The next destination was the Fairy Kingdom of Britain — a lostbelt overflowing with fairies, lies, and malice. Yet before they could officially set foot upon that cursed land, a period of rest was absolutely necessary.
This was especially true for the people of Chaldea. They had only just survived the great war on Mount Olympus; their nerves were still stretched to the breaking point.
And so, at Steve's suggestion or rather, his enthusiastic encouragement, and thanks to a coincidental minor anomalous reading detected by the observation team, what was officially labeled a pre-battle rest period began in grand fashion. In reality, it was nothing more than a publicly funded sightseeing trip — a full-scale summer camp.
Sunlight.
A lakeside beach. Forest.
And… swimsuits.
"Hmm… This air, this humidity, and this wonderfully lively concentration of magical energy!"
Steve stood on the lakeside promenade, arms spread wide, drawing in a deep breath.
He had already shed his crisp red military uniform and was dressed in proper vacation attire: a loose, soft white short-sleeved T-shirt, palm-tree-patterned beach shorts, sandals, and large black sunglasses. He looked less like a hero saving humanity and more like an ordinary college student who had escaped to the countryside to beat the summer heat.
"This is exactly what summer is supposed to feel like!"
Steve pushed his sunglasses up and swept his gaze across the group of beautiful women gathered at the camp.
The lineup was truly spectacular.
Not only were Chaldea's original members present, but even former enemies — the Crypters — had joined them.
The first thing that caught the eye was a couple who looked as though the words real life had been engraved on their foreheads.
"Lord Xiang Yu! Look at this! This shaved ice looks delicious!"
"Very well, Yu. If you wish to eat it, then we shall buy it."
A short distance away, beneath a parasol, Consort Yu — or rather, Akuta Hinako — was happily nestled against a certain man's side. At this moment, she was no longer the difficult, perpetually frowning grumpy old woman everyone knew.
She wore an extremely bold black lace-up bikini that perfectly accentuated her elegant figure as a True Ancestor. Over it she had thrown only a white jacket, which fluttered gently in the lake breeze, radiating the irresistible allure of a mature woman.
But the most shocking sight was the man beside her.
He was neither a centaur-type weapon nor a mechanical monster. He was a human male with black hair, golden eyes, a powerfully built frame, and a dignified, handsome face.
Xiang Yu.
This was the Human Mode Steve had specially created for him by combining the immortal magical data obtained from the First Emperor, his own world-shaking wisdom, and future biotechnology. While his combat strength remained unchanged, in everyday life he had finally regained the true appearance of the Hegemon-King that Consort Yu remembered.
At present, Xiang Yu wore only black swim trunks. His rock-hard, trained muscles were fully exposed. He held two shaved ices in his hands and gazed at his wife with gentle affection. She, in turn, looked as happy as a little girl.
"This is… almost blindingly bright."
Steve sighed, then turned his gaze toward the opposite direction.
Beneath the shade of the trees, the other members of Group A had gathered.
"Oh my, Ophelia-chan~ I already told you there's no need to be so embarrassed!"
Peperoncino, dressed in a loud Hawaiian shirt, smiled brightly as he gently pushed the blushing girl forward. "This swimsuit suits you perfectly! Really! It's adorable!"
Ophelia, who had been nudged out from behind him, was awkwardly tugging at the hem of her skirt.
Unlike Consort Yu's bold choice, she wore a relatively conservative black-and-white one-piece swimsuit. The carefully designed frills and lace details, however, only emphasized her unique, somewhat ascetic and pure aura.
When she finally removed her blindfold and revealed her differently colored demonic eyes — now fully under her control — she looked like a lily blooming beneath the night sky.
"Is… is it really okay, Pepe-san…?"
Ophelia's voice was barely audible. Her gaze, however, unconsciously drifted toward Wodime, who was standing nearby.
"Of course it is!"
Pepe gave a thumbs-up and called out, "Kirschtaria! Come take a look! Doesn't Ophelia look especially charming today?"
"Hm?"
Wodime turned around. For a moment he simply stared at the girl standing shyly in the sunlight. Then, with his usual elegant and sincere smile, he spoke.
"Indeed. You look very beautiful."
"Ophelia, that outfit suits you wonderfully."
"!!!!"
Steam instantly burst from the top of Ophelia's head. She froze on the spot like a boiled shrimp. Had Pepe not been supporting her, she would likely have fainted from sheer happiness.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk… Ah, youth."
Steve shook his head. If he kept watching, he was going to get diabetes.
He decided it was time to go find his own.
His eyes locked onto an orange figure playing in the lake.
Fujimaru Ritsuka.
She was wearing Chaldea's latest swimsuit release — the Tropical Summer Memories style: a white bikini paired with denim short pants. It was bright, youthful, and full of energy.
Yet Steve had always sensed something in this girl — someone who had shouldered the fate of humanity through countless life-and-death battles — a warmth far beyond her years.
A kindness that embraced all things.
A quiet sense of belonging that gave peace to every Servant, whether hero, monster, or god.
Judging by Steve's rather peculiar experience-point system… it strongly resembled an exceptionally powerful maternal instinct.
"Ritsuka~"
Wearing what he considered his most handsome smile, Steve strolled over with a relaxed gait.
"Ah, Steve!"
