The fireworks were still bursting in the Kyoto sky when Kazuya felt someone connecting to his mind again.
"Anata~… look at the entrance, I'm arriving~"
He instinctively turned his face, and there she was.
Shuten-Douji walked through the crowd as if the entire festival had been set up just to welcome her. Her dark red yukata, embroidered with golden floral details, matched her ethereal air and lazy gaze. In her short purple hair, a small traditional flower-shaped ornament in purple. And walking by her side was a little kitsune with golden hair, wearing an adorable pink yukata with a fox pattern. She seemed as excited as she was shy, looking at everyone as if trying to memorize every detail of the scene.
It wasn't just him who noticed the arrival of the two. His other Servants also noticed their approach, especially with the little fox girl by their side.
And, as expected, many eyes immediately turned to the little one.
Jeanne found the girl absolutely adorable, and Asia couldn't hide the sparkle in her eyes either.
Even the two Alter Servants, despite their efforts to maintain their stern expressions, couldn't hide the slight glance or the way their eyes followed the little fox's steps.
None of them would admit it, of course…
But the truth was obvious: they were enchanted too.
After getting closer, Shuten-Douji was the first to speak, with her soft and playful voice.
"Anata~, I brought a special guest for our night." She let go of Kunou's hand and gave her a gentle nudge: "Go on, introduce yourself properly…"
The "little fox" was obviously Kunou.
The truth was that during the first days she spent with the Oni, Kunou had been visibly apprehensive about her presence. It was hard not to feel a certain unease, after all—the legendary figure of the drunken oni, with her languid gaze, ever-sharp smile, and an almost tangible air of danger, contrasted completely with everything Kunou knew and considered safe. Shuten's supernatural energy was dense, intoxicating, and even though she hadn't done anything directly threatening, her mere presence sent an instinctive shiver down the young fox's spine.
Especially when she remembered what Shuten had done to those humans.
However, fear gave way to curiosity, and that curiosity turned into shy admiration when Kunou began to observe her from a distance. Shuten, contrary to what she had imagined, wasn't cruel or unpredictable. She was charmingly chaotic, yes, but also surprisingly kind to those who caught her interest—and, to her surprise, that included Kunou. Little by little, the mischievous smiles stopped scaring her, and the carefree gestures of affection the oni distributed, even if drunken, began to break down the wall between them.
The definitive turning point, however, came with the unexpected friendship between Shuten and her oka-san, Yasaka. Both shared a taste—no, a passion—for fine sake and moments of relaxation. A few nights together were enough for the two to start meeting with almost ritualistic frequency, always accompanied by bottles of refined drinks and long conversations that ranged from scandalous laughter to ancient adult stories.
For Kunou, seeing her mother so at ease with Shuten was liberating. If Yasaka, who had always been the pillar of her security and wisdom, trusted her, then perhaps the oni wasn't something to fear. More than that, Kunou began to quietly join those nights, first as a curious observer, then as a cherished companion. The strangeness gave way to familiarity, and that, to genuine affection. In less than a week, it was hard to find Shuten alone without Kunou hovering nearby, either teasing her with curious questions or simply lying on her lap, listening to stories she'd never read in scrolls about this legendary Yokai.
Today, however, Kunou was frustrated. There was a political meeting scheduled between her family and Kazuya, but her mother was… unavailable. More precisely, she was too drunk to get out of bed, and the blame fell entirely on Shuten. The oni had brought a new type of "special" liquor the previous night, and Yasaka, of course, wouldn't refuse the invitation. It was the kind of chaos Kunou would never have imagined tolerating, let alone accepting with a resigned sigh and a half-exasperated, half-affectionate glance at the culprit, who was still sleeping, laughing lazily and hugging an empty barrel.
With no alternatives and the political meeting postponed—or rather, canceled due to alcoholic incapacity—she found herself with an unexpectedly free day. Any other occasion would have been spent training, studying, or perhaps visiting one of the region's shrines. However, it took just one suggestion from Shuten, still with the sweet scent of sake on her breath and a mischievous glint in her eyes, to change the little fox's plans.
