Chapter 99. Daily Life of the Master: Drinking tea, practicing magecraft and... scaring Muzan~
In the center of the city, atop the head of the giant Buddha statue, Raku Sou sat cross-legged, raising a cup of sake into the wind and taking a sip. The crystal-clear flavor spread across his tongue.
He looked down below. A long line of pilgrims stretched out like a dragon all the way to the horizon.
"There truly is a sense of accomplishment."
Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly as he sensed the heartfelt plea of someone far away. He pondered for a moment, then smiled: "Then let it be as you wish."
A golden light flashed on his forehead. The envy within that person's heart was instantly amplified, like a signal being broadcast outward, received by a woman outside the Universe who had already devoured more than half the world.
"Consider it the price to pay—pave the way for me."
Raku Sou looked down at the city again and gave a faint smile. "One world… is still too narrow."
While humming a soft tune, Raku Sou reached for a grape.
A delicate white hand beside him picked up the juicy grape and brought it to his mouth.
Taking a bite, Raku Sou smiled as he looked at Kagome's blushing face beside him.
"What an honor, to be treated like this by Kagome-san."
"Uhm hmmm, then… Sou, between me and Yukino, who do you like more?"
Kagome, beaming and red-faced, picked up another grape and brought it to Raku Sou's mouth.
"Between you and Yukino, who do I like more? Can't I just… like both?"
A lazy and carefree smirk appeared at the corner of Raku Sou's lips as he folded his arms behind his head.
Scoundrel!
Kagome stomped her foot in frustration. The grape she had been offering, with a flick of her wrist, she hurled it down at the crowd below the Buddha statue.
A moment later—
She took a deep breath and suddenly grasped Raku Sou's hand. Her black hair fluttered as her face turned solemn: "Sou, you can think whatever you want for now, but I'll try to become the one who stands at the top of your heart. I'll try a little harder…"
Kagome carefully observed Raku Sou, scanning him from head to toe.
Finally, she spoke in an incredibly gentle and soft voice, but one that carried an unshakable firmness:
"I'll correct all the twisted thoughts inside you and become your one and only."
"Umu… then you'll need to try even harder. Otherwise, the scenery along the way might quickly draw me in."
Raku Sou was slightly stunned, then chuckled silently, a bit surprised inside.
He stood up and held Kagome's hand. The two stood side by side, enjoying the view below them—under the faint dawn light, it appeared breathtakingly beautiful.
While Kagome remained unaware, the Shikon Jewel she wore began to glow more brightly.
As if, during that brief moment, it had been further empowered by a certain Raku.
Inside the round jewel, a noble miko's soul awakened. Her entire body emitted a gentle, shimmering white light as she calmly observed everything.
…
Nighttime.
The clear moonlight pierced through the curtains, casting a faint glow over the room.
"The Divine Authority Jade is growing faster than I thought. At this rate, it won't be long before I can trade for that skill."
Raku Sou raised his head toward the moonlight.
He wanted to acquire a ridiculously overpowered skill—the ability to create life possessed by the Mother Goddess of Beginning, Tiamat, from the Fate series.
Once he had that power, he wouldn't need to trouble himself playing all these different roles anymore.
He could fully absorb the will imprints of heroes from every world—and sculpt clay people.
Even if they only lasted for an hour, that was fine. He could just mold more next time.
"Hmm…?"
Suddenly, Raku Sou looked toward the city in slight surprise. Seven blood-colored pillars of light—visible only to him—broke through the troposphere and shot straight into the sky.
So the seventh Master has appeared?
Interesting.
He raised his brows and smiled.
Even if it had just been a casual blessing on his part, seeing the "plants" he nurtured flourish so well still brought a sense of joy.
The one I've chosen—go ahead and perform to your heart's content on this grand stage of the modern metropolis!
Let the light of magecraft bloom in this modern world.
Let the Heroic Spirits one by one step out from myth.
Let this stagnant era blaze forth with dazzling, absolute brilliance!
...
...
In the darkness, a young girl with long, straight black hair stood coldly, clutching So'unga tightly in her hand. Her face was pale, her gaze carried a trace of frost, and behind her, a fox tail faintly emerged, clearly displaying the traits of a Nine-Tailed Fox.
