To become a king and a magician

"But judging from your behavior, you retain a true sense of self... Are you Ayaka Sajou herself?"

A dream is just a dream; everything in it is illusory. Even magic tricks related to dreams are essentially aimed at influencing the mind. Therefore, nothing that happens in a dream can interfere with the real world.

The reason why Aika Sajou exists in Arthur's dream is probably because the influence and impression she left on Arthur was so deep that Arthur always remembered her existence, which is why Natsukawa Torato can now meet her in his dream.

Strangely, Natsukawa Torama had summoned Arthur for half a month, but he only started seeing Sajou Aika yesterday.

“Yes, it’s me.” Sajou Aika laughed. “I’m not interested in magic or anything like that, but I have to thank magic a little now, since it was only through magic that I was able to get here like this. Ah, I also have to thank the succubus sister who gave me the information.”

Nightmare Sister?

(A female version of Merlin on Arthur's side!?)

Indeed, if it were that succubus with the qualifications of a Grand Magician candidate, coupled with the ability of Ayaka Sajō connected to the Root, it wouldn't be impossible for her to interfere with dreams across parallel worlds. But why? Why would Merlin do that over there?

(No, the reason is probably quite simple: she just wanted to have some fun!)

Thinking of this, Natsukawa Tora's heart sank. First he was targeted by Sajou Aika, and then by the entertainer Meili. How could he possibly survive? He should probably prepare a coffin and wait to lie down in it.

"So, how should I punish you, you vixen?" Standing before Natsukawa Torata, Sajou Aika placed her hand on his heart. "Taking Saber away from someone else is absolutely forbidden! Saber is my prince, she's mine, ...

Saya Aika's speech became faster and faster, her tone increasingly manic and obsessive, and the flush on her cheeks and the fanatical look in her eyes could only be described as morbid.

Is this girl crazy in love with Arthur?

"Ah, sorry, I lost my composure a little." Sajou Aika quickly recovered. "But it's also your fault. If you hadn't taken Arthur away from me, I wouldn't have been so embarrassed just now."

So it's all my fault?

"Yes, it's all your fault."

Gritting his teeth, Xia Chuanhu's anger also rose somewhat. Even a Bodhisattva can get angry, but he, an ordinary person, was being unfairly blamed and intimidated. Did they really think he was some kind of good-natured person who never got angry?

"You're the one who's wrong, you gossip."

"Ok?"

“You definitely know Arthur better than I do. You know the character of the King of Knights who upholds justice and always makes the right choices and takes the right actions much better than I do.”

"Oh dear, please don't say it so bluntly." Sajō Aika blushed involuntarily. "Yes, I am the person who knows Saber best in the world. You know that very well, don't you? Even a vixen has some self-awareness."

"You call me a vixen... I'm a man! I'm male, and my sexual orientation is female! Don't fucking call me Nan Tong!" Xia Chuanhu trembled with anger. "Besides, since everything Arthur did was right, then anyone who opposes him must be wrong. So, aren't you the one who was killed and rejected by him, the one who was wrong?"

"It's not my fault, it's not Arthur's fault, it's your fault, you gossipy old hag! You love-struck brat, you haven't even grown up yet and you're already trying to hook up with a rich guy. If you want Arthur to like you, go back and develop for a few more years and become a sexy older sister. With your flat chest, let alone Arthur, even in the red-light district, no one would pick you up. If you actively went to the streets to find work, you would be rejected. No wonder you've been actively pursuing someone for so long and are still a loser, being cheated on—"

Before Natsukawa Torama's foul language could finish, Sajou Aika, her face completely darkened, sealed his mouth shut, her blue eyes revealing a writhing chaos and darkness. Undoubtedly, Natsukawa Torama's outburst had also ignited her anger.

"Pfft—!"

A delicate, fair hand suddenly plunged into Natsukawa Torato's chest, and Sajou Aika grasped his still-beating, bright red heart in her hand. Dark magic surged into Natsukawa Torato's body through his arm.

“I’ve put a curse on you,” Ayaka Sajou said. “Although dreams can’t affect reality at all, there are countless ways to target your mind. From now on, you will be tormented by endless nightmares every night until you have a mental breakdown.”

