Moonlight flooded the entire Matou Family courtyard. After removing the Matou Family's walls, Akatsuki re-examined the residence. As one of the Three Founding Families of the Fuyuki City Holy Grail War, the Matou Family occupied quite a large area. Although the architectural style did not suit Akatsuki's aesthetic taste, it was not a major issue.
Hearing a very faint sound from inside the Matou residence, Akatsuki smiled. It seemed her actions had been a bit too disruptive, waking up the Little Loli.
Thinking of Matou Sakura, a trace of anticipation arose in Akatsuki's heart. Whether the girl was the same as she imagined, capable of allowing Akatsuki to practice her long-held interest.
Suddenly, a burning sensation on the back of her hand made her pause. All seven Servants had already been summoned, yet the greater grail beneath Fuyuki City had still granted her command spells.
Three bright crimson command spells appeared over the ones that should have originally contracted with Saber. The patterns of crosses and angel wings surprised Akatsuki somewhat.
"Heh, did the greater grail beneath Fuyuki City notice the trace of aura I just leaked? You want me to help you be born... then don't blame me for smashing the womb that's birthing you."
A smile played on her lips, and Akatsuki strode boldly through the main gate of the Matou residence. Just as she reached Matou Sakura's door, the door 'clattered' open by itself.
Standing before Akatsuki was a petite girl wearing a purple frock, short white lace socks, and black round-toed leather shoes.
Purple hair that reached her ears, fair skin, a well-formed face, deep purple eyes, and thin lips.
Who else could this be but Matou Sakura?
She was still very young now, looking malnourished from not having enough to eat or wear in the Matou residence, but even so, she was already an undeniable future beauty.
Matou Sakura slightly tilted her delicate face. Her eyes, devoid of any emotion, possessed pupils that looked utterly vacant as she quietly watched Akatsuki.
Even with a blank expression and empty gaze, she gave Akatsuki a pitiful feeling at this moment, like a young beast afraid of being hurt. Yet, those eyes resembled those of a Doll that could not perceive any emotion.
So... so cute!
In that instant, Akatsuki understood: she had absolutely no resistance to this kind of quiet loli. The desire to completely make the girl her own possession rushed straight to the top of her head.
Akatsuki took a deep breath, restraining the impulse to pull her into an embrace.
"Sis—Sister, are you Grandpa's guest?"
Seeing Akatsuki remain silent for a long time, Matou Sakura gathered her courage and asked timidly. If Akatsuki was Matou Zouken's guest, Matou Sakura had to immediately entertain her properly, otherwise she would be thrown into the Insectarium again.
"Sakura, do you want to go back to the Tohsaka Family?"
Ignoring Matou Sakura's question, Akatsuki asked her own. Without a doubt, Matou Sakura was the person she had been searching for. Although the Matou Sakura ten years later was still perfect, Akatsuki was not satisfied.
How should she put it? If she were simply handed the ten-years-later Matou Sakura, having already seen the young Matou Sakura, Akatsuki would probably share the same sentiment Kirei Kotomine expressed after the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War.
Simply throwing a result at her would not satisfy her. Akatsuki wanted to interfere and gradually mold Matou Sakura into someone who completely belonged to her.
Matou Sakura showed no dissatisfaction at having her question ignored; on the contrary, she was already used to it. In the Matou residence, the only time she wasn't treated like air was when she was thrown into the Insectarium.
Matou Sakura tilted her head slightly, seemingly pondering Akatsuki's question. However, after a short while, she shook her head, indicating she did not want to return to the Tohsaka Family.
She no longer had anywhere she could truly call 'home.' Crying was useless, and her family members were all gone. Facing this harsh reality, children adapt much faster than adults and are more likely to seal off their inner selves.
Matou Sakura had already grown accustomed to passively accepting things and accepting her current plight.
As long as she obeyed Grandpa, as long as she listened to Grandpa's words—this was the destiny foretold for her after being abandoned by the Tohsaka Family. Grandpa had told her so, and reality seemed to confirm it.
"Is that so..."
Akatsuki gently lifted Matou Sakura's chin, her eyes carrying a strange emotion. "Sakura, you don't need to listen to that Old Maggot anymore. You just need to become mine, obeying me wholeheartedly."
Matou Sakura looked at Akatsuki with some surprise.
"I just arrived in this world earlier, just obtained this body, and I'm unfamiliar with Magecraft and such. But it's different now." Akatsuki's voice was filled with incoherent confidence, as if she were the master of this world at this moment. "Become mine, and I will make everything terrifying stay away from you."
Matou Sakura looked at Akatsuki with vacant eyes. "But Grandpa won't allow it."
"Ah, Matou Zouken... he's already dead." Akatsuki said it as if discussing a trivial matter. "Sakura, tell me, are you willing to become something exclusively mine."
Matou Sakura stared blankly at Akatsuki, showing no change in reaction to what Akatsuki had said. Although biological instinct told her that the older sister before her was very dangerous, her experiences after being sent to the Matou Family had completely shattered the values instilled in her by the Tohsaka Family.
Matou Zouken had infused her with many abnormal ideas, and in desperation, Matou Sakura was forced to accept them all. As a human being, she was already broken.
But unfortunately for the world, Akatsuki was exactly that kind of person. She liked breaking things, but she liked even more slowly repairing broken things according to her own preferences.
Seeing Matou Sakura shake her head in refusal and even take a step back to distance herself from Akatsuki, she had woken up because she sensed the vibration of the mansion. She probably couldn't comprehend what Akatsuki was saying yet.
The shadow left by Matou Zouken could not be dispelled in just a few words, but Akatsuki was not in a hurry; after all, she had nothing more abundant than time right now.
Maintaining a benevolent smile, Akatsuki's tone became exceptionally domineering as she reached out her hand to stroke Matou Sakura's head.
"Sakura, you have no other choice. Akatsuki needs Matou Sakura, it's that simple. Even if you want to choose another path, I will mercifully remove those other options for you. Whether it's the older sister, father, or mother you admire, none of them can help you. Come, come to my side, and from then on, you will suffer no more pain."
As she spoke, Akatsuki tossed Matou Zouken's shriveled corpse out with her other hand. The lifeless body shattered into pieces the moment it touched the ground.
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