What are you looking at?

At two in the morning, Fuyuki City's streets were completely deserted.

A "Water Meter Inspection Squad" unprecedented in the history of the Holy Grail War, and likely never to be seen again, marched grandly down the road.

At the very front was Lin Xiao, hands in his pockets as if he were taking an after-dinner stroll.

On his left was Saber, gripping her invisible sword with a battle-ready expression.

On his right were Rin Tohsaka and Shirou, who was holding Illya's hand.

Beside Rin, Sakura Matou followed closely. Her smooth black hair framed her violet eyes, which were still somewhat timid but had regained their spark.

Before they left, Sakura had awakened after being completely healed by the Light of Gaia. Learning that Lin Ye and the others were going to end the Holy Grail War, the girl who had endured so much torment gathered her courage for the first time and insisted on coming along. She wanted to bring back Rider, the only Heroic Spirit in the Matou Household who had ever shown her kindness.

At the back of the group were Red Archer, wearing an expression of utter despair, and the Berserker Heracles, who had reined in all his killing intent like an aggrieved bodyguard.

"First stop, Homurahara Academy." Lin Xiao looked toward the school in the distance, where an ominous red glow faintly flickered. "That seaweed-haired bastard from the Matou Household should be setting up a Blood Barrier there to absorb the life force of ordinary people."

Boom! Lin Xiao could not even be bothered to unlock the guardhouse gate. With a casual shove, the school's heavy iron gates flew away.

The enormous commotion instantly alerted the people inside. On the athletic field, Shinji Matou, who had been using the Book of the False Attendant to set up the barrier, jumped in fright.

When he turned around and recognized the people walking in, he froze for a moment. Then, the fear on his face twisted into extreme arrogance and fury.

"Hahaha! I was wondering who it was. So it's Emiya and Tohsaka!"

Shinji laughed arrogantly, but when his gaze swept over Sakura in the group, his voice suddenly rose several octaves. "Sakura?! How did a lowly vessel like you get out?! Grandpa actually didn't lock you in the basement? And you dare mingle with outsiders?! Get over here right now!"

From the shadows beside Shinji emerged a tall female Servant wearing an eyepatch—Rider.

When Rider saw Sakura among the crowd, intense shock and joy flashed through her covered eyes.

Sakura's black hair had recovered! And the rotten magical energy that had carried the stench of worms gnawing at her was completely gone!

"Shinji... you piece of trash!" Shirou gritted his teeth.

"Shirou, stay back. We agreed I'd be the one fighting tonight, while you just handle the cooking." Lin Xiao pressed a hand onto Shirou's shoulder and slowly stepped forward, looking at the arrogant Shinji as though he were a pathetic clown hopping about on a stage.

"Rider! Kill them! Cut that guy in front into pieces! Then bring Sakura back to me!" Shinji frantically waved the Book of the False Attendant in his hand and screamed.

Rider clenched her teeth. Though she was unwilling a thousand times over to hurt Sakura, her body, controlled by the Book of the False Attendant, instinctively became a purple blur and charged toward Lin Xiao at the front.

In midair, she tore the eyepatch from her face!

"Watch out!!" Rin Tohsaka warned in alarm.

Rider's Noble Phantasm—[Petrifying Mystic Eyes]. Anyone with less magical energy than her would be instantly turned to stone with a single glance!

Yet Lin Xiao did not dodge the Mystic Eyes. Instead, he opened his eyes wide with interest and even leaned forward.

Buzzz—! The petrifying beam of magical energy struck Lin Ye without restraint.

One second. Two seconds. The air was so quiet that one could hear a needle drop.

"...You keep staring at me. Do you like me?"

"How is that possible?!" Rider stared in disbelief at the completely unharmed young man. Her Petrifying Mystic Eyes had not even managed to harden a corner of his clothes?!

"Petrification?"

Lin Xiao looked at the stunned Medusa and could not help laughing. "Miss Rider, you tried to use petrification against an Earth Light... I thought you were trying to give me a flirtatious wink."

At those words, Rider completely froze. "...What the hell is that supposed to mean? Gaia?"

"Useless trash! What are you doing?! Kill him already!" Shinji screamed curses from behind, frantically waving the book in his hand.

Lin Xiao's gaze turned cold. "You're too noisy."

Whoosh! No one even saw how Lin Xiao moved. As though he had shrunk the earth to an inch, he crossed several meters in an instant and appeared directly in front of Shinji. He could not even be bothered to throw a punch, simply swinging a casual Ultra Slap.

"Are you sober?"

Slap!!! A shockingly crisp sound rang out!

Shinji Matou spun through the air three times like a rag doll, spraying shattered teeth everywhere before flying into the wall of the school building so deeply that he could not be pulled out.

"Shinji!" Rider cried out in alarm.

"Relax, he's not dead. That kid may be disgusting, but we'll leave him for Shirou and Sakura to educate slowly in the future." Lin Ye casually caught the Book of the False Attendant as it fell from the air and slightly tightened his fingers.

With a crack, the magic book controlling Rider turned into dust that scattered through the air!

The compulsive magical energy binding Medusa instantly vanished. At the same time, the true Command Spell belonging to Rider lit up once again on the back of Sakura's hand.

"Rider..." Sakura's eyes reddened as she ran forward two steps.

"Sakura!"

Medusa no longer cared about the rules of the Holy Grail War. She quickly walked up to Sakura and looked at her true Master, who had completely escaped the shadow of the worm pit. The usually icy Gorgon's voice trembled uncontrollably. "That's wonderful... You've finally been saved."

"Mm!" Sakura nodded hard, then turned around and gave Lin Xiao a deep bow. "Thank you, Mr. Lin Xiao!"

"All right, save the touching reunion between friends for when we get back."

Lin Xiao snapped his fingers and looked at Medusa. "Starting today, your new assignment is to serve as Sakura's personal maid and move into the Emiya Household. Tomorrow morning, remember to help Shirou rush to the supermarket for discounted eggs."

Medusa stood frozen in place. She glanced at Shinji, who had been slapped into the wall, then at the Masters and Servants behind her, whose expressions were complicated.

As a famous Gorgon from mythology, she felt for the first time that... this world might have gone insane.

But... becoming Sakura's maid? A remarkably gentle smile appeared on Medusa's lips. "Yes. If that is your command, unknown sir."

"Good, that's one household taken care of." Lin Xiao clapped his hands. "Next stop: Mount Enzo, Ryuudou Temple."