"My Lord, the volume 'Seven Chapters of Xuanjun Secret Records', I have brought it back for you."
Beside her, Aki Tomoya bowed respectfully, holding up a book bound in human skin, its appearance grotesque and chilling.
Hagoromo Gitsune glanced at it indifferently, calmly received it, and flipped through a few pages.
"Aki-kun, well done. Once I complete the grand ritual, the title of Master of All Evil Spirits will be yours. Seimei won't need this to prove himself."
"I wouldn't dare."
Aki Tomoya bowed low, and in the depths of his eyes shone a trace of fanaticism.
"To witness the descent of my God—it's already the greatest honor of my life!"
"Since you're so obedient, I'll grant you one more portion of power."
Hagoromo Gitsune was satisfied. She felt that although this one had had his mind warped by the book, to the extent of killing his own parents, overall he was still a useful subordinate.
Immediately after, she raised the corroded So'unga and slashed a terrifying beam of black light at the man.
Whoosh!
The beam pierced through his body. Aki Tomoya let out a blood-curdling scream and collapsed to his knees, writhing and convulsing. His body swelled like a balloon, black scales began to grow from his skin, quickly covering his entire body—transforming him into a complete monster.
This was precisely the being recorded in the Necronomicon—something known as a "Deep One."
The difference was, compared to a normal Deep One, Aki Tomoya was ten times the size.
On his back rose a high, scaly ridge; his presence exuded a cold, eerie aura. He wore armor, his massive body stood like a towering building, and his four limbs were developed with powerful muscles. Even within the Deep One race, he could be considered a mutant variant.
Hagoromo Gitsune stared coldly at the night sky—she didn't care about his evolution in the slightest.
This world was changing too fast, too violently. Anyone could see that a wildly turbulent era was about to begin.
Her previous plans had to be completely discarded.
Grand Ritual…
Only by performing the Grand Ritual—
And receiving the power from "that one" sleeping on the moon—
Could she clear away all obstacles and bring Seimei back to life without concern.
...
...
France, Élysée Palace.
The atmosphere was incredibly tense.
President Macron irritably lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled a cloud of white smoke. The ashtray on his desk was overflowing with half-burned cigarette butts, and his eyes—bloodshot as if afflicted by Graves' disease—showed how deep his exhaustion ran.
In the past, before he had time to enjoy life, he would have never dared ruin his health like this.
But now…
Macron couldn't take it anymore!
If not for the Adrenaline injection he took in morning, he might've already collapsed.
"Gentlemen, by now, everything should be clear to all of you, correct?"
Macron sighed.
He picked up a remote and turned on the projector. Murmurs immediately rose from below.
Whoosh!
On the projection screen, a series of photos appeared, each showing a forearm marked with blood-red Command Spells. At first glance, they looked like tattoos—but if this information had been delivered by a French spy in Japan at the cost of their life...
Then the seriousness of the matter was unmistakable.
There was almost a 90% chance this was real…
Which meant that Servants might have already appeared in the real world—under the command of Masters.
In that moment—
The top figures of France exchanged glances, their eyes filled either with fear—or with greed.
Very soon, one official crossed his arms, staring directly at Macron, and asked in a deep voice:
"Has Japan identified the Masters yet? Are they part of the Celestial Curtain, or completely different individuals, chosen at random?"
"Our spy's clearance wasn't high enough—we weren't able to confirm that."
Macron furrowed his brow tightly.
"But there's still one unopened file sent by a spy—it's titled 'Master Support Association.' It's possible the Masters in reality have already formed an alliance. They might even have successfully summoned Servants."
"What?!"
All the high-ranking officials present widened their eyes in shock, slamming their hands on the table and leaping to their feet—no longer able to stay calm.
There was no more doubt. Every one of these tycoons was now thinking the same thing: how to obtain a Command Spell—or strike a deal to get one.
A Servant—most could outright annihilate a superpower like Britain or France in direct combat. The strongest among them could even shake the very foundations of human civilization.
Any Servant appearing on Earth would represent an overwhelming force, far surpassing anything else. There'd be no need to face armies directly—Servants had human forms, they could communicate, command, and operate independently.
In modern society, they would be utterly invincible.
Even against a superpower like America, if one avoided direct confrontation—resorting instead to assassinations or sabotage—it would be enough to collapse the entire nation.
