"…Kyuuu?"

It had been nearly a week, but the streak of terrible summonings had lifted. After its crescendo, the summoning system had fallen silent, and the light disappeared swiftly after. Speckles of manifested prana fell like snow from the ceiling, and though a summoning always felt beautiful, this one was different. Uncertainty and confusion could be felt in the air, mixing with the palpable feeling of malevolence that originated from the newly arrived servant.

When the system's procedure completed, the masters would immediately take in their first appearance. Standing before the console with their pristine uniforms, both Gabrielle and Gudao looked ready to do so, yet the orange-haired woman stared in confusion while Gudao remained unreadable. Tesla, with tense arms crossed over the jacket of his navy-blue formal suit, looked ready to act. While cradling Fou in her arms, the shielder in a blue-plaid sundress gazed towards the new arrival uneasily.

The confusion was only to be expected, because when the light faded, the new servant was still just a silhouette. No… more precisely, they were a void of blackness. An outline was discernible, but nothing else could be glimpsed from their form except eyes that stared from the abyss, like a stalking wildcat in the dead of night. Regardless, by the glint of familiarity in Gudao and Mashu's eyes, there were some in the room who at least understood.

Truth be told, the new arrival was glad for that as he cleared his throat theatrically. "…What? No hi, Mister Master? Come on now, you remember me, right? The whole little rodeo with the shifty saint? Don't tell me you forgot!"

Gabrielle, now more relaxed, glanced to Gudao as he took a step forward with a small smile. "No… that's right. We've met before. Sorry, it's just been a while, Angra Mainyu. Is it okay if I call you that?"

Though he noticed Tesla grow tenser, the silhouetted man laughed. "Ah, don't say sorry to a sewer rat! That's in bad taste for a good guy! Just call me that, avenger, or whatever!"

Following Gudao's lead, Gabrielle quickly caught up to him as he finished his approach. She caught Angra's attention, who already began glancing over her curves shamelessly. Tilting his silhouetted head in confusion, he stared between their uniforms. "So uh… Two masters? I mean, I certainly don't mind calling her master if you know what I mean, but the annoying fly didn't give me an essay about this for homework."

"Three actually, but we'll introduce you to Annie in time. As for us though…" Gudao offered as he presented a hand to shake. "We never did properly introduce back then, did we? I didn't get to thank you properly for helping me with Amakusa back then. I'm Gudao Fujimaru."

Angra looked down and stared at the outstretched hand. Slowly, he gazed back at Gudao's eyes to see the confidence and belief in his eyes. It was outrageous and stupid to see that and the outstretched hand pointed to him, the embodiment of all the world's evils. This man, who should be defending humanity from all dangers, should know exactly what kind of a terrible threat he was, let alone how much havoc he could cause. He, the evil that the justice seekers of the world wished to expunge, was being offered a hand of acceptance.

No doubt, he suspected Gudao was an idiot for having the gall to believe in him… but it made him grin and chuckle.

Thrusting his hand forward to accept the offer, he shook wildly as Gudao's eyes widened momentarily in shock. Soon, they were laughing together as a small smile slowly formed on Gabrielle's lips. Even Tesla and Mashu fell far more relaxed as the newest but oldest avenger quickly exclaimed, "You're a dumb bastard, boss, but if you're crazy enough to trust me, then I'll give it a shot! The weakest heroic spirit is at your service!"

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Fragment 65: Unintentional Assurances

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"Sheesh… Gudao's waaaay too trusting…" Truth be told, though? Angra Mainyu liked that.

At the avenger's request, he would be getting the tour only after he got himself settled into his room. It was an unusual request made just after Anishka entered the summoning chamber to greet him. However, it was what he wanted, and he wasn't even upset at the possibility he may have thrown off a schedule or two. Why would he be? He was Angra Mainyu, all the evil in the world, who was filled with nothing but hatred and never heeded the desires of others.

…or that's how it was always supposed to be, but this summoning wasn't as straightforward.

After the three masters left, Angra didn't spend much time in the main section of his room. He couldn't deny it felt cozier than the obnoxiously bright hallways of Chaldea. Walnut floors and oak walls gave a very rustic and natural feel to the newer rooms of Chaldea, yet he was surprised it still had all the modern facilities and luxuries. Though he had curiously looked around his new room, feeling it was even a bit nostalgic, he had stopped within the bathroom to stare at himself in the mirror.

His newly altered form, which he showed the masters, was rough and poor. Black wrappings on his calves and forearms matched his shaggy hair. His red, ragged waistcloth had evidently seen better days, though his matching bandana was a bit cleaner this time around. Combined with ebony and scarlet curses covering the entirety of his tanned body, it made up a look he wore just the day before... in another sort of existence.

The fact he remembered this form at all is what bothered and elated him.

That loop… That endless loop was just a dream. A simple wish granted with an overly convoluted solution, yet it became a long lost vision that held more clarity than he believed possible. Regardless of what he wanted to recall, he would see it clear as day, just as strongly as that torturous first day atop the mountain. Sounds of laughter, glimpses of ordinary routines, the mere simplicity of living day by day… All of it was supposed to be forgotten when he ran blindly through that exit…

Yet it did not, and so he was here with memories he should not have… or should he? Thinking deeply and seriously was always irritating, but this wasn't supposed to be! He was Angra Mainy- Well, by name at least. He definitely wasn't monstrously powerful or anything, but he was no saint either! He brimmed with hatred for anything and everything, but now it was no longer a monopoly on his soul. Other emotions had drowned under the flood of malice long ago, yet they were mere whispers again after that whole charade he created.

Even if he didn't understand, the avenger knew, without any slither of doubt, that he had kept that newfound light and failed to revert to the monster he once was.

Leaning forward, he observed his own image, seeing the vague and hazy image of that young redheaded boy whose daily life he had borrowed. While he was absolutely still sickened by those Heroes of Justice, and always thought he'd never want to see that kind of guy… Angra Mainyu was actually a little glad for those hazy moments. If he was to be honest though… he did technically just become that which he hated by simple virtue of accepting the summoning to Chaldea; The throne had properly informed him he was going to be fighting to save the humanity, after all.

But that wasn't why he was going to commit. It was simply a secondary objective compared to the thoughts and memories that swirled in his head. To save humanity, that which he hated and still cared for, was just a necessary objective in order to fulfil his own reignited interest. Even if the declining world would be ending one way or another anyway, what was so bad about extending it longer for some selfish desire?

Despite needing some time to sort his own memories and shock, he did have a newfound, almost discarded whim from his last conversation with Bazett. Those glimpses seen through the eyes of someone he played were not that bad. They were rather nice- No, they were definitely nice. He had enjoyed his time in that whole play that now formed part of his memories. Nevertheless, they weren't truly his memories, and that was something he couldn't accept.

Angra Mainyu didn't want some idiotic Hero of Justice's memories to look at and appreciate: He wanted his own.

