Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover

If there's anywhere that best represents cultural diversity, it's surely Chaldea. Heroes from all across time and myth gather under one roof, and their tales—some long buried in legend—intertwine into a singularly bizarre and fascinating spectacle.

Naturally, such diversity brings strong personal preferences in every aspect of life.

Take housing, for instance.

With the results of the "Werewolf Game" only to be revealed at dusk, the wolves, villagers, and deities—each hiding secrets of their own—still needed to cooperate in developing this small island paradise.

Tamamo-no-Mae: "Ahh… the scent of timber is so soothing to the soul."

Artoria Pendragon: "Please wait a moment. Forgive my intrusion, but isn't this kind of wooden structure barely a step above a stable?"

Tamamo-no-Mae: "Ugh! You're saying it's a beast dwelling just 'cause it's made of wood? Just because Kiyohime and I are a fox and a snake…?"

Artoria: "No, no! I meant no such disrespect… I sincerely apologize. It's just that, as the Master's first base of operations, it ought to be something more solid and foundational. A simple wooden house feels a bit… underwhelming."

Artoria: "Perhaps stone would be better. Nothing beats the security of stone. Its defensive potential is also quite superior."

Mordred (internally): Damn it. This wasn't even planned, but now our opinions match?!

Illya: "But can't we use magecraft to build something nicer? Like a Western-style home? Just like mine back home!"

Miyu: "A garden villa… If Illya wants one, I'd be more than happy to help."

Mash: "Everyone seems to have different ideas, but ultimately, I think we should consider the Master's preference."

Sakatsuki: "Children make choices. Adults take everything they want."

Kuro: "…Do you have something against us?"

Fou: "Fou!"

In this impassioned debate over architecture, everyone completely forgot that Sakatsuki was still technically the villain. Earnestly, they each recommended their preferred housing styles. With Ritsuka's blessing, Sakatsuki smiled as he spread his hands under everyone's expectant gaze.

"Trace On."

The miracle of projection—beyond equivalent exchange—once again manifested. An extension of his Reality Marble emerged, and before long, beside his Chinese-style courtyard, new buildings arose: a quaint Japanese teahouse on one side and an elegant Western villa on the other.

As for the stone houses Artoria and Mordred suggested? Rejected for being… too ugly.

Still, neither of the Round Table knights minded much. They casually picked different houses to stay in—no explanation needed.

After a morning of building frenzy (not to mention Sakatsuki, Ritsuka, and the ever-evolving physical stamina of a growing number of abnormal individuals), the magical girls were completely exhausted. They collapsed in a sweaty heap after finally escaping the hardships of sleeping under the stars.

Watching Illya panting like a puppy in the heat, Mash turned her head and eyed Ritsuka—who didn't seem tired at all, despite just earlier bridal-carrying her sister in a full sprint past Berserker Herc.

"Senpai, did you know a human needs around 3 liters of water per day? And in this tropical climate, it should be even more."

"Mash, why do you look so serious all of a sudden?"

"Water is a matter of life and death. I hope you'll take this more seriously." She raises a finger in lecture mode. "Up till now, we've been collecting rainwater or drawing it from elsewhere. It's highly inefficient. So I consulted with Mr. Sakatsuki."

Just then, Sakatsuki popped up with his usual grin.

"Yep, she brought it up with me. So we've decided—the first priority is building a water source."

"Wait, projection magic can do that too?"

"I did some scouting. There's groundwater under this island." He snaps his fingers. "As for how to transport it—I'll use displacement magecraft."

Tamamo-no-Mae emerging from the Japanese-style villa, "Displacement? Hold on, are you saying that spell of yours is high-tier too? Normal displacement magecraft can't move things across such a distance."

As expected of Tamamo-no-Mae, once a divine fox. No need to hide it—if we're rating it by Servant standards, it's probably… A+ rank."

"A+?!" She froze.

Mash and Ritsuka, standing nearby, had much stronger reactions.

After all, A-rank skills among Servants weren't trivial—they were either absurdly rare or belonged to top-tier combatants. And A+ magecraft? That was nearing True Magic territory.

Not to mention, Sakatsuki could also casually project Noble Phantasms.

Ritsuka grabbing his arm, eyes gleaming, "Bro, big bro! How old are you? What's your age? Are you famous in your world? Can you turn into a cute big-sis type and enter the summoning pool?!"

Ritsuka: "Can I just… peel something off you and use it as a catalyst for a summon?"

He had one-shot Mordred before even becoming a Servant. Ritsuka didn't even dare to imagine how overpowered Sakatsuki would be once officially summoned.

Sakatsuki, unfazed by her usual antics, brushed off her grabbing hands and gave a disturbingly serene smile.

"Yes, I'm strong—no question about that. But I'm afraid… you wouldn't want to summon me."

He turned his gaze toward the Chinese-style courtyard gate. Behind the door, hiding and eavesdropping, was Draco. She huffed and slammed the door shut with a bang.

Sakatsuki wasn't saying this just to dodge Ritsuka.

He meant it. Literally.

Endless Sorrow: EX

A Unique Skill even more unstable than Mad Enhancement at EX rank. If previous descriptions were vague and cryptic, once Sakatsuki fully subdued Draco, the new annotation laid it all bare:

[Under the blessing of Beast VI/S, this curse has mutated, evolving into a twisted version of a "black wishing machine." When prayers from another world are invoked, even the skill holder himself can no longer suppress the emergence of another 'self.' As their malevolence intensifies, one of their status parameters will also be pushed to the extreme.]

[This is the Love from the Abyss.]

Much like Madness Enhancement trades rationality for strength, Endless Sorrow is even more radical—it maximizes a single parameter to its absolute peak, while simultaneously magnifying the user's darkest impulses.

By now, Sakatsuki had pieced it together. Back during the Second Singularity, it was the Heroic Spirit Bai Qi—known as Lord Wu An—whose Saint Graph overlaid his own. That's why Endless Sorrow didn't activate then. But when Lord Wu An's graph collapsed and Sakatsuki re-manifested as a Caster, there was a distinct shift in his personality.

That's why he didn't even hesitate when he chose to burn himself up to fire that one desperate arrow of salvation—

…though he was beyond mortified after the fact.

Normally, Sakatsuki would prioritize self-preservation. Reckless moves were absolutely not in his playbook.

If not for Orion answering his plea from the Throne and bestowing upon him Orion Hórkos, Sakatsuki wouldn't just have failed to save Draco—he'd likely have perished alongside her.

His Caster manifestation was impulsive. Arrogant. Unbefitting a proper magus. Still… one couldn't deny the brilliance of his selfless resolve.

After all, it won him Draco's return, didn't it?

Pulling himself back from those heavy thoughts, Sakatsuki gave Ritsuka a consoling pat on the shoulder.

"Alright, weren't we going to build a water tank or something? Let's get moving."

"Okaaaay—"(drawn-out and entirely unwilling)

However, what was supposed to be a simple project soon turned into a minor storm of chaos.

The cause? As usual, the Servants began loudly debating what kind of water tank to make. And, of course, Sakatsuki, being Sakatsuki, insisted on having all of them.

Then suddenly, Illya had an idea.

"Umm, Taiga-sensei once told me... there's a kind of faucet that dispenses orange juice when you turn it? Not just that—there's even one that gives udon soup stock!"

Artoria (instantly locking on): "What did you just say?!"

The Ahoge Radar spiked. The King of Knights whipped around with unfiltered intensity.

Sakatsuki, watching this reaction, twitched at the corner of his mouth.

"…Looks like we have to build that faucet now."

***

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