Chouri lied down facing the ground, his mouth tasting of blood, dirt, and snow. He couldn't breathe properly, probably a few ribs broken. All his guards had joined their ancestors in the afterlife. All in all, he was about to die. And he was ready to.

He wished to be dead. Because his daughter was helpless in front of him.

Spear, being the gallant woman she was, fought back admirably, even given some words of praise by her overwhelming opponent. However, it was in vain. Now, he wanted to scream. He wanted to cradle her daughter, and carry her to the nearest town to heal her bleeding stomach. He wanted to run at the demonic young boy caressing her dear daughter's face with a knife, and body-check him as hard as he could, his own life be damned.

The former Prime Minister cursed. He cursed his powerless self. He cursed his choice of life, dragging all those innocent life with him. He cursed his decisions in life, causing his daughter nothing but pain and humiliation.

The boy... Nyau, was going to skin his daughter's face alive.

'When you find yourself in a time of need, put your will in that paper. I will come to your aid.'

The words of Shirou Kotomine rang through his mind, he had no idea why.

Right now, whether those words were true or not, whether he himself believed those very words or not, didn't matter at all.

'Please... Someone! Anyone! Save us...Save my daughter...! I do not care what happens to me, but please save my daughter!'

Liver, one of Esdeath's personal warriors and leader of the Three Beats, was the first to notice the strange red glow emanating from Chouri. He was about to execute the former Prime Minister right there, but then his senses screamed at him to jump back.

"Daidara, get back! Nyau, retreat from the girl!" Liver ordered his allies.

Nyau was alarmed at the sudden order, but in his confusion, his body was slow in following his mind. Daidara most likely heard the order, but chose to ignore it, as his pace never broke to grind Chouri's head to paste with the blunt handle of his axe.

A brilliant flash of red appeared before Chouri. Liver's vision was obstructed by his gigantic teammate, but Liver heard Daidara make a gurgling sound. His mountain-like back toppled to the ground, his head hanging onto his shoulders by a thread of meat.

The red light turned into a blur, slamming into Nyau. The young man's face snapped to a dangerous angle, accompanied with a crack from what could possibly be a shattered jaw.

Before the old general could react, the girl was gone from her place.

Standing next to Chouri, a man in red garb was laying down the statesman's daughter gently to the ground. Looking at him, Liver felt a chill down his spine. And not a good chill.

It's the chill he felt when facing his General Esdeath.

Finally, the newcomer spoke.

"I am Shirou Amakusa Tokisada, also known as Shirou Kotomine. I have responded to your summons." Looking up, Shirou continued with a smile, "Rejoice, Chouri! For I have come to make your wish come true!"

Chouri felt like he's hallucinating. Deep down, he believed, no, he knew it was the end of the road for him, and Spear too. He could wrestle with destiny as much as he liked, but there was no changing their fate. That, he fully believed in his heart.

But Shirou Kotomine kept his word. Crazy as it was, he actually did.

The elderly man didn't know how, or why would this priest went to such lengths for him, but he didn't care. His savior could come with a red light, or slamming into the ground from the sky, or shooting upwards from underground, but he didn't care.

Spear, his daughter, was in front of him. In his arms. Breathing.

Safe.

The back, clothed in red, looked so large, so safe.

I thank my Luck parameter. And You, God, of course.

It was a little too close for comfort, but I made it.

"Chouri," I called, the man cradling his daughter lovingly, "who're they?"

Chouri is grasping for breath, indication of possible internal damage. But, admirably, he fights through the pain to answer me. This man is definitely a good ally to make, I decided.

"The elder one... General Liver. His Teigu ca- ugh... control water..." He pauses for a breath. "The young is N-Nyau... his flute plays wi- mmh! the mind. Careful, Kotomine-san!"

I see. Well, no time to waste, then.

"Nyau. We need to retreat. This man is dangerous." Liver said to his fellow Beast.

"I'll be honest with you, I do not think I could take him on right now, even with the two of us."

"But, Liver, besides the General, you're the strongest of us all! There's also Daidara's Teigu, Belvaac. We can't just leave it!" Nyau said, surprise evident in his voice, rubbing his jaw.

Liver was relieved. Although Nyau's face was bleeding from the blow he recieved it was good to note that his jaw luckily didn't break, meaning his Teigu could still be used.

