Chapter 3 : Negotiation.
Advancing at a steady path, his Servant in spirit form, Tokiomi noticed that the buildings were less and less damaged as he went further into the city, some houses even seemingly intact. How odd. But seeing it more clearly as the sun rose, it looked like a lot of damage were made not by time, but through artificial means. What could have happened that everything would be empty, and so desolate? A sudden throbbing in his back, a phantom pain. Why did it hurt here? He could not remember being wounded at all... His memories were fuzzy. Everything before the summoning, blurred. It wasn't normal. A splitting headache was pointing every time he tried to pierce through the veil.
''Oi oi, where do ya think yur goin' uh?''
A rough voice derailed his thoughts as someone, no, something humanoid emerged from adjacent alleys. His brain almost stopped. It wasn't possible. Creatures like those...
''Hey, lost yur tong mate? Been while since tha last meal, I'm damn hungry...'' Said another, revealing dangerously sharp looking teeth in a cruel smile.
Five. There was five humanoids surrounding him, daylight revealing their full inhuman nature. About three meters tall with red skin, three horns on their head, two little black and a big white one, they all wore blue short clothes revealing the unnaturally large muscles of their arms and legs. But what Tokiomi was worried about was not the large and sharp steel machete they each had in hand. It was their very existence. Oni. Those monsters were Oni, a type of Phantasmal Species. But their existence should not be possible anymore in the world of Man!
''Leave my Master alone, Onis. He is not yours to feast on.'' Declared Saber, appearing in front of Tokiomi.
The creatures backed of, apparently surprised, before gripping their machetes tighter.
''Oi, oi, we're just kiddin' mate. Didn't know yu had a Famed with ya. No hard feels right?'' Asked the first Oni, cautious.
The complete switch of attitude from the creature surprised Tokiomi a bit. Especially what seemed to be more than fear: did they recognized Saber in some way? They called him "Famed" just now...
''Hey, I'm talkin' to ya man! Say somethin' dam it!'' Yelled the monster.
The magus understood he had to take advantage of the presence of Saber now, or they would likely attack. He had fully faith into his Servant to defend him, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
''Though I have no business with you beasts, I am willing to overlook your actions if you provide me information.'' Said the Toshaka, as elegant as he should be.
''What da... You insultin' me man? Might not been tha smart kid in tha bunch, but I got ma pride!'' Roared the leader of the pack, clearly angered by the terms employed.
''Are you declining my proposition? Then, Saber...''
''Oi, oi, stop, not sayin' I wanna die mate!'' The Oni said hastily, seeing his peers slowly back down under the steel gaze of Saber. ''Just 'd like to get somethin' out that, ya know? How 'bout a deal?''
Tokiomi was about to dismiss the notion when Saber spoke softly, too low for the Onis to hear.
''Master, I believe negotiating with those demons can be beneficial. Do not worry: should they ask too much, I will drive them away.''
The idea maybe had merit, pondered the magus. Seeing the fear of the Onis before Saber defintively indicated that they were no match for the Servant. He had no idea what a Phantasmal Specie would ask for, but in the worst case, Saber would simply make short work of them.
''Very well then. Name your price.''
''Hehe... Then... How 'bout a piece of ya spirit? Been feelin' down lately...''
It was suspiciously simple in appearance, but asking for "a piece of spirit" could actually mean anything from eating his soul to taking a droplet of magical energy. Looking at Saber, he saw the Servant lightly nod and decided to trust him.
''Alright. I agree to give you a little bit of magical energy.'' Said the magus.
''He he he, I'll take it.'' Grinned the Oni, extending his clawed hand.
A violent pain flared within Tokiomi as he felt a large amount of Od escape from his body in the form of a blue mist that converged inside the monster's hand, before it was swallowed whole with a satisfied grunt.
''Haaa, feel good man. But not 'nough yet. What 'bout some Maccas, heh? Sumthing like, 50?''
''I am sorry, but it is impossible. Look at my poor Master: he does not even have enough to buy real clothes. Wouldn't it be cruel to ask that much to a beggar in carnival costume?''
