Chapter 7. Underneath the Underneath
He got him...
He knew he got that boy's attention, all according to his plan.
The alien known as Ghi Bree chuckles as he put the Earthling's device that he borrowed. The Prince of Balkean must admit this actually easier than he originally thought.
When he heard that Lala has chosen a fiance by herself he was shocked, how could he not? Lala Satalin Deviluke is the epitome of a child in an adult body - and beautiful, can't forget that one - as she is incredibly naive and childish. She sees things from her own perspective and only focused on what she wants, ignoring her surroundings and position as the Daugther of the Gid Lucione Deviluke, and she is obviously ignorant of the beauty she possesses and how others saw her. Ghi Bree will admit that he is not the brightest or smartest being but he is very far from stupid. He can get her character without much problem after their brief and short meeting during their introduction.
He is known as a male with many consorts so of course, he knew things about females.
So yeah, he was pretty much shocked when hearing a girl like her who doesn't know anything about copulation save for through textbook pick a fiance for herself.
He was worried that the male she picks is actually a decent male or strong one, in political standing and strength, because that means he has to withdraw from their engagement and lost a big opportunity to live in freedom and luxury.
Oh. don't take it wrong, he is a Prince, he pretty much already lives in freedom and luxury, but what he has now is nothing compared to what he WILL have when he becomes the Future Emperor of Galaxy. Power not just over a single World but countless, all females species and their exotic beauty. Such things... How could he bring himself to refuse that?
He is not stupid though since he knew that this whole fiasco was actually not worth it if he lost his life. He knew when to withdraw - like that one time when some female species goes a bit obsessive over his charm - if things go too deep for him despite no matter how much he wants to become the next Emperor - albeit he will do that with a heavy heart.
He is not physically strong, and his race never was to his knowledge but brute power is not what they have, what they have is scarier.
Shapeshifting to anything.
Their ability to shapeshift is second to none. One of their greatest said capable to transform into a huge mountain or even fortress without any flaw, a labyrinth that would confuse their enemies and lead them to deadly traps or ambushes that have been prepared.
He is not capable of that feat of course - not yet - but he could transform himself into a very... intimidating and horrifying monster from nightmares of many aliens. Though he is mostly using one that is charming and lovely, he is Lover after all not Monster, he doesn't find such activity to be tasteful, albeit he did find pleasure in others' terror but his main food is love and beauty.
So when it related to fighting he usually retreated and wait for the right opportunity, a chance to deliver the final strike and claim the prize. a brilliant and simple way to solve problems.
Back to the track, he was worried about just what kind of male she picked as her fiance, however his worry ceased when it turns out the one she picks is Human.
A backward and primitive species that barely know how to develop FTL technology, species that still believe themselves to be the only one that lives in this universe.
He let out a snort, seriously of all species in this universe, she has to pick Human of all things, Human! Seriously! It seems she really does have a few screws loose in her head.
To be honest, his knowledge about humans is very limited, heck, he just knows about them a few days ago when the Emperor declared his daughter engaged to one. One might be worried about unknown species but if that species is so primitive and backward? What is to fear about them?
Of course one still needs to be careful, regardless of how backward they are facing unknown without preparation is still an act of a fool. So when he arrived on this planet last night he decides to do a small research, checking how these human's culture and what they are capable of.
Turns out these humans are so easy to be frightened, seriously.
He did not even need to transform into a hideous monster that could bring terror to most of the species in the galaxy, just a simple one is enough to send them all running and screaming in fright. He held back a snort at the memory, even the supposed guardian of this city also got spooked so easily. He should expect no less from primitive species, they fear what they do not know, they fear what is unnatural to them. For planet's sake, what did Lala even see in Human is unknown to him!
.. well, he did admit that they are good to look at, their variation colored skin and face remind him of Deviluke in some way. Perhaps that is why Lala decides to pick them.
Speaking about good looking, he takes a look at the currently bound human female that he kidnapped. Short purplish-blue colored hair, healthy skin, soft and delicate facial structure, attractive and tender looking lips, body with a curve that shows her prominent parts. This human female - women they called - do look attractive and appealing in the eyes. Were she not from an unrefined planet and primitive species he would consider taking her with him, she is not bad looking after all. It would be too troublesome to deal with species that are still not aware of their status, denial, mental breakdown, etc, etc. Too many problems and taking so much time, he is not that diligent and kind to give some special attention to inferior species.
'Or perhaps, I can just make her into some kind of pet?' He thought while rubbing his chin. Such a thing is appealing, she could become a good doll, she has the look after all. With proper mental discipline from his home planet, he is sure she could be turned into his own personal assistant.
No, that would be unwise, this planet is currently under watch by Deviluke after all due to Lala's situation. He is not that stupid to incite the Emperor's wrath, blatant Slavery is not something that is taken very lightly by Deviluke after all given their history.
Then again given his status as Prince... If he takes one or two perhaps that is still fine, heck, if he takes dozen even that still would be fine. No one going to mind if some backward species missing after all. As long as he did not parade them blatantly, perhaps it still will be fine.
