A February morning. Looking out through the window, the world was draped in a thick, white mist, through which distant landscapes were only faintly visible.
Two days had passed since the intense battle at the eastern Seaside Park. Since then, the Servants seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no trace of their presence. The Holy Church and the Tohsaka family had mobilized their secular influence to brush off the devastation in the warehouse district as a mere gas explosion.
Inside the Kamitani residence, Odin and Sakura sat on the sofa chatting, while Kamitani Yuu was in the kitchen preparing breakfast for them.
"Um... Uncle Odin, can I ask you a question?" Sakura gently swung her legs. Still young, her legs had that soft, "baby fat" texture, looking as white and tender as jelly.
"Of course you can, little one," Odin said with a kind expression, looking down at the black-haired girl.
"Thank you, Uncle Odin!" After her polite thanks, Sakura pointed a slender hand at a copy of Norse Mythology on the table. She tilted her head up, looking at Odin with her clear eyes. "This book says the Goddess Frigg is your daughter, but also your wife... is that true?"
"Huh? Daughter?"
Hearing such an unexpected question, Odin was momentarily stunned. He hadn't realized modern humans could be so imaginative with their fabrications. Frigg was clearly the daughter of the Night Goddess Nótt; how could she be his?
"Oh... is what the book says a lie?" Seeing Odin's shock, Sakura's voice dropped with disappointment.
Tsk, this little girl is a bit unusual—
As if seeing through the essence of Sakura's soul, a mysterious look flashed across Odin's face. Could it be...
Realizing something, Odin turned his head slightly toward the kitchen. As if seeing through the walls to the busy Yuu, he whispered in a nearly inaudible voice, "If that's the case, things are about to get very interesting~"
Embracing the idea that watching chaos is better than stopping it, Odin smiled. He reached out to pat Sakura's head and said with a hint of mischief, "No, what the book says is true. Frigg is indeed my daughter."
Odin: Sorry, junior brother, I'll let you take the fall for this one!
"Really?" Hearing his answer, Sakura perked up instantly, a spark of anticipation appearing in her pale blue eyes.
"Of course it's true." Odin's smile deepened, looking quite pleased with himself. "After all, for a man to love his daughter is a natural and beautiful thing."
Even without using magecraft, Odin knew the little one in front of him wasn't Yuu's biological daughter. Thus, he felt no restraint in misleading her.
"I see..." The young Sakura nodded, only half-understanding the weight of those words. Though she couldn't yet grasp the full meaning, she thanked Odin in her soft, sweet voice.
"You're very welcome." Facing the little girl's gratitude, Odin waved his hand. Then, like a thief with a guilty conscience, he leaned in and whispered, "By the way, this question is our little secret. You mustn't tell your father, okay?"
"Eh? I can't tell Daddy?"
"Absolutely not. If he finds out, he might start to dislike you for it," Odin said, skillfully coaxing her like a professional tempter.
"...I understand. Sakura won't tell Daddy." After a moment of hesitation, Sakura reluctantly agreed to the request.
"Sakura, Senior, breakfast is ready. Come and eat!"
At that moment, Yuu—completely unaware that Odin was busy corrupting his daughter—emerged from the kitchen carrying bowls and chopsticks, calling out to them in a warm voice.
"Coming! We'll be right there~"
After breakfast, Sakura returned to her room to review the Imaginary Number Magecraft she had learned the day before. Yuu and Odin remained in the living room, sipping tea and discussing the Holy Grail War.
"Senior, how much longer will it take to completely purify 'All the World's Evil'?" Yuu took a sip of the crisp tea and looked at Odin with a smile.
"Hmm~ let me think." Odin stroked his chin, feigning serious thought. After a moment, the Norse Great God spoke in an uncertain tone. "I'd say about six more days?"
Looking at his suddenly unreliable "Senior," Yuu sighed helplessly. "...I see. Six days then?"
"Yes." Odin nodded, then his tone shifted. "However, if more than four Servants are retired during this period, the purification ritual will fail. If that happens, even if I sacrifice this Servant body, I won't be able to turn the tide."
A look of gravity crossed Yuu's face. He knew exactly what the leakage of "All the World's Evil" would mean for this city—thousands of innocent people would perish in the catastrophe.
"Don't worry, I was only describing the worst-case scenario," Odin said, waving his hand. His voice carried a reassuring magical quality. "If things get critical, just come and ask for my help."
"I will..." Yuu nodded, accepting the offer.
Though he said that, Yuu didn't intend to let Odin reveal himself so soon—at least not until the "Golden King" was dealt with. As for which four Servants to eliminate, Yuu already had a plan in mind.
"By the way, Junior, do you have any spare Class Cards?" Odin adjusted his posture and asked with a light laugh.
"I do, why?" Yuu asked, puzzled.
"I've been doing a little research on them lately." A glimmer shone in Odin's crimson eyes. "If my experiments are correct, I believe I can replicate the knowledge of Imaginary Number Magecraft inside a Class Card. That way, after I leave, you won't have to worry about finding someone to teach that little girl."
Yuu fell silent. He looked deeply at Odin, then, with a surge of prana, a new golden card appeared in his hand.
"Then I'll thank you on Sakura's behalf," Yuu said sincerely as he handed the blank Class Card to Odin.
"No need for such politeness." Odin tucked the card away, a meaningful look on his face as if he were anticipating something. "That little one is to my liking. Consider this a gift for our first meeting."
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There's a few advance chapters on my P@treon
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