First <<Absolute Contract>> and a deal with Devil.

"... Assassin has died."

A tired sigh was released from Tokiomi's mouth as he sat on a chair under the light of a flickering candle.

"Who knew that the myths were true and that Aster Pendragon really did sell his soul to the God of Death, Balor." He said with a tired sigh, "And he seems to be able to use it with the same proficiency as it was stated in myths."

"He only needs a look to kill someone, truly frightening."

Tokiomi, till now, had thought that no matter how much of a random variable like Masato was introduced into this war, he still was going to win.

After all, his Servant was the strongest! King of Heroes, the oldest King of Humanity, Gilgamesh. No matter how strong Masato was, or no matter if he was a God Slayer or not, with Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasm, he was pretty sure that he would win.

But now he had some doubts.

Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, such fearful eyes. One of the strongest Mystic Eyes.

"We've lost the Assassin for no reason… we couldn't even get Rider to use his Noble Phantasm…"

Their initial plan was to assassinate the Master of either Rider or Saber, but seeing that Irisviel had both Masato and Artoria beside her, it was changed to only taking care of Rider's Master.

In fact, this was just an outline. Their main plan was to make Rider use his Noble Phantasm so they can find out if it was dangerous to them or not.

But all of that didn't matter now as they've lost Assassin to a monster that was summoned into this war for some inexplicable reason to them.

"Kirei… you can stay under the protection of the church… for now." Tokiomi said with a tired face, "Until I need you to do something, you can rest."

"... As you wish, master."

---

'Should I? Or Should I not?' While sitting at a chair, with his elbows on the table and hands crossed, fingers placed in front of his face, only showing his eyes (Sasuke's favorite serious pose) - Masato was struggling internally.

Some distance away was Saber and Irisviel, drinking the morning coffee before departing for the new place as the castle was already destroyed completely.

'It is the best time as I might not get such a peaceful scenario again. As a man--ahem* I mean, for the research, for the betterment of the whole of humanity as a whole, for the future weeb reincarnators, I have to do this! There is no other reason!'

While justifying himself, his eyes showed a firm determined look.

He stood up from his place before his pupil's divided into two, starting to orbit around his eyes -- making one wonder how the hell was he seeing, Masato used his eyes for the betterment of humanity as a whole.

After setting the future he desired, he started to walk in the direction of Saber with normal eyes.

Seeing him coming towards them, both Saber and Irisviel looked in his direction.

Irisviel smiled, "Would you like some coffee too, Masato-san?"

Masato stopped and looked at her before nodding slightly. He looked towards Saber and called her towards him.

"Hm?" Confused, Artoria stood from her seat and took a step towards him.

And finally, it did happen.

Saber suddenly (normally impossible with her battle experience) stumbled on her steps and fell. Yes, Artoria Pendragon, also known as the King of Knights, stumbles in her steps like some anime klutz.

Masato, seeing this, his eyes shone as he took a step forward to hold her but he fell back with her weight -- which again should be impossible, but it happened as if it was meant to happen.

Thud* Sound of both falling down resounded in the destroyed depleted castle.

"Saber! Masato… s… an…" Irisviel hurriedly stood up to help them but was stopped in her tracks as she saw, with astonishment, what happened before her.

Like a man who pushed a girl down and laid upon her, Saber was currently doing it with Masato.

It felt like she was pinning him down with one hand beside his face and the other on his chest. Her right leg is between Masato's and right on to balance her.

"This…" Irisviel blushed as she saw the Saber's lips were sealed by Masato's while his right hand was on her left breast, in an action of 'stopping' her fall.

First, one to realize her position was Artoria, whose face took a look of deep as fuck crimson red, her pupils showing the comical swirl (circles) within them.

(AN: Like when someone is way too embarrassed and their eyes have this circles instead of normal pupils and steams start to come out of them)

As she realized her position, she wanted to move away but this time she was astonished for another reason -- Masato stopped her from moving away.

Confused and embarrassed, her eyes stared into Masato's eyes.

Without waiting for her, he leaned forward and deepened their kiss. His action was enough to make Artoria completely lose her mind as she used her A-class strength to stand up again.

Her right hand's wrist in front of her lower half of the face, a deep blush covering her face and her eyes containing tears, she looked at Masato before shaking her head.

"Forgive me! I lost my balance there."

Masato was still lying on the ground, his right hand touching his lips and muttering, "Soft and tasty… definitely to my liking."

"Oh my…" Irisviel hid her mouth with her hands, hearing what Masato said.

This was enough to completely burn Artoria out as she used <<Mana Burst>> and vanished from where she once stood.

'What a beautiful power. How could I've not thought of using it during my stay in Soul Society?'

"Ahem* Masato-san… are you sure you don't want to go after Saber?" Irisviel asked while trying to dispel the awkward air.

Masato remained silent before he suddenly asked, "Irisviel… why do you love Kiritsugu?"

This question caught her off guard before she smiled gently, "There is no reason for it, I just love him."

"Enough to die for his wish, leaving your only child behind?"

Irisviel's eyes widened as she looked at him with astonishment, "How did Masato-san know?"

"I can see the past, present, and the future of the world. Such things are not hidden from me, Irisviel." Still staring at the ceiling of the castle, Masato answered.

"Then… do you also know the end of this war?"

Masato didn't reply and remained silent, indicating that he would not divulge such information.

"Since you've asked me… you must have seen my ending then," Seeing him not replying, Irisviel also didn't ask and went back to her chair with a saddened look.

