Just as the group chat was buzzing over the idea of new adventures,
a slightly tired, serious-sounding message cut in.
Tohsaka Rin: "@Rei Ao, Rei Ao-nii, we're kind of in trouble over here."
Rei Ao: "Oh? Rin, how's your Holy Grail War going? Did you run into problems?"
Tohsaka Rin: "Problems? It's beyond problems, it's a total mess!"
Tohsaka Rin: "Based on the info you gave us before, we did encounter some Servants that match the Fourth Holy Grail War lineup."
Tohsaka Rin: "There's a Lancer who fights with two long spears, crazy good at martial arts, and with a really upright, honest look in his eyes."
Tohsaka Rin: "Iri-nee even fought him once."
Rei Ao: "Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, first warrior of the Fianna Knights. Sounds like that's definitely him."
Tohsaka Rin: "And then there's this guy covered in ominous black aura, wearing black armor. He attacks anything that moves like a madman."
Tohsaka Rin: "He especially fixates on Iri-nee. The hatred coming off him is intense. He really feels like a Berserker."
Rei Ao: "A black knight… that should be Lancelot, the 'Knight of the Lake' among the Knights of the Round Table. For various reasons he's obsessed with King Arthur to the point of madness. It makes sense he'd specifically target Iri."
Tohsaka Rin: "There's also this overly hearty, super loud uncle with a big beard who rides a bull-drawn chariot and calls himself 'the King of Conquest,' Iskandar."
Tohsaka Rin: "That uncle just barged right into our temporary base to invite Iri-nee to join his army. I honestly didn't even know what to say to that."
Rei Ao: "Mm."
Tohsaka Rin: "Oh right, and there was another lunatic!"
Tohsaka Rin: "Yeah, some old man in weird robes with a sleazy, deranged look in his eyes."
Tohsaka Rin: "He ambushed us out of nowhere and summoned a huge monster made of nothing but tentacles and eyeballs. I think he called it a sea demon."
Tohsaka Rin: "The whole scene was absolutely disgusting."
Tohsaka Rin: "Luckily, Iri-nee used her Noble Phantasm, the Sword of Promised Victory, and wiped that thing and the creepy old man out in one go."
Rei Ao: "Bluebeard—Gilles de Rais. Once the companion of the saint Jeanne d'Arc, later a fallen marshal of France."
Rei Ao: "If I remember right, his Master should be a serial killer."
Tohsaka Rin: "Oh, oh, that sounds right. He kidnapped my friend and then got taken care of by Sister Medusa."
Rei Ao: "Tsk, good. Wiping out scum like that early is a blessing for Fuyuki City."
Rei Ao: "Diarmuid, Lancelot, Iskandar, Gilles de Rais… that does match the Fourth Holy Grail War roster."
Tohsaka Rin: "Oh, oh, and there's that super annoying, full-of-himself golden jerk."
Tohsaka Rin: "He even got into a huge shouting match with Ishtar-Rin and Ereshkigal."
Tohsaka Rin: "He called himself the oldest of kings—Gilgamesh."
Rei Ao: "Oh?"
Rei Ao's movements in the bath stilled for a moment.
What did he just hear?
The Golden Boy? Gilgamesh?
According to the original Fourth Holy Grail War storyline, he should be the Servant summoned by Tohsaka Tokiomi.
And Kotomine Kirei was supposed to summon Assassin.
But Tohsaka Tokiomi and Kotomine Kirei are both already dead.
The Assassin slot has been taken by Medusa.
The Archer slot has been taken over by the Ishtar-Rin sisters.
Counting everyone else, all seven Servant slots are already filled.
So where did this extra Gilgamesh pop out from?
Tohsaka Rin: "He seems really strong, and he's so arrogant it's infuriating. He just tosses his treasures around and the power behind each one is insane."
Rei Ao: "And his Master?"
Tohsaka Rin: "No idea. We haven't seen his Master."
"Could it be some kind of corrective force…?"
Rei Ao narrowed his eyes.
He did not believe Gilgamesh could show up as a Servant without a Master.
Given that the Type-Moon world has a Counter Force with its own will, it wasn't impossible for some kind of corrective force to step in.
"Because of my interference, new anomalies popped up, and Gilgamesh ended up being summoned by someone else, or through some other method?"
After thinking it over a bit, Rei Ao sent Rin a warning.
Rei Ao: "That Golden Boy is a major wild card. You guys should watch him from the shadows. Once I finish my business here, I'll head over to your side."
Tohsaka Rin: "Got it!"
Tohsaka Rin: "We'll be careful and wait for your news, Rei Ao-nii."
Once he was done chatting with Tohsaka Rin,
Rei Ao withdrew his consciousness from the group chat and fully returned to the misty warmth of the bath.
In his mind, he quickly went over all the new variables in the Type-Moon Holy Grail War.
Gilgamesh's irregular appearance was definitely a warning sign.
It might not just be a problem with the Grail system itself.
It could involve deeper layers of interference from someone—or something—else.
But right now wasn't the best time to rush off and investigate.
He lowered his gaze.
After his deep "heart-to-heart" with Albedo, there was still a faint redness at the corners of her eyes.
But the gloom and paranoia that used to cloud her expression had mostly faded.
In their place was a deeper, more genuine dependence and infatuation.
Sensing Rei Ao's gaze,
she lifted her eyes to him, her voice slightly hoarse but filled with endless tenderness.
"Rei Ao-sama… do you still require your subordinate's service?"
On his other side, Shalltear had already long since run out of patience.
Like a kitten eager for its master's affection, she rubbed her soft cheek against Rei Ao's arm.
Her crimson eyes brimmed with unhidden longing.
"Rei Ao-sama, this time belongs to us. You're not allowed to get distracted~"
The others, too, were watching him with hopeful, yearning looks.
Rei Ao smiled faintly and pushed Tohsaka Rin's situation to the back of his mind for now.
Since he'd decided to properly soothe the hearts of Nazarick's beauties, he might as well give them his full attention.
He reached out, one arm circling Albedo's slender yet powerful waist, the other hand gently stroking Shalltear's silver hair,
feeling their bodies tremble just a little with anticipation.
"You're right," he said softly. "Right now, this time belongs to Nazarick."