Following Miyu's suggestion, Shirou eventually returned to this world with the others and, like Miyu, took up residence as a butler in Luvia's family villa.
However, due to his facial resemblance, when Luvia and Rin first saw Shirou, they both showed shy, infatuated expressions. Miyu and Shirou had to explain for quite a while before they calmed down.
After understanding everything, Luvia generously accepted Shirou's stay, and like she did for Miyu before, she used the Edelfelt family's wealth to promptly sort out Shirou's various identity documents in this world within twelve hours.
Although there were some minor issues during the identity registration process due to his resemblance to a certain family in the other world, with the help of Disguise Magecraft, it was finally successful.
Now, in this world, Emiya Shirou's name has become Shirou Edelfelt, with the identity of Miyu's adopted older brother.
There's reason to suspect this name was the result of Luvia mispronouncing a Japanese name.
In any case, with official identity documents in this world, Shirou can live peacefully here, just like Miyu. The only thing to worry about might be the possibility of Luvia later wanting her own butler, leading to a dispute with Miyu.
However, that's something for Shirou to worry about in the future, and it falls outside Naoki's concerns. He even looks forward to it a little, as seeing Shirou, someone with signs of "women troubles," caught in an emotional crisis is quite entertaining.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Meanwhile, at the Natsukawa household, a few things have also happened recently.
First is the issue of Pandora.
Due to her agreement with Naoki, she also came to this world like Shirou, and with Luvia's help, she also has this world's identity documents. Naturally, she's staying at Naoki's house.
This itself isn't a problem, plus Pandora now, like Angelica, has no personal desires whatsoever and simply wants someone to kill her. If there's no command from Naoki, she will sit in her room all day like a statue, causing absolutely no trouble for Naoki.
But there's a problem with someone else.
"Natsukawa-sama, dinner is ready."
At the room door, Angelica, who had just opened the door, said to Naoki, who was reading a book by the bed.
Naoki glanced at Angelica and nodded: "Alright, I'll be right there."
"Understood."
Bowing slightly, Angelica closed the door and left, and as soon as she was gone—
[You vixen, you were peeking at her earlier, weren't you?]
Manaka's slightly displeased voice echoed in Naoki's mind.
"No."
[If your voice were more confident, it would be more convincing. I never thought you'd have a day where you couldn't lift your head in front of a woman; it's quite surprising.]
Despite saying that, Manaka's tone showed no joy at all, but was instead filled with discomfort.
The reason was very simple: because Naoki had peeked at Angelica.
Firstly, it must be clarified that Angelica is a beautiful woman, truly beautiful, to the point that a little touch of makeup could instantly kill a man. Among the people Naoki has met, she could easily rank in the top five.
Nevertheless, Naoki wouldn't go so far as to peek at her. After all, he had "eaten meat" in his dreams; he still had that level of self-control.
But ever since Luvia and Rin took her out as a "bag carrier" and showed her around Fuyuki City, the situation immediately changed.
Out of curiosity, while in Fuyuki City, Rin and Luvia bought Angelica some "man-killing" clothes, such as a Gothic dress that greatly accentuated her upper body, and a backless sweater that was somehow sold in an official shopping mall.
There's no problem with just buying them.
The problem is that Angelica wore them when she came home, and even after returning home, due to Ruby's persuasion, she immediately changed into that backless sweater in front of Naoki!
It's true that Naoki had "eaten meat," but that was in a dream! In reality, he was still 100% virgin. When faced with this "Anti-Virgin" Noble Phantasm, he immediately shattered into pieces on the spot.
Since then, Naoki has never been able to look Angelica in the eye again. Even though she's now wearing a tightly covered maid uniform, seeing her automatically brings to mind that backless sweater.
[So you're that fascinated by a mere doll, yet you showed no reaction at all when facing a succubus and a True Ancestor. Could it be that you have a special preference for dolls? If using the knowledge in your mind... is your preference problematic?]
"I don't want to rack my brain anymore trying to figure out how you know what's on my mind, and besides, I'm not—ouch!"
A sudden pain in his mind made Naoki quickly clutch his head.
This pain...
'Is this Merlin again?'
Just as Manaka felt displeased seeing Naoki "destroyed" by Angelica, even though Merlin didn't explicitly express her discomfort, her various subtle actions behind the scenes had been countless. Even with her "backdoor program," Naoki had no idea when she would do something severe to him!
Like giving him nightmares, setting traps he couldn't avoid in his dreams, or using stimulating Mana to give him severe headaches—these things had become his daily routine.
'Saying he doesn't care, telling me to find my Guinevere however I want, but reacting so strongly when I show interest in someone else... Merlin, when did you add tsundere traits to yourself?'
A sensation like being struck by lightning suddenly spread throughout Naoki's body, making him immediately roll off the bed.
No need to think; this must be Merlin's doing again.
[Hehehehe, you deserve it, you vixen. Look at you now; this is payback for embarrassing yourself with a Prince-like appearance. Are you realizing your mistake now?]
"Arcueid, can you hear me? Can you block Manaka?"
[It's useless, that vampire can't bother me unless you enter that state—]
*SHUA!*
The Red Moon mark suddenly emitted a strong light. Naoki, without hesitation, immediately entered Tsukihime Armament mode!
'Arcueid—'
[I refuse.]
Before Naoki could finish speaking, Arcueid flat-out refused his request.
[You foolish Naoki, infatuated with a junk doll. You'd be better off dying a thousand times.]
"..."
'Why are you like this too?!'