Beta read by Shigiya and Paragon of Awesomeness
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-The Capital-
"I don't trust this, Father."
Those words left Spear's mouth as she cast a wary glance at the Imperial Palace looming in the distance. It was the same majestic structure where her father had once worked alongside the late emperor, a place she herself had wandered through during her early childhood. The memories from those days were faint, like paintings left too long in the sun, but she remembered the halls being brighter, more colourful. Now, the entire structure felt more like a den of monsters, a nest of coiled threats ready to spring the moment they let down their guard. The sight of it alone filled her with unease, even more so after their group had been ambushed by the Beasts on their way to this vile city.
"We shouldn't trust people who are still working for Honest," she repeated, knowing the reason why they were walking towards the palace openly without needing to hide all came from the promise of a single man Chouri spoke to recently.
"Spear, I know you may be hesitant, and you have your thoughts on people like Grand General Budo. But he's not like the others. He's loyal not to Honest, but to the crown itself."
"A crown worn by a child who's being controlled like a puppet," she argued back without missing a beat. "So he's basically loyal to Honest but with extra steps."
She remembered how, upon arriving in the Capital, the first thing her father had done was pull on old strings. He had used every connection he still possessed to arrange meetings with people in the higher echelons of power, calling in favors without hesitation. His goal had been to reach Grand General Budo — the foremost of the Empire's generals, entrusted with the protection of the Emperor himself, a man who commanded an army equal in strength and size to the one led by General Esdeath.
"I've known him for decades," Chouri said, firm in his belief. "He has served the Empire with every ounce of his strength throughout his career as a soldier. His only goal is to see it prosper. If Budo had any intention of killing us, he would have done so already. He is not the type to deceive or play games. If he gave his word to bring me along for an audience with the Emperor, then he will see it through."
That was the plan… or at least, her father's plan. Everything they had done since returning to the Empire had been building toward this. Chouri wanted to see the Emperor, and he intended to bring proof with him of Honest's misrule of the Empire. Documents, testimonies, and people of all classes who had suffered under Honest's blatant corruption. His aim was to corner the Emperor and force him to face the truth, to present so much evidence that it could not be ignored or denied. This would be followed by other people in the Emperor's court switching allegiances and forcing the Child Emperor to remove Honest from office.
"No matter what others claim about Honest and the supposed iron grip he holds over the Empire, that's far from reality. He still depends on the goodwill of those descended from the first Emperor's bloodline, as well as the nobles. Without them, he is nothing but a corrupt schemer, and even his allies would turn on him without a second thought if they saw the benefit in it."
"And how can you be so sure this will work?" she asked, her voice a bit more snappy than before. Though a part of her understood his reasoning, she still didn't like it.
"You're still young, Spear. You don't recall much from the days when I served as Prime Minister. Everyone in the court has their own agenda. The only reason they support Honest is because he gives them something in return, or at least they find it easier to go along with him than to oppose him. To make them abandon him, all I need to do is offer something more valuable, something they won't hesitate to betray him for."
"And what might that be?" she asked, staring at him.
But he said nothing. He simply went quiet.
That silence never sat well with her. Her father had a habit of falling into silence whenever he suspected she wouldn't like the answer to the question she had just asked.
"Father… what did you do?"
In the end, it seemed that her words had gotten through to him. The old man let out a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly.
"In order to get these people on our side, money alone is not enough," he said, voice low yet firm to show conviction in what he was planning. "Even if we were in a financially advantageous position compared to Honest, even if we had a mountain of gold locked away in our coffers, it wouldn't sway half of those people. They've had no use for wealth in a long time. It's not something they lack." He paused for a moment, as if weighing the gravity of what he was about to say. "So, there is one thing I can offer them, something Honest has never given, and never will. Because to do so would risk losing control over his subjects."
"And that is?"
"Land. Which is why I will give them the northern territory that was conquered by General Esdeath."
As soon as those words left his mouth, her lips parted in stunned disbelief. She stared at him, eyes wide, voice rising in protest.
"Are you serious?! How can you do such a thing? What about all the people who were driven out and want to go home?"
Chouri kept his eyes forward, his expression unmoved. It was clear from the look on his face that he had expected exactly this response.
"I knew you would react like this, and I understand why," he said calmly. "But you must try to see the bigger picture. Sacrifices must be made if we're going to take back control from within. If the northern territory had never fallen, if the hero of that land had never escaped, we might have used them as leverage to pressure the nobles to our side. But that plan was never viable, even without Esdeath in the picture. Grand General Budo alone is a force to be reckoned with, and sooner or later, he would have taken those lands anyway."
"How could you do such a thing? We have several powerful allies on our side. Have you forgotten about—"
"—Emiya?" he interrupted sharply.
She flinched. That was the name indeed she had been about to say, the only person outside of Night Raid's assassins, she truly believed to be capable of handling entities even on the level of the grand general and Esdeath herself.
"Do you think they care about him?" he asked. "Most of them still believe Esdeath is his superior and that the incident of the past was merely her letting him live out of consideration of their prior relationship, and that she now follows Honest's commands like a loyal dog. Even after all the destruction they've witnessed, these people are still too blind, too full of their own arrogance, to see the real danger… to see that the monster in their midst has no leash. Also, the name Emiya, or even Archer, carries no weight in their minds other than the title of being a fake noble adopted by the late General Nagumo. Unless you want me to send a message to the boy asking him to single-handedly wage a prolonged war against the Empire and raze the Capital himself?"
Spear said nothing. She could not answer because deep down, she knew that wasn't something the man in question would ever agree to. The thought of asking him to shoulder all the bloodshed, to risk his life against the full might of the Empire's army, made her sick. Not because she doubted his strength… but because it wasn't right to let one man do it all by himself and let others reap the fruits of his efforts. Her pride and conscience would never allow it.
"While the northern lands will be handed over to the court nobles in exchange for their support, we can still work something out later, once we've built a stable foundation," Chouri continued. "We must first find our footing, restore the structure Honest has poisoned. And if things go smoothly, then can we revisit the issue, perhaps negotiate to return the land to its native people in exchange for their loyalty to the new government? But you mustn't think violence is the only solution, Spear. It may resolve problems in the short term, but it always breeds more in the long run."
He looked at her, and though his voice remained composed, there was weight behind every word.
"Just look at Honest. His methods are the opposite of mine, and look at the enemies he's made. Do you really think we'd be any better off if we followed the same path of brute force?"
