"Wait, Archer, were you just looking down on me in your heart?" Tohsaka Rin seemed to have noticed Archer's gaze, glaring at him fiercely as she explained, "The Tohsaka Family's magecraft is very expensive! In the Holy Grail War, magical battles between Masters are inevitable. Do you want me to be held back because I'm short on cash?"
"Yes, yes, yes. So, what do we do now?"
Archer maintained his stance with swords in both hands, looking at Tohsaka Rin with a face full of helplessness. He suddenly felt like he was a bit of a third wheel standing between the two of them.
"Not enough?"
Akatsuki sighed. "I didn't expect you to be so greedy. Fine, I'll add one more."
Seeing that Tohsaka Rin and Archer remained silent for a long while, Akatsuki helplessly took another gold bar out of the Millennium Castle, making Tohsaka Rin's eyes nearly pop out of her head.
"I can't give any more. If it's more than this, I might as well just exchange the gold for cash and find a hotel to stay in."
The feeling of three gold bars in her palm was quite nice, so much so that Akatsuki was a bit reluctant to use them just to increase Tohsaka Rin's favorability.
"Thr-Three gold bars?!"
Perhaps even Tohsaka Rin herself hadn't noticed that her breathing had unconsciously begun to grow heavy.
Three gold bars. Even if she used all of them to buy gems, it would allow Tohsaka Rin to not be stingy with her savings when facing other Magicians—at least she wouldn't have to worry about eating ochazuke every day after a magical battle.
"Master, please snap out of it."
Archer tried to bring Tohsaka Rin back to her senses, but at this moment, she seemed to have been blinded by money, looking at Akatsuki as if she were a local tycoon.
"How about it? These are three gold bars, you know. You should know that gold is sold by the gram, and the price changes every day~" Akatsuki looked at Tohsaka Rin with a half-smile, clearly sensing that Tohsaka's gaze was fixed intently on the gold bars in her hand.
"Hmph, I am the head of the Tohsaka Family, how could I possibly... for just a few gold bars..." Tohsaka's mouth was still stubborn, but her body honestly leaned forward slightly toward Akatsuki.
Archer watched all this silently from the side, unable to stop himself from mentally facepalming.
"Ugh... fine, it's a deal!" Tohsaka Rin finally couldn't resist the temptation of money. "But let's get this straight: I'm only agreeing for the sake of the gold bars. Don't get any ideas!"
Akatsuki handed the gold bars to Archer, who took them somewhat reluctantly. After checking to ensure there were no curses, he handed them to Tohsaka Rin behind him.
"No need to check so carefully. Those are genuine gold bars, without any curses or magical components mixed in." Perhaps because the wait was a bit long, Akatsuki toyed with her hair and said with some impatience, "It's already very late. Can we find a place for me to rest first? Oh, and before resting, I'd like to have dinner. Any objections?"
"Archer, you may withdraw for now."
Tohsaka Rin waved her hand, signaling Archer to lower his swords, then took Akatsuki's hand. "I am Tohsaka, Tohsaka Rin, the sixth-generation head of the Tohsaka Family and the administrator of Fuyuki City."
Akatsuki shook Tohsaka's hand back, thinking to herself that the heroine's hand was indeed soft, while also introducing herself.
"Akatsuki, Akatsuki Brunestud, a True Ancestor."
"A True Ancestor?"
Archer and Tohsaka Rin were both stunned. As a Guardian, it was impossible for him not to know of the True Ancestors' existence, let alone a True Ancestor bestowed with the name 'brunestud'—that was royalty among their kind!
As for Tohsaka Rin, she had once read an introduction to True Ancestors in a book. It said: True Ancestors are special existences among Blood-sucking species, with a nature close to elementals. They have a strong Bloodlust Impulse, and often use all their power just to control it.
Tohsaka Rin recalled Akatsuki's relaxed demeanor when facing Archer just now and couldn't help but doubt the truthfulness of that book.
"Are you the Black Princess or the White Princess?"
"I am neither the Black Princess nor the White Princess."
It was no wonder Archer asked this question. After all, in the world of TYPE-MOON, there were only two individuals named 'brunestud' excluding the deceased 'King of the Moon'.
The White Princess—Arcueid Brunestud.
The Black Princess—Altrouge brunestud.
"Archer, has your memory recovered a bit?"
"No, it's just that hearing 'brunestud' made me ask that question subconsciously. Perhaps I really did have some connection with her in my past life..."
"Impossible, impossible." Akatsuki waved her hand and said righteously, "I haven't even been born for a full day yet. How could I possibly know you? Don't go slandering my reputation out of thin air!"
"Then I must just have an impression of the name 'brunestud'."
"Is that so~"
Akatsuki said no more. By timeline, she was the last royal True Ancestor to be born, effectively the younger sister of the Black and White Princesses. However, since her body was based on the 'King of the Moon' and contained his information, strictly speaking, she should be considered the 'King of the Moon's' younger sister—making her the aunt of the two princesses.
Hmm? Why did saying it like that make her feel a bit old? But for existences like True Ancestors who have no concept of lifespan, there was no need to dwell on such things. They would just live their own lives.
Silence all the way.
Arriving at the Tohsaka Residence, Tohsaka Rin opened the barrier surrounding the mansion to let Akatsuki in.
Looking at Tohsaka Rin, whose attitude toward her had changed, Akatsuki couldn't help but tease, "Tohsaka Rin, you really are greedy for money."
"I-I'm not greedy for money!"
Tohsaka Rin's face flushed red as she argued with Akatsuki, "Since you're a True Ancestor, you should understand how expensive magecraft is! A single spell of mine costs five hundred thousand yen! How can I afford my training and daily life if I don't work hard to earn money?"
"Yes, yes, yes." Waving a hand, Akatsuki sat down on the sofa in the living room as soon as she entered the Tohsaka Residence. "Go and cook. Let me taste your cooking."
"Who said I was going to do it personally?"
Tohsaka Rin clapped her hands, and Archer, wearing an apron, walked into the kitchen.
"Master, please go to hell."
Even though Archer said nothing and looked as if he were used to it, Akatsuki still heard that familiar line.
"Hey, get up. I'll find a room for you."
"Just get it ready for me. Take me there after I finish eating. I don't want to move right now."
Akatsuki lay on the sofa as if she had merged with it, refusing to get up no matter what.
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