Chapter 576

Chapter 576: The Beautiful Girl Master Training Plan, Commence

She had finally said it.

As she voiced her request to Sakatsuki, Hakuno Kishinami’s eyes held both hope and unease, along with a barely perceptible sense of relief.

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision—it was the answer she had arrived at after much deliberation.

Once Sakatsuki left, she would be a Master without a Servant, no different from an ordinary person.

A Master who had lost her memories, with no magecraft to speak of—how could she possibly have enough time to relearn the Holy Grail War, regain her magecraft, search for a Servant like finding a needle in a haystack, and win the first round—all within just seven days?

While she was still lost in confusion, the other participants wouldn’t wait for her. They would be bonding with their Servants, growing stronger together, honing their skills... becoming more and more formidable!

By then, even if she somehow managed to find another unaffiliated Servant, she would stand no chance against opponents who had been training relentlessly. And if she failed, all her struggles and efforts would amount to nothing more than insignificant dust, swept away without mercy by the Moon Cell.

The moment she realized this, Hakuno Kishinami understood the one thing she had to do.

—Seize this last chance and make Sakatsuki her Servant.

The world of the Moon Cell was unfathomably vast and profound. Those struggling in the boundless Sea of the Moon could only cling desperately to whatever lifeline was within reach. She couldn’t afford to hope for something better next time. If she rejected the rare kindness fate had offered, what awaited her would only be punishment and indifference.

Next time, the time after that, and the time after that—once she missed the first blessing, a drowning soul would only encounter straws, scraps of paper, or perhaps nothing at all passing by.

No one would extend a merciful hand to her again.

So... she couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.

The window of My Room was half-open, and the digital wind of this world slipped inside, stirring their hair in rhythm with the frantic beating of the girl’s heart. It brushed past the young man’s eyes, sending ripples across the golden lake of his gaze.

"I’m sure you’re aware that compared to Rin Tohsaka, your aptitude as a Master and your magecraft abilities are negligible. And she’s made it quite clear she wants me on her side," Sakatsuki stated bluntly, cutting straight to the point. "From Rin, I see sincerity, confidence, and a real chance at victory. So tell me—what do you have to offer?"

His voice was almost mocking as he stared down the girl, whose face had stiffened with tension. "Compared to Rin, what can you give me? What terms can you propose that would actually make me consider you?"

Though the issue of mana consumption was a concern, it wasn’t enough to make Sakatsuki lower his pride and beg for a Master’s aid. On the contrary, as one of the exceedingly rare unaffiliated Servants, he knew full well that he was the most coveted prize in this Holy Grail War—the single bowl of rice in a sea of hungry monks.

If he was going to "sell" himself, it had to be on his terms. If the price wasn’t right, he’d rather walk away.

So, what will you do, Hakuno? If all you can do is beg for pity, hoping weakness will earn you sympathy—then sorry, but I’ll leave without a second glance.

Prepared as he was, Sakatsuki heard Hakuno’s stammering yet determined voice.

"I... although I’m a completely inexperienced Master, I can give you absolute freedom—no need to obey my commands, the freedom to act as you wish."

Speeding up her words, the girl poured out what was in her heart: "And I promise that until you find a suitable Master, I’ll do my best to keep you from harm and safely hand you over to the next person—as proof, we can sign a Self-Geis Scroll."

"So..." The girl raised her moist, shimmering eyes, "Even if it’s just temporary, could you lend me your strength?"

As if hearing something astonishing, Sakatsuki’s pupils contracted slightly. Moonlight peeked through the window, falling upon Hakuno’s face. What was beautiful wasn’t just the moonlight, but also the girl’s ethereal, dreamlike visage.

Such a gentle and beautiful girl, timidly asking for your help, so dependent, so full of trust... Perhaps this was a temptation no hero could resist.

Yet, there were still questions that needed answering.

"Do you understand what you’re saying, Hakuno?" Sakatsuki struggled to maintain a calm tone. "I must admit, freedom tempts me more than anything, but these terms are far too generous. Should a Servant harbor ill intentions, you’d have no means to resist."

"It’s alright, I trust you," Hakuno whispered.

"...Why?"

"Because~" As if puzzled by Sakatsuki’s surprise, the girl smiled, her expression tinged with pride, "Aren’t we friends?"

Because they were friends, she gave her trust unreservedly, believed without reason that he wouldn’t betray her.

No need for caution, no need for wariness—entrusting her back and even her fate to him.

This was the original meaning imbued in that word, and the resolve the girl demonstrated, enough to make anyone feel ashamed by comparison.