Spear wanted to say she did not agree with it, that her father was looking at the issue through the wrong lens. But even as she tried to find something to argue back with, no reasonable answer came to mind.
"Stand ready. We are close," he said as they neared the palace's main entrance.
The girl tightened her grip on the shaft of her weapon, nerves creeping up her spine as each step brought them closer. Her spear felt heavier with every stride. She walked close behind her father, her eyes flicking up to the towering entrance where a giant of a man clad in thick, battle-worn armour stood, resembling a walking fortress more than anything else. He was flanked by a handful of soldiers, each posted in strict formation.
'Just looking at him feels suffocating.'
A single glance alone made her understand that the person ahead held the title of grand general. Holding a presence much different from everyone else, like a Danger Beast in human form that was staring back. Having never met General Esdeath, part of her wondered if that woman possessed a similar presence. Asking Emiya this question never helped, for he just described Esdeath as an annoyingly stubborn battle junkie or a bored lunatic.
"Grand General Budo, I would once again like to thank you for this favour you've done for me. Has the Emperor agreed to meet with us?"
The man didn't so much as spare her a glance. His eyes remained fixed on Chouri as he responded.
"I intended to discuss matters related to the late Captain Ogre and several other tasks I had entrusted to him before his passing. Matters that now simply need an update and reassigned. So this meeting with the Emperor was due long ago; I mentioned I would have someone accompanying me, though I did not name you, as agreed."
"Thank you." The old man bowed before gesturing towards her. "By the way, this is my daughter, Spear. She has inherited my family's legacy and will soon take on the mantle of family head in the coming decade or so. Calling her a master of her weapon would not be an exaggeration; her instructors have nothing left to teach her when it comes to the sword or spear."
"Mm."
Budo gave a curt nod, his expression as rigid as stone, before turning around and heading inside. They followed in silence.
'A bit rude,' she thought, frowning slightly. 'It's not like he'd lose anything just by saying hello.'
She knew little about Grand General Budo beyond what she'd been told. That he hailed from a long line of esteemed nobles, a family known for producing powerful generals in nearly every generation. The tradition stretched back to the earliest days of the Empire's founding. If anyone was to rank just beneath the Emperor and Honest, it would be Budo — though some even considered him to be beyond Honest if the man genuinely tried to take over.
Yet he never did.
"The place hasn't changed a bit since I left… Time flies, and it has already been decades since I last walked these halls. How have things been with Honest taking over as my successor around here?" Chouri asked.
The armoured man let out a short grunt in reply.
"Is that a question asked out of politeness to start a conversation, or are you trying to imply something?"
Chouri kept his composure, smiling without any emotions betraying him. "Just a question. I know better than to use such underhanded methods around you."
"Then it is about the same. Honest has not interfered with my regular schedule or goals. I continue training new recruits as before. Recently, I've seen some promising seedlings arrive in the Capital. A few might become generals in the future."
That surprised Spear a bit. Someone who managed to earn the attention of the grand general? Worrisome, given that it only meant more people to look out for if things fell through. The Empire was not lacking in talented soldiers, but nurturing them properly could lead to a terrible outcome if things didn't work out here.
"Ah, is it perhaps some of the Jaegers? I've heard a former Seaman is among their ranks."
"Mm."
The grand general hummed again, offering neither confirmation nor denial.
"The Jaegers have promising individuals, some of whom I know personally. Their skills and strength are commendable, though there are some among them I do not particularly care for. Regardless, it is a shame none of their members were placed under my command."
As the conversation continued, Spear couldn't help but wonder if there was tension between him and General Esdeath. This man, stern and composed, clearly cared about the Empire and devoted everything in his life to it. Esdeath, however, had never hidden her personal views. The nobles head their heads too far up their own asses to see it, but even the Empire's enemies knew she lacked true loyalty to the Empire itself, yet still she followed Honest's commands for reasons no one had ever fully understood.
She had never asked her father about it before, as there wouldn't have been any point. The only ones who truly knew what Esdeath wanted were the madwoman herself… and her former friend.
"We have arrived."
As they reached the large golden doors, a pair of guards bowed respectfully to both the grand general and her father before moving to open them. The heavy doors creaked apart slowly, revealing the throne room beyond, and for the first time in her life, Spear laid eyes on it.
Before, even during past visits, she had only ever been allowed to wander through certain corridors within the palace. Now, standing just behind the others, she finally caught a glimpse of the person seated on the throne, and once again, various emotions twisted in her gut… the most prominent of which was disbelief.
'This kingdom really is ruled by a child whose feet don't even touch the floor when he's seated on his throne.'
It was a sight that stirred a whirlwind of emotions inside her. Sadness for the loss of the previous emperor. Despair for the future that now rested in such small, uncertain hands. Children that age were meant to be outside chasing each other through gardens, studying arithmetic, laughing over silly pranks, and generally just being kids.
Even though she had begun training with the spear at a young age, she still remembered having time to make friends, to learn how to ride horses, to laugh and fall and learn. But this child, this Emperor, was charged with guiding a nation he could not even truly comprehend, a puppet whose strings were pulled by the grinning, fat figure standing just beside him.
Prime Minister Honest.
He stood with a large chunk of roasted meat in hand, chewing smugly, his smile stretched wide like a theatre mask.
'That's him,' she thought bitterly, fingers twitching with the impulse to reach for her weapon.
Her spear was strapped to her back.
The image came unbidden, of throwing it like a javelin.
'It wouldn't even take a second. One throw. He's close enough. I could aim straight for his head. After that, this place would be…'
All of it. The suffering, the assassination attempts on her father, the starving in the streets, the crumbling state of the Empire — all of it could be traced back to that man. That grotesque figure standing ahead, whose very face made her want to punch it until it turned into meat paste. The chaos in her thoughts swirled like a gathering storm. But just as her finger twitched and her muscles tensed, a massive hand rested on her shoulder.
"—!?"
Pressure… overwhelming, crushing, instant.
"Hnn-g!"
A strained grunt nearly escaped her throat as it felt like an entire mountain had been dropped upon her. Her knees trembled, every fibre in her body screaming to buckle, but she fought to stay upright. When she managed to glance to her side, she saw them for the first time, those eyes. Cold. Hollow. Dangerous.
The grand general stared down at her, his gaze lacking even the faintest flicker of humanity. His voice followed, blunt and sharp as a rigorously sharpened blade.
"Will we have a problem?"
