Hello and welcome to the fourth chapter of Fate/Stay Cooking Game Night. With me again is my friend and co-write, JoySeeker101.
Joy: Hello! Glad you could make it.
Glad to have you back. Now in this chapter, Shirou will be getting two new guard animals, and making two new friends… although one will be a bit… antagonistic to him at first… and the other to Rin…
Joy: It makes things more interesting, and some rivalry is always good too, helps growth, and not just as a character!
True. And now to introduce today's guest. The creator of our favorite RPG powers, Lady Gaia~!
Gaia: "Happy to be here too, this did sound like fun."
Glad to hear it.
Joy: It's an honor for us to have you here to help us introduce the new chapter.
Gaia: (Giggles) "It was no trouble. Besides, I want to watch the show, while watching Shirou at the same time~"
Joy: To keep an eye on your Champion? Makes sense, you did create a very amazing set of powers, very intriguing ones.
We also might have another unexpected guess join you in your meeting as well.
Gaia: "I can sense them as well~ Must be wanting to bring a gift to Shirou~"
Joy: I guess it will add some "spice to the story" … Heh, spice!
Anyways, Gaia will you do the disclaimer so you can get back with the others?
Gaia: "I will be honored! Ahem! Dear Light/Xara nor dear Joy hold rights on the elements of the Fate series and other series used in this story, all rights are indeed reserved to their original owner, please remember to support the official releases. Thank you."
Thank you Gaia.
Joy: Thank you very much, Miss Gaia. Of all of them, yours was the most professional. Or at least pleasant.
Gaia: "Ahuhuhu~ You are very welcome~"
Anyways, onto the story!
Chapter 4: Variety is the Spice/Spies of Life. … I'm Getting a WHAT Now!?
(The Kaleidoscope)
In the Kaleidoscope, there was a meeting held by The System, Gaia, Nüwa, Kiritsugu, Merlin, Morgana and, funny enough, Fate itself, which looked like a call of blue and code flying around itself.
"So, what was this meeting about?" Morgana asked through the mirror.
"We may have a small problem; that may become a bug issue if we do not take countermeasures." Gaia said.
"Uh?"
"Seems like a certain Litch and his two puppet-brats may have sniffed in the air that "Somebody", ergo Shiro, will become far too interesting." Gaia explained.
"... I assume it's the second owner, Zouken Matou." Morgana said, gripping her fists so hard, her knuckles turned white.
"Even the System knows that if that undead were to take Shirou, he'd have something that can break reality," The System stated. "The System is open to stop their squabble with Fate, knowing how bad this could be."
[We don't like whoever tries meddling with the course of things either. Different opinions on Chosens aside we have with The System, we still recognize that the fool is a threat to the natural order of things, and far too stupid to understand that unraveling our creation, The Flow of Events, won't make him a God, but Erase Existence into pure Chaos. He must be either stopped or at least contained. His thrust for immortality has caused many bad ends, some causing him to work with Alaya.]
"Wouldn't be surprised if Alaya made those 'Endings' happen to get to my son…" Kiritsugu stated, sounding irritated.
"Wouldn't put it past her," Morgana answered, groaning.
"Lucky for all of us, Gaia and System have two guard animals ready to help him," Nüwa informed, sounding happy, but a bit cynical at the thought of Zouken being a chew toy to those two.
Gaia whistled and a white and blue fox/cat creature appeared. "Let me introduce you to Fou, also known as Primate Murder, a Cath Palug."
"Fou~!" Fou shouted, puffing up at their master's words.
"WHAT!" both Merlin and Kiritsugu shouted in shock and fear.
"You cannot be serious! THAT'S THE PRIMATE MURDER!" Merlin screeched.
"Your point being?" Gaia asked.
"I just find it ridiculous sending the only Creature that has the Divine Right to extinct the Human race, as a guard dog."
"You just don't want him attacking you like he does all the time~" Gaia stated, a wicked smile on her face.
"DIE MERLIN, FOU!" Fou shouted, going to kick Merlin in the head. He only hit the mirror.
Merlin didn't move at all, but he did sweatdrop.
"Now for The System's guard," the System started, and a rip in time and space appeared. Just then, a large black Rottweiler dog walked out.
a-love-of-rottweilers wp-content/ uploads/ 2021/ 07/ Breed-Std- canilalfgar-1. jpg
"This Lord Dog is ready to protect their new master, roff," the dog spoke up.
"Are you one of the kids of that psychotic Nether Dog Lord?" Gaia asked.
"Second son of my Lord father, yes. My older brother was already occupied with another Chosen of that System thing. But I too like some good fights and heard that protecting Chosens of Fate automatically brings those to you. Also, this Lord Dog loves kids and hates when people use and abuse them…" He let out a growl for that last part.
"System chose the nice one, this time. The other two were far too callous for this job." System explained.
"My Lord brother and Lord father tend to just want food and not listen to everything, just do what is quietest to get back to sleeping and eating. This Lord Dog does too, but make sure to listen to the full explanation so I know not to just go in flexing. I need to know who to flex to and who Master's mates are."
Gaia gave him a scratch under the chin, and gave him a giant bone. "Good boy~"
"This Lord Dog loves the affections." he stated, kicking his back leg.
Fou then jumped on Blackie's Back. "Fou?" they asked.
"Yes, This Lord Dog will be fighting with you, not against you. But a friendly rivalry is fine."
"Yes, please, we don't want worlds going erased as collateral damages." Merlin asked, sighing.
"This will be most entertaining," Zelretchj stated, smirking
"May I join in?" Asked a voice that made Gaia, Nüwa, Fou, Zelretch, Merlin and Morgana stiffen. Just then a portal opened and what looked like a white slug like eldertic abomination appeared.
"No… No way… what is she… How is she here!?" Merlin asked, his mask breaking at the Demonic Beast Spirit that appeared.
"You know? I was sure that we were already toeing a Disaster, but I guess we can STILL add to the pile!" Nüwa said, face-palming.
"I am very displeased, do you others really dislike me that much? What could I have possibly done to be treated like this by your uncouth meanies?" The new arrival said.
Gaia glared at the monstrous woman and grew to her size. This was one of the Atlantic Lostbelt singularities monsters. She wasn't happy about those, because she was turned into being a heartless uncaring being when those happened, and hated the feeling, and never wanted to be that way again. "How are you here, Echidna?" she asked, angered at the Demonic Beast Spirit. "How were you summoned here?" (A/N 1)
"Oh? How 'I' did that? I didn't, that's how! I was called Here. Buy them." They point a shadow hand at Fate.
[... We can explain…] Fate muttered with a very low and ashamed voice.
"Please do." Gaia asked with enough acidic scorn she could ideally melt a planet with her words only.
"You're on your own Fate," The System stated, not wanting to get on Gaia's bad side.
[Traitor… We were just trying to contact a Heroic spirit to help in protecting young Shirou from danger, but we also left the Laws and Regulations governing the Summoning a bit too loose… And she came through. Purely a tiny oversight.]
"TINY?!" Gaia roared.
"I can be quite the professional, Gaia. No matter your o so blatant biased attitude towards me." Echidna answered.
Gaia was trembling, in both horror and anger. "You do not understand, I was forced to be something I wasn't in those Atlantic Lostbelt, forced to make fei's nothing but evil tricksters, no will or anything, forced to be a cold calculating machine… It… It was…" She was shaking harder, tears falling from her face.
