"A super rich person is coming to eat at our house?"
Sanjiro put down his bottle of water, and countless thoughts immediately flashed through his mind.
Damn it—could it be I'm not giving the brat enough allowance, and now she's trying to make extra money on the side?
Just what the hell is this kid doing behind my back?
No way. When I get home, I'm definitely going to give her a proper lesson. I absolutely won't let her become a gold-digger.
Even if it's King Goldie, no exceptions!
On the other end of the phone, the brat spoke proudly: "Yep! So come home early tonight and make a feast. I'll give you half!"
"You just wait till tonight!"
Sanjiro felt himself instantly harden—
His fists hardened!
Damn brat, hasn't been disciplined for three days and already she's flipping the roof!
Looks like tonight it's time for another good ol' lesson in the name of love. Hopefully it doesn't scare poor Fou.
"Mhm, I'm waiting~ This guy seriously isn't short on cash! Make sure you treat the guest well tonight. If we please him, we'll be set for the whole year!" The brat's voice got increasingly cheerful. She quickly added, "Okay, I won't bother you while you rehearse. I'm gonna keep showing him around campus."
Beep—beep—
The call ended.
Sanjiro stared at his phone, his expression flickering between rage and disbelief.
Key words: bribing loli with money… asking him to entertain the guest...
What kind of shady backwater tycoon is this?!
Just because you've got a bit of cash, you think you can do whatever you want?
Wait till I see you, I'm gonna beat you into a sack and dump you in Fuyuki Bay!
Even Sanjiro's damaged saint graph felt like it was boiling.
I might not be able to take on Goldie yet, but a third-rate sugar daddy? Please.
"What's wrong?" Illya asked with concern.
"Nothing. Kirina's just made another mistake."
Sanjiro suppressed his killing aura and sighed helplessly.
"Kirina is smart, just a bit too mischievous. Needs the right guidance," Illya said as she walked up to him, standing side by side.
"Mhm." Sanjiro nodded and looked down at her.
At that moment—
Illya was wearing a pure white princess dress, her long snowy hair flowing, ruby-red eyes gleaming.
Like an angel who accidentally fell from heaven, so sacred and pure that even standing close felt like sacrilege.
Many people were watching from afar, stealing glances.
Sanjiro felt a little awkward.
After all, she was the number one prodigy among the hundreds of thousands of students in Academy City.
Even Rin Tohsaka's talent couldn't compare.
And now, with Alaya having just released Unlimited Blade Works, her fame had spread worldwide.
At this point, Illya was a quasi-Heroic Spirit class existence. If she summoned Heracles, she'd instantly rank among the top-tier Heroic Spirits!
"Kirina looked a bit down earlier when she couldn't come with us. Should we buy her a present or maybe let her meet a Heroic Spirit?" Illya suggested, brushing hair away from her eyes and gazing up at him.
Then—
She gently adjusted his slightly messy collar with her soft white hands.
"We'll see." Sanjiro turned his head with an odd expression.
Being so close to her, with that dress that looked suspiciously like a pure white wedding gown…
Her pure and adorable face now had a hint of mature grace.
It gave him a strange feeling, like he was discussing child-raising with a new bride.
Sanjiro quickly repeated his mental mantra:
I'm not into lolis—I'm not into lolis—I… wait, she's older than me!
Illya was actually a year older than him.
He was 17. She was 18—an adult.
So who's grooming who now?
At that moment—
Julian walked over from the crowd with a smirk: "Yo, bro. Am I interrupting?"
"What do you think?" Sanjiro glared at him.
This guy was also among those who had recommended him earlier.
All noted in his little grudge notebook!
"King Artoria will be arriving tomorrow afternoon. Be excited—he's the king everyone dreams of meeting!"
Julian gracefully raised his wine glass like a refined noble.
Which, to be fair, he actually was.
The Ainsworth family had been noble for over a thousand years. Their legacy was deep and formidable.
"How would you know if I'm excited or not?" Sanjiro retorted, increasingly annoyed.
Excited? Yeah right. If Mordred and Ria lose it, that welcome party will turn into a battlefield.
And don't think you'll be able to escape either!
He still didn't understand why Artoria was bringing Mordred.
If things go south, will he really have to break up a "father-daughter" brawl with his bare hands like in The Perfect King?