Staring down into his open palm, feeling the natural flow of hatred pouring through him, he analyzed himself. It would be difficult to curb these urgings, but he had practice thanks to his nighttime strolls with Bazett. His impulses may get ahead of him, but he hoped the idea of possibly dozens of real heroic spirits jumping on him would be enough to apply a mental break. Coupled with his newfound resolve, he felt like he had a fair chance if he committed.

Nevertheless, there was the opposition to consider. Anyone with any sense of justice would likely want him out of here, and changing their mind would be unfathomably difficult. There was no doubt many would be wary when interacting with a man with such a dark title hanging over his head, and that would not bode well for trying to enjoy a rather casual existence; Not like he actually had any say about those villagers giving him this 'honor' anyway. In spite of this, he wasn't just going to carelessly throw the chance away either.

"It's probably going to be impossible…" Angra chuckled at himself before looking back at the mirror. "But hell… if Gudao and the two hot girls are willing to give me a chance like you did, let's see what I can make of it… Wish me luck, Bazett."

After turning around and walking back into his room, he smirked and inquired mentally, "Hey, boss? You there? I'll take that tour in ten minutes!"

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ III ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

Barely a minute later, Angra Mainyu was strolling the halls of Chaldea on his late morning tour. The attention he caught was still understandable, especially from the servant population; Many were wary of him, so he could only presume word had been passed across the facility. Though most remained expressionless yet curious, he usually felt a scrutinizing glare aimed at his back, but they did nothing more.

On the other hand, the strange robots always seemed unperturbed as he passed, and he was appreciative of that. Clearly they didn't have any sort of sensors for feelings, otherwise they may have been instinctively placing more room between them like the staff did; Not that he blamed any of these people. He knew this was what was promised from his baleful presence. It also didn't help that being top notch at slaughtering humans was one of the few things he was admittedly good at.

However, he had no interest at all of slaughtering anyone in this new home, even if the dark tendrils of his corrupted heart whispered otherwise.

With an upbeat hum, the avenger followed behind Gudao with his other tour guide. Though he was upset that the two hotties were elsewhere, Angra had quickly discarded that disappointment in favor of curiosity for the servant accompanying them. Walking with a sense of prestige, formality, and purpose, the white-haired avenger at his side sported a unique gray tuxedo and neatly styled hair. After the brief introduction with Dantes, who would be accompanying him, he couldn't stop his amber eyes from glancing to him as they walked to their first destination.

How could he not? He was honestly completely curious and impressed that this guy was his fellow avenger!

He understood there were others like him, but he had never encountered another until he showed up at his door beside Gudao. It was great to know he wasn't alone in his class, but he did feel even shoddier. He even seemed to have his own natural hatred under perfect control. Walking beside this nearly regal and prestigious individual, Angra did not doubt he appeared like a deprived miscreant by comparison… but was that really so far from the truth?

Regardless, as his golden eyes shined with enthusiasm while they walked, he caught Dantes staring at him. They had barely made any conversation in the few minutes since they met, but he seemed like a conservative and observing type. It was time to test that. "Ah? Find something curious, Dantes?"

He didn't even blink. "I'm attempting to understand myself. You seem familiar somehow."

With pride, Angra Mainyu puffed his chest. "Well, that's only to be expected! I am the original avenger! You've heard my name at least once, right?"

"I meant your looks," Dantes corrected, making the tanned avenger deflate just a bit.

As Angra's expression turned serious, Gudao glanced back again. He stared back as Gudao rubbed his chin. "Now that it's mentioned… You do look familiar somehow."

"…Gabby said something about an Emiya family, didn't she?" Angra asked flatly, dropping his usual tone for his conclusion. "If they're here, then… is there a Shirou Emiya? Because my looks are based off him."

Gudao and Dantes shared a surprised look, confirming everything for him. That was going to be a curious meeting he would completely avoid if 'family' meant exactly what he thought it did; At least he had some forewarning. He sighed and scratched the back of his head as they paused in the hallway. "Look… It's a looong story. Like I said back in the summon room, that ominous form is my real self. This? …This is how I want to be known. Simple as that."

"Want to be seen," the white-haired avenger reiterated. He saw the glint of curiosity in Dantes' eyes as he glanced back. Interestingly enough, there were the small hints of a smirk threatening to form on his expression. "I shall be honest, Angra Mainyu. You're nothing like what I was expecting from the stories."

"Yeah? Well, what can I say? I'm quite the letdown!" he chipperly added with a small smirk of his own. "I could try harder to be more All the Evil of the World if you'd like."

"Please don't," Gudao sighed, but Angra only chuckled and patted his back. Dantes watched the gesture even more curiously.

"Ah, don't sweat it, boss! We got a contract, so I'll try and behave, but no promises!" After saying that, he caught the even more curious and confused glint from Dantes, but ignored it. With a smirk, he walked in front of Gudao and pointed forward. "Well? I'm getting bored! Let's get this tour over with!"

Gudao and Dantes looked at each other before the master smiled and shrugged. With a nod, they resumed walking as Angra fell into step with Dantes. Not a few seconds later, he was already trying not to look at any possible employee and start drooling. He liked to believe he was doing a good job of keeping himself under control. Gazing around while humming happily, he missed the occasional inquisitive glances Dantes would subtly pass.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ IV ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"I thought you were lying about a beach." Only seconds after leaving the resort's entry lounge, Angra was still flabbergasted.

Gudao only laughed, making Angra chuckle. "Everyone thinks we're lying when we say there's a beach. It's the best present we've ever gotten."

Women in bathing suits strutting their stuff around while the world was ending? Great gift indeed. It was such an absurd thought he loved it. Surprisingly, he was finding it easier than before to control his own rampant urges; For now, he'll just peg it on the looming threat of having a servant dispatch him permanently for any misdeed. Those Peacekeeepers seemed like a fairly lenient bunch, but he wouldn't blame them for jumping to capital punishment if he was possibly involved.

The trio walked down the hallway towards Salon de Marie as Angra tossed Dantes another curious look. He had been quiet for the most part, and didn't appear irritated with some of his more erratic comments and behavior. By contrast, whenever he spoke, it always had intent and an air of elegance in it. Still, he could feel the whispers of this man's simmering hatred coating his aura like subtle paint. It was comfortable to bathe in it as another avenger, though it made Angra respect Gudao a little bit more for handling their combined presence like an everyday occurrence.

Gudao checked his watch and sighed. "Ended your tour just in time. We'll be at the cafeteria in time for lunch."

A cafeteria, loaded with most of Chaldea's residents. If there was going to be any moment of truth, it was likely going to be this. The Emiya family would likely be there, among others who would want to wipe his existence from the face of the planet... or what's currently left of it. He couldn't blame them, and this moment was going to come sooner or later. "Well, time to make friends then! I'll bet I'll be really popular."

