Type-Moon: The Human Love Simulator

Ritsuka took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Her eyes turned resolute, shining with unwavering determination.

"From now on, I will not underestimate anyone. Next time, I won't make the same mistake!"

This is the difference between the exceptional and the ordinary. The exceptional can reflect on every oversight and failure, drawing valuable lessons from them, and commit them to memory—never to repeat the same error.

What doesn't kill me only makes me stronger.

In contrast, the ordinary merely fulfill the banal cycle of history, proving again and again that "there's nothing new under the sun."

With the combined strength of Ritsuka, Durga, and Ryougi Shiki, it was inevitable that Saber would meet her end. No Heroic Spirit could withstand an assault from multiple top-tier Servants, bolstered by EX-ranked Noble Phantasms and innate abilities.

"How surprising," Ritsuka mused, her tone laced with curiosity. "The Flower Magus, legendary mentor and friend to King Arthur. Your coordination with her was unexpectedly clumsy."

Although there had been minor mishaps along the way, the outcome had not deviated significantly.

"Is that so?" Nero crossed her arms, shaking her head with a mocking smile.

"Ruler, you might fool others, but not yourself. You can laugh it off in front of everyone else, but when you cry those secret tears, no one's going to wipe them for you."

"Oh, and let's not forget. Didn't you agree to some condition with Kai if you lost?" Nero arched an eyebrow, a mischievous smirk plastered across her face.

"Ruler, surely a little chaos for your first time wouldn't be a problem?"

Ritsuka ignored Nero's provocative taunts. It was pointless to spar verbally with this so-called "Golden-Tongued Emperor."

Even Su Kai had to resort to other means to silence Nero when her endless chatter became unbearable.

At that moment, Artoria unceremoniously collapsed onto the sofa, her regal composure utterly abandoned.

"Ah~ That stiff little ahoge finally left the stage. Holding myself together in front of her was exhausting."

Saber had been trapped in the past, unable to move on as she gazed at another timeline where a flawless, faultless version of herself existed. She couldn't reconcile it.

Although Artoria herself didn't care much for such comparisons, being under Saber's judgmental gaze required her to maintain the bearing of the King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon.

"Kings have long been obsolete, relics of a Britain that died over a thousand years ago. Consoling a little girl who clings to the past? Exhausting."

Artoria sighed deeply. If not for the fear of Saber bursting into tears and embarrassing herself, Artoria would have pushed her over to Su Kai for a stern lesson.

Sometimes, she envied Nero's carefree nature. Even when Rider protested, Nero could still drag them off to her self-proclaimed Nero Party with impunity.

Curse it. I want an Ahoge Party too, Artoria thought bitterly.

But that little ahoge? She'd probably just embarrass me.

Meanwhile, Merlin—the self-proclaimed dream demon—was multitasking, using her innate abilities to fend off Durga, whose Third Eye had opened and was pressing the attack. Merlin couldn't help but complain.

"Hey, Red Faction, this isn't my fault!"

When it came to poor coordination, Merlin was just as frustrated.

Though unrepentantly mischievous, Merlin shared a long-standing camaraderie with Proto Arthur. The two had fought side by side countless times.

Had it been Proto Arthur instead of the current Saber, Merlin was confident she wouldn't be in such a precarious position.

"That so-called Knight King, Artoria Pendragon—she's utterly unqualified! Her combat style doesn't align with anything I know. We're not even from the same world. Don't pin this on me!"

Frustration mounted as Durga and Tamamo-no-Mae unleashed skills tailored to dismantle magi. Durga's Mahāmāyā and Tamamo's Dakini Deva Ritual were legendary abilities, making them the bane of any mage.

Even Merlin, with her Grand Caster capabilities, was only human in the end.

Once her magic was suppressed, Merlin drew a delicate, slender longsword from her staff.

"As Arthur's teacher, I know my way around a sword."

Her swordplay was fluid and precise, forming an impenetrable barrier that even Ryougi Shiki's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception—which connected her to the Root—could not breach.

