(Titus's POV)
Taking a peaceful day always comes with a twist. But, well, it did allow me to clean up some of my family.
It was a week after my tragic dream. I finally finished setting up my mansion, where I opened a small office to assign work to freelance mages like Shiro and Rin. They were also living with me, and since I couldn't just give them money, they would do some work for me to earn their keep.
"Phew! Cleaning such a large mansion is really tiring...!" I dropped a pile of papers on the desk and wiped my forehead.
Just as I turned around, I found a girl. She had purple hair with one side tied with a red ribbon and an average height for an 18-year-old, with a hint of maturity on her chest. With a smile as radiant as a sunrise, Sakura Matou handed me a glass of fresh juice. "Thank you for your hard work, Titus Nii-san~!"
She called me "Nii-san" like an older brother. When I first met her in Fiyuki, she reminded me of my younger sisters from my first life. At first, she was cold and somewhat afraid of me since I was a foreigner, but after we saved her from the Matous, she opened up to me and started calling me "Nii-san."
"I should be the one thanking you, Sakura. You were a big help," I said as I sipped some juice.
"Please don't say that. You are always taking care of me and senpai. This is the least I could do," Sakura smiled but sighed, "Though I can't live here…"
It was kind of cruel to leave Sakura out of the party, but it was something we all agreed upon. Rin, Shirou, and I had a balanced, neutral friendship among us. But with Sakura here... well, let's just say that Rin and I didn't want to hear loud moans in this mansion. Shiro also wouldn't want to become just a young father.
"Don't worry, I will look after Shirou. No one shall harm my friend," I declared, puffing my chest out.
"Hehe, thank you. I am relieved," Sakura chuckled.
"You know I am right here..." And then we heard another voice, that of a person with auburn hair who had been in the room from the start. Sakura and I stared at him before bursting into laughter.
"Ah, this is refreshing..." I took a deep breath and looked at the garden outside the window.
After what happened with Nero, I enjoyed laughing with my friends. I just hoped that I could stay friends with them forever.
"Hey, stop!"
Just then, we heard Rin's scream from the hallway, and following that, we heard another voice, "Move, you poor Asian!"
I heard that voice and rolled my eyes. Why can't a person have a happy life in this universe?
The reasons for my contempt were two individuals rudely entering the room. They were a pair of siblings, a man and a woman with blond hair and dark eyes. Their facial structure was similar to mine except for eye and hair color. They were my 'siblings' in this world.
"You low-life garbage! You just set up a mansion without telling your siblings, huh?!" My so-called brother screamed as he stomped toward me.
"Yeah, and where did you get so much money anyway?! You must be leaching off of our father," she said, my so-called sister.
Rin Tohsaka also followed with a difficult look, "I tried to stop them, but…"
For the time being, I ignored her and decided to address the current matter regarding my siblings. As you can see, they were straight out of some typical villainous story. However, here in the Nasurverse, mages usually had the same arrogant attitude.
I sighed and decided to play my act as their little brother.
"Do you want some share in this building?" I asked with a slight smile, skipping introductions and greetings since I wanted to dismiss these individuals as soon as possible.
"Share? We want this mansion in my name since you have acquired this property after destroying our family!" My brother, enraged, activated his circuits and prepared to cast a spell.
But so did my three friends in the room. Rin chanted her magic into her body, preparing for close combat, while Shirou materialized his two iconic blades. Sakura's hands also began to emit a purple light, ready to cast some potent spells.
Seeing the three mages in the room, my siblings snapped out of their anger and took a step back in fear.
Rin might have financial difficulties, but she was famous for being a skillful mage, specializing in martial arts like Bajiquan. Shirou was also making a name for himself with his rare origin, while Sakura was known as the sole survivor of the Matou family.
And my so-called siblings were aware of all three of them. However, before things escalated, I signaled all three to calm down since I wanted to deal with this matter alone.
"Fine then. I will transfer ownership next week. Please return then for the paperwork," I replied.
Let alone my siblings, even the Japanese trio, were taken aback by my unexpected answer.
"I-Is that so…" My brother muttered, "Cough! Then what about the 'monthly fees'?"
"Oh," I took out two envelopes from my coat and handed them to my siblings. "Here you go."
"This is only 10,000 pounds. Didn't I ask for a raise?" My brother shamelessly inquired after counting the bills. Although I found more amusement in Rin's shocked expression upon hearing '10,000 pounds.'
"Yeah, don't you know how much magecraft costs?" My sister chimed in, displaying her disdain. Magecraft, my foot; she only cared about her harem of boyfriends.
That's right, these two siblings were receiving 10k per month from me as a 'monthly fee' to remain part of the 'So Great Faria Family of London.' And, by the way, the average was only 2,500 pounds.
"Then I will arrange the remaining amount next week, too."
"Argh, fine. And make sure that we don't see those filthy Asians next time. No, you better stay away from them. These poor Asians are leaching off your money," my brother said before taking his leave, followed by my sister.