Liver pushed Nyau behind him, "A necessary loss at this point. We need to report this man to Esdeath-sama, immediately." The leader looked towards Nyau. "I have a plan. I'll keep him distracted for a little while, but I need you to play Scream to try and disorient him for as long as you can, if we want to make it out of here. Do you understand? I brought a jug of water with me, so I can use Black Marlin's ability."

Nyau only nodded, acknowledging how grave the current situation truly was.

"Good. On my mark, we try to retreat. Back up as you play, I will try to follow you," Liver grimly stated, as he stared at the white-haired man about 50 meters across from him.

Slowly, Liver brought out the jug he carried on him. Fortunately, with two high-value targets behind his opponent, it's a guarantee the tanned man wouldn't make the first move.

Somehow, three long, thin rapiers appeared between the man's fingers.

Liver spilled the contents of the jug onto the ground around him. The former General gave a nod to his one remaining ally to start playing his Teigu.

It's working, as even with his old eyes Liver could notice the other person's body language noticeably shifted out of it's natural position. Therefore, he's shocked when three streams of pressurized water, able to cut through tempered steel, were easily and casually dodged.

He tried again. And again. And again. Different speeds, strength, size, angles, he tried them all. But his attacks only found air, one under the effects of Scream, even.

Instinctively, Liver lifted his right arm in a high guard.

His mind was momentarily disoriented as his body suddenly flew across the field. He felt Nyau smacking against his back, the two of them sprawling on the snowy ground.

When Esdeath's right-hand man tried to stand up, his right arm was mangled. His brain subconsciously blocked the pain, else he passed out from shock; instead, he felt a pounding numbness from his arm.

'What... what did he do? I can't see... a punch? Kick? Are his weapons blunt?' Liver's mind was operating as fast as it could. Finally, it reached a suitable conclusion.

'We can't win.'

"Nyau, run. We can't win this fight. Not right now, at least. Your Teigu seems to have stopped working on him."

Nyau was about to reply, but he was interrupted by a blade flying at him. Luckily, it was deflected by Liver's use of his Teigu.

"That's a shame... I was hoping to eliminate that pesky music player. I guess it doesn't matter now, that little trick won't work on me again." The man... 'Shirou Kotomine, was it?' claimed confidently.

"I admit, I desire both of your Teigus. But, I can research them after I remove them from your corpses." Shirou stated, as if it was a fact.

Liver did not doubt the man's words for a second. If they did not escape now, they were doomed.

"Nyau! I have one last trick to play. It won't defeat this man, but it will give us the opening we need to escape." Muttering under his breath, he added, "I hope."

They're cornered now. And no opponent is fiercer than a wounded, desperate one.

Since I have to defend both Chouri and Spear, who're incapacitated, I'm sure Liver will favor a wide-area attack, presumably a multi-directional one, to maximize their chances to retreat. Sure enough, the thick streams of water assaulting me retreat, and disperses into small droplets. No, it's not just dispersion. Each droplet is compressed to form its small volume, to create multiple high-calibre bullets.

'Smart man.'

Of course, I'm no master swordsman, and I don't want to waste energy and concentration in mimicking what they do the coolest: slicing down every single one of those water bullets. I'm neither Saber nor Lancer, and I'm certainly not Caster.

I'm Ruler.

The bullets shoot out even faster and stronger than normal bullets their size, no doubt powered by Liver's last remaining energy. But none of them even manages to reach 5 meter from me and my wounded allies.

It's a simple Bounded Field, with the effect to infinitely raise the temperature within a set area. Normally, it's used as a supression technique, to dehydrate anyone caught inside the barrier, which is very Prana-intensive and delicate. Its user has to control several parameters, namely, the range of temperature allowed inside and the size of the affected area.

I'm not doing any of those. Instead, I designate an eggshell-thin area about 5 meters from me, and simply raise the temperature inside that thin area indefinitely. An optimum temperature for normal usage is about 50 °C, but I'm guessing my version is a scorching 500 °C. It's crude and savage, such that Semiramis will tear my ears a new one for using it this way, but it suits me much better. Additionally, because I don't have to finely control the Prana input, I can use it with much less Prana needed to activate it.

