What if you are reborn as a demon after a funeral?.

"Master's...work?"

"what happened?"

“I want to build a closer relationship with you,” Melusin said bluntly, as always.

Ash was momentarily at a loss for words at these blunt words. Feeling uncomfortable, he stopped and scratched his cheek, turning to look at the girl behind him with a slightly troubled expression: "...So, tell me first, what exactly are you bothered by? Although I think it's unlikely...you seem to be bothered by being summoned by me today?"

"That's absolutely not it... It's just... there's something I'm concerned about." Melusin hurriedly waved her hand, a hesitant look on her face.

"I haven't done anything wrong, have I?"

"Of course not, the problem lies with me." Melusin lowered her head slightly, her voice becoming somewhat low.

Under Ash's calm and concerned gaze, she finally seemed to give in, her face filled with trouble. She lowered her head, staring at her toes, and whispered bitterly, "You probably know... my world is destroyed."

"It seems so."

"So now that I've calmed down, I'm thinking... Is it really okay for me to be the only one who has achieved my dream and found happiness? Won't I be punished immediately?"

Seeing the worried look on the girl's face, Ash couldn't help but feel a pang of pity. He gently patted her shoulder, trying to offer her some comfort.

"This isn't your fault." Ash's voice was gentle yet firm, flowing like a warm current in the quiet night.

"The destruction of your world... in a way can be called the arrangement of fate, and your coming to my side is another gift of fate."

"But......"

“There’s no ‘but’ about it. You’ve already said you’re very happy right now, so isn’t that enough?” Ash interrupted her, and then reached out and gently put his hands under her armpits, lifting the petite girl high in the air.

The moonlight, like water, shone down on the two of them.

Ash gazed at the fairy-like, beautiful girl in his arms and smiled gently:

"As long as you are happy now, that's enough... There may be unknown storms in the future, but don't be afraid. If you don't leave me, I will always stand by your side. Even if I am not the strongest, I will do everything I can to create a peaceful world for you."

Melusin was startled by Ash's sudden action and instinctively grabbed his arm tightly.

After hearing his words clearly, tears welled up in her eyes... she looked so moved.

She stopped crying and smiled, wrapped her arms around Ash's neck, pressed her body close to his, gently rested her head on his shoulder, pressed her face against his, and whispered in his ear:

"Of course I won't leave you, and now I... completely trust you."

The girl's voice, though slightly choked, was no longer tinged with gloom.

Just like last night... no, even more so than last night, it's filled with anticipation for the future.

"Believe me, I have never broken a promise to anyone."

"How about we add another agreement now, is that alright?"

"Of course, as long as it's not too weird."

"—Marry me!" The girl, who was clinging to him, brought her face close to his, her golden eyes radiating an intensely passionate gaze, as if this was her lifelong wish.

Ash's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal, and without hesitation said, "Please excuse me for refusing."

"Why?!" Melusin's forehead collided directly with his, her delicate face filled with dissatisfaction, as if she had been betrayed.

But he was also filled with helplessness: "...Why don't you consider how long we've known each other?"

“That kind of thing doesn’t matter at all! There’s nothing to consider!” Melusin shook her head stubbornly, her hands gripping Ash’s collar tightly, refusing to give up.

"How could it not be important..."

"I decided from the moment I was born that I would absolutely marry you!"

"...Then you should also consider my situation."

"Don't be shy! Just agree boldly, because I'm the strongest, and you definitely won't go wrong if you listen to me!"

"I'm not shy!"

.....

Ash held Melusin in his arms and stood there for a long time... or rather, the two argued for a while before he finally got Melusin to temporarily give up on the idea of ​​getting him to agree to marriage now.

Of course, this also made the girl who had been put down somewhat depressed again.

..............................

..............................

In Fuyuki City, a prefecture-level city surrounded by mountains and the sea, the night sky is clear and cloudless, like a vast expanse of black silk, with countless stars twinkling and leaping across it.

On the ground, Ash and Melosin were walking one after the other along the winding path, heading back towards the shrine.

The moonlight, like water, poured down, casting a silvery veil over their path.

Under the gentle caress of the moonlight, the surrounding mountains and forests were as still as a sleeping giant, with the occasional chirping of insects only highlighting the tranquility and remoteness of this world.

They walked quietly, passing through one vermilion torii gate after another.

But when they reached the top of the steps at the entrance to the shrine, in front of the shrine gate, a figure suddenly appeared and blocked their way.

He was a handsome man with a long, dark blue ponytail that reached his collarbone, his back to the moonlight.

