Kuoh Academy.
Ranking Game Day.
- I give up. - Riser stated in a feignedly pitiful tone while Issei stood over him in his Balance Breaker.
- Riser Phenex admits defeat. The victory goes to Rias Gremory. - Greyfia's voice echoed through the arena, ending the game.
Well, it went about the same as in canon, except for the last scene.
He had planned to win at first, but when Issei used the Balance Crusher, he decided to give in after all. And that way there would be no questions from the demons about him losing, even though he could have single-handedly scattered Rias' entire retinue. And neither her nor his reputation would suffer.
Heh. Playing the pompous and self-righteous jerk has its perks, eh?
And at those thoughts, I waved my hand, and the screen in front of me disappeared. And my gaze slowly drifted toward another person present in the medical room.
- Why are you looking at me like that, Romani-sensei? - She asked incomprehensively.
- Don't play dumb, Alaya. In canon, Riser wins the game, not loses it, right? - I asked her, to which I got a nod - And if that's the case, why don't you say anything about it?
- Well... Issei beat him.
- At the wedding, not in the game.
- But the bottom line is the same.
- So it's the outcome that matters, not the events leading up to it, right?
- Uh-huh. But that's what I said, right?
- Actually, no. - I rubbed my temples.
Yeah... And how this world hasn't fallen into oblivion yet... I guess that's the cost of Mankind's overly human Unconscious Will. But thanks for confirming my theory that the order of events is not important, only the outcome.
Right. The next arc is Kokabiel, and if my memory serves me right, Issei didn't defeat him, but was captured by Vali and imprisoned in Cocytus, and now all I have to do is wait for the arrival of the two "competent" owners of Excalibur. Well, and start thinking of a plan to reskin him, though that will require me to contact the descendants of the local King Arthur.
- Skipping class is bad, Aika-san," I said, coming out of my thoughts, "Get out of here.
- But, sensei...
- Shoo, I said.
Alaya made a pouty face and walked out of the medical room, stomping loudly on the floor.
I guess I can sleep for the rest of the day.
-0-
West of England.
I didn't get much sleep. Why not? Alarm bells went off in my head when I sensed that TWO Shadow Servants had arrived at once. Not only that, as Merlin was acting suspiciously quiet and the Shadow Servants' mana was flaring up every now and then, apparently from using Noble Phantasm.
When I arrived, I saw a huge, ornate mansion in typical English style. Well, or rather, it had once been so, as half of this mansion was now in ruins. And a huge crevice in the ground that started within the building extended hundreds of meters away from it, and ominous red lightning crackled near the place where I appeared. It appeared to me that the place was a garden or something, like in those old-fashioned movies.
As I looked around, my hearing picked up a rather mature male scream filled with rage.
- Die!
It was followed by the sound of metal clinking, like swords clashing. Heading in his direction, I entered the mansion and saw a middle-aged man with blue eyes and blonde hair who looked very shabby, and the numerous wounds and cuts on his body were bleeding. He glared fiercely at the Shadow Servant dressed in gray armor with red stripes on it. And watching them from the second floor balcony was a second Servant, dressed in a dark-colored dress with blue lines, and in her hand she held something between a spear, an axe, and a staff in the same color scheme.
My eyebrow twitched and my hand started rubbing my face, foreshadowing a HUGE headache.
Great... Truly great... Mordred and Morgan le Fay... Why the hell are there so many Servants associated with the legend of King Arthur!
- Оh? We have company? How unexpected. - The sensual voice of Morgan noticing my presence.
- Just passing through, Your Majesty," I said calmly and bowed respectfully, "May I ask you a question?
- I allow it, Magician.
Uh-huh. Fairy eyes. So, the Berserker from the lostbelt. Uh-huh.
- Why are you in your right mind? I'm sure you know you're a Shadow Servant, and the Beast whispers to you. But somehow, you're quite yourself, and so is Mordred.
The Knight of Betrayal grinned savagely, using the middle-aged man as a punching bag. But she didn't hit any vital organs.
- Оh? Is that what you mean? - She asked and began to slowly descend and then walk towards me - Do you think such trivial things can affect the Queen of the Fairies, Magician?
- I suppose you're right," I replied, keeping my gaze on her veiled face, "But still, what are you doing here? And who is this man?
- You already know the answer to your questions, Magician. I'm sure you know a lot more than you're letting on. - she replied, reaching me.
