AN: It's time for cooldown, yah! The next chapter would be pertaining to Witch and the current condition of the Master. See you next in chapter.
A Lost Nuffians: Yes, unleash the chest they said, exposing it would render the enemies stunned...! Joke!
The Rupture : Interesting, let me think of that for a moment.
Spiderwitch2211: Muramasa? What would Muramasa do here? collect some harem?
Tomatochilisauce: boy, that some awesome theory you have! Well, I have no comment about it unfortunately.
SPOILER ALERT BTW! Certain Character from a Light Novel exists, who still did not appear yet on any Anime Medium. Please proceed at your own risk.
Chapter 65: The Interlude
Two days.
Two days have passed after sealing two Tohkas. It was a miracle that the days passed without any trouble.
Shidou was overseeing the dorm in front of the window. He wondered why Ritsuka wasn't in her dorm anymore. It was weird that they haven't seen her two days from now. The last time they visited it was that only Rider was present, who gladly accepted them. The other thing that Rider told them was that Origami also lived here now but that would be a story for another time.
"Eh, Master is not here anymore..." Rider reasoned. They knew it wasn't enough but it seemed that Rider won't budge.
"It entirely depends on her if she will return or not." That's all she added before indulging into another forgettable topic with them. All in all, she won't tell them where she currently is.
Shidou sighed once more. He was really worried since he hasn't interacted with her since the last sealing. It might be possible that something happened to her.
"Hmm… why the sullen face, boy?" Tenka, the Inverse Tohka, said as she approached Shidou willingly. She has now established that her own name would be Tenka from now on.
Tenka was currently munching on some fries nonchalantly.
"It's nothing… Well, how about you? How are you?" Shidou talked back and Tenka's facial expression dumbed.
"Oh yes, I remember… It's fine!" it was obvious that her voice was laced with sarcasm. "Only that you didn't let me disappear!" she cried out.
Shidou subconsciously raised his arms in defense, expecting Tenka to lash out but to no avail. "I-It's not what we expect! I didn't know that it would happen!"
Suddenly, Tohka appeared. "Sis! There you are!"
Tenka immediately retracted. "I am not your sis!" she vehemently denied. Nevertheless, Tohka approached Tenka from behind and hugged her tightly.
Tenka was taken by surprise. "G-get off me , you-!" She tried to push away Tohka but it was known that they were of equal strength.
For Tohka, having a sister was the best day of her life and now she can compete with the Yamai sisters… if only Tenka was more cooperative. She thanked Shidou for making this a possibility.
Although, Shidou doesn't have the slightest idea on how he did it. He was still scratching his head in confusion.
Suddenly, the door opened abruptly without any warning, causing alarm throughout the house. Shidou was surprised by the noise.
In came a familiar stranger, whom Shidou would guess would be related to Ritsuka… a Heroic Spirit.
Her cold, uncaring eyes set in nonchalant figure scan the interior with absolving scrutiny while also having a popsicle stuck in her mouth. She was wearing leather jackets and shorts, showing off those pale white thighs. Shidou didn't remember who it was exactly.
Tenka subconsciously stepped back as she was well aware of their new visitor. The one Spirit that managed to defeat her.
"It's you!" Tenka annoyingly pointed at Saber Alter while hiding behind Shidou, who was still confused as heck. It was understood by Shidou that Tenka was scared of Saber Alter right now and that she'll just refuse to acknowledge it if she was being pushed.
"Calm down, Tenka..." He assured her. "Err, welcome to my abode? Please have a seat." Saber Alter decidedly entered the house and chose to sit on the sofa.
Saber's sudden visitation left him unprepared. "I'll prepare some drinks in a minute."
"Don't bother… maybe later."
"huh?" Shidou was confused. He was about to retreat into the kitchen.
"I'm living here from now on."
