Chapter 145: Half-Human Half-Fox

The hard ground—had she fallen asleep? No, that wasn't right. Wasn't she just on the shopping street? She should have been carrying groceries to her senpai's house. Why was she in this unfamiliar place…? It was **Koyanskaya**.

Her consciousness gradually cleared. **Matou Sakura** opened her eyes and saw bare rock walls.

Looking at the unfamiliar cave, she remembered. She had been knocked out!

A sense of panic spread through her heart.

Why?

"Sakura-chan, are you awake?"

A familiar voice reached her ears. Sakura noticed the source of the voice—**Koyanskaya** was sitting on a folding stool. But her outfit wasn't the sailor uniform from earlier. Instead, she was wearing a sleek black bodysuit.

Wasn't Koyanskaya's outfit a bit too revealing?

Sakura couldn't help but notice the pale skin exposed at Koyanskaya's chest and thighs. Even as a girl, she found herself drawn to that flawless complexion.

Wait, now wasn't the time to think about that. She had been kidnapped… huh?

Sakura sat up and looked at her hands in confusion. She wasn't tied up at all.

Shouldn't hostages be bound with ropes?

"It's fine, Sakura-chan. You can't escape. The bounded field here will stop you from leaving. Besides, you can't outrun me."

A bounded field—a term both familiar and unfamiliar. Sakura realized she had been dragged into a conflict between magi.

"Why, Koyanskaya-nee?"

Sakura understood that her life wasn't in danger. Kidnapping her must have been part of some plan. But the fact that Koyanskaya was the one who had kidnapped her was hard to accept. The time she had spent with Koyanskaya had been so enjoyable.

"Why? I'm sorry, Sakura-chan. It's my Master's orders."

**Master**.

Sakura understood everything. As someone born into a magus family, how could she not know what that meant?

The **Holy Grail War**.

Seven magi summoning seven heroic spirits from history to fight to the death in Fuyuki City!

Even after transferring **Rider** to her brother, she still couldn't escape this vortex?

"Don't worry, Sakura-chan. Master won't harm you. He has his own plans. Hmm… how should I put it? He's actually a kind-hearted person," Koyanskaya said.

Although her Master had ordered her to kidnap Sakura, he had specifically instructed her to ensure not a single hair on Sakura's head was harmed. He needed her as part of his plan to deal with Rider.

It seemed her charm wasn't enough to sway him.

Did he prefer someone like Rider?

"I understand. I believe you."

"Sakura-chan, you trust me so easily? I'm really touched. Unlike my Master, who forgets his old love once he finds a new one."

I just trust the time I spent with Koyanskaya-nee…

Sakura didn't voice her thoughts.

She noticed footsteps approaching from the entrance of the cave.

"Miss Koyanskaya, you make me sound like some heartless scoundrel."

A young man's voice rang out, and soon Sakura saw a man with rather average looks enter the cave… Wait, why did she find him oddly attractive despite his plain features?

Sakura recalled the knowledge she had picked up over the years. Was this some kind of charm magecraft?

"Hmm? You noticed my condition right away? It seems I still can't fully conceal it."

"Master, you've only been through the ritual a few days ago. It's already impressive that you've mastered it to this extent," **Medea** said, appearing beside Li Mo.

A few days ago, after Li Mo made his decision, the ritual had been performed. Using **Yae Miko's 「White Fox Bloodline」**, Medea successfully transformed Li Mo, taking the first step in his journey to transcend humanity.

Now, Li Mo could be considered half a fox.

And when it came to foxes, the most striking image was that of a femme fatale who could bring nations to ruin. Even though foxes were once seen as auspicious creatures, in modern times, they were often associated with calamity.

**Su Daji** and **Tamamo-no-Mae** were perfect examples. Why did kings become tyrants after encountering such women? People believed it was due to their charm.

Foxes possessed the power of charm.

When performing the ritual, Medea had also considered this aspect. As a result, Li Mo now had a charm ability similar to **Diarmuid Ua Duibhne's**. However, unlike that heroic spirit, Li Mo, as a magus, could control his ability.

He just wasn't very proficient yet. Occasionally, traces of his charm would leak out.

Sakura didn't know about Li Mo's current state. After breaking free from his strange allure, her attention was drawn to the person he was carrying.

Her brother, **Matou Shinji**, was unconscious—or rather, in a deep sleep.

What should I feel right now?

Her brother's defeat was something Sakura had expected. No, to be precise, it was something her grandfather had anticipated. Her grandfather never spoke highly of Shinji. In his eyes, Shinji was nothing but a useless person.

But…

The Holy Grail War had only just begun…

"Miss Medea, please keep Shinji asleep for a while longer. Also, keep an eye on the outside. I think Rider will be arriving soon."

"Understood, Master," Medea said.

"Master, welcome back," Koyanskaya raised her hand, making a playful grabbing motion as she greeted Li Mo.

"Even if you welcome me so warmly, Miss Koyanskaya, I won't forget what you said about me earlier," Li Mo replied.

He noticed Sakura sitting there, unbound. Under the watch of a Servant, it was nearly impossible for an ordinary person to escape. Of course, if Sakura were to undergo her "darkening," she could unleash tremendous power.

But… she hadn't undergone that transformation yet, had she?

"Hello, Miss Matou Sakura. I am the Master of Assassin and Caster. My name is Li Mo. The main reason I've brought you here isn't because of you, but because of Rider. So please don't worry. Once everything is settled, we'll let you go."

Sakura asked, "Why? Rider's Master is my brother, not me."

"But you were the one who summoned Rider. The Greater Grail initially chose you as the Master, not Matou Shinji. I'm sorry, but I know more than you think. I'm aware that you transferred command of Rider to Shinji using a **「False Command Seal」**. Hmm…"

Li Mo pinched his chin, lost in thought.

Had they been monitoring her from the beginning? Did her grandfather not notice anything? This magus…

She had summoned Rider nearly a month ago. After the summoning, she had no desire to continue as a Master, so she had transferred Rider to her brother.

"Confused, Sakura-chan? It's actually quite simple. Servants have their own thoughts. When they encounter a Master they dislike, they can choose whether or not to obey based on their personality. Even if they do obey, they can still slack off. It's like how you have to sit in class, but whether you listen or not is up to you," Koyanskaya explained.

Koyanskaya's explanation was spot-on. Rider would obey Shinji's commands, but that didn't mean Rider would go all out. Differences in attitude could lead to differences in performance.

However, before Sakura could think further, she heard the magus ask a strange question.

"Miss Matou Sakura, would you like to become **Emiya Shirou's** wife?"

"Huh?!!!"

Sakura was thrown into a state of panic.