Sadly, my two opponents have exited my blade range. Liver is a dangerous man, and I'm not surprised he still holds his position as General under Esdeath's command.

Really, do they think they can escape without taking one of my... gifts?

Even faster than Liver's screen of bullets, a Gandr embeds itself square into Nyau's back. I can see the blood vomited instantly by the flute-user, and Liver instantly speeds up his retreat, now carrying his teammate in his arms.

Now, to see to my charge... Oh, dear, is he crying?

Chouri's trembling while holding his fainting daughter. From his bowed head, drips of tears fall and splash against Spear's cheek. His hand holds her hand tightly, as if he fears she'll disappear if he lets go.

I pat his shoulders to gain his attention. When he looks up, I lightly push him away. "Can I try something?"

He never answers, but the look of despair in his eyes says a thousand words. Pleading and begging words, that is.

I begin to activate my Left Arm. Contrary to what others believe, it's not an all-powerful healing artifact as the likes of Avalon or Berserker of Black's resurrection ability. As the same with my Right Arm, it's simply a catalyst for me to execute my Magecraft. My Left Arm has a greater compatibility with healing spells and spiritual operations, so I use it more often. My Right Arm, on the other hand, is more suited to combat and high-speed Prana processing.

Spear's side has been gouged open. It's a hideous and deep wound, cutting through important muscles, a few of her ribs, and into her lungs, liver, and spleen. I guess she was hit by that axe Teigu over there, and combined with the big guy's strength, her spear must've smashed under pressure, allowing him to hack her body.

First things first. I stop the bleeding from her organs, clotting any small abrasions, then stitched them shut with a thread of Prana. I activate them by giving a pulse of energy, to check their condition and their connection to other systems in her body. Once her liver and her heart start to circulate blood normally, I heal the inner structure of her lungs, before closing the pleura encasing it.

Her bones and muscles are simple enough, since human body's natural regeneration tends to focus on these area. I Reinforce her entire body's metabolism to help with the healing, before delicately urging her skeletal system to close.

After one short minute, all that remains of her side is a thin line on her soft, white skin.

I do admit. She is a beauty. Not unworldly, but a beauty nonetheless.

Looking up, she seems to regain her consciousness midway through the process. I guess it's a bit awkward, being a maiden, waking up to a young man she's just met (and not get along with) caressing her naked stomach with focused eyes. However, she understands her situation, and doesn't make any unnecessary movements. Well, until our line of sight meet, that is.

Her blush intensifies all the way to her ears and neck. Good, her circulating systems are working well.

Her mouth opens and closes, trying to muster some sort of dignity. Unfortunately, it's not a good time and place to do that.

"W-Wha-What are you doing?!" She half-screams as I slide my hand around her armpit, as if trying to hug her. In fact, I simply heft her onto her feet, then lean her body towards me.

"We need to go," I calmly tell her. "Your father still needs his treatment."

"How is he?" A worried female voice said, for the nth time.

An old voice replies, "Spear, for the last time, please, I'm alright!"

I'm currently checking up on Chouri's condition inside one of the bigger guest rooms in my mansion. Truth be told, his injuries were actually lighter than Spear's, but his old body didn't respond to healing as good as his young daughter, so as precaution, I ordered him to rest since yesterday's action.

"Hmm... everything seems to be fine," I deliver my judgement. "I'll remove the bandages later this afternoon, Chouri-san."

The old man bows. "Thank you very much, Kotomine-san. For... for everything, again."

I wave my arms at the gratitude. This pair has that similarity in a sense of debt against people, both father and daughter, even if their personalities are different. This causes a bit of annoyance for me, as the repetition of 'thank you' they've said starts to become a little grating.

I touch the young lady's shoulder, gesturing her to come with me. "Spear-san, it's time for your own check-up."

Her fair skin is flooded with red, as she stammers a reply.

Naturally, her father notices this, and asks, "Kotomine-san, is there something wrong with my daughter? She seems to do this often, lately."

"Ah, it's not my place to answ-"

"NOTHING'S WRONG!" Spear immediately cuts both of us off. She pushes my back lightly towards the door, while twisting her neck slightly to face her father. "It's just... just a regular thing, Father! C-C-Complications! Sonothingiswrongandbye!"