Dantes quickly turned to his fellow avenger, catching his interest as the passed the entrance to the salon. "If you want, you are welcome to join me. I have a group of friends I usually sit with. Joan is one of them."

"I'll probably take you up on that," Angra quickly agreed with a small smirk. "You said the food is tasty, right, Gudao? I'm all for saving what little energy I actually have, but it better taste good."

"As I said, lunch is great, but it's not dinner," Gudao reassured before waving to a trio of servants passing by. Though Angra hadn't paid much attention to them, he could have sworn he saw knitting items among the casually dressed servants; He definitely could feel their wary gaze on his back though. He shrugged it off as they reached the cafeteria doors. Gudao paused at the door and turned to the avenger considerately. "…Would you like me to do anything for you? Make a brief announcement? Any request?"

Oh hell no. He knew exactly how they'd react regardless, so he merely strutted to the door with a calm expression. Gudao and Dantes watched in surprise as the door opened and Angra Mainyu casually walked through. The noise of the cafeteria bustling with activity fell silent as the avenger calmly stood by the door with arms akimbo and a small smirk on his face. Gudao and Dantes had swiftly followed him in, but stayed behind him as he gazed around.

Countless wary glances were aimed his way, and even some glints of animosity in others. Though he easily recognized the table of white haired individuals sitting together at the far side, he purposefully paid them no attention as he looked around quickly. All eyes were on him, and the entire place was practically frozen. The nearby table of employees were visibly shaken, and he could feel Dantes' anticipating gaze on his back as he looked to them slowly.

Tension rose in the cafeteria as Angra Mainyu approached employees for the first time. His steps were even and calm, yet a few servants quietly stood in preparation. He guessed a few that suddenly shifted into their combat clothes were Peacekeepers, ready to strike him down for any terrible action. It was only to be expected, and he was used to this kind of reaction. He didn't care, and merely glanced at the trio of tan skinned employees in different uniforms.

Silence of the quietest, deepest caves on Earth could not match the stillness of the cafeteria as Angra stopped before the table. These employees, obviously Indian in decent, trembled in fear as the servants watched him sternly. Honestly, if he really wanted to, which part of him urged, he could have killed these humans and more before any servant could stop him. He was unparalled at slaughtering them… but that's not why he was here.

Many servants prepared to act as Angra Mainyu slowly lifted one hand… then chuckled and waved. "Yo! I'm new here!"

The table of employees turned to each other slowly and uncertainly, but the new avenger was already walking away. He walked to another table among the silence and stared at a tray full of food in front of another employee. His eyes widened upon seeing plates of dishes that clearly weren't cheaply made; These all looked fresh and appetizing! "Woah, really? This is what the buffet offers? You spoiled bastards!"

Quietly, tension was evaporating with every one of his strange actions, but he only cared a bit. They were going to judge him regardless, so he might as well just do what he wanted. Angra Mainyu was used to far, far worse treatment back in the day, so this was a walk in the park. As some conversation, albeit hushed, started back up, he returned to Gudao and Dantes. The two looked at him with relief and astonishment, which he merely waved off. "What? I told you I wasn't going to do anything. Don't you trust me?"

"My concern rested with the others doing something. You weren't exactly subtle with that initial approach," Dantes replied evenly as he crossed his arms. "Now then… Would you like that introduction before we get lunch? Nightingale and Beowulf are already at the table, but Joan seems to be-"

The doors opened behind Dantes as he kept talking, but already Angra's attention had elapsed. With a slowly opening mouth, he stared towards the two roughly identical twins that had walked through the door, only to pause as he gawked at them. Dantes and Gudao slowly turned around to look at Jeanne and Joan, who stared back at the new avenger with confusion. Regardless of the growing whispers in the cafeteria, Angra didn't even notice.

He's seen his fair share of incredibly beautiful women. He even slept with a few he recognized in the cafeteria, though it was only in that forged fantasy, so he never actually… That's not the point. The point was, there were two beautiful twins in front of him. Though his eyes did glance at the gorgeous blonde and her flattering blue sundress, he was unbelievably interested in the darker individual. His dark impulses wanted to do so much to her.

Subtle malice surrounded her, and it was as comforting to him as Dantes' presence; Birds of a feather, as they say? He had no doubt this corrupted woman in a ravishing black halter dress was Joan, the alter avenger of the Holy Maiden beside her. Still, even as her stare turned incredulous and a scowl painted her face, he only fell more hypnotized. She was absolutely stunning! A true beauty of corruption and malicious design!

Growling as Angra blatantly stared at her chest, Joan spat, "Keep your eyes up or I'll set them whirling."

By all that was unholy, even the fierceness in her voice! He was flooded with lust and wanted to- No! She was a servant, and undoubtedly leagues more powerful than him… which wasn't a big accomplishment by any stretch. He couldn't just make a bad impression and turn opinions against him! Even if he didn't care what anyone thought, he wanted to make something for himself, and so he must, albeit begrudgingly, act civil. He needed to set a new precedent for himself.

Thus, he shook himself from his drooling stupor and cleared his throat as Jeanne and Dantes looked to him in anticipation. Joan kept her deep scowl, but he would surprise everyone by how decent he could be. With a small, confident smirk, he declared, "I'd love to bury my head in those evil thighs."

…Apparently his dark urgings still held a little more influence than he wanted to admit.

Silence fell over the cafeteria. Seconds later, a few laughs echoed from the back, joined by even more as some of the tension dispersed. Some servants gawked at each other in surprise or disbelief. Others remained ready, not likely for him, but rather the growing animosity that he ignited like a firestorm.

Jeanne stood with hands covering her mouth and her own little offended glare. Gudao was speechless, and Dantes had a hand covering his face. As his expression slowly turned sheepish, a completely incredulous, blushing, and furious Joan glared daggers at him. He would have likely found it attractive too if it wasn't for how swiftly she stomped over to him. He remained still as he chuckled sheepishly, raising his hands in light surrender. "Uh… Slip of the tongue…?"

Joan swiftly drew back one fist as she seethed. Angra grinned nervously, '…It's been a good few hours.'

Slam! Angra's vision spiraled as he flew across the cafeteria. Arturia, Gawain, and Lancelot, who stood battle-clad for the supply sortie later, quickly sidestepped out of the way as the avenger tumbled past. He groaned in pain as he slammed into the wall, which didn't give way at all; The casters performed a great job reinforcing everything! Crumpled against the wall, Angra coughed, trying to figure out if had received any other lasting damage besides a bloody nose and tumble bruises.

He did not see Dantes discussing with Joan across the cafeteria, who immediately paled in disgust. "What do you mean that weakling was Angra Mainyu!? I don't believe that!"