Shuten-Douji wanted to go to the local festival happening that night because, according to her, her husband would be there with her other sisters.
At first, she hesitated. The idea of going out in public with someone as… attention-grabbing as Shuten-Douji still caused some embarrassment, especially knowing that the oni would likely cause some sort of commotion. But there was the fact that she would meet the "human" who wanted to see her mother the next day, which made Kunou give in. Perhaps it was the desire to better understand this figure she had heard so much about. Or maybe it was just the desire to leave the house with someone who, strangely, was already dear to her.
After all, as scandalous as she was, Shuten-Douji treated her with respect, not as a child, but as an equal.
And here she was now. Her first impression of her friend's husband was that he was handsome and very muscular, the type her mother always looked for to be her new tou-san…
Kunou took two shy steps forward, gave a polite bow, and said in a clear but slightly nervous voice:
"It's a pleasure! I am Kunou. My mother is Yasaka-sama, leader of Kyoto. And you must be Kazuya-sama… right?"
Kazuya blinked, surprised, then composed himself with a kind smile.
"Exactly. You can just call me Kazuya. I don't care for formalities. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kunou-chan…"
Kunou looked him up and down, curious.
"I can't just call you by your name, Kazuya-sama. You are someone of equal status to my oka-san. You're the leader of your own faction. It would be disrespectful on my part…"
"Ohhh?" Kazuya raised an eyebrow, observing the polite little fox in front of him with a slight smile on his lips. "I see… In that case, feel free to call me that."
He then extended his hand in a welcoming gesture, introducing the figures around him by their respective names.
"These here near me are my dear wives: Ishtar, Ereshkigal, Artoria, Altria, Scáthach, Skadi, Jeanne, and Joana. And over there is my friend, the lovely Asia Argento."
Kunou observed each of the women with wide eyes, visibly enchanted, though she made a notable effort to maintain the dignified posture expected of a successor to Kyoto's leadership.
Even so, her fluffy tail wagged slightly, betraying the enthusiasm overflowing in her heart.
Some of the names Kazuya mentioned sounded familiar, names she remembered reading in ancient books or during lessons about mythology.
Ishtar… Ereshkigal…?
If she wasn't mistaken, both were supposed to be sealed with the rest of the Mesopotamian pantheon due to a war that happened centuries ago between some pantheons, overshadowed by the Demon Civil War…
And Skadi, the ice goddess, wasn't she a mythical figure who was supposed to have died ages ago?
Could it be… the same case as Shuten-Douji…?
The memory of the legendary oni, whose existence had manifested so concretely before her some time ago, sparked her curiosity even more.
Perhaps… these women really were the same deities from the legends.
And if they were, that only made Ryougi Kazuya even more terrifying and fascinating.
One thing she couldn't always control was her curiosity, and because of that, she wanted to know more…
One of the most basic questions in her mind was…
"Are all of them… your wives?" she asked, with a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
Shuten let out a drawn-out giggle and placed her hand on the little kitsune's head.
"Uh-huh~. And before you ask, yes, they all get along… more or less."
"More or less is being generous…" muttered Salter, crossing her arms and looking away.
"Hey, I'm the one who gets along best with everyone here," retorted Ishtar with a victorious smile.
"In your dreams, maybe, sister…" replied Ereshkigal, rolling her eyes.
Jeanne intervened with her usual gentleness, stepping forward.
"Ignore the little frictions, Kunou-chan. In the end, we're a family. A… rather noisy one, but still united."
"That… sounds fun…" admitted Kunou, with a slight smile.
"You're adorable!" exclaimed Asia, crouching a bit to be at her level. "That yukata looks beautiful on you!"
Kunou blushed slightly and smiled.
"Thank you… my mother chose it."
"That's the little daughter of Kyoto's leader, so treat her with care, okay?" commented Shuten-Douji, joining the group and casually leaning against Kazuya, as if her place by his side was already reserved. "Yasaka asked me to bring her to have some fun. And of course… I took the opportunity…"
"Kunou-chan, how about playing at one of the stalls with me later?" said Jeanne, crouching to be at her level.
