Type-Moon: The Human Love Simulator [101]

The scene was downright surreal at this point. Artoria and Morgan were still locked in a subtle, ongoing rivalry, but where Merlin was concerned, they could readily put aside their differences to firmly push the sly dream demon to the fringes, keeping her at a cold distance.

But Merlin was no pushover. As a purely carnivorous succubus, she had no issue laying it on thick. "My dear Master…" she purred with a mischievous smile. "Don't you want to try the loving breakfast I prepared for you with my own hands?"

"You must be quite famished, after all… considering how hard you worked last night~."

"…."

Kai could almost hear the sound of his own impending doom. Just when Merlin would be clubbed into silence by Artoria and Morgan, he wouldn't be the least bit surprised.

"Alright, alright, Merlin. Enough of that." Kai tightened his hold on Morgan's hand, gently calming the increasingly irate fairy queen. He turned to Merlin, his tone firm. "I can see where you're going with this, and I get what you're trying to do. So please—do you understand what I mean?"

Merlin's goal was clear. By casting herself as the shameless villain, she wanted to shoulder all their frustrations, drawing any blame or ire toward herself. That way, Kai could remain the untroubled, absent husband, sparing him the brunt of their resentment.

Essentially, she was willing to absorb every bit of consequence and responsibility on his behalf, so all he had to do was sit back and enjoy.

But Kai had seen right through it. He might not call himself a saint, but he certainly had the heart and perception of one—and Merlin's little scheme was like an open book.

"Naturally~" Merlin admitted, her tone light and airy. "But really, my saint… do actions and thoughts truly equate? I merely mused over it—I hadn't acted. Surely you wouldn't fault me for a simple thought, would you?"

Kai simply rolled his eyes, standing as he shook his head. "All I'm saying is, Merlin, stop trying to push me toward the path of a scoundrel. You spoil me so much that, if I do as I please, none of you will object, right?"

He sat down to what quickly became the most awkward breakfast of his life.

Merlin's cooking was superb—her arrangement of dishes flawless, each dish complementing the next. Her work was too polished to be a one-time experiment; clearly, she'd fantasized about a breakfast like this, feeding her beloved countless times.

Halfway through, though, he watched as Morgan, face cool and composed, snapped a pair of chopsticks in her fingers. She wore a polite smile as she excused herself. "I'll get another pair."

But then—

Morgan returned from the kitchen carrying an impossibly large, lavish plate—of roast suckling pig.

This… was still breakfast, right?

Who on earth eats a whole roast pig for breakfast?

This Celtic-style feast tasted as rich as it looked, but it seemed more fitting as a dinner showpiece than the centerpiece of breakfast.

Merlin chuckled. "Look at you, Your Majesty. I take it that you're not used to serving others?"

Morgan's gaze sharpened, blue eyes gleaming with defiance. "Oh? So, Merlin, I take it you serve men often?"

Artoria, for her part, didn't even attempt to cook. She had her own plans.

"Would you like to have a speed-eating competition with me, Kai?" Artoria said, lifting a hefty pork shank with a steely determination.

That was her strategy—she'd play the emotional card!

"…"

Kai massaged his temples as he took in the half-eaten chaos on his plate. With a weary sigh, he grabbed a roast leg, skipped the sauces entirely, and took a few quick bites before declaring, "Alright, I'm full. Ladies, ceasefire! Stop the food wars, I beg of you!"

"Otherwise, you'll make me snap!" he added with an edge of genuine frustration.

Thank goodness his little lioness, trained in the arts of war, hadn't been groomed as a chef. If she had tried to compete, he'd have been cornered into devouring triple breakfasts by now.

But this was only breakfast. If every meal became a battleground… was this his final trial?

And it wouldn't just stop at breakfast…

Kai could easily envision that, if left unchecked, Morgan and Merlin would turn every daily routine into a challenge for supremacy. Even his private bath time would likely see Morgan wandering in "accidentally" or Merlin sneaking in "by coincidence."

