Kuoh Academy.
Evening.
Again, I may have overdone it. Why? My lightning strike turned an area the size of half a soccer field into dust, and the Student Council still hasn't come to its senses. And we've been like this for a minute.
- Uh... Sona-san? - I asked.
- What?
Hehe. Was that all she could get out of her mouth? Well, at least she came to her senses.
- Shall we continue?
- Ahem," she coughed and straightened up to answer. - Can you give us a couple minutes to think about the strategy? It needs to be... finalized. And you're going to hold back, aren't you, Sensei? I don't want my entourage to be hit by a spell this powerful and get hurt. Besides, why couldn't I see your magic seal? It seemed... blurry.
I shrugged and sat down in the chair I'd just created, giving her and her entourage time to prepare.
- Not bad," the Sitri demon said. - She was frightened by your power. But she still has her spirit and wants to try out her powers. My blood is still strong, as I can see. Unlike the others.
- Is that an insult, Sitri? - Bael asked. - Have you forgotten that she is weaker than my descendant?
- She is my descendant too, Bael," Gremory interjected. - And what do your words mean, Sitri?
- As if you didn't realize it yourself," Sitri replied. He didn't even try to hide the mockery in his words.
- And you've got the courage, eh? - Gremory asked defiantly.
- Something never changes, I suppose," Phenex interjected.
- You weren't asked, Phenex," stated Bael.
- H…
- Enough of this. Stop acting like children,' Goetia interjected.
Yeah. And I have to put up with this? At least I'm thankful that Beast I'm playing the role of a parent. I think I'd go crazy if I heard the seventy-two Pillars arguing in my head 24 by 7.
And about the printing? I have decided to hide the seal of Solomon from their perception, as I don't even want to imagine the excitement it would create. Sona and her entourage may be the ones who don't know about it, but not her sister. Not only the demon society would be up in arms, but the entire Bible faction as well. And I don't want that.
- Are you afraid of fame, Romani Archaman? - Goetia asked mentally, clearly snickering. - Wouldn't that play into your hands? If you talk to the faction heads to keep that fact secret, of course.
- Оh? When did you start thinking so broadly, Beast-kun? In the past, you would have just suggested that we storm into their headquarters and use force," I said. - And what's that sneer in your voice? Becoming human, eh?
- We can adapt. Besides, we're humanity in a different form. So your taunts are meaningless, Magician.
Heh. He's getting bigger. Anyway, it's time to get back to Sona. Looking toward the Student Council, I saw that they had grouped up and taken a fighting order. I guess we can give them (Sonya) a little motivation.
- Ah, yes. I forgot to mention something. If you can give me even one blow, I'm willing to forget your duty, So-tan,'' I said and smiled sweetly.
As soon as I said those words, Sona's face took on a VERY serious expression. My words really motivated her. But it was Saji who became the most motivated.
- I will defend the President's honor! - He shrieked and ran at me, activating his Sacred Gear.
Yep. No wonder he and Issei got along so well. He reached me and swung, trying to make a punch. But he never did. I didn't move. Oh, no. But from behind my shoulder, a fist of mana flew out and sent Saji flying, knocking him out.
- I guess that wasn't part of the plan? - I asked, looking at Sona.
- Attack! - She shrieked in response.
Wow, that's impressive. She didn't hesitate for a second and gave the order to attack. A good quality for a leader.
Instantly, Tsubaki, Tsubasa, and Tomoe rushed towards me, while Momo, Rei, and Sona started shooting their magic at me. In response to their move, thirteen magic circles appeared in front of me. Using one of them, I created a veil of dust with a gust of wind that limited the first trio's view. Swords came out of the others and lined up in two waves, heading towards their targets. Two swords for each member of the Student Council.
Of course, the swords were not simple swords. The swords of the first wave had the maximally weakened properties of the two Noble Phantasms, Rule Breaker for the rearguard and Hrunting for the vanguard. The swords of the second wave had no such properties. Instead, I built Emiya-level swordsmanship and Assassin's Presence Concealment into them, respectively.
- Watch out! - Reya shrieked when she saw the veil and tried to dispel it. But her attempt was unsuccessful.
