Chapter 626

Chapter 626 The Taste of Human Evil is Quite Delicious

Often, battles unfold like this—even when you know you still have untapped abilities, hidden trump cards, and can clearly see that with just a little more effort, the enemy could be defeated... you still inevitably slide bit by bit into the abyss.

In some people’s minds, this sense of powerlessness is dismissed as "underestimating the enemy," "carelessness," or "poor performance." Once they find a suitable excuse, they can comfortably accept defeat, at most muttering a few curses before bitterly plotting revenge against those who luckily bested them...

In short, they never reflect on what went wrong or where they might have erred, instead shifting all blame onto others.

Such individuals, even if fortunate enough to summon a powerful Servant and barely scrape through the first round, stumbling their way past the second, will rarely triumph in the third—because the span of nearly a month is more than enough for Masters who started behind to catch up and surpass them.

Clearly, though Kishinami Hakuno’s amnesia left her with a weak foundation and she had only just begun to sync with Nero, she was far from the self-deceiving type described above.

She understood her shortcomings better than anyone and could accept failure more readily than most.

But that didn’t mean—she didn’t crave victory!

This was her first Master battle with Nero after Sakatsuki’s departure, and Kishinami Hakuno had no intention of letting it end in defeat.

So, where was the opening to victory?

As the duration of the "Goddess’s Blessing" neared its end, Hakuno expressionlessly pulled out her last defensive item, extending the Greek goddess’s protection. Sakatsuki likely never expected these two items wouldn’t be used against a Servant’s desperate strike but instead be exhausted by the attacks of mere foot soldiers.

Yet for Hakuno, as long as it led to victory, such sacrifices were worth it.

With her safety temporarily secured, the girl lifted her gaze to the high cliff, where the crimson-clad emperor was locked in a perilous struggle against seven knights.

Though the card knights were far superior to the soldiers—each capable of briefly contending with a second-rate Servant—their true menace lay in their undying nature. Unlike the mindless, zombie-like soldiers, the knights could leverage this trait to its fullest, even using the unpredictability of resurrection to set traps, catching Nero off guard multiple times and adding fresh wounds to her body.

Time and again, Nero tried to break through, only to be blocked by the knights’ suicidal tenacity. Worse still, wary of potential unforeseen threats, she dared not unleash her full power, forced instead into a frustrating melee against the immortal knights.

Any other Master would have long succumbed to despair or staked everything on a Command Spell by now. But Hakuno did neither. On the contrary, at this critical juncture, her earlier tension suddenly cooled, her tawny eyes settling into a calm devoid of emotion, illuminated only by the light of reason.

The vague doubt that had lingered at the start now grew clearer than ever.

If the lowly poker card soldiers could be revived at minimal cost with an unlimited supply of magical energy, then how could these poker card knights—already comparable to second-rate Servants—be resurrected and thrown back into battle without even a moment’s delay?

In the midst of rapid contemplation, Nero on the battlefield felled another poker card knight. Yet Nursery Rhyme, standing not far away, merely frowned in dissatisfaction and waved her hand. The knight’s wounds healed in the blink of an eye. Mounting his steed once more, he charged with his lance, sending Nero—who was busy fending off other knights—flying and further worsening her predicament.

Magical energy, magical energy, magical energy...

Was it Alice’s spectral nature? Or did the Servant Nursery Rhyme possess an unknown Noble Phantasm? Or perhaps they had stockpiled vast reserves of magical energy in advance at the shop...

Where was the magical energy sustaining these familiars’ revivals coming from?!

["The Caster class specializes in powerful magecraft. Since most Servants possess Magic Resistance as a class skill, they are often regarded as the weakest class."]

["But I say that theory is the most foolish. Anyone who has truly experienced the Holy Grail War knows that Casters are absolutely the most troublesome, most disruptive class in the entire war."]

Suddenly, the young man’s gentle voice surfaced from the flood of crammed memories. At this critical moment, the agony Hakuno had endured from rote memorization before the first round of the war finally repaid her.

