The Knights of the Round Table, Host Club Edition

"You bastard, do you think you're qualified to speak with me on the same stage?!" Gil said with a cold laugh.

"Shut up! Shirou is a million times better than you!" Artoria said unhappily.

A-chan, standing to the side, nodded silently.

"Would you rather be with a guy like this than me?" Gil, feeling insulted, pointed at Shirou and asked angrily.

"That's right!!" x2

The girls replied without hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"You really dare to say that! And you actually did it! I'll applaud your stubbornness, and then grant you the honor of being buried alive with me!!!"

In the very end, Gil, the Galactic Emperor, frantically pressed the button. If he had to become a prisoner, he'd rather die here!

The Galactic Cannon in the sky, with its spinning barrel, emitted lightning, and then the entire world was enveloped in the intense light of the explosion.

At the last moment, Shirou pulled Artoria and A-chan into his arms, hoping to shield them from the damage of the Galactic Cannon with his back.

The two girls looked up and opened their mouths, seemingly saying something anxiously.

But Shirou could no longer hear anything. In the white light, he closed his eyes and completely lost consciousness.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

Shirou cried out in surprise, waving his hands and sitting up in bed.

"Really! What's wrong? Why are you so jumpy? Are you having a nightmare?" A young woman's voice came from not far away.

Shirou blinked in a daze, then turned his neck in confusion to look around. He was in a room filled with a homey atmosphere. Through the mosquito net, he could see a woman with her back to him combing her long hair at the dressing table.

'What exactly happened? He was clearly caught in that idiot king's suicidal bombardment. How come he seems completely unharmed?' Shirou turned his hand over, looked at his palm, and then at his arm. It wasn't too dark.

Then there are the strong, healthy biceps on my upper arms. Hmm? When did I take my clothes off? Why am I shirtless?

Shirou quickly went down to cool off, lifted the blanket, and looked up in astonishment.

"Why? Why! What on earth happened?! Why is she completely naked underneath?!" Shirou roared inwardly, his mind reeling.

Just then, a slender, fair hand lifted the mosquito net, and a beautiful, mature woman wearing only a sexy nightgown walked in. She looked somewhat familiar.

"Why didn't you reply when I talked to you? And you even lifted the covers to look at your own brother. What's wrong? Okay, okay, I'll make it up to you next time. You can go home now, muah~!" The beautiful mature woman said, reaching out to cup Shirou's face and then leaning in for a kiss.

"Although I'd like you to stay the night, well..." The beautiful mature woman's hand wandered over Shirou's chest, then she continued, "... My husband will be back in an hour, so you'd better go home this time. I'll make it up to you next time."

"Huh? You have a husband?" Shirou was shocked before he could even feel the warmth on his face. He looked at the beautiful mature woman in surprise and asked. He recognized her now. Although the woman looked a little different because of the lighting or makeup, she was definitely the manager of the shop where he had his suit made.

"Ugh~! Are you jealous? But no means no~!" Hearing Shirou's words, the shop manager smiled even more sweetly. She flipped open the pillow and took out an envelope from underneath. Then she took a stylish pink handbag from the bedside table, pulled out five Fukuzawa Yukichi (10,000 yen) bills, and stuffed them into the envelope. "Here, this is a little something. Take it and buy something you like~!"

Shirou was ushered into the elevator, where the older sister smiled brightly and waved, "I'll bring you here to play again next time!"

Before Shirou could reply, as he descended to the ground, he saw a middle-aged man who looked very much like the company president.

The two looked at each other, nodded, Shirou stepped out of the elevator, while the middle-aged man went in.

Shirou walked out of the luxury apartment with a bewildered look on his face. He seemed to have returned to the familiar land of Japan, realizing that he must be in a parallel world, but he didn't know where his home was.

Shirou opened his phone's contacts and social media apps, only to find that he didn't have any family members' numbers.

Finally, he pulled out a few of his own business cards, each with an address written on it.

So Shirou hailed a taxi and decided to go over there and take a look.

When the taxi arrived at its destination, Shirou discovered that it was actually a famous red-light district in Shinjuku.

"Ah, welcome back, Shirou." As I entered the bar, a familiar voice came from behind the bar.

"Merlin... Merlin ~!?" Shirou looked at the bar counter in surprise, where a silver-haired man dressed in a black vest like a waiter and a pure white shirt exclaimed in astonishment. At this moment, Merlin had cut his long hair and sported a trendy, flowing side-swept hairstyle. He held a sake bottle in his hand, shaking it elegantly until frost formed on the lid.

