Chapter Five: Kagekane, Go Ahead and Get Yourself Killed, but Leave Little Hina Here / Chapter Six: You Can Leave, but the Money Stays

But he had failed. There was not the slightest ripple in Chiron's eyes.

Chiron smiled. He had encountered Yuxian's behavior in many of his disciples.

He said with a smile, "If you want answers, you have to work hard to find them. Perhaps you think Atalanta's approach is somewhat childish and overly idealistic, but she has always been making an effort."

Yuxian carefully considered the meaning behind Chiron's words and asked doubtfully, "Do you mean I should do things according to my own ideas?"

Chiron laughed even louder and asked in return, "You are the Master. We all have to listen to you, don't we?"

Yuxian understood what Chiron meant and sighed. "I don't have the confidence to change this world."

"If you don't do it, there will never be any change." Chiron patted Yuxian on the shoulder. "If Chaldea's Master doesn't even have this much confidence, how will he save Human Order?"

With that, he turned and left, giving Yuxian time to think things over.

Yuxian could not help shaking his head with a bitter smile. He was not saving Human Order now, and the current Chaldea had no Human Order that needed him to save it.

He stared blankly at the waves on the sea, standing there in a daze while Mash quietly kept him company.

Yuxian suddenly asked, "Mash, do you think I can really do it?"

Mash replied gently, "As long as you get serious, Senpai, nothing can stump you."

Get serious? Yuxian did not know whether he truly had not been serious enough, but since Mash said so, he would try being a little more serious.

"Let's go back, Mash."

Having made up his mind, Yuxian stopped overthinking things. Chiron was right. How could he give up so easily?

If he did not make the effort to try, how would he know the final result? Only by doing his utmost would he learn where his limits lay.

When they returned to their residence, dinner was already prepared, and everyone was waiting for him.

"Master, you're so slow!" several little ones complained.

Yuxian pressed his palms together in apology and hurriedly took a seat with Mash. Everyone began eating.

The food on the table was somewhat simple. Compared with Emiya's cooking, it was worlds apart.

Yet everyone silently cleaned their plates, leaving nothing behind.

Every portion of food here was extraordinarily precious. Waste was absolutely unacceptable.

After dinner, Yuxian wandered around the building.

He found a group of children gathered around Illya, so he quietly approached, wanting to hear what they were talking about.

It turned out Illya was telling the story of how she became a Magical Girl again. Yuxian had already heard this story many times.

But to the little girls from the Outer District, it was a wonderful story.

They longed for a life of studying at school, having parents and friends, and being happy every day.

Illya had the same red eyes as them. Compared to Jack and the others, Illya found it easier to gain their acceptance.

They envied Illya's life even more. It was the life closest to theirs, yet still impossibly out of reach.

Yuxian did not disturb them. He quietly left without drawing their attention and returned to his room.

The moment he opened the door, he found three little girls playing on the bed. They had come early to claim it.

Yuxian rubbed his forehead. "Are you planning to make me sleep on the floor forever?"

"Mom can sleep with us!"

"Mhm!" Jack's words earned Gretel's agreement, while Little Jeanne watched Yuxian warily.

"If I sleep on the bed, you'll have to sleep on top of me," Yuxian said helplessly.

Jack immediately said, "We can sleep inside Mom's belly."

"Please, absolutely not!"

Yuxian immediately stopped Jack's dangerous idea and quietly spread out a mattress on the floor. He truly could not bring himself to chase them away.

The little ones especially loved clinging to him, which made him both happy and helpless.

Perhaps this was the legendary trouble that came with happiness.

Kagetane, You Can Get Yourself Killed, But Leave Kohina Behind

Tendo Civil Security Company.

Rentaro and Enju were at school at this hour, while Kisaragi Tendo had gone to the hospital. With none of them around, only Yuxian and the others remained in the office.

Yuxian lay listlessly across the desk, half his face pressed flat against its surface and squashed out of shape.