As for Artoria?

His lioness would cut to the chase, choosing the most direct route. She'd probably barge in on him just as he'd removed his clothes.

At this rate, he was likely headed toward some twisted version of double "nightmare play" scenarios where dreams bled into reality.

Nero: Am I part of your "play" now too?

If only she'd stayed behind in the Throne of Heroes…

Kai sighed to himself. He knew these women far too well; not one of them would be easy to deal with.

Meanwhile, Nero had been silently observing everything, secretly attentive to each little exchange. She'd even activated her Emperor's Privilege to enhance her memory, ensuring she wouldn't miss a thing.

Only Kai's immense reserves of mana kept him from noticing her use of an EX-ranked skill at all times.

"Ah-ha… now I see." Nero took it all in, devising a plan. "Prepare several exquisite side dishes… add them one by one. Slowly, slowly…"

"Yes, that's it! I've got this!" Nero thought with a look of pure satisfaction, narrowing her eyes with a smug smile as she watched the others bicker. "Go ahead, wage your little wars. I'll bide my time and steal the prize!"

Stealth was an emperor's ultimate strategy. The others had exposed their goals far too early, while she had the advantage of staying aloof and unseen.

So long as she stayed in the shadows, she could always lurk, ready to seize the final victory.

Meanwhile, Kai quietly sought out his famed dull sword, positioning it gently at his throat. Morgan and Artoria panicked, rushing to his side, while Merlin only smiled. She knew perfectly well Kai wouldn't actually harm himself.

Unless saving humanity itself was at stake, Kai would never do such a thing. After all, he cherished his life and knew the importance of his existence.

Morgan carefully pried the dull sword from his hands and discarded it as though it were trash. She then stayed close, whispering gentle comforts.

Artoria, taking his hand with some hesitation, asked awkwardly, "Kai, are you feeling… unwell?"

With both Pendragon sisters at his sides, Kai paused. This was too perfect a moment to pass up.

He wrapped his right arm around Morgan, who leaned her head against his shoulder. With his left, he pulled Artoria close, guiding her golden head to rest against his chest.

A "you've come at just the right time" moment was born!

And indeed, the feeling was quite satisfying.

The sight caused Merlin's serene smile to falter for a moment. She could say she'd sacrifice anything for Kai, but… it still stung.

There's room in the middle! Why didn't he hold me too?

Nonetheless, Merlin couldn't help but feel happy for him. If Kai was happy, then she was too. That was the highest form of devotion.

"…"

With her head on Kai's chest, Artoria closed her eyes, a rare feeling of peace washing over her—a feeling she hadn't felt since her earliest days, a sense of childlike security, free from the burdens of her crown.

She wasn't a queen in this moment, merely Artoria.

Artoria's heart stilled in clarity. This, she realized, was what she had been seeking all along.

She'd found it, right here, within her lover's embrace.

At that moment, a thought rose in her heart—much like Merlin's own devotion—that as a woman, she should never cause her beloved to feel burdened. Instead, she should bring him joy.

Her beloved carried so much; she could offer nothing to his greater love, his compassion for all humanity. But here, in her own small way, she could bring him a moment of peace.

If only…

If only she could selfishly hold onto this feeling of safety and belonging for just a little while longer.

On any other day, Morgan would've noticed Artoria's sudden change of heart, but right now, her full attention was on Kai. She watched him intently, her gaze never leaving his familiar face.

To Morgan, he was everything. The rest of the world faded to gray. Artoria, Merlin… none of it mattered. Only this boy, who had etched himself into her soul.

"Kai…" Morgan murmured, nuzzling into his neck. "This is all I need. Just stay like this."

"Promise me, never leave me again. Alright?"

Her voice was filled with quiet desperation. When a witch gives her heart, she does so with all the fierce, unwavering devotion of her kind. Her love becomes a treasure, rare and precious, impossible to replicate.

Kai gently stroked their soft, silky hair, his voice soft. "I'm sorry. Next time, I won't leave. Forgive me?"

