Emiya residence.
After returning home from a rather depressing date, I immediately went to the fridge. After all, nothing could compare to Emiya's cooking. After stuffing the rest of my breakfast into my mouth and closing the refrigerator door, Mo-chan was right behind it, causing me to jump in surprise.
- Pfft," I almost spit out my food and coughed, "Don't scare me like that, Mo-chan.
- "Mordred, not Mo-chan, Magician," she said with a cluck of her tongue and a displeased look on her face, "Do you have a minute? There's a conversation to be had.
- Hmm? What kind of talk? - I didn't understand, and then smirked - Or did you find a boyfriend, Mo-chan?
In the next millisecond, Clarent was at my throat. There was nothing but menace and a grin on Mo-chan's face, which was very close to me, just like the sword.
- Do you want to become a head shorter, Master? You only have to ask for it, and I will gladly help you.
- Oya? Are you embarrassed by your height, Mo-chan? - I asked, to which Mo-chan naturally growled, "You don't have to worry about that. You're charming enough as it is, and you'll probably find someone.
Of course, she moved her blade, trying to chop my head off. I stopped it, though, grabbing the blade with three fingers, and looked at her cheerfully.
- You do realize you can't hurt me, right?
- Tch. Mother was wrong. You're as annoying a bastard as you are a perverted mage,' she declared and put the Clarent away, then sighed tiredly, 'So can we talk?
- Sure," I nodded, and then looked at the kitchen, "Reya-chan, we'll have coffee and tea.
- Something stronger would be better. - Mo-chan added.
Katarea nodded silently, showing that she heard us, and started preparing the drinks. At the same time, Mo-chan and I sat down across from each other in the living room.
Where are the others? Morgan wanted to see something at the Pendragon mansion and, taking Lancelot with her, went there. Arthur and Le Fay went off on business, taking Elaine with them, most likely to look after Emiya's battered Vali. According to them, he hasn't fully recovered yet, but he already wants to challenge Archer to a fight again.
In between, I asked them about Kuroka, who isn't hanging around my house now. Le Fay smiled awkwardly in response, and Arthur rubbed his temples after a few seconds and began to explain. As it turns out, Kuroka is far from being out of it because she doesn't want to, but because Le Fay somehow scared her and 'asked' her to stay away from me.
At this, I stared with empty eyes at Le Fei, who hid her face while pulling on her hat, and who was throwing a resentful glance at her brother.
Isn't that Morgan's handwriting, hmm? I gather Arthur realized it, too, judging by the tired look in my direction. I don't need another Morgan. Uh-huh-uh.
- Hey! Are you still here? - Mo-chan shouted, pulling me out of my thoughts.
Looking in her direction, I saw that there was already a cup of hot coffee and a bottle of wine on the table. And Katarea was silently standing behind my shoulder, waiting for orders.
Speaking of her. Katerea hadn't asked any questions the entire time she'd been here. I mean, at all. Doesn't she have any requests or anything like that? Or is she just waiting for the right moment? I don't know, I don't know.
The next moment, a magic circle appeared in front of me and blocked the scarlet lightning. Turning my head towards the culprit, I saw Mo-chan's very displeased face with Clarent pulled towards me.
- Are we going to talk or not, you bastard?!
- Yeah, yeah. Sorry about that. What do you want to talk about, Mo-chan?
Her eyebrow twitched due to her address, but then she took a deep breath and put her sword away. Then, Mo-chan picked up the bottle and took a couple sips from her throat.
Hm? Something's really bothering her, huh?
- "Well, I wanted to ask what it means to be a 'King'," she began, placing the bottle on the table, "You're a Pseudo-Servant of Solomon himself, and surely you should know the answer.
- Why not ask Artoria about it? Wouldn't she be a better choice? - I asked after a few moments.
- I already asked," Mo-chan shook her head and leaned back on the back of the couch, "Father said I should figure it out on my own, but... I just don't have any thoughts. Memories of Father's reign are just flashing through my mind.