Yes, after he is done with his business here he will decide to scout some female human, no need to be in a hurry. He will have all the time in the universe after he got Lala as his fiance. Not to mention he also need to check on his ship, there was some error with the AI that handling it, seriously, of all things that could happen, with Earth's technology that is still primitive and-
His thought was cut off when he senses small tremors from the ground, blinking, he tilted his head, what is this? An earthquake? No, it is too small, it is more like something that-
Sounds of a door slammed open with a force ended his thought, he turned to the entrance and behold, there he is.
Reddish colored hair that mixed with white, fair colored skin, eyes that have dual colors, clad in Sainan High School uniform, chest moving from the breath he took and let out, Shirou Yuuki Emiya or better known as Shirou Emiya, the current fiance's of Lala Deviluke stood before him.
The human's eyes shift away from him, looking to the girl that bounded then return to him and his eyes become darker. An act that would be intimidating had Ghi Bree doesn't know that their species is full of cowards and idiots behind that threatening act.
"You!" He growled, his voice deep and barely restrained with a fury
... okay, that was slightly intimidating, he must admit that but nonetheless, that still doesn't make him afraid.
"Shirou Emiya..." He called out with a sneer. "Well, well, you certainly did not waste any time to come here." He chuckled as he walks closer to Haruna Sairenji. "This female is that important for you, I take it?" He asked rhetorically while wrapping his hand on her waist.
Apparently that seems to infuriate the human as Shirou's right eye narrowed in a threatening manner, those heterochromatic pupils locked to his arm that snaked to his friend's waist. This makes Ghi Bree's smirk widen as he gives the boy a nasty look.
"You are not Sasuga-sensei." Shirou stated, voice deep and grim. "I take it you are the alien who was one of Lala's fiance candidates before me?"
"Correct, I see you are quite bright for a being that came from primitive species." Ghi Bree replied in a mocking voice. "Well, since you are proved to stand slightly higher than the rest of your kin, I shall introduce myself, my name is Ghi Bree, Prince of the Balkean." He introduced himself with a small smirk. "And perhaps we should go straight to the point." He looks the boy in his eyes, his own pupil turned to slit and he shifts his teeth into a fang, making sure to add an intimidating effect to his appearance. "Cancel your engagement with Lala and I might consider letting you and this human," He raised one arm and pull her closer to him. "To be left alive and unharmed." He sneered.
The boy's eyes narrowed, the strange mismatched colored eyes meet his and Ghi Bree's own fearlessly much to his amusement. The boy looks brave and he has to give him some credit for that, but just like the so-called "protector" of this city, he is sure the boy will turn into a bumbling mess when he shows him a true terror.
"Let her go first." The boy demanded, his eyes briefly shifting to the woman wrapped in his arm. "And then we can talk after that."
"No, no, no, that is not how things work, boy." Ghi Bree replied with a distasteful expression. "You don't have any right to negotiate in here, your job is simply to obey. To do as I ordered." He declared. "Perhaps I am not making myself clear here."
He called upon his power and he feels his body shifting. Illusory muscles formed and ripped apart the clothes that he uses as a disguise, his skin color changed into a pale scale, his human eyes spread into four and each of them have dark slits as pupils and orange orbs as their eyeballs, his fangs grew and protruding out from his lipless mouth, his arms thickened and turned into claws with a crooked, dagger-like blade as nails, his human feet transformed into a talon that smashed to the ground and creating an illusory crater in there.
In the human's eyes he no longer looks like "Sasuga-sensei" but a monstrous creature over seven feet tall, with an appearance based on a lizard and crossed with insect, tail with spikes waving behind his back. Claws, and talons that sliced portion of the floor where he stood with ease, he is standing on four limbs in front of Shirou Emiya, four beastly eyes leering over the boy that now looking at him with wide and surprised eyes, his lipless mouth bared and curled to horrifying smile expression.
"You call off your engagement with Lala Deviluke in front of Gid Lucione Deviluke with me, and I might consider sparing your and this girl's life." Ghi Bree declared in a heavy and guttural voice, his long tail wrapped around the girl's smaller form.
There, that should be scary enough, this is the appearance of alien beasts that are considered to be a dangerous predator for some species, pulling this form seems might be overkill given how a simple big animal seems enough to intimidate the local guardian of this city but no matter, the more the boy terrified, the better.
Much to his shock, the boy is anything but terrified.
Ghi Bree can see the boy was shocked, from his eyes that widened, his lips that curled, his face that tightened, his body that goes rigid when taking a look at his full monstrous appearance. Those are more than enough to tell that the boy is shocked by his sudden transformation.
And yet, there is no single sign of fear from him.
His body indeed goes rigid but they immediately shifted into something like a stance; his body tilted to the left and one leg moves forward, both of his hands curled open as if ready to grab something out of thin air. His face that tightened did not turn into horror but gained a firm and solemn expression instead. His eyes that widened now are narrowed and his pupil focused on Ghi Bree's four slitted eyes with an intensity that burned like a flame.