We end up in the guest room next door in record time.

I chide her sofly, "You shouldn't move so suddenly, Spear-san. Please mind your injury."

"And please mind your promise, Shirou-san!"

Somehow, this girl has started calling me more intimately, like so. Her father teased her about it the first time, in which she responded in her usual excited manner, but I don't really mind. In fact, I'm strangely happy about it...

"Ah, right," I bow my head lightly, "my mouth slipped. Sorry."

Her face turns from nervous to uneasy, then she hugs her body a little tighter. "N-No! Err... I mean, it's... um... I'm just uncomfortable..."

"I understand." I assure her. "Then, shall we start?"

Wordlessly, she nods.

This guest room is obviously designed for a female occupant in mind, with the soft coloring and tasteful choice of furniture. It's one of the reason I gave her the room, and just my luck it's close to her father's room, as well. The windows face east, so at this time, warm morning sunlight streams through the room, part of it bouncing on Spear's brilliant blonde hair, making it glow a sparkling golden.

From the outside, my body assumes its professional stance, calmly walking towards her and having her sit down on the bed.

One of the basic steps in using Magecraft is to be able to hypnotize yourself, to put one's mind and body separate in a trance in order to execute one's craft. It's one of those teachings I'm applying right now, combined with my martial arts training. Being a Magus sure is convenient.

I place two fingers on her forehead and my left hand on her stomach..

A part of my mind starts Structural Analysis and Spiritual Evocation, to evaluate her physical and mental condition. My eyes concentrates on reading her muscular movement, trying to detect any abnormality. I'm moving smoothly, with no hesitation in my steps.

From my examination it seems she'll be fine. I notice that she's blushing again.

I greet her crimson face with a cool smile. "Everything's perfect. You're healing much faster than your father, so that's a relief," I chuckle.

She doesn't respond, merely avoiding my gaze. Ah, of course she'll feel uneasy after that analysis. It was an exploration of the inside of her body in technical terms.

"Then, I'll take my leave. Don't do anything heavy, alright?"

After the time I spent with Spear, I walked towards Chouri's room, and discussed the terms of our future partnership. Mostly, it's the same as the conditions I asked him in his house, but after a life and death battle, Chouri was very cooperative and enthusiastic, allocating most of his resources to me. I declined his offer, as I felt too much centralization of resources around me would only hinder my movements and plans, and the main reason I form an alliance with him was to have another trusted person that could move freely when I couldn't.

It's the same condition I applied to my other contacts as well. Before Night Raid's arrival a few days ago, I'd been spending my time to focus on strengthening and widening my forces, whether it's my own information network or contacting those with power that're sympathetic to my cause. Former generals, officers, nobles, merchants, even artisans and blacksmiths, and so on. Fortunately, so far I hadn't had to... 'persuade' any of them the hard way, and I hoped it'd continue to be so in the future.

The talk with Chouri was finished faster than I expected. Which held no issues for me. Gives me more time to evaluate the Teigu now in my possession.

"Aniki? Is there something wrong?" Yoru asked.

He's following me after I exited Chouri's chamber, documents in his hands. He's maturing every single moment, capable of taking on more and more responsibility with proper management of himself. This boy's my prided little brother.

"Nothing," I stiffly smiled. "Just thinking for a bit."

Soon, we arrived at the main foyer, and I decided to part ways.

"Yoru, I'd like to study the Teigu we acquired. Don't let anyone disturb me." I turned towards him, giving him a smile. "Keep on with your duty and training. I'm thinking of teaching you the next step in the next few days, if you improve enough."

Predictably, his eyes shone with fiery determination.

"Understood!"

Lying in front of me is Belvaac, the axe Teigu wielded by Deidara, who's currently in pieces on the operating table beside me.

First, I examine the connection between the weapon and its user. It's no secret that Teigus are picky about their wielder, and analyzing what each of them prefers and looks for in their masters is a major step inside its partial intelligence. To create weapons equal to them, this is a part inevitable to the creator.

After I observed mulitple Teigus up close, I had a grasp on its power source, or what's required to be it. All Teigus have intelligence, and the source of that is the remains of intelligent beings being used as the main material. For example, Leone's Lionelle is made of the skull plate of a lion-like Danger Beast, only called 'Lady of the Forest', located near its hippocampus. Bulat's Incursio is made from the flesh of Tyrant, a Dragon-type Danger Beast, and others have similar cases.

