[Kenji Sato (MC) POV]
The next morning, I woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed. I spent a few minutes cleaning up the stray feathers scattered across my bedroom floor from last night's pillow fight, then made my way downstairs. The mansion was quiet; Arthur was either still asleep or doing some kind of silent Servant meditation somewhere.
I headed into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Surprisingly, it was decently stocked—Arthur must have picked up groceries during his 'tactical assessment' of the area. Finding bacon, eggs, sausages, and some baked beans, I decided to put my Level 1 Cooking skill to work and whip up a traditional English breakfast. If I was living with the King of Knights, it only seemed fitting.
As the bacon sizzled in the pan, I sat down at the kitchen island and opened the system interface, navigating to the group chat. I had notifications waiting from Subaru and Saki.
[Group Chat]
[Subaru: MAN!!! I rolled my 10x gacha and got some decent skills, BUT NOTHING BUFFED MY CHARISMA!!! Do you know how hard it is to get people to like you in this world?!]
[Subaru: I did get a really sick sword though. And this crazy magic skill.]
[Kenji: What kind of magic?]
[Subaru: It says it's an attack that bypasses all natural and unnatural phenomena. It can literally surpass and grow beyond the very fabric of concepts or something like that.]
I stared at the glowing screen, blinking slowly. My heart skipped a beat. A conceptual, reality-breaking, unblockable attack? Giving an ability like that to Subaru was literally like handing a demon core to a toddler. It was terrifyingly overpowered. I just had to pray he didn't accidentally erase his own timeline trying to show it off.
[Kenji: ...Please do not use that unless you absolutely have to. Saki, what did you get?]
[Saki: I got a creature called a Digimon! His name is Terriermon and he's super cute!]
I let out a sigh. A part of me was genuinely glad she got something so reliable and comforting to protect her, but another part of me was incredibly salty. I had always wanted a Digimon.
[Saki: I did get some other things too... but mostly it was just useless boy stuff.]
[Kenji: What kind of boy stuff?]
[Saki: Lewd mangas. Like, a whole stack of them. I don't even know what to do with them.]
I felt a twinge of pity for her getting literal gacha trash for survival, though I couldn't deny I was secretly a little curious about what titles the system deemed 'reward worthy'.
[Kenji: That's rough. Just throw them in your inventory and forget about them. I ended up getting a Lightning God Form that makes me crazy fast, some utility passives, and an item that bumped my mana up to a B-grade.]
I was about to type out a complaint about my Evil Attraction skill when I suddenly paused.
I reached out to grab my mug of water, but my eyes locked onto the back of my right hand. I froze, the blood draining from my face.
There, etched directly into my skin, was a series of intricate, blood-red tattoos. It looked like three distinct brush strokes forming a crest.
Command Spells. The undeniable marking of a Master in the Holy Grail War.
Panic flared in my chest for a split second.
I quickly dismissed the chat window and opened my inventory, selecting the random Servant catalyst I had saved up. A flash of light materialized the item into my hands.
I stared at it. It was... a block of tofu.
"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered, poking the squishy, white cube. But the system wouldn't lie to me. It had heavy magical energy radiating from it. I placed the tofu on the kitchen island, took a few steps back, and held out my right hand, focusing the new B-grade mana flowing through my circuits.
"Let silver and steel be the essence. Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation..." I began chanting, letting the magical energy pull the words from my mind.
Footsteps hurried down the stairs. Arthur walked into the kitchen, his eyes instantly locking onto the glowing red Command Spells on the back of my hand. Surprise flashed across his face, but as the ambient mana in the room spiked, his expression shifted to absolute seriousness. He didn't interrupt the chant. Instead, he stepped to the side, invisible wind swirling around his hands as he readied his unseen sword, prepared to defend me in case the summoned Servant turned out to be hostile.
"...Let the four cardinal gates close. Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate!"
The block of tofu glowed with a blinding, pure light. A gust of wind blew through the kitchen, rattling the pots and pans. When the light finally faded, a figure stood in the center of the room.
She wore dark, battle-worn armor and carried a long, menacing spear. Pale blonde hair framed her face, and her eyes burned with an intense, quiet resolve.