"This is my first punishment for you stealing Saber. I'll come back to see you tomorrow and give you a new punishment. Goodbye, big brother."

Sajō Aika disappeared from Natsukawa Torami's sight with a smile.

It was undoubtedly a stunning smile; an angelic face paired with a melodious voice would likely captivate anyone with her greeting. But for Natsukawa Torata, Sajou Aika's smile was a devil's mockery.

However, neither Ayaka Sajou nor Torara Natsukawa noticed, or rather, it happened after Ayaka Sajou left, that a flower quietly bloomed on the cursed heart.

9. I'm really just an ordinary person.

The moment he woke up, Natsukawa Torato saw Arthur's face looking down at him.

"Master! You're finally awake!"

Seeing that Natsukawa Tora had woken up, Arthur visibly breathed a sigh of relief: "I'm very sorry, Master. I put too much of a burden on you during this operation and used a little too much magic. I will be more restrained in my exertion in the future."

“Arthur…”

Sitting up from the tatami mat, Natsukawa Tora still looked somewhat lost with his head down. Then he grabbed Arthur's shoulder and looked at him like Sadako.

Arthur, who was initially a little confused, froze the moment he met Natsukawa Tora's eyes.

That was the look in the eyes of someone who had come close to death, who had experienced despair and hell, who had seen mountains of corpses and seas of blood, who had never seen any hope, whose faith and spirit had been shattered.

He was emaciated—even though Natsukawa Tiger's body was still healthy, his spirit was undoubtedly on the verge of collapse.

"Master...did you dream about it again?"

“Sajyou Aika…” Natsukawa Torama held onto Arthur tightly. “That woman is a devil, Arthur, a real devil… I was such an idiot before. I thought that if it were a dream, no matter how much she hated me or tormented me, I could endure it… Where did I get the courage to think that?”

“I died, Arthur, many times. She cursed me, making me die again and again, reliving the pain of death... Why must I endure this pain! Just because I summoned you? Just because I am your Master? Just because that woman unilaterally believes that I stole you?”

"Why should I?!"

Xia Chuanhu's mournful cries were heart-wrenching, and his disheveled hair made him look even more terrifying. An unsuspecting person might send him straight to a mental hospital. In fact, Xia Chuanhu does need to receive mental treatment now.

He didn't remember how many times he had died, only that he had died, in all sorts of circumstances. Aika Sajou was right; she couldn't interfere with the reality here, but she could use every method to torment his spirit, turning him into a mindless walking corpse, a living dead.

"Master."

Arthur suddenly hugged Natsukawa Tora.

"I'm sorry, it's all because of me that you've suffered this injustice. I'm so sorry."

"No...don't be so gentle with me! Don't treat me like this!" Natsukawa Torato tried desperately to push Arthur away. "The more you treat me like this, the more Sajō Aika will torment me, don't you understand!"

"..."

Seeing the fear in Xia Chuanhu's eyes, Arthur felt completely at a loss. He didn't know how to face Xia Chuanhu, nor did he know how to handle this situation.

Ultimately, it was a problem left over from his past mishandling of Aika. But because Aika was someone he truly loved, the result was that Natsukawa Tora had to bear the pain that should have been his.

“Aiko, you’ve gone too far.” Arthur gritted his teeth. “Master shouldn’t be involved in what’s between you and me. He’s innocent. You can take your anger out on me, but why did you have to hurt Master?”

No one will answer Arthur's question. Ayaka Sajou, who lives in a parallel world, will not hear his question, nor will Torato Natsukawa be able to answer it.

Arthur felt powerless again, just like he had felt at Camlann Hill, powerless to change anything.

"Dong dong dong."

A knock came at the door; someone had arrived.

Natsukawa Tora had repeatedly warned Arthur not to appear in front of outsiders, but the current situation...

Reaching the door, Arthur asked, "Who is this?"

"It's me, Kirei Kotomine. Mr. Natsukawa, I have some questions for you. May I ask if you can open the door?"

Kirei Kotomine.

When I was chatting with Master yesterday at noon, Arthur heard this name before; he was from the church.

