Taste of Blood

'Tell me about my new skill.'

Blood Conversion [E]

Info: Acquired from Dragon Blood Authority.

Effect: The dragon blood can be converted into flesh to heal flesh wounds.

"Healing with blood."

If only he skill used the magical energy in his core for the healing instead of his blood.

"No point complaining. Medea..."

The sorceress appeared before him and flipped back her hood. "Master?"

She was clueless about this summon.

"How do you want to replenish your magical energy?" He went straight to the point. "Blood or Semen? Think about it. I'll do it after dinner."

It was a test to see his mother's reaction. Whether or not she supported his ambition of making a harem. Even if she denied him, he couldn't leave Medea and Sakura. They had grown on him more than he ever thought.

Medea was put on the spot for the umpteenth time today. Her magical energy reserves were painfully low, barely reaching twenty percent. Only a magus's help will restore it. However, engaging in sex here was the worst option. Kaede was one powerful spirit, and Medea feared her wrath.

'She might kill me…'

She thought of a different approach to avoid a tragic ending.

"Master, what do you want to do?"

She dumped the responsibility on Haruki.

Haruki showed an amused smile. "You're asking a man if he wants to share his blood or fuck a lovely woman?"

Medea unconsciously smiled at the compliment. "I mean…"

Letting her hesitate was a bad idea. Haruki seized her hand and yanked her. She fell on his lap, her butt directly above his crotch. He brushed her hair from her cheeks. His tender touch made her blush.

"Medea, do you trust me?"

His solemn voice nailed home the seriousness of his question. As Medea opened her mouth, she felt a lump blocking her throat. Her heart told her to wait instead of giving a rushed answer.

"I have entrusted my back to you as a precious ally," Haruki said and pressed his lips on her cheeks.

Medea nodded seriously. Nobody would reveal everything about Grail without trust.

'Master doesn't seem like a person to take a stupid approach. He trusts me.'

Unknown to the thoughts brewing in Medea's head, Haruki reached for the pointed ear poking through her azure hair and pinched it between his thumb. "I want us to be more than that. I know a momcon like me doesn't have the right to say this, but I want to make you a happy woman. Will you stay here with me after the war ends. As my woman?"

He shredded through her heart's defenses. She never thought her usually serious master would outright ask her to become his woman, and all of it came from his heart without a hint of a lie.

Medea couldn't endure the feelings swelling in her chest. Sliding her arms around his neck, she hugged him. "Master, I don't care about anything… I just want to be with you."

If it was his plan to slowly soften her heart with affection until she craved life in this warm house, then he succeeded. He gave him warmth on the rainy night, giving her shelter and his trust. Going back in time with the Grail will change nothing. Everything will remain the same. How could she crave something so far out of her hands when a man was vowing to cherish her for who she was?

100 points gained with Medea. Relationship status changed to 'Lover.'

Task Completed. Well done!

1 x Premium Tier Gacha rewarded.

"Medea conquered," Arch said. "Congratulations, boy. Now fuck her to get some juicy authorities."

He rolled his eyes. 'Way to ruin the mood.'

"Master… Haruki-sama, we should go now. Dinner will get cold."

An odd feeling of confidence filled him when he heard the all-powerful sorceress addressing him with 'sama.' He won't be able to hold back his lust if she addressed him one more time with the new name. He rubbed her ears again, something he found satisfying. Her embarrassed reaction was just a plus for having fun with her soft ears.

"We'll continue after dinner."

Medea nodded and released her hold on his neck. Continuing this would only lead in that direction. She looked forward to experiencing it with him.

As they left the room, Kaede materialized in the room, chewing her thumb with a big frown. "I'm getting ntr'd before my eyes…"

She wasn't a bit 'angry' about it. After all, she had lost the ability to feel such trivial emotions long ago. Her only complaint was...

"I can't join them!"

***

Sakura served dinner in the dining room. The table was big enough for everyone including Archer but he refused to join them in the dinner. Sakura was distracted, a disorienting feeling tugging at her head. Rin said she was in the toilet for nearly ten minutes. She didn't recall going to the toilet or having the urge to go there.

'Am I finally breaking down?'

She shook her head, getting back her confident smile. Haruki had decided to show her the affection she wanted for a long time. She wasn't going to let a small doubt stop her now.

Meanwhile, Rin raised her head from her bowl and looked at Caster. Her magician robes and chopsticks was a strange sight even for Rin who grew up to always expect the unexpected. Haruki, who sat beside Caster, flashed a smile. Rin buried her head in her bowl.

'Why am I hiding? We're allies. Equal position. Equal power.'

She had nothing to be embarrassed about! She puffed her chest and matched his gaze with confidence.

Haruki returned an amused smile, holding back a chuckle.

'What is she doing?'

***

Artoria clutched the railings of the bridge with her left hand and lifted her yellow hood with her right hand. The river sandwiched between two parts of the city glittered under the moonlight.

"What did Master say?"

Semiramis' emerged from the shadows with a smile. "Wait until he contacts me again."

"...Did he get injured in the fight?"

Even when clouded by doubts, she prioritized his safety above all.

Semiramis chuckled in a hand. Artoria's indecisiveness amused her. "He is well. You, on the other hand, look bothered about something. The wind here is pleasant. Why don't we talk about your problem before we look for a place?"

Artoria turned her head, her emotionless emerald eyes locking on Semiramis' face. "Did you poison an innocent man?"

Semiramis twitched at her accusation. "I don't harm someone if my goals are unrelated to them."

"You did it then," Artoria said, her voice still emotionless. "Did Master order you to do it?"

Even if he was a dragon, she didn't want to support another Kiritsugu who cared naught for honor and promises.

"You're getting everything wrong about my master," Semiramis said with a frown. "Berserker's Master caused a big confusion."

Semiramis usually wouldn't be patient with someone. But she was standing before King Arthur. A fellow ruler and a powerful servant who could lead them to an easy victory. So she explained everything from the start.

Artoria was perplexed at the turn of events. More than that, she was a little embarrassed for jumping to conclusions.

"My master could have killed that man after getting Avalon, but he didn't. For you to doubt his character…" Semiramis sighed, acting like she was hurt. "I thought King Arthur had an eye for judging people."

Artoria felt every word piercing her heart. She clenched her fists unconsciously, crushing the metal railing under her gauntlets. "I'll apologize to him."

Unknown to Semiramis, her advice fueled Artoria's inferiority complex further.

Semiramis leaned on the railing to hide her smirk, feeling proud for getting them on the same page.

'So easy. This naive girl is the legendary King Arthur? She seems to have some trust issues.'

She'd have doubted the fact if it weren't for the enormous magical energy emanating from Artoria's petite frame. Semiramis had to use her skills as Assassin and Caster just to stop it from attracting other servants.

'I stole clothes to cover her armor. Semiramis, the Queen of Assyria, using her presence concealment to steal from commoners.'

Even if she ends up conquering the world, this dark memory will haunt her for the rest of her life.

'He better be grateful about it and reward me accordingly. What do I ask?'

She recalled the sweet taste of his blood and licked her lips. She was no vampire, but the taste of his blood gave her the urge to drink some more. It was like wine, but sweeter and rich with magical energy. She wouldn't be able to discern if someone served her a glass of his blood.

'I'll save the reward for when I'm out of magical energy.'

Despite her flirtatious interactions with Haruki, she wasn't going to let him or any other man have the pleasure of sharing a bed with her.