"You can't continue running away from traumas and bad memories. Face them and grow stronger from them." Echidna said.
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SUGGEST THAT!"
"Can I instead suggest to please keep calm?" Nüwa said. She hugged her sister, now her size. "It wasn't your doing, you were not in control."
Gaia hugged her sister back, crying from holding it in, not wanting to remember and trying to block out that dark time in her life. "I-It was so-so horrible… I-I was nothing bu-but a-"
"Shush, shush, it's okay, that timeline is gone and fixed, you are not like that anymore," Nüwa said, rubbing her sister's hair.
"I do guess that this form does bring up bad memories," Echidna stated, then became smaller and looked like a white Naga with gold on her. "Does this form help?" (A/N 2)
gbf. wiki/ Echidna_
"Sort of?" Gaua admitted, sniffling.
"A good start as any other." Merlin said.
"So we have three monstrosities open to help protect my son?"
"I wouldn't call us monstrosities, as it is fairly rude for we are not mindless beasts. But yes, your son Shirou does seem interesting enough, so for now, I will be lending a hand or two." Echidna answered, shrugging.
"And I'm guessing you want to give him a Divine Beasts of your own creation?" Merlin asked her.
"Yes, and what better guard than Cerberus?"
"Another Dog? Isn't this Lord enough? Why ask a puppy to do the work of a proper Dog?"
"Who are you calling puppy, mutt?" three voices in one asked, seeing what looked like three dog heads on spiked shields and chains floating at Blackie. "We are the guard dogs of Hades' domain, what are you guardian of?"
"The more, the merrier, and at least he will keep you company." Echidna answered, uncaring.
"I'm not sure those two… or is it four…? Will get along…" Morgana stated, flatly. "Also, do they have a body or are they just heads?"
"They do, but I am worried they'll fight." Echidna said, looking at the dods.
"And I don't know who will win…" Kiritsugu stated.
"... BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" To their surprise, both dogs shared a laugh.
"How's your Lord Father, Mutt?" Cerberus asked.
"Fat, lazy and still protecting Smelly Bu, Cerberus! Just like my Older Brother is Protecting young Izu between his twelve hour naps! We have been keeping busy. What about you?"
"As well as it can be, boring at times in Hades. Glad we have another body to explore the world now. Speaking of." Just then Cerberus's body transformed into three Dobermans. "What do you think? Fit's us?" All three asked at once.
licensed-image?q=tbn:ANd9GcRk6dwpxZytWQWzxxA_tUtjGbYHKwc81VN_8Y5kYzn_B5rhLaKYldOy95QofkgUJmY7YdJ1FL3RKNoYxQuyny4BzfInFP1JDGCOwEFn3853
"Not as good as this Lord Dog, but it is a close second."
"Foufoufoufou~" Fou laughed out.
"Ah, Altrouge's Demonic Dog, you are here as well, also here to guard our new owner?"
"Fou," Fou answered, nodding in agreement. "Fou Fou~"
"Ah, so you're not the same Altrouge's Demonic Dog, that will be interesting to see that Vampire Princess see that there are two f you~"
"This Lord Dog agrees, that will be very entertaining to see the two of them meet," Blackie nodded in agreement.
"And seeing Altrouge Brunestud's face at seeing two of them," Cerberus stated, all three smiling cheekily.
Gaia looked at Fate and Echidna and asked, "I take it you two talked to each other to make it so that this body of Cerberus can talk through it, like some of the stronger Divine Beasts or Phantasmal Beasts?"
"Among other things. I also made sure humans won't just drop dead around him randomly. You know, Hades miasma and all that." Echidna answered.
"Surprisingly nice of you." Gaia admitted.
"I know how to be professional," She answered.
"Sorry if I ask, but I have limited knowledge about all this… Being Human and all…But will they join Shirou with me or sooner?" Kiritsugu asked.
"I believe we should actually send them soon, since that living bunch of dry bones has already set his brats on Shirou. What do you think?" Gaia asked the others.
[We can tell you things have already been set in motion, indeed. But we too will leave the decision to you others.] Fate answered.
"I think they should go now," Merlin stated. "Can't let anything mess up the plan."
"As much as I hate to agree with him, Shirou will need protection, sincetrouble tends to find him," Morgana agreed.
"The System believes the sooner the better, so that literal worm does not have any idea of Host Shirou," the System agreed.
Echidna looked at Fate. "As long as my Master is fine with it, I'm fine sending them down now."
[I am fine with it,] Fate stated.
"Sooner, the better," Kiritsugu stated, sounding serious. "I want my son protected."
"Seems we're all in favor," Zelretch stated, smiling.
"Looks like it," Nüwa agreed.
"We are all aboard on this then. Good. let's send the new bodyguards down then. Is that robot of yours ready too?" Gaia said.
"Whitey too is ready for deployment as well." System answered.
"... I think that should be good as well," Gaia stated. "Can never be too safe with Magus, they'll do anything to make sure they get what they want."
"Host will have Whitey of their own as well," The System informed, summoning the robot.
Merlin whistles impressed with it. "Impressive thing made of both science and magic. I would love to know how to make my own creations like this beauty~"
"Same," Zelretch agreed, walking around it, looking impressed. "This is a fine piece of work, even with the goofy belly."
"The soft belly has an anti-stress function. Hosts can pat and play with it when they are stressed, and a friendly design helps not scaring customers." System informed.
"And the stripping naked thing?" Gaia asked with a teasing smile.
"THAT THING DOES WHAT?!" The others, even Echidna, asked with a shriek.
"Disciplinary stripping breaks the spirit and humiliates Troublemakers; it offers an increase in 400% to the likelihood Troublemakers will learn to not annoy Hosts and let them work in peace." System answered, unfazed.
"Huh… Humiliation does work better than just killing…" Merlin muttered.
"DO NOT start doing that too!" Gaia warned him.
"But I bet it will be splendid! And that it can be done with great elegance!" He answered, whining.
"Only you would call that "elegant", you fool." Morgana answered, face-palming.
"Anyways, I should take these to Shirou then," Zelretch stated. "I do need to get back to teaching him."
"Why, you are actually doing that instead of just eating and sleeping?" Morgana asked, smirking.
"Far too mean! That is why nobody likes you, Morgana." Zelretch answered with an haughty huff.
Morgana glared at the Second Magician. "I will ask System to have Blackie bite you…" she growled out.
"The System would do that," he said assuredly. He then thought about it. He then looked at the rainbow ball and asked, "... You wouldn't, would you?"
"Depends on the merits of the thing. Should it keep you on the Useful side of things to help the Host's advancement, then bites would be administered daily."
"... I hate you so much at times…" he stated flatly.
"The System will play the world's smallest violin for your inconsequential sorrow…"
"Ooof!" Echidna muttered, snickering. "Is it always like this, Master Fate?"
[At times, we just joined not too long ago,] Fate answered. [Still not sure if working with our old partner/flame is a good idea…]
"Maybe it will rekindle things?" Morgana said, smirking.
["Doubtful,"] both stated at the same time, then 'looked' at eachother.
"What are you looking at?" System asked.
[... Very Doubtful,] Fate muttered, sighing.