Jack rested her chin in her hands beside him, looking delighted as her large eyes blinked at him.

With nothing better to do, Yuxian stared back at her, and they began playing the childish game of not blinking.

Stare—

The facts proved that playing this game with a Servant was simply asking for trouble...

Just as Yuxian was about to lose, he began cheating. He pulled Jack into his arms and tickled her, making her giggle.

"Master and Jack are so noisy. Alice is reading!"

Gretel complained unhappily. Mash was holding her while they read a storybook together. Their voices were too loud and had disturbed her.

Yuxian stopped fooling around with Jack and made an apologetic gesture.

He called Little Jeanne, who was sitting primly in the distance, over to him, then placed Jack on a chair on the other side. The three of them lined up neatly and quietly stared into space together.

Kisaragi Tendo stormed into the office and said rapidly, "We have a job. Go to the Ministry of Defense immediately. I've already contacted Rentaro and told him to head there directly."

The Ministry of Defense?

Yuxian immediately perked up. He stood and said to everyone, "Let's go make money! Once we get paid, I'll buy everyone presents."

After meeting up with the hurriedly arriving Rentaro outside the Ministry of Defense building, they went straight to a large conference room.

Most of the notable personnel from Tokyo Area's civil security companies had gathered inside.

When the appointed time arrived, the conference room doors closed and the screen on the wall lit up.

A beautiful young woman appeared on the screen. She was Seitenshi, the ruler of Tokyo Area.

Standing beside her was her adviser, none other than Kisaragi Tendo's grandfather, Kikunojo Tendo.

In her pleasant voice, Seitenshi explained the contents of this commission: eliminate the Gastrea that had appeared in Tokyo Area and recover a box it had swallowed.

The reward displayed on the screen made everyone gasp—one billion yen!

Yuxian quietly said to Mash beside him, "The reward for this commission will be enough to support us for a long time."

Mash was not optimistic and said worriedly, "With such a high reward, the mission's difficulty is probably very high."

"I know what I'm doing. Just watch. That one billion yen is as good as mine."

Yuxian knew the inside story behind this commission well. The difficulty would not be too great. The greatest danger lay in the item inside the box—the Seven Stars' Relic.

From the corner of his eye, he glanced at Kikunojo Tendo beside Seitenshi. He wondered what kind of reaction the mastermind behind this incident would have if he brought the box back intact.

Suddenly, laughter rang out in the conference room, startling everyone.

Hiruko Kagetane, dressed in a red tailcoat, a gentleman's hat, and a white mask, had somehow appeared in the conference room.

A little girl had arrived with him as well. She had blue hair, wore a dark dress, and carried two swords on her back.

She was Hiruko Kohina, Hiruko Kagetane's daughter and also his Initiator.

The two stood atop the conference table and introduced themselves arrogantly, showing no regard for anyone present.

He brazenly threatened everyone there, causing them to raise their weapons at him. Battle was on the verge of breaking out.

Yuxian sighed inwardly and decided not to give Hiruko Kagetane the chance to show off. He stepped forward, pressed down Rentaro's gun hand, and calmly looked at Hiruko Kagetane.

In an even tone, he said, "Hiruko Kagetane, if you want what's in the box, use your strength to take it. Anyone can make threats, so let me give you a warning in advance."

"Don't hurt a single child. Otherwise..." Yuxian's gaze sharpened as he stared at Hiruko Kagetane like a blade and said coldly, "I'll dig the chunks of metal out of your body one piece at a time!"

Hearing the threat, Hiruko Kagetane burst into laughter. It was unclear whether he was mocking Yuxian or simply excited by his words.

Hiruko Kohina glared at Yuxian unhappily and asked, "Papa, can I cut him down?"

Before her words had even faded, a voice sounded behind her. "Mom, can we dismember her?"

At some point, Jack had already appeared behind Kohina. A dagger rested against Kohina's neck as she opened her eyes wide and looked to Yuxian for permission.

