Admittedly, I spent a little too long just playing Tekken with Nobunaga the next day. Well into the afternoon actually, but in my defense, the score was a little too close for comfort. We were tied even. No victory was delectable unless it was by landslide. She shared that sentiment entirely, so it was even harder to put down the controller.
The only reason I'd ever even gotten up was to get some snacks… only to realise that the Sun had almost set in that time. I promptly steeled my heart and pulled the plug on our competition, much to her protest.
"You were only in the lead by one match." She grumbled, arms crossed as we stepped out into the front yard.
I sighed. "I'd expect a tyrant to have more dignity than to resort to shitty lies."
"When did I lie?!"
"Just now, you did." I nodded sagely, "I won the last match too."
"You didn't. I clearly-"
"Yeah, but I said I won, so I won. People will believe me. You should be familiar with this kind of thing, as a warlord and all that."
"Gah. Propaganda, is it? Well-played! But Henry, as you say, my experience exceeds yours by lifetimes. What makes you think I can't convince anyone to the contrary?"
That was true enough. But, she'd forgotten one thing. The only other person in the house was Caren Hortensia. She was much likelier to back me up because of how handsome I happened to be. There was no one other to turn to either.
Luckily, the perverse nun was close too. She sat by a patch of roses, arms wrapped around her knees as she scrutinized the poor flowers with her eerie golden eyes. She acknowledged us with a disinterested hum. Then, before we'd even said anything, she cut us off,
"It was a draw. Both of you lost."
…
…
"Damn you, fanatic. You will suffer for this."
"I trusted you, Caren…"
She easily struck where it hurt. Either of us would have preferred losing outright instead of a stalemate… only… Wait a second. I did win-
"Too bad. Will the both of you now testify to your maturity by crying like a pair of children?"
Nobunaga raised a clenched fist.
I shook my head and patted her shoulder.
"Never mind, it's not worth it. Let's go find us another Master."
Night drew nearer and nearer anyway. I was even sure I saw a shadow twist and turn abnormally out of the corner of my eye. The wind picked up too, with a certain odd chill to it, like something exciting was about to happen.
With Rin's Archer summoned, the Grail War was teetering on the brink. Any day now, the actual seven Masters would start competing against each other in earnest. All the servants would wield their own noble phantasms too. Manifestations of man's collective delusions. I'd have the chance to study them all… take them apart even… like I'd been tinkering with the Gate of Babylon ever since King Gilgamesh gave me a random lobotomy out of nowhere.
…Entering it directly was always an option, but something told me that analyzing all of humanity's treasures in one place wasn't exactly the best of ideas when it came to my survival.
Even I wasn't that dumb.
Hopefully, we could have ourselves a fight this very night.
"A fine plan! Let us set out!"
-
We found nothing.
It was like the world was actively trying to make me crash out and just attack Atrum's tower. Magi were either a lot more cowardly than I'd assumed, or they were taking the age-old route of identifying threats before moving on them.
I didn't even know most of the masters yet…
It was a sad day. A truly sad day.
Sitting on a sidewalk in the native district of Miyama Town, I groaned.
"Chin up, Henry. We'll be sure to find them another day."
Nobunaga patted my shoulder awkwardly, resting a rifle against her shoulder. Despite her words, her confidence was wavering too… She also looked jumpy, like she was about to shoot someone just for the hell of it.
"We do know of at least three servants, maybe we should find one of them? Maybe that Rin girl? Or, a get-back at Lancer?"
With a hum, I genuinely considered jumping Bazett and Cu Chulainn.
She'd surprise attacked me, right? Even if she was just sent on a suicide-mission by the powers that be, who had also decided to use me to get rid of an obstacle, it wasn't like I owed anything to her… But eh… working to the plans of the nobility while knowing them would just leave a bad taste in my mouth.
Still though, I did want to fight Cu Chulainn.
"Alright…" I decided finally.
However, much like Kirei, it turned out those two had some kind of plot armour too. I realized that when Nobunaga suddenly tightened the grip she had on my shoulder. I looked up at her to spot a massive grin splitting her lips.
Unknowingly, a thin mist had rolled in while I was mulling over my decision. Not the ominous sort, but the kind that would make an excellent backdrop for some truly cool moments. The streetlight overhead blinked once, then lit up brighter.