"Sigh. Well, things got a little wild," I nodded with my fake smile.
It was then that the trio bombarded me with questions.
"Titus, I don't know about your family situation, but this is too much. This isn't like you," Shirou glared at me.
"It was 10,000 pounds! Why are you casually giving them freaking 10,000 pounds?! Ugh, my heart can't just take it…" Rin moaned after seeing me casually pay some money.
"Nii-san…" Sakura also looked puzzled.
Their questioning looks weren't unjustified, as my actions really didn't make any sense.
"I am sorry for making you all worried, but I think it is now time I also reveal my past. Come with me."
True friendship lies in mutual trust. Since I knew all of their pasts, it was time I revealed how I had spent my life in this world.
---
All four of us were now standing in front of a worn-out shed. Well, it would be more accurate to call it the single most disturbing symbol of humanity's sins, radiating with curses. This shed was surrounded by a green plain as if such a structure shouldn't have existed. In the distance, you could see an abandoned mansion on one side and a church further down the other.
"Rin, Shirou, Sakura, this shed is what you would call my home. This is where I grew up."
With those words, I began to explain my story. Before waking up in this body, it was the tale of my 'past self.'
The Faria family was a mage family that used to hold some influence at the Clock Tower a few decades ago. It wasn't a very large family with vast riches and wealth, but they were well-off compared to other common mage families.
However, their uniqueness lay in their magecraft, which dealt with sins and curses that mages always carried. Ordinary magecraft violated the natural laws of this world, and in return, the world twisted the fate of a mage. For example, if a mage's magecraft involved human sacrifices, they would probably face bad luck or a gruesome death when karma struck. The Faria family came into play here, as they would transfer such sins and curses to another person.
And this is where I entered the picture.
I was born into the Faria family, with a different mother than my other siblings. I wasn't even given a name or any status. My existence wasn't even considered that of a living being in the family. I was only meant to be a container to carry sins and curses once I reached adulthood.
The requirement to be a container was to be a living dead person.
And so, my hellish existence began. From the moment I was born, I received limited food, barely enough to keep me alive. I had clothing sufficient for surviving winters but no connection to the outside world.
This was my treatment in that world.
However, just as the saying goes, "A rooster always comes home to roost," this dark magecraft was slowly devouring the family. For decades, the family's size diminished instead of growing, with fewer and fewer children being born. Even among them, only one or two children could carry on the family legacy, while the others either died prematurely or never had children of their own. Family properties were slipping from their grasp.
As for me, I would have probably perished if not for a crimson-haired mage finding me and rescuing me from my dreadful fate.
"And then I studied while earning money. My guardian also supported me, and then I enrolled in the Clock Tower. I met Rin there, and here I am today."
With those words, I concluded my story, although I omitted the part where I awakened my past memories for obvious reasons.
*Sob* "Nii-san… how could they…" Sakura wept, her tears flowing endlessly. She was probably closer to me in sympathizing with my ordeal since she had also endured a similar childhood. I chuckled and gently petted her head to comfort her.
Shirou and Rin were equally horrified by the way I had spent my childhood. They could have never imagined that an average British man had such a horrifying backstory.
"This is… so disturbing…" Rin shivered, massaging her arms, "Your family deserves a fate worse than death!"
"That's right! But I still don't understand why you are still in contact with your family," Shirou, the hero of justice, raised an objection, "Instead of seeking revenge, you are even paying them allowances!"
I sighed and looked at the sky. "Evil as they may be, they were still my siblings, my only family."
To be honest, even I didn't know why I was keeping in contact with them. Perhaps I was trying to find my family from my previous life in them.
My monologue was interrupted when I felt Sakura's gentle hand holding mine. "If a family is all you need, then we can all fill that role. Please don't torture yourself by thinking of those people as your family!"
"Yeah! Stop paying those jerks! They don't deserve any of it!" Rin followed Sakura with an outburst, still traumatized by how I had casually handed over the money, which was worth Rin's annual income, to those evil siblings.
"Cheh! Here I am thinking I was of a special role for you like a brother…" Shirou clicked his tongue. Aww, the great caregiver was angry~
"Pff, hahahaha!" Witnessing the trio's reactions, I burst into laughter. "Oh, I'm sorry for making you guys misunderstand…" I licked my lips, "Oh, I was kind to my siblings, but it was all just great preparation for my sweet revenge."
---
One week later,
"What is the meaning of this, Titus?! Where are the ownership papers and money?!" My brother screamed and slammed his hands on the desk. My sister was also beaming with anger behind him.
On the other hand, I smiled, sitting in my principal chair with Shirou, Sakura, and Rin on either side. "Oh, I've invited a special guest to bring the ownership papers."
With those words, the door of my office flung open, and a man in his fifties entered. He had similar blond hair and eyes as my siblings. He was the head of the Faria family and my father. Seeing the head of the family, my siblings' eyes lit up with excitement as if they had gained a new ally to their schemes.