He wore a dark purple sleeveless vest over a purple kimono, with purple wrist guards on his wrists, straw sandals on his feet, a twig in his mouth, and a five-foot-long sword in his hand.

This sword is unusually long for a Japanese sword; it should be a Ōdachi (large katana).

Although he couldn't detect any magical fluctuations from him, Ash's intuition told him that the person in front of him was undoubtedly a Heroic Spirit.

"Who goes there!" Melusin put aside her sullen mood, quickly shielded Ash behind her, and shouted sternly without any politeness.

"Servant, assassin, Sasaki Kojiro." The man—Sasaki Kojiro—spoke out his name without hesitation.

This move really surprised Ash. He never expected that after ten years, he would encounter such a straightforward Servant again.

Because in the rules of the Holy Grail War, Servants usually have to hide their true identities, and none are as frank and direct as him.

However, what Ash didn't expect was... still to come.

"Assassin, I have no class, but I am Fairy Knight Lancelot." Melsin heard others reveal their families and so she followed suit, revealing her own name as a knight.

“I’ve heard of Lancelot, but Fairy Knight Lancelot is a first for me.” Kojiro raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes as he looked at Melsin with interest.

"I've never heard of Sasaki Kojiro either, but I'll finish this fight with one blow."

"One strike? But... you're really bold." Kojiro had wanted to stop her, but it was too late when she said the name. Now he was quite surprised and looked at Ash, who was covering his face with great interest: "...Your Master seems to have a headache."

“It’s alright, Master,” Meloshen said, turning around to reassure him. “Because I am the strongest, it doesn’t matter if my name is known.”

"That's not the issue!...This is a matter of tradition, a matter of custom."

"More than that, let's get married after this battle is over."

"No." He refused, his face darkening, and lectured, "Besides, could you please not set such a weird flag at this time?"

"Huh? What does that mean?"

Her eyes were full of doubt, and her innocent appearance made Ash both annoyed and amused: "...People who say things like that usually don't live long."

"Is that so? But please don't forget, I'm different. I'm the strongest, so that's not a problem."

Despite Ash's attempts to lecture her, Melusin directly refuted his advice with her "strongest" theory.

Kojiro, listening to their conversation, couldn't help but chuckle: "I never expected that the two Servants I know would develop such deep feelings for their Masters in such a short time... Are most female Heroic Spirits like this?"

"I'll take care of this in an instant, Master. Please keep a close eye on me." Melsin completely ignored Kojiro's teasing and earnestly instructed Ash.

Then, as she raised her hand, a uniquely shaped arm guard appeared on the back of her hand.

Then, with another flick of her wrist, a gleaming longsword shot out from her arm armor as if launched from a rocket.

"So you really want to settle this with one strike? Not bad. I'll also bring out my trump card sword technique, and then... let's see some Western sword and staff techniques." Kojiro nodded calmly, his composed smile still on his face.

He didn't even adopt any fighting stance, as if this battle was nothing more than an easy game for him, however...

"Skill?"

"What, you don't seem like the type who's not good at any skills."

"No, although I understand, I have no interest in that kind of thing, nor do I intend to use it, because—naturally powerful beings have no need for skills?"

As she spoke, Melusin quickly stepped forward.

"Haha! Then you're going to suffer today! Secret Sword..." Kojiro narrowed his eyes slightly, then instantly closed the distance between them: "—Swallow Return!"

The moment he finished speaking, he swung his blade down.

Ordinary people couldn't see it at all, but Ash and Melusin could see it clearly.

In an instant, three knives materialized, simultaneously closing in on their target—Melushin—but...

"So slow," Melusin thought to herself, and the moment the attack landed, her figure vanished.

In a very short time, the girl, who easily surpassed the speed of sound, reappeared in front of Kojiro like a silver streak of light.

With a flash of light, the longsword pierced his heart with lightning speed.

Kojiro's body stiffened slightly, and the smile on his face froze instantly.

Melusin, on the other hand, had already finished all her attacks before her opponent's attack landed.

Kojiro's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief, because... he couldn't even see how his opponent made a move.

But the longsword had already pierced his heart with precision and accuracy, and before his attack could land, it had already withdrawn its blade, proving to her earlier statement that her own strength was enough to overcome any skill.

At least, three blows to cut a swallow are ultimately no match for a single sword strike from a dragon.

but.....

Having accomplished all this, Melisandre, though she had no intention of paying any attention to Kojiro, still pretended to look at him:

"Do you understand now? The difference between you and me is dimensional, because I'm the strongest, you know?"

While speaking, Melusin would always casually glance at Ash...it was practically written all over her face that she wanted to praise him.

.....

.....

...