Chapter 446: [446] Tsukihime, Exoteric, and Dream Sonata
Memories were transmitted to the far side of time and space, but the assassin’s body showed no signs of response. He felt little disappointment; he simply walked on, traversing the medieval streets at dusk.
If he had come in person, he would have surely enjoyed the solitude of being in a foreign land. Unfortunately, Sakatsuki was an assassin, and so this time became a meaningless waste.
However, before he knew it, the young man found himself back at the café on the corner, the very place where he had encountered Mordred and Kairi Sisigou.
The tourists had long since departed, and in the empty hall, Sakatsuki noticed a pure white grand piano.
After a moment’s thought, he approached it.
"Owner, may I borrow this piano for a bit?"
"But the shop is about to close..." The owner looked at his emotionless golden eyes, opened his mouth, and finally nodded, "Alright, but you must finish before sunset."
"Sure." Sakatsuki had no objections.
He had only requested to play to pass the time; once night fell, his fingers should grasp a weapon instead.
Without any embarrassment, the young man sat down at the grand piano, gently caressing the keys, pressing down on the full and half-tone keys.
And so, in the dimming twilight, the music transformed into a cascade of moonlight, rippling across the tranquil lake, reflecting the thousand-year-old city adorned with white flowers.
All moon chefs knew that in the thousand-year city of Brennstad, a pure white princess lay asleep.
Yet how many knew that the point of connection between the thousand-year city and reality was located within Romania, truly the birthplace of vampires, and that the Fortress of Millennia, a stronghold of the Yggdmillennia clan, was currently guarded by the vampire Dracula, also known as Vlad III?
It was a pity that in the timeline of the Holy Grail War, humanity thrived while the True Ancestors and other such beings had retreated into the depths of the world; he was fated never to meet that white princess.
In this way, he commemorated the sleeping Tsukihime. As the piece came to an end, Sakatsuki’s playing transformed, becoming fervent and uplifting.
Clashing swords and iron steeds, silver vases shattering.
Iron cavalry charging the heavens, guns like thunder.
Anyone could hear the grandeur and passion of the song, dreams colliding, shattering, sublimating, transforming amidst despair.
It was titled "Fate/Apocrypha." Even without the chords of the Cimbalom, the tension presented by the young man’s solo was enough to leave an impact.
As the epic song reached its conclusion, Sakatsuki, who had been enjoying the moment with his eyes closed, released the keys and stood up, unexpectedly hearing the enthusiastic applause surrounding him.
Turning to look, he found the café had filled with people, likely tourists unaware of Romania’s current state. They gazed at the handsome pianist, their enthusiastic cheers dispelling the encroaching night.
The piano’s sound, infused with the essence of the Third Magic, naturally carried an unimaginable emotional resonance, making it only natural for ordinary people to be ’charmed.’
But Sakatsuki clearly paid no mind to the onlookers. He scanned the fervent faces, finally stopping at a pair of eyes like amethyst.
Composite Magic: Tuning.
As a functional magic created by Sakatsuki’s innate talent, it lacked lethality in situations of low mana, but locating enemies through sound waves was still a breeze.
Under the diffusion of sound waves imbued with magic, Sakatsuki had already identified all the Servants and magi within the vicinity of Sighișoara during his performance.
The riffraff magi stationed at the Clock Tower were a given; the Red faction had only dispatched Mordred and Kairi Sisigou... oh, and himself as well. However, the Black faction was fighting on home turf, and they were determined to secure the Red faction’s Servants. Not only were Reika and Artoria present in plain sight, but there was also a master-servant pair and a magus who had arrived here.
All of this was within Sakatsuki’s expectations, but the girl before him was someone he had not anticipated.
Looking at Jeanne, who had removed her armor and was dressed in a school uniform, as if she had just returned home from school, Sakatsuki did not ask, "Why are you here?" Instead, with a faint smile, he recited a line from a poet.
"What can I use to keep you?"
"I offer you the desolate streets, the despairing sunset, the moon in the wilderness."
"I give you the sorrow of someone who gazes longingly at the solitary moon."
