Clink—
The porcelain spoon in Sanjiro's hand suddenly slipped and shattered on the floor with a crisp sound.
He forced a graceful smile reminiscent of the Tohsaka family's ancestral etiquette.
Trying to remain calm, he looked down at the little girl and said, "Uh, I don't think I heard that clearly just now. Could you repeat that 'surprise' you mentioned?"
He must have heard wrong!
He was just an ordinary person—how could he possibly be chosen as the student representative to receive Heroic Spirits?
"The surprise is... three days from now, you will be the regular student representative to welcome the Heroic Spirits!"
Illya beamed, her smile growing even brighter.
Just as she had expected.
Even the boy who always remained composed in front of her—calm and unshaken even if Mt. Tai collapsed before him—would break his calm facade at such a monumental surprise.
See? He was so shocked that he dropped the spoon!
Illya breathed a sigh of relief.
From the first time they met, she'd felt a strange sense of familiarity from him—a fated feeling of reunion across lifetimes.
That's why she'd shamelessly invited herself over for meals.
Time and again, she was fed until she was full.
She had always wanted to repay him somehow.
Now, at last, she could return the favor.
After all, once you take someone's food, you owe them. Now that she had repaid him, she could continue freeloading meals guilt-free.
She might even move in and live with him someday!
Illya's mind raced with giddy thoughts—being gently woken by him every morning, eating his delicious breakfasts, and heading to school together.
She couldn't help feeling a bit envious… and just a little jealous of her best friend.
This kind of life was simply too good. She wanted to insert herself right between the two of them.
Excited to show off, Illya proudly said, "Today I even met the director, Tamamo-no-Mae, and recommended you to her in person!"
"Three days later… student representative… welcoming Heroic Spirits…"
Sanjiro suddenly felt as if he were dreaming.
Looking at the adorable angelic face before him, he found himself on the verge of tears.
What have I done to deserve your recommendation?!
An angel?
No, she was clearly a little devil dressed in angelic clothing!
He had been living his peaceful high school life, carefully avoiding Heroic Spirits.
He had already walked through six thousand years of human history, protecting countless Heroic Spirits. His mission as a savior was over.
Why disturb his peaceful daily life again?
Was this your plan too, Alaya?
Sanjiro felt an unmistakable sense of malice—this was clearly…
The whole world is out to get me!
Just then, Kirina ran in barefoot, puzzled as she looked at the broken spoon. "What happened?"
"Sanjiro-nii was just too surprised because he was chosen to be the student representative to welcome King Artoria, Mordred, and the King of Heroes!"
Illya proudly repeated it.
A surprise this massive was worth repeating as many times as needed.
"Waaaah! Why isn't it me?!"
Kirina screamed like a prairie dog, clinging to Sanjiro's arm. "You have to take me with you! This has been my dream forever!"
King Artoria and the King of Heroes were her absolute favorite Heroic Spirits.
She even had posters of the two of them plastered all over her room. Every time she bought a lottery ticket, she'd pray to the King of Heroes for financial luck.
"Want to trade?" Sanjiro gave a strained smile, nearly bursting into tears.
He truly didn't care about this kind of opportunity.
Let alone hosting Heroic Spirits—he'd messed with them countless times.
He especially loved watching them get all pissed while being unable to do anything to him.
But this time was different.
Now, they could beat him up!
If Artoria and Mordred had another of their classic father-daughter bonding sessions, and he tried to step in between… it'd be a straight-up suicide mission!
Because this time, he didn't have an extra life.
If he got killed—he'd really die!
"Ughhh, but I wasn't chosen!" Kirina sulked and looked like she wanted to bite him out of pure envy.
Sanjiro casually lifted her by the scruff and set her aside. Then he turned to Illya and said, "Thanks a lot, really."
"You're welcome~ As long as you're happy!" Illya replied sweetly.
Now that she'd delivered such a big surprise, she had the perfect excuse to come over for meals every day.
Absolutely delighted!
While she went into the living room and sat on the sofa waiting for dinner, Sanjiro cleaned up the broken pieces and tossed them into the trash, while thinking about how to handle the situation.
With his current strength, he wasn't strong enough to take on three Heroic Spirits at once.
So… it was time for diplomacy.
After the previous video, The Oldest King, the golden bastard should have recalled his past memories and now regarded Sanjiro as his most important friend.
All he had to do was reach out to the golden bastard in advance and hug that OP thigh tight.
With his help, he should be able to survive this ordeal.
Perfect!
Just then, his phone rang.
He answered it and asked curiously, "Rin, what can I do for you?"
"To fulfill the surprise I promised you earlier."
After a short pause, Rin replied in her usual aloof tone, "I recommended you as the student representative to welcome the Heroic Spirits. It's official now."
"…Thanks a lot," Sanjiro muttered, massaging his temples.
Great. Were all those 'three surprise gifts' you guys mentioned earlier just this one thing in different wrappings?
He had helped them out of goodwill—and this was their way of repaying him?
"Hmph. You're welcome. We're even now."
Rin snorted.
Lately, he'd been appearing more and more in her dreams, and she kept secretly watching him without realizing it.
She had to use this recommendation as a way to repay her debt and restore her image as the cold, aloof lady she once was!
"…"
Sanjiro stared at his phone, now displaying the "call ended" screen, completely speechless.
Rin… This is not repaying a favor. This is straight-up betrayal. How can you call this 'even'?
Just as he hung up, another call came in.
The caller bluntly said, "Sanjiro, call me Daddy!"
"Screw off! What do you want?" he snapped.
It was his good friend Julian, the magical genius of the Ainsworth family.
"Heh, can't believe you didn't figure it out, mortal."
Julian pushed up his glasses with his middle finger, smiling smugly. "Didn't I say I had a surprise for you earlier? It's time to deliver it!"
"Wait… don't tell me you also recommended me as the student rep to welcome the Heroic Spirits?"
Sanjiro rubbed his temple, his head starting to ache.
"Oho~ you guessed it? Then hurry up and thank me already!"
Julian crossed his legs, anticipating the look of pure shock and gratitude on Sanjiro's face.
This was a surprise he had meticulously prepared—he fully expected Sanjiro to be moved to tears, to swear eternal loyalty, and even fall to his knees and call him Daddy.
"I freaking THANK you!!" click—Sanjiro hung up instantly.
This was ridiculous!
Looks like his only option now was to desperately cling to the golden bastard's OP thigh.
Without Gil's help, he'd be royally screwed by this bunch of backstabbers!
Turns out… only a "true friend" could be relied on!
After he made it through this mess, he'd properly thank Gilgamesh.
Ding-dong~
A notification popped up on his phone—
[Your specially followed uploader has updated! Come check it out!]
Alaya had uploaded yet another video?!
What was it this time?
Sanjiro immediately opened it, and his face turned ashen the moment he saw the title:
[Unlimited Blade Works]