Her display stunned everyone. No one had noticed when Jack made her move, as though she had simply appeared behind Kohina out of nowhere.

This was Jack's innate skill, Presence Concealment. If she deliberately hid herself, ordinary people would find it difficult to detect her movements before she attacked.

Yuxian shook his head. "No, Jack. Kohina is a child too, so you can't hurt her. Besides, that would dirty your clothes."

Jack gave an "Oh," put away her dagger, and leaped back to Yuxian's side. She stood obediently beside him, giving no sign that she had just wanted to dismember someone at the slightest disagreement.

Kohina turned her gaze toward Jack and stared at her without blinking. She had not noticed Jack's movements at all and had no idea how Jack got behind her.

But Jack ignored her gaze. Like a good child, she obediently stood beside Yuxian.

Hiruko Kagetane carefully examined Yuxian, trembling all over as he said, "This match is becoming more and more worth looking forward to. I can no longer restrain my excitement. Then let us see who obtains the Seven Stars' Relic first."

With that, he and Kohina jumped out the window and left the Ministry of Defense conference room.

The disturbance finally subsided. Kisaragi Tendo looked straight at Seitenshi and asked, "What exactly is the Seven Stars' Relic?"

"This involves personal privacy, so I cannot tell you." Seitenshi did not provide an answer. In a solemn tone, she added, "There is now one more condition to the commission. Please make certain to retrieve the box before that person does. If the item inside the box is misused, the barrier of the Monoliths will be destroyed, causing the great extinction of Tokyo Area."

Kisaragi Tendo still had many questions to ask. Her heart was full of doubts, but her inquiries were destined to receive no answers. They would only waste time meaninglessly.

They Can Leave, But the Money Must Stay

On the way back, Yuxian asked optimistically, "Once we finish this commission, should we go have steak or hot pot?"

"Steak!" "Hot pot!"

Jack and Gretel argued without giving an inch.

Yuxian asked Little Jeanne, who had not spoken, "What does Jeanne-chan want to eat?"

Little Jeanne looked up at Yuxian and stammered, "I want to buy presents for everyone in the Outer District."

"Oh my! Christmas isn't even here yet, and our dear Santa Claus is already going to work?"

Yuxian stroked her head. Though he was teasing her, her kindness made him happy.

Little Jeanne wanted to defend herself but did not know what to say. Her little face flushed bright red, and Mash hurriedly pulled her away from Yuxian so he could not continue bullying her.

She said irritably, "Senpai, isn't it a little early to be planning how to spend the money? The commission isn't finished yet."

Yuxian threw back his head and laughed without regard for his image. "That's one billion yen. If I don't decide how to spend it in advance, I'm afraid I won't know how to use it all when the time comes."

"Do you need money that badly?"

Hiruko Kagetane's voice came from the dim alleyway. Mash immediately stepped in front of Yuxian, guarding against a possible ambush.

Yuxian was also surprised. Hiruko Kagetane had not gone looking for Rentaro, but had come for him instead.

But on second thought, he understood. At the Ministry of Defense, he and Hiruko Kagetane had confronted each other head-on. It was only natural that Kagetane would come looking for him.

He patted Mash's arm, signaling that she did not need to be nervous.

Night had fallen. The unlit alley was pitch-black, making it difficult to see anyone clearly.

"Mr. Yu? Or is Yuxian the proper way to address you? You aren't from Tokyo Area, are you?"

Standing in the shadows, Hiruko Kagetane slowly revealed Yuxian's identity. To acquire so much information in such a short time, his intelligence network was quite impressive.

He had probably obtained the information from the employer behind him, but Yuxian did not care. None of it was something he needed to deliberately hide. His true identity was Chaldea's Master; if Kikunojo Tendo could guess that, then Yuxian would truly be impressed.

Kikunojo Tendo had hired Hiruko Kagetane to stir up chaos in Tokyo Area. Yuxian did not know what benefit that brought him. Honestly, he could not understand how these politicians thought.

He tilted his head and asked blandly, "What is it?"