Power is authority. To hold a Servant is to wield supreme power.
The Master Support Association—the very name implied that if this group could keep their Servants for the long haul, or even summon them at will, then this organization was already in possession of the highest form of power.
A small group of people…
Now stood above the entire world.
Just the thought of it sent shivers down everyone's spine.
If they had this kind of power, restoring an empire wouldn't be a distant dream.
Let alone…
If Command Spells had already appeared, then the Holy Grail—a device said to grant any wish—Could it really be far behind?
"Eternal life…"
The richest billionaire in France, Bernard, murmured aloud. His eyes were filled with longing—burning with a fierce desire.
Even if he possessed hundreds of billions of dollars—So what?
As he aged, it would all vanish like smoke.
He had tried countless life extension methods:
Heart transplants, blood transfusions, taking countless cutting-edge biotech drugs…
He had even dreamed of rewriting his own genes— Adding the "FOXO3A" variant.
All over the world, there were so-called "longevity villages", and tycoons like him were always the first to throw money into their research.
Studies showed—most centenarians from those places carried that very gene.
Bernard had admired, envied them to no end.
But no matter how much he longed for it, modern science still couldn't alter his genes—such inborn things couldn't be changed by mere envy.
But now…
If he could obtain the Holy Grail—Then immortality—eternal life—was no longer a distant fantasy!
"We must send more personnel to Japan."
Another elder statesman stood up, his expression grave.
"I agree."
"So do I."
One voice of approval after another echoed through the room—serious, yet tinged with fervent zeal.
Even for those who already stood atop the world, Command Spells were an irreplaceable treasure—
Capable of toppling the global order, rewriting civilization, grinding all beneath their feet.
It could stir an era-defining upheaval—far more devastating than the Second Industrial Revolution.
Falling behind was not an option.
Or else—They'd become like the once-proud empire that was said to be the empire upon which the sun never set-- The Spanish Empire.
Left to rot on the shores, swallowed by the waves—A weak nation, ridiculed and looked down upon by the world.
Tch.
A fate worse than the word "ruin" itself.
Of course, these tycoons fully understood one thing:
Pinning their hopes on Macron was utterly laughable.
If the first Command Spell were to fall into Macron's hands, it would be no different from throwing meat to a dog—gone, never to return. Once he got it, there was no doubt he'd keep it for himself. By the time anyone reacted, it would be far too late—nothing more than a futile struggle.
What, did he think his mercenaries could defeat a Servant?
Ridiculous.
A single slash or spell from a Servant could obliterate an entire battalion like foam on the waves.
For something this important, it was best to rely on their own loyal retainers—willing to sacrifice everything at their command.
Of course, brute force was absolutely out of the question—because Masters were beings that far exceeded common sense.
If the target was anything like that girl named Yukino from Celestial Curtain, then any threat could provoke her to summon a Servant on the spot—and that would be the end of them.
Huu~~
Just imagining it—sitting comfortably, eating shark fin soup, singing merrily—only for a Servant to appear with sword in hand, looming over the table…
Everyone shivered, inhaling a sharp breath of cold air.
Umu. They had to play it soft. Very soft.
They absolutely needed to curry favor.
Whether or not they could obtain a Command Spell, they must not make an enemy of a Master!
...
Meanwhile, across the globe, one confidential operation after another began to activate.
The number of "tourists" flooding into Japan skyrocketed—many of whom were not even human. Supernatural beings, and races not belonging to mankind, were now quietly stepping onto Japanese soil.
Parents of Masters across the world suddenly discovered: their efforts were being acknowledged by higher-ups. They were getting bonuses, promotions, travel vouchers—some even won a special prize of ten billion yen.
It sounded absurd—but not entirely implausible.
The appearance of the Command Spell had changed everything.
If the parallel world had no effect on reality, then everything happening over there might as well have been a movie. No matter how moving or blood-soaked…
It meant nothing in reality.
But once a real Command Spell actually summoned a Servant into the real world—
That would be a disaster.
It would be like smashing the barrier between dimensions—letting creatures of the parallel world flood into the real one.
Shit.
Even the True Ancestors were trembling in fear.
Great youkai stood up all at once.