She froze. He had somehow sensed her intent. Not a single word had been spoken aloud. No movement had betrayed her inner fury, and yet, he knew. He had felt it.
Before she could respond, her father let out a calm, almost amused laugh.
"Oh, please forgive Spear, Budo. She's still young and not used to any of this. Her mind fills quickly with worry and nerves. Spear, if you're too anxious, just wait outside. This won't take long." She opened her mouth to argue, unwilling to let him go in alone, but he cut her off again. "Just stay here, Spear."
This time, his voice carried a weight that crushed her spirit more than any of Budo's pressure had. His eyes locked with hers, conveying the truth plainly. This was not a request.
She hated it. She loathed standing aside. But her feet moved anyway, stepping away from the threshold and watching the two of them disappear into the throne room.
The doors closed behind them with an echoing boom.
Now the blonde stood alone.
The guards said nothing, but their attention remained on her every movement. The hallway was silent.
"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, left with nothing but her thoughts.
'This close to the source of all this suffering, yet I could not even muster the courage to kill him right then and there. Crumbling from a single touch from Budo without him having to use his Teigu… I don't even know what his Teigu is in the first place. Come on, Spear, Emiya fought someone on that level and survived, and you expect to be his equal after getting pushed back by just that much?'
After that, seconds dragged on. Minutes stretched into what felt like hours, even though the unmoving sun in the sky said otherwise. Her heartbeat thudded so loudly she could hear it in her ears, feel it in her chest. The stress bore down on her, building with every breath, each moment longer than the last.
'This was a mistake. I'm supposed to be his successor, yet I got pushed back by such a small setback? This won't do.'
She was not some helpless child anymore. Her father had taught her the techniques she needed to protect herself, to stand her ground. She had sworn to help him one day, to share the weight he carried on his shoulders.
"Hm?"
Just as Spear was about to step toward the door again, two guards swiftly lowered their halberds until they crossed in front of her, blocking her path with cold precision.
"Unless you are called, no one is allowed entry," they stated flatly.
It annoyed her, but she kept her expression neutral.
"I am the former Prime Minister's daughter. I believe I should be allowed inside while he is in audience with his Imperial Majesty," she replied, voice steady, though she didn't enjoy using her father's title like this. Still, if there was ever a time to do so, it was now.
The guards exchanged glances, visibly unsure for a moment. But ultimately, they shook their heads again.
"Rules are rules."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Forcing her way in now would only cause irreversible damage and give Honest more ammunition to use against her father. No, she couldn't risk it. Perhaps it was best to calm herself and wait.
But just as she turned to step back, a thought stopped her in her tracks.
'When we first arrived… why was Honest smiling?'
She didn't know the man at all personally, but her father had spoken about him often, and never kindly. The moment the fat bastard saw Chouri enter the palace with Budo, he should have known his actions were about to be exposed. The Prime Minister's predecessor, revealing everything to the Emperor, should have been his undoing.
Yet the man had smiled at the sight of them.
Not just that, he hadn't even looked surprised, as if he had expected it all along. That was when a sick feeling twisted in her gut. Turning on her heels, she no longer bothered convincing the guards. Her hand reached for her spear.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing!?"
They barely had time to react before she struck. Two clean, sharp blows, and they collapsed, unconscious.
Without hesitation, her palm pressed against the doors. She pushed gently. They creaked open with the sound of slow ruin, and a rush of air slipped out. It carried with it a faint but undeniable scent.
Blood.
Her eyes widened. Her body froze.
The door continued to open.
Inside, in the very centre of the throne room, her father was kneeling. A sword was impaled through his chest. Blood pooled beneath him, reaching the foot of the stairs leading up to the throne.
Another figure stood nearby, one she hadn't noticed earlier. It was the same old man who had welcomed them back into the Capital not long ago and granted them refuge away from the prying eyes of the soldiers… one of Chouri's oldest and strongest allies when he governed as Prime Minister.
"F-Father?" she whispered.
Her voice echoed across the chamber, trembling against the stone walls.
The old man turned his face slowly toward her. There was sorrow in his eyes.
"Run," he said quietly, before the light in his gaze flickered out for good.
"Oh, I almost forgot about her." Honest's voice rang out across the room, far too casual. "The traitor's daughter. You've grown quite a bit since I last saw you. I didn't even recognise you at first. For a moment, I thought Chouri had gotten himself another woman!"
He turned back to the Child Emperor, who looked visibly uneasy, his small hands clenching at the edge of the throne as his eyes tried to avoid the body before him.
"I understand how heartbreaking it must be to learn the truth about my predecessor and his little scheme to take over the Empire. But I do not believe his daughter should be executed. No, no. We'll use her as a reminder. A warning to others who might attempt the same as Chouri."
Spear trembled, her chest burned with grief and fury. She wanted to scream, to storm inside and slaughter everyone standing before her. Every instinct told her to move, to strike, to act.
But then, he moved.
Her father, already dying, lifted his head. His eyes found hers.
"…Please."
The word never reached her ears. But she saw it. She read his lips.
He didn't want her to die.
Her teeth clenched. Tears poured down her cheeks. Her expression twisted with rage, sorrow, and betrayal. She glared at them all, her heart shattering as it locked eyes with the one who had orchestrated this, standing next to Budo, who raised his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Guards, surround this woman and capture her. I want her alive."
Several armoured individuals emerged from the doors, numbering in the dozens, all holding their weapons at her and intending to corner her, most likely.
"Aaaaaaah!"
Her enraged scream pierced the air.
That day, the walls of the palace trembled with the sound of windows shattering.
{Break}
-Night Raid base-
He had dreamt of moments like this before, closing his eyes only to open them again to the sight of the peaceful surroundings of his home village. He could almost hear the village chief bellowing at the younger children not to make a mess, and Sayo's voice barking at him to get up, threatening to yank his ears off if he didn't. A treatment Ieyasu often endured as well. In truth, the two of them had been practically raised by the fiery young girl, a fact that had become something of a running joke among the villagers.
When he had first arrived at the Capital, he hadn't only sought to build a better future for his poverty-stricken home. He had wanted to build something brighter alongside those two. The plan had been simple: join the army, show off the talent and skill he had grown proud of, and earn a high-ranking position. A captaincy, perhaps, maybe one of them could even become a general someday. But all three of them would have achieved great things, to be sure. He believed, with enough perseverance and discipline, that it was within reach.
