"Hercules Heracles..."
Akatsuki calmly stated the true identity of the Berserker class card. However, a Servant who had become a Shadow Servant only had their combat instincts left. Even if the demigod Heracles became a Shadow Servant, nothing would change. But if Heracles had been modified by gaia, then the problem would not be so simple.
This world line, named Magical Girl Illya, was a branch generated from the Fate/Zero world line, and Fate/Zero was the prequel to the unformed Fifth Holy Grail War. The world had deviated too much from the original Fate; without Future Vision, even Akatsuki could not see the future trends clearly.
"Is that so... Hercules Heracles... I'll thank you for now; this information is very important... Hey, how long are you going to stay at my house! And! Don't touch other people's property without permission!"
Tohsaka Rin pointed at Akatsuki, who was fiddling with her jewel box.
"You call it property, but there aren't many jewels left, are there? Are the jewels in here even worth a few million? Tonight is the time for the decisive battle with Berserker. If you don't prepare more jewels, you'll be defeated. And if you are defeated..."
Saying so, Akatsuki intentionally put on a shy look, covering her face with her hands. "Maybe it will trigger a defeat CG! The failed girl will be humiliated by the enemy, even her dignity taken away. That's a kind of 'royal road' plot too."
"What kind of royal road plot is that! You bastard! A Shadow Servant wouldn't have that kind of desire!! If anything, you're the only one with such filthy desires!!"
Tohsaka Rin threw a cushion from the sofa at Akatsuki, but Akatsuki caught it easily. Seeing Akatsuki's fake smile, for some reason, an inexplicable restlessness arose in Tohsaka Rin's heart.
"Hey."
Akatsuki called out and tossed a crystal-clear dagger to Tohsaka Rin. She didn't even give Tohsaka Rin time to react, throwing the dagger quite naturally.
Tohsaka Rin was startled after seeing clearly what Akatsuki had thrown, scrambling to catch the dagger in mid-air. "You jerk, throwing such a dangerous thing out of the blue, are you trying to kill me?!"
"Don't make a fuss. If you couldn't even catch this, you wouldn't be Tohsaka Rin." Akatsuki crossed her arms, the corners of her mouth curling up, as if she had known all along that Tohsaka Rin would catch the dagger steadily. "Look closely; it's a gift."
Although Tohsaka Rin was still dissatisfied, she carefully examined the dagger in her hand, feeling the fluctuations of magic power flowing through it. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes. "This is... the Jewel Sword?! No, is it a replica?"
"Yes, this is what's called a cheat item. Three times." Holding up three fingers, Akatsuki stood up from her chair and walked in front of Tohsaka Rin. "This Jeweled Sword (Fake) has the same output capability as the genuine Jewel Sword, but it can only be used three times. Rin, perform well tonight. If you really lose... heh heh heh..."
Her finger stopped at Tohsaka Rin's chin, Akatsuki's gaze ambiguous and filled with an unknown desire.
Tohsaka Rin was stunned, then she reacted, her face instantly turning red as she glared. "Don't look down on people! Who do you think I am! I am the head of the Tohsaka Family, Tohsaka Rin! Just watch; even without you, I won't be defeated easily!"
At this time, the night outside the window was deepening, and the moment of the decisive battle seemed to be quietly approaching. Tohsaka Rin took a deep breath and gripped the dagger tightly.
"Are you nervous?"
Akatsuki looked at Tohsaka Rin with interest. Tohsaka Rin, however, gave her a fierce glare. "Who—who's nervous! I'm just adjusting my condition! This is the last class card; as long as I get it..." Just then, Akatsuki directly hugged Tohsaka Rin.
"You bastard! Even at a time like this, you're still thinking about such things..."
"Shh, don't talk, feel it with your heart."
Akatsuki's voice was slightly doting, yet carried a hint of worry. "What I can do for you is limited right now. Those two times with Saber and Assassin were already the limit of what that guy could tolerate. If I continue to interfere, the world itself will throw a tantrum. But I truly like you, Sakura, and Saber. Unlike before, when I simply received orders from the Young Mistress, this time it's 'suki' from the bottom of my heart."
"Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-You..."
Tohsaka Rin's face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple, her mind went blank, and she stammered for a long time without being able to say a complete sentence. Even Akatsuki, who was holding her, could hear her thumping heartbeat; the sound even made Akatsuki wonder if Tohsaka Rin's heart would jump out of her throat the next second. She wanted to push Akatsuki away, but her body wouldn't obey, her hands hanging limply at her sides.
"W-Why are you suddenly saying these things? W-What's wrong all of a sudden?" A few minutes later, Tohsaka Rin finally found her voice, though it was weak and lacked her usual vigor.
The sudden confession made Tohsaka Rin panic for a moment, so much so that even as a first-class Magician, she didn't notice that her magic circuits had been adjusted to their optimal state.
Akatsuki let go of Tohsaka Rin and, seeing her flustered state, the corners of her mouth curled slightly. "Alright, your condition is adjusted. Get ready for battle."
Tohsaka Rin took a deep breath. The magic power within her was tuned to its peak, and the operation of her magic circuits was excellent. "You jerk, next time you want to 'adjust,' just tell me. Hugging me out of the blue almost made me unable to hold back my blade."
Shaking the dagger in her hand, Tohsaka Rin spoke as if it were true, but her crimson cheeks betrayed her.
"Ring ring ring..."
Just then, a sound completely out of character for her rang from Tohsaka Rin's pocket. To an outsider, it might seem perfectly normal for a modern person like Tohsaka Rin to use a mobile phone, but anyone who knew her knew that Tohsaka Rin was a complete klutz with machinery.
Akatsuki watched as Tohsaka Rin scrambled to take out her phone and then scrambled to answer the call, noticing the red strap Akatsuki had specifically chosen for her; Akatsuki's mood improved quite a bit.
This phone was something Akatsuki had Tohsaka Rin, Matou Sakura, and Saber buy specifically to prevent situations where they couldn't be contacted. After being modified by Akatsuki and Lord El-Melloi II, it became a crystallization of science and magic, usable even in places with no signal!
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