Abnormality In Type-Moon: Madness Of Animeverse

"Take your time to think it over. No need to rush—after all, no matter how anxious you get, the outcome won't change!"

Roy laughed heartily as he patted Ai Hayasaka on the shoulder and cheerfully headed back indoors.

Watching his retreating figure, Hayasaka couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

He was right.

Even if Roy agreed to let her leave, as Rin Tohsaka's maid, she was bound to stay with her master. Changing allegiances wasn't an option for someone in her position. Maids like her didn't get to decide such things. The fact that she had a roof over her head and food to eat was already a privilege—what more could she ask for? Who did she think she was?

Only magi had the right to choose servants from among the refugees. For a servant to demand a change of master? That was practically asking to be turned to ash on the spot.

Granted, Rin wasn't the type to do that. If Hayasaka did ask to leave, Rin would most likely grant her permission. But even so, her association with Rin had already marked her. What if she caught the attention of a magus who was hostile toward Rin? After all, the magi at the Clock Tower were notoriously opposed to Rin. Would Hayasaka become collateral damage?

And even if she left Rin's service unscathed, who could guarantee that her next master would be as reasonable as Rin? Would she end up with a magus who treated lives as disposable? What if she became nothing more than a breeding tool, like Akiyama Ryu?

No matter how she looked at it, leaving Rin wasn't a realistic option.

"Which means... there's only one path left," Hayasaka muttered under her breath.

---

In the main house, Roy was preparing tea when a familiar figure entered.

"Good morning, Shiina."

"Good morning, Lord Roy."

Utaha Kasumigaoka greeted him with a yawn as she strolled into the living room. The two exchanged polite greetings before an awkward silence descended.

"So... what happened to your stockings?"

Roy's gaze drifted down to Utaha's legs. To his surprise, she wasn't wearing her usual black stockings, her bare legs looking rather captivating in the morning light.

"Lord Roy, you're really a fan of stockings, aren't you?" Utaha sighed, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Bare legs look great too. You've got lovely legs." Roy's sudden spike in emotional intelligence earned him a bright smile from Utaha.

"But," he added, "I think black stockings are even more eye-catching."

In the kitchen, separated by just a wall, Rin Tohsaka's ears perked up at the conversation.

Roy likes black-stockinged legs?

She glanced down at her own long, shapely legs wrapped in thigh-high stockings. Her face grew contemplative.

Her legs were her pride and joy. She often wore miniskirts and stockings to flaunt them. If Roy appreciated them…

Wait, what am I thinking?! Rin's face turned beet red as she shook her head vigorously.

This is all Hayasaka's fault! Yeah, that's it!

As Rin tried to clear her mind, Hayasaka entered the kitchen. Noticing Rin's flushed face and fidgety demeanor, Hayasaka's eyes gleamed with understanding.

Well done, Rin-sama. Truly commendable progress.

---

Back in the living room, the conversation continued.

"Thank you for the compliment, Lord Roy!" Utaha beamed at Roy's praise, her confidence visibly growing.

"What happened to your stockings, anyway?"

"I had two pairs. The one I wore yesterday is being washed."

"And the other one?"

"It got torn."

"Torn? How?"

"Ripped apart."

"Ripped…" Roy trailed off, realization dawning as Utaha shot him a sly, knowing glance. Her gaze carried a teasing allure, her eyes practically shimmering with mischief.

It hit him like a lightning bolt.

Ripped… was it that night?

He vaguely recalled tearing something… could it have been her stockings?

"Cough. After breakfast, I'll take you out to buy some replacements," Roy said, abruptly changing the topic.

"Of course, Lord Roy," Utaha replied, her tone laced with amusement.

---

Not long after, breakfast was ready. Rin and Hayasaka called everyone to the table, and they gathered for a traditional Chinese-style meal.

Aoko and Touko Aozaki were absent, likely off on one of their mysterious ventures. Roy didn't bother worrying about them; they were always like that.

As they ate, Rin suddenly paused, a soup dumpling halfway to her mouth. She glanced at Roy, hesitating.

Her expression shifted between resolve and reluctance, then back again.

"If you have something to say, just say it," Roy finally said, unable to take her indecisiveness any longer.

Everyone else at the table turned their eyes toward Rin.

"I-it's nothing!" Rin waved her hands nervously, a sheepish smile on her face.

"Really?" Roy frowned skeptically but let it slide when Rin seemed unwilling to elaborate.

The conversation moved on, but Rin's gaze kept flickering toward Roy. Her hesitation was palpable, her lips parting as if to speak before she swallowed the words back down.

Finally, Roy had enough. He set his chopsticks down with a thud.

"Rin. If you've got something to say, then say it!"

The sudden firmness in his voice drew everyone's attention back to Rin, who shrank under the weight of their stares.

"W-well, I was just wondering…" Rin stammered. "About that person… you know, the one wrapped in bandages…"

The moment the words left her lips, the room grew eerily silent.

Utaha and Hayasaka stared at her in disbelief.

Seriously? You're bringing that up here?!

Ichika Nakano's eyes widened in shock. The bandaged man… wasn't that Roy's creator?

This was definitely not a topic to discuss in front of him.

Roy's expression darkened, his face growing colder as a frost seemed to settle in the air around him.

"…Zolgen, you mean?" he said after a long pause, his voice eerily calm.

The girls held their breath, watching him carefully. Roy's glasses concealed his eyes, making it difficult to gauge his mood.

Thankfully, it seemed his anger hadn't reached a boiling point. Yet.

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