["The sea demon, binding play, Rule Breaker, the old gatekeeper who fought King Arthur, Saber’s strengthening and debuffing books... Oh, come to think of it, I’ve caused quite a stir myself, scheming nearly every other Master in that war to death, hahaha. But enough of past glories."]

["In any case, when fighting a Caster, if you encounter something incomprehensible, don’t panic. Remember—they are still Servants. Shatter their spiritual core, and they’ll die. No matter how flashy their magecraft, it’s still constrained by their magical energy reserves. No matter how absurd their manipulations, they can’t escape the most fundamental principles..."]

["It’s like solving a riddle. Once you understand, you’ll realize how simple their tricks are—and I’ve already taught you most of the examples. So go forth boldly, Hakuno."]

["I believe in you."]

Sakatsuki...

Even though he was gone, the memories he left behind still supported his former Master, pushing her forward.

Hakuno closed her eyes. When she opened them again, all hesitation and doubt had been severed.

"Saber!"

Without using their Master-Servant telepathy, Hakuno cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted toward Nero on the high cliff. Nero perked up immediately, responding without delay.

"We are here, our praeceptor!"

Had the moment finally come? The moment for her and her praeceptor to strike back!

The tacit understanding swiftly forged between her and Hakuno made Nero tighten her grip on her sword. At her praeceptor’s command, she would charge through mountains of blades and seas of fire without hesitation.

And Hakuno’s order finally reached her ears through the air laden with killing intent:

"I want you to go all out—destroy at least three of those poker card knights!""

"Underst—... Hah?!" Nero reflexively replied before realizing what she’d just heard.

You want me to cut down the knights without conserving magical energy?

"But the Card Knights are immortal! Isn’t this just a waste of magical energy?"

Could it be... that her Master had given up and was just venting her frustration?

Not only was Hakuno bewildered, but even Alice and Nursery Rhyme paused for a moment before covering their mouths, unable to hold back their laughter.

"Hahaha, I thought the March Hare was going to do something impressive, but this is all?"

"Without the Mad Hatter, the March Hare really is easy to push around, huh."

"Mhm, after all, it was Big Brother Mad Hatter who defeated us back then. The March Hare got captured right from the start."

"Bet she’s even forgotten what the Mad Hatter told her..."

I haven’t forgotten anything...

Hearing the girls’ unrestrained mocking, Hakuno pursed her lips and continued shouting to Nero:

"Trust me, Saber!"

Her answer came in the form of suddenly blooming flame roses. Nero’s pinned-up golden hair cascaded loose as flames replaced her tattered dress, wrapping around her delicate figure and transforming her into a streak of light that sliced the first knight to pieces in an instant.

"Umu, of course I believe in you, Master!"

Even if she didn’t understand her Master’s reasoning. Even if she knew full well this was a gamble with her life on the line!

But here and now, Nero entrusted all her faith to Hakuno—and to her beloved sword.

"Flame of the Beginning, accompany me in singing once more!"

————

On this night known to none, while someone faced a life-or-death crisis in the arena, another was experiencing a different kind of "battle" in their private quarters.

"Uwah... I’m exhausted."

The young man even slipped into theatrical speech, showing just how drained he was. He casually tossed his tools back into his storage space before collapsing onto the bed in a starfish position, peacefully closing his eyes.

"My mission... is complete!"

The moment he spoke, the aura around him shifted. Then his golden eyes snapped open as he sat upright. Looking around, the once-dilapidated, basement-like room had been completely transformed—

Deep red and pure white hues wrapped around the walls like silk, leaving gradient traces. The former prison-style hard bed had been replaced with a lavish, gold-trimmed, oversized velvet bed—plush and inviting as a giant marshmallow.

On the nightstand sat an undoubtedly expensive record player, its vinyl slowly spinning as timeless love songs seeped through the ages. The notes danced up to the chandelier, weaving golden light that refracted into gentle flames, almost setting this luxurious world ablaze...

It was hard to imagine that just hours ago, this had been a gloomy space where a crimson-clad dragon girl huddled in a corner, enduring the long loneliness alone.

Rustle... The sound of fabric shifting reached his ears. Sakatsuki lazily turned his head just in time to see the red-dressed little girl reach out and expressionlessly pinch his cheek.