"I forgive you!"

"Yes."

The sisters spoke in unison, each momentarily stunned. Neither questioned what exactly they were forgiving him for—whether it was for his sacrifice a thousand years ago or for loving others alongside them.

Ultimately, it didn't matter. Morgan was content to forgive; Artoria would rather not dwell on it. They both loved him more than they loved themselves.

Kai glanced toward Merlin, his gaze carrying a clear message.

Merlin's eyes widened before a sincere smile crossed her face. As his confidante, Merlin understood him as no one else did, their shared bond beyond words. That single look was enough.

With a knowing nod, she silently answered him. She knew exactly what he was saying.

Kai's message to Merlin was simple:

I don't need you to sacrifice yourself to hold us together.

I'm not a man who hides behind the women I love.

I'm ready to face whatever comes, to take responsibility for the choices I've made. You don't need to take on my burdens.

Kai's embrace had smoothed everything over, yet Merlin would have been ready to bear the weight of keeping the peace on her own.

"Some things never change, do they?" Merlin sighed, filled with fondness as she gazed at him.

After all, he was Kai—her saint, the man she would follow to the world's end.

---

After breakfast, the Pendragon sisters exchanged meaningful glances, while Merlin slid seamlessly into observer mode, keenly aware of a certain covert spy among them.

Nero was doing her utmost to reduce her presence, subtly launching her "sneaky steal" plan.

All at once, everyone's attention drifted into their private thoughts, leaving Kai momentarily sidelined.

If things are too quiet around here, they're definitely up to something, Kai thought.

These women only ever showed their softer sides to him; otherwise, each one was a fearsome myth brought to life. He knew that much well enough.

Even at breakfast, the silent battles between them had been as intense as they were terrifying.

Seeing the tension settle over the room, Kai suggested, "How about we go out for a while? We can't just spend all day cooped up here, right?"

"But I'm still competing in the Holy Grail War!" he added with a grin.

"The Grail War?" Merlin looked up, her tone slightly amused. "Oh, you mean that little chalice the Einzbern family crafted five hundred years ago to achieve the Third Magic? They enlisted Nagato Tohsaka and two others from the Matou family to create it, didn't they?"

Having wandered the world for a thousand years, Merlin was privy to secrets most people could only dream of. Nearly every magus in the Moonlit World pursued the Root, and the five True Magics were seen as the most direct means of reaching it.

Some believed only Magic itself could grant access to the Root.

And so, many magus families undertook research into anything that could further their studies. For the Einzbern clan, that meant the Holy Grail War, designed to reach the Third Magic, known as the Heaven's Feel.

"…" Morgan pondered for a moment. "This Holy Grail War… I believe the Clock Tower keeps extensive records on it. Kai, if you'd like, I can bring over their entire file."

The Clock Tower, one of the three great magi associations, was situated in London, Morgan's own territory, and she had considerable influence there.

"No need," Kai replied, rising from his seat. "See? My Lily gets me. She doesn't worry about those things…"

"That's because…" Artoria interjected confidently, "we face no foe who can best us!"

Kai's strength was already leagues above anything the Grail War could throw at him; to him, this event was no more than child's play.

Since it was nothing more than a leisurely game, there was no reason to take it so seriously.

Morgan felt the need to bring every resource she had at her disposal, all because she cared about him. She glanced around the room, realizing the absurdity of the situation. Here in this humble house stood Nero, the Beast of the Apocalypse; Artoria, the King of Britain; Merlin, a Grand Magus—and herself.

Nero alone would require an army of Grand Servants to bring down, and Artoria… as the embodiment of a king, she had the potential to qualify as either a Grand Saber or a Grand Lancer.

Then there was Merlin, the Grand Caster herself.

With a soft sigh, Morgan saw the folly of her worry and nodded. "You're right, Kai. The Grail War could never summon anyone on par with a Grand Servant. Even if every single Servant here ganged up on us…"

"We would defeat them all."