"And what makes you think... by harming Sairenji-san, Lala's friend, will make her choose you as her fiancee?" The boy asked in a calm but cold voice.
"That is for me to know boy, and I already told you before, do as I command you or you will not like the consequence." Ghi Bree snapped at him.
"If you truly going to do that then you won't just talk and growl about it." He shoots back calmly. "I can sense the power around you, and I can truly tell that you don't care about me or Sairenji-san in the slightest. As a matter of fact, you are very irritated right now." He pointed while giving him a sharp look. "The fact that you didn't even try to harm or kill us now is quite suspicious."
"Suspicious?"
"Indeed, either you don't want to harm us - which is something that I very doubt - or you can't harm us." The boy, Shirou Emiya, deducted calmly, his shoulders hunched down slightly, no longer tense as before.
Well... shit...
This... This is bad... This is not what he expected. The boy did not show any sign of being intimidated or afraid of him. How could it be when the guardian of this city quaked in terror with a form that was less terrifying than this one?! Why he isn't afraid of him?!
Ghi Bree internally gulped, and this started to become dangerous, he is no longer in control of this situation. At first, he wants to go straight to the point and make things simple but this boy... this boy saw through him, he was through his intimidation and strategy, so easily! Is Human supposed to be this smart?! They are species that haven't figured out FTL! They are not supposed to be this smart! Did he miscalculate somewhere?!
No, no. That doesn't matter anymore, this boy got him, and he is cornered now, he could press him now and intimidate this boy further but that was risky, too risky, too much intimidation could make this boy become more suspicious and the direction of that confrontation possibly could end badly for him.
No, intimidation is out of an option given the direction of this conversation going, it is time to use another method...
Action.
To be honest, Shirou would be lying if he didn't find the alien before him intimidating. It is a creature that horrifying and probably could make a lion run like a kitten. It is almost like some kind of komodo lizard got crossbred with a gigantic fly except it has four scary eyes and claws that look could shred building material into pieces.
However, he had fought against something worse in the past, he had faced being more terrifying than a monster like this...
Did it intimidate him? Yes, a bit. Would it stop him from fighting it to save Haruna? Not in the slightest.
And he also noticed there was something strange about this alien's behavior. Instead of getting close to him or trying to use force the monster didn't do anything except growl and threaten him. Oh sure, it could be that this monster is simply being careful or something like that, but that kind of attitude doesn't match the personality that he has seen so far about him.
The alien clearly regards humans as inferior species yet he didn't gloat about his power and did not bask in his superiority, rather he is focused on his engagement with Lala, going straight to the point.
Perhaps it is foolish of him to try to use human logic and personality on an alien, for all he knows this alien could be bipolar and snap at him immediately but it's not like he has many choices now. This is all he has right now, and he needs to play his card carefully, using logic and reason instead of jumping into conflict in an instant.
After all, that is how he was trapped in this situation in the very first place.
"... For a human, you do smarter than your peers, I will give you that." The alien stated in his deep and growling voice. "I will admit at least, that you are correct in some part, I cannot harm you."
Shirou exhale a long breath through his nose - he did it slowly so the alien won't notice it - in relief, so he was right, this alien cannot harm him. That means there is a chance for negotiation between them. In that case, he needs to secure Haruna Sairenji first from this creature, he doesn't want some innocent to get caught in their skirmish.
Not to mention it also brings a bad memory for him... Haruna Sairenji, after all, looks so alike to-
'No, don't go there! Now is not the time for that!' Shirou chided himself immediately. There is no room for distraction now, he needs to focus on this matter now!
"But that doesn't mean I cannot make you obey me, human." The alien continued, his growling voice filled with amusement. "After all, there is no rule I cannot harm those that are close to you."
That statement makes him feel like a block of cold ice just dropped to his stomach.
"She is an attractive girl, this Haruna Sairenji..." The monstrous creature drawled, his tail slithering and wrapping Haruna's unconscious body in an inappropriate manner.
"Stop!" He immediately yelled and take a step forward, sounds of hammer bashing anvil echoed in his head and-
"DON'T MOVE!" He barked in loud voice, his tail that wrapped around Haruna seemed to start to squeeze her body to emphasize his point and Shriou froze in where he stood. "If you dare to move then I won't hesitate to squeeze her to death, and that would be easy, I assure you." The lipless mouth that was filled with protruding fangs curled into a cruel smirk. " You, Human, are rather fragile after all, and one misstep from me could lead to... unfortunate accident." He finished with a derisive laugh.
Shirou grit his teeth and his fist clenched, things go south too fast! And here he thinks he could use logic and reason with this alien, but this thing seems too... greedy and despicable to be talked with.
How to do this now? He could use Noble Phantasm or something perhaps but that would take some time to create, not to mention in this limited space it could harm Sairenji as well, and that still not counting how it would attract the people in this school hence it could possibly endanger them as well.