"Ow, ow ow ow..."

In truth, the little dragon’s hand was soft and warm, more of a pat than a pinch. But Sakatsuki still put on an exaggerated act, grimacing and yelping dramatically.

Draco was startled and instinctively let go, but as her small hand fell, it was caught again, enveloped by Sakatsuki’s palm. She belatedly looked up, watching as the young man sat up with a grin, patting his crossed legs. Pouting slightly in annoyance, she still crawled bit by bit into his arms, closing her eyes contentedly.

"Why did you only set up one big bed?"

"Hmm, what? Does our little emperor want to request a crib? Ah, stop hitting me, I was wrong, I was wrong..."

The little red dragon’s tail struck his back with a crisp sound, but Sakatsuki, thick-skinned as ever, remained unfazed, merely ruffling Draco’s head like an overworked office worker recharging by petting a cat.

Renovating the entire room inside and out in just a few hours—such efficiency could only be achieved by someone with maxed-out homemaking skills like the Emiya lineage.

Silently thanking the great hero for his selfless contributions, Sakatsuki suddenly noticed something off about the sensation in his hand. Looking down, he saw Draco turn her head to gaze at him intently, then straighten her back and lightly lick his chin.

Wait, was this really just a simple "lick"?

As Sakatsuki froze in surprise, he saw a mix of embarrassment and indignation flash in the little red dragon’s eyes. Then, a crimson light stole his vision, his balance, and even his breath...

"W-wait, hold on—mmph...!"

Thud.

When the light faded, a stunningly beautiful and wild woman with scarlet horns was pinning Sakatsuki to the bed, greedily claiming his lips. Even through his leather pants, he could clearly feel her toned, powerful thighs and soft, slender waist.

Just the sensation alone was indescribably wonderful.

And clearly, Draco in her third ascension hadn’t appeared just to take a bite out of Sakatsuki...

After what felt like an eternity, their lips parted, both panting as they locked eyes, each seeing a burning desire mirrored in the other’s gaze. Yet, despite their impatience, they lingered, whispering softly as if reluctant to part.

"You... back then, you said ’time’s up,’ didn’t you? And yet you still had energy left to transform?"

"Indeed, I did say ’time’s up,’" Draco teased, tilting Sakatsuki’s chin under the flickering light. "But I never said my transformation time had run out."

"After all—"

In the bedroom adorned with red and white, the Red Dragon Emperor’s eyes gleamed with mischief.

"Isn’t the evening when the main course is served? Since you’ve even prepared our bridal chamber... shouldn’t I reward you?"

Her words were like a spark, igniting the flames of desire Sakatsuki had long suppressed. His golden eyes darkened as a low, inscrutable chuckle escaped his throat. Then, with a sudden surge of strength, he flipped her over, pinning her beneath him as she let out a surprised yelp...

The newly bought bed creaked loudly, its poor quality quickly evident. Soon after, even the ceiling light flickered and went out entirely. Only the song—the same timeless melody—continued to play passionately, lost in its own fervor.

Youth is fleeting, stolen moments of drunken bliss. Behind the sheer curtains, by the silver candle’s glow, joy abounds.

Would one trade a lifetime’s vigor for this?

Yet, in an instant, Sakatsuki’s movements froze.

"Mmmph, mmmph—mmph?! You, you scoundrel (sobbing)!"

"Wait, what’s going on..." Even in the pitch darkness, Sakatsuki broke out in a cold sweat. "Don’t joke around, Draco. I don’t want to end up in jail. Change back, change back now!"

A dim crimson glow flickered, briefly illuminating the shadowy bedside as a soft sensation pressed against him once more. A beautiful woman wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering in his ear:

"Hehe... You seem quite afraid of me, my contractor~~"

"Hah, hah." Having fallen victim to this little prank, Sakatsuki gritted his teeth in frustration, his mischievous side suddenly flaring up. "Me, the great Third Magician, afraid of a mere Beast of Humanity? Just you wait—if I don’t make you kneel and call me ’Daddy’ today, I won’t be Sakatsuki!"

With both sides declaring war, it seemed the fierce battle of the night would rage on for a long, long time...