As he recited the verses, the young man walked toward the girl. Amidst the cheers of the enthusiastic Romanian tourists, the crowd parted, allowing Sakatsuki to stand before Jeanne, extending his hand and speaking in pure French:
"Je souhaite passer du temps avec vous. Voulez-vous marcher avec moi? (I want to spend some time with you. Would you like to walk with me?)"
That was a uniquely French invitation for a date. In response to Sakatsuki’s invitation, Jeanne revealed a sincere yet slightly shy smile and took his hand.
"Avec plaisir."
Seeing the shyness on Jeanne’s face, Sakatsuki’s smile grew even brighter.
For some reason, it was only when he was with Jeanne that the assassin allowed this wasteful way of living.
After all, wasn’t this also a way to deepen his feelings with the Arbiter?
Bidding farewell to the tourists who thrived on the spectacle, Sakatsuki and Jeanne strolled through the streets of Sighișoara, their hands clasped together, whether intentionally or not, they did not let go.
"Sakatsuki, some say your piano skills surpass those of their professors."
"Too kind; it’s merely the work of magic. But, it seems the Saint is surprised that I can play the piano?"
"Well, after all, the heroes, including myself, ascended to the Throne of Heroes through battle, right? If there were heroes recognized in the arts, there wouldn’t be someone with your skills."
"Is that so..." Sakatsuki recalled Mozart, thought of Salieri from the Lostbelt, "Well, that’s true, but the power of music is far stronger than you can imagine; it is an art that blades cannot destroy."
Jeanne’s words reminded Sakatsuki of "Dies irae," the anthem of humanity’s will represented by Salieri, rejecting the performance of the Lostbelt’s guardian Ivan the Terrible, a battle song signaling humanity’s counterattack against the Lostbelt.
However, this song required a four-hand performance... Thinking this, Sakatsuki glanced at Saint Jeanne and then withdrew his gaze.
This French village girl didn’t seem like someone who could learn the piano.
"I feel like you’re thinking something quite rude, Sakatsuki," Jeanne said softly, with an A-rank Revelation.
"Ha, how could that be?"
In the midst of their conversation, they suddenly heard the sound of a piano, a very gentle melody that, while not sad, carried a hint of hesitation, and though not joyful, it brought a sense of peace.
At this moment, in this situation, who besides Sakatsuki would play a dreamy melody before nightfall?
They exchanged glances and quickened their pace toward the source of the sound. It was a small house, the entrance covered in dust, indicating it had been uninhabited for quite some time.
Yet in the dim candlelight, a girl in a platinum uniform sat in the room, gently tapping the aging keys, while a silver-haired girl leaned beside her, listening quietly.
"What a gentle piece, Mama."
"This is called Dream Sonata, the seventh piece of childhood scenes."
The music Sakatsuki played spread throughout Sighișoara, the brief melody piquing little Jack’s interest. As Reika’s most cherished child, she naturally led her to another piano room to play for her.
It was a rather warm mother-daughter night talk—if one overlooked the Command Spell on the woman’s wrist.
"Black faction’s Master?"
Under the cover of the blank class card and the unknown characteristics of the Blue faction, Jeanne did not see through little Jack’s true name, but even so, she still inadvertently revealed Reika Rikudou’s identity.
What truly surprised her was that this Master had no Servants accompanying her!
Was it boldness born of skill, or...?
On the other side, Reika paused slightly at the interruption, while little Jack opened her eyes in dissatisfaction, glaring with a hint of malice at the uninvited guest. Upon seeing Sakatsuki, she first revealed a surprised smile but then glanced at Reika, snorted softly, and ignored him.
Little Jack didn’t understand what was happening, but since Mama Reika was unhappy, it must be Sakatsuki Mama’s fault, right?
Thinking this, little Jack stole a glance at the young man, then noticed the girl beside him.
That familiar appearance, that similar aura, and the affectionate demeanor toward Sakatsuki...
Little Jack fell into contemplation.
Little Jack’s eyes lit up.
Little Jack opened her mouth and cheered.
"Hooray, another Mama!"
"Mama?!" Jeanne pointed at herself in disbelief, "Me?"
"Uh-huh." Little Jack jumped off the piano stool, circled around Jeanne like a little kitten, and finally concluded seriously, "You’re definitely Mama!"
