Chapter 574: Doomed! I'm Surrounded by Beauties
Nero Claudius.
The noble and extravagant Rose Princess, the vibrant and radiant Flower of Rome.
Before this maiden, the victor of the Holy Grail War, the contractor who tamed the Beast, the young man who triumphed again and again amidst countless heroic contenders… found himself utterly flustered for the first time, his hand holding the fork frozen mid-air.
His eyes flickering with nervousness and hope, Sakatsuki stared intently at the beautiful girl before him and tentatively spoke: "You…"
Your Majesty, do you remember the governor of the Second Singularity by the lake… ahem, I mean—
"Umu?" Nero tilted her head slightly, her lovely eyes scrutinizing the handsome white-haired young man before breaking into an innocent smile. "Ah, I understand!"
Understand? Could it be…
His heart seemed to pound loudly in his chest. Amidst the sudden surge of excitement, Sakatsuki watched as Nero clasped her hands together and cheerfully declared:
"Thou wished to ask if I've eaten, correct? I recall this is an Eastern custom. Umu, unfortunately, I've been so busy running about that I haven't had time for a meal!"
"So—" The crimson emperor blinked, her playful cunning unmistakable. "Could thou treat me to a meal, kind sir? I would be ever so grateful!"
???
Sakatsuki was dumbfounded, but under Nero's expectant gaze, he quickly surrendered, smiling wryly as he nodded. Nero let out a delighted cheer and promptly took a seat at the table for two, pulling the half-eaten mapo tofu toward herself and eagerly picking up her fork and knife.
"I shall partake~~"
As for Sakatsuki, once he gave his consent, he remained motionless, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Nero.
He had thought that if he were to reunite with Nero, it would only be within the halls of Chaldea, under Fujimaru or Ritsuka's care—perhaps in some fleeting moment, in a pristine corridor where the fiery maiden would blaze into his sight before rushing off again, leaving behind nothing but a fleeting glance before they each went their separate ways.
After all, everything that transpired in the Second Singularity had been nothing more than an illusion—a battleground constructed by the reborn Beast to test its contractor.
As the vessel, Nero had witnessed everything from beginning to end, yet she had merely been an observer. Even when Sakatsuki—or rather, the Great Qin's Martial Lord—had turned his gaze upon her, all he had seen was the lurking shadow of the Beast.
She had been like a backdrop essential to every stage, a necessary yet insignificant prop or bridge, bearing the joy of those who sought each other out, yet destined to receive nothing in return. People would weep over the tale of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl's reunion, but who would spare a thought for the magpies that formed their bridge?
So, perhaps there was guilt buried deep within.
Nero Claudius was no mere background, nor was she an emotionless vessel—she had laughed more beautifully than anyone, burned more brilliantly than anyone. Even Sakatsuki had once been set ablaze by the heat of her love.
Yet in the end, fate left her sitting in the audience, watching her governor ride off into the sunset with the beauty in his arms amidst cheers, departing her life with both tenderness and cruelty alongside another who was not her—never to meet again, like stars that never share the sky.
It was like waking from a fairytale dream, the familiar warmth still lingering in her hands, only to grow cold as night fell. Both that story and that person faded bit by bit into oblivion.
Even if she saw that familiar figure again, things would never be the same.
"You seem quite familiar with Us. Have you traveled to the Empire before, a wanderer come to admire Our glory?"
So he truly had no memory left...
Sakatsuki sighed inwardly but had no intention of bringing up the past. "Let's say that's the case. After all, I'm used to serving an emperor as beautiful and noble as you."
"Umu umu! To think you'd be such a sweet-talking pretty boy!" Nero nodded approvingly, shoveling a heaping spoonful of mapo tofu into her mouth. Just as she was about to introduce herself, her emerald eyes widened abruptly, her fair face flushing crimson.
Hot—so hot!
It was as if Mount Vesuvius had erupted on her tongue!
An indescribable, fearsome sensation known as 'spiciness' exploded in her mouth. The naive Nero had no idea that what Sakatsuki was eating was the infamous, lethally spicy mapo tofu renowned throughout the entire Type-Moon world—a dish even said to be capable of killing!
This spice concealed supreme deliciousness, but those who couldn't endure the initial agony were unworthy of reaching such heights!
Yet Nero, in this moment, couldn't care less. All she knew was that she was about to die from the heat. Desperately, she reached for the glass of water on the table, its surface rippling with her frantic reflection.
If only she could reach it—
Snap.
Her wrist was caught in a firm grip. At the same time, the young man lifted his head and gave her a 'cold' glance before waving over a waiter. After murmuring a few instructions, the glass of water was taken away under Nero's despairing gaze, carried off into the distance.
Like a whip lashing tender skin, the sudden, intense pain brought tears to Nero's eyes. Staring at the handsome silver-haired youth, she could only see cruelty in him now—a devil in human form.
To think he'd poison Us like this! What a cunning, insidious plot!
Nero struggled, but the spice robbed her of strength. She wanted to draw her sword, but combat was forbidden in Mooncell's academy. Even if she fought, she was merely a Servant without a Master, forced to ration her magical energy—let alone battle under such disadvantageous conditions.
Could it be… that she would meet such a fiery end here?
Just as despair washed over her, the waiter who had taken her glass returned. On his tray sat several bottles of milky-white liquid.
Milk?
"Capsaicin isn't water-soluble. Drinking water would only spread it further, making it worse." Sakatsuki shot the foolish emperor a glance, took the milk, pried open the cap with one hand, and pressed the bottle to her lips. "Milk neutralizes capsaicin and eases the pain."
