Perhaps unsurprisingly, the kids wished for time to discuss things. Perhaps also unsurprisingly, they specifically wanted time away from me to discuss things.
…Perhaps I should be thankful they didn't just kill me on the spot?
They could have done so. Easily. Would have been a terrible way to end the game too, even if it did grant me victory. Granted, I went back tonight because I believed they wouldn't just kill me immediately. Much as they may want to, it would be a stupid move on their part, considering Rider is now working with Archer. Also, because Rider's motley crew of assassins were far more troublesome than I'd, and therefore they, originally believed.
But because Archer was now working with Rider, like 95 percent certain he was, at any rate, it was all the more important to figure out his identity. So, I got to work in my little office space as the kids went upstairs to discuss things.
If only I had something to actually work off of!
Archer's identity warping skill thing was as irritating to deal with as ever. I was comforted in the knowledge that it wasn't permanent; that eventually this mind warping shit would disappear, one way or another. But right now… right now I really wished it would just fuck right off!
Hard enough to ID them as is with a visual and audible basis to work off of, but this…
"I keep coming back to Robin Hood" I groaned to myself, jabbing a finger at the monitor in front of me. "In a lot of ways, it fits! It would fit so fucking well! But Robin Hood isn't really a person; not like Saladin, or even a 'myth' like Caster. Robin Hood is- it's more like a title than a single person! So many people, hell, even groups of people, called themselves Robin Hood! Which, in a way, explains that bullshit skill! But can an existence like that even become a Heroic Spirit?! So far, Heroic Spirits seem to just be single existences! Sure, the class thing proves that there's versions, but the versions are of the same existence! Like, is Saber was the Rider class instead, he would be different, but it would still be… well, Saber! The closest comparison I can come up with would be the assassin with a hundred different personalities, but even then, it's not the same thing! Sure, they had a hundred different personalities, but they all belonged to a single existence at the end of the day! So I could see someone like that being able to become a Heroic Spirit, but how does something like Robin Hood work then?!"
But then who else could it be?!
I knew, like, fuck all when it came to famous archers, in history or myth! Was Archer Orion? Technically possible, but I'd expect more form Greece's most famous hunter! Hou Yi? Again, technically possible, but if that was the "Lord Archer" of Chinese mythology, then I was disappointed. Thanks to that damned skill, though, anyone was technically possible, and it fucked over everything when it came to my process!
…Could it be Tristan, from King Arthur's Round Table…?
"…If that was the case, then surely…"
…Surely Lancer would already know, right? He wouldn't keep that hidden from his master, right?
"Gods, if that does turn out to be the answer…" I sighed, standing up from the desk. "I'm going to strangle someone."
"If what turns out to be the answer?"
The question startled me, sending a jolt running up my spine. I'd gotten too absorbed in my thoughts; I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. Of course, that meant I didn't notice the door open, and Saber standing in the doorway.
"Oh, nothing…" I sighed, returning to the computer after realizing it was only Saber. "Just that if Archer's identity turns out to be who I'd just considered to be a possibility, I was going to strangle someone due to… well, it doesn't really matter now."
"So, you think you have Archer figured out?"
"Oh, hell no… I'm not even close… That skill he has completely shuts down my methods!"
"I see."
"…So, what brings you to visit little old me" I asked, well aware that Saber was highly unlikely to come to me for just a social call. "Kids still discussing things?"
"Very much so."
"About what?"
"Not my place to say."
"…I see" my eyes narrowed slightly at that response. "Should I be prepared to run?"
"You wouldn't get far even if you tried."
"...Well, I suppose if anyone were to know something about that, it would be you, eh Saber" I laughed slightly.
"Indeed" Saber simply responded, completely devoid of emotion.
"Yeah, considering I've apparently already been fried alive once, can't say I want to have it happen to me again, electric flavor."
"You don't need to worry about such a thing: you are unworthy of being cut down by such blades."
"…Ouch" I giggled. "But I suppose that's fair, if a little disappointing. To think you'd have such low opinion of me. You wound me, Saber."
"…"
"…Ok, so really" I dropped my fake smile and got serious. "Why are you here, Saber?"
"Because while the masters and Lancer want to discuss things among themselves, I'd rather hear from the source of the problem."
"I'm the source of the problem they're currently discussing? Not Rider and Archer's alliance? Not Rider's seemingly undefeatable band of assassins at his immediate beck and call? Hell, not even Berserker or Assassin, but me?"
"Your wish is an issue."
"…Really, my wish is an issue? Not the priest's- oh, wait, they wouldn't know that. Right. Ok… so what about my wish is an issue? Or is it that me having a wish in of itself is an issue?"
"The second is definitely an issue, considering what this alliance was founded on, but the first would be the most pressing issue to the masters."
"…Dare I ask why?"
"It is one thing for man to seek out the Mandate of Heaven. It is another for man to attempt to overthrow Heaven."
I stared at Saber as he fell silent, giving him a moment to continue. When nothing more came as explanation, I couldn't help but groan.
"Really, that's what they're all hooked up on? Me becoming God?"
"I admit, I am curious as to your intentions myself. Hence why I am here. Now the question remaining is: will you answer? What is your goal in all of this?"
"It's the same goal I've had since the beginning Saber" I grinned slightly. "To witness as much of mankind's beauty that I am able to."
"So, godhood is now a requirement? Simple immortality would not suffice?"
"I mean, in theory it is, but…"
"But what? You desire such power for what? To amuse yourself?"