The first wave of swords dispelled the rearguard's spells, and at the same time stopped the advance of the vanguard of Sona's retinue. The second, however, was able to reach the targets under the cover of the first and began to attack. Tsubaki, Tsubasa, and Tomoe got into close combat with the swords of the second wave and were able to hold on, unlike the others. Sona managed to block the sword, but Momo and Rei lost the second the swords intended for them reached them. They stopped at their throats, completely eliminating them from the battlefield and taking them hostage.
- We give up," Sona said when she saw it and sighed tiredly.
The student council ceased their activities, and I dispelled the swords, turning them into particles of light. It was over in the first minute of the fight, and Sona and her entourage were disappointed to say the least. Well, I had to show them the difference in combat skills, didn't I? It would give them extra motivation to learn after all. I gave them a couple minutes to come to their senses.
- So. What did we learn from our 'fight', Sona-san? - I asked, looking at her. - As you might have noticed, you and your entourage have quite a long way to go. You underestimated the enemy, which resulted in the loss of your only Pawn. A simultaneous long-range and short-range attack is good, and it would work if your rearguard was capable of self-defense in the event of a vanguard breakthrough, of course. But alas, it isn't. If this were an actual battlefield, it would end miserably. Anything to add?
- I was overconfident," she said, sighing disappointedly and lowering her gaze. - And I'll be grateful for your future guidance, Sensei.
- She knows how to admit her mistakes. Not bad," the Sitri demon said mentally with a note of pride in his voice.
I only nodded at his words. She, unlike Rias, had simply accepted that part of herself. The other would have thrown herself at me, hurling her power of 'destruction' left and right. Heh.
- Well, then, meet me at the same time tomorrow at the same place. I'm not an expert in close combat, but I have a couple ideas on that," I informed her. - I'll leave you to it.
I teleported home. And, of course, I didn't clean up the mess I'd left behind, though I might not have. It's too early for them to know about the possibilities of Territory Creation. Besides, repairing the damage will allow them to distract themselves and think.
Heh. What a good mentor I am.
-0-
Emiya Residence.
The backyard.
As soon as I arrived at the backyard of the Residence, I heard the screams of a pervert and the whistling of flying arrows. Basically, it's not a backyard, but just a forest behind the house that is used as a courtyard.
Walking deep into the woods, I managed to spot Issei running away and screaming, with arrows flying behind him.
- Are you trying to kill me, Archer-sensei?! Your last shot almost took my head off! Why can they pierce through trees as thick as my body?! - Issei shouted as the tree next to him was blown away by an arrow.
- I don't know what you're talking about, pervert. I advise you to keep running, or who knows, you might end up with an extra hole in your body," Archer said in a calm tone as he fired another arrow. There was obvious amusement in his tone. Is this his way of getting back at Issei after my jokes about him? Well, it's not like it's hurting anyone. Sort of.
Issei wiggled between the trees, jumping and dodging Archer's shots. He looked shabby: clothes torn, bruises all over his body, and severe puffiness. But I don't see a glove on his hand.
- Ddraig? Why aren't you helping your partner? - I decided to voice my thoughts as I watched the scene.
- Training," I heard only one word from the dragon.
Apparently, Archer had offered to increase Issei's stamina without using Ddraig. Not a bad start.
- Emiya, how long has he been running? - I asked Archer mentally.
- Two minutes. A minute and a half longer than when we started," he replied, still firing. - Are you sure he's the one you were talking about, Master? He's too weak for my taste.
- Uh-huh. Believe me, I'm wondering the same thing," I said, sighing tiredly. Well, it's not that I didn't understand his thoughts. - And by the way, tomorrow you'll have another student, or rather a group of students. They are more competent than your current one.
- Hmm? What about him? - Emiya raised an eyebrow, stopping shooting. Issei, seeing that no more arrows were flying at him, fell to the ground and passed out from exhaustion. Apparently, the adrenaline in his body had run out.
- He'll be on me for now. We'll see," I replied and headed for the unconscious protagonist. - Go make dinner. I don't think we both want to see a hungry lion in withdrawal from your cooking.
He nodded at my words and dematerialized. And I reached Issei, hoisted him on my shoulder, and headed for the house as well.
For some reason I hadn't heard from Enkidu or Gilgamesh. I hope they didn't destroy a city or two, did they?
-0-
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