"Servant, Lancer," she declared, her voice firm and unwavering. "My name is Jeanne d'Arc. I ask of you, are you my Master?"
I stood there, completely stunned. Jeanne d'Arc? Lancer class? I recognized her design instantly—this wasn't the standard Ruler version, this was the lancer Jeanne from Fate/Samurai Remnant.
Before I could even process my luck, Jeanne's eyes darted past me, locking onto Arthur. Recognizing the presence of another Servant in the room, her instincts immediately kicked in.
In a blur of motion, she lunged forward. Her lance thrust toward Arthur with deadly speed. A loud CLANG echoed through the kitchen as Arthur brought up his invisible sword to block the strike, his boots sliding back an inch against the floorboards.
Instantly, Jeanne vaulted backward, positioning herself firmly between me and the King of Knights, gripping her lance tightly to protect her new Master.
Arthur tightened his grip on his weapon, and I panicked.
"Wait!" Arthur and I both shouted at the exact same time.
Jeanne froze instantly, the tip of her lance halting just inches from Arthur's invisible blade. She glanced back at me, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Master?" she asked, her guard still up. "This is an enemy Servant. Why do you bid me to stop?"
"He's an ally," I quickly explained, stepping out from behind her. "Arthur isn't an average Servant in this war. We're living together right now, and he's currently hunting down Angra Mainyu."
At the mention of Angra Mainyu, Jeanne's eyes widened slightly. She lowered her lance, the tension bleeding out of her shoulders as she fully materialized her weapon away. She bowed her head deeply.
"I see. Forgive me, Master," Jeanne said, her tone filled with sincere remorse. "I acted out of turn. I apologize for being a problem to you so soon after my summoning."
I couldn't help but stand a little taller. Having a legendary saint humbly apologize to me was quite a massive boost to my ego.
A blue screen quietly popped up in my peripheral vision.
[Achievement Unlocked: First Summon]
[Reward: 3x Gacha Spins]
I swiped the notification away for later, turning my attention back to the kitchen. The smell of burning bacon suddenly hit my nose, and I rushed over to turn off the stove before my breakfast was completely ruined.
Arthur let out a relieved sigh, letting his own sword vanish. He offered Jeanne a polite, diplomatic smile.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lancer," Arthur said warmly. "Could we perhaps sit down in the living room and talk? We have much to discuss regarding the state of the city and the corruption."
Jeanne didn't even look at him. "I must decline. I exist only to serve and obey my Master. I will not engage in pleasantries without his explicit command."
Arthur blinked, looking slightly awkward as he glanced over at me.
"It's fine, Jeanne," I told her as I plated the food. "Go ahead and talk with Arthur. I want you two to get along."
Jeanne immediately bowed her head. "As you wish, Master."
She turned and walked into the living room, though instead of taking one of the armchairs, she sat down on the sofa, choosing the spot closest to where I would be sitting.
Arthur leaned forward in his armchair, voice dropping to a serious tone. "The city's a mess. I've been tracking the corruption spreading from the Grail's core, and it's worse than I expected. Multiple Servants have been summoned, but they're not following the normal rules. Some are warped—twisted by the mud before they even manifested."
Jeanne nodded beside me, her gaze fixed on Arthur, absorbing every word. "And the Grail itself?"
"Still somewhere around the central district," Arthur replied. "But its influence is everywhere. I've found traces of something older than the ritual clinging to the ley lines. Whatever Angra Mainyu touched, it woke up something that should have stayed asleep."
I tuned them out for a moment, my finger hovering over the system screen. Three gacha orbs glowed softly, waiting for me to claim their contents. I tapped the first one.
[Gate of Death (G.O.D)] — A personal vault of cursed armaments born from a connection to death itself. Unlike the treasury of the King of Heroes, this Gate is not inherited from an ancient dynasty. It is yours alone. However, the vault is currently empty—you must personally collect, store, and attune weapons to the concept of mortality before they can be deployed. Weapons stored within gain death-aspected properties over time: blades that rust flesh, arrows that seek life's weakest seam, relics that drain vitality. Each weapon becomes a reflection of endings.
