"Wow, what a delicate and wonderful castle! Thank you, Sakatsuki Oniichan!"
In the brilliantly lit castle, Illya excitedly ran around.
After the large estate of the Emiya family, Sakatsuki had swiftly projected the Einzbern Castle—Illya’s base during the Fifth Holy Grail War.
"Although this castle is a bit small for a castle, it’s more than enough for this island. It’s an excellent castle, Sakatsuki. Your crafting skills are remarkable."
Artoria offered her praise but soon furrowed her brow:
"Yet, I can’t shake the feeling that Heracles might be here. Am I being overly cautious?"
Upon hearing Artoria’s words, Illya seed to recall sothing and stopped in her tracks, a shiver running down her spine.
"Ugh, I feel the sa way. I just can’t bring Liz and Sera here... especially not let them et that flashy golden guy!"
It’s clearly you who’s being overly sensitive, Illya. By the way, can such things be sensed across different tilines...?
Sakatsuki silently complained, while Mash, observing the usual expression of the ahoge girl, couldn’t help but say:
"This castle is already quite luxurious. Miss Artoria must be used to this kind of thing."
"Of course! I was a king after all."
Only when ntioning Calot did Artoria hold her head high, graciously accepting the complint, but her humble nature quickly took over: "However, small castles have their advantages. How should I put it... it’s like... a sense of family?"
At this point, Artoria’s face turned slightly red, looking a bit embarrassed:
"Although I built Calot myself, in the castle, I often brushed shoulders with people whose nas and appearances I didn’t even know. At those tis, I had to maintain the king’s dignity with a stern face... it’s quite embarrassing."
Tamamo-no-Mae could relate deeply: "Though I mainly know about Japanese castles, it’s indeed like that. The larger the castle, the more manpower is needed to maintain it."
"Compared to the nature of a ’ho,’ the palace has a stronger characteristic of being a ’place with many people.’"
Artoria nodded in agreent: "That’s right. Only in a small territory do the bonds among gathered people beco tighter."
"...If only we could be like that too?" Mash couldn’t help but clasp her hands together, looking at Ritsuka.
If the king here is my senpai, then I must be the queen of my senpai... I guess?
"Mash, what’s wrong? Your face is so red," Ritsuka said, having approached Mash at so point, affectionately pinching her cheek. "And it’s so hot! Are you thinking of sothing unhealthy again?"
"N-No!" Mash quickly shook her head, brushing off Ritsuka’s teasing hand and shrinking into the corner, avoiding her senior’s knowing gaze.
"Such a lewd eggplant..." Ritsuka sighed aningfully, unaware that Sakatsuki was right behind her, smiling as he spoke:
"You two can only say it’s mutual. If you don’t think along the sa lines as Mash, how would you know what she’s thinking?"
"Sakatsuki!" Ritsuka exclaid in surprise, feeling flustered for once, and hurriedly changed the subject. "Um... what about you? What are you thinking?"
"?" The white-haired youth patted the newly projected staircase, chuckling wryly. "I’m thinking I’m like a babysitter, coming here to suffer."
"Ah, ahaha..." Upon hearing Sakatsuki’s half-joking, half-serious remark, Ritsuka and the servants shared an awkward laugh, casting sidelong glances.
Indeed, if it weren’t for Sakatsuki, Ritsuka and the others would still be struggling to survive in the wilderness, with no ti for idle chatter.
"Hey, Sakatsuki Oniichan, can I learn cooking from you?" Illya suddenly ran up to Sakatsuki, tugging at his sleeve. "We think your cooking is super~ delicious!"
After realizing Sakatsuki’s true identity, Illya had a bit of a tantrum but quickly let her guard down under the onslaught of soone’s desserts and beca enthusiastic again.
Not just Illya; behind her, Kuro played with her hair, averting her gaze, while Miyu nervously clutched her clothes, her eyes filled with hope.
"Of course!" Sakatsuki couldn’t refuse his little sisters’ invitation. He smiled and nodded. "Let’s have my cooking class today at noon."
"Yay!" Illya jumped up happily, and just then, the Holy Grail system chid in.
[The punishnt phase is now starting.]
Oh, it’s here, it’s finally here!
Sakatsuki perked up, glancing up at the sky, while Artoria next to him wore a look of despair.
As the saying goes, smiles don’t disappear; they just shift. The joy of the fun-loving people is always built on the backs of those being punished.
Especially since she was dragged down by that mischievous child.
Damn you, Mordred...
Unfortunately, no matter how much the ahoge girl grumbled, the Holy Grail system wouldn’t stop running.
[Now beginning to teleport the punished.]
A beam of light descended, quickly enveloping Artoria, making her vanish without a trace.
But when everyone looked around, they were astonished to discover a fact.
"Strange... where did Sakatsuki go?"
***
In the center of the camp, before the round table.
When Sakatsuki opened his eyes, he saw Artoria beside him, her body tense and eyes filled with killing intent, while Mordred looked as if she had rolled in mud, dirty all over, and was sound asleep.
If one were to find a commonality among the three of them, it was that the ahoge girl and Mordred were the punished ones, while Sakatsuki was the... master of this punished one, Draco?
Realizing a certain possibility, cold sweat trickled down Sakatsuki’s back.
Here, let’s emphasize once again that Draco’s true form is a shadow of imaginary numbers, which ans she is Sakatsuki’s familiar—given Draco’s abilities, it’s not impossible for the punishnt to be transferred to Sakatsuki, the ’master.’
But in this situation, I’d rather not be a master!
Unfortunately, the Holy Grail system wouldn’t stop due to Artoria’s pleas, nor would it change because of Sakatsuki’s protests. The cold, emotionless system voice continued:
[Randomly selecting a punishnt for the adventure, selecting... selection complete.]
Two beams of light simultaneously enveloped Artoria and Mordred, and amidst their exclamations, the two felt their spiritual foundations undergoing so unknown change...
[Content of the punishnt: Contestants 7 and 10 will only be allowed to speak the truth, and must answer when questioned, for a duration of one day.]
"Everyone, retreat!" Ritsuka, who had brought the onlookers, commanded, and the servants scattered like birds.
What can one do? Who doesn’t know about the entanglents between King Arthur and the rebellious knight? This punishnt was practically a thunderbolt for them; if they accidentally said the wrong thing, who knows if they’d end up fighting each other or if these two would join forces to silence the audience first before coming to a conclusion.
In short, to avoid pulling aggro, Ritsuka fully exercised her master’s decisiveness and fled with the other servants, leaving only Artoria and Mordred, who were undergoing forced transformation, and Sakatsuki, who wanted to run but couldn’t.
As the light faded, the two similarly looking knights opened their eyes, exchanged glances, and instinctively covered their mouths, their faces flushed, their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills.
Sakatsuki couldn’t help but chuckle, finally unable to resist speaking up:
"I say, doesn’t this count as trying to cover up the obvious?"
"Please be quiet, Sakatsuki!" Artoria shot him a glare, answering the question in this way.
But little Mordred was much more honest. She held back, but ultimately couldn’t help but shout:
"Who’s trying to cover up the obvious! I am who I am, the rebellious knight Mordred! What’s there to hide!"
"So, you still stand by your thoughts?" Sakatsuki gently prodded, and Mordred decisively took the bait.
"Of course! I, I most... most..."
It was only at this mont that Mordred belatedly realized the seriousness of the situation, and it was too late to resist.
Clenching her teeth, she pinched her thigh hard, even her spiritual foundation trembled, but the forbidden words still spilled uncontrollably from her lips:
"I love, love... I love Father the most!"
***
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