Laughter fluttered through several cafeteria tables as the tension began slowly dipping. Though he was more concerned with picking up his bruised form, Angra was at least aware things were getting better. Slowly, he rolled onto his stomach as routine conversations renewed. As he slowly stood up, and noted Dantes and Gudao were hastily walking over to him, he couldn't figure out why the master looked so concerned… or why the newly revitalized atmosphere seemed to be quieting down in anticipa-

Looking up and to his left as he held his bloody nose, he found himself staring into stern pink eyes barely inches from his own. He flinched, making a nearby table laugh as Nightingale's unbelievably strong gaze pierced him. One hand fussed with a red fanny pack that sat over her white button-up shirt. Like clockwork, she pulled out gauze as he stared uncertainly at her. Even if awkward, at least she seemed interested in helpin- She just pulled a gun out of her jeans as she roughly forced him onto a nearby chair with her other hand.

"Patients must remain still. Move and I kill you." What the hell kind of nurse was this!?

Dantes finished his approach first and sighed. "Gale… Please don't give Angra a heart attack on his first day."

"He's wounded. The bleeding needs to be stopped and the wound properly sterilized. I must then inspect the floor to ensure any lingering traces of blood is sanitized by the robots," she stated quickly as she moved his hand out of the way with a fierce grip. Surprisingly, though her gaze remained powerful, she offered a tiny smile. "Pleased to meet you, Angra Mainyu. You are certainly not what any of us have come to expect."

…That was a good thing right? Quickly, he glanced around the once-more active cafeteria, being extra careful not to move on unnerving fear of death. Though there were still a fair number of discerning stares, most only looked to him in curiosity and amusement. Huh… It seems everything worked out fairly well despite going oh so terribly. At least he hadn't died yet, even if he felt he had come so close to it.

Dare he say it? Things were looking promising so long as that gun didn't go off.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ V ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

It was his second day in Chaldea and things were going… better than anticipated. Making an utter fool out of himself at lunch the previous day somehow worked in his favor. Combined with his clearly weak presence hiding behind all that malice, less people were concerned about him. There were still some exceptions, like Joan for obvious reasons, but most glares had vanished by dinnertime. Even the staff were quickly adjusting to his aura which he found both remarkable and crazy.

It made going about his business that morning fairly uneventful. Holding the paper receipt in one hand, he glanced over the selection of clothes he ordered with a small smirk. There were plenty of surplus to choose from, so if all went well, he'd have his order before tonight. Now he'd just return to his room and do more planning regarding its layout and what he might possibly want for...

Angra blinked before chuckling at himself. Barely a day, and he was already handling all of this like it was a new home. Angra Mainyu looking to furnish a room? His splintered memories of his real past life proved he would have been content with just a roof to sleep under, enough food not to starve, and the warmth of his neighbors. Yet here he was, entertaining the notion of a space of his own decorated to his satisfaction. Those looping four days really did do a number on him.

He began humming a tune, drawing a curious glance from a robot as it passed with a bunch of cleaning equipment. He ignored it and walked to the next intersection calmly. He turned down the new corridor which had a few employees and some more janitorial robots. One man glanced to him, but didn't look perturbed as they continued walking down the hallway. Without most of the judgmental tension it felt so calm and relaxing just strolling through this place.

'Sheesh, was Chaldea really at war? This feels as peaceful as Fuyuki…'

Folding and unfolding the receipt out of bored fidgeting, he tried coming up with potential hobbies as he walked. There were a few fun activities he had done in the loop, but he wanted them to define his interests, not some Hero of Justice; This was his life now. Quietly flipping ideas through his mind without paying much attention to what's around him, he would have remained oblivious to what's around him had pinkish-white hair not snagged his attention.

Slowing down as he turned the corner, he looked ahead towards one of the gymnasium's entrances barely a few meters away. Kuro had just walked out of the large room with her hair tie in her mouth. She fiddled with her side ponytail before pausing and looking towards the avenger. She seemed completely untroubled, but curious, standing before him in her hot pink tank top and black yoga shorts while holding a volleyball. Blinking in surprise, she grabbed her hair tie to set her hair, but did nothing else.

While Angra tried to figure out who this heroic spirit was, another girl quickly pushed through the doors with some sort of flying toy. Wearing a white t-shirt and pink short shorts, there was no mistaking the Einzbern he interacted with so much. She smiled, "Okay, Kuro, Let's…Ah!"

"Uh… Yo?" The avenger tried to act fairly calm, but here was one of the people he was actively trying to avoid. He didn't really do anything wrong to her per se… from what broken images he garnered from being part of the corrupted greater grail, but it was still a problem. The surprised and uncertain Illya standing before her was the child of Kiritsugu and sister of Emiya. Just being near this white-haired girl may unintentionally put him in hot water.

Quickly, Illya ran over to Kuro and grasped her wrist. She quickly whispered, "Kuro! Mama and papa don't want us anywhere near Angra Mainyu!"

He had suspected she was somehow family, but she didn't recall Illya having a sister. He'd have to ask Dantes about this because there was definitely no Kuro in his memories. Ruby chimed in loudly to break his thoughts, "Yeah! Who knows what he'll do to innocent and vulnerable little girls!"

"Hey… I'm right here ya know? I got standards!" he grumbled as he crossed his arms. Sure he was used to worse, but that assumption was just flat out crude.

"Hoy, calm down, Illya. I wasn't trying to accidentally run into him," Kuro sighed as she glanced towards him. She titled her head curiously. "…You really don't seem bad at all. Are you really a demonic god? I'd expect them to be bigger and more menacing. You look and feel pretty wimpy to me."

"Ouch. Not even going to soften the blow," Angra commented as he grasped an imaginary gunshot wound over his heart. Kuro giggled, and Illya looked less concerned and more curious. "Nope. No god here. Gudao drew the unlucky stick. He got the world's weakest servant!"

"…Is that really something to be proud of?" Ruby pointed out, but he merely shrugged. It made the two sisters look at each other with bewilderment, but they looked past him swiftly as the hallway seemed to shake. Angra fell confused upon hearing thundering footsteps coming his way. Though he had poor sensing abilities, he had a good idea what large man was possibly stomping his way. If Illya was here, then it was fair to say so was-

He spun around quickly as two large hands quickly picked up the feeble avenger. He blinked upon seeing the large, gray-skinned man, but was completely thrown off by blonde hair and a very eerie smile. As he eyed Spartacus' strange leather straps, he openly muttered, "…Huh. You're not Heracles."

"No! I'm Spartacus!" the large man declared as his face inched uncomfortably close to him. "And you're oppressing these kind girls aren't you, Angra Mainyu!?"

"Wait! Spartacus, no! He was just talking with us!" Kuro quickly corrected, and Angra filled with relief. At least she was on his side.

Quickly, the avenger nodded in agreement. "Yeah! We were just talking! The only one doing any oppressing here is you! I'm just a weakling! Put me down!"

As he flailed in his grip, Spartacus' eyes slowly widened. To Angra's surprise, he was dropped unceremoniously onto the ground. His legs nearly gave way, but he remained standing as he eyed Spartacus' strangely offended face; Even the smile was missing. "Oppressor…! I was oppressing! I felt it! You were weak and I was oppressing! I've become an oppressor!"