"I would have faith if I were you." Morgana answered, greatly amused by the soap-opera-like drama between the two abstract elder god beings. "You two are so alike, but yet so different at the same time~"
"Oh, before I forget, we mixed Shirou's ancestor wrong, it wasn't Masamune, but Muramasa," Gaia informed everyone.
"... Actually, he's both," Zelretch informed, making everyone look at him. "I did some digging, and he has both ancestors in him. So he has destruction and creation~" (A/N 3)
"... At this point, what won't he have…?" Morgana asked dryly. "Having vampiric ancestors?" Merlin and Zelretch just smirked at her. She gave a flat look. "You're kidding…"
"His Ancestors were very open-minded. Let's put it like that." Zelretch said.
"He means horny." Merlin added. Smirking.
Everyone, that could do it, rolled their eyes at the two. The System then got Zelretch's attention.
"The System will be returning to Host now," The System stated, then looked to Zelretch. "Be there with the Host's new gifts so he can meet them."
"Will be right behind you," Zelretch stated. Just then, The System, Zelretch, and Shirou's new guards disappeared.
Gaia looked at Fate and Echidna. "So, do you two want to join me and Nüwa to watch what happens?"
"I got the popcorn~" Nüwa cheered, holding giant boxes of popcorn.
"Popcorn?" Echidna asked.
"Oh! You're going to love that invention of humanity!" Nüwa said, laughing and sharing the bag of popcorn with her.
Echidna took some and tried it, and her eyes lit up with wonder.
"GIMME THAT! I WANT MORE~!"
"NO! THAT'S MINE!"
"Just make another bag, Nüwa." Gaia said, rolling her eyes.
"It's a matter of principle!"
"Me and Merlin will get back to our work then," Morgana informed, closing the connection.
(Tower of Avalon)
"Seriously, some people have no self-control." Merlin said, snickering.
"..."
"What?"
"Nevermind." Morgana answered, shaking her head.
(Emiya Household: Next Day)
Shirou had finished his morning training and got Taiga feed. Surprisingly Rin came over to eat as well. Taiga had left early to get to work, but looked happy that she got a bento from Shirou for lunch. Shirou looked at Rin, wanting to know why she was here.
"So, may I ask why you came to eat here again?" Shirou asked her. "Or did you want to just keep an eye on me?"
Rin looked away, twirling a piece of her hair with her finger. "... I… wanted something decent to eat… And want to make sure you aren't doing anything crazy." She then looked away, pouting with a red face, and poking her index fingers together. "... I also wanted to have a lunch made by you as well…"
"I… Uuuuuh… You are welcome? Thanks?" Shirou answered, unsure of which one was the proper one.
Rin got serious again and looked at him. "There's also a warning I need to tell you about the second owner-"
"That he might be after me, for my magus powers and my actual magic I can do, and would want my power for his own?" he asked her, raising an eyebrow. "Is that what you wanted to tell me?"
Rin's jaw dropped at being read so easily. "Y-Yes, but how did-?"
"I was informed by Zelretch and The System that the old man may have his eyes on me, mostly for what I can do, in theory, and for what he "thinks" I could give him if he gets his hands on me… like any unoriginal Evil Villain."
"Seems my sense of humor is rubbing off on you, Shirou~" Zelretch teased, waking from a corner.
"He does seem to be one dimensional at times, yes. But it sickens me what he does to his family… And those he sees as nothing but pawns or toys…" Shirou stated, clenching his teeth. He would love nothing more than to storm the place and free those two, even help cure them.
"In due time Host, he will be an obstacle that will be taken out, by either me or your own work," The System informed him.
Shirou nodded. He then asked, " So I take it the meeting you had to get to went well?"
Zelretch nodded. "Yes, both I had to do, one in the Kaleidoscope and the other in your other timeline~" He answered, thinking of his meeting with the King of Heroes in the Recast line. "But enough about that, I come with gifts~!"
"What kind of gifts…?" both Shirou and Rin asked at the same time, raising an eyebrow.
Just then, three Dobermans, a Rottweiler, a fox/cat creature, and a Robot looking golem appeared. "You now have familiars~"
"Good Evening." The dogs said.
"Fou!" The fox thing added.
"Troublemakers will be stripped as an example to others!" Whitey said.
"That fox looks famil…WHAT IS THAT THING ABOUT STRIPPING?!" Rin asked, shrieking in shock.
"Stripping breaks the spirit, young girl. Whoever stands in our protegee's way deserves defeat, misery and anguish." Cerberus answered, all three dogs at the same time.
Rin could sense power from the three dogs, and they felt like one. "What are you…?"
"Call us Triplets. That's all you are supposed to know, at the moment. Only our protegee will learn more."
"I don't really like secrets." Rin admitted, huffing.
"Tough luck."
Shirou looked above their heads to see what their head stats were.
?
LV ?
Fou
?
LV ?
Blackie
?
LV ?
Whitey
?
LV ?
Cerberus
When he looked at Cerbers, they only had one over all three of them.
"Uh?"
"Consider us as one." The three said at the same time, winking.
"G-Got it," he said, smiling sheepishly.
"So you all are his Companions and Familiars?" Rin asked, surprised.
"The robot is more of a bodyguard, but yes. Pretty much." Zelretch answered, shrugging.
"So, how do I do this Familiar thing?" Shirou asked, rubbing the back of his head. "I am fairly new to this, and I don't want to mess things up."
"Being worried about it is already a good start, Young Shirou. But of course this Lord Dog and the others will teach you… Except the Robot. He will just… Stand there and act when needed. His Maker didn't see the need to give him an actual personality." Blackie answered.
"Gaia also informed The System there's a skill the Host can unlock known as [Familiar Bond]," System informed him. "The System can give you the Skill book."
"Oh, thank the Gods, there is actually some skill about it. I love things when either convenient or well thought-out." Shirou admitted with a sigh of relief.
"So he has the same sort of power like Zouken, but he can get familiars that are more than one type, if I'm guessing correctly," Rin stated, almost sounding impressed. "But at the same time, that same magic will put an even bigger target on his back."
"A double edge sword," Shirou stated, understanding. "But I'm going to need all the protection I can get if I'm going to help save his 'grandchildren' from him, and stop him." Just then a new quest appeared in front of Shirou.
[Quest Alert
From Worms to Snakes
The second owner of Fuyuki City, Zouken Matou, is a twisted sadist that has his eyes on you, and will be sending his 'grandchildren' to spy and take you to be one of his new batteries to become immortal. You have three tasks to complete.
Task 1: Mutate/Evolve the Worms in Sakura into Snakes so she can have a new power. And Make Sakura and Rin makeup for lost time.
Task 2: Give Shinji Magic Circuits through a dish you prepare.
Task 3: Find a way to either punish or kill Zouken Matou. The choice is yours.
This is a long-term Quest and will take time to complete, and the tasks can be done in any order.
Reward:
100,000,000,000 EXP
100,000,000,000,000 Yen
Gain new allies.
Fail Penalty:
You do not want to know…]
"Well that last part isn't ominous…" Shirou stated flatly.
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The four dogs laughed in answer to what was said earlier.
"Uh?" Both kids uttered, confused.
"Oooh! Young Shirou, you say the funniest things! We just work similar to Familiars, but believe this Lord Dog: we are completely different." Blackie said, amused.