Merlin added from her corner, "Kai saw that for himself last night, didn't he?"

"My Clairvoyance lets me see all 'present' events simultaneously, but I can't reveal a Servant's True Name."

With a glint of mischief, Merlin continued, "But with our shared vision and your unique talent, Kai, you've already uncovered all there is to know about the Grail War."

Artoria's emerald eyes narrowed as she shot Merlin a sharp glare.

Shared vision, was it?

How dare this so-called "mentor" of hers flaunt herself so brazenly. And she still hadn't confronted Merlin for the whole debacle at the Britain Singularity!

This wretched succubus was more of a traitor than any.

Judgment, Artoria thought, holy judgment is the only answer!

Kai felt a cold shiver run down his back. Ignoring his lioness's frosty gaze, he quickly shifted the topic. "Haha! Yes, well… as I was saying, I've already grasped everything I need to know about the Grail War."

"In the end, let's just enjoy this as a chance to have some fun. Let's head out and fully experience the happiness that's been so long overdue for all of us."

Nero and the others seemed to perk up at the idea, their lingering tension dissipating in light of his words.

And so, they set out for a day together, temporarily leaving behind the weight of battles, betrayals, and all the entangled histories that bound them.

---

Last night, not only had Kai confronted a certain succubus in his dreams, while Artoria and Morgan clashed in a fierce battle, but Fuyuki City's Servants had also engaged in their own chaotic skirmishes.

From one end of the city to the other, intense combat was erupting everywhere Servants could be seen.

Kenneth had brought along Heracles as his Archer, the great hero of Greek myth and the demigod known as the strongest in the Archer class. Though he could also serve as Saber, Lancer, or Berserker, he was at his absolute best as an Archer.

With his Noble Phantasms Nine Lives and God Hand, he could achieve his full potential only in the Archer class.

"Archer, I'll be relying on you," Kenneth said respectfully. "Greatest hero of Greece."

Standing before the towering, two-and-a-half-meter-tall Heracles, Kenneth abandoned his usual haughtiness. Instead, he treated the demigod with courteous nobility.

After all, Kenneth was one of the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower, the representative of the aristocratic faction. He looked down on common-blooded magi and those like Diarmuid, who betrayed their masters for love. But even Kenneth had to show respect for the demi-divine hero Heracles, whose bloodline and honor demanded it.

Because those were the principles he upheld—noble blood, tradition, and political correctness. Even if he regarded Heroic Spirits as little more than familiars, this was one instance where he had to play by the rules.

"The greatest…?" Heracles murmured, shaking his head. Not one for words, he replied simply, "I am not the greatest hero… that man… the Golden King…"

But that was all he would say on the matter, and Kenneth, who was not interested in ancient tales, didn't press him further.

Barring a truly incompetent Master, Heracles was known to follow orders. As the son of Zeus and a hero elevated to a god through his labors, he carried his own pride. Kenneth's constant praise and respectful treatment had won him some measure of loyalty from the hero.

And so, Heracles intended to carry out Kenneth's strategy by eliminating as many Servants as possible on the first night.

After all, he thought, he was the second most powerful hero in all of Greece—second only to that Golden King.

As Heracles released his mana, his presence radiated through the city, instantly alerting all the other Servants to his location.

"Lancer should test him out," Kiritsugu's voice crackled over his communicator. "Maiya, locate his Master first."

"Lancer, please," Irisviel added.

"Very well," came a booming voice. "I, Rome, will greet this familiar presence myself. I wonder which child it might be?"

When Romulus arrived and saw Heracles, he froze in surprise. The figure before him was none other than his idol, Heracles—the man from whom his martial arts were derived.

Heracles, recognizing Romulus, spoke after a pause. "Romulus. So we meet again."

After their joint efforts to confront Kaelar, a certain camaraderie had developed among the Grand Servants. But Heracles was Greek, and no sense of friendship would prevent him from seeing Romulus as an opponent now.

