"Mn"
Irisviel blushed, then gave a sweet smile tinged with shyness and reliance.
"Good morning, Rei Ao-san."
"Good morning, Iri," he answered naturally, using a more intimate form of address.
He got up and draped a garment over her bare shoulders.
"How do you feel?"
"Mm good," Irisviel replied in a small voice, pulling the clothesstill warm with Rei Ao's scentclose around her, her heart filling with a strange new warmth. She was beginning to understand what it meant to have feelings of her own.
Then she finally remembered Saber.
"Saber?"
"She's fine," Rei Ao said with a meaningful smile.
"She might just need some time to get used to the new 'situation.'"
Sensing the unsettled fluctuation of a spiritual core in the corner, he knew the King of Knights was still working through it.
Chapter 993: Inviting Iri and Saber to Group Chat...
Because Irisviel couldn't get out of bed, Rei Ao conjured up some breakfast.
Irisviel showed great curiosityalong with clumsy handstoward the chopsticks. Rei Ao patiently taught her how to use them. The atmosphere was warm and easy, as if last night's aggressively charged conversation had never happened.
After breakfast, Rei Ao said to her, "Iri, you and Saber need to sync up as soon as possible.
"The Holy Grail War may have changed because of my involvement, but the basic rules still stand, and the other Masters and Servants won't sit around and wait to die.
"You need the power to defend yourselvesand to fight."
Beyond that, he did not plan to interfere much. With Ishtar and the others later on, facing the rest of the Servants wouldn't be an issue.
Irisviel nodded earnestly.
"I understand, Rei Ao-san. I'll do my best to get along with Saber."
"As for Saber" Rei Ao's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to the King of Knights in spirit form.
"I know you have many questions and inner conflicts.
"But the contract is sealed. Irisviel is your Master now; protecting her is your duty.
"As for the truth of the Grailand your own pathyou can ponder that in time.
"Before that, fulfill your knight's oath."
After breakfast:
"Rest a little longer, Iri," Rei Ao said gently.
"Mm." Irisviel nodded obediently, nuzzled his chest with lingering fondness, then shut her eyes as told.
Rei Ao tucked the quilt around her and finally stood. After getting dressed, he stepped out of the room.
However, the moment he crossed the threshold
Clang!
A razor-edged gust of sword wind swept toward him! The tip of an invisible blade halted at his Adam's apple, cold killing intent gathered there. One inch more and it would pierce him with ease.
At least, it wouldagainst an ordinary man.
The sword-bearer, having dispelled spirit form, was SaberArtoria Pendragon. Yet she looked nothing like her usual composed and dignified King of Knights. Her pretty face was flushed with shame and anger, her eyes burning. The hand gripping the holy sword wrapped in Invisible Air (Wind King's Barrier) trembled slightly with the extremity of her emotions.
"Rei Ao! You shameless cur!" Saber's voice shook with barely contained fury and a mortifying embarrassment. "What you did to Irisvielmy Masterlast night! And what you did to me! What exactly were you trying to do?!"
It turned out that when Saber sensed something was wrong in the room last night, her first instinct was to leave in spirit form. Yet at the very instant she tried to disperse, a formless, overwhelming power bound her fast. She couldn't move at allcouldn't even close her eyes. As if nailed in place by invisible hands, she was forced to witness an event she couldn't understand and absolutely did not wish to see.
All night long.
For the pure-minded King who strictly upheld chivalry, it was a mental torment worse than any torture. And the only one she could think of who both had the power and the gall to do such a vile thing was the inscrutable man before herRei Ao.
With the sword-tip at his throat and Saber's outraged challenge, Rei Ao's expression didn't ripple in the slightest. He acted as if the lethal holy blade weren't there, only raising an eyebrow, meeting Saber's near-flaming glare with calm eyes.
Then, coollyalmost playfullyhe asked, "Did you enjoy the view?"
"!!!"
Those three words were the final spark to the powder keg. The string named reason snapped in Saber's mind. Shame, humiliation, and a fury at being toyed with erupted like a volcano.
"You!!"
Almost by reflex, her wrist snapped forwardholy sword thrusting, charged with mana and wrath, with no intention of holding back.
At the instant the tip was about to touch Rei Ao's skin
his figure dissipated before her eyes like smoke on the wind.
No trace of magical residue. No distortion of space. He simply vanished.
Her anger-fueled stab hit nothing. With nowhere to spend that force, she stumbled, nearly losing her balance. She caught herself, shocked, and swept the corridor with her swordonly to find no sign of Rei Ao at all.
