Chapter 493: [493] Daily Life, Main Account Online

When Sakatsuki finally got out of bed, it was already past noon.

Stepping out of the temporary bedroom and strolling down the corridor, sunlight squeezed through the gaps in the crumbling castle walls, casting a monotonous orange glow through the window frames.

Upon inquiry, he learned that Fiore, the leader of the Black faction, had risen early to report the current situation to vampires scattered across the world and to quickly select the next head of the Yggdmillennia clan.

Chiron seemed to have ideas about their next moves and had already dragged his disciple Achilles into action. The other Servants, not ones to sleep in, were also busy with their own tasks.

And Sakatsuki? He had nothing to do.

The prepared chess pieces had been placed one after another. The sleepless nights spent pondering before the war had not been in vain, and with Reika’s diligent assistance, the Holy Grail War had already passed its most unstable phase, steadily advancing toward the conclusion he had envisioned.

As a reward, before tonight arrived, Sakatsuki could once again cast off the shackles of being a schemer and a participant, walking through the ancient fortress as nothing more than a simple traveler—touching and experiencing the legends of ancient heroes.

How... refreshing.

Holding onto this thought, Sakatsuki allowed himself to wander the fortress like a ghost. Strangely, he didn’t encounter any Servants, but as he passed by one intact room, something inside caught his eye.

"KOBLENZ?"

Before him stood a German-made grand piano, elegant and dignified in style. The ebony keys gleamed as if new, exuding the faint fragrance of beech and mahogany.

Unlike Fuyuki or ancient Rome, Romania—situated in Europe and tied to the modern era—was hardly lacking in classic instruments like pianos. Yet Sakatsuki could tell at a glance that this piano was extraordinary. The gold filigree detailing and the weathered yet refined traces of time were marks no ordinary piano could boast.

And after yesterday’s earth-shattering disaster, it had miraculously remained undamaged. To be precise, the entire room was unscathed, clearly well-protected by its owner.

With a guess in mind, Sakatsuki casually flagged down a patrolling homunculus: "Who lives in this room?"

"The former head of Yggdmillennia, Darnic," the homunculus answered respectfully.

So it was him. Then this piano must have been a gift from his collaboration with Nazi Germany.

Remembering the ambitious man he had shot dead yesterday, Sakatsuki narrowed his eyes. Ignoring the homunculus’s hesitant gaze, he broke the magical lock on the door and strode boldly into the room—wider than the hall—before deftly rummaging around the desk.

Following the traces of magecraft, Sakatsuki easily found a few treasures. If Darnic knew about this in the afterlife, he’d probably rise from his grave to settle accounts with this murderer who had taken over his nest.

With a snap of his fingers to clear the dust, Sakatsuki then extravagantly wasted magical energy to project a tea set. He sat at the redwood table, warming the cups with hot water before pouring in the Bird King tea—a tribute-grade Yunwu tea from the East—that Darnic had somehow procured. Next came the steps of "Maron entering the palace," shaking the leaves to release their aroma, rinsing the tea, brewing and skimming the foam, and finally sealing the pot and pouring the tea over the lid.

The fluid, practiced motions nearly stunned the patrolling homunculus at the door, as well as a young magi who was peeking in curiously.

"Caules?" Sakatsuki glanced sideways, surprised that a small fish had taken the bait before he’d even cast it. "I didn’t expect you to be the first to come. Well, no matter. Please, come in."

Under the gaze of Sakatsuki, the infamous killer, Caules stiffened. Perhaps the rising steam of tea had diluted the scent of blood on the assassin, as Caules steadied himself and finally stepped into the room, taking a seat across from Sakatsuki.

Come to think of it, wasn’t it this man who killed Uncle Darnic...? How can he sit here so calmly?!

And where did this tea set come from? From which era does Sakatsuki hail? Why is he so skilled at brewing tea?!

Before Caules could fill his mind with a hundred thousand questions, Sakatsuki presented him with a celadon teacup, its amber liquid steaming gently. "Please, enjoy."

"N-no, that’s alright..." Caules forced a laugh. As a Western magi, he had no understanding of such things—only an old monster like Darnic, who had lived so long, would have such exotic treasures. "W-well, the thing is... I came to ask you for a favor..."

"Denied."

