By evening, Roy returned home.
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Aizaka had already prepared dinner—authentic Chinese cuisine, Roy's favorite. After several days of hands-on guidance from Roy, the two girls had managed to replicate about sixty percent of the original taste.
"Oh right, Saber, come join us for dinner."
As Roy sat down at the table, he suddenly remembered Miss Okita and called her out.
A flash of golden light appeared beside the table.
In the shocked gazes of the two maids, the golden particles gathered into the figure of a girl dressed in a haori, her long blonde hair tied back. She looked about fifteen or sixteen, with a katana at her waist. Her appearance was both delicate and striking, combining grace with a hint of warrior spirit.
"Master, Servants don't need to eat, you know!"
"Then stop staring at the food like that."
"Hehe!"
"Enough with the cuteness—sit down and eat."
"Yes, sir!"
Miss Okita saluted smartly before sitting down, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"This is delicious! So good! Ah, back when I was alive, I was bedridden for so many years, and food this rich was out of my reach. It's truly a blessing to be able to eat a full meal again!"
Her hearty appetite was both amusing and heartwarming.
But her words carried a weight that made people feel a pang of sympathy.
"So this is a Servant? A hero from history?" Kasumigaoka Utaha watched Okita Sōji with great interest.
"A fifteen-year-old swordswoman? Was there someone like this in Japan's history?" Aizaka frowned, thoughtfully resting her chin on her hand, trying to figure out who this young girl really was.
Considering she had been bedridden during her lifetime, who could fit this description? "Utaha."
"Yes, Lord Roy?"
Hearing Roy's voice, Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately straightened up in her seat.
She expected some kind of instruction, but Roy's next words took her by complete surprise.
"I'll be participating in the Holy Grail War soon. The outcome is uncertain, and if I die, I want you to follow Touko. She might not be the most reliable, but at the very least, she'll make sure you live safely for the rest of your life."
"Lord Roy?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha was completely caught off guard.
"Don't dwell on it too much—just a possibility."
Roy took a bite of mapo tofu and mixed it with his rice.
"It's better to have a plan now rather than wait until it's too late. I'll fight with everything I have to survive, of course, but battles like these are unpredictable, and no one can guarantee the outcome."
Roy's tone was calm, even when discussing the possibility of his own death. There wasn't a hint of fear or hesitation on his face.
It was as if he had already foreseen his own end, or perhaps, he was simply accustomed to the idea of death, prepared for the possibility of dying in this Holy Grail War.
He was utterly composed.
"Isn't there a way to avoid participating?" Utaha asked, unable to suppress the question.
"There isn't."
Roy refused without even a second thought.
"I've been waiting here for three years, all for this moment. There's no backing out now."
His words were more resolute than Utaha had imagined.
So resolute, in fact, that it bordered on stubbornness.
No one would be able to change his mind, no matter what they said.
Utaha could sense this clearly.
"If you can't return to your own world and I die, then consider this place your new home," Roy added with a sudden smile.
A smile like warm sunshine breaking through the winter chill, sweeping away the heavy atmosphere at the table.
"A person's life is a journey of constantly finding new homes. If you feel lost, start by adapting here."
"Don't worry! We'll protect Master!" Miss Okita chimed in with a bright smile, seizing the moment.
"I, Okita Sōji, will absolutely protect Master. If anyone wants to harm him, they'll have to get through me first!"
Utaha fell silent.
With her current position, she knew there was nothing she could say that would change Roy's mind.
So, the only thing she could do was watch over the household in his absence.
And…
"Lord Roy, I pray for your safe return."
"Thank you for your kind words."
After dinner, Roy went to take a bath.
Meanwhile, Aizaka and Kasumigaoka Utaha tidied up the dishes.
After some time had passed.
Aizaka suddenly slammed her hand down on the countertop.
Kasumigaoka Utaha stared at her in shock as Aizaka shouted angrily,
"How could Okita Sōji possibly be a girl?!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha thought about it for a moment.
Then realization dawned.
And she, too, was shocked.
———
By the time Roy stepped out of the bath, night had completely fallen.
"Lord Roy."
Aizaka was waiting for him outside the bathroom door, as if she had been waiting for some time.
"Whoa, you scared me!"
Roy jumped, giving her a bewildered look.
Aizaka, with skills like these, did your lady Rin know how stealthy you were?
"My apologies."
"No problem. What's up?"
"I wanted to ask if Lady Rin will be participating in the Holy Grail War as well?"
Aizaka's eyes were filled with deep concern.
The Aozaki family had Roy and those two extraordinary sisters. To be blunt, even if Roy were to die, with his final instructions, the Aozaki sisters would take care of Kasumigaoka Utaha, and she would still live comfortably.
But Aizaka's situation was different.
The Tohsaka family had only Rin left.
If Rin were to die in the Holy Grail War, what would become of Aizaka, a mere refugee?
Though she felt guilty, Aizaka's first priority was her own survival.
Thinking about the fate of someone like Aki Tomoya, Aizaka couldn't help but shiver.
She was well aware of her own beauty. Without Rin as her shield, she would almost certainly become a target for magi.
Even with her skills, there would be no escaping their clutches. Finding another kind magus like Roy or Rin? That wasn't something she could count on.
"Yes, Rin will participate."
Roy nodded.
"Tohsaka and I have formed an alliance, and during this Holy Grail War, we'll be acting together. She'll be coming here soon, so if you have anything to say, you can speak to her then."
"I understand. Thank you very much."
Aizaka nodded, retreating quietly.
"By the way, where's Touko?"
Roy looked around. He hadn't seen Touko anywhere since dinner.
"Lady Touko has already left."
"What?!"
Roy was shocked.
He hadn't even changed out of his bathrobe yet as he dashed toward his bedroom.
He frantically rummaged through his things, his expression turning dark.
"Lord Roy, is something wrong?"
Aizaka, following him to the door, asked nervously, seeing his grim face.
Could an enemy already be upon them?
Instead, she saw Roy holding up an empty cloth bag.
"My savings!"
"My savings are gone again! Half a year's worth, and she stole it again!"
"Aizaka, we're going to have to tighten our belts for the next few days!"
"...Huh?"
Aizaka stood there in stunned silence for a long moment, before finally making a sound of disbelief.
The wealthy Aizaka couldn't comprehend.
Why did a magus of Roy's stature have to worry about money?
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