Unknown location.
- I see. Your clan is truly impressive. But may I ask you a question, Lady Phenex? - I smiled softly and took a sip from my cup.
- Of course," Ravel nodded. - And I think we can address each other by our first names. Don't you think?
- It suits me just fine. And my question is, why are you so eager to answer my questions? I'd say too eagerly," I said measuredly, crossing my arms in front of me and setting my cup on the table. - Don't take this the wrong way, Ravel-san, but this situation makes me suspicious.
Hearing me, she simply smiled and replied:
- That's what brother said.
- Hm?
- That's what brother said,'' she repeated her answer. - He said that the Great Ancestor himself had contacted him in a dream and told him that he could trust the Magician. When the brother shared this with us, his retinue, we all had a certain person in mind. Namely, you, Romani-san.
My eyes widened in surprise. What had she just said? Riser had been contacted by Phenex? There's no way I'll believe that this dream was just a coincidence. What are the odds that he dreamed this exact thing, in this exact wording, and at this exact time.
- Do you want to explain yourself, Phenex? - I mentally asked the demon.
- Yeah, do you want to explain yourself? - Gremory asked.
- Yes, it was my doing," Phenex answered. - And it's not my fault you didn't try to do the same.
- Tsk.
Yeah. Just as I thought.
- Explain to me why you did it. I don't quite understand your motives," I continued to interrogate the demon.
- Why wouldn't I? - Phenex answered the question with a question. - Besides, you found my blood of this world interesting, didn't you? Consider it a little help on my part.
In response to his words, I only snorted and crossed my arms across my chest. He wants to leave the Phenex clan in my care, huh? I glanced briefly at Ravel. There was anticipation and... trepidation on her face? Yes, that was it. Apparently, the very fact that their ancestor had such confidence in me already gave me a very high status in their eyes.
- Ravel-sa--
- Ravel, Romani-sama," she interrupted me. Uh-huh. Now she uses the prefix 'herself' when she saw that I realized what she was getting at.
- Can we do without that? - A tired sigh escaped my mouth.
- Of course not. You are the one favored by the Great Ancestor of our clan himself. And this is a clear disrespect to him," she said with confidence in her voice.
- Ravel-s--
- Just "Ravel."
My eye twitched. What is this shit?! Is that so fundamental to you?!
- You're getting nervous, Romani," I heard Goetia's voice. - Don't you like being treated with such deep respect? Don't you realize that this will become commonplace when the world finds out about you, the reincarnation of Solomon, King of Magic?
- Would you be so kind as to shut up? I don't want to hear that shit from every angel, demon, or fallen I cross paths with.
- Romani-sama? - Ravel asked with concern in her voice. - Are you all right? Your face became very irritable for a moment.
- Don't mind me, Ravel," I waved it away. - It's just the beast in my head being silly. It's nothing serious.
- Foolishness? - Goetia was indignant.
- Anyway, did your brother say anything else? - I asked, silencing Beast I.
- Yes, he asked me to invite you to our mansion whenever it is convenient for you. We will give you a proper welcome.
- I see, then I will pay you a visit sometime," I said and stood up. - Thank you for the pleasant conversation, Ravel. I think we should call it a night.
- Yes, Romani-sama, I think so too," she said, and rising from her chair, she stepped aside a little. - 'When you're ready to visit us, just activate the flyer again and I'll be there to escort you there.
- Understood.
- Then, have a good day, Romani-sama," she said, and disappeared in a flash of magic circle flame, just as the table, chairs, and supplies vanished.
I waved my hand and Merlin appeared in front of me, looking around with a look of confusion on his face.
- Merlin," I called out to him, focusing his attention on me. - Do you want to go for a little walk?
- Hmm?! Master?! You're asking me out on a date?! But I'm a man! - He started his rant by gesturing with his hands.
