"..."
Seeing Artoria's sparkling eyes, Chihiro immediately understood her thoughts.
Clearly, she had been captivated by the Lion King plush in the video.
Chihiro: "When we get to Fuyuki, let's see if we can find one for sale. If not, I'll make one for you."
"Really!?"
Artoria's expression lit up like a child anticipating a gift.
Chihiro chuckled. "Of course, why would I lie about something like this?"
Artoria: "Yeah!"
"Oh my, is Artoria experiencing her second spring?"
"..."
Kay, watching this unfold, sighed softly but said nothing.
This was good. His King had finally broken free from that accursed fate and could now enjoy her own life.
---
["Magecraft...? That would be nice. Like, something that lets you fly, or does your homework, or... even makes you fall in love..."]
[Illya lifted the floating Lion King plush, her cheeks slightly flushed. Whether it was from the bath's steam or the thoughts in her head was uncertain.]
["No, no, no! Forget I said anything!"]
[Just then, Illya noticed two stars twinkling in the night sky outside the window, making her pause in surprise.]
[Was that... a meteor? But meteors don't move like that.]
[The girl stood up from the bathtub and leaned out of the window, trying to get a better look but to no avail.]
Illya: "AHHHHH!!!"
Even though the Q&A group had thoughtfully activated the Holy Light filter, the scene in the video was still way too embarrassing.
If that pervert Blackbeard were in the group, he'd be absolutely ecstatic. Chihiro chuckled.
Waver: "Ahem..."
Caules: "Are we really supposed to be watching this!?"
Zabiko: "Why did the scale of this video suddenly escalate so much!?"
---
[At that moment, Illya had an idea. "Oh, if I turn off the lights in the bathroom, maybe I can see better!"]
[Without hesitation, she ran over and switched off the lights before returning to the window.]
[She had completely forgotten that she hadn't flipped the occupied sign on the door when she came in.]
[When she turned back, the two twinkling stars in the sky had disappeared. In their place was a streaking meteor—one that was getting closer and closer.]
["Huh? ...Wait, is it flying toward me?"]
[Illya stood frozen as she watched the "meteor"—or rather, Ruby—hurtling straight toward her.]
[And at that critical moment, the bathroom door swung open.]
[There stood Shirou Emiya, completely undressed, having just turned on the light, preparing for his daily bath.]
[The next second, both siblings were completely frozen.]
---
Emiya Kiritsugu: "..."
Irisviel: "..."
House Cook: "..."
As the entire family turned to stare at him, Shirou broke out in a cold sweat.
"Wait a second! This isn't my fault! The video is clearly just a misunderstanding!"
Feeling the room temperature plummet, Shirou hurriedly tried to explain.
"Oh, Shirou~ so you really wanted to bathe with me? You could've just said so."
The mischievous little devil, Illya, was clearly enjoying herself as she wrapped her arms around Shirou's neck from behind, fanning the flames even further.
"Next time, let's go to an open-air hot spring together."
Shirou: "..."
As he took in the dark expressions on Kiritsugu and Irisviel's faces, Shirou had a sudden realization.
I might not see the sun tomorrow.
Red Archer, meanwhile, casually sipped his tea, completely detached from the situation.
---
["Ah, I saw the light was off, so I thought you were asleep, Illya..."]
[Shirou frantically tried to explain. "Ahhh, I see, I see! Please forgive me! I didn't see anything—"]
["AHHHHHHH!!!"]
[Illya, on the verge of tears, let out a scream and dropped straight back into the bathtub.]
[At that very moment, Ruby burst through the window, riding the wind- and hit its target dead-on.]
["BANG!" "BANG—"]
[And just like that, the brother who openly built a harem in a yuri anime...]
[Flopped.]
Shakespeare: "Ah, that was quite the dramatic fall."
Andersen: "You idiot, how are you enjoying this?"
Shakespeare: "Art imitates life. Perhaps this will spark some sudden inspiration for you."
Tohno Shiki: "Well, the timing is impeccable."
