Before everyone starts reading, I'd like to know if you would all be fine with me rebooting the poll currently on my profile. By virtue of it being over 4 years old at this point, (Where'd the time go? T_T) a lot of people probably changed their mind on their choice. Even if they didn't, with the amount of Servants to choose from, I should have allowed for 2 or 3 votes each, but just plain forgot to ever give the option. Would changing the amount of votes now even let previous voters vote again? I dunno.
If you do want a redo of the poll, feel free to request a new servant to add to the new poll in a review.
Nevertheless, here is the third chapter of Evil of Humanity.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Fate/Dominance: Evil of Humanity
"Dragon!" Julie grinned, holding up a purple, bipedal dragon plushie.
Jeanne chuckled. "Oui, oui." She said, patting her daughter's head. "You chose it, so this is the one we will take."
The three of them were in a plush store within Carnac, the largest department store in London. From his research, he found out it used to belong to Gueldoa Davenant, the Magus sapping electricity from within the sewers. After his incarceration, Luviagelita Edelfelt, of all people, snatched it for herself. The heavy Egyptian theme was an addition of hers, according to people who have been shopping here for a long while.
"Honestly, that girl..." Jeanne smiled. "Do you think she'll inherit my Dragon Witch Skill?"
"She's already shown signs of inheriting your fire." He commented as he watched Julie flap the plushie's wings. "The rest might come later, it might not."
"Ah..." She stroked his jawline with a finger. "I can't wait to see how much hotter her fire will burn with your genes."
"Hmph." He smiled.
No sooner had they paid for the plush and walked out, they ran into the trio of Reines, Gray and Luvia.
"Oh, what a coincidence!" Reines greeted in fake surprise while glancing at Luvia, delighted with the flabbergasted expression. "You should have told me you were coming to shop here! Now the shopping will be even livelier!"
"B-But Miss Reines, it was y-" Before Gray could correct her, however...
"Look at Gray, isn't she adorable!?" Reines cupped Gray's chin and made sure she faced the family. Gray looked at Naruto with both worry and embarrassment. Rather than her normal outfit, she wore an olden red dress with a red headpiece, leaving her face fully revealed, showcasing how much she resembled the King of Knights.
"I could gobble her up." Jeanne commented first with half-lidded eyes.
Both Gray and Luvia looked at her with wide eyes.
"Don't take her comment seriously." Naruto shook his head in amusement. "Unless a girl shows actual interest in me, she'll keep her hands to herself."
"This has happened before?" Reines asked curiously.
"America." Was Naruto's only response.
"Ah, of course." Reines nodded. "Single women finding an above average man, taken or otherwise, and suddenly, beasts fight over raw meat. How uncivilized." She said with amusement.
"Moving on..." Luvia cleared her throat. "I am pleased to see you partake in my humble Carnac, Sir Mathias."
Naturally, Reines and Gray gave her incredulous looks due to her calling Carnac as a whole 'humble'.
"Would you like to join us on this tour?" She offered.
"Let's." Jeanne accepted before Naruto get a word out. "I wanna make sure I find the perfect swimsuit. A tour from the owner herself should make this simple, yes?"
"Of course, of course." Luvia accepted the challenge with ease. "Shall we go, then?"
As they passed by a corner with a table full of bouquets, Julie stopped, mesmerized by all the colors. Her mother picked her up, letting her see the flowers from up close.
They passed by a lingerie store that also had a selection of swimsuits. Jeanne found one that suited her perfectly: a black bikini with red straps attached to rings, with a choker holding up the straps for the top. Julie liked the flame drawing on the left breast.
After a bit more shopping, they had stopped at a cafe and treated themselves to parfaits. Some of them had normal parfaits, with whipped cream and cherry toppings.
...And then there was Luvia, whose treat probably had every topping available, which included a slice of chocolate cake. At that point, the parfait itself was just a quarter of her treat, at most. She seemed confused by the odd looks the group sent her way.
Of course, after seeing Luvia, Julie wanted extra toppings as well. More fruits lined the rim of her glass, as a result.
After everyone had their fill, Luvia took everyone to a room with two couches and a table.
"This is the Owner's Room." She presented. "Make yourselves comfortable while I take care of some business." She prompted before walking out.
