Each verse that flowed from Larva's lips seemed to carry a soul of its own.
Had she been standing on a stage right now, everyone would immediately understand—
the one singing was not human.
Her voice was pure, gentle, yet filled with a depth that transcended time.
Every note resonated like an echo from the ancient ages, as if the very first breath of life ever given to the world was being repeated through her.
Larva sang like a mother whispering to the newborn world, mixed with the sorrow of an ancient deity who once lost her children.
"Sora wa takaku, Kaze wa utau~"
"Yume wo miteta Yorokobi e to~"
"Hito wa itsuka... tadoritsukeru~"
"Kodomo no hitomi de... anata wa shinjita~"
"Soba ni iru yo~"
"Kooritsuita mori wo nukete~"
"Sono hitomi ga... sekai no nageki ni mayowanu yo ni~"
As the final note echoed through the karaoke room, the sky over Fuyuki City began to release a gentle rain—as if the world itself were shedding tears.
Out on the busy streets, everyone touched by the falling drops felt their hearts grow lighter.
Sins, sorrow, and the burdens of life seemed to lift away, carried off by the water descending from the grey sky.
Back inside the karaoke room, Larva lowered her head softly. A faint, serene smile lingered on her face—calm, peaceful, as though she were still wrapped in the remnants of the final melody.
Silence drifted through the room for a moment, until Fear's cheerful voice broke it apart.
"Your voice is amazing! It's like the scream of a little girl shoved inside a Brazen Bull!" she exclaimed, perfectly earnest and strangely enthusiastic.
Rian could only let out a small laugh at the bizarre yet characteristically-Fear comment.
He turned to Larva with gentle eyes.
"A beautiful song," he said quietly. "And just as I thought… your voice fits it perfectly."
Larva gave a soft smile, her eyes shimmering gently. "Yes. That's because you were the one who introduced that song to Mother," she said warmly. "Now… it's become her favorite."
She then handed the microphone she was holding to Rian. "Even so," Larva continued, her voice tender, "Mother prefers it when you sing 'Number One for Me.'"
Rian smiled as he accepted the microphone. But before he could say a word, Fear's voice suddenly chimed in again.
"Eh? Isn't it my turn to sing now?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion. "Why is it Rian again?"
Larva kept her gentle smile as she walked over to the sofa and sat down on Rian's right side.
At almost the same moment, Rian raised an eyebrow, looking at Fear who was now standing there with a hopeful expression.
Fear stared at Rian intently, her hand reaching out as if demanding her turn. Seeing that, a mischievous idea crossed Rian's mind.
"Sorry, Fear… but let me be the one to sing," he said casually with a sly smile. "Because your voice… sounds like a dying rat stuffed inside a metal tank."
"What does that mean?" Fear asked innocently, her head tilting even further.
"It means your voice is terrible," Rian replied flatly.
Fear's face instantly turned red with anger. "W–WHAT!? I curse you! You pervert! You narcissist!" she yelled, clenching her tiny fists.
Rian just laughed, while Larva covered her mouth, trying to hold back a giggle.
And so, their time in the karaoke room passed—filled with jokes, warmth, and the usual touch of chaos that defined their strange little family.
Before they realized it, evening had begun to fall.
The sky outside shifted to orange, and the three of them decided to have dinner together at a family restaurant before heading home.
Once they arrived back at the house, they waited for the clock to hit nine at night before returning to the Holy Grail War.
At that point, Rian and Larva left Fear at home, and the two of them set out once more—resuming the hunt for another Master–Servant pair to defeat.
Their target this time was Ryuudou Temple, a shrine located on one of the mountains on the southwest side of Fuyuki City, specifically in the Miyama Town area.
As for Larva's appearance tonight, she wore the same outfit she had on the previous night when they faced Berserker.
Her outfit consisted of a black blouse and a long, dark bluish-black scarf that nearly covered half her face—accentuating the pouting expression that had become her trademark.
Not long after, their steps came to a stop. Not because they had reached their destination—far from it, they were only near a small playground.
Larva, who had been walking beside Rian, lifted her hand and gently pinched the edge of his trench coat, tugging it lightly as if to get his attention.
Rian turned to her, giving a soft smile. "I know, Mother. Don't worry."
Then, he shifted his gaze toward the rooftop of a building across the quiet street.
"Do you want to stay up there? Or should I drag you out myself? …And just so you know, you're not the one I'm after," Rian said calmly.
"I just arrived, and you already noticed me? I didn't expect that… You have sharp eyes, Eighth Master."
A man's voice echoed—steady yet carrying weight. A moment later, like a cold mist cut open by the breeze, a figure appeared: blue hair, red eyes burning like embers.
He was the Servant of the Lancer class: Cú Chulainn.
Lancer's body was clad in a tight, deep sea-blue combat suit, lined with intricate Runes that served both as protection and as symbols of his heroic might.
Metallic gray pauldrons guarded his shoulders, and a steel plate reinforced his lower abdomen—simple, but effective.
His long blue hair was tied neatly into a rat-tail that reached the middle of his back. A pair of silver earrings hung from his ears, glinting faintly under the night sky.
He radiated a savage, predatory aura—like a wild beast ready to tear into its prey. Even the air around him carried a faint, feral sharpness that pressed against human instincts.
In his right hand, he held a crimson spear—its surface pulsing faintly, almost like a living thing, exuding deadly intent with every beat.
Rian exhaled softly before speaking, his tone relaxed.
"My name is Rian Andromeda."
"But… may I ask," Rian said, tilting his head slightly to the right, "why every Servant or Master in this Holy Grail War insists on calling me the eighth Master?"
"You know," he continued, slipping both hands into his coat pockets. His eyes closed for a moment, as if weighing the absurdity of it all.
"It feels like I've been transmigrated straight into some ancient imperial dynasty."
Opening his eyes again, Rian gazed directly at Lancer with calm, unwavering eyes. "So, if I may ask—what's your purpose here? Spying? Or… were you hoping to fight me?"
He inhaled slowly, still speaking with that laid-back tone. "If you're just here to watch, I don't mind. But if you're looking for a fight… sorry. You're not my target."
Lancer let out a small chuckle. With a light leap, he dropped down from the rooftop, twirling his spear once before planting it on the ground.
"Relax, kid," Lancer said casually. "I'm not here to stir up trouble. At least… not tonight."
"This is for you," Rian said as he handed over the can of coffee. "Let's talk for a bit while we drink, yeah?"
Lancer accepted it with a faint smirk, and the three of them sat down along the edge of the sidewalk, ready to begin their little conversation.
Rian took the center spot, with Lancer on his left and Larva on his right. But before he could start the discussion himself, Lancer spoke first.
His eyes flicked briefly toward Larva sitting across from him.
Seeing her, Lancer's expression twisted in mild confusion. "Kid, you and your Servant… both of you are strange," he said flatly. "What's her class? I can tell she's not one of the usual seven."
The question wasn't uncalled for. In the Holy Grail War, the seven standard classes were Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, and Berserker.
But rare exceptions existed—additional classes summoned only under special circumstances. Alter Ego like Larva, Avenger, Ruler, Beast, even Foreigner.