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-Town of Fuyuki.
3rd POV*
Shiki and Lawrence returned to Fuyuki after she finished her duel with Berserker. Shiki now is all smiles satisfied with the battle she just experienced. It was realistic for her because Berserker does not have the proper thinking to hold back in a fight, she simply provoked him as the knight raged in response. "Aren't you just going to overpower all of those servants? With those items, they will be easy for you" Lawrence said checking the new hero he just gained.
The said hero was Earthshaker. There may be many earths but only one Earthshaker. In the lore, that hero was said to will himself into existence. Despite no mentions of it, Earthshaker could be said to be a planet himself because he called Earth as his sister planet. He swore to take revenge for the fall of Earth and also prepared his planet for the incoming invasion of other dimensional beings.
This means that if Lawrence decided to implement this whole hero into his being, he would become a same existence as Gaia or the other Types. He would gain immense strength and control to adjust to his newly founded existence, it also means that another planet will rise among the 9 planets circling the solar system.
Lawrence stopped thinking about this matter because Shiki was already staring at him. "That would not happen, I will only wear 3 items during this war so that it could level the match" Shiki said shaking her head. This made Lawrence sigh because even if she took 3 of them, the other 3 will still be enough to play with the servants.
In Shiki's fight with Berserker, she did not use any effort into subduing him. Just a slight push from Shiki will really blast Berserker away. Fortunately she trained enough to control her strength, otherwise the fight would not be interesting right? Ending the fight with one blow might be enticing but if it happens all the time, you would only bore yourself.
"Oh right, how will you handle that spoiled brat? If possible can you give her to me? I'd like to put some sense on her mind" Shiki asked disturbingly holding her dagger. She has always considered Luvia as a hindrance because the girl kept pestering Lawrence. She simply do not know where to stop! That pissed Shiki a lot that she almost killed the girl in the past.
Lawrence thought about it and finally decided. "Should we let her see the Holy Grail war? At least to make her familiar in case something similar happens in the future" he asked making Shiki smile. "You should stop acting like a woman. Be a man and tell your intentions directly" Shiki snorted at him who just laughed. "I guess, I should"
Both of them entered the living room where they saw Anastashia being cuddled by Luvia. Anastashia was trying to push her little sister away but the little girl don't want it, she just wanted to be near her sister! "We're back" Lawrence announced gaining the attention in their way. "Ah? Ah!! Peasant! Why are you still alive? That Gandr of mine should have been blasted you into smithereens!" Luvia was surprised seeing him.
"Well considering that I am standing here healthy and fine, your magecraft must be rubbish" Lawrence smiled at Luvia saying that, it did nothing but irritate the little girl. "Why, you…!" Luvia stood up and was about to cast some magecraft again only this time she was stopped by Anastashia. "Luvia, enough" Anastashia said calmly which was different from her usual attitude, this serves as a way to spook the little girl.
Luvia dropped on her spot with tears threatening to drop on her eyes, "Sniff… sniff… This is your fault! Nee-sama would never called me out, it is because of you!" she decided to throw all accountability to Lawrence who shook his head in dismay. "Listen here you dipshi-" Shiki was about to rebuke Luvia when their door was suddenly knocked loudly. This confused them because there was no large person in the neighborhood that could do such loud knocking.
"Go open the door Bea" Lawrence gestured Bea who immediately went to the move. Bea opened the door revealing the huge figure of someone they have met before, especially Shiki who had a special meeting with him. "Rider…" Lawrence muttered trying to know what brought him here. Rider smiled in response to their wary gazes, "Hey! I came here to invite you to have a banquet" he proudly announced grinning at them.
"Banquet you say?! Umu! Master, we must make sure to come in this banquet of his!" Nero who heard the term banquet got excited. It has been so long since she had a party after all, because after the 5 years of her commitment in the throne, everything went downhill leaving her no time to enjoy herself. Lawrence ignored Nero and just stared at Shiki, "What do you think Shiki?" he asked her opinion.
"It's fine, I am also thrilled to see the others" Shiki said smiling at Lawrence, she really appreciate the fact that he asked for her opinion first. "Then that's decided. Now leave, we will come into our own" Lawrence said blasting Rider away with a simple wave of his hand. Rider who was sent flying stared at Lawrence with disbelief.