Gray and Reines took one couch while the family of three claimed the other.
Gray wanted to relax, but was too tense while in the presence of Naruto.
Reines sighed. "Now that we are finally away from her, we can finally talk."
Gray turned to Reines in shock. "R-Right now!?"
"Of course now." Reines smiled in amusement. "This is the perfect time to talk about my brother's obsession."
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
"B-But..." Gray kept stealing nervous glances at Naruto.
"Gray, I wasn't there." Reines said. "If you want to know about that, you have to ask someone who was there to witness it." She turned to Naruto. "Like the Victor of the Fourth Holy Grail War, Naruto Uzumaki."
Gray's eyes widened. Reines knew!?
"So, the cat's out of the bag." Naruto smirked.
"Of course." Reines smiled. "You knew the risk when you brought 'Victoria' to the Marburry Workshop. Her resemblance to Gray was uncanny, and finding out she was Half-Fae only sealed the deal. To think she was the Knight of Treachery, Mordred Pendragon, of all people."
"Who better to sniff out Fae than the child of one?" Naruto asked rhetorically. "So, what's this about the kid having an obsession?"
Reines nudged Gray with her elbow. "Gray has some questions about the Holy Grail War."
"U-Umm..." Gray trailed off, nervous to face the man her teacher warned her about.
"How much does she know?" Naruto asked Reines.
"Nothing at all." She sighed. "My dear brother does not talk about that time. And yet, it is always on his mind, especially since the participants were selected. It's starting to get in the way of his lectures."
"I see." Naruto nodded. "Shall we start with his Servant, then?"
Gray looked at him with wide eyes.
"All right." His lips twitched in amusement. "Iskandar of Macedonia, better known worldwide as Alexander the Great, the King of Conquerors. A man as loud as he is famous."
"Did you know he actually stole the catalyst from my uncle?" Reines asked in amusement.
"I did not, but I can certainly believe Kayneth had the connections to gain such a treasure, unlike Waver."
"Sir..." Gray hesitated. "He wanted to participate in the next one. I have seen him...clutching the piece of cloak in hands, saying he wanted to see him one more time."
"Is that so?" He hummed. "Well, he certainly must have been the most impressionable, being the only participant under 20."
"Except for the Einzbern Homunculus." Jeanne interjected.
"Right, let's not count that." He waved off. "Other than myself, he was surely the one most affected by being around a Servant."
"You believe to have changed more than he did?" Reines asked with some surprise.
"I got a daughter from my Servant." He patted Julie's head. "Last I checked, Waver didn't get pregnant with Iskandar's kid."
Reines laughed while Gray blushed.
"But then, his commitment might not be too far off."
Gray blinked in confusion.
"Iskandar was a King, and a beloved one at that." He explained. "Many warriors of valor joined him in his conquests. Perhaps Waver is among those who have sworn themselves to him? Who knows, if he were to be summoned again, and successfully gained a living body to conquer the modern world, perhaps Waver would join him, turning his back on the Association as a whole."
Gray gasped while Reines' eyes narrowed.
After that, the power went out, causing everyone to look up.
Reines, however, clutched her eyes in pain, which caught everyone's attention.
Luvia entered the room. "Is everyone all right?"
At that moment, the building shook, and a grey presence enveloped Carnac, both literally and figuratively.
"What happened?" Luvia questioned aloud.
"We appear to have been caught in something." Naruto said. "And we may be the only ones caught."
"What?" Luvia turned to him. "You mean, there's no one else inside? That can't be. Carnac was full of people."
"If you doubt my words, shall we have a look around?" He offered.
After Reines applied her drops, the entire group walked towards Carnac's entrance.
As Naruto said, the entire store was lifeless.
"Any idea what happened?" Jeanne asked, holding onto Julie's hand.
"If I had to guess..." Naruto started. "We seem to be in a pocket dimension, separate from the world itself."
"That was my theory as well." Reines nodded. "If we were to try using one of the exits, we'd merely end up coming in from another exit."
"Like a cartoon?" Julie asked.
Reines smiled and nodded. "Yes, exactly like a cartoon. I'll show you." She pulled out a phial filled with Mercury and spilled it on the floor before the Mercury became Trimmau. "Trimmau, see what happens when you use the exit. Do so carefully."