"Father!" My sister, overjoyed after seeing her father, ran toward him and spoke with beaming eyes, "Titus said he has invited a special guest. Was that you?! Hurry up and show us the ownership papers! We are getting rich!"
However, the man remained firm, but soon, his hands moved and gently held his daughter's face.
"Father-"
CRACK!!
My sister, who was facing her father moments ago, was now facing us with questioning eyes, silently demanding an explanation for what had just transpired. However, she couldn't even utter a single word before her body slowly descended lifelessly.
Pin-drop silence enveloped the room. No one had any idea why a father would twist his daughter's neck and kill her. The silence felt like an eternity.
But that silence was shattered when my brother slowly turned his head and looked at me, witnessing my same old 'kind' smile.
"Meet your father. He was the person I invited to bring the ownership papers. The ownership of a place in hell for my dear siblings~" I grinned, "I would have played this sibling role a little longer, but you shouldn't have disrespected my friends!"
"Za fuc-"
SPLASH!
Before my sibling could finish his words, a blade pierced him from behind, and the wielder of that blade was none other than the ol' same 'top 10 anime father.'
"With this, my last task is finished," the man spoke for the first time. "Now the Geis Contract is over."
"This is indeed correct," I smiled.
With a nod, my father was about to leave when I asked, "Did you know who my mother was?"
Even though I had never tried to find out about my mother, I had always been curious about her identity and origin.
"Don't know. After you were born, I killed her and threw her into the forest," the man smirked, "Well, I can't wait to do the same to you. See you later, son."
"Yes, same here, father~."
With those parting words, the man left the room along with the bodies of his deceased children. He would probably sell the carcasses to earn some money.
"Okay, before you ask, let's just say that I had a contract with my family, especially my siblings, and the contract was actually a high-level Geis."
Geis, in short term, is a magic curse. It is a type of contract that, once signed by both parties, directly binds the Magic Crest of the target.
And the Geis I tricked my siblings into signing was actually a high-level curse. They thought they were receiving money from me for free, but in reality, they were eating away at their own properties and lifelines.
My father had no idea that his children were the ones eroding his family. Thus, I informed him about this fact and invited him to end this deal. I knew that such a heartless man would never feel even an ounce of sadness before ending his children.
"So, did you all enjoy the sight? It was exciting, right?" I raised my brows.
"Hm hm~! This is the fitting end for these evil people. Well-planned, Nii-san~!" Sakura smiled, pleased with the event.
"I don't know about that…" Rin, on the other hand, was shaking, probably because she had also signed a loan contract with me.
Shirou had a difficult expression, probably wondering which was worse: a father murdering his children or his best friend and lover laughing at the event.
"But still, that man did leave a death threat for you. What are you going to do?" Shirou wondered.
"Meh, I wouldn't be worried." I wasn't the type of person to let such an evil person roam freely.
---
"Ugh! Miss Bazett, you sure went hard on him…" I groaned, looking at the twisted body of my 'late' father.
His body was so deformed that he didn't even look human anymore. His bones were probably crushed from continuous punches and kicks. From this grotesque sight, seemed like he had died a painful death.
"B-but you said he was a strong mage and would be able to keep up with my combat…! I'm sorry, I was careless…" Bazett said with a blushing face, probably feeling nervous.
Bazett Fraga McRemitz was one of the main characters of Fate/hollow ataraxia, another one of Type-Moon's novels. She was supposed to be Lancer's master in the Fifth Holy Grail War but was betrayed by Kotomine.
She had short magenta hair and a mole just below her left eye. She wore a black two-piece business suit with a red-violet necktie.
I had met her during my trip to Fuyuki, but since the Holy Grail War never happened, she never went to Japan and continued to perform her tasks here in the UK.
I usually employed her as an executioner or cleaner. Just like Rin, she was also cursed when it came to her finances.
I then took out an envelope and gave it to Bazett. She looked inside and jumped with excitement after seeing so much money.
"Thank you so much!!" The magenta-haired woman hugged me tightly. Even though she was a fairly developed woman, for some reason, I didn't feel anything.
"Don't hesitate to get in touch with me again. See you later!" She bowed a couple of times before storming out of sight.
"Sigh! What an innocent woman. Too bad she couldn't get to see her beloved Cú Chulainn."
Thinking back, I wondered if I would get to see him like I did with Nero. And then maybe... oh boy, thighs!
I shook my head and dismissed my daydream. I couldn't believe I was drooling.
I then poured a liquid on my father's body that disintegrated it as if it had never existed before. I also took my leave as the task was done and checked my system status.
There, I deleted the word 'Faria' from my name since I was no longer affiliated with the family. Now, I was just Titus Dusklock, a foreign human in this former fictional world.
===
Author's Note: This chapter was merely filler. I wanted to delve into some of the MC's background. With that, Volume 1 is finished here. Thanks for sticking till now. I hope to provide quality content.