Finis Chaldea, the Human Restoration Assurance Organization.
Humanity’s final bastion and the organization dedicated to safeguarding the restoration of human history.
Though located in the frozen mountains of Antarctica, it was a shelter that might as well have existed within a rift in space-time.
There resided the last Master of humanity, an ordinary girl named Ritsuka Fujimaru.
At her call, innumerable Heroic Spirits from every era answered, manifesting to aid in the restoration of the human order.
Even among the countless Servants gathered there, one stood out as particularly unusual….
“Hey, about today—could you give me a different portion than usual?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I mean, sigh… haven’t you noticed anything different about me?”
“Different? Hmm… let me see… Oh, did you lose weight?”
“No, the opposite! I gained weight! By half a kilo!”
“That kind of gain all goes to your chest or hips anyway. As long as it doesn’t go to your stomach or face, what’s the problem?”
“Wow~ this Servant sexual harasses as naturally as he breathes!”
This Servant normally spent his time in the kitchen, taking full charge of the cooking.
His name was Kay, a key figure who wielded great influence even in the legends of King Arthur.
“So what? That’s all part of your charm. Instead of whining about harassment, you should be proud and flaunt your beauty. Are you ashamed of your own body?”
“I’m ashamed because I’m fat! Where is your sense of consideration!?”
“If I put it in old-man terms, back in my day, people actually liked hearing things like that.”
“Man, you really don’t realize you’re only out of jail because you’re handsome, do you!?”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Unfazed by Ritsuka’s words, he continued to cook. Soon, he sent her away, telling her to take a seat and wait.
“Ahaha, you’re energetic this morning, Senpai.”
The girl with glasses, Mash Kyrielight, had already taken a seat and was waiting. A member of Chaldea and Ritsuka’s first Servant, she was also her junior.
Of course, it was a little secret that by official rank, Mash was actually the senior.
“Sigh, everything is great… it’s just that the food is so delicious I’m gaining weight, that’s the problem. And he’s so stubborn….”
“But Sir Kay is considered one of the kinder Servants in Chaldea, isn’t he?”
“That may be so… but can’t he be as gentle to me as he is to the kids? I’m still a minor, for goodness sake.”
At Ritsuka’s words, Mash rested her chin on her thumb and index finger, thinking deeply….
“I believe that in his era, fifteen was considered the age of adulthood. Perhaps, from Sir Kay’s perspective, Senpai and I are already adults?”
“Even so, doesn’t he seem nicer to you than to me?”
“Ahaha, is that so?”
“The way he looks at you is always weird… be careful, Mash. Truth is, Kay might be making a move on you!”
Ritsuka spoke with a suspicious tone. Of course, Kay was one of the most trusted Servants in Chaldea, but….
“Hmm, it is true that Sir Kay has been around many women. But could he really be doing that?”
“You never know! Kay is a playboy! He’s a different breed of philanderer than Fergus, so stay alert! There’s no way he wouldn’t target a curvy, marshmallow-like beauty like Mash! If I were a man, I would have confessed already! Actually, I’m tempted even now!”
“Ehh… but whenever I hear Sir Kay talk, he says he’s never been the one to seduce first. His attitude toward others reflects that too. He’s never flirted playfully like Cú Chulainn does.”
“You never know! It might be like Orion—holding back because he’s terrified of Artemis!”
Half in jest and half in earnest, Ritsuka warned Mash to be careful. Though they weren't lovers, she felt a strange sense of dread that Mash might be stolen away.
“Here is the playboy’s special karaage~”
“When did you get here!? Make some noise when you move!”
“Sorry, sorry. It’s just a habit.”
“Honestly… and did you hear me!? I told you I gained weight, so why on earth is it a karaage set!?”
The fried chicken looked glisteningly greasy.
“What are you talking about? I used the oven, so the calories are about half those of regular karaage. I mixed chili powder, curry powder, and seaweed powder into the batter to make it a healthy set. Besides, seaweed is good for you. And this mayonnaise? It’s zero-calorie mayo.”