Though a single strike would suffice to erase Merlin's existence, Ryougi couldn't land even one blow.

"Keep your distance!"

Durga narrowly avoided being injured by Ryougi, who had been redirected toward her by Merlin's deflection.

To the ancient heroes whose martial arts bordered on divine, the skills of modern warriors seemed laughably amateur.

"Dream demon," Durga declared coldly, her patience wearing thin. "I, this goddess, have no desire to entertain your tiresome games any longer."

"Perish beneath the might of the gods!"

The radiant halo behind Durga signaled her divine authority. The ten legendary weapons granted by the gods began to materialize.

"Well, this is it for me," Merlin said helplessly.

"Master, deal's done. Don't forget to fetch me next time…"

The next moment, Merlin melted into Durga's radiant light.

Ritsuka, sensing an opportunity to press forward, was interrupted by a sudden collapse of Rider's Golden Theater.

In its place stood Rider herself, clutching her chest. Beneath her feet, Scáthach's spirit core—pierced through—was disintegrating into particles of light.

Before anyone could mourn Merlin's departure, Rider stepped forward.

Nero Claudius, Emperor of Rome, had arrived.

"Fall before me, the perfect being!"

Rider, as Nero's Servant, was unstoppable. Nero possessed an absurdly vast reservoir of mana, accumulated from her annihilation of countless tribes and nations in Holy Britain.

Her mana supply was so immense that Rider's Noble Phantasms and skills could be unleashed endlessly for centuries without depleting.

Even with the Red Faction supported by Alaya, their resources paled in comparison.

Ritsuka watched in frustration as Nero revived once again, her chest wound disappearing in an instant.

With an A-ranked resurrection ability, her survivability rivaled the legendary Son of God.

Defeating her would require complete annihilation—leaving no remains behind. A feat achievable only through something like Saber's Excalibur or Durga's divine armaments.

Despite the extravagant displays of EX-ranked abilities in this Holy Grail War, such power was far from common. Typically, Servants operated at the B- or C-rank level, with A-rank abilities marking the pinnacle of excellence.

"An alien god and a commoner?" Nero sneered, her tone condescending.

"Leave now, and no one will be hurt."

"Otherwise, you'll all perish."

"The Holy Grail War is over. You shouldn't be here!"

Rider's grandiose declaration was laced with cryptic bravado.

"Now… commence purification!"

"I shall…"

"Uh… ignite the sea?"

Su Kai's puzzled voice cut through the tension. Two serene goddesses stood by his side, exuding calm grace entirely unlike Durga's ferocity.

Greek gods, renowned for their vanity, always maintained elegance—even in destruction.

"Rider, what twisted you into this? Was it Nero?"

Su Kai's casual demeanor radiated authority, as if he was a heavenly emperor pronouncing judgment.

"Ritsuka, you've lost."

Ritsuka didn't argue. Instead, her calm reply carried an undeniable resolve.

"...I can still fight."

Ritsuka's voice was calm, free of defiance, as she answered Su Kai.

"As long as I can fight, you haven't won."

Su Kai sighed, shaking his head as if addressing a naive child.

"Ah, little Ritsuka, you still don't understand." He raised a finger, his tone as casual as if explaining the obvious.

"Borrowed wings will never last."

Before his words even finished echoing, Alaya withdrew her full support from Ritsuka. The boundless magic—enough to sustain several EX-ranked abilities simultaneously—vanished in an instant.

Her innate skills and Noble Phantasms were forcibly disabled.

Ritsuka's expression changed drastically as she stared blankly at Su Kai. Her mind spun in disbelief.

"Su Kai… Was this part of your plan too?"

"How…? Just your presence was enough to make Alaya fold?"

"But… I haven't lost. If I can find a flaw in Su Kai, I can still—"

She stopped herself, realizing that even she didn't believe the words.

"There's no flaw to exploit… None at all."

"Then it's true. I've lost."

Su Kai chuckled lightly, patting her shoulder as if consoling a friend.

"This isn't your fault," he said, his voice calm yet piercing. "Remember this—loyalty to others is a betrayal of yourself."