…
…
…
An awkward silence followed and then…
"WHAAAAAAAAT?!" Shidou exclaimed in shock, to the point he could feel his heart almost jump out. As if to further cement her words, Saber was also carrying a large duffel bag, seemingly too heavy for an ordinary human to carry.
"Hora? Did I hear that right?" Another voice interjected to their surprise. Kotori slowly descended on the stairs, just in time to hear their recent conversation. She was already on her way toward Fraxinus' ship when Saber's word made her interested.
Shidou and Tenka could only look at Kotori with befuddled expressions. Tohka meanwhile, praised for her innocence, could only tilt her head in confusion as she glanced toward Kotori, Shidou and the new arrival.
Kotori immediately rushed in front of Saber Alter with a wicked expression. "You know, we gladly welcome you to our family! Consider this place as your home."
Saber Alter just nodded in confirmation.
Shidou did not expect that and immediately asked for reasoning. "Just why?"
"Punishment. Master sent me to your house as a punishment." She answered bluntly, then set her eyes upon Tenka once more, scaring the latter. "Also, observation and insurance, there's a considerable percentage of Tenka that might berserk unwarranted once more and I must be there to put her out once more."
Tenka felt the chills in her spine.
Shidou defended Tenka. "I assure you that Tenka-san won't go berserk as you assume." he's slightly angry, even though Saber Alter's words are on point.
"I'm confident about Onni-chan's capability and I trust him…." then she smirked. "Of course, an additional hand won't hurt." Kotori suspiciously gave Saber a half-assed grin.
Saber Alter could tell the hunch of Shidou's little sister. "To be clarified, I am not a Spirit to be conquered by Shidou… and also no kissing!" Better safe than daring. Saber Alter was well aware of Shidou's ability to seal Spirits' power.
"Y-yes ma'am!" He answered with a tight salute. Shidou has this fleeting sense that Saber Alter's commands are obligatory thanks to her Charisma.
Kotori just shrugged. "Your choice then..." then she looked at Shidou. "Onni-chan, why don't you show her the interior of the house."
Shidou was about to answer right now but was met with a closed door as Kotori left them without a second word. It seemed that all responsibility had been dropped into his hands.
In other words, he has no other choice.
Origami opened the door toward the dorm. Quite ironic that she intended to use it as a way to stalk Shidou, only for her to be unable to utilize it after her first payment. What a waste.
Origami pulled her hand into a fist, shaking and tightening. Of all the things that happened to her, in the end, she still put the blame on Spirits.
She still has the keys that were given to her by Ritsuka and intended to use it. She still has her things inside one of the rooms she rented.
Opening the door, she was met with the scent of a strong alcohol and found a figure sitting on the sofa sloppily with a bottle chugging into her mouth.
"Ahh, it's you..." Drake commented as she removed the bottle out from her mouth. She was visibly flushed from drinking too much.
Origami retained her quietness and just observed the interior. She walked in without much fuss and noticed that something's missing. Her first appearance here proves much.
But she can't quite point it out.
"If you are looking for Ritsuka, then leave it as it is… she might not return..." Drake remarked as she played with the now empty bottle with her finger. "I was placed here to supervise this dorm."
"...Of course you can leave this dorm and I'll reconsider your payment… you are free to go as much as you like." Rider added.
"I see." Origami responded. "What happened?" This is the first time Origami was curious over something. The nonchalant girl then sat in front of Rider, wanting to know why.
"So nosy you are… very well then." Rider exclaimed. "Perhaps I could give some pointers in order to have your question be satisfied; Ritsuka encountered some sort of trouble along the way, that made her forced to be temporarily on leave." She explained as she watched Origami's reaction, who somehow did not mutter anything.
"I… understand." Origami told her… even though she didn't get the gist of a third of Rider's explanation. Rider just smirked though, obviously knowing that Origami was just making herself look understandable.
"Yah, yah… just tell me you don't understand it."
Origami remained silent. "I want to stay." She decided at last, and more importantly, she decided that delving into Ritsuka, the presumed owner of the dorm, was totally worthless. She believed that she shouldn't be involved in their matter until now.
