Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

Joan of Arc: "Yes, why... ah, eat."

Metatron: "Well, this is fine too. After all, everyone wants to play mahjong sometimes, so let's pong."

Shirou: "Hmm, something feels off... I haven't missed anything important, have I?"

Ms. Avalon: "It's over, a peaceful three-color cup of Dora1, jumps to 12000 points."

Shirou: "Damn it!"

"Maybe I'm not really suited for games that involve luck lately," Shirou thought to himself.

"anyway."

　During the shuffling, Ms. Avalon spoke up, saying, "I want to ask you all something: how long do you intend to continue like this?"

Metatron: "..."

Shirou frowned and asked, "How long do you mean until?"

"A peaceful daily life, a quiet death—these are terms that seem far removed from your lives."

Or is this your wish? If so, then I'm utterly disappointed in you, Arthur.

Do you really think you can fall asleep quietly as you approach the finish line?

"..."

Shirou felt a lump in his throat as he was being stared at by Lady Avalon's beautiful eyes.

Metatron protested, "Hey! We're playing mahjong right now. Forget the lecturing and nonsense. Let's win first."

Ms. Avalon smiled slightly: "I'm sorry, that's true. Then I'll win first to gain the right to offer my opinion."

They played from noon until midnight.

As expected, Ms. Avalon won a resounding victory.

With the highest average ranking, an overwhelming draw rate, and a terrifying average score, the most shameless thing is that this guy almost always listens silently and never gets a straight.

Shirou, Metatron, and Jeanne were all manipulated by her.

Incidentally, Joan of Arc ranked last the most times, so it seems that "revelation" and knowledge of the Holy Grail are not very useful in the world of mahjong.

"Teacher, did you activate (Clairvoyance EX)?"

"Alright, now it's time for a lecture. Shirou! Come here and sit up straight!"

Ms. Avalon ignored Shirou's questions, crossed her arms, and adopted a superior posture.

Feeling unable to disobey, Shirou obediently did as he was told, and for some reason Jeanne d'Arc also knelt down beside him.

"Having lived here for over a month, have you forgotten something?"

Shirou & Jeanne: "………………"

Looking at their stunned expressions, Lady Avalon sighed, "This is already beyond saving. Truly worthy of being the archangel in charge of '■■'."

After saying that, the female magician turned to Metatron, who had no expression on his face.

“If things continue like this, they may face ruin, which is not what she expected.”

Metatron said calmly, "Perhaps you're right, but these are two different things, and I can't..."

"What's wrong?"

Jeanne asked Shirou, who had suddenly gotten up from the tatami mat.

The boy's eyes widened, as if he had remembered something.

He ran out of the living room without saying a word and headed towards his room.

"Ah...ah...we could have had more time to relax."

Watching the two figures run away, Metatron murmured to himself.

"wrong."

Ms. Avalon corrected her, "Even if they possessed infinite time, it would only be relative to those living within it—"

At least the world won't wait forever; there's not much time left before she officially implements her plan.

Metatron paused for a moment: "Time can be bought, Miss Merlin."

The female magician smiled like a flower: "Hehe, whose business are you talking about?"

Excuse me, I'm that person's sister, my name is Ms. Avalon~

……

……

When Joan of Arc arrived, the once tidy Japanese-style room was ransacked and in complete disarray.

"..."

Shirou knelt on the ground, looking down at something placed on his lap.

"Why did I forget... It's something I absolutely shouldn't forget..."

It was a framed photograph.

The location in the photo is under the veranda of the Amamiya residence, where three people are sitting side by side in the bright sunshine.

The Shirou in the photo is younger than he is now, still showing signs of adolescence, and should be around the age of a junior high school student.

Beside him was a refreshing female college student with a brown ponytail, and on the other side was a beautiful silver-haired woman holding a baby.

Everyone in the photo has a genuine smile on their face.

Jeanne immediately realized that they were probably Shirou's family in the modern world—people who had once lived in this mansion.

"There are still people waiting for me to come back, but I've completely forgotten about them..."

Shirou stroked the photo frame, letting out a sound of regret.

