Does a Doll Deserve to Live a Happy Life? (Patreon)

Chapter 21: The Path Ahead Unveiled

“…My strength?” Saber asked after a moment of silence, her expression pensive before she narrowed her eyes at me in confusion. “For what purpose?”

Seeing everyone’s attention fixed on us, I decided to put the conversation on hold. There were still more pressing matters, like disposing of the Grail.

“I don’t mind explaining in detail, but… can we save that for a private talk? It’ll be a long conversation, and there are still two others who need to hear it as well.” I thought of Sakura and Aoi, who deserved to know my plans as much as anyone.

Then, turning to Rider and Waver, I gave them a small, apologetic smile. “No offense, you two.”

Waver waved me off immediately, while Rider shrugged his massive shoulders. “No offense taken, kid.”

“…Alright.” Saber’s voice pulled my attention back to her. She looked faintly ashamed for asking such a thing under the circumstances, but she nodded all the same. “I will hold you to your word, then. Now… let’s end this war.”

“Thank you.” I inclined my head before raising my Stamp, drawing curious looks from the room. “To manifest the Grail, I’ll need to use a bit of my personal magecraft. For that, I’ll have to apply this stamp to a part of your exposed skin.”

I turned first to Rider. “This will also allow me the opportunity to fully incarnate you later.”

Rider looked pleased at that. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and offered me his arm. “After everything that’s happened, I’ve no reason to doubt you. Do what you must.”

I pressed the Stamp to the back of his hand, holding it for three seconds before pulling away to reveal the mark. Then, turning to Saber, I found her watching me closely. She hesitated only briefly before dismissing her gauntlet, revealing a slender hand.

I stamped her as well, then returned to Tamamo’s side. She hadn’t taken her eyes off me the entire time.

“Now for the Grail.”

As the words left my mouth, the podium at the center of the chamber glowed with golden radiance. The Grail shimmered into existence, its light dimming to reveal its form, majestic, terrible, and far too familiar.

Just looking at it dragged up memories I wished I could forget. My jaw clenched. My fists curled tight.

“Well, what do you know? Just as you said! Manifested right on cue, hahahaha!” Rider’s booming laughter broke the silence.

“…The Grail.” Saber’s voice was quiet, tinged with longing, but a single glance at Berserker’s stern presence behind her was enough to silence that desire.

“Hmph, tacky thing! I’m glad I never wanted it.” Tamamo sniffed, flipping her nose up at the artifact. Then, noticing the shadow on my face, she slipped closer and entwined her fingers with mine, her touch warm and steady.

“Let’s end this,” I muttered, exhaling slowly. I shot her a grateful look, and she gave me one of her gentle smiles in return.

I strode forward. The closer I came, the heavier it felt. The Grail radiated malice, hatred, it almost made me recoil. But I pressed on, raised my Stamp, and slammed it down against the vessel.

The Grail flared, then vanished, pulled into my Pocket Space.

“All we have to do now is wait. In four days, it’ll be gone from this world forever.” I turned back to the others, my shoulders lighter than they’d been in days. “It’s done. The Grail will never again be used in this world.”

Silence reigned for a heartbeat, then Tamamo burst into a cheerful cheer.

“Woohoo~ The War is finally over! That means this fox can finally relax and go on a date~” she sang, her tails wagging like crazy.

Her joy cracked the tension, and soon everyone began to smile.

I walked over to Rider, who met me with a smirk and a firm handshake.

“Thanks again for your help, Rider. Because of you, we were able to resolve this mess while keeping the casualties to a minimum.” I thanked him sincerely not even wanting to think what could have happened to Tamamo without his assistance.

“Hah! I told you, kid, it’s all water under the bridge. Now smile! You’re far too young to wear such a grim face after a victory like this.” He laughed, clapping me so hard on the back that I stumbled forward.

As Tamamo chattered happily with Kiara and Irisviel, I found myself smiling despite everything.

‘We really did it, huh?’

Further off, Saber stood quietly, though her aura felt lighter than before. Berserker loomed behind her like a silent sentinel. Waver let out a deep sigh and collapsed onto one of the benches, exhaustion catching up with him at last.

“We won,” I whispered to myself, lifting my gaze toward the ceiling as if I could see the stars beyond.

‘Wait for me a little longer, Jeanne. This time, I promise I will really protect you. This time, I will become your strength.’

=====

Half an Hour Later

After parting ways with Rider and Waver, promising to meet again in four days, once the Stamp’s effects had finished incarnating Rider, I led Tamamo, Kiara, Irisviel, Berserker, and Saber back into my Demiplane.

“T-This is incredible,” Saber muttered under her breath, awe written across her face as she stepped into the portal room.

“Mufu~ my Sieg-kun is that amazing,” Tamamo declared proudly, puffing out her chest with smug satisfaction. “It’s only natural you’d recognize his greatness.”

“Fufufu,” Irisviel chuckled daintily, eyes sparkling. “You’d best get used to it, Saber. With Sieg, surprises never stop.”

Before Saber could reply, the door slammed open and a small purple blur shot into the room.