"Indeed. I love my daughter, enough to sacrifice everything for her. But you know…" She smiled gently as she looked out of the window of the castle, "Everything that I have, it was given to me by Kiritsugu. So if he wants to take it, it is his right to do so."

"..." Masato became silent as many questions and ideas passed in his mind before he asked, "Kiritsugu wants to 'save the world', a really childish dream."

"Didn't Masato-san have the same dream once?" She asked, looking towards him.

"That was my past and this is my present, such ideas have long left my brain. I am happy with my position as an observer." He said, "But let me ask you a question, Irisviel," He stood up and sat on the floor, his rainbow-colored eyes staring directly into her eyes, "If… If Kiritsugu sacrificed Illya for his cause, would you still love him?"

Silently filled the castle as Irisviel's body trembled. She looked at him and asked with a trembling voice, "W-what did you see in the future, Masato-san?"

"Answer my question, Irisviel. Will you still love him? Will you still see him with the same eyes as you do currently?"

Gazing at his rainbow-colored eyes, enough to devour any living being in fascination, Irisviel shook her head with saddened eyes, "I don't know… I don't know. I love Illya, but I also love Kiritsugu… but if he… if he really…"

"Forget it." Masato suddenly stood up and said, while walking out of the room, "There is still some time. Let's make a deal."

"Deal?"

"I'll let you see the end of this war and in return, I'll be taking your soul and you with me." Looking at her from over his shoulders, he said.

Irisviel's eyes widened in shock, "What do you mean?"

"I have my ways. You just need to know that I can do it, how I do it is my problem." He answered, "So? If you still loved Kiritsugu after the war, I'll reincarnate you into a new body and let you have a happy life with him and Illya. But…" His eyes narrowed, "... if not, I'll be taking you and Illya with me. And don't worry. I'll not hurt you or her, so you need not worry about such things."

"But… why would you do it?" This was the question that she wanted to ask.

Masato smiled, not hiding anything, "Because I've taken a liking to you. But unlike Gilgamesh, I still give a choice to the woman of whether they want to be with me or not, and that is what I am giving you. But it is not a loss to you, right? As I've said, if you still loved him till the end of the war, I'll reincarnate you."

Irisviel became silent, completely silent with an "I don't know what to say" look. Even though, there was a little blush on her face. I mean, if someone confessed to you, even if you don't like them, you would still be embarrassed a little.

More so, if that someone is Irisviel who has spent her whole life in a castle without any human contact except that of Kiritsugu.

"I… Very well. I agree with your deal." To her, she never thought that Kiritsugu would sacrifice Illya for his dreams nor that she would hate him after the war. That is why she accepted his deal.

If she won, she could have a happy life with her daughter and husband.

Masato smirked before turning around and leaving the room.

At the other side of the door stood Artoria with her serious look, no blushing.

"What you said… is it true? Is Kiritsugu really sacrificing her for his dreams?"

Masato remained silent for some time before patting her head, "You need not worry about such things. I already have everything planned. For now, you should think about whether to be with me or not."

Artoria's face reddened but Masato didn't give her a chance to question but pointed his finger at her forehead and a stream of the information entered her head, "With this skill, I can take anyone with me. Though I don't have the power to reincarnate a Heroic Spirit, the same could not be said in the future."

"This war is going to end by tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, I think that is enough time for you to think about it, Artoria. Whether you want to be my companion (Wife) or not."

Reading through all the information, Artoria was surprised but that didn't last long.

With a blush, she looked seriously at Masato before answering, "I am! If you will, I am willing to be yours and only your sword, Aster!"

"Huh?" This time it was Masato who was astonished at her quick reply as he didn't think she had feelings for him that ran that deep.

Artoria shook her head before smiling gently, "I already had abandoned my wish when I met you in this war again, Aster. I've never told you this before, didn't I?" She asked before giggling, "Actually, I didn't have only one wish to join this war but two."

"Two?" Masato asked, confused. It was different from the knowledge he has.

"One was to save my homeland, and the other was…" She looked into Masato's eyes before saying, a little shyly, "Was to meet you."

This time Masato was really surprised, staring at Artoria with a stupified expression. He really didn't think that Artoria had feelings for him even before she met him in real life.

"That means… you fell for me when I was just an intent in Excalibur?"

His straight-to-the-point words made Artoria speechless with a blush on her face as she looked away from him, "Whatever suits you better."

"Oh…" Masato still couldn't believe it, seeing the shy King in front of him and not knowing what to say.

'I didn't know that I was this handsome… so my charm was already EX since back in the past? Damn…'

Finally, coming out of his shock, he looked at the shy King in front of him with a smirk before pulling her into a hug.

"Then Artoria, will you be my sword (wife)?"

It was a simple question, but enough to make Artoria blush with tears in her eyes.

During her reign, till her 'death', she had never allowed herself to harbor any sort of feelings for the opposite gender.

Not only would it get in her way of King, but it was also impossible as she was known as male to the public. What kind of riot would it raise if her people suddenly found out that their King is a girl, in fact?

The only thing in her eyes, throughout her whole reign, the only thing she cared for was the ideas given to her by her people when she became a King.

Her whole life, she served only her people which led to her and her country's destruction.

But now, for the first time, Artoria felt that she was finally going to serve herself and not her people.

She separated herself from Masato and wielded her sword before going on one knee and trusting it into the floor, "I, Artoria Pendragon, once knew the King of Knights, from today onwards, shall be the sword of Aster Pendragon till death do us apart!"

Masato smiled as he felt something being engraved within his soullike something was writing something within him - a really strange feeling.

But he knew what it was; Artoria has entered <<Absolute Contract>> with him!

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