Rider just chuckled at Origami's reaction. "Your choice, kid." she added then picked herself up in order to clean the entire place. It has been getting dirty lately and Ritsuka is not present here to order her or the others.
Maybe after cleaning this place, she could hit some bar nearby. She's definitely not in a down mood lately, she's just had an increased liking for drinking recently.
The awkwardness inside the house returned once more as Shidou awaited for Saber Alter to settle in. Luckily, they have one more room to accommodate the Pale Saber. The Tyrant Knight always looked cold and stern which unsettles Shidou.
Saber was presented with a tea prepared by Shidou who gladly drank it with not so much emotion.
Tenka and Tohka sat side-by-side with Shidou, much to the youngster's discomfort. Shidou just endured it, even though it means Tohka wrapping around his other arm while Tenka was grasping his other arm. Tohka was just happy as she was while Tenka remained wary of Saber Alter now and then.
Both the two of them have different motives but their ample chest was digging into his arms for god sake. Shidou was on the verge of losing his mind.
Saber Alter just sipped the tea offered to her.
"So how's your day?" Shidou started the conversation once again after clearing his throat.
"Fine." Saber Alter responds and proves herself that she wasn't a talker either to anyone. "I used to work from a maid cafe but dropped it recently."
"I see..." Shidou thought that he was to be blamed for Saber's current disposition. "Then, I hope you will be satisfied living here from now on."
"Of course, whether the conditions here are unfavorable or not, I will live here as Master dictates."
"That-s… brutal I think." Shidou just commented. Shidou thought that maybe Saber was really that dedicated to her 'mission'.
Immediately, they hear a ringing bell that indicates that they have a new visitor again besides Saber.
Shidou shuddered all of a sudden. Why did he tremble? Is it connected to the one who will appear right in front of their house? He eventually shook those unfounded fears within his heart and yet he had trouble reaching for the door.
Until, Yoshino herself was the one who opened the door willingly as she was curious too of who might be the new guest beside Saber.
Shidou widened his eyes when he realized he knew who it was.
"Ohayo!" Miku greeted all who are currently at the living room with a gusto. "Hello, Darling-kun! I see you already have two girls to snuggle with today." she exclaimed and it made Shidou shake with surprise.
"N-no, that doesn't what it means-" Shidou desperately denied as he gently peeled Tenka and Tohka off from his arms but to no avail. The duo of them just kept pressing further into Shidou when Miku approached them curiously. Any face that Shidou could show him as somewhat innocent was now lost in translation.
Miku grinned excitedly as she set her eyes upon Shidou.
*plop*
A new weight added upon his legs and slightly depressed the area of sofa they were currently sitting on. Shidou was shocked when he felt Miku's bum placed nicely upon his knees. That made Shidou blushed madly when he could literally smell Miku's fragrance from her lavender hair.
"M-Miku!" Shidou panicked.
"This is fun!" Miku interjected, as if she had never heard Shidou complaining about his embarrassing trouble. As if adding insult to injury, Miku made herself bounce slightly, further putting Shidou to shame.
"Oh? I think I saw you before?" Miku said as she stopped teasing Shidou and set her attention toward Saber Alter, who was busy watching their little play while continuing sipping from her tea.
It was very calming, she thought. She waited for Miku to add something.
Miku thought for a moment until she gave up. "*oof*, I give up, I think I forgot it already..." The idol muttered to herself, which Saber still managed to hear. "Hi, my name is Miku Sonogami and nice to meet you. I am now officially part of Darling's harem."
Saber Alter just nodded in scrutiny. "You can call me Saber Alter."
"Saber Alter? Don't tell me it's a codename."
Saber just nodded in confirmation.
"Are you part of Darling's harem? It would be interesting to have someone who still hides her name." Miku said with a chuckle.
"Hopefully… I do not." Saber Alter explained. "Although, I already am a Servant of Master." Saber said nonchalantly.