"Still thinking I see, you are indeed quite brave for a human, but I am not in the mood of playing now, so I will show you how serious I am. Either you call your engagement with Lala off in front of her father or caretaker, or this woman..."
Suddenly the strange device that floating while tying Haruna's hands and legs made a whirling noise, then something like tentacles sprouts out, wrapping around her body and starting to rip her clothes much to Shirou's horror, they are wriggling in her body, twitching and spasming almost like a worm that exposed to the heat.
"You see, this device is something unique that I picked from my home planet, it is a device that is used to torture females, stimulating their body with pain and then striking them with pleasure, it will disarray the nerves inside their body and usually it ended up with their mind scarred for a period of time." The monster explained easily in a nonchalant yet pleased voice. "That is how it works for my species at least, I am curious how primitive species like yours will handle it though, perhaps it would lead to permanent scarring, that would be a shame, right?"
In all honesty that device was not very harmful, it is just some kind of sex toy that was used and famous by a few aliens, nonetheless, Shirou doesn't know that and he doesn't have to in Ghi Bree's opinion, this is just to prove his point after all and he needs to really corner the boy.
Unfortunately for Ghi Bree, Shirou already no longer heard him the moment the alien reached where it "scars their mind."
"It's a familiar that lives off of its host's magical energy. It is the lowest of the rank of familiar, as it does nothing beyond telling its master whether or not its host still lives."
"If I become a bad person..."
"As the subject of Matou, she has been a subject of a prolonged experimentation. It is easy to imagine what kind of training Matou Zouken on her. To be blunt, Matou Sakura is not the pure maiden you wish her to be, but a witch contaminated by worms."
"Would you be able to forgive me?"
"A Crest Worm, once it sinks its teeth in, it infiltrates every last inch of your body, and voraciously devours your spirit. It pierces through and lubricates the skin with its mucus, and feeds itself by stimulating then decomposing the part of the brain controlling pleasure. As a result, women swarmed by these bugs are completely violated in both mind and body, and thus destroyed."
"I said I was helping you out, but I've been fooling you all along!"
"The girl tried to hide that fact from you but always sought salvation. Someone who sat by, oblivious, has no right to care for her."
"I wanted to protect my time together with you going forward, as well. For me... For me, that was the only thing... that means anything to me."
"What do you honestly think you can do now, when you stood by her side, completely oblivious, for all that time?"
"Senpai..."
It is not Haruna Sairenji... but a girl called Sakura Matou.
Before Ghi Bree can blink and continue his rant, Shirou Emiya is already one foot away above him with an enormous slab of rock that looks like a blade clutch in his hand that is raised to the ceiling above, eyes literally glowing with their own heterochromatic colors.
"Lala-sama, on your right!"
"Yoosh!" Lala skidded on her track and take a turn to the left, following her doll's instruction.
Following Shirou's track is not easy as there are many footprints in Peke's scan and apparently it is not only Shirou's shoes that left some crack in there. Granted the size of the crack is varies and different but what makes it harder is that there number of students that also roaming in the hall, rushing to get back to the class since lunch break is almost over.
Thankfully the students are no longer there now and she can track him properly, she can tell somehow that she is close to Shirou now. She blinked when noticed they were going outside now, did Shirou decide to ditch the school?
That thought washed away when she noticed the crack or footprint that Shirou's left taking another turn, to behind the school, the trails now is more visible since they are now on the ground instead of the floor. She keeps running and follows the trails, briefly, her mind noted that the direction Shirou's taking lead her to the sportsfield.
"Lala-sama, I sense strange heat emanating from that place!" Peke pointed to a certain place located on the corner of the field.
'That was a storage room.' Lala thought as she rushed to there and-
BOOOM!
She forced herself to stop when an explosion occurs from the said room followed by a tremor that shakes the ground shortly, forcing her to keep her feet steady less if she wants to fall.
That was...
"Shirou!" Lala shouted and rushed forward, faster this time, to the storage room direction. She crossed the dozens of meters distance between them, her full speed allows her to reach the place in less than a few seconds. She wastes no time sliding open the door with a loud sound and she gasped when taking notice of the inside.
There he is, Shirou Emiya, the boy that she has fallen in love with, standing in the middle of the room with his back facing her and in front of Shirou, instead of a wall and cabinet for objects it was a giant hole, about two meters in size. And there, clutched in his hand, it is the giant slab of rock shaped like a crude blade. Not far from Shirou's position, there was a familiar girl stripped to her underwear tied by the floating subject that wrapped her with a tentacle.
"Shirou!" She called, this makes the boy turn to him and she rushed at him.
"Lala," He greeted, voice solemn. "What are you doing here?"
"I come to check on you silly," Lala answered chipperly as she starts to inspect him "Are you okay?" She asked.