"No… that's not true!"

Even with her thoughts in turmoil, Ritsuka managed to retort, her voice trembling but firm.

"Su Kai, you're wrong. That's the mindset of demons, not humans—and certainly not mine!"

If everyone only looked out for themselves, refusing to trust or care for others, sacrificing anything and anyone for their goals…

What kind of world would that create?

Would such humanity even be worth saving?

"You're lying to me, Su Kai."

Ritsuka raised her eyes, locking onto his. His gaze burned with a strange warmth, one that seemed to encompass all existence.

"If that's truly how you feel, why are you so insistent on saving the world? Why chase after an illusion of hope?"

"Hah! My mouthpiece jutsu failed?"

Su Kai broke into a sly grin, his tone deliberately flippant as he pinched Ritsuka's cheek gently.

"…Kids these days are really something else."

"You've got a mirror in your heart, Ritsuka. One that reflects everything around you, helping you form your own judgments."

"'Polish it often, and don't let it gather dust,'" Su Kai added, smiling as if he were sharing a secret.

"Keep it up, our little savior."

For once, his compliment was entirely genuine.

Su Kai rarely bothered to persuade others directly. To do so and fail? That almost never happened. Yet, here was Fujimaru Ritsuka—possibly the only person who had ever withstood his subtle yet overwhelming charisma.

Even gods had fallen for Su Kai's allure. His voice, rich and magnetic, carried a seductive logic that could twist almost anyone into agreement.

The fact that Ritsuka remained rational was a testament to her strength of will.

Still, her face turned red as Su Kai stepped away, his charm proving impossible to ignore. His divine-level charisma was as close to irresistible as it came, and for anyone not completely uninterested, Su Kai was practically impossible to dislike.

Even though they stood on opposing sides, Ritsuka couldn't help but harbor a reluctant fondness for him.

Of course, that fondness wouldn't stop her from pointing a blade at him someday.

But for now, Ritsuka was immobilized—not by a lack of power, but by the unexpected lightness of Su Kai's teasing. She remained standing in place, dazed, even as he casually moved to sit on a nearby sofa.

"Ruler. Ritsuka."

His voice was soft but commanding.

"Isn't it time you fulfilled your duty as the adjudicator?"

He raised a single finger, his tone light but undeniably mocking.

"Let's not drag this out. Flailing for a victory you can't reach—it's a bad look."

"…"

Ritsuka nodded quietly.

She didn't need Su Kai to tell her the truth she already knew.

If Alaya had given her unconditional support, she would have fought to her last breath to secure victory for her side. She wouldn't have stopped, no matter the odds.

But now?

Even Alaya had withdrawn, conceding defeat. What point was there in struggling for a slim, almost nonexistent chance at winning?

Especially when, without Alaya's power, Ritsuka couldn't even summon her innate abilities.

Though the choice wasn't truly hers, she accepted it.

The one who had surrendered wasn't Ritsuka—but the one who admitted defeat was.

"Well, that was certainly a spectacular game," Ritsuka said, her tone dry as she leaned into Su Kai's metaphor.

A war that had nearly destroyed nations… reduced to a "game."

"I've learned a lot from this game," she sighed.

"You win, Su Kai. It's your victory."

"As the Ruler, I declare—the winner of this Holy Grail War between the Red and Black Factions… is the Black Faction."

"Ritsuka," Su Kai interjected, his eyes narrowing mischievously.

"Do you remember what happens to the loser?"

His teasing smile made her stomach drop.

"You know the rules, don't you?"

"Win, and you're rewarded. Lose, and you're punished. You understand, right?"

"…"

I don't want to understand!

Ritsuka averted her gaze, trying to change the subject as she coughed awkwardly. Her voice was hesitant, barely audible.

"Y-yes... this is between you and Alaya. As the adjudicator, I've only heard bits and pieces about it..."

I'm just a humble referee. This shouldn't concern me.

"If you were just a referee occasionally blowing a biased whistle, I wouldn't have an issue," Su Kai remarked with a meaningful smile.

