber said quietly.
"I know," Irisviel replied with a gentle smile.
Ignoring Saber's subtle warning, Irisviel approached.
Sakura noticed them first.
She stood up quickly as the pigeons scattered.
"Ah—hello."
"Good afternoon," Irisviel said warmly.
Her voice was soft and elegant.
Ren glanced over from the bench, still lazily petting the black cat.
"Afternoon," he replied casually.
Irisviel looked at the scene with clear amusement.
"You seem very relaxed."
Ren shrugged.
"Nice weather."
Saber quietly studied him.
Most civilians unconsciously reacted to the presence of a Servant.
Even when she hid her armor and magical aura, people still felt a vague sense of pressure.
Yet this young man looked completely unfazed.
If anything, he looked slightly bored.
Saber's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You appear unusually calm."
Ren looked at her.
"I try."
Before the conversation could continue, Sakura suddenly ran over from the grass.
"Onii-san!"
She stopped beside Ren, slightly out of breath.
Then she looked curiously toward Irisviel.
Her eyes sparkled.
"Onii-san, who is this beautiful sister?"
Ren blinked.
Irisviel let out a soft laugh.
"Oh my."
Saber's attention shifted to Sakura.
And then she froze.
Her eyes immediately locked onto Sakura's hand.
There, clearly visible on the back of her hand—
Command Spells.
Saber's gaze instantly sharpened.
A Master.
Irisviel also noticed it.
Her expression remained gentle, but her eyes became cautious.
Sakura blinked in confusion at their sudden change in mood.
Ren noticed it too.
His gaze followed their line of sight.
Down.
To Sakura's hand.
"…Ah."
Ren immediately facepalmed.
'Right.'
He had completely forgotten to ask Sakura to wear her gloves.
Sakura tilted her head slightly.
"Onii-san…?"
Ren sighed.
"Well… this is awkward."
Saber had already taken a half step forward, subtly positioning herself between Irisviel and the others.
Her voice was calm, but her tone carried unmistakable seriousness.
"…You are a Master."
Sakura froze.
Ren slowly lowered his hand from his face.
"…Technically, yes."
The peaceful afternoon atmosphere suddenly became much more tense.
"There's no need to be so tense. Relax," Ren said calmly as he lifted Sakura into his arms."It's still afternoon. If you want to fight, we can always do it tonight."
He casually patted Sakura's head before continuing.
"Besides, my Master has no interest in the Holy Grail."
Sakura blinked in confusion and looked up at Ren.
'Since when did I become Onii-san's Master?'
Wasn't Aesc supposed to be the Servant she summoned?
The thought briefly crossed her mind, but Sakura didn't question it out loud.
She already trusted Ren completely.
So whatever he was planning… she simply nodded quietly in agreement.
"Then you are…?" Saber asked, her gaze sharp.
Ren smiled slightly.
"Well, its nice to see you again."
With a soft ripple of space, his outfit suddenly shifted.
The casual clothes he wore vanished, replaced by the elaborate suits of his previous caster-like attire, the fabric fluttering lightly in the afternoon breeze.
Ren gave a small, playful bow.
"I'm just a passing Kamen- Oh I mean magician."
Saber studied Ren silently.
"…So it's you."
Her voice was calm, but her eyes remained sharp.
Ren looked up from the bench, still lazily petting the black cat.
"Yes, This lovely knight and her master. We meet again."
Irisviel smiled faintly as she observed the two of them.
Sakura tugged slightly on Ren's sleeve.
"Onii-san… are they also master and servant that you were talking about before?"
Ren glanced down at her.
"…Something like that."
Saber's gaze briefly moved toward Sakura again.
The Command Spells on her hand were undeniable.
Which meant the young man in front of them was almost certainly her Servant.
Yet something about him still felt… strange.
Even now, his presence did not resemble that of any Servant she had ever encountered.
Before Saber could question him further—
The wind suddenly changed.
A cold mist slowly began creeping across the riverside park.
Ren noticed it immediately.
"…Huh."
The peaceful afternoon atmosphere vanished almost instantly.
The pigeons scattered into the sky.
Even the black cat on the bench leapt away and disappeared between the trees.
Saber's expression hardened.
"Irisviel. Stay behind me."
The fog thickened.
And then—
A voice echoed through the mist.
A hoarse, distorted laugh.
"Hehehe… hehehehehe…"
The laughter grew louder.
"Ahh… what a miracle… what a miracle!"
a hunchbacked figure slowly emerged from the fog.
His long blue cloak dragged across the ground, his pale face twisted with manic excitement.
Gilles de Rais.
His eyes locked onto Saber.
For a moment—
He froze.
Then his entire body trembled violently.
"Jeanne…!"
His voice cracked with overwhelming emotion.
"Jeanne… Jeanne… Jeanne!"
Gilles stumbled forward, staring at Saber with worshipful madness.
"I have searched… I have searched for you everywhere!"
Saber's expression immediately darkened.
"…You are mistaken."
But Gilles paid no attention.
Tears streamed down his face as he laughed.
"The Lord has shown mercy! He has returned you to me!"
His voice grew louder, more unhinged.
"My saint… my holy maiden… my Jeanne d'Arc!"
Saber's patience snapped.
"I said you are mistaken."
Invisible armor materialized around her body in a flash of magical energy.
"I am Artoria Pendragon, King of Knights."
Gilles froze.
For a brief moment confusion flickered across his twisted face.
Then he shook his head violently.
"No… no… no…"
"You must not deny it!"
His voice rose into hysterical laughter.
"Even if the world denies it… even if you deny it…"
"I know the truth!"
Meanwhile, Ren stared at the scene with a puzzled expression.
"…Wait."
He scratched the back of his head.
Something about this situation didn't add up.
Ren looked at Sakura.
Then at Saber.
Then back at the lunatic priest screaming about Jeanne.
"…Hold on."
His brows furrowed slightly.
Wasn't Caster already summoned?
Sakura had summoned Aesc.
Which meant the Caster class slot should already be taken.
So why—
Ren looked back at Gilles.
"…Why is there another Caster here?"