In Naoki's room.
Withdrawing her hand from the forehead of Naoki, who lay on the bed, Merry looked at the tense faces in the room, then smiled and shook her head. "Naoki's fine. He's just sleeping."
"What the heck… Don't scare us like that?!"
Aoko and the others, hearts pounding, let out sighs of relief.
When they heard Merry and the others shouting outside earlier, they thought Naoki had been cursed again, and in their panic, they nearly dragged Merry out to beat her.
Thankfully, Naoki was only sleeping.
"But why did Brother suddenly fall asleep?" Gray asked, confused. "Did he not get enough rest last night?"
As soon as she said that, everyone in the room simultaneously turned their gazes to Aoko and Riddell. If anyone could have kept Naoki from resting enough last night, it would be these two women who had "shared his bed." Women in their thirties surely knew what that implied.
Under those stares, both hurriedly shook their heads like rattles.
"Though I'd love to say it was my doing, exhausting him to the point of sleeping soundly the next day—I really don't have that kind of ability." Aoko said reluctantly. "Rather than us wearing him out until he can't get up, it's more likely he'd be the one leaving us unable to get up. Right, Riddell?"
"That's true. Back when I slept with him at the hotel, I didn't wake up until noon the next day."
To exhaust Naoki in that regard, to the point of sleeping soundly in broad daylight, it would take at least four or five more Aokos and Riddells. Just the two of them wouldn't stand a chance.
Hearing their words, several others unconsciously glanced at Naoki's lower abdomen.
He's that strong?
"I didn't expect this kid to be so bold." Morgan said with a smirk. "I wonder who's more impressive compared to Lia that night?"
"Lia that night?"
The room's attention shifted again. Those present knew a bit about the legend of King Arthur. Regarding Artoria and Morgan, it seemed Morgan had given Artoria a gender-altering potion in the legend, so…
"Ahem, ahem!"
Feeling embarrassed under everyone's gazes, Artoria quickly coughed twice and said with forced calm, "Now's not the time to talk about me. The important thing is Master's condition and why he suddenly fell into a deep sleep."
"It's got to be this Incubus's doing again, right?" Shiki, leaning against the wall, suddenly spoke up. "Isn't she the expert in that area?"
"This time, I swear on the heavens, it wasn't me. I'm completely innocent." Merry said, raising her hands in surrender.
But her straightforward denial made some suspicious—this repeat offender was so certain it wasn't her, which made it highly likely she was the culprit. Even if it wasn't her, given her track record, they couldn't help but suspect it was her doing.
After exchanging glances, Artoria approached Merry first. "Merry, regardless, you've…"
"It seems my other self acted rather quickly."
At that moment, Rei's voice suddenly came from the doorway.
Merry and Gray immediately frowned.
"Sister Rei, did you just say 'your other self'?"
"Sounds like Manaka-chan is up to naughty things again?"
Seeing the increasingly suspicious looks, Rei sighed slightly. "Regarding Master's safety, you don't need to worry at all. I can guarantee that. As for my other self's intentions, I can explain directly to all of you—it's absolutely not something harmful to Master."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
A pitch-black space.
As Naoki's feet touched the ground, ripples spread from his soles. At the farthest reach of those ripples, a figure stood.
Sighing, Naoki looked at the figure. "Should I call this routine? I thought after years together, you'd finally turned good… So, what do you want to do this time, Manaka?"
"Nothing, Naoki."
Manaka smiled and shook her head.
"I just want your help."
"My help? By the way, your way of addressing me… you're not calling me 'vixen' anymore?"
In their ten years of acquaintance, this seemed to be the first time Manaka had called him by his name. She used to always call him 'vixen' or add various prefixes if there was a distinction.
Not this time?
"You—"
"My perspective on you has changed a bit. After all, we've known each other for ten years… Or do you prefer I call you vixen?"
After a brief pause, Naoki smiled and shrugged. "Call me whatever you want, I don't care. It's just that you suddenly changed how you address me—I'm not used to it. So, what help do you need?"
"It's simple, and something you've always wanted to do. For you, it'll only take a little effort."
Manaka approached Naoki, took his hand, and placed it on her chest. "It should've been twenty years ago, by my count. Twenty years ago, in Tokyo's underground, the Prince… Saber killed me, stabbed me from behind with his sword."
"This time, can you do it?"
"Huh?"
(What's she saying?)
Naoki couldn't quite grasp Manaka's meaning. She wanted him to do it this time? Do what?
*BUZZ!*
Light particles gathered in Naoki's hand, and the Holy Star Sword automatically appeared in his grip.
Manaka couldn't hold back a laugh. "Looks like it's eager too. Hmm, I'll say it directly. Earlier, I asked my other self to slightly manipulate your consciousness during the Mana transfer—let's call it setting up a ritual. To keep you unaware, it was done in parts."
"The ritual's effect is that after the Holy Grail War ends, your consciousness will connect to mine, and to a certain extent, it will trigger my ability. Of course, the triggered ability might only be about a thousandth of its full power, so you don't need to worry about it affecting the outside world, because before that happens, it'll be completely destroyed."
"By you."
Stepping back two paces, Manaka grasped the tip of the Holy Sword and plunged it into her chest.
"You once said I'd be killed by you. Now it's your turn to fulfill that promise."
"This time, I hope you can kill me from the front, my Prince."
"Manaka, you—"
Naoki wanted to ask—this was too strange. Suddenly wanting him to kill her? Since when did Manaka become someone who sought death like this? Something was definitely off!
But before he could ask, a thick black wave suddenly burst from Manaka's chest where the Holy Sword pierced her. In an instant, Naoki, standing so close, was engulfed in it!
"Ugh… Manaka, what exactly are you trying to do… Manaka—!"