"I'd love that, Jeanne-sama," replied Kunou, now more excited. "Is there a goldfish scooping game at this festival? The last time I came with my oka-san, I played it and loved it!"
"There is!" said Jeanne, as kind as ever, smiling. "I'm pretty good at it, you know?"
"I want to compete too!" announced Jalter, stepping in. "Just to crush Ishtar's ego!"
"You talk like you have a chance!" retorted the goddess, with a competitive glint in her eyes.
Kazuya sighed, but his lips carried a faint smile.
Shuten-Douji approached, possessively linking her arm with his.
"Are you going to introduce me properly, or are you just going to keep staring?"
"I was getting there. And this one, Kunou, you already know. But just to make it official: Shuten-Douji. One of my wives… and apparently your new best friend…"
"Anata~, that was bold! Kunou-chan is still a child. You have to be careful with your words… fufufufu," said Shuten-Douji, letting out her characteristic provocative laugh toward the little fox.
"I'm not a child!" retorted Kunou, puffing out her cheeks.
"True, you're far more mature than some of us…" commented Scáthach, casting a quick glance at Jalter and Ishtar.
"I'm listening, you know…" growled the two in unison.
Everyone laughed, and even Kunou let out a little giggle.
Shuten-Douji then leaned down and whispered in the little fox's ear:
"See? I told you it'd be fun… My anata~ is the best!"
Kunou nodded her little head.
With the introductions done, the group quickly continued their journey to enjoy their time at the festival. They walked among the stalls lit by colorful lanterns, with the sweet and savory aromas of the festival filling the air like a tempting caress. The atmosphere felt magical, with the laughter of children and adults blending with the distant sound of traditional flutes and drums.
Kunou went from stall to stall, accompanied by Jeanne, Joana, and Asia. Jeanne held her hand like an older sister, while Joana carried some prizes the little one had already won.
"You're really good at this, Kunou-chan," praised Asia, smiling, holding a pink cotton candy.
"It's because my mother taught me how to hold the paper just right so it doesn't tear!" said Kunou, all proud, her golden tail wagging with excitement.
"How about we try that ring toss stall?" suggested Jeanne.
"Only if the prize is better than the last game's," teased Jalter, appearing from behind and casting a quick glance at Kazuya. "And you, Master, what do you think?"
Kazuya was surrounded. Literally.
Ishtar hung on one of his arms, laughing at something only she found funny.
"Help me win that huge plushie, Kazuya. It'll look great in my room." She looked at the others with a smug smile. "I mean… our room."
"What? Our room has rules, you know that," replied Ereshkigal with an offended air, holding Kazuya's other arm like it was a trophy. "He promised he'd spend tonight with me!"
"Promised?" Scáthach raised an eyebrow, appearing behind him like an elegant shadow. "I don't recall any vow. I, on the other hand, scheduled a private archery competition later… with me."
"Kazuya already said he'd go with me to the temple," retorted Skadi calmly, stopping beside her rival. "And unlike some, I don't need to compete. He simply chose me."
"He didn't choose anyone!" exploded Salter, with narrowed eyes and a french fry in her mouth. "He promised me a walk just with us. No goddesses, no distractions. Or did you forget that?"
"So possessive…" murmured Shuten, appearing with a colorful sake in her hands and resting her chin on Kazuya's shoulder. "My anata~ likes variety, not cages…"
"Kazuya is a human, not a drink to be shared," commented Jalter, with the most determined expression the group had ever seen on her. "And if he wants to join me at the taiko stall, I'm sure we'll have more fun than all of you combined!"
"Whoa…" murmured Kazuya, looking at the sky as if asking for divine help. "This escalated quickly…"
Kunou watched the whole scene with wide eyes, torn between childish curiosity and absolute perplexity.
"Do you all always fight like this over him?"
"This? This is just… the warm-up."
"Hm, I see…" Kunou took a bite of her rice candy. "So this is how a harem war starts…"
"Exactly!" replied Ishtar with pride, as if she were a veteran in the field.
"And who's winning?" Kunou asked innocently, looking at the women around her.
They all fell silent for a moment. A challenging glance swept through the group.
"Me, obviously," said Ishtar, confident.