The magus almost choked himself when Saber said those words in a pleading manner, in total contrast with his previous attitude. And before he could even ask what have passed through his Servant's head, the monster's reply stunned him.
''For real? Man, ya really got tha' short stick, feel bad. I'm not that a baddie, won't ask that.''
''Actually, I am sure you could help my Master getting dressed. Times are really hard currently, and it is even harder to find anything decent for free.''
''Oi buddy that some gut ya have, I'm tha' one in need here! Bar ain't cheap at all!'' Protested the Oni, visibly hesitant.
''Please, think of the good reputation it will give you. There is no doubt women would fall all over someone rich enough to be this generous.'' Insisted Saber.
The whole scene was surreal. On one side, Saber seemed to alternate every possible rhetorical way to... To extort, there was no other way to put it, extort what seemed to be money from the Oni, while the four other demons in the back were visibly starting to agree with his arguments! After five good minutes of nonsensical banter, the Oni reached inside his clothes and took out a pile of odd shaped golden coins, handing them to Saber.
''There ya go. Next Lilim ya see, tell her I was tha man, ok?'' Grinned the demon like he was the one receiving money, before pointing a direction. ''Church's that way. Kill some dumbass angels if ya can.''
The demon left with his kin, humming happily. It took Tokiomi a good minute to try to sort out what happened before finally asking, stunned.
''How?''
''Master Flynn have plenty of experience in demon negotiation. You should have seen him when he managed to squeeze out money from Loki!'' Announced with pride the artificial voice from the gauntlet, confusing the magus even more. ''Anyway, the Oni told us that angels patrol in the vicinity of the Kanda Catholic Chuch. I suggest you to be careful.''
''Angels?'' Whispered Tokiomi, unable to fully process the implications.
''There are rumors about a priest still living there, according to the Oni.'' Said Saber, pocketing the money he just got. ''He might be the one to hold the answers you search.''
The prospect of finally finding someone able to explain him something, anything about this absurd situation, washed away anything else and the Tohsaka decided to focus on this perspective, striking his chin.
''Very well. I am satisfied with your handling of the situation, Saber, despite your... Unorthodox methods. Lead the way.''
''Of course, Master.'' Nodded the samurai.
An agonizing roar echoed through the packed small houses in ruin, amplifying the pain inside it even more. Blood splattered on the wall before the stones were crushed under the massive corpse of an elephant headed demon.
''Humph, disgusting. When will demons learn not to stand against my magnificence?''
The disdainful voice coming from the cloud of dust spoke to no one in particular, but echoed strong nonetheless. A gust of wind blew away the dirt, revealing a tall young man with spiky dark brown hair and eyes. His tight pure white clothes, from boots to col, were crowned with a cape displaying a large gray cross, gold and dark outlining his col and cape respectively.
''Very impressive, Lancer. Your summoning maybe was a miscalculation, but one that proved quite fortunate.''
The light blond haired man who just spoke in a smug tone came out of the shadows, examining the corpse under his eyes with cold, methodical green eyes. His navy scholar coat, just as impeccable as his Servant's own clothes, was completed by white gloves, black pants and black shoes, further cementing his noble status.
''Of course. What would have accomplished some faraway knight compared to the best spearman this country ever saw?'' Replied Lancer, his pride matching that of his Master.
''Has my previous Servant been half as competent, I would have won easily...'' Started the man before suddenly leaning forward.
His hand went to mouth in a spasm of pain that was quickly controlled and hidden as a closer inspection of the corpse. The dead demon was large, or more accurately fat, with blue skin covered with a brown skirt and golden bracelet. A single, cyclopean eye covered his elephantine head, now empty and glazed.
''This is quite interesting. For Phantasmal Species to come to existence once more is rather strange, considering the mana in the atmosphere match that of the modern era.'' Analyzed the magus in an erudite, almost teaching tone, and yet genuinely curious. ''It should be way too low to sustain their existence, and yet they are here... ''
There was a silence, quickly broken with a snap of finger from the blond man.
''Let us go, Lancer. People of our status deserve better than those ruins to rest in.''
''Humph, I cannot agree more, Master.''