"I understand." Trimmau obeyed and walked out of the front door, only to appear from another door behind them and walk back behind Reines.
"So, we really are trapped here..." Gray looked around. "But why only us, especially with a child among us?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Luvia asked rhetorically, with a bit of a taunting tone. "It must surely be an attack upon the next head of the El-Melloi. They have their fair share enemies within the Association."
"No." Naruto shook his head. "This Bounded Field feels too impersonal. Lifeless, if you will. This isn't something someone initiated with the intent to capture. If anything, this is like triggering a long-abandoned trap."
Reines hummed in thought. "Meaning there's something wrong with Carnac itself, rather than a perpetrator..."
Luvia narrowed her eyes at Reines. "Are you insinuating that my Magecraft is faulty?"
"Nothing lacking in power would create something like this." Naruto said. "Instead, it would be more accurate to say that the glass of water overflowed and caused a flood."
Reines nodded. "Yes, rather than too little power, there was too much."
Gray could not help but blink in surprise from how well the two of them bounced off of each other.
"We need to take a look at the Heart of this Bounded Field." Naruto decided. "Miss Luvia, do you have any idea where that might be?"
"...Now that you mention it." If there could be one place in her store that would be overflowing with Prana...
"I mentioned to Reines and Gray that the building was enchanted with Magecraft that made people eager to purchase our wares." Luvia said as the elevator doors opened, revealing an isolated room with an Obelisk at each corner. In the middle of the room stood the statue of a Pharaoh...decorated with many jewels. Around thirty, at first glance. Possibly more.
"...Yes, this would definitely do it." Naruto deadpanned.
A voice cackled. "That's as excessive as all those toppings on that parfait!"
Naruto turned to Gray. "...Was that your Mystic Code?"
"His name is Add." Gray said.
"Oi, Hack Master!" Add called out as he made Gray's shopping bag shake. "You better let me talk to Mordred after this! I've got a few choice words for her!"
"Mordred?" Luvia asked. "The Son of King Arthur? But then...!" She turned to Naruto in surprise.
"You speak of her quite informally. Almost like you know her quite well..." His eyes narrowed. "A Knight of the Round Table, perhaps?"
Gray's eyes widened.
"I'll tell her. I doubt she'll wave off someone mentioning her by name. Before that, however, we need to get out of here." He turned to the statue.
As he stepped forward, the Obelisks lit up, and puppets in the image of Egyptian women appeared from them, surrounding the group.
Luvia frowned. "The security system also went out of control..."
"I don't suppose deactivating it is an option at this point?" Reines asked rhetorically.
"Of course not!" Luvia laughed haughtily. "Why would I authorize outside interference to neutralize my system?"
"Looks like we're doing this old-fashioned way." Naruto said, cracking his knuckles.
"Please, no." Luvia grabbed his arm. "This is my store. If anyone has to clean up this mess, it is I."
"I suggest getting down." Reines advised, crouching down on the floor.
As soon as everyone followed her example, Luvia held out her arms, pointing her pointer and middle fingers. From them, she shot prana projectiles, changing color with every shot, and spun around, dispatching the majority of the puppets with this stunt.
Quite a few remained, but Luvia discarded her short cape and charged, opting to get up close and personal with the stragglers. She kneed the first one in the face, followed by taking two down with a single jumping tackle, also known as a Spear in Pro Wrestling. She then suplexed another puppet.
"Pro Wrestling?" Gray wondered.
"Wow!" Julie's eyes sparkled as she watched Luvia destroy the puppets without a scratch.
"Nice." Jeanne grinned. She appreciated the brutality, if nothing else.
Trimmau was very much of the same mind. "Just look at her! Behind all of that grace and mannerism was an entire department store of murderous techniques! She is just like a forklift! Nay, a modern-day Hercules!"
Reines sighed in exasperation. "What ridiculous movies have you watched with Flat again?"
Luvia flicked her hair after breaking the last few puppets. "This is something every lady worth her salt should learn."
Trimmau, Gray and even Jeanne and Julie applauded her.
"You made a good show of prowess." Naruto praised as he walked past Luvia, who of course preened.
Naruto stepped up to the statue.
