Reborn in Type-Moon: Starting by Adopting Sakura - Chapter 24

At the Tohsaka residence, after making sure Sakura was safely away and relocating Aoi and Rin far from the leyline, Tokiomi prepared for the summoning ritual.

In the end, he decided to follow Yuu's advice—including the specific chant Yuu had provided.

He began the summoning.

Then light exploded across the room.

A figure more brilliant than pure gold materialized at the center of the circle, radiating an ancient, noble presence that felt absolutely untouchable.

Golden hair bound with white cloth. Ancient wrappings draped across his shoulders, leaving his chest and abdomen bare to reveal the kind of perfect physique that belonged to gods rather than mortals. The sheer majesty rolling off him was almost suffocating.

Tokiomi immediately dropped to one knee and pressed his hand to his chest.

"My king. Your arrival brings honor to the House of Tohsaka."

Tokiomi lived by a simple principle—always show proper respect to those above you. Command Spells and contracts didn't change the natural order of things. Even if this was technically his Servant, this ancient golden king still deserved nothing less than complete reverence.

But the king just looked at him with obvious contempt. "Mongrel. Do not presume I am unaware of your thoughts.”

The words hit like a physical blow, and Tokiomi felt something crushing settle over his chest, making it hard to breathe.

He looked up and found himself staring into crimson eyes that burned like flames. In that moment, he felt completely exposed, like every secret thought had been stripped bare.

Because it was true.

In the Holy Grail War, if a Master died, their Servant would die with them.

But even if Tokiomi won, when everything was over, he planned to use a Command Spell to order his Servant's death.

He'd summoned a Heroic Spirit with promises of wishes granted, but he'd never intended it to be a real partnership.

Cold sweat started trickling down his back.

Before he could figure out what to say, the king turned his attention to the window. "I am a generous king. My heart encompasses more than the heavens themselves. You showed proper respect, so I'll let you live." His gaze shifted upward. “But don’t misunderstand, mongrel. I didn’t come here because you summoned me.”

…

Finances were starting to get tight, and for the first time in his life, Yuu found himself actually paying attention to numbers on receipts. He'd never been one to worry about money—his family's wealth and his promising career prospects had always made such concerns seem distant and theoretical. But lately, reality was making itself known in the most unexpected way.

The problem wasn't his research expenses or even his living costs. It was food. More specifically, it was Artoria and her apparently bottomless appetite for Sakura's afternoon treats.

"Just help yourself to whatever's in the kitchen if you get hungry," he'd told her during her first week staying with them, thinking he was being a considerate host. He should have known better. Artoria had taken that invitation and run with it like she was charging into battle.

The real kicker was that Sakura's treats weren't just any ordinary snacks. They came from Kashiya Shinonome, one of those upscale patisseries where a single slice of cake—delicate, perfectly crafted, and roughly the size of a young girl's palm—ran about ¥2,688. Each.

Before Artoria's arrival, Yuu had gotten into the habit of picking up a few boxes every three or four days, just enough to keep Sakura happy and ensure there were always some sweets around the house. It had seemed like a reasonable expense for maintaining domestic harmony. Now, though, even if he brought home ten boxes in the morning, he'd find nothing but empty containers by the time the sun went down.

Yuu leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin thoughtfully, staring at the latest credit card statement. The numbers were starting to look genuinely concerning, even for someone with his resources.

That's when it hit him—he'd stumbled onto what might be the most significant archaeological discovery of his career, right there in his own kitchen. After all his years studying ancient civilizations and lost histories, he'd uncovered a fundamental truth that had somehow escaped every scholar who'd ever written about the legendary monarch.

King Arthur had a serious weakness for cake!

But it didn't take long for Yuu to realize he'd been looking at this whole situation completely wrong. Cake wasn't Artoria's main course—it was just dessert. The real problem was everything else she ate throughout the day.

No matter how much Manaka prepared, there were never any leftovers. Not even a single grain of rice or a crust of bread. It was like watching food disappear into some kind of culinary black hole.

Take breakfast, for instance. What Manaka laid out each morning wasn't just a meal—it was a feast that could have fed a small restaurant. There'd be bacon and eggs done to perfection, thick-cut toast still warm from the oven, delicate cod sticks with just the right amount of seasoning, fresh salad with vegetables that probably cost more per pound than most people's entire grocery budget. Then came the heavier items: proper kidney pie with flaky pastry, fish and chips that somehow managed to stay crispy, artisanal cheese and ham bread, dense cheese loaves that filled the kitchen with their rich aroma, creamy porridge topped with fresh berries, buttery scones that practically melted in your mouth, and premium red tea imported from who knows where. And that was all before the fruit course—perfectly ripe peaches and plums that Manaka must have handpicked from some specialty market.

And this was just breakfast. There were still lunch and dinner to get through.

Yuu was starting to think he hadn't summoned the legendary King of Knights at all. This was some kind of supernatural food enthusiast who just happened to look like King Arthur.

…

The kitchen was quiet when he slipped in through the heavy wooden door, morning sunlight streaming through the windows and catching the polished marble countertops. Manaka stood at the stove in her apron, moving around the space like she belonged there, completely absorbed in whatever she was preparing. Even doing something as mundane as cooking, she had this grace that made the whole scene look almost surreal.

"Manaka," he said quietly, not wanting to startle her.

She looked up immediately, and her face brightened when she saw him. "Yes, Master?" There was something genuinely happy in her expression, like his presence alone had made her morning better.

"I've been noticing that the meals lately have been... well, they're incredible, but they're also pretty elaborate."

Manaka actually laughed at that, a soft sound that seemed to fit perfectly in the warm kitchen atmosphere. "Oh, you finally picked up on it?" She paused in her stirring and tilted her head slightly, considering her words. "They're important guests, Master. As your apprentice, I have to make sure I'm representing you properly. That means putting my best effort into everything, especially the hospitality."

Yuu nodded slowly. He couldn't really argue with that logic—having two beautiful guests staying in his home did call for a certain level of treatment. But the grocery bills were starting to look like mortgage payments, especially since Manaka had apparently decided that 'best effort' meant sourcing ingredients that he was pretty sure cost more than some people's cars.

He'd never realized that food could be such an expensive hobby.

Manaka's expression softened as she watched him, and there was something almost wistful in her eyes. "I'm really glad you noticed my efforts, Master. It's been such a long time since it was just the two of us in the mornings like this." She clasped her hands together, looking genuinely pleased. "Actually, since you came all the way to the kitchen, is there anything special you'd like me to add to today's menu? Another dish, maybe? I want to make sure our guests have everything they could possibly need during their... stay."