Come to my side, like a prince protecting a princess. I will unreservedly place everything I have into your hands—

With just these words, it surpassed all exchanges, promises, and contracts.

The scales in his heart began to tip.

Like Lancelot bewitched by Guinevere, or Diarmuid fleeing with Princess Gráinne, Sakatsuki inevitably reached out his hand to this future King of the Moon Cell.

"It seems, for a nameless magus, a nameless heroic spirit is just right."

A drowning person had grasped the lifesaving plank, only to eventually realize it wasn’t mere salvation, but an unstoppable, wave-piercing titan of a ship.

He would ultimately carry her to the supreme heights of the Empyrean.

"Answering the call of selection, since there’s a big fool willing to go this far, then allow me to become your blade, your sword, to cut through the obstacles ahead—until you find someone more suitable."

Taking a deep breath, Hakuno reached out to clasp his hand. Her slender fingers were enveloped by something broader and warmer, like a sheltered harbor, silently proving to the girl just how dependable the person before her was.

The back of his hand grew slightly warm, and amidst a dull pain, a red glow seeped through his fingers, illuminating the corners of the room. The light wasn’t violent but vivid, carrying a hue of joy. Sakatsuki opened his palm, revealing three bright marks on Hakuno’s hand—emblems that seemed to record a sacred covenant, etched deep into the skin like tattoos.

Thus, the contract was sealed.

"Since we’re already on this ship together, I’ll be counting on you from now on."

His crimson mystic code materialized once more, bolstered by his Master’s magical energy. No longer needing to restrain his power, Sakatsuki’s overwhelming aura spilled forth as his red robes billowed. The young man stretched lazily, then raised an eyebrow at his Master.

"My dear Master—Hakuno, my classmate."

The girl, gazing at Sakatsuki’s now-unserious demeanor, responded with a breathtaking, flower-like smile.

"Pleased to work with you, my Servant."

———

After successfully forming a contract with Sakatsuki, Kishinami Hakuno, though brimming with excitement, suppressed it and left the room first—now that she had the qualification (a Servant) to participate in the war, she needed to prepare for the battles ahead.

As for Sakatsuki, who had been promised absolute freedom, he didn’t follow immediately. Instead, he lingered in the room alone, leaning against the window and gazing up at the eternal, solitary eye of the moon in the sky.

"She actually considers me a friend... even though we’ve only been desk mates for a few days."

If Draco had been there, she would have scoffed and mocked Sakatsuki’s current feelings.

And Sakatsuki wouldn’t have denied it, only sighing softly and nodding.

"Yeah, I regret it."

Bathed in the clear moonlight, the handsome young man narrowed his eyes, murmuring to himself—though it was unclear who he was speaking to.

"If only I’d realized Hakuno’s feelings sooner, I wouldn’t have trampled on her trust before this... No, I shouldn’t have let my guard down from the start. I shouldn’t have been so arrogant, thinking I could just enjoy myself without considering the feelings of those around me."

Because he hadn’t cared about Draco, the little jealous one had lashed out at the most critical moment, causing them to be separated.

Because he hadn’t paid attention to Kishinami Hakuno, even after pulling her out of the mire, he had left without a second thought.

"But what I regret most is that before Hakuno said those words... I never once thought of her as my friend."

Sakatsuki chuckled softly. "I just saw her as a passerby, a classmate I happened to meet... In the end, I treated everything like a game, a brief respite after the Holy Grail War."

Even in that respite, he had still been accustomed to viewing others with malice, refusing to believe in pure emotions.

If this was war, then he had been far too lax—like a long-neglected mechanical system, collapsing entirely at the slightest misstep.

Put simply, he had never taken this Moon Holy Grail War seriously.

And so, he had paid a terrible price...

"Deserved it. The criticism is justified." Sakatsuki shrugged, but this time, there was none of his usual flippancy. It was as if a mask had been stripped away. When he raised his eyes to the moon again, a sharp light gleamed in their depths.

"Stay right there. Don’t move. Don’t leave—"

Reaching out, the young man smiled, as if cradling the entire moonlit sky in his palm.

To pluck the bright moon from the heavens.

"Wait for me to come and place that laurel crown upon you."

Casual. Arrogant.

A declaration of war to this lunar crystal.

An unseen gaze descended. The god enthroned in the heavens and the mortal standing firm on the earth locked eyes in a silent clash, neither yielding—until both turned away, withdrawing their forces. With a snap of his fingers, the young man’s expression lightened once more.

Now that he had decided to get serious, there was no need to hold back.

Well then, no time to waste—

The Beautiful Girl Master Cultivation Plan, commence!