"A whole other dimension of difference." Cerberus added, snorting.
"Fou!" Fou added, flexing cutely.
"They speak the truth," Whitey added.
Rin looked at Shirou and asked, "What kind of creatures were you given…?"
"I don't know," Shirou stated.
"Powerful Lord Dogs." Blackie said, somehow showing a very human-like smirk.
"Fou!" shouted, running up to Rin.
"At least one is cute. I am more of a cat person." Rin said, screeching under Fou's chin.
"BLASPHEMY!"
"Foufoufou~" Fou giggled.
"Tch!" Cerberus uttered, frowning.
"I still think you look famila-" Rin's eyes widened, realizing what Fou was. She held him up, looking straight at them. Rin was trying not to be nervous. "No way! You-You…!?"
"Surprise! The boy got Cerberus, Primate Murder and what you Magus would call an "Abyss Lord Class" Nether Dog Lord as Familiars and bodyguard! Told you we were at another level!" Blackie said, smirking even more wide.
"P-Primate M-Murd-" Rin was cut off when Fou jumped out of her hands and ran up to her shoulder, and rubbed her cheek.
"While yes, they are a version of said beast, they are a good version of them," Zelretch informed them. "Also, she was not supposed to know yet."
Blackie shrugged as best they could. "She was about to figure it out, this Lord Dog just went to tell her she was right."
Shirou gave a flat look. "You people don't really know the word restraint…" he stated.
"Better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it, Host," The System stated, summoning the skill book for Shirou. "Here's the Skill Book for [Familiar Bond], Host."
Said book appeared in front of Shirou, who grabbed it.
[This is the Skill Book [Familiar Bond]
Would you like to learn it?]
Y/N
"You seem to be getting a lot of things so far," Rin stated. "Then again, you'll need all the help you can get."
"Maybe I should, yes. Even just to have a chance at understanding how having a Familiar works." Shirou muttered, unsure.
"I am told those annuals are written quite well, so not using it would be a pity, young man. Come on, give it a try." Zelretch answered, smiling.
"Uuuh, sure. Here goes nothing…" He answered, and gave the yes to the prompt. The book then vanished into small sparkles of light like the [The Guide to The Gamer] and flew into him.
[A new skill has been created through a special action.
The skill [Familiar Bond] has been created.]
[Familiar Bond
LV 1
99.99% till next level
You are able to create a bond with an animal or creature. You either have to be a stronger level then them, or both sides are willing to make a partnership. Higher Levels can allow you to use their senses, and/or see and hear through them. The same can be done if the creature is intelligent as the master, and can use their senses to help in case they need to get to their master if they are in trouble.
Cost 45 MP to use and bond with creature
MP cost will be lowered the higher level you get this skill.
Number of Familiars: 0]
Shirou saw the MP caught and pulled up his [Stats] to see if he had enough to cast this.
Name: Shirou Emiya
Title Occupation: Aspiring Chef
LV 10
HP: 324
MP: 426.73
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 17 (+10)
Intelligence: 15 (+5, +35%)
Wisdom: 14 (-2, +35%)
Charisma: 15 (+5, +2)
Luck: 15
Points: 0
Special Status: Magic Circuits: Rank C (+30% to INT, +30% to WIS)
Perks: - Magic Circuits: Rank C
- God Of Cooking in Training
- Noble
- Gamer (Beginner)
Flaws: - Self Sacrificing
- Lack of Self Worth
Shirou winced. If he was correct, and if Cerberus counted as one creature, he would use up 180 MP for four creatures, almost half his MP. If they counted as three, which would make it six monsters, he would use 270 MP, over half of his MP.
Rin saw this and asked, "Guessing that spell will use a lot of your Mana?"
Shirou nodded, groaning. "Almost half, I just hope I can regenerate it…"
"You can either wait for it to regenerate, kinda, since it will do it very slowly and it will take a full day to recover by itself. Or you can eat some very specific foods. Vitamins and coffee are a decent substitute for those." Zelretch answered. "But if you need to regenerate, you might get the skill [Mana Regeneration] to help you out as well"
"Is there a good way to learn that?" Shirou asked.
"You can't be serious, you can't learn Skills like that!" Rin answered, looking at him as if he was a fool.
'... System?' Shirou asked mentally.
"Skill book coming," they stated, bringing out another skill book.
Shirou looked at her. "Seems I can, just like how I learned my new spell."
Rin was pulling her hair again. "Your powers are so absurd!" she gritted out in frustration.
"Jealous?" Zelretch asked, smirking.
"YES!" The girl yelled in answer. "HE'S CHOSEN BY GAIA SOL HE CAN USE HIS MAGIC WITHOUT IT DEGRADING!"
"But you said I need all the help I can get!"
"It doesn't mean I can't find it unfair at the same time!" She answered, with a very childish pout. "Why does a third rate Magus like you get to have such overpowered magical mysteries…"
"That's not to mention he's the heir to both Masamune and Muramasa," Zelretch added, smirking, wanting to watch the fireworks.
Rin's jaw dropped. "Masamune AND Muramasa!?" She slammed her head on the table. "And add on top that he's the only user of the First Magic of all things… All be it, it needs to be fixed… And become a modern god…" she lifted her head and glared at him. "Why does someone like you have these to you…?"
"Uh… Lychee Pin…?" Shirou asked, unsure himself, and might have gotten the name wrong. "I just wanted to be a Hero of Justice…"
"It's Linchpin." Rin corrected him with an hiss.
"While this is fun to watch," Zelretch started, getting the two's attention, "you still need to get to school, learn your skill and make a pack with your new familiars."
Shirou sighs. "Right…" He looked at the new skill book.
[This is the Skill Book [Mana Regeneration]
Would you like to learn it?]
Y/N
Shirou hit the Y, accepting it, and absorbing the book.
"That is still EXTREMELY weird to see," Rin stated, almost sounding jealous. Such an easy way to learn spells and skills.
"Ugh! I feel it enter my brain. Trust me, seeing it's nothing to living it." He admitted, shuddering. Shirou then looked at his new skill that popped up.
[A new skill has been created through a special action.
The skill [Mana Regeneration] has been created.]
[Mana Regeneration
LV 1
99.99% till next level
Mana Regeneration allows you to replenish your MP bar, letting it refill on its own. The higher the level of this skill gets the faster your MP can recover.
MP Recovery: 5 MP per Second.]
"Going to need to train this up…" Shirou muttered.
"And I am here to help, Shirou boy!" Zelretch answered, puffing his chest out.
"That actually sounds like bad news." Rin answered.
"HEY!"
"Would you be open to help me instead?" Shirou asked Rin.
Rin blushed and looked away. "Maybe… But you need to listen to everything I tell you."
"Is this what they call a Tsundere?" Blackie asked the others.
"And Himedere as well," Cerberus added in.
Rin glared at the two (four) dogs. "Hush you!"
"Anyways, shall we get the Familiar Bond made?" Shirou asked, not wanting a fight to break out in his home.
"Affirmative," Whitey agreed. They, along with Fou, Blackie and Cerberus, walked up to the new God of Cooking in training.
"Take a step back, girl. This is a very personal thing." Zelretch said, pulling Rin a couple steps back with himself.