"Mr. Xia Chuan?"

Outside the door, seeing that it remained closed for so long, Kirei Kotomine couldn't help but feel a little strange. He had come because of the upheaval at the Matou family the night before last. The Matou family, one of the three great families of Fuyuki City, had been destroyed overnight—no small matter, involving mysterious secrecy and whether the Holy Grail War could proceed as planned. After extensive investigation, the Church had finally traced the matter to Natsukawa Torato.

"Click".

The door opened, but it wasn't Natsukawa Tora who opened it; instead, it was a strange blond man.

"Isn't this... Mr. Natsukawa's house?"

“Master is unwell, and I am his servant,” Arthur stated frankly. “Since you are a member of the church, could I ask you for a favor?”

Natsukawa Torato's Servant? He summoned a Servant so early? It's only been a few days? Besides, who taught him magic?

Kirei Kotomine had a series of questions surfacing in his mind, but he suppressed them all and followed Arthur into the house.

Looking at Natsukawa Torata huddled in the corner, Kirei Kotomine couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong, Mr. Natsukawa?"

"Master dreams of the Servant's past life. My past life wasn't very honorable, and it has severely affected Master's mental state. Church people should be able to use healing magic for mental well-being, please help Master."

"I'll give it a try."

As he spoke, Kirei Kotomine knelt down in front of Torata Natsukawa and began to provide him with psychological therapy.

Although magic is considered heresy by the church, Kirei Kotomine became Tokiomi Tohsaka's apprentice and began learning magic because of the collaboration between Tokiomi Tohsaka and Risei Kotomine three years prior. He is most skilled in spiritual healing, not in treating the physical body, but in healing the soul. His techniques for dealing with spirits and the spirit have reached the level of a priest.

In other words, it was truly fortunate that Kirei Kotomine, an expert in mental health treatment, was able to come to the Natsukawa family at this particular time.

——————————————————————————————

The treatment didn't last long; the magical light only lasted for a few tens of minutes before dimming. Looking at Natsukawa Torata, who had fallen into a peaceful sleep, Arthur couldn't help but ask Kirei Kotomine, who had gotten up, "How is Master?"

"It's alright for now." Kirei Kotomine washed his hands at the pool. "He did suffer quite severe mental trauma, but miraculously, there's a kind of technique operating automatically within him, continuously healing his mind. Even without me, he would eventually recover."

Does Natsukawa Torato possess a technique for automatically repairing his spirit?

A hint of doubt flashed through Arthur's mind, but he still thanked him, saying, "Even so, thank you, Mr. Kotomine. I will remember this kindness."

"I didn't do anything special. At most, I just let Mr. Natsukawa sleep peacefully and cast a mental protective spell on him. It's really nothing to brag about."

At this point, Kirei Kotomine couldn't help but sigh. "However, judging from Natsukawa-san's appearance, he can't answer anything. I will visit again in a couple of days and ask some questions about the Matou family. Please inform Natsukawa-san when you return."

"I will, please take care."

After seeing Kirei Kotomine off, Arthur returned to sit down next to Natsukawa Torata. Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a point of white light between Natsukawa Torata's eyebrows.

Brushing aside his bangs and looking at the magic mark that resembled a flower, Arthur instantly understood everything.

"Are you in charge from behind the scenes, Merlin?"

10. A reasonably acceptable ending

Waking up for the second time in the morning sunlight, Natsukawa Tiger stared at the familiar ceiling, momentarily lost in thought.

"Da da da da..."

The sound of a cleaver striking the cutting board reached his ears. He grabbed his coat, put it on, stood up, and went to the kitchen. What Natsukawa Tiger saw was Arthur, wearing an apron, chopping vegetables.

"Arthur?"

"Ah, Master, you're awake."

Upon hearing Natsukawa Tora's voice, Arthur immediately stopped what he was doing and turned around. Seeing Natsukawa Tora standing behind him, Arthur visibly breathed a sigh of relief: "That's great, Master, you seem to be alright. Wait a moment, I'm making breakfast, it'll be ready soon."

Is Arthur making breakfast?

why?

What happened last night?