Miku immediately stood up in interest, relieving Shidou from numbing his legs any further. "Really? Can you tell me who?"
Saber Alter almost blurted out the name when suddenly Miku recalled something. "W-wait, wait, don't tell me you belong to Ritsuka's harem!" she rightfully guessed… sort of.
Saber Alter tried to argue with Mikue's latest stepback but her mouth remained gaping when she found out that Miku might be right after all. It might not be a stretch to call them Heroic Spirits currently contracted to Ritsuka as harem.
"I think you're right." Saber just sighed. Food, she needed food.
"Yatta! I got it!" Miku was exceptionally active lately, and she just walked toward Saber, with no regards to whether Saber doesn't want to be touched or not, and hugged her tightly.
Miku released Saber, who had no reaction at all, and asked something. "Can I see all of you? I just want to meet Ritsuka-san once again!"
Saber Alter just swayed her head. "Maybe in another time… Master is busy after all."
"Aww man." Miku was saddened by the news. As if her interest in Saber Alter fuzzled because of her somewhat mundane reaction, Miku turned her attention toward the two Tohkas.
"Ah, you two looked cute! I remembered that you have a former spirit that is twins, Darling-kun!" Miku reminiscence.
"Y-yeah, of course." Shidou said.
"Fuck off!" Tenka exclaimed.
"Language!" Tohka scolded her other self while pointing at Tenka. She just looked adorable when acting like that.
"Uwah! She has a dirty mouth! Far cry from the innocent Tohka-chan!" Miku happily accused Tenka. "I loved her already now, Darling-kun!"
"Stop it you piece of shit!" Tenka cursed as Miku already crept up toward the inversed Tohka. Miku intended to hug upon the wonderful body of Tenka, who seemed to be as endowed as Tohka.
Maybe the idol blatantly just wanted to feel Tenka's plumpness for a lewd reason. Tenka tried to remove herself from Miku's inhuman grasp. The further Tenka put strength on pushing away Miku, the louder Miku was laughing from their skin-ship experience. Tohka just cheered for Tenka.
"Go, sister, go! You can do it!" The only thing missing would be pom-poms.
All Shidou could do was to facepalm himself hard.
Ellen repeatedly looked at the container, as if expecting him to wake up any minute, despite the gaping wound that was inflicted on his chest down to his stomach. He was on the verge of death if it weren't for the container filled with preserving water.
His ash-colored hair floated freely among the life-preserving liquid. Various tubes were connected to his orifices. He really looked at peace and that's why Ellen wouldn't forgive herself if she were to be dead.
Thankfully, the readings showed that he was still breathing and alive, if barely.
For her he was still alive, no matter how he looked pitiful. Ellen continued to look up at the sorry state form of Wescott, who was still unconscious. Ellen doesn't know how many hours have passed looking at the body inside the container.
Dammit, her whole world revolves around Wescott and when he was wounded, she felt herself a ridiculous failure. She was the strongest humanity's wizard for godsake!
She couldn't forgive that bitch for almost killing Wescott. She swore that she would find that bitch one day and then inflict the worse torture she could have imagine.
Her honed instincts might have failed her when she has visitors behind her. No worries since she already dedicated all of her senses to watching Wescott recovering. Her visitors are not worth giving attention.
"So you are here all along, Ellen." A despicable voice told her and yet she did not turn her head.
"tsk! tsk! tsk! Look how mighty they have fallen." They remarked as they saw the bloody body of the Director.
"Look how she desperately preserved his life! Isn't it lowly enough?" One of them commented, followed by a round of laughter. Not only that, they were being guarded by Ellen's fellow Wizards, with whom their lightsabers are ready.
One of them was brave enough to step forward and proclaim his, no, their intention following the news of Wescott's 'death'.
"Ellen, there is no use in pretending now… Wescott is as good as dead… you must let us lead the DEM from now on." one of them said. Even though it was of a good intention, Ellen couldn't help but feel mocked.
