Tokyo in 1991. The era just before the bubble burst. Truly, a time when Japanese people were incredibly wealthy.
It's the era of the extravagant bubble economy.
"To think the summoned Servant is a Berserker. But it has sanity, and it's a child?"
"Nice to meet you~"
Hiroki Sajou, Manaka's father. He's also the one who suggested the Holy Grail War to Manaka. He's Tokiomi's friend, for now.
"Take care of Manaka during the Holy Grail War."
Hiroki leaves the house, perhaps on business. They say he was a kind father before his wife died... Family matters are heavy.
"So? What do you think of my father?"
"His personality isn't new to me; I've seen it somewhere before."
"I see. Then, tell me... what's the Beast's true name? You said Humpty Dumpty, but... you don't look like an egg?"
"That's my true name for now. I have no actual connection to that egg, though~"
Manaka looks at me with interest. Somehow, her lifeless eyes feel familiar.
"So, when are you going to feed me?"
"... I'll make it soon. I never imagined I'd meet a Servant like you."
Manaka seems baffled but starts preparing a meal. A 15-year-old girl. Though she's an omnipotent being as a girl, her thoughts and such make her truly a child. Pure evil, you could say.
Manaka puts on an apron and starts making something. But then, I sense a presence behind me.
"...?"
I leave the kitchen and head into the hallway, where I meet eyes with a girl.
"You are..."
"Ah...!"
This child... she must be Ayaka Sajou. The protagonist of Fate/Prototype and Manaka's sister, six years younger.
She's older than Sakura. Hmm... the more I think, the more self-loathing I feel.
"What are you doing here? It's late."
"... I was curious about what Father and Sister were doing... You're a Servant, right?"
"Yeah. Call me Dumpty. My class is, for now, Berserker?"
I brush it off as Berserker since revealing the Beast class is bothersome. Only Manaka needs to know, after all.
"You don't look like a mad warrior..."
"Hehe, anyway~ Aren't you going to bed late? You won't grow if you don't sleep during your growth period~?"
"... A day or two is fine, you know?"
She's a tough kid. Is this Manaka's sister? Well, she's the original version of Rin, so it makes sense.
"Then, you must be hungry. Manaka's making something, so want to eat?"
"Umm... I guess so."
Ayaka gets up and heads to the kitchen.
"Oh, you're still awake, Ayaka?"
"I was curious about what Dad and Sister were doing..."
"Heh... it wasn't that interesting. I made a simple stew for a late-night snack, is that okay?"
"That smell and appearance, it's cream stew? Looks like it has meat and good chunks. Nice."
It has a visual similar to the cream stew from a late-night diner.
Manaka serves the stew into bowls, and we all sit at the table to eat.
""Let's eat.""
They say a pre-meal greeting, but I don't do that.
Hmm... this taste...
Unfortunately, compared to Benienma's stew, it falls short. Is this the curse of knowledge? Knowing something tastier makes the disappointment greater. Still, it's definitely edible and okay. Of course, it's lacking compared to experts like Tamamo or Kiyohime from Chaldea.
It's even more lacking than Tiamat's. I shouldn't complain when I'm on the receiving end, but still, it's disappointing...
"Your expression doesn't look good. Is it bad?"
"Caught, huh... Sorry. Your cooking is surely top-notch. But, I've been eating only the finest foods, so my cheap palate has become refined. Damn it..."
"Hmm. I don't get what you're saying, but in conclusion, my cooking isn't great?"
"Unfortunately, yes. But I think it's tasty."
"I don't understand what the Beast is talking about..."
"Beast? You mean Berserker, Sister."
"Yeah, yeah, Ayaka... But, he said it's not great?"
I scoop more stew from the pot. Why?
"A Korean's stomach can't be filled with just this much. One bowl of stew isn't enough. And, it's not bad. So... it's average? Is that the feeling?"
"Heh..."
Manaka responds with dead eyes and stares at me. Ugh... her gaze is piercing.
After eating, I do the dishes.
"You're good at washing dishes."
"I've lived alone, you know."
"So you're from the modern era. What did the Beast do as a person?"
"I was a teacher at Chaldea once..."
"A teacher?"
"That place had students with debts of 9 billion yen, wore masks to rob banks, had streetcars running as normal, and children didn't die even if hit by guns or anti-aircraft guns."
"... Where are you from?"
"There's such a worldview."
Compared to reality, it's an absurd world, sure. But this worldview is crazier.
"What exactly did you do, Beast?"
"Don't know~"
"Hmm."
