In the world of Type-Moon, it all begins with becoming Morgan's husband!

"All right."

Ian withdrew his hand.

“Mash, I have finished explaining.”

"If you're scared, you can leave now."

"..."

The terrible thing she had expected didn't happen. Mashu, with her hands tied, looked at the man in front of her.

She realized that she seemed to have touched on another side of him.

"So, senior, you and Miss Ophelia are really not boyfriend and girlfriend?"

“No,” Ian replied firmly, “at least not at the moment.”

"Why would she send you a message like that?"

"It's probably an equivalent exchange."

"Equivalent exchange?"

“Yes.” Ian nodded. “I learned magic from her, and she drew some emotional support from me.”

That's the kind of relationship we have.

Hearing this answer, Mashu felt relieved.

But soon she realized something.

"senior."

"So, in that case—"

"You're so good to me because..."

"..."

Although it was somewhat cruel, Ian did not hesitate—he never hesitated to do things.

He nodded.

"Yes, Mashu, you're right."

"I was just 'using' you in some way."

"Hmm... If you want to curse me, you can do it now, I don't mind."

however--

The anger Ian had envisioned did not materialize.

Not only that, Mashu actually looked relieved.

"Great."

"Great?" Ian was a little surprised. "Mashu, don't be like that. If you want to scold me, you can just do it."

"Do not."

Mashu shook her head with a smile.

"I am very happy now."

“When I was with my seniors before, I always had a very unreal feeling.”

"It's like walking on a frozen river; you never know when you might fall in."

"Now that I know that my senior was indeed 'using' me, I feel a sense of relief and peace of mind... and my mood has become much better."

"..."

Ian frowned slightly.

"Mash, why would you think that?"

"If you know you've been 'used' by me, you should be angry. You could scold me, blame me, or even hit me—that would all be reasonable."

"Doing it this way is reasonable."

“No.” Mashu shook her head again.

"Senior, I can't do that."

"Because... even when it comes to 'exploiting' someone, you're the first person to do that to me."

"Moreover, my seniors have brought me a lot of wonderful things."

“They are all real—the joy of holding hands in front of everyone, drinking the same iced drink, and living together like this.”

“This is something I would never have dared to imagine before, but my senior took me through it all.”

"so--"

Mashu looked up at Ian with adoration.

"Even if I'm being 'used,' I'm still very happy."

"Senior, I like you."

"..."

Hearing this heartfelt confession, Ian felt a pang in his heart.

“Mash, this isn’t right.”

"You shouldn't think that way... You know perfectly well that I don't really like you, I'm just 'using' you."

"You should stop thinking like this immediately."

"Of course I understand that the right thing to do is to stay away from my seniors."

"But--"

Mash walked forward and came to stand in front of Ian.

Her cheeks were flushed red, but her tone remained firm.

“I really feel very happy to be by my seniors’ side.”

"So...can you continue to 'use' me, senior? Whatever you do, please 'use' me as before."

Looking at Mashu in front of him, Ian knew she wasn't joking.

This is the most sincere and undisguised emotion from a young girl.

Such intense flames are truly difficult to extinguish.

The man thought for a long time before speaking again:

"Matthew."

“I have my own purpose in Chaldea—I want to see some people from the past.”

"And once I see those people, I might just abandon you on the spot, no matter how much you beg me, I won't pay any attention to you."

Even so, do you still want to be 'used' by me?

Ian's words were very direct, even hurtful.

But this was also the last method he could think of—to make Mash realize that he was an idiot, and thus stop.

however.

Mashu nodded without any hesitation.

"Um... I'm willing."

"Please let me accompany you until that time."

That’s it for now.

Ian knew he couldn't possibly refuse this feeling no matter what.

So--

Give her a reason.

One reason she was willing to hear at this time.

"I understand."

“Since you, Mashu, find being ‘used’ acceptable… then I won’t refuse.”

"You will become my tool in every sense of the word."

"Intelligence, errands, and disguise."

"And—the most primal desires."

Upon hearing these words, Mashu's eyes widened slightly, but quickly returned to normal.

She nodded happily.

"Yes, please teach me how to do it, senior."

I don't know how much time later.

late at night.

The main lights in the room were all off, with only two small lamps by the bedside emitting a faint glow.

Fufu curled up into a ball and slept in a small nest in the corner of the room.

This is its designated spot, laid out by Mash herself, and then slightly modified by Ian.

Everything seemed quiet and harmonious—at least on the surface.

However, for Ian at this moment, it was a different story.

He was lying on the bed, holding in his hand the plan for Director Olga Marie's Master to watch over each other.

The blanket covering his lower body had already bunched up.

If you have a keen eye, you'll notice that its shape is similar to that of a person lying down.

And that is indeed the case.