Ritsuka, who had been playing with Fou in the water, turned around. Her orange eyes immediately curved into happy crescents.
"Did you come to play in the water too? It feels wonderful!"
"Playing in the water is definitely the best."
Steve walked up beside her, naturally crouched down, and met her gaze at eye level. Through his sunglasses he openly admired her healthy, glowing skin and innocent smile.
"But rather than playing in the water… I'd like to talk with you."
His voice was low and deliberately charming.
"After all, ever since we returned from Olympus, we haven't had much time alone together. It's difficult to say certain things when the conference room is full of people."
"Huh?"
Ritsuka froze for a second, then her cheeks flushed pink.
She still clearly remembered the handshake on Olympus, the kiss on her forehead on Valentine's Day, and the many times this man had pulled her back from the brink of death as though guided by divine intervention.
Her feelings toward Steve were complicated — dependence, admiration, and a distinctly girlish flutter.
"Um… Steve, what did you want to talk about?"
Ritsuka desperately poked at the water's surface.
"Let's talk about the future. About life. Or…"
Steve removed his sunglasses. His jet-black eyes gazed straight into hers.
"Once this mission is over, where should we go for our long vacation? Let's decide together."
The air between them instantly grew hot.
The setting sun's afterglow sparkled across the lake. The girl's embarrassed expression and the man's affectionate gaze created a scene that was beautiful… and dangerously ambiguous.
Ritsuka's heart began to pound violently.
Steve's face was right in front of her, yet instead of pulling back, she found herself leaning slightly forward…
At that critical moment when something seemed about to happen—
"Senpai! You can't do that!"
A thunderous shout rang out.
Thud!
A massive purple shield slammed down with impossible precision into the narrow gap — less than ten centimeters — between Steve and Ritsuka.
Smack—!
The shield struck Steve squarely in the face. He was sent flying backward like a swatted fly.
"M-Mash?!"
Ritsuka yelped in surprise.
Mash stood there in her Perpetual Summer swimsuit, expression serious. One hand gripped her shield, the other rested on her hip. Her purple eyes burned with intense light..
"Steve! This distance is unacceptable! It violates the Chaldea Disciplinary Committee's regulations on safe contact distance between Masters and Servants of the opposite sex!"
Mash declared with righteous fervor. "Even during vacation, we cannot afford to let our guard down!"
"Especially someone like you — a dangerous individual who uses strange gadgets and smooth words to confuse the senpai!"
"Hey now, Mash…"
Steve rubbed his nose and crawled back up from the sand. "I just wanted to have a conversation with Ritsuka. What's the big problem? Also, since when does a Chaldea Disciplinary Committee exist? You just made that up on the spot, didn't you?"
"Whether I made it up on the spot or not is irrelevant!"
Mash planted herself firmly in front of Ritsuka like a kitten fiercely guarding its food and refused to budge.
"Hmm. Physical defense appears impossible to breach."
Steve sighed. He had been about to change tactics and use his Anywhere Door for a flanking maneuver when—
A cold hand suddenly grabbed the back of his collar from behind.
"Got you, you little troublemaker."
A chilling, icy voice whispered beside his ear.
Steve froze. He slowly turned his head.
Standing there was Sion, wearing a purple one-piece swimsuit and glasses, holding a portable terminal in one hand. She looked down at him with a gentle smile.
"S-Sion? Weren't you inside the tent running calculations?"
"I was. At first."
Sion pushed her glasses up. A strange glint flashed across the lenses.
"However, Trismegistus II issued an emergency alert. The hormone concentration and scent of love readings in this area have entered a dangerously uncontrolled state and are affecting the Singularity's stability."
"According to the calculations… you are the source."
Without another word, Sion grabbed Steve's collar and began dragging him away.
"Come along. There are still several unresolved equations in the spatial-folding algorithm of the Recovery Bag. Tonight, you will serve as my personal computing terminal."
"Wait—! Sion! Let go! I want to stay with Ritsuka! I need maternal affection! I don't want overtime—!"
Steve's horrified screams echoed across the beach as two long drag marks were carved into the sand. He was mercilessly hauled toward the tent that had become a hell of data and formulas.
Watching the scene unfold, Da Vinci-chan and Director Goredolf, who had been standing near the barbecue grill, both let out heavy sighs.
"My, my… Steve really is quite popular, isn't he?"
Da Vinci-chan took a bite of kebab and smiled brightly.
"Is this what they call a battlefield? It looks messy, but somehow it also feels rather happy."
"Hmph. Shameless brats."
Goredolf skillfully flipped a piece of meat on the grill, his expression indignant.
"They're supposed to be fighting the most dangerous Lostbelt of all, yet here they are indulging in romance… The youth these days have no sense of crisis whatsoever!"
The portly director suddenly paused. His gaze drifted toward U-Olga Marie, who was pouring wine for Holmes. In a voice so quiet it was almost inaudible, he muttered:
"…Though it wouldn't be so bad if someone tried to steal me away like that."
"Director, did you say something?"
"No, nothing at all! I was simply saying the meat is grilled to perfection! Here, eat while it's hot!"
The sun was setting.
In this brief yet precious summer evening, laughter, light-hearted banter, and the occasional scream wove together into a gentle symphony called everyday life.
This was the calm before the storm.
And that, precisely, was why they had to fight — to protect moments like these.
…
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