- Does this have something to do with Caliburn?
- ... More like no than yes. I realize I can't get it out now," she picked up the bottle and took a couple more sips, "So, what do you have to say about it, reincarnation of the Wise King?
- Do you mind if I say what I think about it personally? As it is, I have no memories of Solomon's life and decisions. - I asked.
- Go ahead. - Mo-chan waved me off.
- Everything revolves around the personal qualities and needs of the people at any given time. Even the most untalented in terms of knowledge can become, almost, the perfect king, if he meets the requirements of the time and personal qualities.
- Hmm?
- Often, the "King" is the idol of the country. He is a symbol, an ideal to which its inhabitants aspire without even realizing it. "A strong leader is a strong society", this phrase makes sense, but not only physically, but also emotionally.
- I don't get it.
- Take me, for example. I'm lazy," I shrugged, "And being king goes against me. Yes, I would do the bare minimum, but no more. That means everyone in my country would do the same. Each of them would not be working in the sweat of their brow for the prosperity of their own society. Hence, the predictable collapse would come. I'm only good as "King" as an interim option. When a worthy replacement is about to be found and a stopper is needed to keep society from descending into anarchy.
I paused.
- Artoria was the ideal king simply because there was no other option. Of all the contenders, she was the only one who fit the requirements of the time and circumstances. And frankly, I have no idea what exactly served to endorse Caliburn.
- Not even you? - Mo-chan raised an eyebrow.
- I only have two assumptions: willingness to sacrifice or willingness to become a symbol. In fact, those two assumptions might as well be one, given Artoria's history. You do remember, right? The perfect king. Without emotion or prejudice. The perfect man. But we both know that's not true, right? And if it is, it's not even human.
- Yes, I remember..." she gritted her teeth and clung to the neck of the bottle again. And when she set it on the table, lay down on the couch and closed her eyes - I remember it well...
After a couple of moments she fell asleep, and I, shaking my head, went over to her and covered her with the blanket I had created with the Pendragon symbol.
- What do you think about this, Katerea? - I asked, sitting down on the couch and gently rubbing Mo-chan's hair, causing her to sniffle sweetly.
- I'm a demon, my king. And demons only respect strength," said Reya-chan, "If you're strong, you're already the perfect king. After all, as you mentioned earlier, "A strong leader is a strong society."
- You guys have it simple, huh? - I grinned.
The next moment, the doorbell rang. Reya-chan bowed briefly and went to see who it was that had dropped in for the evening. And she returned a couple minutes later, accompanied by Greyfia.
Hehe, I guess I'll have to visit the demons, huh?
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Underworld.
- Thank you for coming, Romani-san. - Sirzechs said.
- It was hard not to, since you sent your fetish to my house. If I hadn't come, do you have any idea what the neighbors would have thought of me? That I'm some kind of pervert, no different," I shrugged, to which both him and Greyfia's eyebrow twitched behind his back, "So, why do you need me?
Me, Greyfia, Katerea, and Sirzechs were in the latter's office. And I left Mo-chan in Grandfather's care, purely as a precaution.
- Do you remember the first time we met?
- I think so.
- Do you remember why we met?
At first I didn't understand what he was getting at, but after a couple minutes... My right hand slowly rose up, and there was a snap of fingers.
In the next second, Katerea, Greyfia, and Sirzechs flinched, and their eyes widened. A black and golden haze began to emanate from my body and slowly formed a silhouette near me. And once they saw it, the demons' gaze didn't take their eyes off of it for even a millisecond.
Goetia sat in a vacant chair and almost indifferently stared back at the demons. At the same time, his appearance had transformed. Normally, he wasn't much different from the Beast's full form, but now....
Goetia looked like a human.
Of course, he still had unnatural pupils, sharp teeth, and scales on his skin, but in general, if viewed from a distance, he could be mistaken for a normal human with tanned skin and long golden hair.
How interesting.
As well as the future conversation between him and the demons.
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