Chapter 4

During these days of work, although Roland didn't display any skills beyond what he showed in the interview, the store manager was quite satisfied.

In this economic downturn, one might think that finding a job shouldn't be a problem, but the nature of working in a convenience store, with its lower pay and the need for someone to be present in the store regularly, led to high employee turnover.

Most of the positions were part-time or short-term, and with the ongoing construction of Neo City, finding someone who met the manager's requirements became even more challenging.

Hiring troublemakers would only add to the workload for the manager, who would need to count merchandise and cash every day.

Someone like Roland, with experience and reliability, made the manager's job easier.

To keep Roland around, the manager had scheduled him during relatively quiet hours.

However, it seemed that Roland didn't like working behind the counter, despite having no problem with his social skills.

Could it be because of his personality?

The manager contemplated if he should offer him the evening shift.

As the manager left, Roland sighed in relief and focused on his hands. He tapped the table lightly, making his long fingernails produce a crisp sound upon contact.

"My nails have gotten longer."

His issue with the cashier work wasn't the work itself but the fact that the influence of Yoshikage Kira, the Contract Spirit, was starting to show.

At first, he was simply absorbed in observing his own hands, something he could control.

However, as time passed, he felt his instincts taking over when dealing with various customers.

While serving customers, he often had strange thoughts.

"This woman has good hand proportions, but her skin is too rough. That child's hands are fair, but there are burn marks, which ruin the beauty. The high school girl's hands are pretty, but her fingertips have calluses from writing, which is a bit disappointing."

These disturbing thoughts infiltrated Roland's mind.

He couldn't help but feel that his thoughts were becoming bizarre due to Yoshikage Kira's influence.

After all, as a healthy adult male, his immediate reaction should be to appreciate a girl's legs in a skirt and stockings rather than focusing on their hands.

Given these concerns, Roland even hesitated to look at Mona Lisa, as he was unsure how her appearance would be handled in this Type-Moon world.

He had to control himself, and he realized that he was slowly adapting to this unhealthy influence. It was becoming difficult not to act on these thoughts.

Roland's experience told him that if he couldn't control his desires, his lower body wouldn't be a part of him; it would become his brain. He had to stay calm.

"Welcome."

This convenience store was the closest one to the park, and at this time, mothers with their children often came to shop.

Roland, while mechanically operating the cash register, greeted a mother who had entered the store with her daughter.

His gaze subtly passed over the hands of the mother, who had an elegant and classical beauty.

She had a graceful demeanor and forest-like qualities with her long, natural, and unadorned green hair.

The mother's elegance and her gentle smile on her face gave her an air of a refined lady. The presence of her child didn't diminish the grace of her personality, and Roland grew more envious of the store owner's understanding and patience.

But it was her hands that caught his attention.

As she held her daughter's hand and reached for a bottle of orange juice from the shelf, placing it on the counter, Roland saw her hands.

Snow-white, with cherry blossom-pink spots on her fingertips, untouched by the world's impurities, they had a captivating beauty.

He wanted to kiss those hands, press them to his cheek, or even lick them...

His desires were growing stronger, like they had taken root in his mind.

Since entering this contract, he hadn't fulfilled any of his desires.

To prevent himself from losing control, Roland scratched his palm lightly with his nails, a reminder to suppress his cravings.

The little girl she held and brought to the counter with a chocolate bar in her hand had a hesitant look on her face.

Upon noticing her daughter's action, the mother's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she gently reprimanded her, "Rin, you've already had dessert today. That's quite impolite. Have you forgotten the rules of the Tohsaka family?"

The simple name, "Rin," immediately struck a chord in Roland's memory.

Wait, Rin?

Was this little girl Rin?

So the beautiful woman he had been admiring was Tohsaka Aoi?

It was like finding out that a painting was a forgery after someone pointed it out.

"I'm sorry, Mom..."

Rin lowered her head, displaying her obedient side despite her young age.

She resembled her mother, with a hint of beauty even at this age.

Could this really be Tohsaka Rin, the same one he knew from Fate? If so, then her mother, Tohsaka Aoi, must be the real deal.

Watching her daughter's forlorn expression, Tohsaka Aoi let out a sigh.

She understood that Rin had been somewhat sad over the past year.

Rather than scolding Rin too much, Aoi gently stroked her daughter's head.

"Let's make an exception this time. I'll get it for you. But in exchange, when we go to the Zenjou household, you must behave yourself. Your father is preparing something very important, and we can't distract him."

"Okay."

Children's emotions come and go quickly. After being comforted, Tohsaka Rin quickly regained her spirit.

After comforting her daughter, Tohsaka Aoi turned to Roland and handed him the chocolate.

"I'm sorry for the trouble. Could you please help me check out?"

She maintained her politeness when dealing with strangers and displayed understanding towards her child.

Her inner beauty was truly captivating, and Roland couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of attachment as they left the store after completing the purchase.

But soon, he realized that something more important was at stake.

Was he really going to the Zenjou household afterward? Did this mean that the Fourth Holy Grail War was about to begin?

Watching Tohsaka Aoi and Tohsaka Rin walk away, Roland's eyes sparkled with anticipation.