However, I knew not to get excited too early this time.
So, I waited.
I didn't have to wait long.
I heard small footsteps. I saw a dark figure shifting about in the mist. A moment later, my entertainment for the night deigned to step close enough that I could actually see her. Admittedly, her form left me a tad flabbergasted.
"A child?" I sputtered out.
Pale, sickly pale skin, bright red eyes, straight white hair flowing down to her back and a body that immediately brought up the word 'loli' in my mind. Basically, a child, not a normal one though. It'd take a special kind of idiot to think of her as a harmless lost kid on a night like this considering the distinct red command seals on the back of her palm.
She wore a thick indigo coat that covered her up completely save for thick boots, with a white scarf wrapped around her neck and an ushanka that'd make any Russian proud.
"No, let me guess, not a child, you're actually five hundred?"
I knew what kind of world I lived in.
She tilted her head. "What makes you think that, mister?"
"Just a feeling." I smiled faintly.
"But, I have to correct you. That's just not true, mister. I'm eighteen. A girl might take offense."
Snorting, I put a hand to my chin, "Jailbait, eh?"
"I don't understand that word. But, that girl next to you, that's a servant, right?"
I glanced at the stone-faced Demon King stood beside me, her hand still on my shoulder. Nobunaga's finger hovered above her rifle's trigger, and twitched ever so slightly. Turning back to the girl, I nodded slowly.
The strange loli looked around again, at the traditional houses surrounding us, before fixing me with a plain look. "Well, I was here to see the older brother my father loved badly enough to abandon me but… I guess you'll make for a good warm-up."
With some flair, she placed a hand over her chest and gave a slight bow like she was about to play with an insect. I was reminded of myself even. That was quite something.
"Illyasviel von Einzbern. You should be familiar with the name."
My answer was instantaneous, "Never heard of it."
"A surprise. It doesn't matter, though~"
Woah.
"Berserker!"
WOAH!
The air shifted abruptly. Alarms blared in my head, and my hair stood on end. I stared at my trembling hand, and tried my best to push down the grin welling up from the depths of my heart.
From the mist behind Illyasviel emerged an eight foot tall mountain of a creature. A true and proper barbarian. His arms were as thick as tree trunks, his legs thicker, each muscle was vivid and carved. His eyes shimmered crimson, and wild dark hair fell down his back like a lion's mane. An armoured kilt was tied around his waist, and all except that was bare. Goddamit, he had the RIGHT to have it bare with how huge and muscled he was. His very skin thrummed and pulsed with sheer power.
The madness in his dark eyes… oof…
"Berserker is damn right. Jesus. Where did you even get this one?"
A confident smirk broke onto her small lips, "Maybe if you grovel, I'll only take your servant."
Damn.
Maybe something was wrong with her eyes.
Her servant was impressive and all, but… I hadn't even deigned to stand up yet.
"I'm sorry."
"Already?" She smirked wider.
"No, I'm sorry if I somehow gave you the wrong impression." I rested my chin atop my palm. "I'd still win this."
"What?"
"What is this blessed war?! Another progeny of the divine!" Nobunaga cackled madly, her eyes blurred. She released her rifle to draw her golden blade. "Incredible! Truly incredible! Oh my master! I shall never forget this!"
The air grew repulsive and strained. A vile malice spilled from the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, choking the very world. Sweat formed on my brow from an abrupt rise in temperature on an otherwise cold winter night.
Nobunaga's sudden fervor managed to unnerve even Illyasviel. For a moment, the loli's confidence wavered. She stepped back with slightly wide eyes. When Nobunaga laughed harder, her confusion became palpable.
"Come! Vile deceiver! I shall make an example of you!"
"Berserker!"
Berserker breathed deeply. His chest swelled and he raised both his fists like a warrior true. Then, he bellowed his rage and madness to oppose her sheer malice.
"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▂▂▅▅▃▃▄▄▅▅"
And throughout all that, I sat on the sidewalk. No, that was wrong. I crossed my legs halfway through.
A front-row seat to heroes of legend duking it out, what more could I ask for.
-
Hope you enjoyed.
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