In Britain, the Noble Phantasm: Divine Key

"You're awake, Sakura." A warm smile appeared on Yanan's face. "Come and have breakfast. After you're done, your brother will take you outside to play."

Chapter Eighteen Mysterious Package

Fuyuki City, Fukayama-cho, shopping district.

A young man dressed in a hoodie and jeans strolled down the street, his eyes dark and deep, his face sharply defined, his eyebrows arched, and his thin lips slightly pursed. Although his attire was simple, it could not conceal his noble air.

He held the hand of a little girl in a blue dress. She was small and delicate, with timid blue-purple eyes like a frightened fawn in the forest. She was so fragile that she evoked pity. She followed closely beside the young man, anxiously looking out at the world.

Looking at Sakura, who was so shy, Yanan couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Logically speaking, Sakura, who grew up in a deep mountain town, should be very familiar with the environment here, but her expression was filled with obvious confusion and resistance.

At an age when she should be carefree, she has lost her innocence and naivety.

But whoever went through that kind of thing, they would probably end up like this.

Tokiomi Tohsaka, you really are a deeply sinful man.

Yanan shook his head, suppressing his dissatisfaction and anger. Children are simple-minded and very sensitive to changes in emotions. If Sakura noticed his mood changes, it would only exacerbate her inferiority and fear.

He crouched down, stroked Sakura's soft black hair, and said with a warm smile, "How about it, Sakura, is there anything you want to play? Anything is fine with you. I can play with you all day today."

Before leaving, he casually took one of Kenneth's black cards with him, which had enough credit to buy most of Fuyuki City.

Aside from a few heretics, most magicians are not short of money, especially for the monarchs of the Mineral Department, for whom worldly wealth is nothing more than a string of meaningless numbers.

The mediums Kenneth used to perform his gem magic alone would have been enough to support an ordinary family for a lifetime in this economic downturn.

"Really... is it okay?" Sakura looked up at Anaen, her large blue-purple eyes filled with obvious timidity, but also with a hint of expectation and hope.

“Of course, today you are my little princess, and fulfilling your wishes is my mission,” Yanan said with a smile.

Afterwards, Yanan accompanied Sakura as they strolled through the shopping street. Perhaps due to the natural gas pipeline leak the previous night, there weren't many pedestrians on the street, making it seem a bit deserted. However, for Sakura, who was already somewhat shy, this was probably a good thing.

Sakura's past experiences have left her with deep psychological scars, causing her, who was originally cheerful, to develop a great fear and aversion to everything in the outside world. In this situation, directly resorting to drastic measures would only exacerbate her anxiety. Letting her gradually engage with the outside world like this is the best option.

You can't get fat overnight. Being impatient for success will only lead to failure. Changing Sakura's mindset is not something that can be done overnight. Only time can slowly wash away the shadows of the past and help her gradually return to a normal life.

However, Sakura was only a seven or eight-year-old child with a very innocent mind. Before long, she was immersed in the fun atmosphere, her gloomy temperament eased a little, and a bright smile finally appeared on her face.

"Brother, brother, I want to eat that!" Sakura grabbed Yanan's hand, her thick, long eyelashes fluttering like butterflies, and excitedly pointed to a takoyaki shop not far away.

It was clear that the shop was incredibly popular, with a queue that stretched for seven or eight meters, creating a unique scene on the otherwise quiet commercial street.

"Okay, you stay here obediently, and your brother will buy it for you right away." Yanan patted Sakura's head and walked towards the end of the line.

Ten minutes later, he returned with freshly made takoyaki and found Sakura staring blankly in the other direction.

"Sakura, what are you looking at?" He followed the girl's gaze with a puzzled look and saw a mother and daughter strolling around about a hundred meters away, chatting and laughing.

My mother had long, emerald-green hair, a gentle and serene smile, and an elegant demeanor. You could tell at a glance that she was a well-bred lady from a prominent family.

The daughter wore a white top and a red skirt, her smooth and slender legs were encased in black over-the-knee socks, and her long, smooth black hair was tied into pigtails and draped behind her head. Although she was young, her dignified appearance already revealed the potential of a beauty.

Tohsaka Aoi, Tohsaka Rin... Yanan's eyes narrowed slightly. He really hadn't expected to encounter this mother and daughter here.

Seeing the longing in the girl's eyes, he sighed inwardly, but his smile remained unchanged as he patted Sakura's head: "Want to go say hello?"

He really didn't want Sakura to continue having contact with the Tohsaka family, but after all, they were her family, and he had no right to interfere with the girl's will in this regard.

