The sea wind blew harshly along the southwestern fringes of Britain, at Tintagel.
Behind an old cabin steeped in memories of Kay and the Artoria sisters' childhood, two simple graves lay side by side, surrounded by vines and wildflowers.
Kay stood in silence, both hands buried deep in his trouser pockets, gazing down at the two headstones.
One was the grave of his mother, who had passed away when he was very young, and the other was his father's, who had breathed his last two years ago.
It was the grave of Black Knight Ector.
The Pendragon sisters, along with their Servants and Bagest, kept their distance, maintaining silence so as not to disturb Kay's grief.
"…Sorry I'm late."
After a long silence, Kay's heavy voice was scattered by the wind off Tintagel.
"A child who's journeyed far cannot be there for their parent's final moments—but at least the funeral should have been carried out by my own hands. I couldn't even see them laid to rest."
Kay gently placed his hand on Ector's headstone.
Rough, crude letters carved into the stone. They were just like the man Ector had been in life.
"Father was so gruff, always acting cold. He was taciturn even when eating the meals I made him."
A faint, bittersweet smile formed at the corner of Kay's mouth.
"But I always knew. He was only clumsy because it was his first time being a father. Mother died early, and he didn't know how to be around me. Even if he seemed indifferent on the surface, he was always worried about me, loved me as his son. Even if he never said it… I felt it anyway."
Kay pulled out a small leather flask. It contained a very potent, fragrant special spirit he had fermented from wild fruits and grains during his time in the [Abyssal Realm].
Glug glug.
Kay slowly poured the spirit over Ector's grave, and then over his mother's.
"This is the wine I made myself. I wanted to pour it for you in person when I returned, but… tough luck. Have a drink together with Mother, wherever you are."
The spirit's mist scattered on the wind, filling the area around the cabin with a rich fruit aroma.
"You must have worried so much hearing news of us all this time. You don't have to worry anymore. I'm safe. I've fixed all the broken ones, and now everything's fine."
Stifling his tears, Kay forced a grin as though putting on a brave face.
"Also… I've got a woman now. More than one, actually. You always teased me, saying I was so cold I'd never marry. But I guess that explosive popularity of yours in your youth is a family trait."
When Kay glanced back over his shoulder, the sisters and Servants who had been watching silently startled and cleared their throats or blushed. Kay turned his head back to the headstones.
"And—and Father… I even have a daughter now? Of course she can't be here at the moment, but she takes after her mother so much, she must be a real beauty. I'll bring her to you when I get the chance."
Kay set the empty flask neatly in front of the stones.
"So… us living and you resting in peace—that's all that matters now. Don't worry about us anymore. Rest easy. Well, I still have to deal with that Merlin brat for you… but I won't go overboard for vengeance. You know how Scáthach was."
"If you return to Britain, the time will come to take vengeance on Merlin. Taking revenge is fine. But do not let that vengeful spirit consume you. If revenge becomes the reason for your life, you will be destroyed like countless avengers before you. Revenge must never be the top priority. What is always important is your own happiness. Never forget that revenge comes second."
"So… don't worry. I'll get my revenge, but I won't let that ruin my life. So rest easy."
Kay bowed deeply in silent prayer one last time, then turned his back without hesitation.
Although a faint moisture glistened in his eyes, his steps no longer felt heavy.
"Brother…"
Artoria, tears brimming in her eyes, approached and gently grabbed his sleeve.
"Are you sure you can just leave like this? Couldn't you stay a little longer…?"
"No. I've let go of all my regrets."
Kay ruffled Artoria's hair roughly and forced a smile.
"If children stand at their parents' graves looking all pitiful and full of regrets, Mom and Dad won't be able to rest easy either. The living have to look forward."
Kay took one last look at the old cabin at Tintagel, brimming with nostalgic memories, then turned and called out with vigor:
"Alright, wipe those tears! Let's go home."
Kay cast one look at his hometown, then at his parents' graves, before riding Caster's teleportation circle back to Logres.
Back at Camelot's inner keep, in Kay's spacious temporary bedchamber.
"There, there. Glug glug, you're doing great. Take your time."