That belief had only grown stronger when he met Seryu. She had been the first to offer him a hand when the city gave him a far colder reception than he'd anticipated, the first to give him hope in a place that had otherwise seemed overwhelming and apathetic. But then, the truth revealed itself. Ugly and vicious. The Empire was not the beacon of order and justice it claimed to be. There were monsters hiding behind its stone walls, demons cloaked in titles and uniforms that gorged themselves on the pain of the helpless masses.
That revelation had nearly cost Tatsumi his life and the lives of his friends. It would have, had it not been for the actions of someone else.
He remained endlessly grateful that Emiya had been there — the man had saved them all; of that, there was no doubt. More than anyone else, Tatsumi owed him. He had wanted to repay the favor, to help the man who had done so much for him, but it seemed every attempt had only brought more trouble to Emiya's doorstep. The closest he had come to actually helping anyone in Night Raid was during the recent skirmish against the Jaegers, where he managed to land a blow on that crazy general's face and save Bulat's life.
But he hadn't been fast enough; Bulat had been injured, terribly so. His Imperial Arm was now in the Empire's hands, and Tatsumi couldn't begin to guess how he was supposed to ever fight alongside his comrades again after losing an arm. That failure only deepened the pit of guilt growing in his heart.
'Why even keep me here anymore? The longer I stay, the more I feel like I'm nothing more than a burden to them.'
What good were all his skills, really? The people surrounding him were better at this life than he could ever hope to be. They were specialists in their own terrifying fields, each of them seasoned in ways he was still trying to comprehend. And among them walked monsters, creatures just as dangerous as General Esdeath herself. In comparison, he felt so small, so utterly insignificant.
Only Shambhala had sparked even the faintest glimmer of hope in him. The idea that maybe, just maybe, he could help shape some small measure of change.
"Look who's moping around. Did you write us off as dead already?"
A voice reached his ears, and the boy froze. For a moment, he wondered if this too was a dream. Slowly, he turned. Standing just a few paces away were Sayo and Ieyasu. Both were wrapped in thick bandages, faces marked with bruises, but they were awake. The last time he had seen them, the doctors had spoken of comas and miracles. There had been a very real chance they'd never wake up again, or worse, not live long at all.
With Sayo missing her left arm and Ieyasu his legs back then. But now… There were those same missing limbs now replaced with wooden prosthetics, and Ieyasu also used crutches as he was evidently still getting used to his new artificial legs..
"No way… It's… i-it's really… You guys?" he breathed, his voice catching as disbelief cracked through his words.
The black-haired boy only scoffed, grinning widely.
"Actually, we're the ghosts of the living. We came back to haunt you for the rest of your li—ow!"
Sayo didn't let him finish. She smacked the back of his head without hesitation, and with her new hand to boot.
"Stop trying to mess with him. Look how distraught he looks!"
However he looked, Tatsumi didn't care. His body moved on its own, and before he knew it, he was running at full speed toward them. The distance separating them vanished in seconds. He threw his arms around them both, pulling them close, holding them like they'd slip away again if he let go.
A choked sound slipped from his lips as tears began to flow.
"I-I'm so g-glad…hic, I'm s-so glad that you're both a-alive," he whispered.
Both of them chuckled softly and returned the hug.
"Well, we may have lost a few limbs between the two of us, but I don't mind as long as I get to live another day. I'm just happy you're alive, Tatsumi. Don't tell me you turned into a crybaby while we were asleep?" He paid no attention to Ieyasu's words, focusing only on the feeling of their presence, the weight of their bodies in his arms, the warmth of their breath, and the grip of their hands as they hugged him back. He let the moment carry him, silently praying to every living supernatural force he could name that this wasn't a dream. Just a little longer, he begged. Let it be real.
Minutes passed before he finally regained control of himself and his emotions, enough for his mind to register something important, something he hadn't yet asked.
"How… how did you two get here? I thought you were supposed to be at the Revolutionary Army's headquarters, still recovering?"
Sayo answered, her voice gentle but steady.
"We actually spoke with the one they call the leader of Night Raid. We asked if she could grant us a request and bring us to you. Honestly, I was shocked to learn you'd joined them."
"Yeah, when were you gonna tell us that you were part of freaking Night Raid, man!" Ieyasu cut in loudly, throwing one of his arms in the air while forced to support himself on the other. "You know… wanted posters, bounty hunters, shadow assassins, all that stuff? Dude, how did you even end up with them? Are you now sneaking around in the dark, taking out high-ranking officials from the Empire like some kind of badass ghost assassin? Fighting generals and swarms of elite soldiers all on your own? Because I gotta say, sitting here sulking in a corner wasn't exactly what came to mind when I imagined a Night Raid assassin."
"Oh, shut up, you jackass."
The words came without malice. Familiar banter, a pinch of teasing, and Sayo's quietly worried gaze; these were things he'd once taken for granted. Now, they were the things he'd missed the most. Moments like this, ones he hadn't known he needed so badly, made him realise just how much he longed to be a part of it all again.
"Things just… happened," he said finally, his voice low. "I actually joined the military police, but soon after, I had to leave the Capital, and Miss Najenda was kind enough to offer me a place here. I didn't want to be a squatter or a chore boy, so I agreed to join. And yes, I have fought a general."
More than simple revenge, he wanted to wipe the Empire clean of its rot, rid the world of the parasites who had nearly cost him the people he loved. The kinds of scumbags who never should have been allowed to see daylight. He wanted to make sure no one else would suffer what he almost had. But that part, he kept to himself.
Even so, he was certain that Sayo already knew or at least suspected.
"Wait, if you're part of Night Raid, does that mean… Do you have one of those legendary Teigus!?"
Ieyasu lit up, the gleam in his eyes returning despite the state of his body. Ignoring his injuries, he bounced on his crutches, peering closely at him as though a magical weapon might be hidden under his collar.
"Hey, stop looking at me like that! It feels weird. You won't find anything like that just by looking me over. It's not a suit of armor or anything."
"Then what is it? Don't tell me… is it a sword? That would be so cool! Or some bracers that shoot stuff, like the ones Gramps used to talk about in bedtime stories! Or maybe a spear that turns into armor? Or one of those ancient artifacts that shoot giant light beams into the sky?"
One by one, the boy listed every childhood story they'd ever heard. Most of them, Tatsumi had barely remembered, tales the village elders told while the fire crackled and night settled in. However, the one with the spear turning into armour sounded suspiciously similar to Incursio, which made him wonder if the old man really was serious about having seen all of those crazy battles between Teigus. Regardless, Ieyasu had always been a dreamer who remembered all of them, down to the smallest detail.