"So...what? Do we break it?" Jeanne asked as everyone approached.
"That won't be necessary." Naruto said, gesturing for everyone to stop. "Instead, I will show you a personal side project of mine."
"Oh, that?" Jeanne asked with a smirk.
"Behold, ladies." Naruto pulled out a grey gem from his pocket. "This is not a duplication, rather an attempt at creation."
He held the gem toward the statue. The gems on the statue glowed. And then, to the shock of the Magi, the Prana within Luvia's gems was being absorbed by Naruto's gem.
"I see..." Reines' eyes narrowed. "Instead of destroying the statue, he is draining it by taking the Prana leaking out. Looks like you'll be able to keep it, provided you take off a few gems, of course."
Luvia was not paying attention to her, however. Her eyes were fixed on the gem between Naruto's finger.
He said it was an attempt at creation. Did that mean he made this gem himself?
"I-Isn't he stealing?" Gray asked.
"Any other time, yes." Reines nodded. "But, considering the system is berserk, I think we can make an exception. Why waste good power supply when it can be stored for later transfer?"
...That was a lot of power for her master's enemy, however. What would he use it for? Gray dreaded to think about it.
After a few minutes, the Bounded Field shattered like glass.
"There." Naruto pocketed the gem. "This turned out to be some valuable field-testing."
"Congrats." Jeanne said as she and Julie approached him. "Your Senjutsu Gem turned out magnificently."
"Thanks." Naruto nodded, then turned to the group. "Miss Luvia."
Hearing her name snapped her out of her thoughts. "Y-Yes?"
"I have to say, I'm impressed."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"This system of yours." He said, gesturing to the statue. "You said it was to make customers eager to spend and purchase. A system made to amass a fortune, essentially. And the bigger the fortune gathered, the stronger the system. A perfect setup for Jewelcraft." He smirked. "There is a reason the Tohsaka are outmatched by the Edelfelt."
How could Luvia not puff her chest out when he not only praised her, but spoke ill of the thieving Tohsaka?
Reines rolled her eyes. "Shall we go back up?"
When they returned to the main floor, they found the customers going about, as if nothing happened.
"Well, that was quite the mess, wasn't it?" Luvia remarked.
"I think we all gained something from this little investigation." Naruto said.
Reines rolled her eyes. "Says the one who actually gained something."
"Our miss Owner definitely learned a valuable lesson today." He argued. "Gray learned what she wanted about the Holy Grail War and you..." he pointed at Reines. "Took Gray shopping for clothes."
She smiled. "I can't argue with that. But even then, the gains aren't exactly even. You called it a side project, yes? What would be the next step?"
"Making a bigger gem." Naruto answered. "And as such, increase how much it can absorb and store, until I reach my desired result."
Luvia blinked. "And what would that result be?"
"Why, a Jewel Sword, of course."
Three sets of eyes widened.
"Y-You..." Luvia trailed off.
"Don't misunderstand me." He shook his head. "I have no access to the Second Magic in any capacity. My sword would be restricted to the Mana in this World."
"Even so, should you succeed, wouldn't you then be able to create anything that could pull this off?"
"Yes." Naruto nodded. "I started with this because of the obvious inspiration, but it's not limited to jewelry."
"...You really are just as much a Monster as my brother and uncle said." Reines noted.
"Ah, but am I a Monster, or simply built different?" He smirked.
"Who knows?" Reines shrugged. "Can't it be both? We have to solve this puzzle standing in front of us to find out for sure."
"Quite right." Jeanne smirked before handing Reines a piece of paper. "Here you go. Just cuz I like you."
Reines looked at it. "Ah, phone numbers."
Both Luvia and Gray's eyes widened.
Jeanne grinned. The reason she gave their numbers to Reines and not Luvia was simple. While Luvia was the one obviously interested in her Master, that attraction was in large part from the point of view of a Magus, who saw the advancement of their lineage before all else. Reines, on the other hand, simply enjoyed using her Master's presence to make the people around her uncomfortable, and she was very good at that. That attitude, Jeanne could appreciate.
"Yes, now..." She adjusted her grip on Julie, who was resting in her arms. "I'll be returning home. This little adventure has exhausted my angel." She turned to her Master. "Shall I go ahead of you?"
