"Uh...?"
At first, Utaha didn't quite understand. It wasn't until Touko mentioned "the purest life force" and "leaving it inside her body" that she snapped back to reality, her face burning red.
She actually had quite the bold side to her.
But hearing such a serious, magecraft-related explanation about that was like taking a sharp turn she hadn't seen coming—leaving her utterly unprepared.
"Are you absolutely sure it was... that which caused it?"
Utaha tried her best to stay composed, but her flushed cheeks betrayed her embarrassment completely.
"Couldn't it have been something else?"
"No. It can only be that."
Touko shook her head, speaking with absolute certainty.
"Because I've also received that before and conducted research on it."
R-Research?!
Not just Utaha, but even Hayasaka and the others were left utterly dumbfounded.
You actually researched that kind of thing?! Are you serious?!
"Don't underestimate it. That is the essence of a magus's life force, containing an immense amount of magical energy. If a Servant is running low on mana, their Master can replenish them this way. It has legitimate significance in magecraft."
Seeing their horrified expressions, Touko laughed heartily as she explained.
The way she swayed her head back and forth made it seem like she was thoroughly enjoying their shattered worldviews.
So it actually has magecraft significance?!
Though thoroughly scandalized, Utaha quickly steadied herself.
While the concept was a bit too avant-garde for her, the fact that it had granted her magical aptitude was, without a doubt, an enormous surprise.
In this world, magi were the true elite.
Only by becoming a magus could she ensure her own safety.
She wouldn't have to spend her life clinging to someone else like a beautiful but parasitic flower.
And besides—
Who wouldn't be interested in supernatural powers?
Even a girl like her couldn't help but feel giddy at the thought of gaining such abilities, so excited she could practically tear the roof off.
By the kitchen door, Hayasaka quietly retreated, the aroma of food still lingering in the air.
In the living room, Illya looked as if her entire worldview had collapsed, while Miku resembled a newborn kangaroo cautiously yet eagerly observing the world.
Ichika's eyes flickered.
A restless light shimmered in her gaze.
During lunch—
Roy still hadn't woken up.
Following Touko's instructions, the girls handled the meal themselves.
After lunch, Ichika and Miku joined the work, assisting Hayasaka.
Utaha, still exhausted, was granted permission by Touko to rest.
Glancing around and confirming no one was nearby, she quickly sidled up to Touko.
"Do you have any... contraceptive pills?"
Touko understood immediately.
"Don't worry. You won't need those."
Utaha was puzzled.
Touko paused before explaining.
"Roy's body doesn't have the ability to impregnate anyone."
Utaha froze for a moment.
Then it hit her.
Right. If homunculi could get people pregnant, the world's population wouldn't be so scarce.
"If you want a child, you can wait until after the Holy Grail War."
Touko pulled out a crumpled pack of Taiji-brand cigarettes from her pocket, hesitated, then put it back and retrieved a fresh pack instead.
"If he survives, I'll modify his body. By then, he'll be just like an ordinary person."
Her expression was complicated—
A mix of nostalgia, emotion, and a hint of something unreadable.
Utaha thought to herself that she wasn't actually in any hurry to get pregnant.
She was still young, nowhere near ready to be a mother.
Before returning to her room, Utaha spotted Ichika busy in the courtyard.
After a moment of silence, she deliberately fetched a maid outfit from her room and handed it to Ichika with a gentle smile.
Low-cut, backless, with a fluttery lace hem, a headband, and garters—
It was clearly one of the skimpy maid outfits Roy had bought.
This one was a spare he'd given her.
Ichika blinked in surprise.
"Uh... this is?"
"Work uniform."
Utaha smiled faintly before heading back to rest.
Ichika stared at the extremely revealing maid outfit in her hands, speechless.
This is a work uniform?!
Roy-sama's tastes are... quite something!
But then her eyes sparkled mischievously, a faint pink tinting her cheeks as she happily changed into the outfit. It was a bit chilly, but moving around would warm her up.
Hayasaka watched Ichika, now in the maid outfit, with an exasperated expression.
Then she, too, returned to her room and brought out her own spare maid outfit—handing it to Miku.
Miku glanced at Hayasaka's deadpan face, then at Ichika, who had already changed.
Slowly, she headed toward the room.
"You can keep the stockings on."
Hayasaka suddenly added.
Roy seemed to like those.
Then again, what guy didn't?
Of course—
She wasn't making them wear the revealing outfits just to please Roy.
She simply figured that since she had to go through it, the newcomers should too!
If my umbrella got wrecked in the storm, yours won't survive either!
"..."
Miku nodded silently.
She kept the stockings on but skipped the garters—they'd just slip off over the fabric anyway. Hayasaka didn't press the issue.
By evening, as dinner approached—
Roy finally woke up.
Holding his throbbing head and massaging his sore back, he freshened up before sitting down on the veranda.
Utaha was still resting.
The Nakano sisters were cleaning the courtyard, occasionally glancing his way.
"Haah..."
Roy let out a long sigh.
He had some memory of last night.
But not much.
What he did remember clearly was Utaha sacrificing herself to help him release the curse.
"Why the sigh? You lucky brat, acting all reluctant after getting the prize."
Touko sat down beside him, thoroughly amused.
"I just wish I could've done it while fully conscious."
Roy shook his head regretfully.
What a shame—his only memory of last night was how incredibly soft Utaha had been.
Everything else was a blur, driven purely by instinct.
He must've left plenty of marks on her, too.
What a failure.
"You could always redo it now."
Touko jerked her chin toward Utaha's room, her tone teasing.
"...Nah. My back can't take it."
Roy rubbed his aching lower back and reluctantly abandoned the tempting idea.
"Then try again tomorrow."
Touko's smile faded.
"This isn't a joke. You realize that, right?"
Roy fell silent for a moment.
Then, with a slow nod, he sighed in resignation.
"I've been in contact with the Greater Grail too much these past three years."
"Who told you to be so reckless?!"
Touko scolded him harshly.
But a second later, she calmed down, sighed, and sat beside him.
"Before I knew it, you've already been in Fuyuki for three years..."
***
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