Fate/Magus Path

3 Fujimura

Near Fuyuki Park, there was a bar that Roy often frequented.

Beneath its modest sign was a typical entrance. The bar's décor was simple, and the exterior didn't have anything particularly attractive to draw customers. The lighting inside was dim, and the windows were dark, with a few holes here and there. The only redeeming feature was the decent milk and the affordable, budget-friendly drinks.

Although the environment drove away quite a few customers, the bar remained in business, thanks to its low prices.

Roy's initial reason for coming here had been those cheap but tasty drinks. The environment wasn't a factor in his decision.

Roy pushed open the bar's door. The familiar scent and dim lighting filled his senses, as distinctive as ever. The bartender at the counter greeted him; after all, Roy had become a regular.

However, this time he didn't sit at the counter to order. Nodding in acknowledgment, he walked into an open private booth and found a seat.

"Happy New Year, Boss."

"Happy New Year, young man."

The dim lights flickered.

An elderly man sat across from him.

"Want something to drink? The sake here is pretty good. Care to join this old man for a cup?"

"You're still as lively as ever, Boss."

"Hahaha, you sure know how to joke, young man. I've already got one foot in the grave. There's nothing lively about me anymore."

The elderly man, dressed in a black kimono, smiled and personally poured a cup of sake, pushing it toward Roy, signaling for him to drink together.

Seeing the elderly man teasing him, Roy smiled and shook his head in return.

'Your health is unbelievable. Just a few months ago, you led your men at the Fuyuki docks, wiping out other groups in one fell swoop. When the police showed up, you still had the energy to get everyone out of there. A ruthless man like you claiming to be old? That's hard to believe.'

He couldn't help but wonder how such a mafia boss ended up raising someone as lively as Taiga.

After that, the old man drank his sake, and Roy followed suit, raising his cup and drinking.

After a cup, the elderly man rested one arm on the table, tapping it lightly with his fingers before asking, "Roy, how have you been lately?"

"Not too bad, thanks to your care. Things have been going alright for me."

"At least I'm not sleeping on the streets anymore."

"Is that so? Gold shines wherever it is, and the same goes for capable people. You can't credit me for your success. Everything you have now is because you earned it."

"You flatter me, Boss."

After a bit of small talk, the large private booth felt a bit empty with just the two of them inside. It was this emptiness that gave Roy an odd sense of unease. His gaze occasionally darted to the blind spots of his field of vision.

[There's no one around, only two regular men guarding the entrance.]

Count?

Hearing the voice in his ear, Roy paused for a moment before realizing what it was. Feeling reassured, he grew more confident. Although he trusted Fujimura's character, knowing the Count had his back made him feel even more at ease. He looked curiously at the elderly man in front of him.

The application he had submitted a few months ago shouldn't have been too much trouble for him, so was it really necessary to ask for a face-to-face meeting?