"What's wrong with you? Why do you have such a cute, dazed look on your face? It's adorable, but as the top member of our Dream Round Table, shouldn't your role be that of Hero of Justice, a true man with gentleness ingrained in his very bones?"

"Where is this? Why are you here?" Shirou asked, puzzled.

"Because this is male host club for ladies," Merlin said curiously.

"Then why are you here?" Shirou felt even more confused.

"Of course I'm working. I didn't slack off by playing on the computer today. You just saw me mixing drinks, didn't you?" Merlin explained, but there was something particularly suspicious about his smile at that moment.

Shirou raised his hand and placed it in front of Merlin, rubbing his furrowed brow with his other hand as he pondered, "Wait? Let me sort this out... This is male host club, and I'm... the top host here? So... why would someone like you be here?"

"What do you mean by 'a guy like me'? Because this is my shop!" Merlin replied matter-of-factly.

Although he also worked as a bartender, he only did so when there were beautiful women he was interested in sitting there. The waiters who took orders and served drinks were actually someone else. After all, the Archmage Merlin was still the mastermind who had people running around like puppets.

"Eh... Eh? Huh?" Shirou stared wide-eyed in surprise, feeling like his brain couldn't process anything.

"Haha, you didn't get too carried away with the girls and your memory's all messed up, did you? I didn't expect that designer, who seemed so elegant, to be so surprisingly wild. It's okay~! Blacking out and getting too high, it's normal to have a little brain problem." Merlin laughed and patted Shirou on the shoulder.

Chapter 418 The Round Table Cowboy Knight

Shirou was pushed along by Merlin from behind, and along the way, there were many well-dressed women who smiled and waved at them. There were young girls in their early twenties, beauties between twenty-five and thirty, and mature, peach-like women around thirty years old.

There were also women in their forties and fifties, whose crow's feet were already showing at the corners of their eyes, but their attire—a women's suit, adorned with gold and diamond jewelry—exuded an aura of a professional, strong woman who was a level above the younger women.

The women sitting on the sofas as they passed by greeted him.

Some called him Merlin, and some called him by his given name. It seemed that there were many more people who called him by his given name, suggesting he was quite popular.

Shirou is worried about his past. What was going on with his social life before? It seems like he was quite familiar with a lot of women.

"Huh? Is that so?" Shirou asked, looking completely bewildered.

"It's quite common for customers from the ladyboy or SM clubs next door to drink until dawn, and when they wake up, they find themselves lying naked on the street with a stinging pain in their buttocks. They'll be fine after a good night's sleep."

"Alright, since you've been on assignment all night anyway, if you're not going home, go inside and rest for a bit. Come out and meet the guests after you've rested. I'll go get you when a guest who specifically requested you arrives." Merlin smiled, patted Shirou on the shoulder, and ushered him into the inner rest room.

Shirou was pushed, bewildered, into the lounge where the male hosts gathered. As they passed the dance floor, he seemed to spot several familiar faces. There was a handsome, dashing blond man, like a prince, whose eyes were fixed on the ample bosom of the woman beside him. There was a purple-haired man sitting with a group of married ladies, a red-haired bard surrounded by a bunch of girls, and a friendly young man with a small braid.

Each of them seemed to be someone they knew.

Compared to the magnificent dance floor and crystal chandeliers outside, the lounge now appears remarkably simple. In the corner stands a row of standing lockers commonly found behind school classrooms, with a sofa and table in the middle, along with two two-meter-long soft leather stools, just big enough for one person to lie down, seemingly intended for resting.

On the other side was a dressing table. After all, these days it's more important for men to put on makeup and dress up than for women, so Shirou didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

However, when he saw himself in the mirror, he always felt that something was off.

The person in the mirror was a young man in his early twenties. His hair was styled very smoothly and cleanly, with no sticking out. He also had the same bangs that had been popular in Japan for decades. His skin was also much fairer. He only remembered dressing like this when he attended a ball in his previous life.

Yes... he seems to have become more handsome!?

To be precise, he's become fashionable. Normally, he would only buy a new outfit on a sale day, and when he went out, he would just wear a windbreaker for easy movement. He had absolutely no idea about fashion trends.

Her current attire is even more fashionable than that of models in magazines. Her evening gown looks very expensive, and she wears jewelry such as silver chains at the neckline. Although it's not the exaggerated style of a "shamate" (a subculture known for its flamboyant and often outlandish fashion) haircut, her hair has a beautiful texture, is smooth and flowing, and is clearly permed.

Shirou wondered what kind of life he was living in this world.

