si-mexico Chapter 70 The King's Tour
Chapter 70 The King's Tour
The distorted aurora of the Holy Grail War vanished completely on the Tokyo skyline.
For the city, last night's tremors were merely a "rare localized airflow disturbance" as described by the meteorological bureau.
It's great that there was no gas explosion.
Convenience stores remain open as usual, vending machines continue to hum, and early morning trams are as crowded as ever with sleepy-eyed commuters.
But for the Sajō family's Western-style mansion, the world had changed.
The morning sunlight streamed through the bright floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the restaurant in a warm yellow glow.
The sound of light chopping echoed in Sato's kitchen.
Saya Aika wore an apron printed with light purple flowers, and her long golden hair was tied into a low ponytail with a white hairband, hanging down her shoulders.
Barefoot on the wooden floor, fingertips move lightly in rhythm.
Good morning, Your Highness.
Just as Arthur entered the restaurant, Aegean placed a plate of golden omelets on the table.
She turned around, her eyes no longer filled with the indifference and madness she showed when facing the world, but only with love like the melting of the first snow.
"This is an improved version of an ancient British recipe. Would you like to try it?"
Arthur changed out of his heavy silver armor and into a simple white cashmere sweater with the cuffs slightly rolled up. His short golden hair fell across his forehead and was tinged with a soft pale gold by the morning light.
He sat down at the table, picked up his cutlery, and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Aige. This peaceful fragrance is always refreshing, no matter how many times you smell it."
The restaurant door was gently pushed open, and Ayaka Sajou stood in the doorway, walking in somewhat awkwardly.
When facing Ai Ge, she instinctively shrank her shoulders; the sense of oppression that came from the depths of her soul made her unable to look directly at her sister's back.
Ayaka seemed too perfect, too much like a phantom called "God," at the dining table, so much so that Ayaka felt that even breathing a little louder would be an offense.
"Good morning, Ayaka." Arthur turned around and gave her an encouraging smile.
Upon seeing Arthur, Ayaka's tense nerves miraculously relaxed.
Good morning, Arthur.
Ayaka called out his name directly. Under Aika's slightly sidelong glance, Ayaka's heart raced, but she stubbornly refused to change her address.
Only when she called Arthur's name did she feel like she was truly living in this world, and not just a background image that her sister had casually painted.
Ai Ge's lips curled up slightly. In her eyes, that little act of defiance was like a cub raising its tail at a lion—interesting, but not threatening.
"Since His Highness the Prince allows you to address me that way, then so be it. Please sit down, Ayaka. After breakfast, we'll go shopping together."
Three people on the street.
If the hustle and bustle of Tokyo is a chaotic melody, then Arthur's appearance is like inserting a sacred aria into that melody.
He didn't need to deliberately release pressure; his imposing presence, born from the Battle of Vortigern and traversing the orbits of stars, made him shine like a star among the crowd.
"Mom, that big brother is glowing!"
A little girl holding her mother's hand pointed at Arthur and said.
Ayaka heard this and chuckled to herself.
"Arthur, look at that!"
Suddenly, Ayaka pointed to the claw machine by the roadside, her tone unusually lighthearted.
At this moment, she acted more like a guide, leading this king from a distant era to experience the wonders of modern times.
Arthur carefully examined the dolls in the transparent cabinet.
"Is it enough to just grasp that center of gravity?" He pushed up his non-prescription glasses on the bridge of his nose, his expression serious, as if he were strategizing at a roundtable meeting.
Ayaka taught him how to insert coins, "Like this...like this...and then like this."
After performing the entire teaching sequence, the metal claw wobbled and fell inside the cabinet, only to grasp at nothing.
Ayaka's face fell instantly.
Aige stood to the side, holding three strawberry-flavored crepes in her hands.
She didn't even need to use magic; with just a thought, the dolls would line up and jump into Arthur's arms on their own.
But she didn't do that; she enjoyed this "ordinary" process... because Arthur was enjoying it.
This harmonious atmosphere was abruptly shattered as they passed a high-class open-air café by an extremely arrogant and glamorous magical aura.
At that coffee shop where even the parasols were trimmed with gold, a man dressed in an expensive bespoke suit and with his hair meticulously styled was holding a bone china cup.
His red eyes revealed a weariness that seemed to have seen through the ways of the world.
Gilgamesh.
"Hmph, I was wondering what was so dazzling that it dared to emit such starlight in broad daylight. It turns out to be you, you stupid Briton."
The oldest king didn't even turn his head, his tone filled with undisguised sarcasm, but the way his coffee cup hovered in mid-air betrayed his concern.
Arthur stopped, turned his head, and nodded slightly to Gilgamesh.
"Maintaining such a grand spectacle even in this city of reinforced concrete, he truly deserves to be called the King of Heroes."
Gilgamesh put down his cup, turned his head, his gaze lingered on Aika for a moment, and then he let out a cold snort:
"Wandering the streets with two troublesome burdens... Arthur, when did your perspective become so narrow?"
Has that girl, who connects you to your roots, already worn down your will with these trivial sugary thoughts?
"It's not about killing time." Arthur pressed his right hand against Ayaka's slightly cool hand, and used his left hand to block Ayaka's somewhat fearful gaze from behind.
He looked at Gilgamesh, his tone calm and firm.
"It is because of the will to protect these 'beautiful' things that my sword does not need any chains to bind it."
Aika looked at Gilgamesh, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes because his presence had disturbed her, and her fingertips twitched slightly.
This shiny golden guy, he wanted to use Ea to blast Arthur in the workshop, and now he's interrupting her date with Arthur.
"Love Song." Arthur gently stopped him, then looked at Gilgamesh.
"Now that the war is over, and we're merely passersby in this bustling city, why don't we sit down and try the afternoon tea here?"
"Ha! You want me to squeeze under a parasol with you? Are you kidding me?"
Gilgamesh stood up, casually flicking the hem of his suit jacket, and golden particles shimmered behind him.
"Arthur Pendragon, enjoy your short vacation."
The illusory image of the light boat flashed through the void, and the arrogant king disappeared among the buildings.
"Arthur, that person just now... was terrifying, even more so than described in the books."
Ayaka peeked out from behind Arthur's left arm, and only after confirming it was safe did she let out a long breath and pat her chest.
"He's just a slightly special neighbor now." Arthur smiled, took the crepe that Ayaka handed him, and took a small bite.
The sweet cream explodes on your taste buds; this taste called "life" is warmer than the magic of the Holy Grail.
"Your Highness, would you like some Japanese-style rice balls for breakfast tomorrow? I'll try to make the kind you mentioned Ayaka bought last time..."
"I'm really looking forward to it."
The setting sun cast long shadows of the three of them. Arthur walked in the middle, Aika leaned on his left shoulder, and Ayaka followed on the right, maintaining a small but definite distance.
But a shadow quietly reached out and gently tugged at Arthur's shadow on the ground.