It's natural for me to be surprised, after all, it's not every day you meet the Counter Guardian counterpart of your brother-in-law.
Behold EMIYA, he hated his name or forgot, either way, he just doesn't want anyone to mention he was 'Shirou' as he hated himself with passion.
Archer's eyes narrowed as he saw my figure, his body was tense; it was as if he's ready to move when doing something suspicious.
"Who are you? And where is this place?" Although Archer's tone was calm, there was hidden steel inside it.
Thanks to his question, I managed to snap out of it and let out an amused smile and thought. 'Now this is interesting.'
If Shirou was here, there's no doubt a 'fight' would happen.
"Isn't it a bit rude, considering you're the one who went in?" Despite that logic, Archer wasn't amused and I could tell that he was starting to gather prana into both of his hands.
"Woah, no need to be tense geez, are all counter-guardians like you?" I know that they aren't, 'cause look at Musashi.
"You know what I am…" Archer was now fully alert and was about to start attacking me.
I frowned and said. "If I were you, don't do whatever you're about to do."
Archer suddenly let out his signature smirk and replied. "And why would I do that?"
My expression became serious and answered. "Because people die if they get killed."
I just couldn't stop myself from saying those words, I was grinning internally, and just like that Archer looked confused. "What are you talking about…"
"Just because you're correct doesn't mean you're right." This time I couldn't stop the smile that was forming on my face.
Archer doesn't know for some reason those words irked him, shaking his head. "Are you making fun of me?"
"No." I smiled.
"Oi, don't bluntly lie in front of my face," Archer said, annoyed.
"Haha, anyway as for your previous question, I suppose I'll have to introduce myself, I'm Alexander or just Alex and as to where you are, you're currently inside my humble shop," I answered his previous question.
"This is a shop…" Archer looked around with a skeptical expression.
I wasn't even mad that he was skeptical of the entire thing, to be fair he wasn't the first to think that this place isn't a shop, nor he would be the last.
Suddenly Archer froze from his spot as he was looking at a certain sword on the shelves like a hawk eyeing its prey.
I followed the poor man's gaze and realized he was looking at Excalibur, longingly.
It was as if he's looking at someone rather than the sword itself, and I know exactly what he's thinking right now, he's thinking about Arturia.
At this point Archer had forgotten a lot of things in his life before he made a contract with Alaya and became a counter-guardian, however, there's still few that he could remember even after spending centuries as Alaya's dog.
One of those unforgettable moments is Saber, the first night they met each other, she took his breath away, and it immortalized inside his mind.
"Is that…?"
I finished the sentence for him. "Excalibur, yes the real one, not a replica."
Archer, of course, knew that it was real or else he wouldn't have paid attention to it, but the question that he wanted an answer is. 'How did it get here..?'
Looking at Archer's neutral, to cold expression. It was safe to say that he was misunderstanding something. "Emiya, before you do something you regret, I'll tell you that the Excalibur on the shelves isn't stolen from your beloved Seiba."
Although still suspicious, Archer became significantly less tense after hearing those words. "Then how..?"
I have no idea, that's why I just smiled and replied. "That's a story for another time, so yes back to the topic, since now that you know that this is a shop would you like to buy anything?"
This time, it isn't about profit, I mean a part of it is for profit, however, I wanted to know if the shop is capable of converting EMIYA's contract with Alaya.
Archer wanted to say something, however, he stopped and decided to play along, for now. "I don't have any money with me."
Even though I already explained this multiple times, I would never get bored of this. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that! You can convert anything that you possess."
"Anything?" Archer frowned.
"Indeed, everything including your contract with Alaya." My smile widened as I saw his expression turned into disbelief and shock, before shaking his head, probably thinking that it was impossible.
"Hmph, that's impossible." Archer scowled at me.
Maybe, who knows, but If the shop is capable of selling a literal God. Then I don't think converting a contract from a Goddess is impossible.
"Why not let me try converting it? You'll lose nothing by the end of the day." There's no way he could argue with my logic.
Archer hesitated, clearly the poor man wasn't buying it, after thinking for a long time, the Counter Guardian decided. "Fine, convert it."
From his tone alone, he wasn't expecting anything, however, he couldn't hide the slightest hope hidden.
Now that I received his consent, I proceeded to convert his contract with the representative of humanity.
And it worked, making me smile and thought. 'I just saved your counterpart, brother-in-law, you owe me one.'
Not that I would be able to withdraw it, since he wasn't here to witness this.
Now that his contract with Alaya is gone, I'm waiting for him to realize that, with a smile I said. "Your contract with Alaya has been converted, you're now free from her influence."
"What nonsens-" Archer suddenly paused as he felt something that he never thought was possible, his contract with the representative of humanity, or that bitch for short, is completely gone.
As the thought sank into him, stared at me and said with a shocked disbelief expression. "I'm free….?"
"Indeed you are." I was definitely enjoying this, it felt nice to free an innocent man from his eternal torture.
His ideal was beautiful, it was innocent, yet it's also an impossible utopia that can't be achieved.
It wasn't wrong, however, it is also stupid, you can't save anyone that is a fact.
The poor man didn't know what to do with the news, judging from his reaction he can't believe that this was all happening.
I can't really blame the man for reacting like that, after all, there aren't many who would undo Alaya's contract.
"How does it feel to be finally free from her?" I don't know why she's categorized as 'her' when she's clearly a genderless entity like Root.
"I..I.. don't know.." Archer was still in shock.
I approached him and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Take it easy, I know this seems unbelievable but trust me it is, you can do whatever you want, as no one would force you with anything you have regained your freedom."
Archer slowly nodded and accepted my words.
What a pitiful man, to think being 'free' is a foreign concept to him, then again being in contract with Alaya almost guaranteed eternal servitude.
While Archer was musing about his unexpected freedom, suddenly another set of customers arrived.
Looking at the newest arrival and seeing that it was Olga Discordia and Chloe, honestly, I wasn't expecting them to visit this soon.
Regardless, I have to greet them. "Welcome to my humble shop, Olga and Chloe."
Olga nodded. "So, this is your shop…it certainly is unique.. and oh my-"
I didn't know what distracted her at first, however, it didn't take me long to figure out what distracted her.
It was Archer.
Olga boldly approached him. "Hey, are you a dark elf?"
She was eyeing his appearance from head to toe, she wasn't even trying to hide the fact that she was treating him as an eye candy.
Archer snapped out of his musing as the Queen of Dark Elves suddenly approached him, seeing the tanned beauty he couldn't help but thought. 'Phantasmal Species?'
"No?"
Olga was a bit disappointed by that answer, but regardless it didn't change a thing. "It doesn't matter which race you are from I suppose… either way I'll be blunt with you. I want to know you."
Archer didn't know what to say, what to do right now. "Okay..?"
Chloe was also confused by her queen's action, however, it was different for me and I thought in surprise. 'His Rank EX harem protagonist skill is working! I can't believe I managed to witness it's legendary!'
I'm going to enjoy watching this and maybe learn a thing or two from the counter guardian.
—
-?-
"What is this…? My contract with subject EMIYA has been terminated? Who dared to do such a thing?" A voice filled with anger echoed across the endless space.
This was the first time someone managed to get away from its influence, that's why it's angry.
"Whoever did this will pay."
Alaya started her investigation toward this unexpected event, she wasn't worried about losing 1 EMIYA, because she had several versions of them ready to be deployed.
However, what she minds is there is someone out there capable of terminating her contract without her permission, that's why she will find them and make them feel the consequences of taking what's hers.
—
A/N: Alaya-chan is now targeting Alex, what does that mean for him? It means…nothing, yeah.
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