Just thinking about it gave him chills.
He still remembered how that scene had nearly killed him.
Seriously, he deserved a damn Oscar for that performance.
"Say, Sanjiro, you haven't left a trail of lovers, have you? Afraid of getting chopped up?" Julian pushed up his glasses. "I did a reading for you. You're cursed with peach blossoms. Very unlucky!"
"…Scram."
Sanjiro glanced around at the onlookers, resisting the urge to kick him.
His original plan had been flawless.
With his connection to Goldie through The Oldest King, he was sure the guy would be all tsundere but ultimately help him.
That way he could escape the storm and go back to peaceful daily life.
Damn you, Alaya! If not for releasing Unlimited Blade Works and exposing his relationship with Goldie, would he even be in this mess?
Now he was terrified Goldie would show up demanding payback.
"Haha, good luck, my dear friend!" Julian laughed and walked away, already sensing a great show was coming.
"Get lost! You damn backstabbing friend!"
Sanjiro grumbled.
All these people called themselves his friends, but each one was a bigger troll than the last.
He turned to the girl beside him. "You still coming over for dinner tonight?"
"Of course. But I've got something to do first, so I might be a little late." Illya nodded.
Ever since Unlimited Blade Works dropped, her lost memories had returned, and she finally remembered everything from the past.
The boy before her now… was becoming one with that figure from her memories.
"Alright, I'll go buy groceries and prep then."
Sanjiro waved her goodbye.
The brat said some rich guy was coming over. Time to cook a feast that'd blind the guy with flavor.
Dinner at his house tonight was going to be lavish.
Once everyone was full and satisfied—
He'd reason with the guy.
Yeah… physical reasoning counts as reason too!
Sanjiro stepped off the bus and strolled toward the nearby market.
He hadn't walked far when he heard a familiar voice—
"Red-gold eyes! Flounder! Wild sea bream!"
A man with blue hair and red eyes was standing at the fish shop entrance, waving a sign and shouting, "Fresh! Affordable!"
"Give me a ribbonfish. Live." Sanjiro stepped forward.
The man's professional smile disappeared instantly. He snorted coldly, "What, you messing with me?"
His tall frame exuded pressure.
"Fine, give me a carp. Clean it for me." Sanjiro chuckled.
It was honestly kind of fun.
The man in the apron selling fish?
None other than Cú Chulainn!
Thankfully, Unlimited Blade Works hadn't revealed him. Otherwise, he'd never have been able to sell fish in peace.
"Hmph. Now you're talking." Cú Chulainn grabbed a fish and deftly began cleaning it.
As he worked, Sanjiro asked curiously, "You seem like someone with a special past. Doesn't selling fish feel beneath you?"
A Heroic Spirit, settling for anonymity?
Could he be tired of battle too?
"Tch. You think I care? I've been butchering fish for ten years at Da Run Fa. My heart's as cold as my blade," Cú said flatly, not even looking up as his knife flashed like an illusion.
When he saw Unlimited Blade Works, it did stir something in him—memories of past wars.
But Celtic was long gone, and he had no interest in joining Britain. So, he chose to stay in peaceful Fuyuki and enjoy selling fish.
He handed the cleaned carp over: "All set. 700 yen."
"Sent it. Thanks." Sanjiro pulled out his phone to scan the QR code and paid.
Carp in one hand, phone in the other, he walked off.
He couldn't help but feel delighted inside.
How wonderful~
In this era, everyone could live the life they wanted.
All his long years of struggle hadn't been in vain.
His body felt light. There was nothing to be afraid of anymore.
Once he got home and made a delicious meal, he could just sit back and wait for that so-called rich guy to show up.
Sanjiro was curious to see just what kind of airs a mere nouveau riche(new rich) could put on in front of him.
After all, his circle of friends included a whole bunch of Heroic Spirits rich enough to rival nations.
Not to mention, King of Heroes himself had wealth that even made Sanjiro green with envy.
Unfortunately, Unlimited Blade Works had exposed their relationship. Best to keep some distance.
Back in the day, he'd once confided in the guy, only to take him down on the spot.
Then Alaya had released the video and publicly executed him online.
If that bastard came looking for him now, would he want to have a "heartfelt conversation" too?