"No, I'm coming along." He shook his head before turning to the other girls. "I've imposed on this Girls' Day Out enough as is." He winked before walking away with his Servant.
"Ah, what a shame..." Reines sighed. "He left just as tea time came around. Shall we head back to that cafe?"
"...I suppose so." Luvia nodded. "I feel like I need some sugar to reboot my brain after hearing of his high standards."
"What, you're gonna stack 20 toppings again?" Add cackled.
"Hush, you." Luvia huffed. "After seeing what my statue has caused, I have connected the dots."
Reines chuckled at her flustered state while Gray glanced at the direction the family went off.
"Aren't you gonna tell me who wants to talk to me?" Mordred asked.
"Nope." Naruto said in amusement. "You'll just have to see for yourself."
He had been surprised when Reines called him so soon after the mall incident. He expected that he himself would have to call to have Mordred and Add talk, but apparently something came up on their end.
And so, here they were, at a different cafe than their usual meet-up. Waver's favorite, according to Reines. The aforementioned duo, plus Gray, were already inside.
Waver frowned as he saw Naruto and Mordred come in.
"I didn't expect a call so soon, Reines." Naruto said as he and Mordred seated themselves. "Some sort of emergency?"
"One could almost say a catastrophe, depending on who you ask." Reines smiled, turning her red eyes to Waver.
Waver sighed. He knew he had to mention it, but this whole thing stunk.
"Someone snuck into my office and stole my piece of Rider's mantle." He explained.
Naruto smirked. "Stealing from a Lord, even a placeholder, is just begging for trouble. Any clues or calling card?"
"Just this." He placed a black envelope on the table.
Naruto whistled. "A formal invitation to Rail Zeppelin?"
Rail Zeppelin was the Mystic Eye Collection Train, where the Market for Mystic Eyes took place. Looking to buy a pair of Mystic Eyes to elevate your lineage, or even sell and get rid of them to relieve yourself of the burden they bring? That's your destination. Even Shiki's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception could be permanently removed, as they had the means to do so.
To receive a formal invitation to Rail Zeppelin, even a free slot meant for newcomers, meant having an interest in Mystic Eyes, something Waver did not.
"Someone is looking to lure you there." Naruto decided.
Waver nodded. "Yes. Although the reason why eludes me, they knew enough about me to know where I kept the Mantle, and that I would do anything to get it back."
"But why tell me?" He raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're picking me as your guest?"
"Don't be ridiculous." Waver scoffed before reaching into his suit. "I was told to give you this."
He placed a second invite on the table. For him?
"...Who gave you this?" His eyes narrowed.
"I received it from the Wizard Marshall himself." Waver crossed his arms. "Said it was important that you took it."
"Kischur did, huh?" He mused as he picked the envelope and pocketed it. "Well, if it's him, it has to be something important."
"Oho?" Reines raised an eyebrow. "First name basis with the Old Man of the Jewels? Aren't you full of surprises."
"It has been a long time since I've last seen him." He admitted. "But one such as him is not prone to change. Adapt, yes, but not change."
"What was it like?" She leaned forward. "First meeting him?"
"Terrifying." Naruto was not ashamed to admit it. "When he first stood before me, his presence was suffocating. In hindsight, I realize he must have used the Second Magic to call upon the aura and presence of his alternate selves, but I knew he could have crushed me in the blink of an eye. The gap between us was that large. Never before or since, have I ever felt such a thing."
"There's another high standard..." Add grumbled. "Takes the Big Man who Travels Dimensions to just scare the pants off of him."
Mordred blinked. "The hell was that?"
"Oh..." Gray reached into her cape and placed Add on the table.
"Sup, Mordred?"
Mordred blinked again. "Oh, it's this thing. Wait..." She glanced at her Master. "You can't be serious."
Naruto nodded.
Mordred turned her eyes to Add again. Her eyes narrowed before she pulled Add out of the cage.
"...Isn't that Father's armor?" She asked, recognizing some of Add's aesthetics.
"Yeah." Add wiggled in her hand. "I used Shards of my King's Armor to have this seal created by alchemists."
"Bullshit."
"What?"
"You weren't made by Alchemist." Mordred claimed, scowling. "No, you reek of my mother."
Waver and Gray's eyes widened.