"But Ritsuka... you and I both know you've done much more than that, haven't you?"

"Mr. Su Kai..."

Ritsuka's voice faltered, hoping for some way to wriggle free of this predicament. Agreeing unconditionally to a demand—what kind of cruel joke was that for an unmarried girl?

"Are you planning to back out or play dumb?" Su Kai interrupted flatly. "If we all cast aside decorum, you really don't want to see the 'uncouth' side of me."

In other words, if you lose face, I'll make sure you lose it thoroughly.

His threat was blatant, unvarnished.

Despite his usual gentle demeanor, the same Su Kai who had always acted like a wise mentor or caring elder was now an adversary. It felt utterly alien to Ritsuka.

This was not the Su Kai she admired.

But deep down, she knew.

If their roles were reversed, she wouldn't let Su Kai go either. She'd push her advantage mercilessly, just as he was doing now.

With that thought, Ritsuka exhaled deeply, her resistance deflating.

You lose, you admit it. Acting childish now is pointless.

As her mind shifted, so did her resolve. She began to focus on fulfilling this "Damocles' condition" as quickly as possible—sooner meant cheaper.

Failure's price was steep, but the most terrifying part wasn't the tangible cost.

The longer she delayed, the more valuable this condition would become.

If she gave Su Kai what he wanted now, no matter how precious, it would never compare to what she might owe him later.

Thinking pragmatically, Ritsuka adjusted her approach.

What followed was an awkward, clumsy attempt at seduction.

"K-Kai~"

Ritsuka forced herself to say it, her face twisting as though she had swallowed something bitter. Her petite figure stiffened, her orange hair dulling like a wilting flower.

"P-please… look at me..."

"Pfft!"

Su Kai burst into laughter, amused beyond words.

Her every motion, expression, and word was painfully stiff—so much so that an ancient Qing dynasty corpse might have moved with more grace.

It was clear she had no experience in this area.

After all, why would she?

Fujimaru Ritsuka—the savior of humanity, the final and only Master of Chaldea—had accomplished feats no one else could, leading humanity to victory time and again.

Surrounded by Heroic Spirits who adored and revered her, who could make her lower herself like this?

Only Su Kai.

The mischievous fox Tamamo-no-Mae, watching nearby, sighed and rubbed her temples in secondhand embarrassment.

From her perspective—she who had won countless imperial court intrigues—Ritsuka's amateurish attempt was almost unbearable to watch.

Quietly, Tamamo transmitted a spell to Ritsuka.

"Ruler, your gaze is too rigid. If you don't know where to place your hands, clasp them to your heart dramatically. Even that's better than flailing!"

"And your expression—work on that too!"

Tamamo's enthusiasm surged.

This is my specialty! Finally, my time to shine!

Ritsuka's face darkened further with each whispered suggestion, until she finally broke down.

"Tamamo-no-Mae, ENOUGH!"

Turning her attention back to Su Kai, she threw in the towel.

"Mr. Su Kai, just tell me what you want. Whatever it is, I'll do it."

Resigned to her fate, Ritsuka walked up to him, collapsing into the chair across from him with a sigh. Her posture was utterly defeated, her dignity discarded.

"Now that's much better," Su Kai remarked with amusement, appraising the fiery-haired girl.

"You're naturally adorable—why ruin it with such clumsy theatrics?"

He chuckled softly.

"Do you even realize how unnatural you looked earlier? I'd say even Qing dynasty zombies were more convincing than that."

Ritsuka refused to dignify his mockery with a response, meeting his teasing gaze with stoic indifference.

"Listen carefully, Fujimaru Ritsuka," Su Kai began. "As the defeated, your task is to fulfill my condition—"

He paused dramatically, savoring the way Ritsuka tensed, clearly fearing he might ask for something mortifying.

Her anxious little gestures were almost too cute.

"—have dinner with me."

Ritsuka blinked.

"Eh??"

Her reaction was immediate, her hands flailing as she struggled to process his words.

"I-I mean, sure! But why?"

Why indeed.

