Aozaki Residence.
Utaha and Ichika awoke from their dreams almost simultaneously, then gasped heavily as if startled, their faces filled with panic and unease.
"Ichika, are you okay?"
Miku, alarmed by their reactions, quickly approached, looking at Ichika with concern while handing her a glass of water.
"I'm... barely fine..."
Ichika's face still carried traces of fright as she took the glass from Miku and drank some water, trying to calm the turbulent waves of emotion inside her.
Meanwhile, Hayasaka also handed water to Utaha.
"Congratulations, girls. You've grown."
Touko glanced at the remaining two—Rin and Illya—who were still lying motionless, indicating that their mission had not gone smoothly.
"Which of you is calmer now? Can you tell me what happened in the dream?"
Aoko stood outside the room. Hearing the commotion inside, she leaned back slightly to peer at the girls inside.
"I'll explain..."
Utaha stood up voluntarily.
She recounted the scenes she had witnessed in the dream, particularly the monsters that had appeared, to Touko.
"Cursed spirits... So that's the trick Angra Mainyu prepared."
Touko muttered, as if she had already anticipated it.
"Well then, Aoko, isn't it your turn to step in now?"
"Can't do it."
Aoko shrugged.
Though she knew Roy was in danger, she sighed listlessly.
"You know the rules—I'm not allowed to intervene. Didn't you already know that?"
Touko stiffened.
Of course she knew. Aoko was referring to the restrictions imposed by the Root, which forbade Magicians and immortals like them from acting in this era.
But this was an entirely different matter.
"Does this even count? This is a problem in the dream world, not reality!"
"The problem is—it does count!"
Aoko scratched the back of her head in frustration.
"Actually, the two times I intervened before, I felt an indescribable driving force—something compelled me to act. But this time, I don't feel that push. In other words, I haven't been permitted to intervene!"
The two times before?
An indescribable driving force?
Touko frowned. Her intuition told her this was anything but simple.
Aoko's first intervention was last night, when the corrupted King Arthur attacked, saving Roy and the others from her grasp.
But when was the other time?
And what had driven her to act then?
No—the real issue now wasn't Aoko's problem, but the fact that Roy was still trapped in the dangers of the dream.
Ding-dong—!
Suddenly, a crisp wind chime rang out.
The clear sound of the chime in the early hours of the morning instantly drew everyone's attention.
"Someone triggered the barrier?"
Touko's expression grew tense.
"Of all times... Who could it be?"
The barrier surrounding the Aozaki residence was linked to the wind chime hanging in the front yard. Once the chime rang, it meant someone had touched the barrier.
With Roy unconscious, Aoko unable to act, Touko maintaining the magecraft, and Okita trapped in the dream, they had no spare hands left.
If a Servant attacked now, they'd be in serious trouble!
"I'll go check."
Aoko walked toward the front gate.
Though she was restricted from taking action, self-defense didn't count. If an enemy showed up, she could at least act as a shield. As a Magician who manipulated time, she could shift injuries into the future, making her an exceptional shield—though there was no pride in that.
The front gate opened, and standing there was indeed a Servant.
However, she showed no signs of hostility.
She hadn't even drawn her weapon.
The only thing notable about her was the intense resentment emanating from her body, as if she had crawled out of hell itself.
"You are...?"
"Can I come in?"
She whispered the request to Aoko.
Her head was bowed, her posture as humble as a beggar pleading for food.
"You're not joking, are you?"
Aoko had to admit she was taken aback, staring at her with a strange expression.
"If you're a Servant, you must have encountered Roy before. You're genuine enemies. Letting you in makes no sense, don't you think?"
"...That's true."
Her eyes remained downcast, making it hard to discern her thoughts.
"But Roy is in trouble right now, isn't he? I want to help him."
"You... help him?"
Aoko blinked in disbelief, scratching the back of her head in confusion.
"So, is this your Master's order? Did they send you?"
"No, this is my own decision."
"That's hardly a reason for me to let you in."
"Please!"
The female Servant bowed deeply to Aoko.
Though shrouded in resentment, her demeanour was pitifully humble.
"I truly am here to help Roy. I know how suspicious that sounds, but I was driven here by an inexplicable command. I won't harm anyone. If you don't believe me—"
"Wait, what did you just say about why you're here?"
Aoko suddenly stiffened, her gaze sharpening as she stared at her.
"Uh... I was pushed by some force to come..."
She blinked, bewildered.
"I see. Now I understand!"
Aoko inhaled sharply, rubbing her forehead.
Vaguely, she seemed to grasp something.
"Come in!"
The female Servant was stunned.
But there was no time to dwell on it. She quickly stepped into the courtyard, following an unseen guidance straight to the master bedroom, where she saw the gathered women and Roy lying on the bed.
The number of women in the room surprised her, and her expression flickered with a hint of complexity.
Since when did Roy become this kind of person?
What had happened to him after she left last time?
"You're—"
Touko stared in surprise at the female Servant who had entered.
She recognized her. On the first day of the Holy Grail War, she and her Master had stormed Roy's home. The familiars had recorded her image.
"There's no time. Please send me into the dream too!"
Without hesitation, she lay down on a nearby futon and closed her eyes.
Touko was stunned by her abruptness.
Was this complete lack of vigilance a sign that she didn't take the esteemed Puppet Master seriously at all?
"Hey, what are you here for? Where's Aoko? Why did she let you in?"
"It's fine, Touko. She's here to help. Just do as she says."
Aoko walked in after her, giving Touko a look that said, "Trust me on this."
Touko's lips twitched, but she proceeded to send the female Servant into Roy's dream.
"I hope I'm not making a mistake..."
***
Hey readers!
Want to read ahead? 📖 Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.
🔹patreon.com/aarvan🔹