The girl was clearly tempted, but after a moment, her eyes dimmed again, and she said softly, "No need, brother. You're participating in the Holy Grail War. Meeting them at this time would only cause you trouble, and besides—"

She lowered her head slightly, her small hands clenched tightly, her body trembled gently, and two clear tear tracks ran down her smooth face as she choked out:

"Sakura is... no longer... a child of the Tohsaka family..."

A complex emotion flickered in Yanan's eyes. After a moment of silence, he squatted down, gently patted Sakura's head, and smiled warmly, saying, "Okay, brother will listen to Sakura. Sakura, why don't you eat these takoyaki first? I went to a lot of trouble to buy them, and they taste really good."

Sakura nodded, took the takoyaki from Anaen's hand, and ate it bite by bite, tears streaming down her cheeks and onto the ground.

After finishing their meal, Yanan wiped away Sakura's tears with a towel, glanced at Rin and Aoi Tohsaka in the distance, then took Sakura's hand and walked away to the other side.

Rin Tohsaka and Aoi Tohsaka, who were picking out winter clothes in front of the shop, suddenly felt an inexplicable urge and turned around at the same time, their eyes instantly focusing on the two figures, one tall and one short, in the distance.

"Mom, that looks like... Sakura, right?" A hint of hesitation flashed in Rin Tohsaka's eyes. Although she hadn't seen her younger sister for a year, the sense of familiarity that welled up from the depths of her blood was something she could never forget.

Aoi Tohsaka's pupils contracted briefly before returning to normal. A loving smile spread across her face as she patted her daughter's head tenderly and said softly, "Don't think too much, Rin. You just miss Sakura so much that you mistook her for someone else."

"Is that so? But I really think it looks like it. Should I go ask about it?"

"Don't be willful, Rin. Have you forgotten what your father said? Don't stay outside for too long these days, it's dangerous."

"Hmm..." Rin Tohsaka puffed out her cheeks slightly, then lowered her head dejectedly and said, "Okay, I understand, Mom."

"Rin is such a good girl. Ah, the clothes in this store look really nice, Rin, let's go in and take a look."

The moment Rin Tohsaka was led into the shop by her mother, she turned her head, but she never saw that familiar figure again.

......

......

Miyama Town, residential area.

A man dressed in a black postman's uniform rode his bicycle to a stop in front of a luxurious mansion. His gaze lingered on the two characters "Matou" in front of the mansion for a moment before he pressed the doorbell.

About ten minutes later, the door opened and a middle-aged man came out. His short blue hair was messy, like a clump of seaweed. He was pale, with sunken eyes and a listless expression, clearly showing that he had been drained by alcohol and women.

"Who is it? It's so early in the morning. Don't you know I'm still sleeping?" The man rubbed his bloodshot eyes, his tone clearly impatient.

"But it's already noon, Mr. Tsuruno," the postman kindly reminded him.

"Oh, it's you, kid." Matou Tsuruno sized him up. "What, did someone send us something?"

"Ah, yes." The postman took a package out of his bag, glanced at the address and signature on it, and handed it to Matou Tsuruno after confirming that it was correct. "It was sent from Europe."

"Strange, we don't think we have any relatives or friends in Europe. Could it be for Kariya?" Matou Tsuruno muttered, glancing at the recipient's name on the package—

A dirty inkstone made of paulownia wood.

Matou Tsuruno's eyes widened instantly, his arm trembled, and he almost threw the package away.

"What's wrong, Mr. Tsuruno? Is there a problem?" The postman asked, noticing Tsuruno's unusual behavior.

"No...it's nothing," Matou Tsuruno said, feigning composure.

After signing for the package, the postman rode his bicycle toward the next house. Matou Tsuruno looked at the package in his hand and couldn't help but mutter, "It's really weird that someone would send something to Old Bug... Old Man."

He carried the package toward a secluded courtyard deep within the mansion, where Zouken Matou usually lived in seclusion because he couldn't stand the direct sunlight.

As soon as you step into the courtyard, a cold and eerie atmosphere immediately hits you. There are constant rustling sounds coming from the bushes, and countless eyes cast evil glances from the darkness.

"It's a paradise for devils..." Matou Tsuruno thought to himself. As the eldest son of the Matou family, he naturally knew how many innocent souls were buried beneath this seemingly peaceful land.

But what could be done? The entire Matou family belonged to that devil, and even a descendant like him was nothing more than a tool in that devil's hands. A self-deprecating smile appeared on the man's lips. At times like these, he would admire his younger brother Kariya's courage.

But it's just admiration; it's absolutely impossible for him to completely sever ties with the Matou family and run away from home like the other person did.