Through the window by the inner door, which seemed to be specially designed, he could clearly see what was happening outside without being noticed by people outside.

At this moment, on a small stage, a handsome man with long, dark red hair and his eyes closed is holding a small harp that looks like a bow. He is plucking the strings and reciting European poetry. On the sofa below, a group of noblewomen are sitting with their hands clasped to their hearts, listening to his performance with rapt attention.

Although it's unclear whether they understood the poem or how much of its implied meaning they grasped, judging from their heart-shaped eyes, they were definitely handsome enough.

"I am truly saddened that so many people have come here to hear me sing tonight," Tristan said, gently strumming the strings.

"Ah, Choi-chan, don't be sad. How about a mid-range pink champagne?" The woman in designer clothes waved her hands.

"Received!" the waiter happily replied. Although the host took the lion's share, he also received a cut if the wine sold well. A bottle of mid-range rosé champagne was actually only worth 7 Fukuzawa Yukichi.

Those who frequent nightclubs are mostly adults. As long as the customer has a good job, or has a father who has worked diligently at the company for more than 30 years as a full-time employee, even if he is just the lowest section chief, his annual salary should be seven million yen, plus the usual annual bonus.

Seventy thousand yen, which is only two days' wages for the uncle.

After all, although Japan's unemployment rate has been rising year by year and its economy is sluggish, it is still a developed country. Fresh graduates who apply to Huawei can expect a starting salary of 400,000 yen, and 2.8 million yen in their first year of work. With bonuses, they can easily earn over 3 million yen.

The people who come back to places like this are all rich women. As long as they don't fall into the trap of spending their entire fortune to tip the livestreamers, male host in nightclubs are guaranteed to make a fortune. First there were Chinese livestreamers, now there are Japanese nightclubs; both are extremely profitable industries.

"For someone like me, you're so kind. The only ones who've ever been this good to me are Isolde and the others. I'm so sad, but..." Tristan opened his arms, leaned forward, and pulled the woman who had ordered the drinks into his embrace. In his magnetic, masculine voice, he whispered in her ear, "Thank you."

"Haaah~!!" The woman being hugged exclaimed excitedly, her eyes sparkling with hearts, "Although I don't know who that woman Isolde is, the person here who cares about you the most, Choi-chan, is definitely me! It's me!"

The woman raised her hand and shouted towards the bar.

"Excuse me! No more rosé champagne, please bring in golden champagne instead!"

Tristan, leaning on the woman's shoulder, still with his eyes closed, murmured softly, "I'm so sad..."

The woman being embraced had a flushed face and heart-shaped eyes.

At this moment, one-third of my emotions were filled with heart-pounding excitement; one-third with the satisfaction of showing off to others; and the final third was completely enveloped in happiness. My lips were pursed in a strange way, and I was on the verge of bursting into a silly, infatuated smile.

The woman buried her head in Tristan's red hair, took a deep breath, glanced triumphantly at her companions sitting around her, and mumbled a reply with a half-hearted laugh, "Yes, I'm sad too."

"..."

A sharp, rustling sound rang out from the depths of darkness.

The women around them felt something shatter within them, and something else ignited within them—something called reason, something called jealousy.

"I'm very sad to say that!"

"No! I'm even more heartbroken! I'm going all in, I'll have a shot of Ace of Spades champagne!!!"

"Yes! The guests at table number three ordered the 100,000 yen Spades of Spades champagne. Thank you so much!"

On the other side of the seating area, a noblewoman dressed in a purple dress and draped in a sheer silk scarf looked over curiously and said with a smile.

"It's very lively over there."

At that moment, a pair of strong hands reached out and grabbed the hand of the noblewoman sitting opposite him, drawing his gaze back to her.

"Don't look over there. I still hope to cherish the time I spend talking with you, Madam." The man with short purple hair placed his hands on the table, gazing affectionately into the noblewoman's eyes as he spoke. His eyes seemed to possess a unique charm, perhaps a natural ability of the France to convey emotions through their gaze.

"Lance-chan..." The noblewoman felt her heart flutter at being looked at like that, and her eyes immediately became misty.

In another seat, a tall, handsome blond man held up a crystal glass of golden champagne in one hand and elegantly clinked glasses with the lady opposite him.

There was also a young man with silver-gray hair tied in a small braid, sitting with a woman, softly telling her stories about the king.

Shirou gradually recalled fragments of memories, as if he remembered something. He also felt a sense of familiarity with the decorations outside the club, and his mind flashed back to things that had happened here before.