Why was he treating her with such mercy? Lifting her high only to gently set her down again?

If their positions were reversed...

If it were her...

Ritsuka would've pressed every advantage. She'd push hard, claim every inch, and turn a win into total domination.

Yet, here Su Kai was, letting her off the hook so lightly.

It made her feel… petty.

Too calculating.

Too small.

"Don't overthink it." Su Kai stood, his tall frame casting a shadow over her.

"Have dinner, then you can go."

The air around him seemed to shift as he gazed down at her, his deep eyes holding emotions she couldn't read.

"Until the day we truly cross swords, aren't we still friends?"

His tone softened.

"Even if the time comes when we must part ways, I refuse to humiliate you with underhanded methods. That would dishonor us both."

He glanced away, his voice barely above a murmur.

"I want you to be strong enough to stop me. Not to break here and now."

As his words trailed off, Ritsuka felt the weight of his conviction—a desire to grant humanity one final chance.

To stop him.

To challenge the path he walked as humanity's twisted salvation.

But even Su Kai doubted.

Would anyone truly rise to meet that challenge?

Would anyone ever succeed?

"Any food preferences, Ritsuka? Wine, perhaps? Western red or Eastern yellow?"

"Anything's fine," Ritsuka muttered, adding pointedly, "But no alcohol for minors!"

"You call yourself a minor?"

"I'm eternally seventeen!"

Even Su Kai paused at that, blinking in surprise before he sighed.

It was a cruel reminder of the static nature of human history.

Fujimaru Ritsuka—born in 2000—would forever remain seventeen. Forever trapped in 2017, never to move forward.

A bitter smile played on Su Kai's lips as his pupils briefly turned to slits.

"Perhaps... the truth will prove it," he murmured. "I am humanity's sole answer."

"I will save humanity. A world where everyone smiles—where all sing in joy—that world will come to be."

---

Dinner was nothing extraordinary. Su Kai's only condition was to share a meal with Ritsuka. After they finished eating, she could leave.

Su Kai had no intention of making things difficult for her. To him, this was all just a game, one he had greatly enjoyed.

It was worth noting that the Red Faction Servants who hadn't retreated before Alaya's surrender—Ritsuka included—were all spared. After all, they hadn't truly lost; they were lured into battle by Alaya, only to be betrayed in the end. How unfair was that?

In truth, Ritsuka herself had also been let off easy. Dining with Su Kai was hardly a punishment—though the young girl wouldn't admit she secretly didn't mind it.

That said, the Servants who had been defeated and eliminated from the battlefield were genuine losers. In due time, Su Kai would collect his winnings from them as well.

Tamamo-no-Mae, for her part, patted her ample, perfectly-shaped chest in relief.

"So, that means I don't have to agree to any strange conditions? Thank goodness…"

But once the immediate crisis had passed, and she was able to look at Su Kai with a calm mind, Tamamo found herself realizing something surprising.

This man was, without a doubt, an extraordinarily handsome figure.

Not just his physical appearance, though it was stunning enough to surpass the limits of human beauty.

No, Tamamo's sense of aesthetics was rooted in the soul. To her, true beauty lay in the brilliance of a person's spirit.

And Su Kai's soul was breathtaking—an infinite, cosmic expanse. It was like a great black sun, radiating a commanding presence that seemed to swallow everything around it. The force of his being, the sheer magnetism emanating from the depths of his soul, captivated all who stood near.

No matter how many stood in his presence—be they heroes who shone brightly throughout human history—they all seemed like mere leaves surrounding a singular blooming flower.

As long as Su Kai was present, no one could look away from him.

Even now, standing near Su Kai were figures like Ritsuka—exceptional individuals of unparalleled brilliance.

But in the presence of this black sun, even their resplendence dimmed, becoming like planets circling a star.

To ordinary people, they were celestial bodies, radiant and awe-inspiring. But compared to the sun, what is a planet worth?

"I see now… No wonder everyone is so drawn to you," Tamamo muttered quietly.