Although he was only a leader in name only, at least he could still enjoy the carefree life brought by the Matou family's assets. If he left the Matou family, he would have no ability to survive outside.

Matou Tsuruno didn't have many expectations for the future. As long as he could live a life free from worries about food and clothing, that would be enough for him.

In order to achieve this goal, he readily accepted the task of taking care of the little girl who had been adopted from the Tohsaka family a year ago.

The girl named Sakura has excellent magical skills, and the old man intends to make her the heir of the Matou family. As long as he gets along well with her, he won't have to worry about his future.

Because he was very interested in the little girl's imaginary properties, the old man deliberately delayed his research for a year, but he didn't find anything of value. He was planning to make some changes recently, but it seems that he made some kind of deal with someone else and sent the little girl away.

Matou Tsuruno has never been interested in the dharma path, especially the matter of being involved with Matou Zouken, which he avoids like the plague. He is just a little regretful that his efforts over the past year have gone down the drain.

"It's you, Tsuruno. What's the matter?" From inside the house, Zouken Matou's hoarse voice came out, and a foul, rotten smell began to fill the air.

Matou Tsuruno bowed respectfully: "The postman just delivered a package to you."

Zouken Matou was silent for a moment, then asked, "Who sent it?"

Matou Tsuruno looked at the sender's name on the package; it was a long string of English characters. Fortunately, thanks to his English proficiency honed during his studies abroad in his youth, he was able to recognize it.

"The sender's name is... von Hohenheim Paracelsus."

boom--!!

As soon as he finished speaking, an incredibly powerful surge of magical energy emanated from the house. Sensing the change in their master's emotions, the Mark Insects hiding in the shadows began to writhe restlessly, making agitated noises.

Matou Tsuruno's face turned as pale as rice paper, and his legs trembled like a leaf. He never expected that just a name could excite the old bug so much.

A moment later, the magical fluctuations gradually subsided, and Zouken Matou's voice rang out again: "Put the package on the ground."

"Yes." Matou Tsuruno hurriedly put down the package and turned to run outside as if his life depended on it.

Not long after, Zouken Matou came out of the house leaning on his cane. Looking at the package on the ground, a rare look of confusion appeared on his face.

The moment he heard the name Paracelsus von Hohenheim, a strong tremor rose in his heart, as if the name held extraordinary significance for him.

But he couldn't remember at all who this person was.

After a moment of silence, Zouken Matou gently tapped the ground. An invisible wind blade swept across, and the outer packaging of the package immediately scattered all over the ground, revealing the contents inside.

It was a book filled with a strong magical aura. The cover, made of human skin, depicted a child whose eyes were covered by cloth, whose hair danced wildly like snakes, and whose expression was one of pain.

Chapter Nineteen: An Encounter with Saber (5K Chapter)

Fuyuki City, Fukayama-cho, shopping district.

Dusk had fallen, the twilight was dim, the setting sun was like blood, and the sun on the horizon was like a golden-edged sun. It was perfectly round at this time, radiating light, so dazzling that it stung the eyes like a dream, so unreal.

In the McDonald's on the thirteenth floor of the commercial building, Sakura sat by the window, her two smooth, slender legs swinging gently. She held a warm cup of red bean milk tea in her hands, and her large, blue-violet eyes reflected the golden glow of the deep mountain town, a look of intoxication appearing on her face.

"so beautiful."

“It is indeed a very unforgettable sight. I’m sure you’ll never get tired of seeing it, no matter how many times you see it,” Yanan said with a smile, sitting opposite him.

“Sakura used to hate dusk.” Sakura lowered her head slightly. “Because at times like this, it meant that night was about to fall.”

Yanan paused for a moment, then chuckled and leaned forward to ruffle Sakura's hair: "It's alright, no matter how many times night falls, dawn will always come again."

"Yes! Sakura will always remember what her brother said!" A sweet smile appeared on Sakura's face, which, combined with her cute appearance, made her even more irresistible, completely masking the timid and fearful look she had during the day, like a frightened deer.

A hint of fatherly satisfaction flickered in Yanan's eyes; indeed, bringing Sakura out to play today was the right choice.

"Let's eat dinner first, then your brother will take you back to the hotel later." He patted Sakura's head. He had already contacted Kenneth through the contract, and the preparations there were almost complete. Once they returned to the hotel, they could start working on eliminating the Crest Worms in Sakura's body.

"Mmm." Sakura nodded, put down her red bean milk tea, and began to devour the hamburger and fries on the table.

Although this fast food is not very nutritious, it is undeniable that it has an extraordinary appeal to children.