“… Is zero-calorie mayonnaise even possible?”
“The Primordial Rune makes the impossible possible.”
“On something as trivial as mayonnaise!?”
“Trivial? Do you think achieving zero calories while maintaining taste is some kind of joke?”
“Ah, I’ll give you that. Then why didn’t you do it sooner!?”
“To build a healthy body, you need a moderate amount of weight gain. If you’re so bothered, turn that body fat into muscle and burn it off.”
“Ugh! That truth stabs me like a dagger….”
Kay tapped Ritsuka lightly on the head and headed back to the kitchen. As he did, a woman approached him.
It was the Servant librarian of Chaldea, Murasaki Shikibu.
“Excuse me, Sir Kay. How did you find the book I recommended the other day?”
“Hmm? Oh, the one about the bunker? It was interesting. I didn’t expect the 'bunker' in the title to refer to a bunker-buster rather than the setting.”
“I am glad it was to your liking. We have some new arrivals—is there a particular genre you are interested in?”
“Hmm… I’ll decide after I look at the list myself. Nothing is really calling to me right now.”
At his words, Shikibu pressed the book to her chest, tilted her head, and gave him a soft, beaming smile.
“Very well. I shall be awaiting your visit.”
Shikibu bowed and passed by. As Kay returned to the kitchen, Ritsuka whispered secretly to Mash.
“See? He hits on mature women as naturally as he breathes.”
“I can hear you.”
Kay reprimanded her as he stepped inside. Ritsuka winced, grumbling that he was being too harsh.
“I wonder if all the Knights of the Round Table are like that. Don’t they all have colorful love lives?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know how it really was. Most of the Round Table members aren't here, and Sir Kay seems reluctant to talk about them.”
Mash recalled Kay’s reaction when she had asked about the Knights of the Round Table in the past.
They were the most overrated bunch in history. If it weren't for them, Britain might have lasted another ten years.
Pardon?
It would have been more helpful to humanity if half of them had just dropped dead... though the Round Table wasn't the only problem.
For some reason, he held a strong dislike and avoidance toward the Round Table. Mash could roughly understand based on the legends, but she wondered why he felt so strongly about it.
At least according to the records, Kay had been on very close terms with the Knights of the Round Table.
“Sir Kay! Today’s meal was wonderful as well! It was the usual chicken breast, but yours is truly special!”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
Kay, washing dishes in the kitchen, chuckled as he received thanks from Leonidas.
“Do you happen to have any time for a spar today?”
“Sorry, I’m fully booked. I have a match with Spartacus, and then I’m meeting Kintoki.”
“Hmm, a shame. I shall look forward to the next opportunity!”
Kay was popular with women, but the same was true for the men. He possessed a robust build and a powerful physique.
Because of this, he received many requests for duels from the more bellicose Servants. He wasn't just strong; he was a physical fighter who employed a vast array of techniques, making him one of the few who could provide a truly varied combat experience.
In short, fighting him always felt fresh, which made him highly sought after.
A short while later….
“Sir Kay?”
Kiyohime approached Kay while he was prepping ingredients for dinner.
“Hmm?”
“I heard that you sexually harassed the Master today… is this true? This Kiyohime is on the verge of exploding.”
A yandere who adored Ritsuka with a frightening intensity.
Kay glanced toward the kitchen entrance, where Ritsuka was partially hidden. She was giggling, clearly hoping to see Kay get pummeled by Kiyohime.
However, even Kiyohime couldn't cause him any real harm; it would most likely end up as a choreographed wrestling match. This was his punishment for her teasing earlier.
Kay looked up at the ceiling in thought for a moment, then leaned in and whispered something into Kiyohime’s ear.
“…… Is that truly so?”
“What does the sensor say?”
“… It is the truth. Ahem.”
After hearing Kay’s explanation, Kiyohime cleared her throat, retracted her murderous aura, and turned toward Ritsuka with a bright smile.