"I am fine," He said. "Lala, you-"
"That is great!" Lala cut him brightly and she then turns around. "Uwaaah! Haruna, who put you in this dirty thing?!" She asked aloud and start to inspect the girl this time. She is not familiar with this machine but with a simple glance she already can tell how it works, the design, and the material it made seem to be common after all. "Don't worry! I will remove you from this thing!" Seriously, putting her friend in a machine like this, she going to introduce that person to "Bum Bum Bat-kun" later!
"You can save her?"
Lala paused in her inspection, she turned to Shirou and much to her surprise, there was an honest and visible terror on his face. It makes her heart clench to see such an expression on his face, just what actually happens?
She shook her head internally. It's not time to be distracted, in a situation like this, there is something important she must do.
Smile...
And smile she did, she smiled at Shirou, soft, gentle, warm, and kind. It was a smile that promising, a smile that reassuring, the exact smile that he gave to her when she met him on that faithful night.
"Don't worry Shirou-kun, I can save her." She reassured him.
That did the job as Shirou's fearful face melted, washed away, and was replaced by relief. He takes one deep breath and slowly smiles back, weak and small but hopeful.
"I see... Thanks to the Gods..." He sighed in relief.
Lala's smiles brighten seeing this but she pouted immediately when processed what he just said. "Don't thank the Gods, Shirou-kun! I am the one that saved Haruka-chan after all!" She stated with a huff
That made Shirou blinks and he tilted his head in Haruna's direction, then his eyes widened in surprise. He stared at Haruna for a moment before nodding. "... Yes, Sairenji-san, she is Sairenji-san." He mumbled and shakes his head. He then turned away, back to the hole in the wall and his posture straightened. "Lala, take Sairenji-san and leave from here!"
"Eh?"
"There is one of your ex-fiancee, he has ill intentions toward you and Sairenji-san." Shirou warned as his eyes glued to the hole in the wall, then to their surroundings briefly while his nostril flared, once, twice, as if he is trying to sniff something.
"Oh, I know about that already." Lala nodded nonchalantly as she began to dismantle the device holding Haruna. Let's see, this goes there, and this one goes in here, pull out the screw and the knot to loosen it a bit. "Which one of them?" She asked.
"... his appearance looks like a giant lizard that crossbreeds with some kind of bug, he is over seven feet tall."
Have a scale and exoskeleton then, right that narrows it down, her ex-fiancee is a lot and each of them is eccentric but they have their own unique physical appearance. That seven feet tall though... She didn't remember there was someone on her list that possessed such height but had an exoskeleton and scales...
"He calls himself... Khibri or something, from Balkean."
... Ah, now that is a familiar name and now she recalled, his description about him starts to make sense.
"Oh it is Ghi Bree, then it is fine, he is nothing much!"
Even if she didn't see it but she is sure Shirou now gives her a look behind her. She briefly turns to him while tapping the device she already dismantled with her screwdriver. "Yup. While Balkean can be scary but if you manage to recognize they are Balkean then you don't need to worry so much, most of their transformation or way to fight is actually only an illusion after all."
Shirou blinks again, his face contorted to a bewildered expression. "Illusion?"
"Yup, except their illusion is actually solid and touchable, however, there is no mass in there thus you only need to give one solid pressure on them, and poof! It is like a balloon!" She explained as she slowly stands and brushes her skirt. She then hugs Haruna and pulls her away from the device that is wrapped around her and frees her from its binding. "There. I am done!" She declared as she lay Haruna down on the ground and check on her.
Shirou seems doesn't know what to say other than stare at her for a moment, then he shifts his gaze back to the hole in front of him. "And what... his true appearance looks like?"
"Ummm..." She wracks her brain as she tried to remember the prince's appearance, after a moment the memory comes."He is only one or two feet tall, has a green scale, and looks like an aquatic thing!" She described as she turns to him with a big smile "Also, Haruka-chan is fine! She is only unconscious, Ghi Bree probably sedates her before bringing her here."
Shirou's face turned to a funny expression for a moment, as if he found that so ridiculous and it makes her giggle. Her giggle seems to snap him from his stupor and he slowly palms his face with a heavy sigh, the giant rock sword in his right hand shatters into countless blue particles that dissipate in the air. "So... he is pretty much harmless?"
"Well, Balkean is not harmless if that is what you ask," She remembered one of the historical informations about how Balkean managed to trap or ambush their enemies, and it wasn't pretty for sure. "But once you know the one you fight face to face is Balkean and engaging them in an open field? Then mostly, yes!" She confirmed.
"That is... great, I suppose," Shirou mumbled, he then turned to the hole in the wall and grimaced. "Now how to cover this? The whole school is probably in chaos to this," He then turned back to her, eyeing the door behind her. "As a matter of fact, I already could hear footsteps coming here!"
"Oh, you want to hide this Shirou-kun?"
"If it is possible, yes. Anyway Lala, we should-"
"Then have no fear!" Lala shouted joyfully as she began to dig in her purse, then she pulled out a three feet tall flashlight-like devices with pink color and adorned by swirling symbols much like Peke's eyes. "Meet FixFix Light-chan!" She declared while showing the device to Shirou in a triumphant manner.