And those otherworldly beings pouring from the Black Rift Phenomenon in the Pacific? They no longer dared to roam freely.
What use was terrifying power now?
Even the strongest creature ever to emerge—the Pacific Evil Spirit Demon God—had been cut down by Merlin with just a single sword strike.
Their strength still couldn't compare to the Demon God. Against other Servants, there would only be one outcome:
DEATH.
...
Time passed in a flash—a few days went by.
In that span, the Masters possessing Command Spells had made rapid progress.
They had hunted and slain countless man-eating demons rampaging through Chiba City.
They had even managed to eliminate several demons bearing numbers in their eyes.
Slash!
"The weak spot is the nape of the neck. Also, attacks with a positive attribute work best."
Yukino summoned her twin blades, Kanshou and Bakuya, beheading two demons in a single clean strike. She sheathed her swords and spoke calmly.
Now, both her physical prowess and Projection quality had vastly improved.
Not far away—
Vwoosh!
Hideyoshi unleashed a storm of strikes—his swordplay flowed like water, tearing the demons to shreds.
"If they're chopped up this finely, even they can die!"
He wiped sweat from his forehead, flashing a radiant smile.
It seemed Sasaki Kojirou's influence had accelerated his swordsmanship immensely.
Especially the technique of unleashing countless slashes in a single instant—the closer he got to Tsubame Gaeshi, the faster he learned.
"My friend Kinoshita Hideyoshi truly possesses the aura of a swordsman."
Kurumi let out a faint chuckle. In a flash, countless clones around her simultaneously returned to the original body. After enduring deadly battles and hunting down wicked demons, her aura had settled—whatever she faced now passed by like a gentle breeze.
These clones were the result of a type of magecraft she had acquired after obtaining her Command Spell.
Rather than calling her a magus, at this point she resembled more of a half-formed Servant.
At night, she was constantly haunted by dreams of a mysterious woman with a free-spirited smile—Haruno.
She wasn't even sure if this was Haruno from the Fourth Holy Grail War, or some other version. But thanks to Haruno's "deeds" in the parallel world, Kurumi had grown stronger—so strong that she now wielded time-based magecraft: Innate Time Control.
"Haizz, no matter how much I ask around, there's still no news about Subaru."
Kazuma muttered absentmindedly, wiping blood off his custom-made dagger. That very night, he had reported Subaru's disappearance to his superiors, and not long after, people came looking for him.
Taking advantage of the situation, he joined the Master Support Association, and his power had been rapidly growing ever since.
He had even managed to kill a Lower Moon demon.
Subaru, Subaru...
Where the hell did you go?
...
"The bizarre beings from urban legends are different from those man-eating demons."
At the other end of the city, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka calmly stared at the fading corpse of Kuchisake-onna dissolving at his feet.
Over the past few days, he had been racing from place to place, eliminating countless evil spirits in his path. Only one he couldn't defeat—a demon with an eye bearing the sigil [Upper Moon Two]. He was forced to pull out all kinds of modern weapons and fire blindly just to force a retreat.
He even nearly stumbled upon the Demon King's lair. The suffocatingly cold aura there made him instinctively back away.
You can't go all-in when you're unsure of the outcome!
But the strange part was that powerful aura—after seemingly being startled—began to shift locations from time to time.
Weird… Something that powerful shouldn't be so... coward.
(Note: LOL.)
Later on, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka personally classified the differences between evil spirits, yokai, demons, and beings from urban legends.
Man-eating demons kill out of biological need.
Evil spirits kill out of hatred for the living.
Urban legend creatures are more like mechanized manifestations of resentment—automatons of lingering grudge.
If you're lucky, they wouldn't even pose a threat to ordinary humans.
Unfortunately, none of them could be used for his own purposes.
And as for allying with the Demon King?
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka wasn't that foolish. Doing so would make him an enemy of all mankind.
"My magecraft has reached its current limit... I just have to wait for Celestial Curtain to open again."
He muttered quietly, lifting his gaze to the sky. A flash of surprise lit up in his eyes.
The Celestial Curtain, dull and grey, spanning both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres…
Was starting to glow.
"Don't tell me… it's about to begin?"
...
Note: Just as I suspected, the Holy Grail War in the real world hasn't officially begun yet because Fate/stay night has not ended.