“A month... We’ve lived here peacefully for so long, it’s almost a waste.”

"To call it a waste is an extreme word; it's a rare opportunity to live a peaceful life."

A cold voice came from the corridor.

Joan of Arc turned around and looked at her: "Miss Metatron, is this what you've done?"

Influenced by Shirou, she also regained her rationality.

Metatron made no attempt to hide it.

“That’s right. Let me think… how should I put it? I used the Sloth… the Sloth Ray, didn’t I?”

"Sloth...isn't that one of the seven deadly sins, a grave sin?"

Metatron nodded. "That's right. And that's precisely why—laziness is a good thing."

You're saying laziness is a good thing?

"Without a doubt, you were already badly injured before you even arrived at this singularity, weren't you?"

Metatron said calmly, "Let me tell you, even mental (emotional) wounds can accumulate."

The savior Shirou Amamiya, and the saintly Joan of Arc who saved the nation—

Perhaps to outsiders, your hearts are stronger than anyone else's in this world.

But that idea is wrong. You have only gradually become more mentally resilient to cruelty through countless experiences of being hurt.

Therefore, I created this world for you—a lazy space where you can forget your troubles and your mission, and isolate yourself from the harsh reality.

I originally intended to completely heal your hearts... but this time, some clueless guy has appeared.

"Hmph, you dream demon, loyal only to your own desires."

Ms. Avalon, who was named, gave a dismissive smile.

To her, Shirou is cute right now, cute enough to the point that she wants to violate him.

However—she still loved the original, "her Arthur," more.

"I'm leaving."

Shirou said with his back to the crowd.

His resolute figure, even just looking at him, filled Joan of Arc with renewed strength.

"The outside world is incredibly cruel, isn't it?"

Metatron (Sloth) said, "Are you sure you want to witness your comrades die one after another in battle, and six billion people disappear hand in hand in the light in the future?"

"..."

"How about it? Do you want to receive my light again, forget all your troubles and pain, and continue your lazy life?"

No one will laugh at your weakness. You've done your best, and now you can rest.

So... shall we fall into depravity together?

"No need, I will continue fighting."

Shirou's expression was serious, and he said in an unquestionable tone, "The kind of future you're talking about... won't happen."

——————I won't let that happen.

Ms. Avalon: "...???"

Metatron (Sloth) nodded: "What remarkable determination and awareness! I'm even inspired by you."

The nightmare over there looks like she's about to lose control of her bladder. Is she always like this?

The girl suddenly changed her previous languid demeanor, and her whole body was enveloped in a strong aura.

"However, as the angel of 'sloth,' I will fulfill my mission and prevent you from leaving."

Even if she falls far short of being the side of the Arbiter, she is still one of the sides of the Divine Secretary, possessing powerful strength that surpasses even the first-order angels.

"Miss Metatron!"

Joan of Arc dared not delay and summoned her holy banner—of course, she had no intention of running away.

She had already made a promise with Shirou: even if the enemy was Archangel Metatron, she would stay with him until the very end.

However, Shirou gestured for her to put down her weapon.

"I don't want to fight you."

Shirou didn't project any weapons; he simply walked straight toward Metatron (Sloth), who was already in battle mode.

"Wait... don't come any closer...!"

Metatron (Sloth) was unusually overwhelmed by the opponent's momentum.

She took a step back, but due to years of lazy living, she lacked physical coordination and tripped over herself.

"Ouch...it hurts...!"

Shirou looked down at the angel from his high position.

"Speaking of which, you've been staying at my house for over a month and haven't paid a single penny of rent, have you?"

"What...what do you want to do...I'll pay the rent..."

The girl hunched her shoulders and trembled.

"There's no need for that. Just pay the rent with your body."

"Varied……"

Metatron (Sloth) held his slender little girl's body tightly, looking wary.

"Now... lend me your power."

"!"

Metatron (Sloth), as well as Joan of Arc and Lady Avalon, all showed expressions of surprise.

Isn't the goal to defeat "sloth" instead of making it our own?

"No...no, I have my own mission...my duty is to imprison you here..."

She looked flustered as she turned her face away.