"Ugh, seriously! Where did big brother go?!"
Early in the morning, Rin Tohsaka stood at the door, her tiny foot tapping impatiently against the floor.
"Really, where did he disappear to?!" she grumbled under her breath, her frustration evident as she tightly held Sakura's small hand. Oddly enough, she looked more nervous than Sakura herself.
"Sis, what are you talking about?" Sakura blinked at Rin, confusion clear on her face. The poor girl had no idea what kind of nightmare she was about to walk into.
"It's nothing… I just… don't want to let you go." Rin's voice softened, her usual tsundere bravado fading as her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. To her, Sakura was incredibly precious.
"Sis..." Sakura whispered, looking at Rin with reluctance.
"Sakura..." Aoi Tohsaka pulled both girls into a tight embrace. Tears welled up in her eyes as she held them close, not wanting to let go.
"It's alright, Aoi." Tokiomi Tohsaka placed a hand on his wife's shoulder, speaking in his usual composed manner. But even he couldn't completely hide the pain in his eyes.
After all, it wasn't easy sending away one's own daughter. But what choice did he have? He was bound by duty, and he could not produce two heirs with magical circuits.
Suddenly—
Beep! Beep!
A black luxury car rolled up in front of them, the sound of tires screeching to a halt piercing the heavy silence. Slowly, the door opened, and an old man stepped out.
"Heh heh, dear Tokiomi, it has been quite some time."
The man—no, the thing—that emerged was Zouken Matou. Unfortunately, if there was ever a contest for the creepiest smile, this ancient worm of a man would win hands down.
The centuries-old magus was as bald as a plucked chicken, his limbs as thin as brittle twigs, and his hollow eyes gleamed with something sinister. With his eerie chuckle and unsettling aura, he was less of a person and more of a horror story come to life.
"Indeed, it has been a while, Lord Matou," Tokiomi greeted him with a respectful nod, keeping his noble demeanor intact despite his obvious distaste.
"Heh heh," Zouken let out another raspy chuckle. "As expected of the head of the Tohsaka family. Always so refined."
"Your praise is most kind, my lord." Tokiomi remained polite, even though he would rather be anywhere else but here.
"Hmm." Zouken's sunken eyes scanned the two girls before him, his dry, withered fingers reaching out. "A truly lovely child. Do not worry, Tokiomi. I will ensure that Sakura reaches her full potential as a magus."
"Thank you, Lord Matou."
Sakura's body tensed as she instinctively clung to her mother. Her skin turned a shade paler, her tiny hands trembling.
Rin, too, was visibly shaken. She gritted her teeth, watching helplessly as her little sister was about to be taken away.
Then—
A calm, powerful voice cut through the air.
"I'd advise you to take your hand back, old man."
With a surge of energy, a figure appeared before them.
Blond hair. Blue eyes. A regal posture.
Dressed in a modern yet elegantly simple outfit, he stood with undeniable authority, his presence alone making the air feel heavier.
"Old worm, your time is up. This isn't a place for you to slither around so freely!"
Arthur Pendragon—King of Knights—had arrived.
---
Arthur gazed at Zouken Matou with sheer contempt. For all his supposed wisdom and experience, the ancient magus was still nothing more than a pathetic old parasite.
Zouken, on the other hand, was visibly annoyed. "You there, boy. Show some respect for your elders!"
Arthur smirked. "Oh? Then let me put it simply—this girl belongs to me."
The declaration stunned everyone. Even Tokiomi, always composed, found himself taken aback.
"...Who are you?" the Tohsaka patriarch finally asked.
Arthur casually pointed at himself. "Me? You'll know when the time is right."
Then, ignoring the others, he walked straight toward Sakura.
Zouken, unwilling to let his prize slip away, reached out again.
Swish!
A glint of silver flashed through the air.
A sharp sound followed—
And then, a thud.
Zouken Matou's hand fell to the ground.
Aoi Tohsaka barely saw what had happened. One moment, Arthur was standing still. The next, Zouken's disgusting, withered hand was lying in the dirt.
"You…!" Zouken's empty eyes flickered with fury. But before he could react, worms wriggled out from the severed wrist, slithering back toward him like living threads, reattaching his hand.
Arthur wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Oh, great, the old bug's got auto-repair."
"You dare attack me?!" Zouken screeched, his rotting form trembling with rage.
From the ground, an eerie buzzing noise erupted.
Countless insects crawled out from the shadows, filling the air like a grotesque swarm.
The bugs twisted and whirled into a tornado of writhing bodies, ready to devour Arthur whole.
Arthur, however, simply sighed. "Great. You really had to go and make this disgusting."
His magic circuits flared.
A surge of pure mana exploded from his body, sending a shockwave through the air.
BOOM!
The insect swarm was obliterated in an instant, reduced to nothing but ashes.
Zouken stared, stunned. "Impossible..."
Arthur rolled his shoulders. "You were saying?"
Zouken, though enraged, suddenly grinned. "Heh heh… It's been so long since anyone dared defy me. Young man, you have my interest. But that's not a reason for you to interfere in my business."
At his words, the ground beneath them twisted and writhed as even more disgusting creatures began to emerge.
Arthur sighed. "Oh, for the love of—listen, old bug, can you stop making everything so grotesque?"
Dozens of wriggling creatures charged toward him, their slimy bodies skittering closer.
Arthur's expression turned deadpan. "This is my new outfit, you know. I really don't want bug guts all over it."
With a flick of his wrist—
A powerful gust of wind erupted from his body.
The Wind King Barrier surged outward, sending the swarm flying in all directions.
Zouken's expression darkened. "You... You brat!!!"
Arthur smirked, pointing his sword at the old magus. "Now, do me a favor and crawl back into whatever filthy hole you came from. Sakura isn't going anywhere with you."
For the first time in centuries—Zouken Matou hesitated.
And Rin? She stared at Arthur, wide-eyed, before whispering under her breath:
"...Cool."
---