"What?! No! Nothing like that" I laughed. "Gods, I don't plan on doing anything with God powers! I just acknowledge that I need to have that as a failsafe!"
"What would such an extreme measure be needed for if you had immortality?"
"It's because I'd be immortal that I need such power! Immortality can just as easily be a curse as it can be a blessing! If one no longer has a victory condition, then there is no point in living, so imagine the pain of having no victory condition yet being forced to live for the rest of time, and perhaps even beyond such a concept! Why would anyone willingly inflict that upon themselves?!"
"…"
"…"
"…Assuming I understand what you mean by 'victory condition'…?"
"Because my victory condition is to witness all the beauty of mankind I can before I die." I sighed, Saber effectively killing the mood. "Now if I simply had immortality, so I could never die, then I don't ever technically 'win' the game, because I can't actually die, but I don't lose either, as I can indefinitely witness humanity's beauty. Effectively, I just make the game permanent; unending. A perfectly fine result, in my mind, as it's still not losing."
"You still have yet to explain why you need to become a god."
"Because what happens if I only achieve immortality, yet humanity, at some point, stops being beautiful? Then I'd be forced to wander around in hell for all time, and again, perhaps even beyond such a concept. That would be the biggest lost imaginable; my own personal Chibi, were I Cao Cao. But, if I'm God, then should humanity ever stop being beautiful, then I can just… reset things. Wipe the board clean! Begin all over again! However I wish for it all to begin!"
"…"
"It's my insurance policy, that I'm not dooming myself to an insufferable hell. As I said, immortality can be as much a curse as a blessing. To prevent it from becoming a curse, I need an insurance policy. Being God is that insurance policy. I have no desire to meddle with things otherwise! It's only so that, should humanity stop being beautiful, I don't end up stuck in a self-made hell."
"…"
"…"
"…Assuming I take you at your word… why not say all of this, rather than just that you desire godhood?"
"One, like hell Rider and the priest were going to just stand there and listen to such a long monologue" I laughed. "Two… well, I mean, the way I said it was simply far more likely to tick the two of them off, which is always fun. Why would I not take the fun option when possible?"
"…"
"You don't seem to believe me, Saber."
"Should anyone ever believe anything you say?"
"Hey! As I already said, I'm a dishonest man, which means you can always count on me to be dishonest! It's honest men you have to watch out for. I mean, how many people fell to your wiles, eh Saber?"
"You don't know what you speak of" Saber dismissed immediately, body visibly tensing, ever so slightly.
"Perhaps I don't" I simply laughed it off. "But regardless, that's the truth. Believe me or not, that's the honest truth behind my wish. I'm really not all that complicated to understand."
"An obvious lie."
"As I said, believe me or not, my answers aren't changing. Though, if you weren't going to believe me, even when I'm telling the truth, then why come to me in the first place? Just a waste of your time, really; talking with you Heroic Spirit types is always great for me, but what do I really have to offer someone like you, except answers to your questions?"
"Your answers have been heard. Though now it appears I have my own thinking to do…"
In an instant, Saber disappeared from the doorway, turning back into spirit form. Man… why couldn't I do that? Life would have been so much easier if I could just turn invisible at will…
"…You and me both Saber" I sighed, turning my attention back towards the monitor, and my work on Archer.
However, before I could even really get back into the swing of things, I was yawning. Which was odd; if anything, I yawned in the afternoon. Yawning at night was a rarity.
"Not even one in the morning…" I muttered to myself, checking the clock on the computer.
Not even a half hour later though… I knew this wasn't a fight I was going to win. I'd caught myself unconsciously twirling my hair, short as it was. An old habit, from childhood, that I was tired. One that I'd never fully killed, apparently…
"Oh for- fine. Fine! I get the hint, brain!"
Gods… it was such a waste, going to sleep now! So much time wasted on something so unnecessary! But it was either crash out on the couch now, or in, like, ten minutes in that chair. Sleeping the night away in that chair would not be comfortable; never was, falling asleep at the desk…
"…Maybe with everything going on, I do need more than two hours of sleep…" I contemplated, setting my usual alarm on my phone, giving me a few extra hours of sleep than I'd normally take. "Much as I hate it, I'm not as young as I used to be, and I do feel… tired…"
…Yeah, Archer could come in the morning. The couch felt nice. Really… nice…
A/N
A shorter entry, but school is rough with the work. I was told year 3 was usually were people started to get overwhelmed (provided the pass year 1) but still... this was more than I'd prepared myself for. All good though; not failing any classes xD
Moving on from my struggles in life though, FATE fact # who knows at this point:
So, Robin Hood, or Robin for you FGO/whatever other works Robin appears in people. Yeah... he's not the only 'Robin Hood'. Not even talking about variants from classes either, though I imagine they also exist and (maybe) count to the total. But yeah, FATE actually has many people in the throne under the moniker of Robin Hood. Something like upwards of 80+ actually, provided what I've read to be accurate...
Which leads me to wonder... could you do a Holy Grail War of just Robin Hoods? I mean, if you count the variants in FGO, you could do one with just different versions of Artoria, so I'd imagine it's possible... right?
Far as I know, 'Robin Hood' is the only one with such a unique... quirk. Though knowing the FATE IP, it wouldn't surprise me if there were other names with such a function with the Throne.
Meaning funnily enough for Nathan, Robin Hood could definitely be Archer. Not that he'll ever know this, but... Archer could be...
...
Right? o.O
As always, thanks to everyone reading! See y'all in the next post!