With a quiet smile, he reached into his pocket and pulled out Shambhala. The small, hand-sized relic sat nestled in his palm, catching the light like a polished gem. It looked almost like jewelry, and its subtle glow drew both of his friends' attention instantly.
"Be amazed," he said with a proud little grin he never showed around anyone else. "This is the legendary artifact I've been deemed worthy to wield."
Among Night Raid, such things weren't rare. Every member wielded a terrifyingly powerful Imperial Arm of their own. All except Emiya, but he didn't even want to start with that guy, who somehow had the ability to create an entire armory at will. But in front of these two, he could allow himself this one moment of pride.
"Really? That's it? Looks lame."
"…"
That was all he got. Ieyasu stared at the jewel-like artifact with a dry expression, unimpressed as ever.
"What is this, like, it glows in the dark, so you don't get lost at night? Shows you where you're going like a compass? Well, you do tend to get lost pretty often, so I wouldn't be surprised if you bonded with that kind of Teigu." His eye twitched at the jab, but instead of answering, Tatsumi decided to demonstrate. Without a word, a sigil briefly shone beneath him, and his figure blinked out of existence, vanishing before the pair's eyes. They stared in disbelief at the now-empty space where he had just stood.
"Tatsumi?!"
Sayo was the first to react, horror creeping into her voice as she spun around. Her anxious gaze swept the surroundings until it caught on a brown-haired boy perched comfortably atop a tree branch, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.
"Now you see me."
In the next instant, his figure flickered again, this time reappearing behind them. He reached out casually and patted both of their backs.
"Now you don't."
"Ah!"
They both jumped, startled once more as Tatsumi kept teleporting from one place to another, disappearing and reappearing with fluid ease, sigils lighting up an instant before he appeared. He even started goading Ieyasu, vanishing just before the boy could touch him. Ieyasu gave chase, trying to swipe at him with his crutches again and again, only to swing at nothing but air each time, Tatsumi always staying just out of reach.
This little routine went on for long enough that Ieyasu finally gave up, collapsing onto the grass and panting heavily.
"Haah, haah, haah… What the hell, are you having fun teasing the disabled now?" he huffed, refusing to let it slide and using his current state as ammunition. "Just look at our son, Sayo. He's lived in the Capital for only a couple of weeks, and he's already acting like one of those city folks who make fun of us country folk by showcasing their wealth so openly."
"Who the hell are you calling son?!"
"Oh, stop it, you two," Sayo chided, shaking her head exasperatedly. "You're still behaving like children. And Tatsumi, stop teleporting around like that! What if you end up halfway inside a tree and lose half your body?!"
Teleporting inside a tree and losing his body? A terrifying image crept into Tatsumi's mind before it was shaken away. He simply scoffed and waved a hand at that ridiculous scenario.
"Don't worry, that's not going to happen. Teigus may be hard to master and control, but they are not that unforgiving to their user, I think. You see, Shambhala works by pulling me into this strange, dark space. While it feels like a blink to you, for me, a few seconds pass inside. I can choose where to appear, and I can place markers wherever I want to teleport in the future. The tricky part is remembering which is which and not confusing one marker for another, especially when there are a lot of them in the same place. I'm still trying to master it."
"Hold on," Sayo cut in, her brows lifting. "Does that mean you're seriously a member of Night Raid now? Have you already… assassinated someone important while we were unconscious and recovering?"
She looked torn; happy to see him speak with such energy about the Teigu, but the worry in her voice was unmistakable.
"No, not yet," Tatsumi answered, his tone shifting into something quieter that brought up his prior mood from before. "Actually, I haven't been able to do much. That's why I was feeling a bit down, given that these people helped me a lot. Even the man who saved you went through with one of my other requests, but something happened that ended up putting him and the others in danger. I still feel guilty about it. So I've been trying to find a way to repay him… which is harder than I anticipated."
"Maybe you can repay him in other ways. You don't have to assassinate someone to show you're grateful," Sayo suggested softly.
"Maybe," Tatsumi said with a faint nod. "But how, exactly? I don't have any particularly useful skills. And Emiya is already out there facing off against so many dangerous enemies. Me tagging along won't really change anything."
"Wow," Ieyasu muttered, now watching him seriously. "You've really become a lot more pessimistic than your old self." Then he leaned back and added, "Have you ever considered that maybe he doesn't want anything from you?"
Tatsumi gave that comment some thought. "Maybe, but it just doesn't feel right."
"Then you're taking this a bit too far. Just try hanging out around him, talking to him, trying to become friends; that could be more than enough to repay the favor. I doubt he's going to ask you to risk your life or anything like that."
Perhaps he was right. Emiya never gave the impression of someone who cared about wealth, status, or material possessions. Even if he did, Tatsumi had no way of offering him any of those things. He was just a broke village boy who came to the Capital to make money in order to support everyone else back home. What could he possibly give a man like Archer that he didn't already have?
As for friendship, the answer felt too simple, too small. He wasn't sure if it would be enough. He even tried asking others for advice, hoping for something concrete. Akame told him to hunt more Danger Beasts and offer them to him to cook. Bulat suggested inviting him to a training session, then casually added they could all go skinny-dipping afterward — a suggestion Tatsumi immediately erased from his memory, especially after Leone kept teasing him about the bigger man's supposed preferences.
Speaking of Leone, when he asked, she just shrugged and said he could give Emiya a year's supply of beer and alcohol, though Tatsumi wasn't sure he'd ever even seen Emiya drink. Lubbock was too focused on Najenda to even answer his question. Sheele mentioned books. Mine didn't bother with suggestions; she just insulted both him and Emiya in equal measure. Najenda, meanwhile, burst out laughing for no reason and didn't stop even as he awkwardly slipped out of her office.
"Why the hell is showing gratitude to someone so bloody complicated?"
Hearing him grumble, both his friends simply shrugged, though they couldn't help smiling a little.
"To be honest, we should be thanking him too, for keeping you alive and saving us. So you're not the only one in that situation. Why don't we—eh?"
Sayo's voice was abruptly cut off as bells began ringing all around the forest, a low and scattered alarm that carried through the trees. Tatsumi's eyes shot upward, spotting a distant flock of birds taking off all at once in the same direction. His pupils narrowed.
"Shit."
His unease doubled when he saw Lubbock dash out of the castle, face tense with worry.