"Okay, so you're all willing to be my Familiars?" he asked all of them. He got a nod from all of them. "Okay then, here goes. [Familiar Bond]!" he shouted, sending out his mana to them.
-180 MP
White gained a belt on his body, a symbol of a katana and chiefs knife crossing behind an anvil and scales behind it all as a bronze belt buckle. Fou, Blakie and Cerberus gained collars, each one different, with the same symbol as a bronze dog tag. Fou wore a normal black collar. Cerberus had a black collar with spikes around it. And Blacky had a white collar.
deviantart light-he-arth/ art/ Shirou-s-Mark-960283013
"Hohohoho! Perfectly pulled! Good job!" Zelretch said, clapping a little and looking proud of Shirou.
"Oh! So this is how a Familiar Bond works? Interesting!" Rin admitted, impressed.
"That's just one way, each one is different to each user," Zelretch corrected. "If you were to use it, you might have your Familiars have gems form on their bodies. Maybe even have your Family's crest as the symbol inside them."
Rin thought about it. "Okay, that sounds cool."
"So that's what this is, my symbol?" Shirou asked, lifting up one of the tags, Fou's to be specific. "Weird, but it seems to fit me, I will admit, since I don't have my families' crests. I wouldn't even know where to look for them…" Just then, Shirou was bombarded by boxes.
[[Familiar Bond] has leveled up] X 30
[LV 1 –- LV 30]
"I leveled up [Familiar Bond] thirty times in one go!?" he asked in shock, looking at the four creatures he bonded with. "What kind of creatures are you to do that in one go?"
"Well you have the Lord Dog Son of an Elder Nether Lord Dog, a construction of an elder god, a Divine Beasts, and one of Gaia's most powerful guard Divine Phantasmal Beasts," Zelretch counted out. "It's not surprising, though I would have thought it would be higher…"
Both Rin and Shirou blinked at the realization. Shirou pulled up the skill again.
[Familiar Bond
LV 30
08.52% till next level
You are able to create a bond with an animal or creature. You either have to be a stronger level then them, or both sides are willing to make a partnership. Higher Levels can allow you to use their senses, and/or see and hear through them. The same can be done if the creature is intelligent as the master, and can use their senses to help in case they need to get to their master if they are in trouble.
Cost 15 MP to use and bond with creature
MP cost will be lowered the higher level you get this skill.
Number of Familiars: 4 (6 if each of Cerberus' bodies can do there own thing)
Whitey
Blacky
Fou/Primate Murder
Cerberus]
"Okay, Now I can use that spell eraser now, it only costs 15 MP," Shirou informed.
"Oh come on! You just got the spell! This is so unfair" Rin shouted. It took her years to reduce the cost of her own magic… albeit gems were expensive, and she could only get a few.
"There have to be good sides to balance the hassle to be a Linchpin of the Multivers, otherwise it will be a punishment, instead of a Sacred Duty." Zelretch answered, chuckling.
"I have several giant targets painted on my back, all the size of Mt. Fuji, a bit of help I guess can be excused." Shirous added.
"I don't really find it fair, though. Even if it makes sense."
"Doesn't help how warped your world is, Host," The System added in. "You are one of the few good things in it, and they will try to corrupt you for being good. But the System has learned that you do better when you have allies/friends that can help the Host. Host stays more grounded when you do and are not so reckless."
"Guess that makes sense…" Shirou muttered to himself. "And explain my two [Flaws]..."
"We should start heading to school no," Rin stated.
"It's so late already?!"
"Yes." Rin answered, huffing.
"This Lord Dog can make you a portal that can get you there," Blackie told them. "But will place you somewhere where you won't be spotted."
"You can do that?" Rin asked, surprised and shocked. "That takes a skilled Imaginary Number Magus to do something like that."
"A mere wave of my paw for this Lord Dog." As to prove it, Blackie lifted a big and pristine paw and patted the air, and with the sound of breaking glass Reality broke apart and summoned a portal in space/time, surprising the two.
"See, kid? A simple caress of this Lord Dog and the Universe obliges," the dog said, sounding unbearably smug.
Rin was in the corner, hugging her knees, a cloud of depression over her. "Me and my family have tried for years to be able to use the Second Magic, and even recreate Zelretch's sword, and some dog comes in and makes it look easy as breathing…"
Shirou looked at Blacky, and asked, "Did you really have to break her spirit?"
"Missy, this Lord comes from a LONG line of Nether Lord Dogs. Our power goes extremely beyond your understanding, we also follow different Laws as well, what is impossible for you, for us is second nature… And vice-versa. Do not feel bad, work hard and this Lord knows one day you will make history too." The dog answered, voice full of strict respect.
Rin looked at Blackie. "You really think so?" she asked, getting a nod. "... Would you be willing to teach me?"
"This Lord Dog does not see any problem with that."
"And I am willing to teach you my secrets," Zelretch added, smirking at Rin. "What better way to learn, than from the person who made it~?"
Rin pride as a Magus wanted to decline, wanting to learn herself, but there have been people who would kill, and I mean they would actually do it, to learn from him. "I'll consider it. But me and Shirou do need to go."
"If you two are in trouble, Shirou's familiars will be there to help," Zelretch informed them.
"Although, depending on who you ask, any of us intervening would be too excessive. But I say those people can jump down a cliff, no force is excessive when dealing with enemies. Absolute disintegration is as good a result as any other."
"I am not really sure that is a good mentality." Zelretch admitted, shivering.
"And on that note, we're leaving before we hear any more insane ideas," Shirou stated as he and Rin grabbed their school bags and went to jump in the portal. Fou jumped into Shirou's bag, surprising the two.
"Well, guess he can come, just don't let any of the teachers see you, okay Fou?" Shirou asked, getting Fou to nod to him.
"At least you have a way to protect yourself," Rin stated.
"Yeah, yeah, let's just move it," Shirou said, walking to the portal.
"Shirou, you have a living, breathing, furry World-Ending Catastrophe in your backpack. You are very safe."
"Fou?" Shirou asked, pointing at the now snoring adorable thing.
"Trust me on that." Rin answered, rolling her eyes.
Shirou just sighs at what his life was becoming, and they jump through the portal, not wanting to be late.
(Homurahara Academy: Middle School Prefecture - Alleyway)
In an alleyway near the school, the two young kids jumped out of the portal, which closed right away when they landed.
"That… was weird but useful…" Shriou stated, a bit woozy from the sudden trip. He shook it off easily.
"Urgh! My stomach feels awful! Ugh!" Rin instead looked slightly green on her face.
"Maybe you can't stomach this form of travel?"
"Hush!... Give me… Give me a minute before I puke… Ugh!"
"Want me to rub your back?" Shirou offered.
"No! I mean no, I'm fine." Rin stated, looking better. "I just need to get used to that."
"It's okay, take your time, with that we actually saved a couple minutes before lessons, enough time for you to recover."
"I'm better now, let's go," Rin ordered, walking out from the alleyway.
Shirou looked puzzled. "I was just trying to be helpful. Was it something I said?" he asked himself, following her. He then asked her, "So I'm guessing we're trying to avoid Zouken's grandkids?"
"Yes, so keep your head down, and try not to get their attention," Rin ordered him.
"Last time I tried, you spotted me right away," Shirou reminded her.
"Fou," Fou called out, agreeing with him.