“Well, such things happen from time to time, don’t they? I’m sure it was said out of concern for you, so please be merciful and let it slide.”
“Eh?”
“Sir Kay has mentioned that he is preparing a special treat for dinner. He’s using soft-shell turtle as the main ingredient with a variety of spices. It is a form of apology, so you will accept it, right?”
“Uh… why do I feel like this is a bad sign?”
Soft-shell turtle was known as a stamina food particularly beneficial for men, but it was also highly restorative for women. Kay had promised a special dish including oysters and aphrodisiac spices like saffron and maca.
Kiyohime licked her lips, planning to "devour" Ritsuka using this opportunity, while Ritsuka felt a sudden, inexplicable chill run down her spine.
Kay was not the type of man to simply fall for such a prank.
As Ritsuka was dragged away by Kiyohime, someone who had just finished their meal walked over.
“Sir Kay. Thank you for the meal.”
“Is that so? I’m glad you liked it.”
It was the blonde saint, Jeanne.
“I’ve always felt this, but I get the impression that you take special care with my meals.”
“Really?”
“Yes. They always suit my taste perfectly. Whenever I swap side dishes with others, the seasoning and overall feel are quite different.”
“It’s just that I’m good at seasoning.”
“I see. So you tailor the food to each individual? I am touched by such meticulousness and consideration.”
Though he told her that, Kay wasn't actually that meticulous. He didn't tailor meals for everyone—only for a select few.
It wasn't so much discrimination as it was a long-standing habit. In Jeanne’s case, he knew her tastes perfectly thanks to someone who was her mirror image.
After Jeanne left, Kay finished prepping the dinner ingredients, stretched, and took off his apron.
“My, are you finally finished?”
A woman—or rather, a girl—approached him with a coquettish gait.
“It seems there is still plenty of time before your sparring appointment. Won’t you entertain a bored goddess?”
The goddess known as the strong woman, Stheno.
“Bored, huh… want to go to the library?”
“The library? Hmm, I don’t particularly enjoy books.”
“Is that so? I know someone who loves them.”
“… Shouldn’t it be proper etiquette to cater to a goddess here?”
“You’ve got a lot of nerve saying that to the husband of a Godslayer. Don’t expect any divine courtesy from me.”
Kay brushed back his hair, turned off the kitchen lights, and stepped outside.
“What a stubborn man. No wonder you aren’t popular with goddesses.”
“Maybe that’s why I’m so popular with women who *used* to be goddesses.”
“…….”
As Kay spoke slyly, Stheno gave a thin smile, though a chilly aura began to emanate from her.
“Are you suggesting that girl is better than I am?”
“Who knows? From my perspective, she is. She’s more my type than you are.”
“How honest. If you keep that up, that girl might end up being the target of my pranks instead of you.”
“Wouldn’t she actually like that? She has a peculiar personality; she loves her older sisters.”
“You never lose an argument, do you? What a brazen man. I wonder what that girl sees in someone like you.”
“Maybe it’s because I’m better than the Greek men?”
“…… That is a fair point.”
Kay didn't back down even against a goddess. True to the legends of his silver tongue, he was an expert conversationalist.
Despite calling him brazen, Stheno seemed to find his relaxed and sly demeanor quite appealing.
Afterward, his routine continued as always: leisure, cooking, sparring… a peaceful, ordinary daily life.
Then one day, Ritsuka summoned a new Servant.
In a rare occurrence, Kay observed the process alongside the other Servants. With a massive surge of magical energy, a Servant of the Great Hero level was summoned.
“Oh, did I hit the jackpot!?”
Emerging from a brilliant rainbow light was a knight in resplendent golden armor.
“Servant, Saber. Mordred Pendragon. I have answered the call and manifested. Are you my Master?”
“Eh, Mordred-chan?”
“Huh? Father?”
“"Eh."”
Life from here on seemed like it would be a lot more interesting.
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