MMMS 62

After ruling out both Waver and Kayneth as suspects in Fanatic attack, only Tokiomi Tohsaka and Kirei Kotomine remained on the list.

Honestly, Ryuuto had been going back and forth lately about whether he should just take out Gilgamesh before his identity and powers became common knowledge. Right now, he was still just a young Beast, with two main abilities that kept him in the game during this Holy Grail War.

The first was his identity—which guaranteed that no Servant created by the Holy Grail system could possibly defeat him. The second was his most basic power as Beast VI. This ability, similar to but different from Primate Murder's, let him handle even the strongest human magi or priests without breaking a sweat.

Still, while he definitely had the edge over Gilgamesh in a fair fight, he wasn't completely untouchable. He could only guarantee victory in a one-on-one situation where he struck first. With a tricky opponent like Gilgamesh, it would be simpler to just eliminate him now and be done with it. But that approach really didn't fit his style—he preferred toying with his opponents, keeping them right where he wanted them, watching them squirm.

…

"Where'd you run off to?" Ryuuto asked into the empty night air. As he walked alone through the darkness, he suddenly felt something warm and soft against his arm, instantly chasing away the winter chill.

Morgan, who had vanished without warning ten minutes earlier, materialized beside him and casually slipped her arm through his.

They were supposed to be playing the part of a couple taking a late-night stroll to avoid the magi informants now crawling all over Fuyuki's streets.

"I found something interesting while leaving Saber's base," she replied with a casual shrug.

"Something interesting?"

"A woman named Sola-Ui, I believe?"

His eyes widened. "Hey, Caster, tell me you didn't—"

A smile spread across Morgan's beautiful face that sent chills down his spine.

"I simply offered some advice to a young woman struggling with matters of the heart," she purred. "Nothing serious."

She tightened her grip on his arm, her red lips practically glowing in the moonlight.

"I just taught her what every woman should know—when you want a man, use any means necessary to make him yours."

He felt goosebumps racing up his arm as a single thought crossed his mind: Being Morgan’s man would be bad enough, but being her son? That's practically eighteen generations of bad luck.

…

After bidding farewell to Morgan in the main garden of Einzbern Castle, Ryuuto practically sprinted to his and Irisviel's bedroom.

A smile crept across his face as he pushed open the lit bedroom door. "Hehehe..."

"Iri, I'm back! Did you wash up and wait for—Huh?"

As the room came into view, his expression froze, the smile slowly vanishing from his face. Someone who definitely shouldn't be in this room—Artoria—was sitting at a luxurious golden chair in the corner.

Sitting down somehow made Artoria look even more striking than when she stood. Her light nightgown did absolutely nothing to conceal her sexy, curvaceous figure. The under-bust corset design only enhanced her kingly treasures, making them appear even more magnificent. Her damp golden hair cascaded over her ivory shoulders, flowing all the way down to her round buttocks, glistening beautifully under the fluorescent light.

Irisviel, also dressed in a pure white nightgown, stood behind the King of Knights, carefully brushing through the king’s golden locks.

When they heard his cheerful voice, both Artoria and the Einzbern princess turned their heads to look at him.

Looking at the breathtaking scene before him—like something straight out of a fairy tale—he couldn't help but wonder if men were just unnecessary extras in this world.

"Uh... I think I've come at a bad time?" he managed to say.

"No, you've come at just the right time," Artoria replied, her lips curving into a smile. "To keep Master from making any inappropriate moves toward Irisviel tonight, I’ll also be sleeping here." She folded her arms across her chest with finality.

He wanted to snap back at her: “Don’t mess around, Lancer. I think you’re mistaken. I’m the Master here, Iri is my woman, and you’re just my Servant!” But with Artoria’s commanding presence, all he could do was smile and swallow his words.

Soon the bedside lamp replaced the harsh fluorescent lighting. Irisviel, Artoria, and Ryuuto lay side by side on the bed in that exact order from left to right. He kept stealing glances at Artoria with his peripheral vision. Her golden hair spread across the bedding, her white skin flushed with a hint of pink, her captivating curves somehow even more tempting when she was lying down.

Both Lancer and Irisviel looked so charming and alluring tonight because they'd taken a bath just half an hour ago. Even with his eyes closed, the intoxicating shower gel fragrance floating through the room kept his nerves on edge, making it impossible to focus on anything else.

"Master, still awake?" Lancer's voice broke through the quiet room, just as Irisviel's soft snoring began to fill the space.

"The light's still on," he pointed out.

"Let's keep it on tonight," she replied. "You never know when Master might try something with me and Irisviel."

"What? Iri is one thing, but don't lump yourself in there," he huffed.

