Walking in the Question and Answer System of Heroic Spirits

"Come on, get into bed. Let me help you take off those cute slippers."

"No need, I can handle this myself."

Under that "I'm going to watch you go to bed and close your eyes" gaze, Reiryukan Misaya had no choice but to force herself to sleep.

It's strange, I wasn't sleepy at all not long ago, but now I'm suddenly overcome with sleepiness.

【"Misaye."】

【"What's up..."】

"Thank you so much for tonight. Go to sleep, don't worry about me."

【"Um..."】

"Sleep peacefully. Rider, who has the power to destroy my magical fortress, has formed an alliance with your father. That wretched Saber probably doesn't intend to force an invasion right now. You can sleep soundly."

As he said this, Daddy Bean placed his hand on the back of Misaya Reiko's neck.

"This is a little spell to help you get a good night's sleep. Sweet dreams."

【"Um..."】

[Reiroukan Misaya's consciousness completely faded, but before disappearing, a question arose in her mind.]

Why is Saber described as "despicable"?

Zabi: "Hey, something feels off."

Rin Tohsaka: "I smell a familiar scent."

Koles: "No way!"

Meanwhile, in the underground research lab of the Linglong Mansion.

"...I see. Haha, I get it."

The head of the Linglong Pavilion smiled mockingly, his eyes utterly empty.

This is the manifestation of extreme fear.

Just now, he finally understood something.

【genius--】

[Innate talent, that's exactly what it refers to, isn't it?]

Only now do I truly heed the words that man said in the past.

Chapter 473 Caster Rebels Again

[Sajyou Aika, Saber's Master, a first-rank Seraph.]

The current head of the Sajō family is of the same generation as the current head of the Reirō-kan, and both are magicians with ancient bloodlines, based in the same city. Naturally, we've had quite a few interactions. Therefore, I know that man isn't one to make pointless jokes, much less to humiliate himself or bluff.

Although we've had quite a few exchanges—but only on the level of magic—it's far from a personal relationship like that of ordinary people. In fact, we've only talked a few times about discussing magic. Nevertheless, compared to other magicians, we're already much "closer." Although by this standard, those neighbors who hide their magician identities and are close to me are perhaps even "closer" than him.

[During those conversations, he did indeed say—]

[His own daughter, Sajō Aika, is a genius unlike any seen in the Sajō family.]

[Aika does indeed possess a magic circuit passed down through her family lineage, but he's unsure if it qualifies as a magic circuit from the Sajō family; while Ayaka, born a few years later, possesses a genuine Sajō family magic circuit.]

He said: Everything about her is an exception.

[Not only her magic circuits, learning speed, and adaptability, but she can also master magic techniques that her father or the previous heads of the Sajō family had never touched before with astonishing speed.]

Rin Tohsaka: "Wow, is this what a true genius is like?"

Koles: "Can she really master magic tricks that others take a long time to learn?"

C Mom: "Interesting. Even in the Age of Gods, this would be considered genius."

Aozaki Touko: "Heh, is this what they call being fed by God?"

Ryougi Shiki: "You might as well give way a little more."

Aozaki Touko: "Hehe, Shiki, you only see how great I am now, but you don't see how hard I've worked."

[How could I possibly believe such a thing back then? Even if it wasn't a joke or an act, it must have contained a lot of exaggeration. Perhaps Aika Sajou really was a scholar or a genius, but that kind of "monster" could never exist. She was probably just like my beloved daughter Misaya, whose magic circuits were superior to mine from birth, possessing exceptional talent—she simply gave birth to an heir with rare abilities.]

[Back then, I was incredibly foolish to think that way.]

I was so stupid!

Because what that man said was absolutely right.

That thing, that thing with a human form, is indeed—a "genius."

If not...

"Hello, Uncle Linglongguan. Should I say 'Nice to meet you'?"

"When exactly...?"

【Misaye──】

[I remember feeling so relieved when I didn't see Aika Sajou the night I encountered Saber.]

Ah, that's great. They didn't do anything to her at all. Those words they said back then were just to scare her after all.

"Instead of attacking the Master himself, it would be more efficient to attack his 'weakness'—a weakness that he lacks the ability to resist. What do you think, Uncle? Isn't that right?"

"For example, Misaya is such a lovely child."

"If you lost her—Uncle, you would be in great pain, wouldn't you?"

That's right. Yes, absolutely right.

She was just being deliberately mysterious, which is why Misaya was unharmed.

There was really nothing wrong with me; not a single injury, and of course, I wasn't killed. That girl only said those things to distract me.

No matter how much her father described her as a genius, she could never rival the legendary alchemist Paracelsus, aka von Hohenheim, who manifested in the world as Caster.

Yes. I made that judgment that night, and I even felt a sense of relief.

But why?

Misaya was always heavily guarded by this magical fortress. How exactly did the daughter of the Sajō family manage to do it?

"Who am I? The number one magician in the Far East? I got messed up like this by a little girl..."

Cowles: "She's really going to hurt that girl! Aren't they friends?"

Webber: "That was just King Arthur's judgment; she never admitted it."

Kenneth: "He clearly had the ability to directly defeat the Master and win, but instead he chose to attack the Master's family. This is no longer simply about winning!"

He had initially admired Ayaka Sajou's talent, but now he felt only intense disgust for this princess-like girl.

After all, Director Ken detests this kind of behavior that affects family members the most.

Kiritsugu Emiya: "That's right, she did it on purpose even though it was unnecessary. She's no longer doing it for victory; she just wants to satisfy her own perverse pleasure."

Shiki Jieli: "Tch, do you make yourself happy by watching others suffer?"

Shizi Jieli: "Just as I guessed, this girl's values ​​were abnormal from the very beginning."

Rin Tohsaka: "Thank goodness this guy isn't in our world. I definitely don't want to run into a madman like that."

Stay-at-home husband: "How could this be..."

He had initially thought that Ayaka Sajou was just naive and would soon become normal under Old Sword's tutelage, but now it seemed that this was clearly not the case.

Weber: "However, more concerning than Aika Sajou right now is her plan to harm Misaya. I'm afraid..."

[Back in Misaya's room at the Reiryukan.]

【"Misaye..."】

[Dad quietly watched the sleeping girl, his eyes filled with a strange, unfamiliar look.]

That was the girl sleeping with her eyes closed.

That was the girl, cherished by both her father and mother.

That was the maiden who chose herself to be a noble sacrifice.

For a fleeting moment, sadness crossed his face. But he did not disobey.

Because his betrayal is a fact.

"My master, I have followed your instructions and deepened my connection with her."

[Dad murmured, "Yes, please feel free. Any curse, you can cast from the outside whenever you wish."]

"...No. The whole world belongs to you alone. Whatever you decide is meaningless to me."

"My master, daughter of origin who descended to rule over all things. Even the ancient gods, filled with true starlight, cannot compare to your radiance."

[“──Sajō Aige-sama.”]

Weber: "Ah, I knew it..."

Rin Tohsaka: "Hey, do you Casters have absolutely no credibility?!"

Avisbro: "(Unable to refute)"