"Only in your dreams!" growled Jalter, already clenching her fists.
"What matters," interrupted Jeanne, always diplomatic, "is that Kazuya is happy. And tonight is for smiling. Right?"
"Absolutely," Kazuya smiled, leaning down and giving Kunou a light pat on the head. "And you're having fun too, Kunou-chan?"
The little kitsune smiled and nodded vigorously, her tail wagging like a flag in the wind.
"Lots! I've never seen such a weird group. But it's fun! You all seem like a real family."
The group fell silent for a moment, and then Asia said softly:
"Maybe because we are, even if in an… unconventional way."
"Let's take a picture together, anata~?" suggested Shuten-Douji suddenly, excited. "Look, that stall does instant photos with a fireworks background!"
"Great idea!" agreed Jeanne.
"I want to stand next to Kazuya!" said Ishtar, Ereshkigal, Scáthach, and Jalter at the same time.
"Oh no…" murmured Kazuya.
"No arguing," said Ereshkigal, her voice sweet but firm.
The entire group froze.
The Underworld Goddess seemed terrifying now…
"Alright, let's go…" Kazuya said with a sigh. And amid sulky smiles, teasing, and giggles, the group posed for the most chaotic and charming photo of the festival after entering the stall.
The machine spat out the photo with a soft sound, and everyone gathered to see the result. Kunou held the picture with both hands, her eyes shining with joy at seeing herself in the center of the group, surrounded by such powerful yet eccentric figures. Even Salter was discreetly smiling in the background of the image, though she'd never admit it.
But the moment of relaxation lasted only a few seconds.
"…Master…" Scáthach said calmly to him: "We're being followed."
Silence fell like a stone in a lake.
The carefree expressions vanished in the blink of an eye. The Servants, though keeping smiles on their faces to avoid alarming the civilians around, were now on high alert.
"I sensed it since the candy stall," murmured Ereshkigal, her gaze glinting with seriousness. "But I thought it was just paranoia…"
"I noticed an unusual presence too," commented Jeanne softly, as if making a casual observation. "But it felt… restrained, barely noticeable, to be honest…"
"That 'restrained' presence passed right by me just now," grumbled Salter. "I felt eyes on the back of my neck."
"I was about to hunt the creature down," said Jalter, clenching her fists with a crackle of flames. "But someone stopped me."
"You'd break the festival in half with your subtle approach," retorted Ishtar, rolling her eyes.
Meanwhile, Skadi and Shuten-Douji positioned themselves discreetly near Kunou, like a natural shield, without the little one noticing the sudden tension.
Kazuya remained silent.
But his eyes were sharp.
Very sharp.
He glanced at the sky for a second, not seeking divine help this time, but as if measuring something in the stars. Then he turned his gaze to Scáthach.
"Since you sensed the presence clearly…"
She turned to him, silent.
"…You have my permission. Deal with it."
Scáthach nodded with a slight bow of her head, almost reverent, and in the next instant, she vanished, disappearing silently, like a shadow that had never been there.
Ishtar crossed her arms, still a bit tense.
"You're letting her handle it alone?"
"If it were a real enemy, we'd have been attacked already," replied Kazuya calmly. "Whoever it is, they're just watching us. Besides, Shishou won't be in danger so easily…"
"Fufufufu~…" Shuten-Douji let out her drawn-out laugh. "I hope the stalker is strong… she tends to come back in a good mood when she has fun."
"Or covered in blood," commented Skadi indifferently.
"Sometimes it's the same thing," said Salter with a grim half-smile.
While the Servants exchanged these loaded remarks, Kunou looked around, noticing the shift in the emotional atmosphere.
"Kazuya-sama… did something happen?"
He crouched slightly in front of her, smiling kindly to avoid scaring her.
"Just someone too curious watching us. It's nothing you need to worry about, Kunou-chan. Everything's under control."
She nodded, though her eyes were a bit more serious now.
.
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Many things—Truly, I stole many lives. A man. A specter. A god. I confronted countless existences, slaughtering all those near me.