He was sleeping in the universe when Merlin discovered him and brought him back to Earth. About two years ago, Merlin brought him to this city. When he woke up, he had lost his memories of the past and had no place to live.

Merlin smiled warmly and extended an invitation to him. After all, they were both connected to that king, so they were all on the same side.

Shirou instinctively felt that this man was unreliable and untrustworthy, but he had no other choice but to rely on Merlin for food. Since Merlin ran a host club, he started as a bartender.

After gradually becoming familiar with the customers, she somehow became the top star at the club.

The lower-level ones don't sell their skills but their bodies; they're called gigolos. Those willing to play steel wool get a guaranteed 60,000 yuan per session. Once they recover and become even stronger, they can earn millions a year.

A more sophisticated form of marriage involves a transactional arrangement. Some people marry someone they don't like for resources or other benefits, and once they've obtained the desired resources and taken all the advantages, they no longer need to rely on the woman's family.

These hardworking, middle-aged, and successful people still come here to drink, chat, and connect with younger women, trying to rekindle the relationships they once abandoned.

Male host fall somewhere in between. Their job in the club is to please customers and get them to spend money. Whether or not they go with the customers is their personal choice. The difference between the top-tier male escorts and the bottom-tier male escorts is roughly the difference between the top courtesan in the old Dream of the Red Chamber and a streetwalker.

This is Kabukicho in Shinjuku, a place that immediately comes to mind when people crave nightlife, a place to release stress and seek solace. Ichibancho is home to some of the most popular male host right now. Disillusioned women can temporarily escape the torment of reality here, indulging in everything under the influence of alcohol and sweet talk.

However, the price to pay is not cheap. It's not just about intoxication, but also about financial ruin. The saying "the land of gentle pleasures is the tomb of heroes" applies to both men and women in modern times.

Ironically, regardless of gender, the world teaches people that to live a better life, they must work incredibly hard during the day, enduring any hardship, exhaustion, or grievances. But the stronger they force themselves to be during the day, the more vulnerable they become when the night deepens and loneliness sets in.

The emphasis on etiquette and rules, both in public and in private, has reached a level of strictness that can be described as harsh. Various inequalities exist between seniors and juniors, superiors and subordinates, and men and women, demonstrating how class influences interpersonal relationships.

Especially in a metropolis like Tokyo, the fast pace of life and the pressure of consumption create a climate of superficial politeness masking underlying indifference. The rigid hierarchical system and the resulting sense of oppression build up internally, eventually leading to an explosion of stress.

By day, they are well-dressed, polite office workers, but by night they become people with ties on their heads, shouting and yelling, staggering around, and acting like drunkards. They are like lunatics, and such people can be seen everywhere.

Kabukicho in Shinjuku has its sights set on this type of person. This area, where at least 50% of the real estate is controlled by the Yakuza and is known as a burial ground and a den of iniquity, is a haven for gangsters.

If you're a clueless newbie who comes here alone, you might be targeted as a sucker and end up spending so much money you'd have to take your pants off to get out. Even if there are people who come here to scam food and drinks without any money, there are professionals who will come to collect the debts.

This place is the most unrestrained and dissolute, but also the darkest and most ruthless. There are sellers who only care about money, and sellers who will spend a fortune in one night just to buy back the pain in their hearts. It is a collection of human desires.

However, there is at least one person who thrives in this place: Merlin, the Magus of Flowers.

Here, he felt as relaxed and free as if he were at home. The energy he needed was enough to survive, even if he did nothing but breathe the air and the energy generated between men and women in the darkness.

Flirting without any burdens, well-dressed and beautifully made up, and very open-minded women are everywhere. As long as you have unique charm, it's not hard to find a suitable partner.

You can find passionate one-night stands followed by parting ways as strangers who don't interfere with each other, or ideal casual sex partners to relieve loneliness. But people who are serious about it are rare.

The so-called nightmares are such species. They are not more enthusiastic about lust than humans, but they have a different need, namely the instinct for survival.

They are born with such a lewd constitution. (Monthly fee group 694936135) They attract humans and are also attracted to humans. They entangle with people in reality and have spiritual communion with them in their dreams. They enjoy it and never feel disgusted or tired of it. Sometimes they will even change gender to have sex with their chosen target or to manipulate them at will.

Merlin's immortality isn't due to reaching True Magic realm or undergoing physical transformation, but rather his innate constitution. (Monthly fee group 694936135) He can also occasionally replenish Chaldea's energy, not because his constitution allows him to survive without food or water, but because of the nature of Nightmares—he's not awake.