Fate Chapter 8: Golden Boy

Fuyuki City was divided into two sections by River Mion.

Miyama Town, the residential area, and Shinto Town, the newer district with more modern structures. To be honest, I preferred the old town because of its traditions. The new town had been rushed after the fire ten years ago, lacking a certain appeal.

To go to Mount Miyama, the shopping district, we had to pass by the bridge connecting Shinto and Fuyuki. I stumbled into an unexpected person there.

A man gazing at the river with his hands tucked in his black jacket. His short golden hair glittered in the night sky.

Gilgamesh, the survivor of the last Holy Grail War.

“Master?”

“It's nothing.”

This guy will annihilate me in mere seconds as I’m right now. But I couldn't quench the thought of beating the hell out of him. These violent thoughts rarely occurred to me. Is this a side effect of being a dragon? Dragons are known for their personification of strength and their lust for battles. I might also become a battle junkie the more I awaken.

Damn it!

I calmed down my boiling blood and kept walking.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Servants do not need food to survive. Master's magical energy will suffice.”

“You might not get another chance to live like a normal girl. It's better to make the best use of it.”

She assumed silence, pondering over my words. I looked over my shoulder. Gilgamesh was curiously staring at Medea. Her supernatural beauty must’ve garnered his suspicion. I don’t think this guy will ever be attracted to someone since he put every woman beneath himself except Artoria.

What a weird guy.

I shook my head and glanced at Medea still lost in thoughts.

‘Can you show her current status?’

Medea’s current status — You want me to live a normal life, is that even possible? No, it isn't. I must win the Holy Grail and fulfill my revenge… that I must do.

So she sought the Grail for revenge against Jason. Nothing out of my expectations.

I gave Medea an assuring smile. "Don’t worry. I promise we’ll win if you keep following my orders."

The knowledge of the entire war was enough to turn the tables.

She stared at me as if doubting my words. I just shook my head. Now wasn’t the right time and place to go deeper on this topic.

Soon, we arrived on the bustling street of Mount Miyama. Medea didn't pay a single glance to the numerous eyes following her. Instead, she chased me with her eyes. What was she thinking?

Before I opened the privacy breach expert, she lightly nudged me. “Master, why do you seek Grail?”

“Don't you know that by now?”

“To revive your mother?”

“Yes. She committed suicide… or so the detectives said. But that letter made me realize the truth,” I said and clenched my fists. “It was a murder. Whoever did this, I'll kill every one of them.”

“We might be more similar than I thought,” Medea whispered.

“Well, I don’t know about that,” I muttered and stopped by the ramen stall quite famous in Fuyuki City.

Medea looked around with a frown while I waited in the queue. A super beauty at a local ramen stall gathered quite the crowd. The chef grinned as he saw more and more people flocking beside us.

Free promotion.

The chef tried to hold off my order to maximize the gain. I glared at him. He rubbed his head and quickly handed the order.

Sheesh. My time is precious, you know.

“Caster, let’s go. We've got a lot of work to do.”

Medea nodded her head.

***

Medea stopped a street before our home and snapped her fingers. Her robes slipped out of the void and wrapped around her. In a flash, she was back to her ‘Caster’ mode. Lowering her hood, she revealed a cold smile befitting of an evil witch.

“Master, do I have permission to deal with the trash?”

As I thought, some of those guys stalked us all the way here, their objective being Medea.

“Go ahead,” I said with a shrug.

I couldn't care less about those guys. They asked for death by chasing the wrong woman. Crossing the street, I entered the home.

“Senpai!”

I raised a brow at the person sitting at the door. She got up and glanced at the bags in my hands. A dejected look crossed her face before her usual sunny smile replaced it.

“Sorry for being late,” she said. “Senpai, you don't need to eat unhealthy food. I can cook.”

“I can’t trouble you every day. You should focus on your life more.”

I walked past her and opened the door.

“Stonehead senpai,” Sakura muttered behind my back. She usually whispered behind my back, but I couldn’t hear them clearly.

My hearing seemed sharper—truth or placebo effect?

I chuckled, getting a frustrated groan from her. Of course, I understood her feelings. But for the sake of avoiding building turmoil in her, I always acted oblivious to her feelings. She carried the pieces of the Holy Grail tainted by the Angra Mainyu inside her. Any strong emotion can lead to a life-threatening situation for her and me.

Also, I couldn’t see her as a woman. After all, I had known her since she was 6 or 7. It’d be weird if I developed any feelings for her. Yet, I couldn’t help but admire her courage for enduring a hellish for eleven years.

Shaking my head at the troubles awaiting me in the future, I unlocked the door and walked inside.

“Sakura, come on. I brought your favorite Miso Soup with extra chicken toppings.”

I expected a word of gratitude from her, but she replied with silence. I turned around. The sight before me brought out a sigh. Sakura stared at Medea, her violet eyes filled with hostility and wariness.

“What is a Servant doing here?” she asked in a cold voice that astonished me.

Medea ignored her and looked at me. “Master, is she an allied Mage?”

“Master.. you mean Haruki-senpai?” Sakura raised her voice as her head snapped toward me. “Senpai, what is the meaning of this?”

“We'll talk after dinner. The ramen is getting cold.”

Cold ramen never tasted good.

“Senpai… okay.”