"You just got unlucky," she stated hotally, flipping her hair.
"And you are a very observant and smart girl."
"I mean… Yes, no need to point that out, but I still appreciate the reminder." She looked away blushing at the compliment she thought he gave her.
"... Yes." Shirou had no heart to tell her he was joking, so he just held his tongue.
As the two made it out, Shirou's Luck seemed to be in effect, for they ran into the two people they were trying not to run into, Sakura and Shinji Matou.
The two groups stopped and looked at one another, silence between the two.
'What the hell!?' Rin shouted in her mind. 'How is it possible we'd run into them at this very moment!?'
'2 on 2… Is this that [Fate Errand Boy] Title at work? I don't even have it Equipped. [Stats]!' His stats popped up.
Name: Shirou Emiya
Title Occupation: Aspiring Chef
LV 10
HP: 324
MP: 426.73
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 17 (+10)
Intelligence: 15 (+5, +35%)
Wisdom: 14 (-2, +35%)
Charisma: 15 (+5, +2)
Luck: 15
Points: 0
Special Status: Magic Circuits: Rank C (+30% to INT, +30% to WIS)
Perks: - Magic Circuits: Rank C
- God Of Cooking in Training
- Noble
- Gamer (Beginner)
Flaws: - Self Sacrificing
- Lack of Self Worth
'No, I don't,' he thought.
"It has a small passive effect, Host." System informed him.
'... Oh… Dammit…' he thought, grimacing.
'Is this the boy that grandfather wants us to look for?' Shinji asked, looking unimpressed. 'He doesn't look like much… Not even a proper Magus…'
Sakura looked at her 'sister' with a cold look in her eyes when she did. She then looked at Shirou, and saw the same empty look in his eyes like her, but there was something different in them, like a light that was trying to brighten them again, a spark that would ignite. 'He's like me, empty inside, but… there's something in his eyes, like there's a fire, ready to light.'
Shirou looked at the two of them, and thought [Observer] to see if he can get information out of them.
Name: Shinji Matou
Title Occupation: Forsaken Matou
LV 7
HP: 48
MP: 0
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 6
Intelligence: 6
Wisdom: 3
Charisma: 9 (+4)
Luck: 3
Special Status: Charmer (+4 to CHA), Ruined Magic Circert Lines (X0 to MP)
Perks: - Charmer
Flaws: - Ruined Magic Circert Lines
- Inferiority Complex
- Starting Superiority Complex
- Zouken Matou Worm Holder
Name: Sakura Matou
Title Occupation: Forced Head in Train of the Matou
LV 16
HP: 16
MP: 1260/2 = 630
Strength: 4
Dexterity: 4
Intelligence: 30 (+40%)
Wisdom: 25 (+40%, -5)
Charisma: 12
Luck: 5
Special Status: Magus Circuits: Rank B (+40% to WIS and INT), Low Self Esteem (-5 to WIS), Crest Worm Infected (MP cut in half), Malous for Tohsaka (-5 to INT and WIS when near a Malous for Tohsaka)
Perks: - Magus Circuits: Rank B
Flaws: - Crest Worm Infected
- Malous for Tohsaka
- Low Self Esteem.
- Self-imposed perfectionism.
- Fear of Failure
- No Self Worth
Shirou mentally grimaced at what he was reading, and how bad it really was. He might not have read their flaws yet, but it didn't take a genius to know what most of those would do. 'System, are you reading these?'
"Yes, Host. What about it?" The Thing asked.
'Can I have you punish Zouken for me?' he asked the elder god. 'I usually don't like hating people, never had to hate anyone, but that monster just did the impossible.'
"... The System will see what it can do. Granted it won't get in the way of your training as a God of Cooking and other positions."
'I do not think so, but he is trying to take over me, so I think that would count as trying to interfere with my training?'
"System admits it makes sense."
"You're Shirou Emiya, from our school, right?" Shinji asked, putting on a plastic prince's smile, holding his hand out to shake it.
"Yeees. Nice to meet you. You are Shinji, yes?" Shirou answered, awkwardly shaking his hand.
"I am, thank you."
"So, this means she is Miss Sakura instead?" Shirou asked, eyeing the silent girl.
"Yes, she's my sister," he told him.
"Pleased to meet her as well. How can I help you?" he asked, trying to remain polite even while knowing the reason why they were actually nearing him.
"Just being polite, we did run into each other," Shinji stated.
"I see."
"A very fortuitous encounter." Sakura whispered, barely loud enough for Shirou to faintly hear her.
"I guess it was," Shirou said, smiling.
"Well we should be heading to school now, we do not want to be late," Rin reminded everyone.
"Ah, right, don't want to be late," Shirou stated, nodding in agreement.
"Shall we accompany you?" Shinji asked the two, trying to be charming.
"I… Guess that's fine," Shirou stated, not wanting to be rude, but not wanting to let Zouken know too much about him, his powers and lineage. But on the other hand, he'll be able to help them more if they are near him, and find ways to help them out.
"I don't really like them. Even just the air around them feels off." Rin admitted with a whisper.
"Just until we reach classes." Shirou whispered in answer. "And why they feel off, is because Shinji, even if he was a magus, lost most of it before he was born, due to Zouken's tampering with his own family to keep himself alive. As for Sakura, your sister-" Rin didn't show it, but winced when she was reminded that she did have a sister that was given away, "-she was tortured, violated and has crest worms in her that mutated her to make sure Zouken will live on. I don't know if your father knew, but that's how her hair changed."
Rin's eyes widened in shock. Sakura was… but she wasn't… how did he. "How do you know all this…?" she asked him in a whisper.
Shirou gave her a 'really' look. "Did you forget who I have contracts with…? They give me information on the spot, so I know a person's history, and what they went through. In their words 'As a way to plan ahead a defensive tactic to better escape if I need to'." he whispered back. Rin blushed in embarrassment, looking away, huffing.
"I-I knew that, just making sure."
Shirou rolled his eyes. "Sure, and pretend you are in control and you know what you're doing. That helps you so much in the future…"
Rin glared at him, not liking being questioned. He was a third-rate magus, while she was- "The System will stop you there," the System intervened, making Rin yelp in shock, making the others look at her.
"S-Sorry, I think a rock got in my shoe," Rin played it off, to make the two Matou ignore her. Shed then pulled Shirou and whispered, "Your cook obsessed elder god AI is talking to me!"
"Yes, to remind you that Host Shirou is anything but a third rate Mugas as you would call him. Host is heir to two black smithing clans and heir to your worlds First Magic. Not to mention, the God of Cooking of the Fate/Nasuverse, as well as three other titles, Heroic Victory, Smithing and Crafting. You are a candidate for a goddess role as well."
"Wait, you were serious about that?" Rin asked in bewilderment. Her, a goddess, no way.
"Yeah," Shirou started, rubbing the back of his head. "You're one of the candidates… Just do not downplay any of those Titles, or any of yours. They all seem very protective of the honor behind each one of them."
"So… They are very high strung?" Rin asked.
"Oh! Ridiculously so. They got where they are through the ages and pretended to respect that, especially their chosen."
"This sounds like a source of eternal headaches."
"... It is…" Shirou admitted, sighing in misery.
"Okay, say I do become a goddess, goddess of what exactly?" Rin asked, curious.
