-----
-----
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Artoria no longer cared about the stares around her.
The itch along her back and tailbone was driving her absolutely insane.
"Ugh…"
She was drenched in sweat, panting softly. "I… I can't hold it anymore…"
Giving in to instinct, she let her body shift on its own.
Rip!
In the next second…
A pair of fierce black wings burst from her back.
And a long tail snaked its way out, as if it had finally been set free—it swayed happily behind her.
Minato couldn't help himself anymore. He reached out with both hands and gently squeezed her tail.
"AHH!"
Artoria let out a sharp scream, her eyes wide with shock as she collapsed to the floor.
Her legs trembled uncontrollably as heat flooded through her.
She wanted to get up… but she just couldn't move.
What… what the hell just happened?
At that moment, the other girls' expressions turned strange.
They all instinctively glanced toward the spot between Artoria's thighs.
...Hard to comment.
Was this "King of Knights" really as noble and serious as she claimed to be?
Seeing this, Minato finally let go of the tail.
"S-Sorry… I lost control for a second…"
Artoria's face was bright red as she quickly pulled her wings and tail back in.
"Yep… definitely SSR-tier," Minato thought to himself.
Sure, demon tails were naturally… sensitive, but this kind of reaction? That was a first.
Meanwhile, Xenovia and Irina exchanged a glance—and quietly made a decision.
Once holy sword users, now turned demons, their mindsets had adjusted quickly.
Especially Xenovia—she'd already set her sights on a new goal.
And during that time, she kept "educating" Irina.
About how serving the master and bearing his children was the highest calling a demon girl could have.
Even Irina's thoughts had started to drift in that direction…
And on top of that, she already had a bit of a crush on Minato to begin with.
But!Nothing had happened. At all.
Minato just went off to join the Holy Grail War.
It hadn't even been that long, but now he had so many amazing girls by his side.
Including freaking Medusa and the King of Knights?!
The sense of danger was real.
"But… how do we even do it?" Xenovia whispered uncertainly. "I've got no clue."
"Like I do?" Irina blushed. "But… we could ask Sis Utaha. She's been with Master the longest."
"Great idea."
Night fell.
The chaos had finally settled.
Esdeath and the others had returned to their respective worlds.
Even though part of the Matou mansion was wrecked, there was still more than enough room for everyone who remained.
Utaha looked at Xenovia and Irina standing before her and smiled. "So, you two have made up your minds?"
She felt a little jealous, sure.
But as a loyal servant of her Master, she couldn't let petty feelings like jealousy get in the way.
Her job was to ease his burdens and help him however she could.
"That's right!"
"Please teach us, Sis Utaha!"
Xenovia and Irina nodded eagerly, eyes practically burning with resolve.
Utaha raised an eyebrow, a sly smile on her face. "You two are bold… are you planning to go together?"
Saying that, her cheeks flushed red.
She suddenly remembered how she first got involved...
But hey—that was not her fault. Totally unavoidable. Had nothing to do with her.
...Well.
If they did go together…
Xenovia and Irina's faces instantly went bright red. Steam was practically rising off their heads.
Nope. No way. Definitely not.
Even if they were super close...
For their first time, doing that together was just way too embarrassing.
Illyana hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let's start with Jenova."
Yeah, Jenova was clearly the more eager one.
Plus, they could use it as a learning experience.
Smart move.
Jenova blinked, a little surprised, then looked super touched.
Illyana really is my bestie...
Utaha jumped in right away. "Well, now that we've decided, let's get you suited up."
As she spoke, a magic circle flashed in her hand, and a maid outfit appeared out of nowhere.
"Mhm mhm, now that you mention it, Master does like maids."
Jenova perked right up, nodding excitedly. "I knew you were awesome, Sister Utaha! There are so many different styles of maid outfits—this one's nothing like what I wore before."
Calling it "nothing like" wasn't even the half of it. It was way more revealing!
Off to the side, Illyana's cheeks flushed slightly.
Isn't this outfit a little too bold?
She reached out and poked at one of the thin strands of fabric.
Wow... just... wow...
Am I gonna have to wear one of these too...?
She blushed harder just thinking about it.
By now, Jenova had already slipped into the outfit with lightning speed.
"Brrr—it's kinda chilly," she muttered, rubbing her arms, but still grinning as she pushed the door open and headed out, all fired up.
Fuyuki Church.
Kirei Kotomine stood in silence, staring up at the cross.
He had found a way to feel "joy" again...
But the Holy Grail War—was it really over like this?
"Well, at least Sensei left behind a daughter."
A flicker of dark amusement glinted in his eyes.
I've made up my mind.
I'll become her teacher.
And in the end, he would tell her the truth.
That moment... oh, the joy it would bring.
Unconsciously, the corners of his lips curled into a faint smile.
"You murdered your own teacher. What right do you have to still call him that?"
Kirei's expression immediately stiffened, the smile vanishing as he turned toward the voice.
Creak!
The heavy church doors swung open. Minato stepped inside, with Rin Tohsaka right behind him.
"It's you?"
Kirei's pupils contracted the moment he saw Minato.
If he were still capable of ordinary human emotion, he would've been visibly shaken.
"I never imagined... the man who killed my father would be you."
Rin glared daggers at him, magical energy already flaring uncontrollably around her.
"So... it's all out in the open now?"
Kirei spoke calmly. "Then tell me—what now? Are you going to try and take your revenge, or—"
Before he could finish, he blurred forward, leaving only a fading shadow behind as he lunged at Rin.
His only chance was to take her down quickly.
But what he saw in that moment—
Was Minato, smiling.
That smile was cold as ice.
"....."