Shirou stares at her small purse for a moment before turning to the flashlight that she holds with an incredulous face. "A what?"
"FixFix Light-chan!" Lala repeated cheerfully. "Anything that got hit by FixFix Light-chan's light would be reverted back to how it was a moment ago!" She pursed her lips. "Well, not everything actually, it can't revert complex objects and can't be used on a living being or something that can cause an explosion." She added with a sheepish smile.
"... Are you telling me that things able to revert time on an object?" Shirou asked in a shocked voice.
"Technically that is what it does so yeah!"
Shirou made another funny face after hearing that, it was as if he got a mixture of an aneurysm and stroke for a moment. Silly Shirou, he thinks too hard sometimes.
Shirou can't believe how hectic his day was. What was supposed to be a simple and normal school day was thrown out into the cliff with the appearance of the Lala's ex-fiancee candidate that kidnapped Haruka.
Shockingly having his friend kidnapped by an alien is the most normal one for him. Seriously, Lala's eccentricities and inventions really blew his mind, sure magecraft also has its own... uniqueness but Lala's invention somehow makes them look pale in comparison. Perhaps it has to do with Lala herself, regardless it still leaves his mind exhausted.
After "repairing" the ruined storage room, and "explaining" things to the principal who comes checking - if said only staring at Lala's breast that jiggling can be said checking - they were allowed to go back to their class. After that Shirou leaves Haruna in Lala's hand and lets her take the girl into the infirmary so she can rest, according to the pink haired alien, Haruka will regain her consciousness afterschool or so.
He wants to check on her actually but he felt he should give the purple haired girl a room for now, for her and his own sake.
... seriously, of all things that he expected... He never thought he would have a flashback about... Sakura...
While the resemblance is quite a lot but they both are still different people, Shirou is aware that, Haruna Sairenji is not Sakura Matou, they may look similar and have a good heart but they are not the same.
And yet... why... and how...
He shakes his head, banishing that thought. There is no point in thinking about that, right now what he is supposed to think is how to counter these aliens that soon will come for him later.
They have proven that they are willing to play dirty, using his friends to get him, that was a really heavy setback for him. Fighting in one homeland should prove to be advantageous, however, in this case, it becomes the opposite as everyone can be targeted that used to get him. This means, from now on he has to keep an eye on not just Riko and Mikan but possibly everyone, worst case, he also needs to look out for those that he barely talked to in the school as well.
Regardless, he has to keep his distance from now on then so they won't be a target, there is no other way. Thankfully he wasn't that popular or actually close to anyone in school, other than Riko's friends, his social circle is actually zero. And at the same time, he has to make sure he is close to his sisters because they are the most well-known element.
Which is why after school over, he immediately sent Lala home with Riko and tells them to check on Mikan while he leaves to inform Oshizu that their exploring tonight has to be halted since he will accompany Lala, Mikan, and Riko to buy the princess's clothes and daily necessities. While he is sure that those two will remain safe with Lala but it doesn't change the fact there could be someone tailing them to get more information, add the fact Lala is also still oblivious to many things on Earth.
It didn't take long for him to reach the abandoned old school, it wasn't that far from Sainan high school, the distance is not far, only fifteen minutes or so if someone travels using foot. He brushed out the bush that was in his way and granted a sight of the old building, he walked toward the place and he is only a few feet away from reaching the entrance when a familiar ghost girl sprung out from the ground.
"Hello, Shirou-kun!" She greeted him cheerfully. "You are early!"
"Hello, Oshizu." He greeted back with a polite smile. "Yeah, I come here early because I want to tell you that I want to hold the investigation tonight." He informed.
"What? Why?" Oshizu sounded disappointed by that statement yet there was also a hint of curiosity in her voice.
'How to explain this...' Shirou thought confusedly as he scratched his head. Right, let's just be blunt, if you are in doubt, be blunt. "I need to keep an eye on my sisters that want to accompany Lala shopping."
The ghost girl blinked. "Why?" She asked. Her face then turns to concern. "Shirou-kun, did something happens?"
"About that..." Shirou sighed heavily, not even trying to hide his exhaustion. Seriously, just thinking about it already sours his mood. "There was one of Lala's ex-fiancee candidates infiltrating the school today, and he held one of my friends as a hostage so I break my engagement with Lala."
Oshizu makes a horrified expression at that. "That is horrible!" She exclaimed. "Does anyone injured? How about you?"
"Other than getting sedated, my friend is fine, I am fine too, thanks," Shirou answered with a small smile. "I manage to beat the kidnapper and he is now already sent back by Lala to her bodyguard."
Indeed, the pink haired alien manages to find Ghi Bree in the distance where he blows the wall of the storage room, the shapeshifting alien somehow did not get injured too much other than a few bruises on his body. Apparently, Shirou's attack didn't get him as he got flung away by the force of his strength if he did then Lala noted that Ghi Bree will turn into "A mush that Krogan's vomited." and judging by how she grimaced when saying that, whatever that terms must be not pretty or good to look at.