Blonde hair, serious demeanor (adorably naive), stunning beauty, and intimate behavior with Sakatsuki.
All the elements were there; she was definitely Mama!
"Eh?! But, um..."
Jeanne was caught off guard by little Jack. After all, she was only nineteen before facing the stake; not to mention marriage and children, she hadn’t even dated.
But now, this adorable little girl was calling her Mama?!
And in front of Sakatsuki...
Thinking this, Jeanne noticed the young man stepping forward, picking up the adorable little Jack and chuckling, "She’s not as easy to deal with as Artoria Mama; if you want to call her Mama, you’ll have to work a bit harder, okay?"
"You two know each other?" Jeanne stammered, while Sakatsuki ignored the Saint and instead snuggled with little Jack, grinning mischievously:
"Just like dealing with Artoria Mama, go for it, little Jack, use your charm attack on her!"
"Um, is that how it works?" Though it was a joke, little Jack took it seriously. She jumped down from Sakatsuki’s embrace and ran to Jeanne, looking up with her pure, sparkling eyes at the Saint.
"Mama."
"..." Jeanne fell silent.
"Mama?" Little Jack tugged at her clothes, looking pitiful.
Jeanne steeled her heart and averted her gaze.
"Mama..." Little Jack pouted, her ice-blue eyes shimmering with tears, looking like an abandoned child, evoking sympathy.
Not just her, but Reika’s half-smile and Sakatsuki’s indifferent gaze all fell upon Jeanne.
She was just too cute; how could you resist?
"I..." Jeanne opened her mouth, ultimately resigning with a sigh as she squatted down, "I’m here."
"Mama!" Little Jack’s eyes brightened, and she immediately hugged Jeanne, affectionately pressing her cheek against hers, giggling.
And Jeanne, who had become a single mother without any prior experience, returned a helpless smile.
Jeanne was exhausted.
————
While Jeanne was being ’forced into motherhood,’ Artoria, who bore a similar resemblance to her, was facing a crisis.
And it was a big! Crisis!
Gurgle...
For the umpteenth time, the empty stomach of the girl with the cowlick protested.
"Be quiet." Artoria frowned, trying to invoke her King’s Authority, but her stomach refused to listen, continuing to emit its mournful cries.
Having run off in anger earlier, she naturally hadn’t had dinner, and as a Servant, Artoria had no currency to purchase food.
"Well, um..." The vendor at the snack stall looked nervously at the strange person in a lion mask who had been lingering here for quite some time.
If it weren’t for knowing that his goods had little value, the vendor would have long since raised his voice to call for customers. Even so, being watched by this masked figure was unsettling enough.
"If you don’t mind, I can treat you to a bowl of..."
"No." Artoria pursed her lips, rejecting the vendor’s kindness, "Though being hungry is a great enemy, I cannot accept charity born of fear."
Moreover, if she were to indulge herself, it might very well leave this kind-hearted person impoverished...
Artoria regretted for the N+1 time why she hadn’t finished her meal before shaking off Sakatsuki.
Her words, however, piqued the interest of a group of passersby.
"Hmm, such a familiar phrase. Let me see... Wow, I didn’t expect there were still such weirdos in this era."
With her messy golden hair tied up, a girl in a crop top and hot pants held a bag of snacks, looking at the figure in the lion mask, unable to suppress her laughter as she poked Kairi Sisigou beside her.
"Hey, hey, look at that weird guy in the lion mask! Ahaha... it’s killing me!"
"Shh, be quiet; that’s rude." Noticing the masked figure, Kairi patted the girl, signaling her to apologize.
"Huh? What’s politeness? All I need is a sword and food!" The girl replied matter-of-factly, but for some reason, she suddenly poked her Master again, looking at the strange masked figure.
"I say, since you’re so kind, why not treat this weirdo to dinner!"
"...Huh?"
Not only was Kairi dumbfounded, but even Artoria tilted her head, not understanding what had gotten into this child.
Thus, by a stroke of luck, Artoria successfully made contact with her target, Mordred, before nightfall—
At the cost of Kairi’s wallet.