Kay sat on a plush sofa, cradling homunculus infant Mordred in one arm, expertly guiding the feeding bottle to her lips.
It was some mysterious milk Tamamo had whipped up from who-knows-what.
Artoria watched the heartwarming scene with a complicated look, glancing from side to side.
Since returning from Tintagel, she had sensed a strange shift in the air around Kay brought on by the other sisters and Servants hovering nearby.
Finally unable to hold back, Artoria slid into the seat next to Kay, pouted, and asked:
"Um, Brother… what exactly is our relationship?"
At her blunt question, every woman's gaze in the room turned to Kay.
They all pretended to be doing something else, but their ears were perked up, waiting for his answer. After all, Artoria was the legitimate king of Britain and the first younger sister in name.
Being the most esteemed and popular in Britain, she was a formidable rival.
Of course, Lancer, also a king, and Artoria Lancer Alter, with her entirely different build, were completely at ease.
Bagest, too, seemed utterly unconcerned by Artoria.
"Relationship? What kind of relationship?"
Kay carefully laid Mordred down, twisted his body, and faced Artoria.
"Are you really asking because you don't know?"
"Huh? What do you mean…? Nngh?!"
Suddenly, Kay's large hand shot out and snatched Artoria by the nape of her neck.
Before she could even draw a breath, Kay's lips claimed hers in a ferocious kiss.
"…!!!!"
The air in the room froze.
Artoria's eyes widened as if they would pop, Lily dropped her Caliburn to the floor in shock, sparks crackled from Caster's staff, and the Alters clicked their tongues in disbelief.
A deep, unambiguous few seconds of French kiss.
Kay broke the kiss, panting, and tapped Artoria's nose, which was as red as a tomato.
"This kind of relationship. Got it now?"
"B-Brother… th-this… isn't good for the heart♡"
Artoria, face flushed as if smoking, covered it with both hands and collapsed onto the sofa.
For Kay, any sense of resistance was gone. This was how they would all find happiness together, and he had resolved to accept it now.
"Now, now, our Mordred. Done eating? Let's help you digest."
Kay ignored Artoria's struggling in the corner and the other women exuding murderous intent. He lifted Mordred up to rest against his shoulder and gently patted her broad back.
Burp!
A small, cute baby burp echoed through the room.
Medusa closed her book, pushed up her glasses, and muttered coldly:
"This man… even with a baby in his arms, his skill at wooing women is extraordinary."
"By the way, Master. Earlier outside, it looked like you were preparing something special for dinner tonight. Am I right?"
At Medusa's question, Kay laid Mordred down again and gave a wry smile.
"Ah, you noticed? Tonight's dinner is hagfish."
"Hagfish, huh… I see."
Jeanne d'Arc Alter frowned.
"Earlier, I saw you rubbing those creepy shell-less leeches with salt. You're telling me you're eating those? I still can't get used to it."
At that moment, Tamamo swished her tail and flashed a sly smile.
"Oh my, as expected of Master! Isn't this the perfect menu for a night like tonight?♡ Let me explain for those who don't know… hagfish have been regarded as the ultimate stamina food in the East since ancient times! In other words, the epitome of vigor-boosting, virility-enhancing cuisine~♡"
"…Virility?!"
All the women's eyes in the room lit up like feral beasts in an instant.
"Ho ho. Virility. So that means the Master's stamina will expand further. Now that is something to look forward to."
"Brother… tonight can I join in too…? I mean? Even Lily can do it, right?!"
"Lily, I still haven't tried it myself. Artoria X has done it too, so I can't be the one who hasn't."
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room changed in an instant into a sticky, hair-trigger battlefield.
"Ha ha ha, yeah. Maybe it's because I just came back from Tintagel, but I'm feeling a bit empty and could use some comfort."
Kay's eyes glinted with a dark light like a beast in the mage's realm as he smiled.
"Everyone brace yourselves. Tonight, I'm gonna love you so hard that Camelot's beds will break, and I won't leave a single bone unpampered."
That night, in the king's bedchamber of Camelot, a war like none other is said to have broken out.