Fight. Fight. Fight. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. In the end, this body was drenched in the blood of many victims and became immortal. The territory under my dominion, the "Land of Shadows," was finally forced out to the Outside of the World, and I ended up being elevated to an existence not unlike a Divine Spirit.
I will not age. I will not die. I transformed into that which is immortal.
Surely, I can no longer recall exactly how much time has passed since I first picked up a spear. It's different from something good. I, who stood on haunted ground and guarded the "gate," have already acquired the wisdom of the abyss, so I am capable of measuring time precisely.
Yet I simply have no desire to do so. It's different from melancholy. It's also different from resignation. Regret?
I don't understand. I can say that, but I cannot affirm it.
At least, during the interval in which I slaughtered many things, there is certainly something that exists within me now, something that did not exist in my feelings back when I was imparting my teachings to the brave warriors of Ulster.
Ah, indeed. Guiding considerably the many brave warriors.
Everything should have vanished after many months and years, but amidst my memories, deliberately kept obscured, one person… There is only one person, a man whose figure is clearly displayed to me even now.
Red eyes. His pair of eyes. Only in the moment when that gleam crosses my mind does what lies within this chest calm. A warmth dwells in me, unchanging for eternity. A heart longing for reunion? It's not like that. This I can affirm. If so, what is it? To say firmly, to that man—I want you to kill me. I want death as a person.
Of course, if that man, who has now become a "Heroic Spirit," claims to have the strength to kill this person who has already separated from the glimpse of life and slaughtered even gods, then… it was always impossible…
Fortunately, I found the desired death when humanity was incinerated, but I remained as a mere Heroic Spirit. I found a decent master with the potential to become one of those heroes I always trained, and I enjoyed teaching him… And in that teaching, I learned many things from him.
I ended up lying with him and began to see him as my salvation. Only by his side can I return to how I was before picking up a spear and becoming an invincible existence. I felt again like I did back then; was it love? Nostalgia? I don't know…
But I ended up losing him to responsibility. He saved the world once more and died in the process.
But that wasn't the end.
I was summoned by his side once again.
And my life began to make sense again.
Even more so now that he has the ability to defeat me in combat. He is the apprentice I am most proud of, proud as his teacher and his wife…
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The temple rested silently, hidden behind a hill where the glow of the fireworks barely reached. It was a traditional structure, with curved roofs covered in black tiles and dark wooden walls that had already withstood the weight of centuries. Unlit paper lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, and the great cherry tree in the center of the courtyard let petals fall, seeming to float in time.
The stone steps led to the main shrine, where a fox statue with a key in its mouth silently observed the world. It was a sacred place. Ancient. One of Kyoto's last corners where time refused to pass.
Then the shadows under the temple's eaves moved.
And from them emerged a young man.
His black hair was tied in a high, impeccable bun. His face was partially covered by dark, round-lensed sunglasses with a thin frame, hiding the intensity of his gaze behind a cold reflection. He wore a gakuran, the traditional Japanese male school uniform, entirely black, buttoned up to the neck with golden buttons that gleamed in the pale moonlight.
He walked to the center of the courtyard, stopping before the silent cherry tree. There, he stared at the night sky for a moment before murmuring, as if concluding a report:
"Mission accomplished…"
This was Connla, a member of the Heroic Faction.
He inherited the spirit of the original Connla, son of the mythical Irish hero Cú Chulainn.
He had been ordered by Cao Cao to monitor the Chaldea group, with a clear mission: report everything they did that night. How many they were, what they carried, how they moved…
In short, any useful information was to be gathered and delivered without fail.
He had been chosen for this task because of his [Night Reflection], a Sacred Gear with a rare ability that granted him absolute control over shadows.
With it, he could manipulate shadows at will, absorbing attacks, redirecting them as he pleased, and even using any shadow within his area of influence as an entry or exit point. A master of concealment, he could completely hide his presence, sinking into the dark as if he didn't exist.
Unless someone was far stronger than him, no one would notice him…
Why did he even say that?
Connla was still staring at the sky through the cherry blossoms when he felt it.
"You move well," said a voice behind him, cold and emotionless, like steel dipped in ice.
When Connla turned, Scáthach was already there.