Without hesitation, Nero slightly parted her cherry lips, and without needing to lift a finger, the milk flowed into her mouth, perfectly filling it to soothe the fiery burn of the spice.
"I... I'm alive again."
With a long sigh of relief, Nero leaned back in her chair, her face full of the joy of having narrowly escaped disaster. Sakatsuki stared at her rosy lips for a long moment before reluctantly averting his gaze and casually asking, "Speaking of which, I'm quite curious—who is the Master that summoned you?"
Who? Even I don't know. When I opened my eyes, I was already looking at another Master, and a little girl at that, one I couldn't quite trust...
Nero was about to answer honestly, but then a thought struck her, and instead of confessing, she hummed, "The one who can wield this supreme sword of mine is naturally the most outstanding, the noblest Master in Tsukihimihara."
Is that so... Sakatsuki didn't doubt her, pondering as he dismissed the possibility that Draco was Nero's Master.
After all, the so-called "most outstanding, noblest Master"... could never be that gloomy, difficult-to-talk-to bad girl, right?
Perhaps due to insufficient goodwill, Nero remained wary of the young man. "Speaking of which, I still don't know your name. You're a Servant too, aren't you? So, who is your Master?"
"Hey now, at least follow the principle of equivalent exchange," Sakatsuki said with a smile. "Since I treated you to a meal, it's only fair you share some information. But extra intel comes at a price, you know."
"Hmm, so the cost lies here..." Nero grumbled as she scooped up a spoonful of tofu, pairing it with milk—surprisingly delicious. "Fine, I'll forgive you for attempting to poison the Emperor! From now on, you may call me Saber!"
Poison the Emperor?
Sakatsuki's lips twitched. This self-centered attitude was so fitting for Nero's capricious personality. "Very well, then call me Sakatsuki, dear Saber."
"Oh, Sakatsuki? It sounds a bit casual, but unexpectedly pleasant." Nero shook her head, her golden ahoge swaying. "Hmm, I'm growing quite fond of you!"
"Shall I escort you back, Saber?"
"Better not, Sakatsuki. Though you're my type, this is the finals—we must take it seriously."
Setting down her fork and knife, Nero spoke earnestly. "If we become opponents, my sword will show no mercy!"
"Is that so? I'll take your word for it."
"Hey—!"
After freeloading a meal, Nero hummed a tune and left the cafeteria in high spirits. Meanwhile, Sakatsuki snapped his fingers, signaling the waiter to clean up, then wandered around the campus, hoping to catch a glimpse of that crimson figure.
Along the way, he encountered too many familiar faces, too many unexpected heroes, even rivals whose souls resonated with his across time and space.
Hundreds of Heroic Spirits gathered here—a miracle no orthodox Holy Grail War could replicate. If someone raised a wine jug, another would cheer in response; if someone clapped and sang, another would dance along—even if, in the future, they were fated to fight to the death.
This was the romance of the Holy Grail War, a brilliance that shone eternally beyond its bloody, violent facade.
But... still couldn't find the little red dragon.
Having walked all the way to the rooftop, Sakatsuki dismissed his Crimson Moon attire and leaned against the wall in his Tsukimihara Academy uniform, letting the evening breeze wash over him. With no leads on Draco, he had to temporarily set the matter aside and return to the thoughts interrupted by Nero earlier.
If Assassin represented 'Wrath' among the seven deadly sins, then as Archer, which of the seven sins had he inherited?
Perhaps some higher will forbade him from unraveling the mystery, for familiar footsteps soon echoed on the rooftop again.
"...After checking around, the school's structure hasn't changed much from the preliminaries," came the voice of a girl who moved with deer-like grace, one hand on her hip as she surveyed the area. Spotting the young man by the rooftop edge, her eyes brightened slightly.
"Eh? Wait—you there, yes, you!"
What the—? What's going on? What are you playing at, girl?
Even in his younger form with changed appearance, it shouldn't be impossible to recognize him—Tohsaka Rin!
Sakatsuki stared blankly as the black twin-tailed girl approached, extending a slender index finger to poke his cheek.
"Come to think of it, I haven't examined the characters yet."
His facial sensors traced the path of her fingertip as it playfully glided across his cheek like a lover's tease, even giving a gentle pinch.
"Eh? You're warm! For an NPC, the craftsmanship is better than expected." Rin proceeded to thoroughly pat him down, "This face resembles that guy from the preliminaries... but there's no Master's aura... Did he die? Never thought the Moon Cell would use deceased Masters' data for character creation. Looking closely..."
Blushing faintly for some reason, Rin studied Sakatsuki's face intently and murmured:
"Unexpectedly my type."
This line sounds familiar... Did I inherit the Emiya family's legendary 'women troubles' too? Should I perform a high jump to lighten the mood...
Sakatsuki's expression grew increasingly deadpan. Just as he considered speaking up, another girl's surprised voice interrupted.
"Rin, and Sakatsuki... what are you two doing?"
Panting slightly from her sprint upstairs, Hakuno's chestnut hair fluttered as she stared in shock at the scene—Rin's hands currently resting on Sakatsuki's waist, the pose uncannily resembling the opening act of certain adult films...
"Wait! It's not what it looks like!" Rin panicked, glancing between Hakuno and the eye-rolling Sakatsuki, her flustered protests dissolving into incoherence. "You're a Servant? That child's your Master? Then that means when I was thoroughly examining your body earlier I was actually—WAAAAAH!"
As Rin's embarrassed wails filled the air, Sakatsuki gazed emptily at the sky.
Draco, Nero, Tohsaka Rin, even Kishinami Hakuno...
I'm doomed. Surrounded by beauties!