"What the hell is going on here? This is the second time in such a short period that we've been found," Lubbock muttered under his breath, though it was loud enough for Tatsumi to catch.
"What's happening?" his friends asked, but he was already moving. It only now dawned on him that they were still standing out in the open.
"Someone's getting close to our base. When that happens, Lubbock's Teigu sends a signal using all the wires spread around the perimeter. It's designed to alert us the moment anything unwanted breaches the area."
"Tatsumi, I'd advise you to get your friends out of here," Lubbock said, his voice low and urgent. "This looks like more than just a scouting party. It's not just a group this time. It's a small bloody army."
"What? Did the Empire actually figure out where our base is after all?"
"Don't ask me, but if it really is the worst-case scenario, we have to be prepared."
"Yes!"
If this had happened just days earlier, he would've frozen, unsure of what to do or how to respond. He might have hesitated, letting fear or confusion slow him down. But now, things were different. With Bulat recovering at the Revolutionary Army's headquarters, his current condition still unknown and uncertain, Tatsumi couldn't help but feel a weight quietly pressing down on his shoulders.
'He trained me. A big part of the reason I'm still alive and not executed by that lunatic woman is that he sacrificed himself. He bought me time.'
His chest tightened with guilt as the memory replayed in his head.
'I have to make sure his absence doesn't endanger anyone else. I can't let the responsibility of keeping the others safe fall entirely onto Emiya. That wouldn't be right. I have to step up in his place!'
With that thought firmly rooted in his mind, he stepped forward and suddenly grabbed his two friends by their collars. Shambhala pulsed violently in his grasp, casting a bright and eerie purple light that swallowed their surroundings in an instant.
The world around them warped into an otherworldly darkness, shaped like a swirling, boundless void. Scattered across the space like glimmering constellations were countless glowing portals, each one blinking softly as if waiting to be chosen. The bizarre sight lasted only for a second before the three of them reappeared with a soft thud inside Tatsumi's room within the base.
"You two stay here. It's safer than outside. Lock and barricade the door, and no matter what happens, do not step out for any reason. And if things turn chaotic or dangerous, there's a hidden path under the floorboards. It leads to an underground escape tunnel that surfaces far from here in an area monitored by the Revolutionary Army. You'll be safe there if you need to run."
"Wait, wait — you're really going to fight against the Empire? This is too dangerous!"
Sayo's voice trembled as she clung to his arm. Her grip was tight, unwilling to let go, her eyes wide with alarm. Ieyasu didn't speak, but the emotion on his face said enough.
He smiled at their concern, appreciating their care, but firm in his choice.
"Sorry. I've already made up my mind. Even if I never fully repay the favor I owe Emiya, I want to help change this Empire. I want to fight for something better. I want to make sure we have a world we, and everyone in our village, can actually live in, peacefully, safely, freely."
Without waiting for a reply, Tatsumi vanished from the room, his Teigu flashing once more as he teleported to the same spot outside where Lubbock was already waiting and looking around frantically. "Where are the others?" he asked immediately, scanning the area. "I could've sworn I saw Leone talking to Emiya out here not too long ago."
Lubbock muttered something under his breath before shaking his head and turning his eyes toward Tatsumi again.
"You've gotten pretty confident using that Teigu, haven't you?" he asked.
Tatsumi nodded with a slight grin.
"It's not at the level of someone who's mastered it over the years, but I've been training enough to manage. I can handle using it in combat."
"As long as it helps you stay alive while you kill the bad guys, that's what matters. Do you think you can handle a group of elite enemies from the Empire? It's extremely unlikely that these guys are ordinary rank-and-file troops. They're moving too fast. Some of them have even detected my threads, and that's no small feat."
Lubbock suddenly flinched and looked down at his hands, where his Imperial Arm was materialized and glowing faintly. His voice dropped.
"Shit. Another zone just went dark. They've broken through another one of my traps. They're getting closer. And fast."
This felt far more pressing than the last attack; those assassins at least tried to remain silent and hidden from what he gathered. But whoever these people were, they blatantly rushed towards the base with clear smoke rising in the distance. Not even trying to hide their presence one bit.
The possibility of this being Esdeath made him shudder.
Despite that, the boy did not even consider hiding away or retreating. Instead, Tatsumi gritted his teeth and took a deep inhale of air.
"I'll deal with whoever's attacking us. You're forgetting I'm part of Night Raid, too. You remember how I kicked that frigid general in the face, right?"
At that, Lubbock couldn't help but grin, his usual cocky expression returning. "Right. You're just as crazy as the rest of us."
"I don't know about that, but I'll take the compliment. Just tell me where to go. If I think I'm outmatched, I'll teleport away. Trust me!"
Lubbock gave him a sharp nod and passed on quick instructions, then turned to inform the rest of the team. Tatsumi didn't hesitate. He charged directly into the forest, sword tightly clenched in one hand, and Shambhala glowing steadily in the other.
"Near the water. Single target approaching, fast and alone." He whispered under his breath, repeating the information Lubbock gave him on the location of one of the targets. "I should have a couple of markers there."
The reason for their presence there had to do with a recent incident when Lubbock tried to convince him to help him peek at the girls bathing. More specifically, to have a peek at Leone, Najenda, and Akame, who went over there together yesterday. Tried and succeeded, at least until Najenda noticed, though she was unaware that Tatsumi had used his Teigu to get there. Regardless, with several markers spread across the base and surrounding area, he had a good feeling about this.
Crack!
"!?"
His eyes widened as a faint noise brushed past his ears, something low and fast and sharp. Out of the corner of his vision, just beyond clear focus, Tatsumi caught a glimpse of movement—he couldn't see it properly, but every fibre in his body flared with alarm. His instincts screamed.
Danger.
Without hesitation, he activated Shambhala. His body vanished from the spot in a bright pulse just in time to avoid a massive impact. The tree that had stood beside him was torn through with frightening ease, a clean hole ripped through its trunk as if pierced by a cannonball.
"You're pretty quick on the uptake, aren't you? Tch, it would have been easier to have you die swiftly without any suffering and let me find my target." The voice came too quickly. Though Tatsumi had teleported a fair distance away, the figure was already nearly on him again, as though his destination had been anticipated. A heavy shadow loomed. The next thing he saw was a large form, taller than anyone he had seen so far, cocking back a massive arm.
"Shit!"