What's the use of those sweet words if all they could back it up was the impending threat coming from the numerous Wizards that completely surround her?
It was obvious that they couldn't let her live after this. These power-hungry idiots will do anything just to grab the power for their own good and they see Ellen as an obstacle no matter what.
Ellen has no other choice but to respond to their unsaid threats. The man's promising words rung hollow.
Ellen smirked. She has no trouble slaying some Wizards and idiots to instill discipline. The Wizards were becoming wary, of course, their sole opponent was the Humanity's Strongest Wizard afterall.
"Don't be foolish, Ellen. You are outnumbered." One of them stated as a matter-of-fact. The idiots have already ordered to draw out their weapons and Realizers.
Ellen gritted her teeth and then just chuckled. "I'll be glad to defy your expectations." She could not only see them as a human, but rather beasts waiting to be slaughtered. Such is her passion that her perception was skewered enough to allow her to kill them inhumanely and indiscriminately.
"Nonsense!" They panicked since they couldn't sway her steadfast resolution. They intend to find a weakness they can exploit quickly. "You know we do not need to end this in a needless slaughter! You don't care if that man might get caught in the fight?!" They cautioned her.
Ellen just gave a glance toward the container where Wescott was currently sleeping. "Don't you dare mock me and my capabilities! I can defend Wescott at the same time as I behead all of you!" The Strongest Humanity's Wizard confidently stated.
"Besides, it's time to cull the weak!"
They could only grit in confusion and anger. a hundred Wizards against one sole Adeptus, insane right? Then they give their orders.
...and all hell broke loose.
Barely it lasted an hour or two when screams and hails of anguish and torment filled the base. Wizards who felt weak immediately retreated from the heat of the battle.
*SLASH*
They thought that numbers alone can make the advantage, but turns out they were wrong. Most of the Wizards are content with staying alive.
Most of them managed to escape out of the base, where the Adeptus 1 was currently butchering the rest of their teammates, even the higher-ups, who thought bringing most of the Wizards would suffice, might not make it out alive.
*CRISH*
Unfortunately, as the monster who feast within the base, so the same from the outside, they thought that escaping might prove efficient, only to be whittled down by another strongest.
*CRISH*
In the eyes of Artemisia, the Adeptus 2, all of the fleeing Wizards were insects that needed to be taken down. They are weak, she says, there is no need for weak and hesitant in their own ranks so she slices them down like flies. They even barely strike her back as her strong Territories kept her away from harm but at the same time trapping these weak Wizards.
*SLASH*
Surely, in a short amount of time, the forces were completely obliterated. Out came Ellen, fully drenched with blood from hair down to her toes, her equipment were as much as stained with various blood of her enemies. It was quite a miracle that it was still working.
Ellen whiffed down the fresh air. Just like what she said; she managed to protect the container holding Wescott while at the same slaying all those who opposed them. She could feel her blood still agitated from the recent event.
"My, my you need a bath, Ellen-san." Artemisia commented. Unlike Ellen, she still maintained the cleanliness of her equipment while at the same time, bodies of Wizards adorned around her.
"Hmph. You're lucky that a few of them managed to get out." Ellen retorted before setting her sight to the sky.
"I suppose you are right, Ellen-san." Artemisia doesn't need to further antagonize Ellen. After hearing of what happened to Wescott, she immediately arrived in Japan to investigate, and looked at what happened.
Imbeciles and idiot suddenly sprung into action after the demise of Wescott, in intent on stealing the position as soon as possible through the use of force and then failed, because they hadn't taken into their plan the strongest Wizard. Their greed apparently made them blind and made them lose.
"Time to remind them of their places." Ellen commented. "This stupid mutiny shouldn't be allowed to flourish!" She proclaimed before leaving Artemisia on her own.
Hmph! So much for recognition. The Adeptus 2 has no other choice but to follow Ellen right now.