Crap!
It felt like the kind of sudden jolt when deoxygenated blood is collected in the right atrium, pumped into the right ventricle, sent to the lungs through the pulmonary artery, returned to the left atrium via pulmonary veins, and then pushed out through the aorta by the left ventricle — the whole body tingles!
What kind of absurd situation is this?
Sanjiro suddenly found it hard to breathe.
The angelic, loli-like face in front of him caused his heart to race out of control.
Don't misunderstand — he's not into lolis. He was just startled.
The little white-haired, red-eyed girl who perfectly matched the Japan's XP system was none other than Illya.
She was in the same class as Kirina and occasionally visited their house.
But this time, the "surprise" was way too intense!
Feigning confusion, Sanjiro asked, "Why do you ask that?"
"Because, Onii-chan, you're as handsome as that Nameless Heroic Spirit!"
The little white-haired girl gave a sweet smile.
Sweeter than honey, capable of melting hearts in an instant.
So fucking cute~!
Even Sanjiro couldn't help but smile.
If only his own little brat could be half as obedient and adorable as her, maybe he wouldn't be so stressed out all the time.
Still, considering her past, Kirina was already pretty well-behaved now.
She wasn't raising hell anymore — that alone was a win. What more could he ask for?
Thinking of the little brat, Sanjiro smirked slightly and said, "Did Kirina put you up to this?"
"Eh?"
Illya hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Every time she faced this boy she inexplicably liked, she felt this weird sensation. Like she'd seen him countless times before, spent years at his side.
Even though Kirina told her again and again not to say anything, she didn't want to lie to him.
It was a really strange feeling.
They'd only met a few times… was this what people called love at first sight?
As that thought crossed her mind, her face turned red — all the way to her ears.
Sanjiro, watching the bashful little girl, suddenly raised his voice,
"Kirina! If you don't come out right now, no dinner for you! No snacks! No phone either!"
"Noooo!!"
Kirina burst out from a bush nearby.
Her twin golden ponytails swayed violently behind her.
She sprinted over to Sanjiro, grabbed his arm, and gave a flattering smile."How could a great, generous, super-handsome onii-chan like you — as dashing as that Nameless Heroic Spirit — be cruel to a sweet little angel like me?"
Earlier during class, when he caught her secretly using her phone, she begged Illya for help.
She had her bestie praise him and say he looked like the Nameless Heroic Spirit to improve his mood.
Flattery always works!
Two adorable angelic little girls teaming up to flatter this shut-in? No way he'd get mad!
Once she appeared, things would settle down quickly.
A perfect plan!
But why… why did Illya betray her?
She'd promised not to say a word!
Yet…
Illya sold her out without hesitation!
There's a traitor among us!
"Heh, and you still call yourself a little angel?"
Sanjiro rolled his eyes.
Other people's daughters were sweet and thoughtful — why did his turn into a little gremlin?
Still, there were guests.
If he had to discipline her, he'd at least spare her a bit of dignity in front of her classmate.
Once the others left, she could pick which stick she wanted.
Sanjiro waved his hand. "Alright, Illya, come in too. Let's have dinner together."
"Eh? Really? Can I?"
Illya's eyes lit up.
She'd tasted his cooking once before — that unforgettable, mouthwatering flavor.
Since then, she couldn't get it out of her head. She'd only agreed to help Kirina this time because she was craving that food again.
"You're such a cute little princess — who wouldn't want to treat you?"
Sanjiro smiled brightly.
If anything, he felt like he owed her a little.
In one timeline, she'd even sacrificed herself to save him. Fortunately, he'd erased all those disasters and finally arrived at this peaceful life…
"Hmph, I feel like I was picked up from the trash can," Kirina sulked nearby.
These two were acting more like a real family, while she was the outsider.
Damn it!
It was supposed to be the three of them having dinner — why was she the nameless extra?
"Idiot, how could you say that?" Sanjiro reached out and ruffled her golden twin tails.
As her eyes lit up, his smile grew softer, and his voice gentler: "Drop the question mark. Because you were picked up from the trash."
He really had picked this girl up from the ruins.
He hadn't planned on keeping her, but her pitiful look swayed him into treating her like a stray kitten.
In a world rebooted through a wish on the Holy Grail of Stars, after sacrificing everything…
Everyone in the world — and all Heroic Spirits — forgot about him. It was a bit lonely.
This girl… was the only family he had left.
"...I'm going to bite you!!"
Kirina bared her sparkly little fangs and lunged at him, biting down on his hand.
One jab to the heart wasn't enough — he had to twist the knife too?
What are you, a dagger wholesaler?!
"Hey hey! Not so hard! If you hurt me, you can make dinner next time!"
Sanjiro started playfully wrestling with her.
"Why does your hand smell like... osmanthus flowers? Did you secretly sew something again?!"
Kirina released him instantly and spat dramatically.
She looked at him like he was some kind of pervert.
"Y-You—"
Sanjiro was utterly speechless at this brat.
Where did she even learn this kind of messed-up stuff?
And Illya was still here too!
Where was he supposed to hide his dignity?
The sweet little angel tilted her head innocently.
"What do osmanthus flowers smell like?"
"Ahem! Don't listen to her nonsense. Come on, let's eat!"
Sanjiro quickly changed the subject.
Under the lure of good food, Illya forgot all about the rest.
The three of them began eating their delicious dinner.
Sanjiro had only made a few simple dishes this time: silken tofu with crab sauce, sweet and sour fish, and so on — nothing fancy.
Not to brag...
But if his cooking was second-best, no one would dare claim first.
After countless years, wandering through countless worlds, his skills in the kitchen fused the best of all cultures.
Even Gilgamesh had praised it!
Also, an airhead with the ahoge nearly emptied Britain's treasury over his food!
After dinner…
Sanjiro watched the two lolis rub their round, stuffed bellies and headed off to do the dishes.
This kind of simple, everyday life — the routine of oil, salt, soy sauce, and tea — that's what normalcy really was.
In the living room…
Kirina scooted up beside the other girl and whispered, "Do you like him?"
"Eh?! N-No way!"
Illya froze for a moment, then shook her head rapidly.
But her ruby-like eyes couldn't help but sneak a glance at the boy working in the kitchen. Just looking at him made her feel strange tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.
His cooking was just that good!
If only she could eat like this every day…
Something's definitely up!
Kirina watched Illya's drooling expression and instantly sensed the wolf-in-sheep's-clothing danger.
Ding-dong~
Just as she was about to ask more questions, she felt her phone buzz in her back pocket.
She pulled it out — it was a notification from her special-followed uploader.
The uploader was—
Alaya.
They'd just posted a new video:
"The Perfect King."