She lowered her beautiful eyes, speaking with a hint of disappointment. "I see... so Master wouldn't consider making a move on me?"

His attention snapped fully to her. "C-c-can I actually make a move?"

He was acting bolder than usual tonight, but who could blame him? Post-bath Lancer was simply impossible to resist.

She tilted her head, her expression turning serious. "And can I use my holy lance to turn Master into fine dust?"

"If that's a no, don't say such misleading things!" he protested loudly.

"Fufufu." A pleasant laugh escaped her lips as she turned to her side to face him.

Her golden eyelashes trembled slightly as her eyes caught the dim light, shining brightly in the darkened room.

The front of her white nightgown wasn't fully buttoned, revealing a generous patch of creamy skin between the loose collar. As she lay on her side, those enormous heart-stoppers piled onto the bed, making him suck in a sharp breath.

He couldn't help but think back to the awe he felt when first seeing a mountain on an elementary school trip in his previous life.

Artoria completely ignored his obvious staring as she suddenly asked with a playful tone, "Well then, Master... do you still want to turn off the light?"

"..."

He was facing an impossible dilemma. Turn off the light, and he'd lose the magnificent view before him. Leave it on, and he'd have to spend the night doing absolutely nothing.

"...This is truly the ultimate question," he said with a bitter smile. "Let's just keep the light on. I wouldn't want to inconvenience Lancer."

"Mm." She nodded and made a soft, pleased sound. "That works too. Otherwise... I was genuinely concerned I might not be able to resist attacking my cute Master."

With that, she closed her eyes contentedly.

Just five seconds later, she heard her Master's voice right by her ear.

"Hey... Lancer, would it be okay if I held you while I sleep tonight?"

"Master, you want to hold me while you sleep?" she asked.

He simply nodded.

The fresh scent of shampoo lingered throughout the room, and the beautiful King of Knights lay right beside him. Combined with Artoria's suggestive comments from earlier, his thoughts had begun to wander.

"...Would that be alright?" he asked carefully.

"Fufu." Getting exactly the reaction she'd expected, Artoria's heartbeat quickened slightly, and her golden eyebrows lifted with amusement. She opened her stunning eyes and said in a soft voice: "Master, surely even you understand this isn't the kind of request you casually make to an unmarried woman. Please mind your words and actions around others in the future, so you don't create unnecessary misunderstandings."

'When I kissed Irisviel, you said married women shouldn't be insulted. Now that I want to hold you, you say I need to be reserved with unmarried women. You always have the perfect comeback. What exactly do you want?' He puffed his cheeks, thinking: 'As a threat to Human Order, is it so wrong for me to be gentle with this world, to be kind to every girl and give them all my love?'

Noticing she hadn't flat-out refused him and her tone seemed to have left room for negotiation, he pressed on. "Lancer, I actually have this habit of holding something while I sleep. It's the only way I can fall asleep peacefully. Last night I was holding Iri."

She gave him a suspicious look, so he quickly added, "I won't try anything inappropriate, I swear. You can ask Iri yourself—she must have told you, right? All last night I was perfectly well-behaved, totally honest."

Indeed, when she had asked Irisviel about it earlier, the woman had confirmed he hadn't done anything inappropriate. But even so, Ryuuto had made her so nervous that she couldn't sleep a wink all night. Now, the exhausted Irisviel was sound asleep behind Lancer.

She probably wouldn't wake up even if the entire bed started shaking violently.

"...What should I do?" Looking at her Master's anxious, adorable face, she couldn't help but feel a spark of affection and joy in her heart.

"Master, if you're so determined to hold me tonight, please use a Command Spell." She smiled teasingly. Suddenly, in the bedroom lit only by the warm glow of the bedside lamp, a red light began to shine.

"By this Command Spell..." The words, charged with magical energy, came through his teeth. For him, this was a decision that required absolutely no thought.

"Lancer, let me hold—"

"You big idiot." She quickly grabbed his hand, pressing down the one emitting magical energy. She glared at the two red marks on the back of his hand with an annoyed expression, her lips forming a pout.

"Master, what are you thinking? Planning to waste an important Command Spell on something so trivial? Is our contract really that meaningless to you?"

"No, that's not it at all," he said softly, shaking his head. "This is the Fourth Holy Grail War happening right now. From the previous three Holy Grail Wars, the Church seems to have lots of unused Command Spells lying around. If you want, Lancer, I can go get them for you anytime."

"Not interested."

"For me, things like Command Spells are just superficial compared to the time I get to spend with you. Artoria, I want to share more meaningful moments with you, to create beautiful memories together."

"...What twisted logic, hmph." Her Master was obviously thinking inappropriate thoughts, yet putting on a serious face like he was at a job interview. She couldn't decide whether to be annoyed or amused.