All those hours of training with Bulat and sparring against an experienced former soldier of the Empire surged through him. Tatsumi brought up his sword just in time, metal scraping against metal as a massive fist, roughly the size of his head, slammed into the blade. The surface of the attacker's hand gleamed, the knuckles shaped from thick metal plating. Sparks flew. The force of the blow sent Tatsumi hurtling backwards, his back slamming against the hard earth with a dull crack that knocked the air from his lungs.
"Gah!"
As if he had been hit by a class one Danger Beast, an attack like that was easily capable of crushing bones to dust. There was no time to recover. Before he could even gasp for breath, the attacker was descending again, both monstrous arms raised high above his head, ready to flatten him into the ground like a pest beneath a hammer.
But another flash of light erupted. Shambhala pulled him out of danger again just before the blow came crashing down, both fists slamming into the earth with a thunderous crack. A crater the size of his body was left in the ground, rocks flying in all directions.
"Damn, nearly had you, didn't I? Why are you making it so difficult for yourself, kid? It's not fun," the man grunted. He rose from the crater with a grunt of annoyance, his wide shoulders rolling as he turned his head around. That same manic grin stretched across his face, as if he were thoroughly enjoying the little game of hide and seek.
Tatsumi reappeared at a distance, slumped against a tree, taking the precious moment to catch his breath. His eyes narrowed as he finally got a proper look at his opponent.
"You're… you're not part of the army."
Even though he hadn't been enlisted very long, he'd already memorised the various army uniforms, each colour and insignia tied to specific ranks or regiments. But this man's attire matched none of them. In fact, it barely resembled a uniform at all. He wore a half-buttoned shirt, the fabric stretched open to expose an unnaturally chiseled chest that looked more like carved stone than flesh. A brown vest hung loosely over his shoulders, thrown on with the kind of laziness that implied arrogance. His arms were grotesquely disproportionate, even with his massive frame, three times larger than they had any right to be, covered in thick metal plating, and yet the man moved in a way that made it impossible for Tatsumi to say whether this guy was wearing massive gauntlets or he somehow had metal hands.
The man looked to be in his middle age, with short black hair cropped close to his scalp, his most striking feature being the perfectly curled moustache that twisted sharply at the ends. He seemed proud of it, too; his massive fingers were gently tugging at the curls as he spoke.
"So that's the Teigu once used by the late son of the Prime Minister? Heh, I met the boy once, a great host, and he sure knew how to have a good time. That thing would really suit my style. I'd be practically invincible in close-quarters combat."
His voice was smug, dripping with overconfidence.
"The name's Kaku, by the way. What was yours again? I didn't really pay attention during the briefing. You don't look like an Emiya, Bulat, or Lubbock, given all of them already have their own Teigu. Oh, that's right, you're the kid Seryu wouldn't shut up about. Well, look at you, from a simple cadet to one of Night Raid's fucking assassins with his own Imperial Arm… I'm almost jealous." He spoke as though the fight was already over. The arrogance in his voice was infuriating, but perhaps not misplaced, considering the raw power he'd just displayed.
Tatsumi gave no answer. His eyes narrowed, and he silently raised his blade. In a single movement, he vanished again.
To Kaku's credit, his eyes tracked the space in front of him with casual confidence, but the sound of a sharp clang erupted from behind him. Sparks danced in the air as Tatsumi reappeared mid-swing, his sword flashing toward the man's neck in a clean arc, a killing blow, aimed to end the fight with a single strike.
But the blade never bit.
His eyes went wide, for the sword slid along the man's neck without so much as leaving a scratch, gliding across the skin as though striking steel. The skin hadn't even bruised. It was like trying to cut through solid metal.
"Hahaha!"
The sound of Kaku's laughter was thunderous, manic. That brief second of shock was all he needed. In a blur of motion, he twisted on the spot and drove his massive fist straight into Tatsumi's stomach.
The hit landed mid-air, and it was like being struck by a cannon.
Tatsumi's body bent around the impact, and the sheer force of it launched him backwards like a ragdoll. Pain exploded through his core, every nerve in his body lighting up at once. Darkness clawed at the edges of his vision, threatening to pull him under. Only sheer willpower kept him conscious.
"That sword of yours or any other artificial construction your little team might have gotten from that man won't do a damn thing!" Kaku barked, grinning viciously. "The doctor's enhanced us with the genes of multiple Danger Beasts! Our skin is practically invulnerable!"
Despite his hulking size, the man moved with terrifying speed, blurring across the battlefield in less than a heartbeat. In an instant, he was on Tatsumi again, fists flying in rapid succession, kicks crashing through the air with brutal force.
'I can't block those again!' Tatsumi thought grimly. 'If I do, both my ribs and my sword will shatter!'
Faced with such overwhelming pressure, his thoughts sharpened. His body moved on instinct, mind pushed to the absolute brink. The only way to survive was to evade. Flickering through the air, he teleported from one marker to the next, weaving through the forest like a phantom. Every second he dodged, he placed new markers, constantly adjusting, constantly adapting.
'There has to be a weak point. Some part of him that isn't reinforced… The neck is out. The arms are like steel. His back is probably too. What's left?' He aimed for the legs, for the stomach, even for the sides, trying to find a vulnerable patch. Again and again his blade struck true, but the result was always the same. Only the man's clothes tore. The skin beneath remained untouched, not even the faintest scratch to show for it.
"You can't keep teleporting forever!" Kaku snarled, eyes gleaming as he charged forward once more. "Keep darting around like an annoying fly, but I'll crush you eventually! You'll wear out before I do!"
And Tatsumi knew he was right.
Every use of Shambhala drained his mental focus. As someone still new to the Imperial Arm, he hadn't built up the stamina for extended combat with it. Each teleport took more out of him. His range was shrinking. His head felt heavy.
"I can't keep this up. But I also can't let him break through… not now, not here!" Anger and desperation surged. He took a risk. He teleported directly in front of Kaku. The massive fist came instantly, filling his vision like a wall of steel. Every fiber in Tatsumi's body moved to avoid it. He felt the edge of the iron-plated hand graze the side of his face. It didn't land full force, but even the scraping metal left thin red cuts along his cheek.
He ignored the pain.
His sword thrust forward, not aiming for flesh, not this time, but for something else entirely.
"Aaargh!"
A spray of blood filled the air.
Tatsumi vanished again in a pulse of purple light, reappearing several meters away. He stood panting, his chest heaving, blood trickling down his face. Opposite him, Kaku was staggering, one hand clenched tightly over his face. A thick stream of blood and some sort of clear fluid spilled down his cheek. One of his eyes had been pierced.