Only his teasing voice seemed to linger in the morning air of the hallway, sounding clearly in her ears:
"I have to go back. If you've got questions, ask me in the chat group."
"Chat group?" Saber blinked, not understanding the term. The next instant, a cold, mechanical chime sounded directly in the depths of her mind:
[Ding! You've been invited to join a subchannel of the Trading Chat Group. Please explore the functions on your own!]
"?!!"
Saber was stunned. What was this? A voice directly in her mind? Some kind of high-grade communication magecraft? Or the "chat group" that man mentioned?
As she hesitated, she felt a link establish between her and a certain interface. Focusing, she "looked," and a virtual screen of lightsleek and futuristicappeared within her consciousness. On it, an interface labeled Trading Chat Group was rapidly scrolling with messages.
Local World Group:
Rei Ao: "@All Members, introducing two new companions: Irisviel von Einzbern, the new Master; and Artoria Pendragon, Class Saberyour comrades-in-arms. They'll come find you later; feel free to get acquainted in advance."
~~~
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Chapter 994: Finally Safe... Everyone's Reactions...
Rin Tohsaka: "Huh?! A new Master and Servant? Rei Ao-nii, what is going on?"
Sakura Tohsaka: "Welcome Irisviel-nee, and Saber-nee"
Ishtar: "Oh? Saber? If you're a Master and a Servant, shouldn't you be enemies?"
Ishtar: "And who exactly are you, Rei Ao? This cross-world communication, and the power you showed before it's not of this world's system, is it?"
Ereshkigal: "Seconded. Though we are Servants, we can sense that you are not ordinary."
Ereshkigal: "To interfere with this world's Holy Grail War like thiswhat is your true purpose?"
Medusa: "... (observing in silence)"
Watching the messages stream by on the screen, Saber was stunned beyond measure.
Ishtar? Ereshkigal? Those names they're beings from myth and legend!
They're in this so-called chat group too? And from their tone, they already knew Rei Ao wasn't of this world!
So this chat group is some mysterious construct linking different worlds and different existences?!
Faced with the two goddesses' questions, Rei Ao replied simply and bluntly with two words:
Rei Ao: "For fun."
Ishtar: "Huh? That's it? (stares, jpg)"
Ereshkigal: "Incredible. To roil the winds of this world for such a trifling reason? (facepalm, jpg)"
Rei Ao: "smiles.jpg"
Then, no matter how the group continued to discuss or press him, Rei Ao's avatar dimmed to "offline," ignoring everything else.
Saber read the chat in silence, waves surging in her heart that wouldn't settle.
Rei Ao is he a powerful being from another world?
He stepped into the Holy Grail War and stirred up such a storm, and his reason is merely "for fun"?
The answer was so absurd it left her briefly helplessyet it also deepened her understanding of his unfathomable power and willful way of acting.
In her mind, Rei Ao's words from last night echoed again: the truth that the Grail had been tainted by the Evil of This World. If he hadn't lied, then the wish she had always pursuedthe one to change Britain's fatehad been empty from the start, and might even bring a worse disaster.
Her grip on the holy sword slowly loosened, and Saber's expression turned complicated and weary. Her long-held pillar of belief had taken a heavy blow, and after the awkward shame of last night, even someone as steely-willed as she felt a moment of confusion.
But there was one thing Rei Ao said that was rightthe knight's duty must not be forgotten.
"Phew" She drew a deep breath and forced down the tumult in her chest. The girl's eyes grew firm once more.
No matter who Rei Ao was, no matter the Grail's truth, no matter how unpredictable the futureone thing was certain now: she was Irisviel's Servant, a knight bound by contract. Protecting her Master's safety was her most important duty at this moment.
She sheathed her sword, straightened her slightly disordered armor and emotions, and turned toward Irisviel's room. She needed to check her Master's conditionand have a proper talk with this new Master who seemed quite close to Rei Ao.
At the very least, until she clarified the truth and found a new path, she would guard the person right before her. That was a responsibility no knight could shirk.
Dawn light poured through the corridor windows, falling across Saber's resoluteif slightly lonelyback.
The tide of the age had been diverted by the intervention of a visitor from another world, and the King of Knights' fate would head toward an unknown shore amidst this chaos.
Just as Saber pressed down the waves in her heart and decided to focus on guarding Irisviel, the chat-group interface in her consciousness did not fall silent. It grew even more lively.
From the main group, friends from other worlds chimed in:
Mio Akiyama: "@Rin Tohsaka, seeing you online is a relief. Rei Ao mentioned big upheavals on your endyour family and your sister were in trouble. Is everything okay now? (worried-but-gentle.jpg)"
Mikoto Misaka: "Yeah, yeah!"