Her stance was casual, but the Gáe Bolg spear was in hand, its metal gleaming with a crimson hue that pulsed like the heart of a lurking beast.
Connla's eyes widened, not because he had been found, but because he hadn't even sensed when she arrived.
She took a step forward. The ground seemed to yield under her feet, as if it feared her presence.
"The Legendary Scáthach who destroyed the Celts a few days ago…" he murmured, almost breathless.
By now, the woman before him was known to everyone who had investigated Chaldea and had the slightest information about her… The God Slayer in front of him was a hot topic; moreover, he had a personal interest in her, as she had trained his father in the past.
"You've got courage, kid…" she said, without closing the distance. "Using shadows to sneak around Kyoto during the festival… and you dare spy on my master…"
Connla swallowed hard.
But he didn't back down.
In the face of Scáthach, the true Legendary Queen of the Land of Shadows, he knew he had no real chance. Even so, running wasn't in his vocabulary. He wasn't someone who broke orders. Much less a coward.
"…Tch," he growled softly. "I've already completed my mission. But I can't just let you capture me…"
His fingers slowly closed, and the shadows around him seemed to react to his determination.
"Balance Break," he murmured.
The shadows stirred like living mist and covered his body in an instant, forming a simple yet efficient armor, pitch-black, with a fluid appearance but durable. Some parts resembled blackened leather, others thin, flexible plates. A partial helm covered part of his face, revealing only his eyes, now more intense. Short tentacles sprouted from his back, but they were merely defensive extensions.
Cross of Death: Dark Night Beast Skin.
"He'll be disappointed if I don't fight," he whispered to himself before facing Scáthach head-on. "I won't run. Nor betray the trust of the one who sent me…"
Scáthach didn't respond immediately.
She merely twirled her wrist lightly, making the spear spin between her fingers before returning to a combat stance. Her eyes held no disdain or impatience. Just calm…
"It's your choice. I wouldn't recommend it, but… if you insist."
Connla advanced.
His movement wasn't perfect. It wasn't fast as light or cloaked in explosive energy. It was precise, controlled, trained. A shadow-coated punch aimed straight at Scáthach's torso. She dodged with a subtle hip twist, evading by a hair's breadth.
He tried a second strike, pulling one of the tentacles to immobilize her. But she had already shifted position. Her feet seemed to make no sound on the ground.
Connla attempted another move, a spinning kick covered in shadow, followed by a short blade emerging from his forearm. Scáthach blocked the blade with the side of her spear and pushed him back with a simple shoulder movement, without even breathing heavily.
Connla slid back from the impact, his feet scraping the stone ground. His chest heaved, but he still kept his guard up.
He moved again, faster, lower, trying to use the terrain and surrounding shadows to his advantage. From his arm, he formed a long, curved blade of pure darkness, aiming a diagonal cut at Scáthach's flank.
But she had already read the move before he completed the step.
The spear intercepted the attack mid-strike. The sound of the clash echoed briefly in the silent courtyard.
Connla stepped back and tried another approach.
"Night Reflection…" he murmured before his entire body dissolved into shadow.
Scáthach advanced with a direct strike, her blade piercing his chest… with no effect.
Like mist, Connla became intangible. His dry laugh echoed behind her.
"It's no use. In this state, no physical attack can touch me."
The spear master furrowed her brow slightly. She took a step to the side, still silent, sensing the changes around her.
He reappeared to her left, attempting to use his arm as a blade again, aiming for her neck.
This time, she blocked… but not with the spear.
With her open palm.
Connla didn't understand at first.
Then he felt it.
A magical rune traced at the moment of contact. What shocked him was—since when did Scáthach have mastery over Nordic runes?!
"Your shadows are good…" Scáthach said calmly. "But they're not faster than my flow reading, and unfortunately for you, I know how to deal with intangible opponents…"
She raised two fingers and moved them in the air.
A red light glowed beneath his feet. A runic circle she had drawn at their first contact. He hadn't even noticed.
"You touched the ground."
The shadows under Connla stirred… and then froze.
Immobilized.
Connla tried to dissolve into mist again.
Nothing.