"Wow..." Oshizu makes a noise that contains a mixture of awe and surprise. "So you manage to save your friend that held hostage and at the same time, maintain your fierce relationship with the princess?" Oshizu gushed while getting closer to him.
"... I suppose you can put it that way, yeah." Shirou agreed with a strained smile. She is not wrong but... that seems so... exaggerated.
"That is so romantic!" Oshizu squealed as she starts to circle Shirou while putting her hands over her mouth. "The man whose love is challenged by the evil villain that wishes to take the princess for himself by holding the man's precious friend as a hostage, yet, the man still manages to triumph in the end in the name of Love!" She declared aloud while pumping her fist up.
... Okay, now she is just being dramatic about it, like really!
"Oshizu, you know as well it is not like that." Shirou sighed.
"But it is not wrong, right?"
"It is," He deadpanned. "For one, I didn't fight for love, I don't love Lala. Two, Sairenji-san and I are not that close, she is a friend, yes, but that's it." He explained.
The ghost girl huffed her cheeks and make a pouty face. "You are no fun Shirou-kun!" She stated. "Where is your sense of adventure?"
"I am sorry I don't have one." He apologized dryly.
"Hmph!" Oshizu harrumphed and cross her arms. "Boy at your age need to be more cheerful and passionate, seriously, Shirou-kun!" She admonished him lightly.
He has enough adventure in his previous life actually, everything wrapped in one package, and let's just say it was anything but pleasant, so forgive him for not being so enthusiastic about it.
"I will try to, but I make no promise," Shirou said to her while shaking his head, a small smile adorning his face. "Anyway, Oshizu, I come here just to inform you that-" He paused when noticed the ghost girl no longer staring at him but passing through him, her face scrunched to a mixture of confusion and curiosity, it as if she sees something behind him.
He followed her gaze and turns around, only to find nothing but a clear field and forest that surrounds the old school. He turns back to Oshizu and shoots her a puzzled look. "Oshizu?"
"Ah," The girl blinked, snapped out from her stupor and looks at him "Nothing Shirou-kun, I thought I saw-WATCH OUT!" She shrieked in hasty out of sudden,
Immediately Shirou turns around, expression guarded, body stiffened, and-
BOOM!
A giant explosion rocked the entrance of the abandoned school where he stands, and he was caught in it.
Einzbern Consultation Room! Please Help Me Einzbern-sensei!
"Welcome! Welcome! Welcome back, everyone!" Illya chirped happily as she paced around the desk. "This is Illyasviel von Einzbern speaking!"
"This is Miyu Edefelt." Miyu said as she bowed to the audience while clasping her arms down.
"This is Kuro von Einzbern." Kuro added while making a "v" pose and sticking her tongue out at the camera.
"And this is Berserker!" Illya introduced.
"▅▅▅▅▅!"
""Welcome back to Einzbern Consultation Room!"" They intoned with cheerful grins - a smile in Miyu's case
"Uwaaah, we are back! We are really back!" Kuro gasped while slamming her palms to the table. "After inactivity for 5 FREAKING YEARS! We are really returned!"
"Indeed, this is truly unexpected," Miyu remarked with a nod and a perplexing face.
"And here I thought we were all already being drowned in the Void Space and left forgotten forever," Illya said while shaking her head. "That would be so bad as we would get torn apart in time, losing our inside one by one, splattering our blood and flesh in the Imaginary Number which will be devoured fervently by them, then followed by-"
"Okay, okay, we get the image so please stop!" Kuro cut her supposed counterpart with a glare. "Seriously, you didn't do any good other than terrorizing us!"
"That is the purpose," Illya stated with a smug and satisfied expression. "Good thing that bitch is not here today, if she did, I would throttle him for allowing that hag to enter my room after 5 years hiatus." She growled as she imagines certain tan-skinned and black haired loli. "Anyway. as much as I want to continue this conversation, I have to cut it short since that is not why we are gathering in here. WWBG has his own personal note, after all, saying he wants to give a personal message to the reader."
"Probably apologizing because he disappeared for like... FIVE years." Kuro grumbled.
Behind them, Miyu cleaned the welcome sign. "And he better do that, leaving for 5 years without any notice or even a message to tell his reader about his condition is a despicable thing." She added.
"Woah, even Miyu says that." Kuro whistled. "Hear that WWBG? You better give a good explanation to the reader after this!" She shouted to the sky. She turns to Illya. "So. what are we going to talk about today?"
"Shizu Murasame, or better known as Oshizu." Illya declared as she starts to write on the board.
[Wraith]
"If you are following Kara no Kyoukai or playing FGO, you will be familiar with this being, Wraith." Illya said as she tapped the word with a stick out of nowhere. "Wraith, also referred to as Ghosts, or Human spirits in Magus's terms, are souls of dead people that remain attached to this world due to past grudges, regrets, and other sorts of unfinished business that they had during life. As such, they tend to haunt places, items, or people that are related to their unfinished business." She explained. "A textbook explanation of what Oshizu is."
