Lelouch and Avenger's house.
After what happened back in the port, the demon emperor and his servant made their way towards their house. Walk back home wasn't easy with Avenger checking every spot where the enemy could be hiding. From what she told Lelouch, it would appear that one of the servants was hiding while others were busy fighting. She couldn't find his exact location and only general direction.
'We don't know if this servant is dead. While other servants appeared, we didn't see Caster and Assassin so it might one of them. However, Avenger did put up a good show.' thought Lelouch since he was impressed with her firepower that was displayed during the fight. Right now both he and his servant were sitting at the table. The eighth Master was busy working on a mechanism that he got today with a suitcase while the redhead woman was sitting and looking at his work.
"Master, what exactly you are doing?" she asked curious about Lelouch's work. Her Master looked at her with a smirk before speaking.
"It is explosives."
Avenger's eyes went wide when she heard this magic word and an excited smile appeared on her face. This combination made her look a little bit of frenzy.
"Explosives, huh?" she looked again at the devices that he was using and carefully examined them. "Interesting, truly how interesting! Master, you impressed me yet again."
"Please." he waves away the compliment. "It's nothing special." Lelouch was very familiar with such things thanks to his experience in the past. Avenger carefully eyed him. "These details aren't of the highest quality, but it will work too." When he was finding a supplier, Lelouch learned that it is better and safer to order such things outside Fuyuki territory, if he didn't want to gain the attention of actual authorities. Something to do with local Yakuza. 'It would seem local criminal organization has a very negative attitude towards outsiders on their territory.'
She smirked. "I don't know Master. To do something like this." She pointed at the table. "It would require specific knowledge." Lelouch slightly laughed.
"It isn't difficult if you know what to do."
"Hm, so you already did something like this in the past." Wondered Avenger.
Lelouch smiled but was silent, not wishing to speak about his past. Avenger then said again. "You know, Master. It has been some time since you summoned me, but I still know very little about you."
Violet's eyes watched her with caution. "Could this be a problem for our relationship?" Avenger shook her head.
"Not really. We made a contract, you are the Master and I'm a servant. As long as we have the same goal to win Grail, I don't have a problem with knowing little about you." She said while picking up a small explosive and examining it.
"So it's just curiosity?"
"More or less. I need to know who I'm working with. I don't want to be stabbed in the back or be slowed down by someone who doesn't have what it takes to win this war." She said and put down the small explosive on the table. "I worked with worthless allies in the past and I don't want to repeat that."
Lelouch nodded. "In that case, do you think that I'm slowing you down?" Red eyes looked at him with confusion.
"Where did you get such an idea?" A smile appeared on her face before she continued. "So far you were more than pleased to spend time with. You are interesting a figure, Master. Lelouch Lamperouge." She said his name slowly with an excited tone and Lelouch didn't know why but for some reason shiver went down his spine. "You are an enigma. While I know little about it and it is both interesting and annoying at the same time. However, I don't think bad of you, Master."
Her Master thought about their contract. 'So far if it was a rather good experience. We don't have problems and understand each other so far.'
"Well, I'm pleased to hear this, Avenger. I too, am pleased to have you as my servant."
"But of course! Who wouldn't want me as their servant?" laughed redhead. "But I'm still curious about one thing, Master." Lelouch looked at her with raised eyebrow waiting for her to continue. "What is your wish for the Grail?"
This time Lelouch stopped doing his work and thought about her question. 'My wish? I don't truly have one, but my mission requires Grail. I think I can call it my wish even if it was more like an order given to me by someone else. However, if it ensures the success of Zero Requiem than I'm okay with it.'
Lelouch lived his life doing what he thought was best for the world, even allowed to kill himself, if it meant that his world and people in it would see the best outcome. Now, however, things have changed. A new world wasn't like his old. Magic and existence of higher beings, one of who he already met, was groundbreaking news but did it change his old goal? 'I still have some questions but if I was told the truth then I must win this war. For all of them, for Nunnally...But, what I'm going to do after this war? What do I want to do?'
There were things Lelouch wasn't sure about, but for now, he had a job to do.
He looked at his servant before speaking. "Forgive me Avenger, but for a time being, I cannot answer this question." He noticed how smile left her face," However, I can say that I have the best intentions for this world." 'and my own' went left unsaid.
"This is a cryptic answer, Master."
"Well, maybe you should tell me your wish as well." Avenger thought about something before smirking again.
"Forgive me, Master, but for a time being, I cannot answer this question. However, I can say that I have the best intentions for myself." Lelouch let out a laugh.
"And who has a cryptic answer now?"
She pointed her finger at him. "Still you, Master. I might tell if you told me first...I would like to know what we are going to do next?" she looked at the direction of the front door. "Before asking anything from Grail we need to win."
Her Master nodded. "Indeed. Tonight we saw all other servants expect Caster and Assassin who might be still alive. One of them was hiding at the port, watching us." he remembered how Avenger asked if she could burn full docks to make sure they weren't followed, Leloucl obviously refused it. "We managed to gain some information about other servants and at least one Master." she nodded.