- N-but if you want it so much... I can be a girl for you! - He continued and swung his staff. A cloud of dust covered his body, and when it dissipated, there was Merlin, or Magi-Marie, as the original Romani would say, standing in front of me.
- You know, for some reason I have a strong urge to punch you in the face. Do you know why that is? - A smile blossomed on my face, the kindest smile a human being could ever have, and my hand slowly rose toward Merlin.
- M-master? You wouldn't raise your hand to a beautiful, kind, and sweet girl like me, would you? W-would you? - Merlin asked in a girlish voice, trembling like a wasp leaf.
- Of course not. I'll only raise my hand to one pervert with a sex-change fetish," I said in a measured tone, and a glowing ball of energy appeared in my hand.
- Stop, Master! I got it! I've got it! I...
BOOM.
Of course, he didn't get a chance to finish.
-0-
The outskirts of Rome.
Under the light of the afternoon sun, the sounds of fighting, metal and snarling emanating from a seemingly insane animal echoed around the outskirts of an abandoned neighborhood in Rome. Three men were fighting fiercely amongst themselves, and the clashing of their weapons created flashes of sparks. The road, as well as the walls of the nearby houses, were covered in cuts and dents left by the combatants.
Two swords slammed into a lamppost covered in black haze and scarlet veins, trying to reach its owner. Each of their blows was deflected or parried to meet his counterattack. Their every move was calculated and honed, but even so, the battle was at a stalemate. None of the three men fighting each other could gain any advantage in the battle.
And watching all of this were two people standing on one of the surviving rooftops of the buildings, the first with excitement on his face and the second with surprise.
- Master, this is..." Merlin muttered, watching the battle.
- Yes," I nodded, "a Shadow Servant. The one you and Artoria knew well. Lancelot, Berserker class.
It was Lancelot in his Shadow Servant form. But the most exciting part was that he was being held back by Griselda Quarta and Vasco Strada. And they were doing a pretty good job at it, and after all, Lancelot was a jack of all trades, as shown in Fate/Zero. And even though he's in that form, his skill hasn't diminished in the slightest, just his strength and speed by a rank or two. And it was very entertaining to watch.
How did I know this was where he was going to be? Well... I had Alaya create me a small channel that would be directly connected to the structure of the world, conditioning it on the fact that I would need to know when and where the Shadow Servant would appear. And she did so, albeit with some reservations. And when Lancelot came into this world, my senses were able to pick it up through that very channel.
BOOM
- Your Eminence! - Griselda shrieked as Vasco missed a punch from Berserker and flew off, crashing into the wall.
- Don't let your guard down! - A deep male voice instantly replied from the cloud of smoke at the landing spot.
Hm? Impressive. He could still fight after receiving such a blow. His title, 'Humanity's Limit', suits him very well.
- Arrrrrrgggggggh," Lancelot roared and lunged to attack. And the fight continued again.
I looked at Berserker's opponents. They had developed a slight puff of breath and their movements had become sluggish. I guess that's why Vasco missed a punch. Well, why don't we intervene?
- I think that's enough.
In a millisecond, I was behind Lancelot's back and using 3rd magic, I knocked him out. His body staggered and slowly fell to the ground under the stunned gazes of Vasco and Griselda. They shifted their gaze to me and became wary. After a moment, Merlin stood silently just behind me, pulling his hood over his head.
- Is that black knight with you? - Vasco asked in a relaxed tone, but I could detect a note of wariness in it. Griselda, under the Cardinal's cover, took up her position, preparing for battle.
Ho? He didn't ask who we were? Some variety.
- No, not at all. We know him, but that's about it. As you may have realized, he's a little... out of sorts. I apologize for his actions. We'll take care of him from now on," I shook my head and bowed, getting ready to leave.
- Wait! May I ask who you are? - He asked without wariness, apparently realizing that we weren't going to fight them.
- No, at least not yet. But you'll find out in the future, Your Eminence," I smiled softly and teleported away with the two Servants.
-0-
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