"Is this guy a berserker or something…?" he mumbled, but fell silent as the large man barreled down the hallway shouting incoherently. As he disappeared down a distance intersection, he thought he saw a red-haired woman chasing after him. He blinked. "…Uh… What just happened?"

"Wow. I didn't think it was possible to break Spartacus. I'll need to remember that," Kuro giggled. She was joined by Illya and Ruby as Angra looked back at them.

"I'm not even sure what I did. I thought I was a goner," Angra chuckled. "Sheesh… you guys have a lot of monsters like him around?"

"Monsters? You're supposed to be the real monster here," Ruby reminded incredulously.

"Our brother says you're All the World's Evil." Illya looked confused. "Some said you're hatred itself!"

"Well, they're not wrong. …Let's keep it simple and say I hate everyone because it's in my blood. Sorta like Dantes and Joan. It's an avenger family thing."

Kuro nodded slowly while she quickly glanced down the hallway behind him. Illya blinked, but was now far more at ease. "Then have you ever liked anyone?"

He was about to reply with a sarcastic remark, but dang did she hit on some fond memories. Though he did see Bazett as a woman and a surprisingly caring master, there was just something special about Caren. Well, besides her little special trait that made that one night extra crazy yet still obscenely sultry; Too bad he always felt chaotic urges for anything that held his affection. Of all the memories, he enjoyed that final ascent together where he'd occasionally turn back to see that sweet smile from an undoubtedly twisted girl. "You look like a Rockstar."

"…Yeah. There was one. Maybe a few, but definitely one," he admitted quietly with a tiny smirk. He noted Kuro glanced down the hallway behind him again, though he still didn't turn to look.

Ruby floated in front of his face, and he stared curiously at the strange device as it talked. "You're surprisingly honest."

With a smirk, Angra shrugged. "I guess you can say there ain't no more honest person than me."

Kuro's stare finally got the better of him, and he turned to look. Thankfully it wasn't another large, angry berserker, but his friend in a different gray formal suit; Did he only ever wear suits? He honestly wasn't too surprised he managed to find him considering how watchful and accommodating the other avenger tried to be. Apparently he had ensured Joan's early days of adapting to Chaldea were just as comfortable.

"Not causing trouble, I hope." In a matter of seconds, Dantes soon stood beside him and nodded before turning to the girls. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Nah. Just small talk. Spartacus did worse," Kuro reassured with a small smirk as Illya pulled Ruby away from Angra; That thing had no sense of personal space. Dantes glanced to Angra curiously, who merely shrugged in response.

After shaking his head briefly, Dantes turned to him. "A spot has cleared up in the supply sortie this afternoon. Gudao has swapped you in."

Though he nodded in understanding, secretly, Angra was enthusiastic. Though he might be able to burn off boredom and rising urges at the Training Grounds, a singularity would prove perfect. He'd obviously have to play by the rules for fear of death, but that was manageable. Hopefully the masters will let him go wild on the enemies; He had a bit of natural hatred he needed to sate.

Dantes smiled at the avenger's smirk. "I take it you're excited. I'm interested to see what trump cards you have up your sleeve. You promote yourself so modestly, after all."

"He said he's the weakest," Kuro pointed out quickly, making the battle-clad avenger scoff.

"Hey, hey! Don't just throw water on his belief in me! I'll take what scraps I can get!" he complained as Kuro and Illya giggled.

Sighing as even Dantes chuckled, he looked to his first friend in Chaldea as he asked, "Care to follow me back to the cafeteria? Gale and Beowulf are playing cards."

Though he partially wanted to think about room arrangements, cards sounded far more fun and spontaneous. He smirked, "Lead the way, avenger!"

As he followed the formally dressed man, Angra tossed a quick glance behind him and waved goodbye to the girls. He was satisfied when they happily waved back, proving he'd made a fairly good impression; It helped Kuro appeared fairly unbiased to begin with, which played to his favor. As he hummed a new tune and followed Dantes, he followed down a new corridor just as a Kiritsugu, in one of his favorite black formal suits, appeared beside the girls.

Instead of a judging and damning glare, the white-haired counter guardian stared down the corridor in outright confusion.

Blissfully unaware just how many opinions he was quickly shifting, Angra withheld his growing enthusiasm. Things were turning out very well, but he'd definitely have to be on his guard during the singularity. Any sort of shameless behavior that treaded the lines of morality could ruin his careful diligence thus far. If he was going to make a new life for himself, then he couldn't let his own hatred get the better of him. Still, he was optimistic the sortie would go well.

Angra was going to ensure any lingering judgements regarding him would be dispelled for good by setting a precedent they'll never forget!

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VI ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

Wispy clouds, kissed and painted with honey hues by the setting sun, drifted over the calm ocean waves below. Vibrant tropical forests coated the islands by Banda Neira, whose settlement and fortress were bustling with panicked activity. Just an hour before, the tropical settlement had been a place to explore and trade for nutmeg. Now the people flocked to Fort Belgica for protection while the servants prepared to assault the revealed threat across an inlet.

Anishka's team scrambled to get settlers to the safety while the forward team stood ready to attack by the shoreline. In the forested, volcanic island across from them, a mossy spriggan stomped towards the shore while devastating the trees in its path. Its unusual, red glowing eyes remained focused on the settlement as it came into view over the tall trees. It dragged its massive earthly sword like a club, dredging the land behind it. Nearly twice as tall as the majority they've seen, this one could easily destroy the prime settlement among the historic spice islands.

Gudao, fists clenched as he stood in his battlesuit, remained beside Mashu and Lancelot on a wooden pier as they eyed the approaching monster. Mashu kept her free arm around him, ever prepared to get them out of harm's reach just in case. Tristan stood atop one of the wooden huts, fingers ready to strum his musical weapon on command. Mashu's grip on her shield tightened as Gudao glanced over to the three avengers.

By the dirt shoreline nearby, Dantes stood with bolts of lightning cracking around his caped form. While his glare remained focused, Joan's signature smirk showed her eager and ready. Her grip on her flag and sword held strong as the spriggan finally came to the waterline across the inlet. Dantes glanced to Joan, who did the same as they nodded simultaneously. Gudao cleared his throat, "Avengers! When it gets into the water, make sure it stays there! It should be unable to properly defend itself!"

"Joan, Angra. I'll take the…" Dantes stopped talking and stared behind him incredulously. Joan did the same while Gudao blinked in confusion.

Angra Mainyu was a dozen meters further back than the previous minute. Joan scowled, "What the hell are you doing!?"

"You two got this! I'll just be here rooting you on!" he quickly replied. Dantes stared back at him flatly while Joan looked too flabbergasted to even talk. To be fair, that was the same case for Gudao, Mashu, and Lancelot.

"Are you seri- You're helping us, you little runt!" Joan spat in disgust. "Pull your weight! It's just a big spriggan!"