She quickly averted her gaze, fearing that if she continued to look, she too would lose herself. She might discard her nature as the jealous nine-tailed fox and leap headfirst into the abyss of this black sun, never to return.

Faced with such a man—the most beautiful in human history—even Tamamo's famed techniques failed her. Not even her ultimate weapons, the legendary Polygamy-Castration Fist and Marriage Fraud Execution Beam, seemed to have the energy to activate.

These anti-male techniques, born of her unrivaled disdain for unfaithful men, required pure, unyielding hatred to function.

But…

Looking at Su Kai, surrounded by a sea of admiring women and goddesses, Tamamo couldn't muster that hatred.

He didn't seem like a philanderer.

His affections for those around him appeared born from compassion rather than lust. Pity came before love, and his love was vast, yet distant.

To these extraordinary women, Su Kai seemed like the answer they desperately sought. A wish-granting machine capable of fulfilling their deepest desires.

They only wanted him to acknowledge them—to harbor even a sliver of selfishness that proved he was not merely a statue, an unfeeling idol gazing benevolently upon all yet unmoved by any.

But Su Kai's desires were faint, almost imperceptible. It was no wonder women like Nero, Artoria, and even Athena were tirelessly devoted to awakening the fragile thread of connection they had with him.

Watching from the sidelines, Tamamo saw it all with a clarity few others could match.

Yet, she didn't dare look too closely, fearing she might fall victim to the same unshakable infatuation.

"How absurd… Falling for the male lead of a drama like some lovesick fool?"

It wasn't love—not yet, at least. But it was undeniably an attraction, a growing fondness.

Tamamo sighed bitterly. She had looked at him for too long.

It seemed… escape was impossible.

So be it.

Plant a wutong tree today, and the phoenix will come naturally.

If fate willed it, they would meet again someday. As much as she longed for a sweet, romantic love, Tamamo understood that matters of the heart couldn't be forced. Pursuing it recklessly would only ruin the chance for something genuine.

All good things must end, even a dinner shared in warm company. Though the meal had been sumptuous, and though Su Kai clearly enjoyed spending time with everyone, it was time to part ways.

But as everyone prepared to leave, Tamamo surprised them all with an unexpected gesture.

She removed a pendant hanging from her chest, a small mirror still warm and fragrant from her touch. Pressing it into Su Kai's hand, her face flushed with embarrassment.

The fox-eared girl licked her tiny fangs nervously before stammering:

"M-Miko… Tamamo-sama isn't letting you have this for free!"

"This… this is payment for the meal! Yes, exactly, payment!"

"Don't get the wrong idea!"

"No one was getting the wrong idea," Ritsuka muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation.

Now, the tables had turned. The hunter had become the prey, and it was Ritsuka's turn to tease the bashful fox.

Athena, watching from the side, shot Su Kai a knowing glance. Don't disappoint her, her eyes seemed to say. How could a hero like you reject a maiden's token of affection?

"Not bad, not bad at all," Athena mused.

So charming. When will I be able to lure him into my own trap?

She couldn't help but hope that the bonds these women forged with Su Kai would grow stronger.

Their affection could become the chains that would tether him back to the world of the living, pulling him down from the unreachable heavens.

And perhaps, those threads of love and warmth might weave together a path to make him human once more.

Even if Su Kai's most beloved wasn't her, Athena wasn't greedy—at least, not yet. For now, all she wished for was that Su Kai might become more human, a little easier to reach.

So, no matter who it was, she hoped they would love her husband, her lord, just a bit more. Perhaps through experiencing the depths of love, Su Kai would develop attachments. His private desires might one day supplant that overwhelming, impersonal "greater love."

Athena had never prayed so devoutly for anything to unfold as she did now.

Su Kai, for his part, had no intention of rejecting her—or anyone, for that matter. But he was curious…

Why?

He was certain he hadn't known Tamamo-no-Mae before. So why had this fox gone out of her way to give him a mirror?

He couldn't make sense of it.

Before he could voice his confusion or decline the gesture, Tamamo vanished without a trace.

