Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover

What exactly were her feelings toward her father-king?

Looking back on her brief life, everything had come and gone like the wind. The one who had guided her path was never Morgan, who had abandoned her, but that king who shone brighter and stood holier than anyone else.

That was why she had devoted her entire life to him—whether through loyalty or rebellion.

["As my child, you have the right to inherit the throne. For now, conceal your identity and serve the king. On the day Arthur falls, you shall become king."]

Her mother's words still echoed in her ears, but Mordred had long grown accustomed to neither accepting nor acknowledging them.

As long as she held onto that admiration for the king, it would be enough to adorn her fleeting life—

["I see. Though this is my sister's scheme, you are indeed my child. However, I do not intend to acknowledge this, nor will I entrust the throne to you."]

And so, she fell from grace, that admiration dyed crimson with hatred.

Until their final battle upon the hill of swords, their hearts never drew even an inch closer, separated by an insurmountable glacier.

By now, Mordred had grown used to defining herself through rebellion—it was her best armor.

So how could she… how could she willingly tear off this scar?!

Love the father-king the most? What a joke!

I am the Knight of Treachery! I am Mordred! The one who destroyed the Round Table and Arthur!

How could I bow my head before Arthur just because of some stupid punishment—

"Come on, Mordred, don't hold back. Say it loud, say it proud~~"

Sakatsuki continued coaxing her gently, while Mordred shot him a glare before finally snapping and shouting her true feelings:

"Who said anything about liking—I hate the King of Knights the most!"

King of Knights = Arthur = Artoria.

In other words, the Knight of Treachery, Mordred, disliked King Arthur, Artoria.

There was nothing wrong with that statement on the surface. But how could Sakatsuki, who knew the story inside out, possibly believe her lies?

Yet unbelievably, these were Mordred's genuine feelings!

Seeing Mordred looking refreshed after her outburst, Sakatsuki's first reaction wasn't to question her but to turn toward Artoria.

"My king, are you okay… ah, never mind."

Remembering the punishment, Sakatsuki tactfully refrained from asking. Besides, Artoria's drooping ahoge told him everything he needed to know.

"Lord Sakatsuki." Pressing her lips together, Artoria barely maintained her composure, though her stance wavered slightly. "My apologies… I'm not quite myself."

She turned and fled the Round Table without looking back.

Sakatsuki watched her retreating figure and fell silent.

Just how much damage had Mordred's words done to Artoria, who held the Knights of the Round Table so dear?

Sakatsuki could only be grateful that he had resolved Artoria's emotional burdens during the Fourth Holy Grail War. Though her heart ached, at least she wouldn't question herself now.

As for that little brat Mordred…

"Huh? What's wrong? Why'd she leave?" Mordred was still smug about having hidden her true feelings, only to see the ahoge turn and walk away the next second. "Tch, so I was the only one who rambled on for nothing?"

"You better shut up, and you call yourself a Knight of the Round Table?" Sakatsuki was tempted to knock Mordred on the head, but the next second, his own punishment arrived.

[Randomly selecting a dare punishment, selecting in progress... selection complete.]

[Punishment content: Contestant No. 1 experiences regression phenomenon, undergoing mandatory transformation, duration one day.]

A white beam of light descended abruptly, and in the next moment, the unsettling sound of 'crack crack' echoed alongside Sakatsuki's shouts.

"Hey, wait wait wait... don't mess around, let me do it myself!"

"Can punishments even be done by oneself?" Ritsuka, who had somehow crept closer again, muttered in surprise.

"Somehow, if it's Sakatsuki, this kind of thing doesn't feel out of place at all," Tamamo-no-Mae remarked with a deadpan expression.

"Ugh, that totally sounds like bones being crushed..."

"K-Kuro, don't scare me like that!"

"Big brother... he'll be okay, right...?"

The three little ones chattered away, casting concerned glances at the figure within the light beam.

After all, they still needed to rely on Sakatsuki to get back!

"Wait!" Suddenly, Mash exclaimed, "Look, isn't Sakatsuki's body getting smaller?"

Before everyone could focus, the white beam dissipated, revealing... a small child hurriedly pulling a black robe over himself!

"This... this is!" Mordred's eyes widened in disbelief as she gasped, "A little brat?"

"Who are you calling a brat, Mordred!" Amidst the angry yelling, the little white-haired, golden-eyed boy finally managed to put on his priestly robes again. With a flick of his hand, eight Black Keys appeared. "Making Artoria sad is one thing, but now you dare mock me? Do you believe I'll roast you into braised lion's head for lunch?!"

"Bring it on! Even if I can't beat you, I'll still... still... wait, what kind of nonsense is that?! No way, just you wait, at least until today's over!"

"Hmph, defeated general, I'm ready anytime!"

"You... you just wait!"

Mordred, under the 'truth' punishment, retreated in disarray. Meanwhile, Ritsuka and Mash exchanged glances at the sight of the handsome little boy who seemed ready to explode at any moment, unsure whether to feel maternal or to keep their distance.

"Somehow, Onii-chan Sakatsuki's temper has gotten a lot fiercer."

"Yeah, he wasn't like this before."

Hearing this, Mash tilted her head in surprise. "Illya-san, Miyu-san, and Kuro-san... aren't you surprised?"

"Surprised about what? He used this appearance to trick us before," Kuro said flatly. "Ah, though he wasn't as emotionally charged back then."

"Come to think of it, the punishment was called... regression phenomenon, right?" Illya had never seen Sakatsuki so out of control before and found it oddly novel.

"Could it be... even his mentality?!" Miyu covered her mouth in disbelief, only to notice Sakatsuki looking their way.

"Hey, Miyu, and the rest of you!" As he spoke, Sakatsuki quickly strode toward them.

"Ah... yes!" Illya and the others immediately stood at attention, and even Ritsuka held her breath, afraid of drawing the little boy's fiery wrath.

However, when Sakatsuki approached, his expression had already returned to calm. Looking at the timid Miyu, the young man—no, perhaps more accurately, the young boy—rose slightly on his toes and somewhat awkwardly patted her shoulder:

"It's time to teach you cooking, right? Lunch hour is approaching. Let's go."

"Ah... okay." Miyu quickly agreed while inwardly sighing in relief.

No matter what, as long as her brother could return to normal, that was enough.

The girls, now relaxed, had yet to realize what kind of battlefield they were about to step into.

***

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