"Huh?"

Caules withdrew his gaze from the man’s chest, startled. He looked up instinctively, only to meet Sakatsuki’s deep, penetrating eyes. Immediately cowed by the overwhelming presence, he stammered, unable to speak.

Seeing this, Sakatsuki reached toward his own chest and plucked off the golden jewel resting there.

"You came to me for this, didn’t you? The last remnant of Black Berserker—Frankenstein."

Back when Sakatsuki had taken direct control, he had used words to unravel Frankenstein’s inner turmoil. Trapped in the illusion crafted by Shakespeare and knowing escape was impossible, Frankenstein, grateful for Sakatsuki’s guidance, had willingly withdrawn, leaving behind her ability to manipulate electricity in the form of this jewel.

This was the only connection between him and Caules.

With that in mind, Sakatsuki leaned back, avoiding Caules’s unconsciously outstretched hand, his tone indifferent.

"But as things stand, Frankenstein can’t return. If you didn’t cherish her from the start, who are you putting on this pitiful display for now?"

"I did cherish her!" Caules protested urgently. "I just... wanted to see her one more time..."

Tsk. Such deep affection. Frankenstein really chose the right groom.

But what does that have to do with me?

The emotionless assassin was about to refuse outright when a strange light flickered in the depths of his eyes. The next moment, Caules, still looking down, saw the golden jewel placed before him.

"Here. If this trinket can help you, take it." Sakatsuki smiled gently. "It would be even better if you could stand tall and tell me that, after summoning Frankenstein, you had no regrets in how you treated her."

Sakatsuki’s remaining words were already lost on Caules, who stood trembling as he gazed at the coldly gleaming jewel, as if looking at the girl who had shared those brief moments with him.

—So, you were here all along.

Was this jewel in his hand the fragment entrusted to him before death, that very wish?

Caules wouldn’t blame Frankenstein for her act of aiding the enemy back then. He firmly believed that girl must have received some extraordinary revelation from Sakatsuki’s words, willingly gifting a part of herself to this foe.

Moreover, Sakatsuki was now one of their Black Faction.

A thousand thoughts swirled in his mind, but Caules simply closed his eyes, recalling those quietly flowing days like a gentle stream—as if he and Frankenstein were still sitting in the center of the grassy field, gazing up at the sky filled with white petals.

After a long silence, Caules respectfully returned the jewel.

"You had quite the expression earlier—nothing like a magi at all."

"I was never particularly gifted in magecraft to begin with. Can’t compare to my sister."

Whether it was the shift in Sakatsuki’s aura or his actions that warmed Caules to him, the two finally managed to converse almost like friends.

"For Fran’s sake, I’ll give you one more piece of advice. The fall of Yggdmillennia is inevitable. To appease the Clock Tower, they’ll inevitably send someone as a ’hostage’—someone presentable but not overly important. So..."

"Ah, yeah. That’d be me. I’ve already accepted it."

"Good that you understand. Consider the El-Melloi Classroom in the Modern Magecraft Department. That place is undoubtedly the best sanctuary for heretics like you."

"Heretics, huh... Well, thanks anyway."

Caules offered quiet thanks to the gently smiling Sakatsuki before taking his leave.

He had come to Sakatsuki for two reasons: first, he couldn’t let go of Frankenstein’s abrupt departure, and second, he wanted to discuss Yggdmillennia’s future with this Clock Tower envoy while their alliance lasted.

But the young man’s sharpness exceeded Caules’ expectations—without even needing to ask, Sakatsuki had revealed the Clock Tower’s "hidden intentions."

Now that he thought about it... was Sakatsuki actually... a good person?

Completely unaware of someone’s "main account" coming online, Caules wandered off in bewilderment.

After Caules left, just as Sakatsuki was about to rise, he caught sight of a small head peeking around the doorway.

Golden locks cascaded down as a delicate face cautiously revealed half itself. Those violet eyes, so full of authority on the battlefield, now shimmered with lively mischief.

Noticing Sakatsuki’s amused gaze, the saint’s cheeks flushed red. She instinctively ducked back, then—as if realizing something—stepped out from behind the wall with exaggerated nonchalance, walking toward the young man with comically stiff movements.

Jeanne d’Arc: Righteous Confidence.