No way. Best to stay far away!
While he was busy cooking, his phone rang.
Sanjiro casually answered, "What's up?"
"Get ready. We'll be back in half an hour—make sure everything's set!" Kirina said, barely able to contain her excitement.
What a fat sheep this was.
So obscenely rich, just like that goldie, casually buying heaps of stuff.
Thousands, hundreds of thousands of yen—he spent it like pocket change.
If a real gold-digging girl were here, she'd probably already thrown herself at him, calling him daddy.
Right now, in Kirina's mind, this man wasn't just some nouveau riche anymore. He was—
A golden, glittering God of Wealth!
"Alright, you guys hurry back."
Sanjiro clamped the phone between his shoulder and cheek, both hands juggling the wok.
Just some rich guy—nothing to worry about.
With his cooking skills accumulated from six thousand years, across countless timelines past and present…
A few ordinary home-cooked dishes would be enough to blow the guy's mind!
Forget a nouveau riche—even the mighty King of Heroes had once bowed down before his culinary prowess.
That bastard used to shamelessly mooch meals all the time.
Sadly, time couldn't be turned back.
Stabbing a friend in the back had replaced taking a stab for a friend.
"Mhm, we'll be back soon. This guy's really rich—I'm starting to wonder if his family owns a mine!"
Kirina glanced at Mr. Gold from the corner of her eye and whispered a few words before ending the call.
She straightened up, resuming her elegant young lady demeanor, then approached with a gentle smile. "Mr. Gold, everything is prepared at home. Please, allow me to escort you."
"Alright, sorry to trouble you,"
Gilgamesh replied with a smile.
To him, this was nothing more than a fleeting whim.
He came on a whim, and would leave on a whim.
No reason needed.
That kind of spontaneity often had something to do with his Clairvoyance, allowing him a vague glimpse into the future.
With the age of Heroic Spirits dawning and countless powerful heroes coexisting in the same space and time…
Seeing the future now meant potentially changing it.
Even Clairvoyance could no longer peer through it easily.
He lowered his gaze slightly, smiling as he looked at the girl. "That shut-in of yours really cares about you."
Cares enough to practically chain himself to you—shackling you with a hundred bindings so you don't run off!
What kind of terrifying yandere is that!?
"You flatter me…"
Kirina felt her cheeks flush slightly.
After all, this whole 'couple' act with Sanjiro was her own idea. Once they got back, she'd definitely have to talk to him about it.
If they were going to act, then they needed to fully commit.
Clutching her sleeve shyly, she said, "He really does treat me well. Every morning he prepares a lovely breakfast to wake me up (with a feather duster)."
"When I'm playing games or shopping online, he always helps me (by enforcing internet detox and blocking my spending)."
"And at night, he waits until I'm asleep (then cuts the power and internet)."
See? Truly gentle!
A picture-perfect couple!
"Not bad at all,"
Gilgamesh nodded.
It even reminded him of his own chuunibyou phase back in the day, before he got smacked straight by that bastard and that punk Enkidu's joint "personality adjustment punches."
They'd beaten the arrogance right out of him—transforming the high-and-mighty Golden King into today's gentle, beloved Wise King…
Later—
After strolling around a bit, the two finally returned home.
Ding-dong~
Kirina stood on tiptoe to press the doorbell.
A few seconds later, footsteps came from within, rushing toward the door.
Click~
The door opened, revealing a young man in slippers, an apron tied around his waist.
Kirina beamed, "Sanjiro, come, let me introduce you—this is Mr. Gold."
"Mr. Gold, huh?"
Sanjiro gave a professional smile. "Hello, welcome to our humble home."
The man before them was dressed in a suit, tall and upright.
Sanjiro had to admit, the guy had a strikingly handsome appearance, practically exuding wealth.
He might as well have the words I'M RICH tattooed on his forehead!
"Hello, sorry to drop by unannounced."
The man smiled and extended his hand.
Sanjiro wiped his on the apron, then returned the handshake with a bright smile. "Guests are always welcome. Make yourself at home."
No matter how much he wanted to beat the guy up, appearances had to be maintained.
Then—
Sanjiro felt something at his waist—Enkidu squirmed slightly.
His mind instantly went on high alert—
Fuck! Its Goldie!!