"Well, we were thinking, Wealth, Gems and Intellect," Shirou answered. "Since your powers are based on Jewels and Gems."
"Oh! Nice, I almost expected some mean joke!"
"I am not that mean; you never gave me reason to be. They were thinking of Technology, Magic and Advancement, but I was told you're not good with tech, so that's why they got my father."
Rin looked away, pouting. "I'm not that bad…"
"Bold face lies," the System interjected.
"Hush you."
"Modifying your chances to get top score in the next Test down to 0%"
"Please do not bother yourself with my low abilities with technology, o Ancient One."
"Wow… Talk about doing a 180…" Shirou muttered, impressed.
"You are forgiven." At that Rin gave a sigh of relief.
"So, I will soon be a Goddess. Hn! Finally, some recognition of my worth."
"And her Ego is already up to Deity level…"
"Hush."
"I'm just trying to keep you grounded," he told her.
"Also, you won't be a goddess any time soon," the System informed her.
Rin Grumbled at the two, hearing Fou snickering lightly at her plight.
"The ball of fluff and destruction laughs at me too; I shall not be anybody Comedy Sidekick!"
"Never called you that!"
"Good! Let's be clear, I am keeping you around only because you are interesting and a decent cook, Emiya. So be grateful of my presence." Rin said, huffing.
"..."
"... Please." She added that last part with a pout.
"Okay, I am grateful for your presence." He answered, rolling his eyes.
"Thank you."
The group had finally made it to the school. "Uh, Shirou," Sakura called out, getting the boy's attention. "Would you… can I come over to your house tonight?"
"Uh… sure I guess," Shirou answered.
"Then may I join as well?" Shinji asked him as well. 'I will prove my worth.'
"Not that I mind having guests, God knows I hate eating alone in silence… But your sudden request is a bit too sudden, everything okay?" Shirou asked.
"I…" Sakura was trying to think of something, then got an idea. "I want to learn to cook. I see that you cook, if the lunches you made are to be believed." (A/N 4)
"Host should take her, she is a good Sous Chef candidate, even with what has been done to her."
'But won't the worms in them transfer everything they hear?' Shirou asked the System.
"The System can alter things in case he were to hear something he is not supposed to," The System informed its Host.
'Okay, useful,' Shirou though. "I don't see why not, if you both want to learn, I'll be happy to help."
"I usually don't like doing grunt work…" Shinji stated, actually erking Shirou at that comment of cooking being grunt work. "But it could be something interesting, so I'll learn it."
"Try to get your pretty hands dirty, maybe you will learn humility." Rin said.
"That smells of hypocrisy." Shinji answered.
"I at least can take care of myself."
"I do too."
"Unlikely."
"Libel."
"Truth, not libel."
"Kids, be nice." Shirou said, groaning. "But I will be teaching you as well, you need to learn to make your own meals, Rin. I might not always be around to cook for you. And getting store bought food isn't healthy."
Rin glared at him. "You're supposed to be on my side!"
"I just care about you." He answered.
Rin huffed and walked into the school. Shirou just sighed and went in as well, followed by the two Matou.
(The Kaleidoscope)
The four goddesses (Well two goddesses, mother of all monsters, and a genderless elder god of fate) and a soul in a crystal were watching the show. Echidna had gone through ten tubes of popcorn and was on her eleventh.
"So my son has met Zouken's manipulated 'grandkids'," Kiritsugu groaned, not liking this at all.
[Well System does have ways of making sure the Litch gets misinformation from altering what he and the worms can hear, ] Fate stated.
"Manipulating information comes easy. Uncovering lies and cheating partners is even easier."
[IT WAS JUST A MOMENT OF WEAKNESS! ]
"Silence."
"Ooof!" Merlin answered, snorting amused.
"... How long have you been watching through the mirror?" Gaia asked the half-incubus.
"Long enough to watch both shows~" he answered, smirking.
"Uh-hu."
"... I get bored easily, okay? Don't judge. So? How's it going?"
"If you're asking about Shirou, shouldn't your clairvoyance already have told you?" Nüwa asked rhetorically.
"Maybe, maybe not, I like to hear it from-" he was cut off when Morgana pulled his ear.
"THERE YOU ARE YOU ANNOYING LETCH! WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO!" She started to pull him away from the mirror. "I know you can see things with your clairvoyance, so don't bug them, we still have things to do, and lives to fix."
"But I hunger for human contact! I am tired of being alone with myself! I'm annoying!"
"Glad you finally admit that, NOW GET BACK TO WORK! Also, you had dinner with Shirou the other day, you got out, so get back to work." Merlin just grumbled.
Nüwa looked at the others and asked, "Were those two a th-?"
"Don't ask, " Gaia and Fate told her.
"Can I have more popcorn?" Echidna asked, holding her empty bucket.
"... I think she has an addiction now," Nüwa stated, looking at the others.
(Homurahara Academy: Middle School Prefecture - Lunchtime)
Shirou and Rin were greeted again by Shinji and Sakura, who wanted to have lunch with them.
"I don't want to cook, if the food you make isn't palatable," Shinji told him. Shirou wanted to cook right then and there and show him how good a cook he was. He wasn't sure where this extra pride was coming from though.
"That would be The System, Host," The System informed. "A Great Chef should always take pride in their food. The System knows the Host doesn't like it when you get too prideful, but you should take pride in your skills. Otherwise the System would not have been persuaded to teach you into becoming the Fate/Natsuvers God of Cooking."
'... Okay, that's far, but please don't skip on details like that, I do not want to fall into bad habits like my counterparts do.' Shirou asked them. 'Arrogance leads to downfall after all.'
"The System has taken into account your worries and will try to inform you when your body needs changes to it to advance you more."
'Guess that's all I can ask for,' Shirou stated. The four then made it to a shaded tree area, where they were doing a picnic lunch. They then saw a wild Taiga appear, holding her own Binto.
"Hello~ Saw you four and wanted to join you," she stated.
"Who's she?" Shinji asked.
"Taiga Fujimura, my caretaker and teacher in training," Shirou answered.
"And sister figure to him," she added, ruffling Shirou's hair.
"Gah! Taiga!" Shirou groaned in embarrassment.
Taiga giggled and opened her Binto. Rin Giggled as well and did the same. Shirou pouted and got his lunch out. Both Shinji and Sakura were surprised at the food.
Shirou's Lunch:
restaurant-hospitality sites/ restaurant-hospitality files/ styles/ article_featured_retina/ public/ pei-wei-bento-promo. gif? itok=D8HtDhgK
Rin's Lunch:
media. blueapron recipes/ 26170/ square_newsletter_images/ 1608745724-28-0044-9910/ 0201_2P12_Togarashi-Ahi-Tuna_0479_full_SQ_Web. jpg? quality=80&width=850&format=pjpg
Taiga's Lunch:
static. wixstatic media /d919ff_f729a16329104d0b94dfb78f7a73d168~mv2. jpg/ v1/ fill/ w_640,h_364,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1. 00_0. 01,enc_auto/ d919ff_f729a16329104d0b94dfb78f7a73d168~mv2. jpg
"You made these?" Sakura asked. They looked five stars to her.
"It may look good, but it has to taste good," Shiji stated.
"My goodness, stop acting as if something crawled up your butt to die." Rin said, rolling her eyes and making the others choke at the outburst.