"That white-haired woman who said that we need to go to the church." Avenger thought about her and Saber again. "Master, I don't know why, but when I was near her, I felt something strange as if she wasn't fully human."
"Hm, we are dealing with magecraft so pretty much anything is possible. Sadly, my knowledge is very limited."
"And it will be better to ally with an experienced magi...Rider asked others to join him, but he demanded to give Grail to him. I don't know what he expected by asking this, everyone in this war has some sort of wish."
'Rider was very open about it. Iskandar didn't hesitate to reveal his true identity.' Lelouch remembered what he learned about the king of conquerors back in Ashford Academy. While Britannia wasn't eager to teach its citizens about another national historic figure, at least in a positive light, they couldn't forget someone like Alexander the Great who played an important role in history.' I didn't expect him to be like this, but then again he was believed to be confident king after all...Maybe a little bit too confident.'
"Working with Rider might be possible. He is mobile and I doubt he is a weak servant. Not to mention his Master being just a boy might be useful for us. While I don't think we can force someone like Iskandar to do anything we want, his Master might be easy prey." come to conclusion Avenger. "But personally I don't want to work with Rider."
"May I ask why?"
"You may." nodded Avenger before sighing. "I just know that two conquerors won't work together well. We see ourselves as kings and no king is going to obey another one."
'So it's something to do with pride?' wondered Lelouch before speaking. "Lancer is still our best candidate. With his magic spears, we can create a powerful team." From what he saw, Lancer's spears had different abilities one was able to bypass armour while another managed to prevent servants using his or her full strength or at least that what was his conclusion from watching his fight with Saber. "I would like to find him and his Master and to form an alliance with him but if it doesn't work out the..."
"We get rid of them." finished Avenger. "Better than against us."
"Yes, Lancer might be a useful ally, but he is a dangerous foe at the same time. However, there is Archer and Berserker to lookout too." his primary concern was Archer. He was a dangerous opponent, maybe even the most dangerous among all servants. Lelouch didn't know everything about what Archer was capable of, but if the enemy servant was able to create so many golden portals then the former emperor feared what his Noble Phantasm was.
Berserker was a wild warrior, but Lelouch noticed that it seemed like he was fixated on Saber for some reason. There was something strange about this Saber, Lelouch couldn't help but feel it when he looked at her. Caster and Assassin were unknowns for them, but one of them was spying on them back in the docks. So far, they know what Lancer, Saber, and Berserker at least capable of. Archer didn't do anything besides firing his weapons, but it was enough to count him as a dangerous opponent. Rider, Iskandar, showed very little of what he can do.
Lelouch couldn't help but sigh. 'We are still at a disadvantage. Now, we know that the church is at least involved in this war.' The demon emperor wondered what history was behind it is. This world church didn't seem to be too different from his own. 'Hmm, are they after Holy Grail too? Or something else? Still, they are the only potential source of information right now...Well, we can always try to hunt down other Masters and force them to answer our questions.' Lelouch fancied such, but then remembered something important about his current condition. 'However, it might be difficult taking into account some of my shortcomings at the moment.'
Avenger noticed how her Master stopped working on his little project and asked. "What are you thinking about, Master?" Lelouch came to his senses.
"Just some thoughts."
"Care to share?" raised eyebrow Avenger and her Master nodded.
"Of course. I just was curious about church and what is their motive might be." he noticed how his servant frowned when he brought this up. "Avenger is something wrong?"
She looked at the table, wishing that she had anything to drink at the moment, preferably alcohol. "Depends on this church. I never really paid attention to western religions while I was alive, but I had, ehm, complicated relationships with some monks in Japan." She slightly bit her lower lip. "Let's just say that I don't like religious organizations at all. Especially these who participate in something like this war. Now, Master, I wouldn't mind something to drink." She stared at him. Lelouch let out a sigh before nodding and heading to the kitchen.
"I'm gentlemen after, all," Lelouch said sarcastically as he went to the kitchen. While making tea for two of them, he started to think. He had theories about her identity and so far, this information only proved them further. 'Bad with monks? Heh.'
"By the way, Master." suddenly said Avenger from another room. "While we're talking about this. What do you think about religion?"
Lelouch quickly made his way back and sat at the table with tea. Avenger silently drunk it. before glancing at him waiting for his response. Her Master didn't really mind this question, but it would seem like it was important for her.
"Well, I never was a religious person and didn't pat to it a lot of attention." Since the Vatican was in the EU, Britannia tried to reduce their impact on the empire's population. Lelouch never really considered religion something too important, at least for his goals. 'But I think that during all Demon Emperor phase I made sure that all major religions despise and fear me. My, I think some even called me Antichrist.' his attention returned back to a woman in front of him who was waiting for the answer. "Religion isn't for me. I never included it in my goals."
"And these goals are?" sang Avenger.
"I will tell when you tell me yours. I'm sure your wish is something interesting. Might you tell me it, Avenger?" Lelouch might have had a good idea who his servant was but it didn't mean he knows what she wanted from this war. If anything her wish might be different, well Lelouch knew, if he achieved his wish, Avenger wouldn't achieve her own. Or at least won't be able to do so by using Grail. 'Learning her wish might be important.'
