Reika once again revealed her extraordinary nature.
Facing Shinji, who had just saved her and was no ordinary person, she neither showed fear nor a self-protective response to the unknown. Instead, she displayed a stunning calmness and a touch of curiosity. It was probably these traits that made her and little Jack the most ruthless Master-Servant pair in Fate/Apocrypha, causing a bloody storm in Romania.
"Was it you who saved me?"
"Yes." Shinji walked to the window and pulled back the curtain, letting sunlight flood the dim room.
"Where is Sagara Hyouma? The blond man in the white suit."
"Dead, I killed him. See that black stain over there? That's Sagara Hyouma's ashes."
Shinji sat down on the windowsill, avoiding direct eye contact with Reika to maintain his composure.
Reika reached out and lightly touched the floor scorched by the primordial fire triggered by "Fehu." Sure enough, she hand-picked up some black residue.
The little Jack in her arms sniffed at the ash-stained hand, wrinkled her nose, then sniffed Rokudo Reika's clothes, and said, "Mother's clothes smell the same as this, Jack doesn't like it."
"Is that so? Since Jack doesn't like it, then—"
Reika then did something shocking. She directly took off her remaining clothes and threw them far away, completely unbothered by her nudity.
"Is there still any smell you dislike? If there is, I'll have to take a bath."
"No more, no more," Jack shook her head repeatedly. "We love Mother the most."
"Mom also loves Jack the most."
Reika's smile, unrelated to seduction, was reflected in the window glass, which Shinji observed, confirming his choice was correct—this woman's personality was very suitable for the Holy Grail War, more fitting than most of the Masters from the Yggdmillennia family. With her as an ally, things would be much easier for him.
"Miss Rokudo Reika, do you remember what you promised me?"
"I remember. You saved me, so my remaining life belongs to you." As she said this, there was no fluctuation in Reika's expression, as if she were speaking about someone else entirely.
"Good, then I'm going to claim what belongs to me as per our agreement."
"Of course, but before that, may I know how to address you?"
"Black Assassin, just call me Assassin."
"Assassin? You mean a killer?" Reika's refined background gave her knowledge uncommon among other women of her profession; she could speak most mainstream Latin-based languages.
"That's right, I'm an assassin specializing in taking lives. Are you scared?" Shinji deliberately put on a sinister expression. With his purple hair and slightly twisted look, it could easily become a meme. (Lol)
Before Reika could react, Jack, who already saw Reika as her mother, jumped up, gripping a dagger and ready for battle.
Reika, unfazed by Shinji but somewhat startled by Jack, quickly hugged Jack from behind, soothing her, "It's okay, Jack, there's no need to be so tense. Lord Assassin won't kill me."
"Really?" Jack, having been subdued by Shinji twice, was still skeptical.
"Really. If he wanted to kill me, he wouldn't have saved me. Right, Lord Assassin?"
Reika's calmness and rationality were exactly what Shinji appreciated.
"That's correct. Though, many times living can be much more painful than dying."
"Ah, I know, I knew it long ago. But still, I don't want to give up my life, even if it's meaningless."
No one understood the hardships of life better than the once-wealthy Rokudo Reika, now a prostitute. No matter how low she sank, she never thought of death; she wanted to tightly hold on to her life, to keep her heart beating, to continue living. This persistence, which many would deem meaningless, deeply moved Jack.
"It is meaningful, Mother. It definitely is. So, we will protect you."
Though Jack claimed her wish was to return to her mother's womb, as a wraith composed of unborn children, she didn't realize this reflected a subconscious desire to be born as a healthy fetus into the world. In other words, the children who formed Jack, even unconsciously, wanted to live, making her relate deeply to Reika's tenacity.
"Thank you, Jack." Reika hugged Jack more tightly.
"I won't comment on whether living or dying is better. But I do admire your determination to live. I want you to live, and live well. So, Jack, could you not point the dagger at me? First, it won't help; second, we both exist as Assassins, and your mana is drawn from me. If I die, you won't survive either. I don't expect you to rely on me as much as you rely on Reika-san, but at least don't see me as an enemy, okay?"
Hearing Shinji's words, Jack first sensed the faint connection between them: "You promise not to hurt Mother, not to do anything painful? We hate pain."
"Don't worry, I won't. I promise. Although I'm an assassin, I have some principles. As long as you do as I say and avoid dangerous places, you won't get hurt, and it won't be painful. Besides, isn't it your job to protect your Mother?"
At this, Jack finally lowered her dagger: "I believe you, Assassin."
"If possible, I'd like you to call me something else."
"Then, Assassin Mother?" To Jack, expressing closeness meant calling someone Mother. Being a collection of countless children's spirits, she could have many Mothers.
"Uh... Mother is for women. For men, you should say Father." Shinji corrected her.
"Father?"
Jack tilted her head, her natural innocence striking a chord in Shinji's heart.
"Say it again."
"Father."
"Good girl, I'll give you some candy later."
At this moment, Shinji's sinister demeanor vanished, replaced by a silly, happy expression, making Reika chuckle.
This laughter made Shinji realize a problem—if Rokudo Reika was Jack's Mother and he was Jack's Father, wasn't this forcibly creating a family relationship?
"I'm sorry, I just think little Jack is very cute, I like her a lot, that's all, really."
This somewhat flustered apology made Reika laugh even more.
"It's alright, I don't mind. Forming a family with Lord Assassin and Jack sounds quite interesting."
"Hearing Reika-san say that makes me feel a bit self-important." Shinji sighed in relief, though the sight of Reika's fair body holding Jack made his thoughts wander, prompting him to quickly look away.
This small action did not escape Reika's notice. She teased, "Jack's Father, why don't you dare look at Jack's Mother? Is she so unattractive to you?"
Her sweet voice, tinged with allure, made Shinji's breath quicken. He hurriedly recited in his mind:
"Great Sage Equaling Heaven, myriad transformations, master of heaven and earth—gods and buddhas of all realms, please take this enchantress away!" (Repeat 3 times!)
PS: If it weren't for her perfect compatibility with Jack, Rokudo Reika might have summoned Scheherazade, whose core desire is to avoid death at all costs.