"Kaelith, how've you been lately? It's already been three years since you came to Tokyo—are you used to life here yet?"
It was a bright morning. The Sajyou family sat together at the dining table, quietly enjoying breakfast.
The man sitting at the head of the table and striking up a conversation with Kaelith was Sajyou Hiroki, a black mage.
He was the father of Sajyou Manaka and Sajyou Ayaka—yet despite his rather intimidating profession, he was simply a friendly, ordinary middle-aged man you could find anywhere.
The boy sitting at the far end swallowed the dumpling in his mouth and answered:
"Mm, I've gotten used to it. Thanks to Manaka and Miss Ayaka taking care of me… and to you as well, Lord Hiroki. I'm very grateful."
"You don't have to be so stiff. Just think of this as your home. Ayaka thinks the same, right?"
"...Mm."
Sitting directly across from Lorde, the younger daughter—who would enter middle school next year—gave a small nod.
At first glance, Ayaka looked like a quiet, soft-spoken, brunette girl.
However, that gentle, introverted demeanor was merely a façade she maintained in front of her beloved father and the elder sister she felt inferior to.
Whenever Hiroki and Manaka weren't around, Ayaka would instantly turn chatty, arrogant, and domineering.
It was as if her petite body housed both Sakura and Rin—two personalities she could switch between at the press of a button.
Hiroki took a sip of miso soup and smiled warmly.
"Speaking of which, Manaka is definitely going to get upset if she hears you call her by name again. How about this—feel free to call me 'Grandfather,' if you like."
"N-no, that's… hahaha…"
Since the day they met, Kaelith had become a foster child of the Sajyou family.
However, on paper he wasn't adopted by Hiroki, but by Manaka.
Kaelith never quite understood how a fourteen-year-old girl managed to adopt a foreign stranger with no identity background—only that she made a trip to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and the whole matter was somehow approved.
The other two members of the Sajyou family, Hiroki and Ayaka, had absolutely no objections to suddenly becoming his grandfather and aunt.
On this matter… it was best not to think too deeply.
Magic was just that convenient.
"I already heard you."
From the far end of the dining room came the slightly annoyed voice of a young girl.
Walking toward them was a girl with breathtaking beauty and brilliant golden hair.
Her petite frame was dressed in a maid-like house outfit. Her exposed skin was pale as snow, and below the short skirt stretched a pair of long legs wrapped in white thigh-high socks.
This was Kaelith's legal mother—Sajyou Manaka.
Due to the side effects of being swallowed and tainted by black mud, her body hadn't changed at all over the past three years.
Though she was already seventeen, she still had the physique—and openness—of an elementary schooler.
Standing next to Ayaka, who was in sixth grade, they looked almost like twins. In a few years, Ayaka might even look older.
Manaka placed a large stainless-steel bowl of broccoli salad in front of Lorde with a thud.
"Kaelith, eat this. You never eat your vegetables. As your mom, I'm very worried."
"Doesn't look as nutritious as dumplings…"
Not even glancing at the salad, Kaelith continued devouring his dumplings.
"Manaka, humans did not ascend to the throne of primates for the sake of eating plants," he said solemnly.
Arms akimbo, lips puffed out, Manaka huffed,
"If you're going to stay this stubborn, I'll use my own countermeasure—your allowance for the week is now gone."
Kaelith jolted upright instantly.
"Allowance… oh hell nah—please don't."
He obediently began consuming the mountain of salad in front of him.
"Fine, I'll eat it, okay?"
Ever since living with the Sajyou family, Kaelith had been collecting a weekly allowance of 1.5 million yen from Manaka—and spending every last bit within five days.
But he had his reasons.
The Lord said: Do not store up earthly treasure.
When false prosperity collapses into nothingness, the new millennium will dawn.
Wealth is the symbol of man's seven sins.
The filthy Golden Grail exists only to open Heaven's Gate.
Kaelith was the larval form of Beast VI—no, not even a larva. He was merely an insect, a pre-larval creature.
As the proto-form of the seven-headed, ten-horned Red Dragon, he fought every moment against the impulse to evolve.
To kill, to devour souls, to evolve into a complete form, to destroy the world—
To suppress that seething, monstrous desire, Kaelith lived like a Roman tyrant.
Nightclubs, bars, horse racing tracks, pachinko parlors.
Looking back, his life in Tokyo wasn't "debauched every night," but rather "eat, drink, gamble, indulge—repeat."
Through this lifestyle, he barely managed to suppress the "sin of gluttony." In a twisted way, he was even protecting humankind.
But such days would end today.
He was about to participate in the Fourth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki.
Not for the Grail—not for any wish.
Just for fun.
A beast of the Apocalypse choosing to live in modern society—as a professional troll.
"I'm heading to Fuyuki today to make some last preparations for the Holy Grail War," Kaelith said.
Manaka immediately looked gloomy.
"Eh? Why didn't you say so earlier? If you told me earlier, I could've made you a bento."
That's exactly why I waited until this morning, Kaelith grumbled inwardly.
"A bento made by 'mom'… what am I, a grade-schooler on a field trip?"
"Kaelith!! Did you just call me 'mom'!?"
Manaka's eyes sparkled as she grabbed his arm and shook him vigorously.
"Nope. You misheard."
"I did NOT mishear! Manaka heard it loud and clear!"
"I didn't say 'mama,' I said Mara."
"...Lewd."
Ayaka, who had been eating quietly this whole time, suddenly turned red.
(Note: "Mara" in Japanese is slang for the male's penis.)
Manaka puffed up her cheeks again, louder this time:
"Not Mara—Mama! I heard it perfectly!"
"...Ahaha…"
Seeing his daughter shouting indecent words so early in the morning, Hiroki could only give a wry smile.
Her little sister kept her head down, face burning red.
The dining room atmosphere instantly became awkward.
Kaelith frowned and muttered under his breath, "So noisy… annoying woman…"
"Uu… Kaelith is so mean… Mama is heartbroken…"
Manaka pouted in frustration.
Kaelith set down his chopsticks and pressed his palms together.
"I'm done. Thanks for the meal."
Hiroki looked up.
"Oh right, Kaelith—since you're going to Fuyuki, say hello to Mr. Matou for me."
"Understood, Lord Hiroki."
Kaelith stood up, glanced at Manaka who was still sulking, and placed a hand gently on her golden hair.
"...Hmph."
Eyes half-closed, cheeks puffed, Manaka grumbled softly.
"If you think Manaka is that easy to coax, you're—"
"I'll be back before dinner tomorrow."
Kaelith paused, then added,
"Also, I'm craving squirrel-shaped sweet-and-sour fish. Could I trouble you, Mother?"
"Of course… of course~! Leave it to Mama! Manaka will do her best!"
Too easy.