- Heh, your fairy eyes see right through me, huh? - I grinned - But still, I don't think you decided to attack the Pendragon mansion for nothing.
Boom.
A loud sound echoed down the hall, and shifting my gaze in his direction, I saw Mordred walking slowly in our direction, with Clarent over his shoulder and Uther Pendragon buried under a column of concrete and dust at the other end of the room.
- Who is he, mother? - She asked with a smirk on her face.
- Well, well, well. Be nice to our guest, Mordred, he's a Magician. A polite magician, at that. Not like that flower bastard.
- Bleh, I don't care. - The Knight of Betrayal shrugged and walked past us and sat down on one of the large rocks.
Yeah. That's a fine character. That's why she's a top waifu, though.
- The visit here was driven by my curiosity. I wanted to see the descendants of my sister of this world.
- I suppose it was a disappointing sight? - I shrugged, already assuming the answer.
- You have no idea how much, Magician. But why are you here?
- It can't be explained in two words, Your Majesty. But if you try to do so - keeping the plot alive.
- Plot? Interesting. - She was interested.
I sighed tiredly and snapped my fingers, creating a table with three chairs. There were two glasses of wine for Morgan and me, and a steak for Mordred.
- Have a seat. Explanation will take time.
-0-
A while later.
- It doesn't make sense. - Morgan listened to my explanation and sipped aristocratically from her glass.
- Uh-huh. Absolute nonsense. - Mordred added, chewing on her fifth steak.
Apparently a black hole instead of a stomach is hereditary. And Servants don't actually need food.
- You think I have other ideas about that? - I grinned and took a sip, too - Anyway, I suggest you join me.
- What is my benefit, Magician?
- Mana. I can provide you with it, since you are a Servant, Your Majesty. You can draw it from the ley-lines, but then there's a chance of provoking powerful beings you don't want to provoke, the concepts of Dream and Infinity, for example, or the various gods, since you've probably realized by now that the Age of Gods didn't end here. Besides, you won't be the only Servants in my care.
- О?h Such as? - she asked interestedly.
- Your sister, Flower Pervert, and the Knight of the Lake.
At those words, both Mordred and Morgan froze. An evil smile appeared on the Fairy Queen's face, and the Knight of Betrayal....
- Father... is... here? - She asked. Her eyes didn't blink, and her hands clenched the cutlery so tightly that it turned into scrap metal.
- Wow. What a magnificent wedding gift you have given, my husband. - Morgan said sensually a few seconds later.
I froze and stared at her incredulously.
Stop. I think I heard something completely illogical. Ah, no. For a Berserker with Insane Enhancement of rank EX, it's quite logical... Maybe I should have just used Solomon's Noble Phantasm and blown the hell out of both the Servants and the mansion? And where the hell is Merlin? I don't want to get all the attention of the Fairy Queen in one go. Uh-huh-uh.
- Mother? Don't you think that's illogical? - Mordred asked incomprehensively, directing her gaze at Morgan.
- Listen to your child, Your Majesty. I am no match for you. - I added, trying to ignore the look she was sending me.
- Оh? Is that what you think, Magician? I think you're perfect for me," she said in a confident tone, "Only someone extraordinary could be my husband, and you have True Magic.
And while I was thinking how I could refute her point of view, even though I realized that asking a Berserker with Insane Enhancement Rank EX was useless, my senses picked up a sudden burst of magic. And turning in his direction, I saw a slit appear in the air, from which two clearly familiar people emerged. Le Fay Pendragon and Arthur Pendragon.
- Оh? More guests? - Morgan said, staring in their direction, and froze once more when her fairy eyes told her who they were and a smirk appeared on her face - Very interesting guests.
- Who are you? - With his sword at the ready, Arthur asked and pointed at the ruined mansion, while Le Fay hid behind his back and peered out from there - Is this your doing?
You couldn't have picked any other time to show up, hmm? Ah, stop. Arthur left the house because of the maid, right? And apparently, when he heard the situation, he rushed here to rescue her.
- Have a seat, my sister's descendants. We have much to talk about. - Morgan said with a sweet smile on her face and dragged them telekinesis to the table, immobilizing the poor souls and creating seats for them. Arthur and Le Fay could only blink in incomprehension and stare warily at me, Morgan, and Mordred.
Yeah... What's my luck parameter there? А++? That's a lie, I'll tell you that.
-0-
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