"I get it." She growled. "She made this Seal for Rhongomyniad, after Father and I killed each other. And after that..." She glanced at Gray and her scowl deepened.
"Oi, oi, what are you saying, Mordred?" Add asked. "Don't you recognize me?"
"I recognize your mannerisms plenty, Sir Kay." Mordred said. "But the real Sir Kay left Camelot while Father went away, searching for Sir Lancelot in Rome."
"...What?" Gray was surprised that Add sounded so confused.
"You didn't even know, did you?" She placed Add back in the cage. "That's Mother's M.O., alright."
"Why Kay, of all Knights of the Round Table?" Naruto asked. "Would it be because he grew up with your father?"
"Kinda." Mordred nodded. "It wouldn't be so much that they grew up together, though. Rather, the fact that they did made Sir Kay one of two things: One, the most loyal, or two, the most disillusioned. Two guesses on which one it was, and the first one doesn't count."
"Of course." Waver realized. Sir Kay, son of Sir Ector, grew up alongside the King of Knights. That fact alone meant Kay had seen her at her best and worst. All of her flaws, all of her hopes and aspirations...
He would obviously have a less fantastical view of the King than everyone else. Yet, at the same time, he knew better than anyone what she was capable of.
"I remember what you said, back at the banquet." Waver said, to Gray's confusion.
Naruto hummed in acknowledgment. "Had she been a more human King, she certainly would have understood her people better, and they would as well. Some would have walked away, because you can't please everyone, but there are others who would have remained, as they did back then. Perhaps even Kay would have been by her side at Camlann. Perhaps not."
"Seriously." Mordred crossed her arms. "I never wanted to kill Father, I just wanted her to acknowledge me. I wasn't even the one that killed her. It was the curse that Mother placed on me that dealt the killing blow. If Gawain hadn't been fighting Lancelot for the sake of revenge, they could have stopped me."
"Acknowledgment, huh..." Add muttered. "I guess that's a constant desire in the Pendragon line."
"Don't talk like you know." Mordred scoffed. "You're not the real deal."
"Maybe I'm not." Add admitted. "But you, of all people, know the Witch doesn't do things half-assed."
Mordred's hand clenched into a fist. She stood up and walked out.
"Looks like we're done here." Naruto said. "Guess I'll see you at the station, kiddo."
"Right..." Waver nodded.
"Have fun!" Reines waved, amused.
"I'll be sure to tell you if anything embarrassing happens to him." Naruto chuckled.
"Oh, lovely!" Reines laughed.
Waver sighed. Was this horrible duo his punishment for stealing the Rider's mantle from Kayneth?
Naruto walked out of the cafe and to the nearest back alley.
Mordred was pacing back and forth, trying and failing to calm down by deep breaths. She growled and punched the brick wall, denting and cracking it.
"She made another one!" She exclaimed, clenching her other hand. "She made another copy of Father, after all this time!"
"But she's not a Homunculus like you, is she?" He asked.
Mordred shook her head. "No, she's definitely different. I dunno how long she's been in the works, but I definitely smelled Dragon on her."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Father was infused with the Red Dragon, and Mother infused me with the White Dragon, to make sure I at least rivaled Father." She reminded. "That Gray girl... I smell the White Dragon on her too. Mother's intentions couldn't be more obvious."
"Right..." He nodded. "A new copy of King Arthur, with Rhongomyniad, sealed and still at full power, within hand's reach. Gray is, for all intents and purposes, Morgan's new vessel."
"And yet, where is she?" Mordred leaned against the wall. "The Marburry Workshop was the perfect opportunity for Mother to just snatch her body up. But she didn't."
"She couldn't." Naruto corrected. "The Wild Hunt was an unnatural one. As such, it must have garnered the attention of many a Fae. The moment she tried anything..."
"She would have been found out." Mordred realized. "Yeah, that makes sense. She's waiting for a more subtle chance."
Naruto nodded. "Feeling better?"
"A bit." Mordred admitted. "Still upset, though. I know I'm dead and all, but it still feels like I'm being replaced."
"Ah, I suppose so." Naruto nodded. "But unlike with Gray, Morgan would never possess your body, even if you succeeded to the throne."
"Really? Why do you say that?"