The Sacred Gear's power didn't respond. The shadow enveloped him but was inert, as if trapped in stone.
"Tch…!" He gritted his teeth, panting.
Scáthach approached slowly.
"Would your master use you like this, in this kind of mission, knowing the risk?"
"He entrusted this task to me. And that's all that matters," Connla replied firmly.
For a moment, silence fell between them, broken only by the distant sound of the festival's drums.
Scáthach raised her gaze to the sky and murmured:
"Typical of a son of Cú Chulainn…"
Thanks to her [Wisdom of Dún Scáith: A+] skill, she easily discerned the boy's "origins." That's why she didn't immediately go for the kill; though from another world, the boy was still the son of her pupil, the one who had been her favorite before Kazuya.
Indeed, this skill also served to discern an individual's "origins." It had many uses, representing the intellect of the abyss, acquired as a consequence of surpassing humanity, killing gods, and being left behind in the Outside of the World. Except for those specific to certain heroes, nearly all skills could be exhibited with B~A rank proficiency. Moreover, for those she recognized as true heroes, she could also teach such skills.
During combat, one of her most frequently used skills was predicting battle conditions through "Clairvoyance." Even in Ulster mythology, she was known to foresee the future with this ability, including the final moments of her beloved pupil, Cú Chulainn.
But what should she do now?
Before meeting Kazuya, she wouldn't have hesitated for a moment to eliminate any threat, even if that threat was the son of her dearest disciple. In her world, compassion was a dangerous luxury, and emotions weakened a warrior's judgment. Her respect for her former pupil wasn't enough to stay her blade if the boy proved to be a risk to the balance.
However, her time with Kazuya had been… unexpected. The forced coexistence with that young man, so different from what she knew, someone who constantly prioritized others, who smiled sincerely even in the face of death, and who never hesitated to bear the weight of others' mistakes, began to weaken the emotional walls she had built with blood and solitude.
He was empathetic, compassionate, and stubbornly human. And as much as she tried to ignore it, Scáthach began to grow fond of that side of him that didn't change even in this world, despite becoming much more apathetic.
She couldn't help but think of the time she spent with him in Chaldea.
Over time, Kazuya not only softened Scáthach's lethal instincts, he conquered something that few, if any, had ever touched: her heart.
At first, she resisted. Not out of pride, but out of conviction. Scáthach was someone who had transcended humanity, someone who had lived centuries in war and solitude, bearing the burden of countless deaths. For her, emotions like love and desire were buried under the weight of her eternity. Yet Kazuya, with his serene light and tireless empathy, didn't confront her with words—he disarmed her with actions, with the silent resolve of someone who carried the world without losing himself in it.
And so, between one battle and another, between shared silences and glances that said more than a thousand words, she yielded. Not out of weakness, but by choice. He had proven his worth, not as a warrior, but as a man. His warmth, his persistence, and his unwavering respect for her as both a woman and a warrior slowly broke the invisible chains she had imposed on her own heart.
She gave herself to him, not as a reward for advancing in his training, nor as an obligation, but as a lover and wife. More than once, she shared not only her body but her soul, marked by ages of pain and glory. Kazuya didn't just have her—he saved her from a fate of eternal solitude.
Now, in this moment, facing the one who inherited the spirit of her pupil's son, she confronted her change. She had achieved the death she always desired and found the happiness she never thought she'd have, given the boredom of immortality.
Poetic, isn't it?
She let out a sigh and smiled faintly, confusing the boy trapped in his own shadow.
Unfortunately, they were enemies now. She couldn't spare him for bringing her such nostalgia…
Scáthach stopped a few steps from him.
"An honorable death, then…"
She raised Gáe Bolg and struck the boy before he could say anything.
The spear pierced his heart soundlessly.
Connla fell to his knees.
And, like a shadow in the moonlight, part of his body dissolved into black smoke, part into faint energy particles, carried away by the breeze that blew through the cherry tree's branches.
Scáthach remained there for a moment.
Then, she turned on her heels, disappearing into the darkness of the night.
The boy's mission ended there.
Or at least his life…
The particles floated into the sky and drifted in a specific direction.
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