"Indeed, they are lesser spirits," Kuro nodded in agreement, her hand adjusting the glasses that she wears while writing the word "Lower Spirit" on the board. "And they usually will disappear given time because..."
"They are already dead and don't belong in this World." Miyu chimed in. 'What with those glasses? Must she wear one whenever she is in "lecture mode"?' She sweatdropped at Kuro.
"Indeed, as cliche, as it sounded but Miyu is right." Illya nodded. "This actually not just works on lower-class spirits such as Wraith but most of them as well, however, let's just say they are actually more... restricted and don't have much power."
"For example, Servant is Spirit, yes, they need mana to exist, hence they could devour a soul and mind of people to be used as energy, the same thing goes for Wraith too. However, having Servant chasing your ass and Wraith is two different things." Kuro said.
"Magus barely can do a shit against Servant who is wanting to kill and devour them, but Wraith? You should be worried about the latter more if they meet."
"So the difference is in power level?" Miyu asked in confirmation.
""Yes."" Kuro and Illya answered in chorus.
"Oshizu is a Wraith, she is nothing much, only a simple and in the World, her existence is as same as a stranger you always look around in the eyes of the World, she is nothing." Illya continued.
"But she has existed for 400 years," Kuro added, voice solemn as she adjusted her glasses again, writing number 400 on the board to emphasize her point. "And Wraith has no such power, not in Age of Men. Even if..." She paused and turn to Illya. "What was the state of the World 400 years ago?"
"Hmmm, given how To Love Ru seems to be in the early 20th century, that would make it the 16th century, Mysteries still have some power back then." Illya commented.
"Well, given the existence of various heroic spirits that popping in the latest years such as Helena, Tesla, and everyone else, I guess it is acceptable." Kuro mused.
"Yup, but regardless, even if mana and Mysteries still rule supreme, that doesn't give her enough power to exist straight for 400 years, she would disappear when Age of Men comes completely," Illya explained. "The World will reject her existence, and a mere Wraith is not capable to go against Gaia's will."
"At least that is what would happen in Nasuverse Earth," Kuro said with a smirk. "You see, Gaia has different rules here."
"And because of that Oshizu still exists now." Illya nodded.
"But that doesn't make any sense," Miyu commented. "If that is the case then we will have Wraith and Ghost everywhere in the World, not just in that abandoned building. And wouldn't that be..."
"Chaotic? Hectic? Indeed." Kuro nodded in agreement. "But that is the tricky part, you rarely saw a Ghost and Wraith in the World now, yet here, one is meeting with Shirou in a daily manner."
"So... Oshizu is actually one that special?" Miyu asked.
"Yes," Illya nodded. "And as much as I want to explain that part but that is labeled as a spoiler by WWBG, hence I am only going to give you a clue. You all must know, how did Oshizu die?" She asked while staring at the camera. "And after that, if you know the nature of Spirit, you will get your answer." She paused. "Well, not directly, but that will give another clue at least!" She said sheepishly. "I do can say that Oshizu won't be the only ghost or spirit on this Earth, there will be another in the future." She added.
"One puzzle after another," Kuro sighed. "As expected of WWBG." She lamented.
"I don't know why but doesn't that sound so irresponsible? Not just does he leaves this chapter with a cliffhanger after 5 years but he also still has not explained many things and keeps giving puzzle." Miyu grumbled with a sigh as well.
"Nonetheless, that cover things about Oshizu for now, and boy, look at the time and length of this lecture," Illya said while staring at the camera. "I suppose I shall close the curtain now."
"I can agree with that." Kuro nodded as she removes her glasses and placed it on the table and give the camera a cute smile. "Well, this is Kuro von Einzbern!"
"This is Illyasviel von Einzbern."
"This is Miyu Edefelt."
"Give this story more favorite."
"Give this story more follow."
"""And give more review!""" They intoned while bowing. """See you all in the next chapter!"""
Author Note :
Hello everyone! So... how are you all?
Chotto matte! Stoppu! Put down those knives and swords! Stoppu! Stoppu!
Alright, alright, I am sorry for the long hiatus, really, like really sorry! I have no excuse for the long delay, you can say it is because my focus has been shifted to other stories and RL stuff.
Let's just say life hasn't been... kind to me in the last few years but I won't bore you all with my tales. TLDR: I got a few accidents and life-changing experiences.
In any case, I can't promise when the next chapter will come out and here I give another cliffhanger, wow I am really a bad guy eh? Sorry!
Anyway, the next chapter would be Shirou facing this mysterious assailant and an explanation of what actually happens! I already leave some clues in the last chapter and this one at Ghi Bree's pov though, not the whole thing but a context about it at least, so give yourself a cookie if you figure them out!
Ja Ne! XD