Angra quickly glanced over to the approaching behemoth. It was moving much slower as it began trudging through the water, but there was no doubt in his mind. That thing could wreck him with a single swing. Fighting his shades with Bazett was one thing in Fuyuki… but this thing? Angra quickly shook his head with a sheepish grin. "What if there's a servant in waiting? Does he have minions? Maybe I can take care of those-"

In a flash, Dantes was by his side, looping on arm under his in a vice grip. Angra gasped, "Wait! Dantes! You can't do this!"

"What was all that tough talk about proving your worth?" Dantes reminded with a flat tone, making the weaker avenger pale. "Let's go, Angra Mainyu. You're fighting with us. We need to see what you're capable of so the others can plan accordingly."

"Capable of!? I'm only capable of dying if you put me up against that thing!" the avenger panicked, but Dantes was ignoring him. Easily, he dragged him towards the waterline as Joan stared incredulously at the flailing, tattooed man who tried to break free… As if he was actually strong enough to get away from him. "Dantes! You can't! Why do I need to fight that when there's stronger servants around!? Can't I do evacuation work!? I promise I won't kill anyone by accident!"

"What happened to venting some hatred and steam?" Dantes groaned in exasperation.

That was true. He was here to do that, and maybe he underestimated just how strong these enemies could be after Joan called them pushovers. He needed to vent some frustration and prove his worth, but against that thing? He was growing uncertain just looking at that massive sword it wielded like a stick! Even though he knew what he wanted, he also understood just how weak he was, and this had a pretty high chance of getting him killed. Thus, it was no surprise his feet were automatically trying to dig into the dirt shore beneath him.

Angra was so preoccupied losing to his fight or flight response, he didn't see how much further he was changing perspectives of the so-called evil man.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"He really said all that!?" Beowulf laughed as he tried to bring himself under control. He drew chuckles from nearby dinner tables that entwined with Mozart's music.

Beside the laughing berserker in an undersized white polo, Nightingale struggled to keep her own chuckles in check. She undid the collar of her red button-up to make her light struggle more comfortable while Joan grumbled across from her. With arms folded over her black evening dress to keep Angra from looking at her cleavage, which the grumbling tan avenger had no current interest in doing, she passed a dismissive glance his way and huffed. After returning to the booth, Dantes rehung his jacket, sat down and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"I wasn't being modest…" the humiliated avenger reminded, which only made Beowulf laugh harder. He poked idly at some leftover bread crumbs on his appetizer plate and sighed, "Like I said. Gudao drew a bad card. I'm not worth anything much."

"We'll just chalk it up as a bad matchup," Nightingale dismissed as a robot hovered over to take the empty bread basket. "You made it out alright. That's what matters."

"After we pulled the weight…" Joan grumbled as she eyed Angra, but he took it in stride. He merely smirked sheepishly, making her eyes roll. He knew as well as she did he did fight with them, and wound up performing well against the foe. Not anywhere as good as them, but better than he thought.

"I think he's heard enough for the day," Nightingale offered, which caused him to give her a tiny, appreciative nod. She was about to continue when a servant walking past caught her attention; He caught the avenger's too as she raised her voice. "Excuse me. Amakusa?"

The priest quickly stepped back to the booth with his friendly smile and hands folded in front of his traditional black priest garb. Angra couldn't help but notice he still smelled like himself, but he's supposedly been rather obedient. He quietly observed the ruler as Nightingale continued, "About the snowman contest next week… Is it filled? Beowulf and I wished to join."

The male berserker raised his glass of beer with a smirk. "Neither of the kid teams are beating our Snow Grendel this month!"

He chuckled and shook his head politely. "You two should be fine. Thanks for letting me know. I'll add you to the roster."

She quietly spoke her thank you, but Amakusa caught Angra's curious gaze. His smile never faded, and neither did the avenger's smirk as they stared at each other. Dantes looked curiously while sipping from his wine glass. The tattooed avenger chuckled, "Staying out of trouble, Saint?"

"I have been since you fought me, yes," he responded easily as the avenger chuckled. "I was curious if you might show up."

"Well, here I am! Not looking for any sort of rematch, I hope?" he asked quietly, which made Amakusa chuckle again and shake his head.

Joan looked completely stumped. "…This guy fought you? He was panicking against an oversized, walking hunk of stone."

"Hey! In my defense, your lusciousness, I was attached to that grail and had nothing to lose! I don't want to die in my first few days here!" he quickly deflected, even as she scowled at him. While Beowulf chuckled at the nickname, Angra scoffed. "I was more of my real monstrous self then too."

It actually wasn't a lie. While he did mostly dodge and dance around his attacks, with nothing really to lose and no additional memories like Chaldea offered, he committed his all into attacking him. He was indebted to the master's other servants for making Amakusa's attack far more avoidable, but he did a fair amount himself. He also had the sneaking suspicion the ruler wasn't trying nearly as hard as he looked, which raised different questions altogether.

However, he didn't really care about any of that. Whatever the shady priest did was his business. Angra only wanted to pursue a relatively bland existence with all the flair of living a casual life. Since Amakusa was being rather pleasant to him, he was satisfied and would leave it at that... even if he was a touch suspicious if he was possibly hiding his real thoughts behind that civil smile and friendly words. They did have the same smell.

Ah, but no matter. He'd just be a bit wary around him. "You were going somewhere, right?"

Amakusa nodded to him and smiled to the rest of the table. "If there's nothing more to address, I shall take my leave. Gabrielle said she had interesting news for me."

After bidding their pleasantries, he was off towards the bar again. With a quick sip of his beer, Beowulf chuckled, "Hey, Angra. My sparring offer still stands. You up for training anytime? Just bugs me a heroic spirit pegs themselves as so weak. I don't get it. Makes me want to fix it too."

"This isn't going to turn out like that one time with the casters I hope," Nightingale warned with a click of her tongue.

Though it was a nice gesture, he was pretty sure nothing anyone did was going to help him from his abysmal state. Then again, there was a bubbling urge to want to do something about it. He flaunted himself as the weakest, and while there were plenty of servants to carry him, he did need to vent his frustrations and anger properly; Sparring with dummies likely wouldn't do a thing for his natural hatred. Even still, was it possible to grow stronger than his already weak origin?

"I'll think about it…? It probably won't do much for me. I'm a joke compared to you guys."

"Maybe you won't be as much of a pushover…" Joan pondered, though her skeptical gaze remained. "…Did anyone talk to you about ascension yet?"

Angra turned to her and blinked. Though it didn't ring a bell, that sure sounded like something to actually think about.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VIII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

The third day, Angra Mainyu was wandering around Chaldea, looking for something to sate his boredom. He was dressed casually for the first time as he strolled down a hallway to check out the gymnasium again. He admittedly felt great walking about in a simple pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. It was a simple wardrobe which didn't require any modifications, but every article of clothing was properly cleaned before delivery; The consideration and luxury of this place was astounding.