"Ha ha ha!" Romulus laughed heartily. "At first, I thought it was mere coincidence. But now I see that this Grail War is a continuation of our battle against that Beast."

"Our war against that monster was never truly settled!"

"Heracles," Romulus said, smile fading into a serious expression, "haven't you noticed it yet? When I answered the Grail's summons, I felt it—the inescapable threads of fate…"

"It was the web of the Fates."

"Yes, that's right," he continued. "So I'm certain… that battle remains unfinished."

Heracles fell silent, acknowledging Romulus's words. This man was not only the founder of Rome, but its highest god—a being whose essence rivaled even the power of Zeus himself. As a god, Romulus was summoned in a diminished state. But if he had not answered the call to appear as a Servant, his divine form in the Throne of Heroes would have seen and understood far beyond Heracles.

As a Servant, Heracles could match, perhaps even slightly surpass Romulus, but there was a substantial difference in their original forms within the Throne.

Lost in thought over Romulus's insights, Heracles was jolted from his reverie by Romulus's booming laughter. "Rome is most pleased!"

"To think, the creature who stalled human history—the Beast—was able to best Rome itself! I have been consumed with this failure since it happened, ever brooding on how I might one day wipe away that shame!"

The founding king of Rome, who had never known defeat, was haunted by that crushing loss to Kaelar, who, even while facing an alliance of Grand Servants, had torn through them effortlessly.

Romulus did not believe he was weak; rather, he considered it bad luck that he couldn't fully unleash his Noble Phantasms and other supportive skills in that fight.

This time, he had only one goal—to defeat Kaelar.

The Holy Grail War itself was of no interest to him; in fact, without the threat of humanity's extinction, summoning Romulus would have been impossible. In his eyes, all people were his "Roman children," and he wouldn't harm one child for the sake of another.

He had once told even Attila, the Scourge of God, "I feel that Rome is in your heart." His boundless benevolence was such that even Attila found it unnervingly vast.

Only an existential threat to humanity could bring Romulus here, to defend all of human history.

Kenneth's voice broke in, impatient. "Archer, kill him."

Heracles shook his head, sighing. "My apologies, Romulus. My Master demands that I fight you."

"Very well!" Romulus replied, unfazed. "Rome, too, wishes to test its strength against the legendary Heracles! I want to see how your skills, second only to the Golden King, shone in the days of ancient Greece!"

"The Golden King…" Heracles murmured, a look of fondness and nostalgia passing over his face before he broke into laughter. "Ha! That guy hated being called that. Who knew that old nickname would one day become reality?"

"But you're right, Romulus. He truly was Greece's greatest hero. The Golden King deserves the title."

With no further words, Heracles raised his bow and unleashed Nine Lives, the Noble Phantasm commemorating his slaying of the Hydra—a beast whose severed heads would multiply. Though he could have used his fists, he pulled back the bowstring, honoring Romulus as a worthy opponent.

"Born from my boundless love, Rome shall endure…"

Romulus spread his arms, summoning his Bloodstained Walls of Love, an impenetrable fortress that shielded him and could even sever enemies with its stone. It was both a defense and an offense.

This barrier was drawn from the legend of Romulus slaying his twin, Remus, to found the city of Rome. It erected an unbreakable wall between them, meant to sever any foe who dared to trespass within its bounds.

Yet, Heracles was no ordinary opponent. With his honed instincts and Mind's Eye (True)—an ability developed through countless trials to perceive danger with unparalleled precision—he instantly sensed the attack and leaped aside, escaping the fortress's lethal embrace.

He aimed again but, sensing something, paused and fired an arrow at a different target.

"Maiya, get down!" Kiritsugu's voice shouted through her earpiece. Instantly, Maiya rolled to the ground just as a massive arrow obliterated her sniping position.

Although it was a simple arrow, its force was greater than any human artillery, reducing the area to rubble. Had Maiya reacted a moment later, she would have been vaporized.

"I must protect my Master. Unlike others, I don't have the independent action to use my Noble Phantasms freely…"

Unlike those outliers among Heroic Spirits, Heracles lacked true autonomy. He needed his Master's mana and couldn't act freely of his Command Seals.

