The Sajyou Residence.
"Huh? Do we have guests?"
Returning home from school, Ayaka was puzzled by the several luxury cars parked outside her house. She wondered where did these expensive-looking vehicles, each seemingly more lavish than the last, come from?
Although her father, Hiroki, had many friends and wasn't short on money, his personality was such that he was content with having just enough, and he wouldn't actively engage in extravagance. So, having guests arriving in such luxury cars was unusual for the Sajyou Household.
Approaching the front door, Ayaka saw several girls dressed in maid uniforms. They all had silver hair and deep red eyes, with exquisite features and tall, slender figures. Any one of them could have been a star elsewhere.
Seemingly recognizing Ayaka, the maids nodded to her one by one, offering friendly smiles.
"Dad, Nee-san..."
Returning a stiff smile to the maids, Ayaka entered the house and passed through the hallway. There, she saw several unfamiliar women, her sister, Sajyou Manaka sitting opposite them, and her father nearby mechanically reading a newspaper, seemingly disengaged.
"Ayaka, you're back."
Seeing her younger sister return, a gentle smile appeared on Manaka's face.
Logically, it was a perfect sisterly smile, but looking at it, Morgan, as a witch, understood better than anyone that this woman was an emotionless 'god'.
Her danger level might even surpass that of the two named Crimson Moon and Hope back at the castle.
"Nee-san, who are these people..."
Looking at the women sitting on the sofa, Ayaka's perception was shattered.
In her memory, Manaka's beauty had always been perfect. She had never seen nor doubted that there could be women more exceptional than Manaka. Ayaka's heart had always told her so.
Yet today, suddenly seeing several women whose aura and beauty were not inferior to Manaka's, this rushed shattering of her perception left her momentarily stunned.
"These people? They are new friends brought by your Sola-nee."
Smiling, Manaka pointed at Sola. She had known Sola for a long time, having sought her out after learning about Ryuya.
Having seen Ryuya's figure within the Root and fallen in love with him long ago, Manaka had also witnessed the events of the previous Snowfield City incident through the Root.
She actively sought out Sola for one reason only: Sola was the same kind of person as her.
That's right. Although they had just met, Manaka understood that this woman with fiery red hair, while appearing normal on the surface, was extremely crazy inside, just like her… a madwoman in the eyes of the world.
Upon meeting Sola, Manaka immediately stated her position: she wanted to know Ryuya, to meet the man who, across countless worlds, walked the path of a king as a king himself.
Under this premise, Sola and Manaka had reached an understanding long ago. They were now good cooperative partners.
After the Holy Grail War began, Sola naturally thought of her ally first. Firmly believing that Manaka's qualifications would inevitably grant her the status of a Master, she, along with Irisviel, 'Blue' Artoria, Morgan, and Artoria, came to the Sajyou Residence to form an alliance.
Of course, it's worth mentioning that this alliance faction also included two others: Manaka's Servant, Tiamat, and the Servant summoned by Sola, Female Gil!
At a restaurant.
"Um... can you really eat these things?"
In a private room, as plate after plate of exquisite food was served, Siduri looked at Arcueid and Altrouge, who were eating heartily, and voiced her question.
In the High Priestess's eyes, True Ancestors were similar to the alien vampire tribes of ancient Uruk. She remembered those creatures preferred blood, especially spicy dishes.
Seeing Brunestud Sisters eating ordinary food, Siduri asked.
"We can eat it. Why wouldn't we be able to?"
Having a preference for food, liking things that were delicate and tasty, Arcueid answered Siduri while also glancing at Ereshkigal, "Goddess of the Underworld, aren't you eating?"
"Ah? Me? Thank you for your concern, I'm not hungry right now."
Smiling gently, the kind Ereshkigal was just looking out the window at the bustling street. Her mind was full of thoughts about Ryuya, pondering how to find the Einzbern Castle that Female Gil and the others had mentioned.
"Hmm? Is that noise?"
Compared to her younger sister Arcueid, the elder sister Altrouge ate with much more elegance.
Hearing what sounded like arguing or a dispute outside, she found the voice somewhat familiar but couldn't place it immediately.
"I'll go take a look. Please wait here for me."
Informing Arcueid and the others, Altrouge left the private room and followed the direction of the arguing voices.
"I, the Emperor, say it again: this steamed grouper is definitely farmed, not wild. Your supply channel has problems."
Golden hair, a petite figure… she looked just like a cute girl, but the aura she emitted was that of an emperor.
It was Nero, having a meal with Eriri.
As the Human King of the Roman Empire... no, rather, of the entire Eternal Night Empire, just how many delicacies had Nero tasted?
She could tell with one bite that the steamed grouper from this restaurant wasn't authentic, and it had the specific greasiness characteristic of farmed fish. Calling the restaurant staff, Nero herself didn't really care about such a small matter.
If it's farmed, just take it back.
The problem was that the restaurant staff claimed ignorance. When the kitchen staff were called, they insisted it was wild, absolutely not farmed.
"Young lady, I've worked at this restaurant for thirty years… there's no way I'm wrong. This fish is wild."
"Maybe you're mistaken, after all, you're still young."
Because Nero's face looked very young, the head chef spoke without restraint.
"I, the Emperor, am still young?"
Pausing for a moment upon hearing the chef's words, Nero hadn't encountered someone so seeking death in all these years.
Although, given her status, she shouldn't get angry with ordinary people, they dared to say she was small!
One must know, back in the Eternal Night Empire, Ryuya had repeatedly said things like, "Nero, you're still young, so leave the rest to me."
In the young Nero's heart, her teacher's departure was proof of her own immaturity.
Even though she played a significant role in the final battle, a young maiden's heart is sensitive and fragile. Her emerald eyes lowered slightly… she seemed to have already seen these people's path to their doom.