There wasn't anything scheduled for him today, so his boredom was brimming. The next event on his schedule would be getting his first ascension this weekend, and that already had him feeling a little triumphant. To think it was actually possible to get stronger than how they were currently summoned gave him hope he might become a respectable fighter. Even if that didn't come, he would at least find a consistent interest for himself now that it appeared a casual life was becoming more probable with every passing day.

He found himself at Club Cove, staring towards the newest set of double doors at Chaldea's newest addition. Though they were previously hidden, the entrances towards Chaldea's new arcade were finally unveiled with the room's completion. Since the Game Room was shut down when he arrived, Angra only had passing descriptions to gauge his interest. Now able to see for himself, his intrigue compelled him through the open glass doors.

What met him on the other side lifted his eyebrows. "…Well this sure is different."

Dimly lit, the few overhead lights reflected on the polished maple floor below. A brick and mortar was carved onto the former stone walls of the mountain, giving it a more contemporary feel when combined with the wooden rafters and ceiling. Though not as large as the spacious Club Cove, the Arcade had more than enough room to entertain a sizable portion of Chaldea without feeling cramped; That was after considering the many activities within.

Retro arcade machines acquired from the most modern supply sorties were lined up like slot machines on two walls. The other two were lined with plush burgundy couches and large screens Edison had managed to fabricate. Whatever video game consoles were available now had their own dedicated screens, with still plenty more remaining vacant in anticipation for more. In the spacious center, Tables and chairs were nearly placed within bordering shelves that housed Chaldea's board game collection.

Walking curiously past one row of arcade machines, with many of them turned on and begging him to play, his attention was caught to the only large screen currently active. Sounds of strange combat echoed from its speakers through the rather quiet room, coupled with some quiet conversation and laughter. There were three people at that station, and the game showed some sort of cartoonish fighter being played. Further enticed, he walked closer as one of the fighters kicked another offscreen.

"Tyler, I did it!" "Yay! Her first kill!" "You'll pay for that one!" "Great job, Serenity! Now go for the bob-omb! Quick! The bomb with eyes! Yeah that one!"

As he approached, only Tyler passed him a quick glance. Angra blinked in surprise as the employee, with his tie loose and sleeve button undone, waved to him casually with a smile. "Hey! Welcome to the Arcade! You're the new guy, right? The one who Joan sucker punched across the cafeteria?"

While Angra was glad he wasn't being seen as totally chaotic, he wasn't too sure how to feel about that depiction either. Still, as he said to Dantes, it was the better of two bad depictions. "Yeah, that's me. Just thought I'd look around this place out now that it's open."

"This was worth the wait. I love it here," Tyler chuckled as Angra approached the couch. After pausing the game, the other two servants finally gave him a glance. Serenity, sitting beside Tyler in a white sundress, gazed curiously as Rena floating up from her other side, surprising Angra; He had not been expecting a smaller robot. He waved to them as they returned the gesture, but it was the other servant who caught his attention.

Further down the long couch was Cu Chulainn, the lancer he had become familiar with when playing the role of Shirou Emiya. Sitting in a white shirt and azure gym shorts, the lancer gave him a friendly wave and a small smile. Angra quickly returned it, glad that opinions in Chaldea had been shifting favorably. Though Cu would not know a thing about him, Angra was at least familiar with the Hound of Ulster. While he wouldn't place his bets on it, perhaps if he could still form some sort of friendship with some familiar faces, he'd be one.

That was just a possibility though. He would take what he could get in the uncertain first days, and he was more than content with having five people he could roughly call friends already. More wouldn't hurt, but he wouldn't press his luck quickly. He was still Angra Mainyu, if only mostly by name and forced embodiment.

With a snicker, Cu unpaused the game and sent his character, a swordsman in green clothes, across the ruined castle stage. Serenity gasped, but giggled as she repositioned her little pink ball to a better position. Tyler shook his head towards Cu, "Hey… Be nice, man. She's still learning."

Serenity gave him an appreciative smile, but the lancer simply chuckled as their two characters began fighting. "No better way than the hard way!"

Angra watched the strange game in curiosity as the two fought. Upon seeing his confused gaze, Tyler chuckled. "I guess you've never seen video games before?"

"…Maybe? Not something like this," he admitted as Serenity sulked at having her character slashed off the battlefield by Cu's swordsman. "Is it fun? It kinda looks it."

"That's the whole idea," Tyler stated. Rena cheered for Serenity as she tried to force Cu into a tight spot. It looked interesting alright, but perhaps there were others he'd like better?

"What else is there?" he asked as he turned to the curious employee. Many usually cowered under his aura, but this one was different. Though he could see very slight nervousness on his part, he wasn't too sure if it was because of him or something else. This employee seemed very accustomed to servant presences, but then again, it would just be a matter of time until the staff grew used to his own, right? As funny as it was, seeing occasional employees diving and cowering as he passed was bound to get old.

The employee smiled and motioned with his head towards an adjacent couch. "There's something for everyone. You want to try a fighter or something? Maybe a racing game or an RPG? I've got all day to show you since Da Vinci gave me time off!"

With nothing better to quench his boredom, he quickly agreed with a nod of his head. Maybe he'd find a hobby out of this.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ IX ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"The new avenger is really funny. I see why Gudao wished for us to give him a fair chance."

Dantes, looking incredibly dashing in a black tuxedo, nodded with a small smirk to Mata Hari. The assassin was dressed in her own white evening dress as they walked down the hallways towards the resort's entrance. "He just wishes to fit in with an ordinary life. Nothing special."

"But you're still watching over him in his early days like you did for Joan," Mata Hari complimented with a small wink and cheerful smile. "You're such a gentleman. Joan's a lucky girl."

The avenger chuckled and shook his head. "Always the matchmaker… She only needed a partner so she could defeat her sister in your ballroom dancing class. I was just happy to oblige since I'm knowledgeable on the subject."

"Whatever you say~!" They reached the entrance and walked into the lounge as Mata Hari giggled. "You're so much harder to tease than Joan. It's so easy to make her stammer."

"Sorry to disappoint." Dantes chuckled as they entered the currently empty Club Cove. "Hm. We're a touch early. I thought for sure the two sisters would be he-"

"Angra, don't do it! Stop!" "It's too late to stop me! You're mine!"

There was no doubt that was Angra Mainyu and one of Chaldea's most famous employees. Instinctively, Dantes bolted towards the source in a flash with a sudden look of concern etched on his features. Mata Hari followed swiftly after as he landed in the open doorway between the Arcade and Club Cove, ready to make the next leap and save the- "What!? I was so close that time!"

As Mata Hari reached the doorway, Dantes stared in bewilderment across the room as laughter erupted. At a far couch, the screen faded to black and spelled out 'You Died.' Cu was on a far end, clutching his stomach in laughter while Serenity tried to control her giggling on the opposite side. Beside her, Tyler and Rena only chuckled lightly while Angra stared at the screen in dismay.