The Red Faction Servants were gone, and the Holy Grail War between the seven Servants of Red and Black had officially concluded.

"So, I have no choice but to accept this mirror?"

Su Kai's expression remained serene as he slipped the Yata no Kagami into his pocket. The warm, feminine sweetness of Tamamo's scent mingled with his own vigorous, masculine aura, blending into something inseparable.

---

As the victor of the Holy Grail War, Su Kai had the right to make a demand of Alaya.

The Title of Grand was an extra prize, but the primary reward was a single wish.

His wish wasn't excessive or beyond Alaya's capabilities.

All he wanted was for Athena and Hestia to be incarnated.

Was there something he had forgotten?

Su Kai's expression didn't change, though he absentmindedly wiped away a faint mark left on his face—evidence of a nibble from a certain disgruntled lunar goddess.

Lady Artemis, there will be opportunities to meet again in the future—no need to rush!

Besides, Artemis wasn't even present in her true form. She was merely possessing Atalanta's body. No matter what Su Kai wished for, it wouldn't allow Artemis' full incarnation while her connection to Atalanta persisted.

After spending some time with her close friends, Persephone happily returned home as well.

"Come to think of it, could I use myself as a relic to summon the Twelve Olympians?"

Su Kai scratched his head. Wasn't this an unusual kind of… holy relic?

This bizarre thought was quickly dismissed. If he attempted a summoning based purely on compatibility, he might end up calling forth all sorts of strange allies from alternate timelines.

Better to wait for a better opportunity, he mused.

"What should I do tomorrow? My research into magic is already at a good stopping point..."

Su Kai's musings were interrupted by the familiar scent of roses—rich, bold, and heady. Every beautiful girl seemed to have her own unique fragrance, and this one was unmistakable.

Without turning around, Su Kai knew who it was.

This scent belonged to Nero.

If it had been Artoria, there would have been a warm, sunny aroma. Morgan would carry the cool, serene scent of a lake. Merlin's scent, at first whiff, seemed a chaotic mix of blooms, but closer inspection revealed a singular, comprehensible floral essence beneath it all.

Beneath his layers of mischief, Merlin was far simpler than he appeared.

But this fiery, aggressive rose—who else could it belong to but the brightest jewel of the Roman Empire, Nero Claudius?

"Kai~! My Rider has defeated another Servant!"

Nero blinked her golden eyes with pride, her voice carrying a teasing lilt.

"Unlike those two sisters over there, my Rider and I took down two Servants ourselves!"

Though the Red Faction had lost, only four of their Servants had been eliminated. Three had not been considered true losses. Of those four, Nero and her Rider were responsible for eliminating half, earning her undeniable credit.

Merlin, watching the two Pendragon sisters exchange glances, quickly seized the moment to align himself with Nero.

"Exactly, exactly! My Caster took out one as well!"

His declaration was bold, though perhaps a little too confident. After all, it wasn't entirely true. The Red Faction's Assassin, Kama, had been thrown to Su Kai's side by Caster Merlin and was ultimately finished off by Hestia.

Still, Merlin couldn't resist a hint of pride. After all, wasn't it only fitting for a cunning trickster like him to claim a piece of the credit?

Athena, sensing the hesitation of the Pendragon sisters, gave them a subtle push.

It was time for the Britons to step forward and claim their own rewards.

"How clueless can you be?" Athena whispered slyly, her voice barely audible. "Even if you didn't score any direct kills, who said you can't join in the… festivities? Don't let this opportunity slip by."

The whispered encouragement lit a spark of understanding in the two sisters' eyes. They had always been straightforward and honest, their thinking rigid.

But Athena's suggestion made perfect sense.

If only those who scored victories could draw close to Su Kai, they wouldn't have had a chance to approach him in the first place.

---

T/N: I really just need to find some time to sit down and finish this story, translating 1 chapter takes about the same time as 5 chapters for other stories... (IGNORED)

If you notice anything that feels off, just let me know—I don't mind fixing things up.

Oh, and don't forget to sit up, grab some water, and take it easy while you're here. No rush, right?

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