Late at night.
Lin Jiuan lay on the large bed in the Tohsaka guest room, staring blankly at the pure white ceiling.
"I didn't expect it to go so smoothly."
Lin Jiuan was a transmigrator. He had been unceremoniously sent to the Type-Moon world by a freight truck and ended up as the Sixth Beast within the Greater Grail of Fuyuki.
To avoid the fate of being devoured by his "mother" and then hunted across the world by that scumbag Proto-Arthur, Lin Jiuan had forcibly separated himself from the Greater Grail. He then assumed a human form and hid his way to Fuyuki.
Although separating from the Greater Grail meant losing an early-stage, rapid-growth source of magical energy, Lin Jiuan felt that running away was far more cost-effective than being tricked and then killed by his foolish mother and scumbag father. Besides, the Authority of the Sixth Beast was no joke.
"System," he called out softly in his sea of consciousness.
A virtual screen that only he could see appeared before his eyes. To make it easier to understand, Lin Jiuan had used knowledge from his past life to manifest his Authority as a system. The system's general function was: [As long as you cause Heroic Spirits and specific targets to 'Fall', you will receive rewards.]
This was precisely why Lin Jiuan had fled to Fuyuki. Aoko and Alice were too far away, and Lin Jiuan was unsure of the current timeline. It would be a disaster if he went there and they weren't around. More importantly, Lin Jiuan worried that those overpowered main characters might see through his identity as the 'Sixth Beast' at a glance and strangle him, a being of innate evil, in the cradle.
In comparison, Fuyuki was much more cost-effective. The Fourth Holy Grail War hadn't started yet. Rin, the future protagonist, was just a clumsy child, and even as an adult, her power wasn't as ridiculous as Aoko's. Emiya Shirou wasn't even on the map yet. As long as he developed steadily, when the Fifth Holy Grail War began, wouldn't he, the Sixth Beast who knew the plot, be able to dominate everything?
Artoria, Medea, Medusa... They'll all be mine! Mine!
The more Lin Jiuan thought about it, the more excited he became. He could feel the Authority of Desire and Depravity within him thrumming, already eager to 'forcefully corrupt' those female Servants, making them willingly serve him and be used by him.
Tap, tap.
A sudden knock echoed on the door. Lin Jiuan jumped, snapping out of his wicked thoughts. He adopted a drowsy tone, as if he were just about to fall asleep.
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
Aoi Tohsaka's voice came from outside the door.
A short while ago.
After helping Lin Jiuan with his bath, Aoi returned to her own bedroom. The double bed was empty. Ever since Aoi had given birth to Sakura, Tokiomi had moved into his study and had never shared a bed with her again. Aoi was long used to it, yet a flicker of loneliness still crossed her eyes. She was a woman, too. No matter how considerate she was of her husband, she had her own needs.
With a sigh, Aoi got into bed and turned off the light. Though lonely, she had grown accustomed to this life and should have been able to fall asleep quickly. But today, her mind was uncontrollably filled with wandering thoughts. The more she thought, the hotter and more restless her body became. She unconsciously slipped her hand from on top of the covers to underneath them.
After a short while, Aoi opened her eyes, the restlessness in them now even stronger. It was no use. It didn't help at all.
After a long hesitation, Aoi turned on the bedside lamp, got up, and straightened her messy nightgown. She left the bedroom and walked toward her husband's study. Reaching the door, she could see the light on through the crack. She knocked softly.
"Come in."
Aoi pushed the door open and saw Tokiomi sitting at his desk.
"Aoi?" Tokiomi looked up at his wife in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Tokiomi, I'm sorry about this afternoon."
Tokiomi paused, then realized she was talking about their argument over whether to adopt Lin Jiuan.
"It's nothing," he said. Although this afternoon's events had displeased him, he acknowledged his wife's years of devotion and obedience. She had, after all, given him Rin and Sakura, two daughters whose bloodlines were so outstanding that he, as their father, felt both joy and concern.
But as for that boy... The image of him resurfaced in Tokiomi's mind, and he couldn't help but frown. He still detested that boy. However, he was currently busy preparing for the Grail War and didn't want to clash with his wife over this matter again. He silently decided that once the Holy Grail War was over, he would arrange to have him sent away. For now, the Grail was the priority.
"Is there anything else?" he asked.
Aoi pressed her lips together, mustering her courage. She took a step forward and placed a hand on Tokiomi's shoulder. "Tokiomi, we haven't... been together... for a long time."
Together? Together for what? Tokiomi was momentarily confused. He turned his head and saw the look of longing and shyness in Aoi's eyes, and only then did he understand.
His brow furrowed. "Aoi," he chided, his voice full of disapproval. "We are magi, not ignorant, ordinary people."
His wife was good in every way, except that her family had fallen so far that it had lost its magecraft lineage. In many ways, she was too much like a mortal. As a magus, he had higher pursuits. He had only married Aoi to produce heirs and continue his bloodline. Now that Rin and Sakura were born, all his remaining time should be dedicated to the pursuit of magecraft. How could he possibly waste time on such a dull, ambitionless activity?
Aoi pulled her hand back, clutching it to her chest. The look of anticipation on her face quickly turned to panic and the timidity of a child who had done something wrong. "I-I'm sorry."
Seeing his wife's pitiful expression, Tokiomi's frown gradually softened, and his tone eased slightly. "Let's not talk about these things for now. I want to focus solely on the Holy Grail War. Whether it's about that boy or your... matters, we'll discuss everything after the war is over."
"Yes, I understand."
Aoi lowered her head and fled the study. She walked a long way down the hall before finally leaning against the wall, her hands pressed painfully against her chest. She knew and understood her husband's ambitions, but the rejection still hurt so much.
Walking aimlessly toward her bedroom, she found herself, upon returning to her senses, standing before Lin Jiuan's door.
Should I check on him? He must be having a hard time adjusting to a new environment for the first time. And... if I'm with a child, I won't have so many filthy desires, right?
With her mind in a jumble, Aoi found herself, as if guided by a phantom, knocking softly on Lin Jiuan's door.
"Jiuan, are you asleep yet?"
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