Manaka pouts and looks baffled by my words. Even her eyes can't grasp what kind of person I am.
"Ha~am..."
"It's late, so both of you should sleep now. We'll talk in detail tomorrow morning, Manaka."
"... Okay."
"But where should I stay?"
"There's an empty room. Stay there."
"OK~"
After sending them to their rooms, I enter the room Manaka showed me. There's really nothing here...? But a futon is laid on the floor. Good sense, Manaka. As a Servant, I don't need to sleep, but... I still want to.
I get into the futon and try to sleep. Servants might not sleep, but... surprisingly, I fall asleep quickly.
===================================
"... Beast. Who are you, really?"
I can't see. Even if I want to, I can't. Have my eyes ever been forcibly blocked like this? They work normally, but only the parts related to him are invisible.
"Interesting."
In the original future, I would have summoned Saber and fallen in love. But that didn't happen. I wondered why, but... this is interesting in its own way.
And these skills and Noble Phantasm...
"Beast, you're a very interesting person?"
Perhaps... are you the same case as me?
===================================
The next morning.
"Ugh...!"
Unbelievable, I slept so deeply. It's already morning...!
"I'm off~"
Leaving the room and going downstairs, I run into Ayaka on her way to school.
"Going to school?"
"Ah, yes."
A slightly awkward atmosphere flows...
"If you have nothing to do, how about just escorting Ayaka to school?"
"Huh?"
Manaka comes out of the kitchen, smiling, and suggests this to me.
"It's nothing much, just a simple way to explore the area. Of course, you might get lost, so just drop Ayaka off and come back."
"... Okay."
What is she thinking... I head to school with Ayaka.
"Hey, Berserker, what do you do? You look my age..."
"I'm 26 years old."
"Eh...?"
We chat a bit, and after escorting Ayaka to school, I walk back towards the house.
There seem to be middle schools and high schools nearby. I see students in uniforms heading to school. And among them...
".... Huh?"
In my surprise, I grab the hand of one student.
"? What's wrong? Are you lost?"
"... Why are you here?"
"Do you know me...?"
Artoria...?
-------------------------------------
True Name : Humpty Dumpty
Height / Weight : 130cm / 34kg
Source : Reality
Region : South Korea
Alignment : Chaotic · Neutral
Gender : Male
Specialty : Drawing the big picture
Likes : Daily life, fun things
Dislikes : Serious things
Image Color : Brown
Class Aptitude : Beast(?)
Natural Enemy : Female Servants with high Bond Levels
Parameters
Strength E- Endurance E- Agility E- Magic EX Luck EX Noble Phantasm EX
Skills
Class Skills
You Are Fate EX : Negates all debuffs, is unaffected by predetermined fate, and changes the future. Has advantage against all beings defined as Servants.
Independent Manifestation E- : A skill to manifest in the present alone. Supposedly present as a Beast, but the user doesn't know how to use it, making it virtually useless.
Beast's Authority EX : A skill called Anti-Humanity. When attacked by beings defined as humans or Servants, no damage is taken and it is reflected back. Can be called the principle of retaliation from some malice.
Personal Skills
Master's Charisma EX : Charisma fitting for a Master who led hundreds of Heroic Spirits and showed miracles multiple times. The user has little intention of commanding or taking action, but his Servants become excessively proactive just by his presence.
Boundless Love EX : An existence loved excessively by numerous heroes, demons, gods, and beasts. As proof, high-tier beings feel fear upon seeing him due to the overwhelming blessings layered on him.
Grand Order EX : The power itself of receiving countless blessings. Even the user and those who granted them are confused about what was given due to the excess. Blessings too abundant and excessive for a mere human. With just these blessings, he can be called the most loved being on this planet.
Noble Phantasm
{Märtyrer Vernichtung Lostbelt} (You, the Martyr Who Destroys the World)
Rank EX / Anti-Humanity Noble Phantasm / Range : Immeasurable / Maximum Targets : Immeasurable
Märtyrer Vernichtung Lostbelt. His system itself. All the bonds and power he has accumulated. Even if this Noble Phantasm is stolen, it cannot be wielded. Beyond understanding the system, the power to force his Servants to follow lies not in the Noble Phantasm's owner but in the existence called Humpty Dumpty himself. The power of the Servants contracted with him is immense, and some beings could change the history of the stars just by existing, beyond threatening humanity. Perhaps, it could be called the most dangerous Noble Phantasm in history.
========================
The website for reading paid chapters is available on my Patreon. The number of chapters on Patreon: 203
Link: patreon.com/UltraMagnus_T