“Sieg-san!” Sakura cried, launching herself into my arms. She clung to me fiercely before pulling back, her wide eyes immediately locking onto my torn sleeve and the dried blood that stained it.

“Y-You got hurt! Are you okay!?” she asked in panic, fussing over me with all the flustered concern of a little sister.

Tamamo, who had already thrown her own fit earlier (nearly attacking Saber when she found out what had happened), stepped forward sharply and tugged Sakura away.

“Off, brat! Can’t you see you’re smothering him?” Tamamo scolded, glaring down at Sakura with all the authority of a fox-wife defending her territory.

Sakura stuck her tongue out at her, defiance shining in her eyes, before she turned back toward me with startling seriousness. “Who did it? Who hurt you, Sieg-san?” she demanded, her voice surprisingly sharp, and a surprising amount of malice seeping through.

Saber visibly winced at that, guilt flickering across her expression.

Before the moment could twist into something dangerous, I chuckled softly and placed a hand on Sakura’s head, gently ruffling her hair. Her glare melted instantly.

“It’s alright, Sakura. It doesn’t matter who did it. The war is over now,” I said warmly, offering her the reassurance she needed.

She didn’t look entirely appeased, but thankfully Aoi stepped in, laying a calming hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Sakura, Sieg-san must be tired. Didn’t you want to surprise him with something?”

Sakura blinked, then gasped, her earlier anger evaporating. “O-Oh! That’s right!” She spun back toward me, suddenly nervous. “Sieg-san… you must be hungry, right? I-I made rice balls, with Mother’s help. Will you try them, please?”

At the mention of food, I didn’t miss Saber’s ahoge twitching wildly, her eyes snapping toward Sakura like a predator scenting prey.

Smiling at the scene, I gave Sakura’s head another affectionate pat. “Of course. I’m famished.”

Her face lit up with a dazzling smile.

Turning then toward Saber (while ignoring Tamamo’s jealous pout, her tails practically drooped in protest at Sakura’s attention), I asked, “Saber, would you care to join us for a late dinner?”

The knight straightened her posture immediately, doing her best to maintain dignity despite her eyes already sparkling at the thought. “Ahem. I suppose… I wouldn’t mind.”

“Good,” I said, suppressing another smile. “Since it’s late, do you mind if we postpone our discussion until tomorrow morning?”

“That’s fine,” Saber agreed quickly. Too quickly. She wasn’t even looking at me anymore, her nose had twitched again, nostrils flaring as the scent of food reached the room.

A bead of sweat rolled down my neck.

‘…I should have just tried persuading her with food from the beginning.’

=====

Dinner at the Demiplane

The dining table filled quickly, dishes spread across its length in a small feast. Sakura proudly set her rice balls at the center, glancing up at me with hopeful eyes.

“Please, Sieg-san! Try mine first!” she pleaded, nudging the plate closer.

Before I could reach for one, Tamamo’s tail flicked across the table, lightly shoving the plate aside. She leaned in with a foxy grin. “Don’t forget, my darling, you promised to try my cooking next. Rice balls are fine and all, but nothing can compare to a devoted wife’s touch.”

Sakura bristled immediately, her cheeks puffing in indignation. “W-wife!? Sieg-san never said anything about that!”

“Fufufu~ not yet,” Tamamo said sweetly, ears twitching in triumph as she claimed my arm, “but it’s only a matter of time. Right, Sieg-kun?”

Caught between their twin stares, I coughed lightly into my hand. “Uh… both of your cooking looks great.”

On my other side, Kiara leaned in with a teasing smile. “Ara, but you haven’t even asked me to cook for you yet, Sieg-kun. Should I feel left out?”

“You could just make dessert,” Sakura muttered, her tone sharp enough to cut porcelain.

Tamamo’s tails swished as she smirked. “Oh no, little one, Kiara’s far too dangerous for that. You’d end up with something sinful instead of sweet.”

Across the table, Irisviel covered her mouth with a dainty hand, shoulders shaking with laughter as she watched the entire exchange unfold like a stage play.

Meanwhile, Saber sat primly on the other side, her armor replaced with a white blouse and long blue skirt. She ate without pause, delicate motions, elegant posture, not a crumb out of place. Yet despite the refinement, the sheer volume of food vanishing from her plate was staggering.

Sakura, Kiara, and Tamamo were all too busy competing for my attention to notice that half the meal was already disappearing into Saber’s bottomless stomach. Only Irisviel caught it, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she leaned close to whisper to me.

“She’s rather graceful about it, isn’t she? But if you want any leftovers, you’d better act fast.”

At the far end of the table, Berserker ate quietly, movements calm and measured, while Aoi mirrored him, two silent observers content to let the storm swirl around them.

By the time I reached for Sakura’s rice ball at last, I realized Saber had already taken the last one, lifting it with dignified composure before eating it in a single, elegant bite.

“M-my rice ball!” Sakura squeaked in betrayal.

Saber dabbed politely at her lips with a napkin, utterly unruffled. “Mm. Delicious.”