I stared at the screen, my excitement deflating slightly. So I had a legendary treasury... with nothing in it. Great. I had to actually go out and *find* weapons to fill my super cool death vault. It was like getting a Ferrari with no gas.
Still, the potential was there. I just needed to start collecting.
I tapped the second orb.
[Gem Creation] — hlCrystallise ambient mana into magical gems. Purity depends on patience and mana density. Gems can be traded, infused into equipment, or detonated in a pinch.
Now that was immediately useful. I could start producing gems right away and stockpile resources.
The third orb pulsed with warm golden light.
[Sun Kissed Technique] — When positioned at the exact angle with the sun casting a dramatic backlight behind you, your charisma is temporarily tripled. The effect requires conscious awareness of the angle and a deliberate pose. Recommended usage: first appearance in a new area, confrontations with enemies who underestimate you, or whenever you want to look incredibly cool.
I bit my lip to stop myself from grinning. This was the most ridiculous power-up I'd ever seen—and also the most perfect.
"Heh... guess I learned from Piccolo?" I muttered under my breath, barely audible.
Across the coffee table, Arthur stopped talking mid-sentence. He turned his head slowly, confusion flickering across his face. "Kenji? What are you saying?"
My blood ran cold. Jeanne's eyes snapped toward me, her hand twitching instinctively toward me. She was ready to eliminate any threat her Master mentioned—even one named Piccolo.
"Nothing!" I blurted out, waving my hands frantically. "I'm good! Just—uh—thinking about the bacon. You know, crispy. Good bacon. Very crispy. Continue the briefing, Arthur! Corruption, ley lines, fascinating stuff!"
Arthur stared at me for a long beat, then sighed and shook his head. "...Right. As I was saying, the eastern district is relatively safe for now, but—"
I exhaled silently and shoved another forkful of food into my food.
Arthur finished his briefing with a firm nod, summarizing the danger zones. He stood up from his chair, his expression shifting to something warmer.
"Now that the business is out of the way," Arthur said, walking toward me, "I'd like to establish a basic magical connection with you."
Before he could get within arm's reach, Jeanne stood up, stepping directly between us. Her eyes locked onto Arthur, sharp and unyielding.
"Halt," Jeanne commanded, her voice cold. "You shall not touch my Master. Step back, Saber."
Arthur stopped, blinking in confusion. "Lancer, what is the meaning of this? I'm just trying to form a familiar link."
"I forbid it," she replied flatly, her grip tightening on an invisible weapon. "His safety and his soul are my domain. You are unnecessary."
I sat there, genuinely bewildered. Why was she so fiercely against this? Was she worried about the mana strain? Now that I thought about it... I hadn't even asked him where he was getting his mana. But a connection wouldn't drain me anyway... unless they both fight eachother.
Curious, I discreetly opened my system interface and checked my active effects. My eyes landed on a passive skill I had completely forgotten about.
[Skill: Evil Attraction (Lv. 1)] - Causes individuals with evil alignments, bad affinities, or deep corruption to become increasingly affectionate toward the user, without any upper limit.
My stomach dropped. Oh, crap.
"Lancer, be reasonable," Arthur sighed, his calm demeanor cracking as frustration bled through. "I am his older brother. I need to ensure he is safe when I am not around. Stand aside."
"No," Jeanne shot back, not yielding an inch. "I am the only servant he requires."
Arthur's eye twitched. His kingly patience finally snapped, replaced by the sheer, unadulterated annoyance of an older sibling being denied access to his little brother. He straightened up, his voice booming with absolute command.
"I am his older brother! Respect my authority! "
I bit down hard on my tongue, my shoulders shaking violently. I slapped a hand over my mouth, desperately fighting back the laugh threatening to burst out of my chest. He sounded exactly like Eric Cartman, and I could not make a sound right now without ruining the moment.
Jeanne didn't even flinch at his outburst. She simply tilted her head, her pale eyes narrowing as she calculated a way to completely overrule his familial claim.
"Then..." Jeanne stated, her voice perfectly calm and serious. "What if I become his lover?"