"I'll kill you!" he roared, voice ragged with fury. "I'll fucking kill you, you little shit!"
Expecting a reckless charge, Tatsumi braced himself. His plan had been to exploit Kaku's rage, hoping the man's emotions would make him predictable and easier to counter. But the moment never came… Instead of charging blindly, Kaku stopped.
The curses faded. The groans of pain that had filled the air slowly twisted into something else, something a bit disturbing that just came out of nowhere. A low chuckle escaped the man's lips, growing louder, until it became a full-blown cackle that echoed across the clearing. And then, with a theatrical flair, Kaku reached up and showed a sharp dagger coming out of the mechanical finger—one that he used to jab right into the injured eye, much to Tatsumi's disgust.
A squelch sound came from that action, followed by some grunts of pain. "There… hah… There we go." Kaku said in between his breaths, opening his palm to reveal the same eye socket filled with blood and also… sparks? Metal wiring visible with circuitries became visible as the blood flow began to slow, making it clear this was not a regular eye at all.
"Just kidding~!" he said with a deranged grin, showcasing his grinning face where a small barrel of sorts extended from the eye socket itself. "I can get a new one after I kill you."
Woosh!
A sudden hiss of pressure burst from within it, the open socket where all Tatsumi saw was the flash of light and a sound similar to a gun being fired. All of this barely gave him time to process it.
A sharp, stinging pain exploded across his arm. "Hn!' He gasped and looked down. Something needle-thin had pierced straight through the front of his torso. It resembled a sting more than a bullet, but it pulsed with heat. A burning sensation spread from the entry point across his body like wildfire.
"Damn it!" He gritted his teeth, trying to move, trying to teleport. But as soon as he reached for Shambhala, he felt it; his body no longer responding. His limbs locked up. His fingers wouldn't even twitch. It was like someone had filled his veins with ice. "What!?"
He had no time to figure out what was happening, for Kaku had already advanced and swiped his arm against his side, the sensation of his ribs snapping. Tatsumi let out a pained cry. His back crashed against the trunk of a tree as he slid downwards. Breathing hurt, black dots filled his vision, and he could not move a single inch.
A shadow fell over him.
He managed to tilt his head upward, eyes wide, for the person who approached him was not Kaku but instead a familiar face. The one he wants is called a friend, and someone he truly wishes not to become enemies with. Looking down at him with emotionless eyes, the compassionate and energetic gaze from the past was nowhere to be seen. "S-Se… ryu…"
"From the earliest moments I joined the military, I was taught the importance of fairness and justice. I have seen with my own eyes the kind of people who take over peaceful areas where citizens just want to live out their lives, criminals and those with evil intentions seeking to ruin everything for their own selfish gains while preaching a noble cause that makes no sense. I really thought that I could become a true warrior of justice along with you back then, that we would be able to protect the Empire from all that is evil."
The irony of her words was not lost on him, even though he wanted to argue back that the people she served were not noble in the first place; he could not do so physically. But even if he could move, the girl would not listen to his words, for he had no proof.
"You betrayed me, you went behind my back and killed Captain Ogre… From that day, I swore I would deliver justice and kill both you and the one called Archer." The longer she spoke, the louder her voice became. "I will make sure that all the dead get their justice today! That the source of all this pain will be gone, and peace to finally return! You fucking criminals ruined everything and will never be satisfied no matter what you steal, no matter how many lives you take, and how much evil you spread! I will kill you, Tatsumi. I will stop you from becoming a far worse evil by making sure that you can no longer commit any acts of evil! This will be my final gift to you as your former superior."
After finishing what she wanted to say, the girl turned around, walking away right as the boy, since the earth beneath him rumbled, and in the next moment, a giant figure appeared over him. A monstrous mouth, jagged and dripping, opened wide. Dozens of razor-sharp teeth lined its maw, and it was coming right at him with the intent to swallow his whole upper body in a single bite.
It was already too close.
Too close for Shambhala to save him.
Too close for his sword to rise.
Too close to move at all.
Clang!
As he stared back at death, watching almost in slow motion as his body was nearly being bitten in half. He heard Kaku suddenly warn Seryu, and the creature in front of him suddenly let out a howl of pain as several beams of white light pierced its body, leaving several large gaping holes. "Got you." A person landed next to him, though he could not move his face. Seeing the strands of purple hair immediately made him understand who it was.
"Sh-Shee…le…"
The bespectacled assassin who was always engrossed in her books and rarely spoke to anyone hummed as he gasped out her name, her large scissor weapon held in one arm while she effortlessly grabbed him like a sack of potatoes and lifted him up from the ground, showing herself to be far stronger than he frame implied.
"Sorry, I was late; there were a few enemies I had to handle on my way here."
As she tried to retreat to a safe distance away to put down Tatsumi, he saw the monstrous dog creature stand right back on its feet with its wounds regenerating at an unbelievable speed, intending to strike right back. He wanted to warn her about the sneak attack and wondered why she was not paying any attention to the other enemies, but his confusion was immediately answered by a high-pitched sound coming from the air. This was picked up by the dog, who tried to move and position itself in front of Seryu just in time to tank several powerful projectiles that tore enormous holes in its body.
"Argh!"
Kaku, on the other hand, was blown away with a single hit. His body disappeared within the dense forest.
Then he heard Sheele's soft voice speak to him.
"Don't worry, he is providing support for everyone on the field." The girl even took the time to pull his head up by his hair and have Tatsumi stare right back at the main base, where she pointed above the castle, at a figure standing there. Though it was a bit hard to see from so far away, and the angle Sheele was holding his head was a bit awkward, the billowing red cloth and ridiculously large bow were unmistakable, especially when they were bathed in the rather scary-looking bright crimson light that came from the arrow he was pulling.
Its appearance alone sent a chill down his spine. For some reason, he felt more in danger at that moment than when Koro had almost devoured him.
As for Seryu, she had a completely different reaction.
"You won't get away this time, evil scum! I will avenge General Esdeath's honor for what you did to her, EMIYA!"
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The next 5 chapters of Snafu, and my other Fate fics (Fate Coiling Sword with 3 chapters, A Fake Familiar Reborn with 3 chapters, Steel Eyed Faker soon to be 3 chapters, Hound having 3 and To love a sword having 4 chapters) are already available on my P@treon. With 4 more Broly chapters at /NimtheWriter. Also, I post commissioned arts on each story, already posted a few on an Archer's Promise, Broly and Snafu.