"That was bullshit! I had it!" the avenger declared as he held the controller loosely.

The screen reloaded a dark corridor with a smoldering pile of ashes as Tyler calmed himself down. "I told you, dude! Never go for the greedy swing!"

"Alright then, one more time! Seventeenth time is the charm!" Angra was so engrossed in their game he didn't even notice his friend by the door. This game was brutal and unforgiving in a world so grim and forlorn it could make the most optimistic flower wilt. The enemies were painful, and death was abundant, but he could try as many times as he wanted… just like that fabricated existence. This masochistic game quickly grew on him.

Looking over to the two servants in the doorway, Tyler smiled apologetically. "Are we being too loud? You can shut the doors if you need to!"

Mata Hari giggled as she glanced at the incredulous Dantes, who merely shook his head with relief.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ X ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

The fourth day slipped by uneventfully, yet again, into the afternoon, but he liked that. It was calm and rather plain with the biggest moment thus far was receiving two pieces of furniture. They were nothing special and had been sitting in the storage: a large black couch that resembled a particular sofa, and a simple writing desk. The latter served as a pre-requisite should his interest with watching movies lazily in his room take further root; He'd have Hector to thank for the long recommendation list currently written on a notebook in his hands.

Sitting lazily on his bed, Angra snacked on some potato chips while wearing nothing but a towel. Since he wasn't on today's supply sortie, after managing to convince Dantes and the masters to swap places, he had plenty of free time to do whatever he wanted. Currently, he gazed at the recommendation list the lazy lancer had given him, trying to discern if any of the movies stood ou- There was a knock at his door. "Angra? Do you have a moment?"

"Feel free to walk in, boss," he noted casually as he bit into another potato chip. Strange for Gudao to swing by and say hi. Did the masters do that often?

After a moment, his unlocked door slid open and the uniform-clad master stepped in, only to grimace and look away quickly. "Sorry! I thought you were decent!"

"Well you never asked about that," the tattooed avenger chided. He fixed his towel, if only because there may have been the slight chance Gudao got a decent glimpse at another demon. Not that he cared. "So… What's up, boss?"

"Just came to check up on you. Getting settled in just fine?" he asked as he glanced around the room, taking note of the simple furniture.

Angra waved the notebook in the air. "Yup! I just got a movie list from Hector. He really went into detail for me."

The wide variety of games, including an RPG where he could be as evil as his heart desired, did well to quench his boredom. However, he had to be in public to enjoy them, and sometimes he just wanted to be left alone. That's when the idea of movies popped up, which no one knew better than Hector. True to his word, the lancer had gifted him a list of recommended movies along his interest: Horror and tragedies for his sadistic side, but comedies for pure enjoyment. He'd still need the television and a player of some sort, but that was being made in some manner he didn't care to learn about.

Glancing back at Gudao, Angra huffed. "Don't just stand there all awkward and respectful! If you're staying to chat, go jump on the couch or something!"

"If you don't mind then," Gudao chuckled as he quickly abided. Plopping down on the couch, he crossed one leg over the other and relaxed. "So… now that it's been a few days, how do you like it here so far? Got used to some of the crazy antics?"

"About as much as they got used to me, I'd wager," he offhandedly commented as glanced over the summary for Scary Movie movies series.

Nodding quietly, Gudao offered, "As long as you're enjoying your stay. Sorry if your first few days were a little rou-"

"Ah, shut it. You've got nothing to apologize for." The confounded master stared at him, but he merely smirked back. "I've been through far worse. A few judgmental glares from some justice freaks won't put me down. Besides, you see all this?"

Angra made a sweeping motion with on hand over his rather empty room. "This is far more than I've ever had in my life. What's there to complain about?"

Nothing. There was nothing serious that he could find fault. He was expecting to be rejected or totally shunned and left to rot in some dark corner of the facility. Instead, he had been given a room fairly on day one like everyone else. He could have been denied his simple desires, yet they fell into his lap through unforeseen and unplanned events. He was getting hobbies, furniture, making actual friends who looked after him unasked like Dantes…

This was far more than Angra Mainyu could ever bargain for, and he didn't even need some four-day loop to pull it off! A lingering thirst to experience new things was undoubtedly going to be quenched day after day. His simple desire for an ordinary life was supposed to be out of reach and difficult to obtain for All the World's Evil, yet he held it only days after arrival. So long as it stayed stable, everything else was a bonus.

Gudao smiled. "I think I understand. You like things simple, huh?"

"You can say that," Angra chuckled as he smirked at Gudao again. "And you're secretly a bit twisted to want someone like me to be happy. You sound like a hotel manager wanting good tallies… but hey, thanks for that consideration, boss. I'll try not to give you too many problems, but no promises!"

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ XI ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

Click. Click. Click. "…Not that way either, huh?"

Clad in black boardshorts and a matching t-shirt, Angra hummed and walked down the windowed hallway as a snowstorm battered the outside.

Morning of the fifth day, and Angra actually felt confident. His first ascension went without a hitch earlier, leaving him to do as he pleased for the rest of the day. Hector was going to lend him a DVD player for the afternoon so he could marathon the Scary Movie series that seemed to be fun horror movie parodies. That should burn all the time until dinner where he could talk about it with Beowulf.

For now, he was going to enjoy some fishing with Cu since Helena had made the first underwater automata for the resort. They had to throw the fish back after catching them with special lures, but it was better than nothing. The two needed to spend the time somehow until the fighter tournament started. Figuring he'd get knocked out early, he could then likely bug Dantes and Joan or spectate the beach as Beowulf tried to stop Nightingale from assaulting those in distress.

Click. Click. Click. He smirked, "…Still bad at this."

As he walked down the windowed hallway past the library, he felt surprisingly at ease. It felt like he finally ventured forth to see the fifth day for himself. It definitely beat the chaotic madness and hatred filled blindness of other times he manifested. However, he still remained watchful, for he knew affection for anything meant a trailing hatred to destroy based on his true origin. It was just part of his nature, subdued or not in this Chaldean summoning, but he was satisfied it was a bit more manageable than it had ever been before.

Regardless, he actually dared to say he was a bit optimistic for a change.

He was satisfied with what he had managed thus far as he walked towards the resort. Most were now indifferent to him, though some remained vigilant. From what Dantes inferred at last night's dinner, there was no one who actually considered him a serious threat anymore, even if some just kept a wary eye out of principle. It had been a rough start, but he actually made something interesting and new.

Still looking down as he walked with a small smile, he fiddled with the lone request Dantes managed to fulfil on yesterday's sortie. Manipulating the squares on the small sliding puzzle, Angra quietly attempted to complete the image. Tile after tile, he played with the puzzle and walked confidently towards whatever lay ahead of him, both known and unknown. Even if he couldn't solve it now, he felt he still had all the time in the world.

It wasn't the white flower, but the picture was sure turning out nice.