"What if I'm too embarrassed to tell you, Master?" said Avenger as she closed her eyes and look at the side, smiling at her act. "My, asking this innocent maiden such question. Master, didn't they teach you how to treat a lady back at home?" her red eyes looked at him playfully but Lelouch understood that he won't get anything from her or at least for time being.
Lelouch decided to abandon this idea and focus on a truly important task before them. "Sorry, Avenger...Now maybe we should return back to our main objective?"
Avenger stopped playing around. Her expression became more serious as she looked at him with a concentration in her eyes. "As you wish."
"There is only one church in Fuyuki, I don't know a lot about her besides the fact that its priest isn't from Japan. We're heading there early in the morning. Our objective to gain as much information as possible." Lelouch finished and looked at the table, at his new devices. "This, this will help us if needed."
She looked at small objects on the table. "Master, are you going to destroy the church?" She sounded pleased by such an idea but pouted when Lelouch shook his head.
"Negative, I don't know any mage craft and so need something else to protect myself." He pulled out his gun and examined it. "This might be useful against other Masters, but against servants, it won't work."
"Neither would normal explosives, Master." pointed out Avenger.
"True, but I'm not planning to fight servant with such things. This is merely a last tool of protection if needed." Avenger looked at him and the table.
"I just need to make sure it won't come to this. In the end, getting you killed will be bad for me as well." Smirked Avenger while her Master nodded.
'It is comforting to know that she requires me at least as a battery.' Thought Lelouch, for him his relationship with Avenger was nothing but a beneficial contract for both of them. However, suddenly his servant continued.
"It would be a shame if you died, Lelouch. So far you were the enjoyable Master." Lelouch blinked, not expecting this. Little bit confused, he said.
"In that case, I just need to stay alive. Shouldn't be hard, it isn't like I have a death wish." at least he didn't have now.
Avenger didn't say anything but looked at the side, glancing at clocks. "It's quite late. Master, I think you should head to bed and get some rest. It will troublesome if you showed at that place looking like walking dead."
Lelouch looked at the time and agreed with her. "You're not going to sleep, Avenger?" she politely refused.
"I already told you. We servants, don't need to sleep or eat."
"But you are eating anything I cook."
"It is because you knew how to operate in the kitchen." Something Avenger herself didn't know. "So I don't really need to sleep." However, then a playful fire returned to her eyes. "Unless, you want me to share your bed, Master." She said with a small smirk before licking her lip.
Lelouch's eyes went wide for a moment but he quickly shook his head. "Avenger, don't joke about something like that. Or I might think you are being serious." He glanced at her with his own smirk and for few seconds raven eyes stared at red. However, before she could say anything else, he continued. "Well, I'm going to sleep for a few hours. Good night, Avenger."
Lelouch didn't turn back to see Avenger waving him with a pleasant smile. "Good night, Master. Have are pleasant dreams."
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It was a day when he saw a forest and a mountain.
He saw soldiers, dozens, even hundreds of them. All wearing Japanese armour while armed with matchlock rifles and melee weapons. However, they had something else in their hands, torches.
A figure on a horse appeared before them. He didn't who it was, but every soldier turned to this figure and saluted.
"My brave warriors!" suddenly shouted a familiar but at the same unknown female voice. "For eleven years we held siege of this damn place! For eleven years these monks laughed at us from their fortress! But today it will end! We are going to burn Ishiyama Hongan-Ji to the ground!
Soldiers cheered, happy to finally defeat their enemy no matter the cost. Soon they moved, they brought the torch to the trees at the foot of the mountain and watched how the fire spread. The night lit up by the light of a fire and soon screams were heard around the mountain. Soon, the first victims of fire come out of the forests, only to be slaughtered by warriors who waited for them. No one of escaping people was spared.
Warriors didn't laugh or cheer now, instead, they were quiet, some horrified by what they were doing. Gone was their confidence, now replaced with pity and fear. When one warrior started to tremble the same voice shouted. Men, women and even children, none was spared.
"My soldiers! Don't fear what you are doing! Do not shiver either! You all doing Japan a favour! Soon all of Japan would know what happened here! What my great warriors did at mount Hiei! This isn't mindless slaughter, for we bring peace, for we will unify Japan!"
Her words worked and soon warriors stopped feeling sorry, now they felt only determination to do what they thought was necessary. On that day 20,000 people died and all of Japan learned what kind of person was behind such a massacre, a demon. For she did it as an act of revenge, and act to achieve her version of peace.
However, he didn't care about those who died. He knew it was past and cannot be changed. Therefore he didn't feel sorry or similar emotions.
No, what he was feeling was different. Something nostalgic. He remembered how he himself did something like this in the past. He remembered how he ordered his knights to surround and kill all those who were to blame for her death. Unlike this massacre, the one did wasn't on the mountain, no, it was below ground. He massacred people, but he didn't feel anything. For he did it as an act of revenge, and act to achieve his version of peace.
Two demons were truly alike in their visions of peace.
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Another Chapter done with 3,336 words and the longest one till now. Hope you like it