Tamamo burst out laughing, tails swishing in delight as Sakura nearly fumed out of her chair, and I couldn’t help but smile helplessly at the chaos surrounding me.

Even if it was more chaotic than normal, I couldn’t help feeling happy about experiencing such a thing.

=====

Following Morning

‘Yep, I should really remember this in the future,’ I thought blankly as I watched Saber, who looked far calmer than yesterday.

And the cause was none other than the mountain of food I’d prepared. A spread big enough to feed a dozen people, wiped clean without a scrap left behind.

“That was excellent, Sieg-san, the best I’ve ever had in my entire life,” Saber praised, hands on her hips, radiating regal charisma even as she complimented my cooking. “If you ever give up fighting, you could open a restaurant and be successful beyond measure. I’ll even be your first customer.”

My deadpan grew. Somehow, I had the sense she’d prefer I give up fighting entirely and just stay in a kitchen.

Now, minutes after breakfast, we gathered on the patio around a round table. The air was calmer, lighter,everyone too busy earlier stuffing themselves to cause trouble.

Irisviel giggled quietly to herself, a knowing glint in her eyes. The rest? Still sneaking glances at Saber’s stomach, as though wondering how all that food could possibly fit.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Saber,” I replied with a nervous smile, then coughed into my hand, turning serious. “Before we start… were you able to watch the video Irisviel gave you yesterday?”

Irisviel had shown her the same recordings she herself had seen, images of what the Grail’s corruption would lead to. I wanted no doubts lingering.

Saber’s expression sobered, a weight settling in her gaze. “Yes. As incredible as it was to believe, I now know with certainty that trusting you was the right decision.” Then, to my surprise, she bowed her head.

“M-My King!?” Berserker blurted, eyes wide.

“It’s alright, Lancelot,” Saber said gently. “My reign has long ended. Now, I am simply a knight, and as a knight, I must give thanks. Sieg prevented me from committing a mistake that would have cost hundreds of lives in Fuyuki.”

Her eyes returned to me. “So you have my thanks, Sieg. If not for you, I would have more blood on my hands… even more than I already do.”

I accepted her thanks with a graceful nod. That particular wound of hers could be reopened later, when trust was stronger between us.

“You don’t need to thank me. Everything I’ve done is for personal reasons.” A self-deprecating smile tugged at my lips as I closed my eyes. “Even my reason for recruiting you is selfish.”

As if to shield me from that bitter thought, I felt two hands slip into mine, Sakura’s and Tamamo’s, warm and steady. I couldn’t look at either of them, especially not Tamamo, because of what I was about to reveal.

“…What is your goal, then?” Saber pressed, her eyes steady.

I sighed, lifting my gaze. “There’s someone I’m looking for. Someone very dear to me, whom I met in the past.”

Tamamo tensed at my side. A pang of shame struck me… but then, to my shock, she squeezed my hand again. When I dared to look, she was smiling at me, gently, lovingly. No anger. Only understanding.

My chest tightened. ‘I truly don’t deserve you, Tamamo.’

I squeezed her hand back, drawing strength from her, and continued.

“The problem is that the world where I can find her is extremely dangerous. So dangerous that all of humanity, save a precious few, has been wiped out.”

Gasps rippled around the table.

“A… different world?” Saber asked, straightening.

“Yes. A world like ours, but in another timeline, where history shifted, and disaster followed. One of the 72 Demon Gods of Goetia somehow took human form and caused the catastrophe. The survivors are fighting to restore humanity, and I want to help them.”

Silence settled heavy. Even Irisviel’s smile dimmed.

“And this person?” she finally asked softly.

“She’s one of the Servants fighting for humanity,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. “So by helping them…”

“You find her,” Saber finished, understanding.

I nodded.

The silence returned, heavier than before, until Tamamo suddenly sighed, the sound fond and exasperated all at once.

“Haah. I truly have a foolish Master, don’t I?” she murmured, lifting a delicate hand to turn my face toward her.

Her eyes shone, so warm, so tender, I could hardly breathe.

“Did you forget, Sieg-kun? As Servant and Master, our bond runs deep. You can’t lie to me. Just as you dream of me, I have seen your dreams as well, and they were beautiful.”

Her hand cupped my cheek. I couldn’t look away.

“You try to act detached and aloof most of the time, but inside you are always worrying about everyone. You call yourself selfish, but every action you take proves otherwise. You protect, even when you claim not to care. So why not admit it? You want to help humanity and you are using the excuse of seeing that ‘Saint’ as you being selfish.”

“B-but it’s the truth,” I stammered weakly. “My first priority is meeting her.”

Tamamo only smiled and shook her head. “So you admit you also want to help?” she teased softly.

I flinched, looking away.

“And what’s wrong with being selfish?” she continued, her voice gentle as silk. “Everyone has the right to chase their happiness. Even you, Sieg-kun.”

I opened my mouth, closed it again. Tried again, failed again. My silence only made her giggle. She reached out and closed my mouth with her finger.

Blushing furiously, I muttered, “You are really too much for my heart, Tamamo.”

Her laughter, light and girlish, was my only answer.