"That's just the kind of bond that forms between a mother and her children." Naruto shrugged. "9 months of literal and figurative bonding is one of the hardest, if not the hardest bond to break. Even when the mother isn't exactly a pinnacle of motherhood."
"She's not all bad." Mordred said. "Sure, she is controlling and stern, but the results that come with that speak for themselves. I mean, look at Agravain."
"Very true." Naruto agreed.
Mordred took another breath. "Alright, I'm good. So, what's the plan with that invite?"
"Find out why exactly Kischur saw fit that I get one." Naruto pulled the envelope out. "Something will happen in that train, and he wants me to bear witness, either to stop it myself, or to assist Waver in some capacity."
"And you're going to?"
"Why not?" He waved the envelope. "It's a good opportunity. And I won't even have to mark the kid with Hiraishin to get in. And who knows? I might be surprised by the selection..."
And even if that wasn't the case, he knew someone who would love to study the entire stock, if given the chance...
Waver did his best to hide how nervous he was that Naruto was standing near them, waiting to board Rail Zeppelin. He was alone, but he certainly had an astralized Servant following him.
For his part, Gray, to his right, followed him because she was his apprentice, and many of his pupils volunteered to accompany him, but he only chose one.
"Are you sure I was the right choice, Lord?" Caules Forvedge asked from his left.
Caules was the second child of the Forvedge family, but became heir when his sister gave up on Magecraft, despite being the superior Magus, due to a conflicting mindset to that of a Magus.
Caules was an eighteen-year old with a youthful, freckled face that belied his age, along with black glasses. He wore black pants and a white button-up shirt under an open blue-white vest.
"Don't worry about Flat and Svin." Waver waved off. "They have extracurricular lessons. You should focus on staying cautious while in the train."
"Sir..." Gray stepped closer to him. "Is it particularly dangerous?"
"It is a train that Magi, and those even more unsavory, board for the sake of Mystic Eyes." Naruto said, catching the attention of his pupils from their left. "If not for the fact that any overt aggression could momentarily postpone an auction for everyone involved, you'd have greater chances jumping in the maw of a Dead Apostle."
"To board this train is to step into the underworld." Waver agreed, glancing toward the gathered Magi further away to his right. "Everyone is a target, a competitor."
"And as such, you brought some protection from Mystic Eyes in the form of glasses, yes?" A feminine voice surprised Waver to turn left.
"Hishiri Adashino..." He begrudgingly greeted. As she said, he was indeed wearing glasses that served as protection from the influence of Mystic Eyes.
Hishiri gave an amused nod of greeting before turning to Naruto. "And Sir Mathias as well. Do you have an interest in Mystic Eyes?"
"A passing curiosity." He nodded. "Some distant cousins of mine do possess Mystic Eyes by birth, although those require some self-mutilation to gain their full effectiveness."
Hishiri hummed in thought while the younger Magi looked perturbed by the information.
"It looks like the market has attracted some interesting clientele." A younger voice said, making everyone turn to the young lady approaching them from their right. "Even the Head of Modern Magecraft Theories has been invited."
She looked to be in her early-to-mid teens with white hair long enough to go past the small of her back, a braid tied with a yellow ribbon, that spiraled with said braid, on the left side of her head, reaching past her shoulder. She wore a black and yellow dress reaching her knees, with a short cape around her shoulders, black pantyhose and brown boots.
"It has been a while, Lady Olga-Marie Animusphere." Waver greeted.
"Animusphere?" Caules muttered in shock. That made her the daughter of the Head of the Astromancy Department!
Olga-Marie's golden eyes looked at the entire group before they narrowed at Naruto. She stepped forward and stopped before him.
Naruto raised an eyebrow at the girl's action. "Can I help you, lass?"
"You are him, aren't you?" She asked. "The only known winner of a Holy Grail War: Naruto Uzumaki?"
Waver and Gray tensed, Caules' eyes widened and Hishiri merely watched the conversation.
"...And if I am?" He smirked.
"I did not expect to find you here, but this is an excellent opportunity." She said before placing a hand on her chest.
"On behalf of my Father, Marisbury Animusphere, I, Olga-Marie Animusphere, would like to offer you an invitation to the Chaldea Security Organisation."
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