"Master... should we just kill Young Master Shiki?"
The suggestion came abruptly from Kohaku while Haruka Kasugano was staying the night at Kirie Fujyo's villa. Currently, Kohaku was busy helping him bathe. To ensure she could smoothly become his woman in the future, she had decided to start by familiarizing herself with every inch of his body. She had proactively taken over duties like bathing him, scrubbing his back, and changing his clothes. By now, she had become his most trusted personal maid.
Because she was privy to the dark secrets of the Tohno family, Haruka Kasugano occasionally shared intelligence with her. He had been complaining about Shiki's (SHIKI) constant threats and pressure, but he hadn't expected the usually gentle Kohaku to suggest taking a life so casually.
Kill Shiki?
That was unnecessary for now. Roa would eventually reincarnate into Shiki's body, which would draw Arcueid Brunestud, the White Princess of the True Ancestors, to Misaki City. If he killed Shiki now, Roa might find a different, unpredictable host, and Haruka Kasugano would lose his primary lead on finding Arcueid. Keeping Shiki alive—even if he was just a powerless, raging "incompetent"—was the wiser tactical choice.
However, more interesting than the assassination plot was her choice of words.
"Putting that aside, why the sudden change to 'Master'?" Haruka Kasugano asked, curious.
Kohaku was kneeling on the floor. One hand applied body wash while the other gripped a towel, focusing with intense concentration on cleaning and "maintaining" his Holy Sword.
"Ah..." Under her meticulous care, Haruka Kasugano couldn't help but let out a soft groan of appreciation.
"Do you not like being called Master?" Kohaku smiled brilliantly, leaning her delicate face close to the "Holy Sword," stroking it gently.
"No, I'm just a bit flattered," Haruka Kasugano replied with a smirk.
"As long as it makes you happy~!" Kohaku continued her work.
"Aren't you afraid of... this?" Haruka Kasugano asked.
Kohaku shook her head and giggled. "I was scared at first. But then I realized that in a few years, I'll be serving you just like Sister Kirie does. If I'm panicking and clueless when that time comes, wouldn't that be unseemly for a maid?"
"That's why Kohaku wanted to understand Master's body in advance."
"The more I look, the more handsome you seem~!"
Her face flushed a deep, ripe apple-red.
"By the way, Hisui is still very much afraid of you, Master. Even though you are so kind and approachable~!" Kohaku added. "Next time, I'll make sure Hisui comes to serve Master too~!"
Hehe, how thoughtful. Truly the best older sister in the world! Haruka Kasugano's affection for Kohaku deepened significantly.
---
Time flew by, and soon it was February 1999. Haruka Kasugano suddenly received a letter from London.
[My Dearest, after over a year of effort, I have finally convinced my father.]
[He has accepted my suggestion. Since Kayneth is dead, I am free to remarry. However, my father is not pleased with my chosen partner.]
[After much negotiation, he wants to meet you in person to judge whether he will accept you.]
Haruka Kasugano understood Sola-Ui's situation immediately. To put it simply, a high-born lady wanted to marry a commoner, and her aristocratic father was naturally reluctant. He wanted to see this "gold-digger" (phoenix man) for himself to see if he was worthy.
By all logic, a trip to London would likely involve threats. Why would a noble let his beautiful daughter marry a commoner when any political marriage with a lord would yield far more profit? However, Sola-Ui's "Infidelity Level" was stuck at 99%. This marriage issue was clearly the final hurdle.
Heh, then London is a must.
Haruka Kasugano tossed the letter aside and went upstairs to pack. While he was out of the living room, Artoria Alter (Artoria alter) walked by, licking an ice cream. Her eyes caught the letter on the table. As she read, her expression soured.
"Irisviel, where's that one good suit I have?" Haruka Kasugano roared from the second-floor hallway, frustrated at his missing clothes.
Irisviel seemed to be out, but he caught a glimpse of silver-white hair fluttering near the doorway of a nearby room. Wait, is Iri in there?
Without a word, he pushed the door open. "Irisviel, that suit—"
SLAM!
Before he could finish, Artoria altergrabbed him and slammed him onto the floor with a heavy shoulder throw. She immediately pinned him down. With a practiced flick of her toes, she kicked the bedroom door shut behind her.
"Haruka Kasugano... you dare plan a trip to Britain behind my back? Without telling me? Do you want to die?" Artoria alterhissed, her eyes wide with cold fury.
"Uh..." Haruka Kasugano froze. He hadn't thought he needed to report to her.
However, Artoria alterdidn't press the issue. Instead, she nonchalantly shed her denim hot pants. Without the denim covering them, her snowy, slender legs and thin waist formed a breathtaking expanse of pale skin. From this angle, Haruka Kasugano had a clear view of the "crimson bud" he hadn't tasted in over a year.
The memory of the last time she had forced him into a "special service" came rushing back. It was a memory worth savoring. But before he could get lost in thought, Artoria altersat—
Right on his face.
"Lick!" she commanded harshly. "You bastard... finding women outside every day yet daring to neglect your King! As a slave, your priority should be serving me!"
"Ah~! Yes, exactly like that. Serve me like a dog!"
"Ah~! Ah~! Ah~!"
It had been over a year for her too. The sensation was like rain on parched earth.
After "washing his face," Artoria alterstripped him and sat down on his "key."
"AH!!!" She screamed in pleasure. "This feeling... is different! Did you get bigger? EXCALIBUR!!!"
Indeed, thanks to the [Root Connection] skill, Haruka Kasugano had become "enhanced," making Artoria altereven more addicted.
Her pale gold hair was like morning light, soft and fragrant against her skin. Her golden eyes, usually cold and noble like gemstones, were now unfocused and hazy with bliss. She looked like a clingy kitten, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist as if trying to merge into him. The contrast between her cold, majestic persona and this disheveled, ecstatic state was incredible.
However, just as Haruka Kasugano was about to "inject his essence," Artoria altersnapped back to her senses. Realizing what was about to happen, she tried to spring away like a startled fish.
Haruka Kasugano was faster. He sat up like a predator and pulled her back into a tight embrace.
"Bastard! You dare try to stain my noble womb with your filthy essence? Dammit, let go of me!" Artoria alterroared.
Haruka Kasugano wasn't letting go. In her rage, Artoria alterbegan to summon Excalibur Morgan to strike him down. Haruka Kasugano immediately lunged forward and kissed her small mouth.
"You... who gave you permission to kiss me... with that foul mouth that just..." She was livid. She grabbed his throat, trying to choke him into letting go.
But Haruka Kasugano didn't let go; instead, he activated his new skill: [Kissing Demon]!
Artoria altercurrently had no Master. Her contract with Kiritsugu was over; she existed only because she had been "incarnated" by the mud of the Grail. Since she had a physical body, she wouldn't vanish if she ran out of mana, but she still needed energy. Haruka Kasugano had been wary of her because without a contract, she could kill him at any time.
But now, the skill worked perfectly. Since she had no contract, she usually relied on eating massive amounts of food for mana. Under Haruka Kasugano's forced kiss, her magical energy was instantly drained.
She collapsed limply into his arms, unable to stop him from "injecting the essence."
-------
"You bastard..."
A look of unwilling defeat crossed Artoria alter's face, like a cat that had its tail stepped on. She still hadn't forgiven him. Proud as she was, the only reason she had pushed him down was that her body—no longer "pure"—craved the pleasure.
She had intended to use him as a tool for her own satisfaction. But to a rigid, traditional person like her, "injecting the essence" meant pregnancy!