Mikoto Misaka: "That guy's always all mysteriousand kind of a pervbut if he says he can fix it, it's probably fine, right?"
Mikoto Misaka: "But if you need help, say the word! I'm super strong! (fist up, lightning-effects.jpg)"
Rin Tohsaka: "Thanks for the concern, everyone. Rei Ao-nii has already helped us a lot. We're fine now."
Touka Kirishima: "As long as you're safe."
Mitsuha Miyamizu: "Ehehe, I don't really get the fighting stuff, but if you need cheering on, I'm always here! Rin-chan, Sakura-chan, be strong! (genki-full-power.jpg)"
Reading the heartfelt concern from big sisters of different worlds whom she'd never met, warmth welled up in Rin's chest. She was stubborn and proud by nature, but after her father's tragic death and all the family upheaval, her heart had been taut the whole time. Feeling this cross-world warmth now, her nose stung slightly.
Rin Tohsaka: "Thank you, everyone!"
Rin Tohsaka: "Rei Ao-nii arrived in time to save us and helped resolve the biggest threat."
Rin Tohsaka: "Now Sakura and I are both Masters, and we've got reliable Servant partners! We'll work hard to grow stronger and protect ourselves and our family! (determined.jpg)"
Just then, Rei Ao's avatar lit up again.
Rei Ao: "Don't worry. I've already made arrangements for Rin and Sakura."
Rei Ao: "The Tohsaka family'smattersare lifted as well. They're safe now and have the strength to protect themselvesand even prevailin the coming storm."
His words were as concise and steady as ever, carrying a strangely reassuring weight. Seeing that, the women in the group relaxed, and the topic drifted toward curiosity about Masters, Servants, and the Holy Grail War.
Chapter 995: Shirogane Kei Eagerness, Amano Hina...
After sending his reply, Rei Ao logged off again.
He was back in the quieter, everyday world he originally belonged to.
Light shifted.
Space itself seemed to be crossed with ease by an unseen force.
His figure appeared in a spacious living room with a modern vibe, accented by a few decorations with an otherworldly flair.
"Welcome back, Rei Ao-dono."
A gentle, slightly respectful voice sounded. A girl in a maid outfitwith a conspicuous green dragon tailTohru, smiled at him.
Beside her stood Mai Sakurajima in relaxed loungewear. She only gave him a small nod, but there was a trace of concern in her eyes.
Rei Ao dipped his head in acknowledgment, then let his gaze fall on the guest sitting on the sofa.
She was a girl with a pretty silver bob, cool in demeanor and fine-featuredShirogane Kei, Shirogane Miyuki's younger sister.
She sat very straight, hands on her knees, a little stiff with nerves. The moment Rei Ao appeared, she stood up.
"Rei Ao-senpai," she said, clear-voiced but tense.
"Kei, you're here." He smiled, easy and natural. "Mai, Tohru, I need to talk with Kei for a bit."
Both women were quick on the uptake.
"I'll go check on the laundry," Mai said, rising.
"I'll prepare some tea and snacks," Tohru added with a bow.
They left the living room, giving Rei Ao and Shirogane Kei the space to talk.
With just the two of them, a brief silence settled.
Kei lowered her head, twisting the hem of her shirt without realizing it, unsure how to begin.
Rei Ao took the seat opposite her, unhurried, and broke the silence with a gentle question:
"You came to see me on purposewhat's on your mind, Kei?"
Kei drew a deep breath, lifted her face, and met his eyes; a tangle of emotions flickered there as she said, earnest and serious, "Senpai, I came to promise you again about that matterI won't tell anyone. Not my brother, not my parents."
"'That matter,'" of course, meant the cross-world trading chat group with Rei Ao as its admin.
After he invited her into the group and she learned what it really was, she'd been stunned beyond words. Only now had she fully recovered her composure enough to come here.
Seeing how tense yet sincere she was, Rei Ao couldn't help a small smile.
"I know. I trust your word, Kei."
His tone was calm, with no hint of doubt.
Besides, even if she wanted to, the group's rules wouldn't let her reveal it.
Paradoxically, that made Kei's feelings even more complicated. She now knew a secret she shouldn't have, and had glimpsed a world far beyond anything she'd imagined. The girls in the group from all those different worldssome powerful, some strangeand the way they interacted with Rei Ao-senpai that obvious closeness and trust left Kei with an indescribable sense of distance, and a faint, nameless frustration she couldn't quite define.