The room went dead silent.
Arthur's jaw practically unhinged. He stared at her, completely paralyzed.
Behind my hand, I choked on my own spit.
My face turned crimson as I desperately tried to smother the sound behind my hand. This wasn't a joke. She was completely serious. The saint who had willingly stained her own soul with another's despair was now willing to claim me as a lover if it meant staying closer to me than anyone else.
"I am a Servant," Jeanne continued, her tone unchanged, as if discussing the weather. "If that bond would surpass a brother's claim, then I will offer it. I will do whatever is required to protect him."
Arthur finally found his voice. "That—you cannot simply declare yourself—"
"I have declared it."
"That is not how this works! A bond of that nature requires mutual—"
"Then I will earn it," Jeanne said, her grip tightening on her lance. "I will remain by his side for as long as it takes. I have carried the hatred of a broken man for the sake of salvation. Carrying my Master's affection will not be a burden."
I needed to end this. Now. Before Jeanne decided to escalate further and Arthur's brain melted entirely.
"Alright, alright, that's enough," I spoke up, my voice still a little strained from holding back laughter. Both of them turned to me. "Jeanne, stand down. I'm going to supply Arthur with mana."
Jeanne's expression did not crack, but something flickered deep in her eyes—a silent, restrained sorrow that she would never voice aloud. "Master. Are you certain?"
"I'm sure," I said gently. "I have enough mana for both of you. And I need to know Arthur's safe out there. You're still my number one, Jeanne. That won't change."
She was silent for a long moment. Then, slowly, she lowered her lance and stepped aside. Her gaze dropped to the floor, and a faint, almost imperceptible tension crept into her features.
Arthur walked toward me, relief softening his sharp features.
I clasped his forearm. A warm pulse of magical energy flared between us, and a steady, comforting tether settled in the back of my mind.
"Thank you, Kenji," Arthur said quietly. "Connection established."
I nodded, feeling the faint pulse of the new connection settle into place beside my bond with Jeanne.
"So," I said, leaning back on the sofa. "What's your plan for today?"
Arthur straightened, slipping back into mission mode with practiced ease. "I'll be investigating the eastern district. The corruption readings I mentioned earlier are strongest there."
I nodded along. rewards for completing certain feats or discovering key locations. If I could hit a few of those early, I might get something useful. Weapons for the Gate of Death, maybe. Or materials to fuel Gem Creation.
Then I remembered something.
"Hey," I said, sitting up slightly. "Earlier today, I overheard some people talking. They mentioned the Matou household. Sounded like one of the old mage families in the area. If the Grail's involved, those families usually know something, right?"
Arthur's eyes sharpened with interest. "The Matou. Yes, I've heard the name. One of the three founding families of the Holy Grail War ritual, alongside the Einzbern and Tohsaka. I was planning to investigate their estate later tonight."
"Then we'll check it out together," I offered. "After dark, when it's easier to move unnoticed."
He considered this, then gave a firm nod. "Agreed. I'll continue my sweep of the eastern district now and meet you near the Matou estate at sundown. Stay alert until then."
"Always am," I said, though Jeanne's quiet presence beside me made the promise feel a lot more believable.
Arthur gave me one last look—equal parts older brother concern and warrior's respect—then turned and left through the front door, his coat billowing briefly before he vanished into the afternoon light.
The room fell quiet.
I turned to Jeanne, who had remained perfectly still throughout the exchange, her pale eyes fixed on me with that same quiet, unreadable intensity.
"You want to head out too?" I asked. "Stretch your legs a bit before tonight?"
She inclined her head in a slow nod. "Wherever you go, I will follow."
"Great. But first..." I trailed off, my eyes flicking down to her outfit. The dark armor, the flowing fabric, the unmistakable aura of a warrior saint. She stood out far too much to walk through the city unnoticed.
"I need to grab you some clothes first," I said. "You can't go out like that."
Jeanne looked down at herself, as if only now realizing what she was wearing. Her expression didn't change, but there was the faintest tilt of her head—a silent acknowledgment.
"Understood," she said quietly. "I will wait."