Tohno Akiha: "This feels just like watching a TV drama."
Yumizuka Satsuki: "Hehe, if the towel slips off, it'll be a true masterpiece."
---
["Did he get away? I wanted to finish this quickly."]
[Ruby paid no mind to the fact that she had just knocked someone unconscious and casually grumbled to herself.]
["Huh?"]
[Illya, momentarily forgetting her embarrassment, blinked in confusion at the talking wand that had suddenly appeared.]
["Nice to meet you! I am the wand of love and justice—Magical Ruby!"]
[Waving around as if she had ADHD, Ruby drifted toward Illya and cheerfully asked, "Little girl over there, do you want to become a magical girl?"]
[Illya: "..."]
Zabiko: "...Why does this feel like a sleazy old man trying to lure a kid with cookies?"
Tohno Shiki: "I feel the same way."
Kayneth: "Ahem. This is a Mystic Code crafted by Zelretch. Let's not make any absurd theories."
---
[Ruby: "How about it? Become a magical girl, join me in protecting the world, and fight against the forces of evil!"]
[Illya's face darkened as she stared at the wand, which looked more like a pyramid scheme recruiter than a bringer of justice.]
["How suspicious."]
[She also glanced at Shirou, who lay unconscious right in front of the bathroom door. The current atmosphere was extremely questionable.]
"Pfft—"
Everyone in the group couldn't help but burst into laughter.
There was no helping it, this scene was just too absurd.
---
["Oh? Did I detect suspicion just now?"]
[Seeing Illya's hesitation, Ruby immediately put on a villainous expression and started menacingly inching closer.]
["No—y-you misunderstood!"]
[Illya hurriedly waved her hands in denial. This talking wand was beyond bizarre. It was best not to anger it.]
["How tragic! Are there no pure-hearted little girls left who are worthy of becoming magical girls these days?"]
[Ruby dramatically threw herself backward, feigning grief and despair.]
["I have no idea what it's even talking about."]
[Illya furrowed her brows, looking adorably bewildered.]
[Something about this situation felt like a trap.]
["Anyway... could you get off my brother's face first?"]
["Oh my, this silly guy is your brother?"]
[Ruby curiously prodded the unconscious Shirou Emiya with her blunt lower half.]
["Onii-chan is not an idiot!"]
[Illya snapped back immediately, her sudden intensity actually startling Ruby for a moment.]
[But then, in true old driver fashion, Ruby lifted Shirou's bath towel.]
[Illya suffered a critical hit.]
["WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU PERVERT!?"]
[Illya roared at Ruby, her face crimson with a faint trickle of blood escaping her nose.]
["Oops, my bad. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing."]
[Ruby, showing zero remorse, tilted slightly and said, "Oh? Nosebleed?"]
["NO!"]
---
House Cook: "..."
Shirou had completely turned to stone.
Finally, it was his turn to experience absolute humiliation.
And it was even more devastating than all the others before him.
Tohsaka Rin: "What kind of magical girl's wand is this!? It's acting like a full-blown degenerate!"
Zabiko: "The innocent Illya is being led astray…!"
Waver: "Professor, this…"
Kayneth: "..."
Honestly, even he didn't know how to react to this.
So, Zelretch has these kinds of hobbies?
It's over. I know too much.
---
["Well then, let's get back to business."]
[Ruby finally backed off and asked again, "How about it? Wanna give it a try, magical girl?"]
[Under normal circumstances, Illya might have been tempted.]
[But now—]
[As she watched Ruby hopping around on her brother's unconscious body, she quietly turned away and muttered: "I feel like I can't keep up with your pace. Can you go find someone else?"]
[At this moment, the light had faded from her eyes.]
[She had been completely broken.]
[Her beloved Onii-chan had seen her completely naked.]
[The machine known as Illya had ceased functioning.]
[Now, only a hollow, self-deprecating version of Illya remained.]
[At this moment, she had only one wish.]
[To find a quiet place and reflect on life.]
(To be continued.)