This world mutates its native animals, by creating extreme environments only the fittest can survive. The more dangerous the environment, the more powerful Danger Beast it will create. 48 of these Danger Beasts were caught, killed, and processed into the Teigus the people know today. However, no one can actually 'kill' them, as their conciousness still remains inside the Teigu, to a varying degree. I heard that Esdeath's Teigu, Demon's Extract, was pretty much the Beast itself, manifested in its blood, before it's consumed by the famed woman.

Similarly, the concept of Mystic Codes and Noble Phantasms from my old world operates around the same principle. The parts of the Danger Beasts exert a 'Concept' to morph and deny the world around them, owing to their incredible life force. I imagine their strongest is around the level of a Monstrous Beast from the Inside World, making them a force of nature in their own right.

I've acquired significant information about Danger Beasts and their habitat, along with those used in the creation of the Shingus. The Shingus contain more artificial components inside them, in an effort to increase production while maintaining quality and efficiency, but clearly the Second Emperor failed in those two latter parts. To create Mystic Codes around the level of a Teigu, I have to collect as much information as possible about this world's workings.

I'm pondering about this in my Workshop, in the basement beneath the shed. It's an ideal location: wide, cool, and sealed tight with concrete, magically-enhanced, of course. I used the upper part as a storage room, restoring the innate function of the shed from storing human corpses, to storing an assortment of quirky materials.

I'm not a traditional Magus, so I lean more towards being a Magic User, however, I'm still confident in my Thaumaturgical ability, especially after the short time I spent with my former Servant. My current problem is not the process, but the materials. Within a different world, the combination of catalysts and main ingredients is like comparing apples and oranges with the ones used back on Gaia. The concepts the world is operating is similar, and all my Magecraft that doesn't require a complex ritual works just fine.

This is part of the reason I'm so desperate for information. Knowing this, Yoru had made a deal with Night Raid regarding the exchange of intellectual property, amazingly enough. Apparently, Najenda appointed Lubbock as the manager of that side of the deal, much to his consternation, I heard.

- Static.

My Bounded Field has been triggered. I don't set a particularly nasty one on the outside perimeter above the ground, since many people come and go around that area. The lethal ones are right behind and above me, carved on the entrance and the walls of my actual Workshop.

Securing my study, I silently walk upstairs to see my visitor. It's not a presence I've keyed into the Bounded Field, but the Field that detects malicious intent didn't trigger. I have a good idea who it is, but I'm not one for specul- No, I'm right.

Her hair's scent wafts into my nose before my eyes catch Spear's body.

She's cautiously looking around, at times wanting to touch something, then immediately decides against it. Her face is full or curiosity and amazement, making her demeanor admittedly cute.

'So, she has this childish side, after all.' A thought passes my mind, 'I know! Let's prank her unlike the mature front I've been showing heeerrrr!'

Ugh, that inner monologue is disgusting.

It's a storage room stranger than any of those Spear had visited.

One rack contained organic materials, some preserved in jars, some dried, some freshly encased in ice. Other racks contained various metals and stones, while a smaller one beside it had gems inside glass containers. One of the racks even looked like a cooking cabinet, with dozens of powdered material neatly arranged in seasoning jars.

Really, what kind of man required all of this? And who built his study inside a shed?

She knew she shouldn't be here. Shirou-san's assistant had issued a 'no-disturb' message around the mansion regarding the man's study. Her actions were the same as trespassing; she wasn't just breaking the house law, she's also betraying her host's trust.

Her heart clenched as she thought of the latter.

She's here... because she's confused. At their first meeting, she had repulsed him, and how on earth her father had trusted him appalled her. Then, he brought her back from the brink of death, protecting her from the maniac that wanted... wanted the skin of her face. Her body shivered at that particular memory. He had healed her, and he was incredibly gentle with her. He knew his limits, and respected them like a gentleman.

Currently, she's cutting into that very limit.

Now, every time she saw him, she had only jubilation in her heart. She's scared of this change. She wanted to suspect him. She wanted to be angry with him. She wanted to find excuses, just to return to how their relationship was before. But she couldn't.

