002: The Cash-Strapped Family, the Tohsaka Family's Household Finances

"Archer? Archer..." Rin Tohsaka's sleepy call came from beside him. Rimuru hesitated, took one last look at Matou Sakura standing in the pouring rain, then decisively dissolved into spiritual particles and called off the operation.

Matou Sakura... I remember, during the last world mission...

Mm, she was supposed to have been taken away by a survivor from another team—

Then doesn't that mean...

After a moment of silence, Rimuru slowly appeared beside Rin Tohsaka and looked at her slightly disheveled hair from having just woken up. "What is it, Master?"

That guy called Red Fox came back?!

At that moment, endless, freezing rain fell onto Matou Sakura's head, yet it seemed to be blocked by an invisible shadow. Not a single drop could wet even a corner of Sakura's clothes.

As if sensing something, she glanced into the pitch-black night. Only after the feeling of being watched completely vanished did she fall silent for a moment and turn toward the Matou Family estate, which had been thoroughly remodeled until it was no longer recognizable. After a long while, the shadow beneath her feet began to stir, slowly extending into a black magic circle. Fresh crimson blood seeped out from it.

"Summon..."

Her voice was as gentle as it had been in the original work, but it lacked fragility and carried a trace more coldness.

A moment later, shadows brimming with magical energy transformed into countless apostles and rushed into the distance. At the same time, a Command Seal for an Assassin appeared on Matou Sakura's hand.

"Looks like it worked." A similarly gentle voice came from behind Sakura. She turned around in delight, a trace of attachment appearing on her face. Then flames ignited the black magic circle. Even beneath the exposed rainy sky, the rain saturated with magical