Even Luvia widened her eyes at that, "W-What was that? A hoax? Surely that must be" she muttered convincing herself. "Lawrence~ Do you think the others will come too? We know that the attitude of others are not really that acceptable" Anastashia asked clinging into Lawrence breaking Luvia's mind further. "Yeah, they will come, I am sure of that"
"Do you remember how many rulers are there in this war?" Lawrence asked forcing them to think about it. "Hm, if we consider Nero a ruler then 2 perhaps?" Shiki said tilting her head not really knowing whether it was true or not. "That's mean! I am an Emperor! A competent one! The people of Rome never suffered from my hands!" Nero shouted indignant about being viewed like that.
"Fine, fine" Shiki reluctantly accepted Nero's words making the girl even more infuriated. "2? Hardly, there are actually 4 rulers in this war. Saber is a monarch while Archer is also one. They just don't have the time to introduce themselves because Nero blasted everything with her Energy Ball" Lawrence said taking them by a surprise. "4? That is sure a huge amount" Anastashia commented.
"Indeed, I won't spoil you the surprise of knowing their identity. Just witness everything later at night" Lawrence yawned while saying that. "Alright, that is enough of this. Nero can you come with me? I want to give you something" Lawrence said gesturing to one of the rooms. Nero tilted her head but still followed Lawrence, she is rather excited to what he will give her!
Shiki did not say anything and just silently followed them, she does not need anyone's permission to follow her lover around after all. She is also wondering whether he will eat Nero or not because no matter how childish she may act, she still has that gorgeous body that would make any man chase for it. 'No, he's not that kind of man' Shiki thought. After living with him for so long, she is already aware that he has no desire for anything, the only thing he craved perhaps is care from the people he deemed important.
Nero and Lawrence faced each other at the table with Shiki standing behind Lawrence. "Let me ask this, what do you seek from the grail?" he directly went to the point ignoring the surprise from both of the girl's faces. "I…" Nero considered whether she should tell him about it. But after a second of contemplating she decided to release it.
"I wanted to feel the sensation of love" Nero claimed with great fortitude on her face, she is not scared to be reprimanded or laughed at. Because no matter what the circumstances, she will continue seeking her purpose. "I see, the emperor who spent all time caring for his citizens did not get the loveback he wanted huh…? I don't know if it is fitting or completely ridiculous" Lawrence muttered astounding Nero.
She never revealed her circumstances to others before but what Lawrence said was actually right. She who craves for the loves of her citizens did not get what she wanted even in her death, her name was rather reviled instead of being honored. No, perhaps the proper way to say it would be, she who was basked in loved never really understood that the people loved her more than she thought. She is simply blind of that fact.
"Then sorry to break it to you but the grail is defective and won't grant anyone's wish" Lawrence broke her thoughts with that. "Huh…?" Nero released a confused voice. "B-But why?" she asked desperate. This would be a chance for her, her master was actually the strongest and there is a high chance for them to win this war. "This is actually the reason I don't want to fight in this war. It is useless" Lawrence said shaking his head.
"T-Then why did you participate?" Nero asked trying to see if he was just lying or maybe this is a prank. "Sigh, its not my fault alright? I was just force- ouch!" he could not finish his words because Shiki already pinched his ears. That actually convinced Nero. She knows how Shiki craved for a challenge so she must have forced Lawrence to participate just so she could fight them off.
Nero looked down not knowing what to do anymore. She is aware that Lawrence is not one to joke about this matter. "Lawrence, why did the grail become corrupted anyway?" Shiki asked rather curious about it. "Hm, it was in the previous Holy Grail War. The Einzbern broke one of the rules of the war and that is summoning from outside class. Unfortunately, that servant was too weak that it was taken out in the first battle."
"Because of its desire to exist, it decided to corrupt the grail from inside. Oh, if you are wondering how it could corrupt the grail then the answer lies in the identity of the servant. It was the Avenger Servant, Angra Mainyu. A being that represented 'All the evil in the world' and thus desiring to exist would manifest it in the form of corruption" Lawrence finished his story.
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(A/N: Exam day tomorrow, if I pass then I'll post extra chapter⊙﹏⊙)