She didn't understand anything, at all.

Now, perhaps-

"Out."

She almost screamed, but managed to shut her mouth with her hands.

Turning around slowly, like a child caught stealing, Spear directed her eyes towards the ground. Sure enough, in her vision is a familiar set of boots and pants.

His hand... his usually gentle hand, caught the side of her jaw and forced her to face his eyes. In them, she could only see fury. There's anger. Disappointment. Betrayal.

Weakly, she nodded, and walked out unsteadily towards the door.

'I failed him.'

Maybe I was too harsh? Her face seemed ready to cry then.

No, disregarding my former intentions and her expression, having an untrained person near my Workshop is a fairly serious concern for safety. I grow to care about her over the last few days, as I have with the people under my wing in my mansion and my other allies, so I have no desire for her to suddenly lose a limb or two in a giant explosion. Granted, I've kept all the hazardous materials safely with a complex magic ritual in my Workshop, but one can never be too careful.

I decide to go around the shed once, to make sure she didn't touch anything she wasn't supposed to, before going outside to calm her down.

I ask around. Spear's still inside her room after she left the shed, and I knock lightly on the expensive wooden door. "Spear, it's me. Can I come in?"

Multiple hustling sounds can be heard from inside the room, before her voice, weakly, says, "Come in." I open the door, and her composure seems to be back. Her back is straight, and her gallant aura has returned from the meek performance since this morning.

Her eyes are red and swollen. I'd feel worse about it but it was for her own good after all. No need for her to trigger something potentially lethal.

Just a step in, she suddenly stands up and bows deeply.

"I'm very sorry!" she exclaimed in a loud voice. Standing back upright, she eloquently continues, her voice back to its normal volume, "I had clearly disobeyed Shirou-san, and caused a disturbance for you. I sincerely apologize." She bows one more time.

Her tone is so unnatural to her, it sounds funny, rather than the regality she tried to imitate. Actually, her mannerisms are perfect as a noble lady, as does her speech, but the image gap I usually associated with her is so different that I have to stiffen my facial muscles to avoid laughing. It's her mask in public events, I suppose, and maybe when meeting potential suitors.

I sit down on a chair, and let her do the same on the bed.

I'll start with the serious explanation, then.

"Spear," I calmly say, "your apology is accepted, but do you know the name of the place you entered?"

Still in her public persona, she shakes her head.

I lean back into the chair. "Back in my hometown, it's a custom for fully-fledged adults to build themselves a 'Workshop'." Of course, it's a half-lie, but I'm not ready to tell everyone the truth about me. "It's considered a sign of maturity and skill, and it's very personal. All of us guard our own Workshop like it's a shrine."

Now, her eyes widen, and her body language starts to slip again to her natural personality. It's not an exaggeration to equalize Workshops with shrines, with how zealous we defend ours, really.

"Any uninvited intrusion, even if they're family or lovers, is considered an insult to the greatest order to the owner."

Her eyes widen in understanding.

I stared her in the eyes, and now she averted her pupils away. "However, I am considered an oddity. A minority, really." Her pupils snap back towards mine.

"This... tradition, is mostly kept by the upper class and traditionally old clans. They're the majority, who dictates the rules and a conduct of living. The rules aren't really stringent, contrary to what most people expect, but there're still some that don't upheld them, like me." I smile gently at her. "Mostly for convenience. So, I'm not that angry at you."

"Y-You're not?" Her face contorts to her 'cute' face, now that I've designated it so.

"In our Workshop, we perfect our craft, with the intention to surpass the former generations, and setting a higher benchmark for the next. We test our limits, trying to find our way to go beyond them. Which is why, we constantly live in danger, to us and those we care about." Technically true to a point.

"You and Chouri are now valuable my valuable partners in my quest to bring forth this lands salvation. I can't let anything happen to both of you, especially to something like being horribly incinerated by my Workshop."

I leave the room, confident of my explanation being satisfactory to her. Her voice stops me before I exit, though.

"U-um, Shirou-san! Can I join your training?" Her voice is small, but with a certain new determination in it. Looking back, I see the same drive as Yoru in her eyes. Well, if she's this eager, who am I to stop her?

"Be up at 5."

Her smile was blinding.