By this point, the uproar had attracted the attention of other Masters. Tohsaka Tokiomi, always mindful of status, saw an opportunity.

"Please, let the two Kings enter the fray," he murmured. "Their strength combined will surely end this War."

"Not quite," Gilgamesh replied, shaking his head. "I recognize the man who summoned Saber. But how has he reverted to a human? This is… peculiar."

Even Gilgamesh, who held the omniscient powers of the Tablet of Destinies, was baffled. A Beast, transformed back into a mortal?

How had he discarded his essence?

Arjuna, however, had no such questions. As a warrior, he simply nodded. "I'll be the one to handle him."

"Let's see if he'll enter the fray himself."

As Gilgamesh and Arjuna reached the battlefield, they joined Romulus and Heracles. The four heroes regarded each other in silence.

"Haha!" Romulus laughed, as if seeing an old friend. "Just as Rome thought!"

"Once again, the threads of the Fates have brought us together."

Romulus's hawk-like gaze sharpened. "Then… surely our true foe is here as well?"

Without a word, Gilgamesh as Caster unfurled his Tablet of Destinies, using its magic to share his vision with the others. He needed no further confirmation—Kai was indeed their enemy in this strange Grail War.

"It's as Rome said!" Romulus announced, his laughter echoing. "Friends, now we have but one more piece missing—the Grand Assassin."

"Don't bother," Gilgamesh replied with a smirk. "The Grand Assassin didn't answer the call. Instead, we've been saddled with a weakling of an Assassin."

Hundred Faces: What in the world did I walk into? Is this even a Holy Grail War?

Since they already held a nearly guaranteed advantage, Tohsaka Tokiomi hadn't insisted that Kirei deploy Assassin for infiltration. But Gilgamesh knew just how useless this Assassin was.

"A pity," Heracles sighed. "But then again, even the strongest among us may harbor weaknesses."

After all, who could truly bear to raise their blade against what they cherished most?

Heracles, more than anyone, understood. Just as he couldn't bear to fight the Golden King.

A thunderous roar shook the horizon as Iskandar descended in his Gordius Wheel, pulled by his massive bulls. Looking upon the strange camaraderie of the four gathered Servants, he blinked in bewilderment.

"Uh… am I seeing things?" he muttered. "Is this still the Holy Grail War?"

The sight of these four united Servants left Iskandar deeply perplexed.

---

The Servants' conversation was hidden from view, and none of them dared to confront Kai directly.

After all, they weren't equipped with Grand-level Spirit Origins, and they couldn't be sure just how much of his former power Kai still retained compared to the Singularities.

In truth, this hesitation was likely their saving grace. Had they gone looking for Kai, they would have encountered an enraged Artoria and a wrathful Morgan—either of whom was prepared to obliterate anyone who dared disturb him.

Having finally calmed both his little lion and the Great Witch, Kai stepped out of the house, accompanied by his two familiars, Nero and Merlin.

Unbeknownst to him, the instant he stepped outside, his movements were already under watch. Servants and Masters alike sensed the presence of the formidable enemy—the one so dangerous it had forced five legendary Servants to band together.

The threat was so grave that, if any Masters refused to prioritize this target, the Servants were fully prepared to strike or even revolt against their Masters' wishes.

---

T/N: heheh gil <3< p>

Hi, besties! I'm so excited to bring you I Don't Want to Be a Heroic Spirit!—a wild and fun adventure where our MC gets to travel through different anime worlds while becoming a Heroic Spirit! With the help of Chaldea's MVPs (yes, Mash and Da Vinci are here to cheer us on), this story is full of iconic moments, unexpected twists, and all the anime goodness we love.

Oh, and guess what? I've got one more story to share after this, so stay tuned because the fun doesn't stop here! As always, thank you so much for reading and supporting—you're all amazing! Hope you enjoy every moment of this journey!

Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!

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