"Says the princess that stuck up," Shinji shot back.
Shirou put his arm between the two. "Okay, no fighting, either of you. We are here to eat, not bicker. I don't want the food getting cold."
Rin and Shinji grumbled. Sakura leaned over to Shirou.
"M-May I try some of your meal, Emiya?" she asked him.
"Uh, sure, I made plenty."
"Thank you…"
"Also, you can call me Shirou," he told her, giving her a pair of chopsticks.
Sakura just took the chopsticks, and took a piece of chicken. She took a bite… and was taken back to when she was a Tohsaka. Eating with her family. Her mother's cooking. The worms sense her happiness, and force her to relive her worst moments, making her eyes cloudy again.
Shirou saw this. 'System, did you see that?' he asked in his head.
"The worms feed on Negative Energy born from painful memories, Host. As such, positive Emotions are both unpalatable and dangerous. To preserve themselves and keep their main function running, they counter every excessive spike of Positive energy by forcing their host to relieve painful memories so as to forcefully produce Negative Emotions again. Host Shirpou can exorcize them with proper food, but at the current state of things, that would be inadvisable." The System explained.
'... What if we mutate and evolve the worms into snakes that only she can control?' Shirou asked, remembering his mission. 'Fight fire with fire as they say?'
'... That can work, Host, but you need to be at least Level 50 in [Cooking] and have the proper ingredients to do just that,' The System informed him.
'Ah, Skill Level Issues, any Gamer's worst enemy…' Shirou thought. He then got determined. 'I'll just have to work harder then, even if it's already hard…'
"It's good," Sakura said, in a dull voice.
"I'll try it as well then," Shiji stated, taking a piece from Shirou's as well. He then remembered his mother, how her cooking was. Just then said worms in him affected him as well, reminding him of when she was thrown into the pit and eaten alive due to her making a weak child.
'It happened again,' Shirou thought, seeing the light die in Shinji's eyes. 'He wants them hopeless and under his control…'
"It would seem so Host."
"It's not bad," Shinji stated, shrugging. "It's palatable."
Shirou's right eye started twitching after hearing that. "I'll just have to make it better then."
"I don't know what rock you've been living under, kid, but this is the best damn thing I've had," Taiga stated, wolfing down her food.
"I am a noble, I have refined tastes," Shiji stated.
"No, you are a prick that has a pathological need to be insufferable."
"Are you challenging me, Tohsaka?"
"A challenge implies you have a chance, effeminate nobody!"
"AH! How dare you!"
"What? Do you need a moment to recollect yourself?"
"Y-Y-YOU!"
"Kids, behave." Shirou begged with a groan.
"What Shirou said," Taiga ordered. "Or else you two will get clean up duty."
"Yes ma'am…" both grumbled out, going back to eating.
"Well since my cooking is good, I guess you three will be learning to cook?" Shirou asked them.
"I never said it was good!"
"And I decided that your opinion doesn't count." Shirou finally admitted.
"HEY!"
"Too late. We did bet that with him," Sakura admitted, sighing.
"Trust me, cooking helps you feel better," Shirou told them.
"We'll see," Rin stated, not happy to learn, in her eyes, a meaningless skill that won't help her in her Mage Craft. She then felt a prick on the back of her neck. "OW!" she slapped her neck, thinking it was a bug.
'I take it that was your doing, System?' Shirou asked.
"She insulted cooking."
'Okay. Makes sense, in a twisted way.'
"OUCH!"
"She keeps doing it."
'She is persistent.'
"Seems the bugs love you~" Taiga teased Rin.
"Hush you!" Rin shot back, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Stop insulting cooking, and The System will stop."
'I should have known it was you…' Rin groaned in her head.
Taiga let out a sigh of pleasure. "That was amazing~ Can't wait for dinner~"
"Of course, Sensei."
"She is your Guest often?" Sakura asked.
"I do enjoy his cooking, yes." Taiga informed them. "And I am his caretaker as well." She then got up. "Well, I should start heading back, I have work to do." She then walked back to her classroom.
"We need to go too, Shinji." Sakura said, pulling him away.
"This isn't over, Tohsaka." Shinji said between clenched teeth,
"Bleeeh." And Rin, very maturely, answered by blowing him a raspberry.
"Stop poking the hornet's nest, please." Shinji asked, sighing. "I thought you were supposed to be mature?"
"He started it."
"Still, I thought Magus never showed emotion?" Shirou asked, almost sarcastically, at what she told him the other day.
Rin blushed at her own words being used against her. "S-Shut up!"
"That is adorable, I will give you that much, at least."
"NNNNNGH! Don't say things like that to a girl!" Rin, face red, answered.
"I'm just stating the truth," he told her.
Rin just pouted at him.
(Emiya Household: After School)
Shirou, Rin, Sakura and Siniji were walking to Shirou's home.
"I can't believe you are taking them in as Guests!" Rin whispered.
"Why not? They are victims of their family too, I want to help them, and I can't do it if I am not on at least friendly terms with them." Shirou answered, whispering. "Also, you and your sister need to make amends, if not, things can and will get bad."
"How bad?" she asked, not sure she wants the answer.
"Corrupted by the Grail and Angra Mainyu and kills you, bad in one timeline," he informs her. "And before you ask, yes I'm getting information from the others. If I tell you something that can lead down a roar, they'll inform me."
Rin paled hearing that. "Y-You're kidding…"
"Nope, because of your father's actions and lack of knowledge, Sakura has suffered and blames your family for things they could not have foreseen and prevented, and fix Zouken's influence on her and her mutations."
"That's hardly fair!"
"Imagine yourself in her place, she kind of needs a culprit to focus her anger on… even if it's the wrong one."
Rin looked away, not wanting to show shame. "I… I guess I can try to fix our bond… but that's not how Mugas-"
"A lot of Magus society is hypocritical and self centered, not all, but most," Shirou interrupted her. "All they care about is their own powers and keeping their status, not even thinking of using modern ideas because it goes against their beliefs and the mysteries of their crafts. My father proved that wrong by combining the two."
Rin said nothing.
The four finally made it to Shirou's home. Shirou let them in, and were greeted by Blackie and Cerberus, who were sitting in front of the door.
"Guests?" Blackie asked with a yawn.
"We weren't informed. Did they auto invite themselves? We can kick them out if you don't actually want them in the house." Cerberus added.
The two Matou siblings blinked at the dogs talking. Just then Fou popped out of Shirou's bag. "Fou." They informed the dogs.
"Ah, this Lord understands."
Shinji looked at Shirou and asked him, "A-Are you a familiar Magus?"
"... It's a part of my craft, yes, but I won't say more on the matter, secrets and stuff, you know," Shirou informed him, giving a vague truth. "Okay, we should get started on cooking before Taiga gets here."
"What will we be making?" Sakura asked him.
"I was thinking Chicken Katsu Curry with Miso Soup," Shirou suggested. "Sounds easy enough to make." He then thought to himself, 'Well easy for them since they'll be using regular ingredients. What will I be using to cook, System?'
"As a small Test, Host. You will be given Volcano Bird meat to work with, that while tasting like Chicken of the greatest quality, it also exists at a constant temperature of over three thousand degrees until cooked. The System wants to test the Host's Mana Control ability: Coat your hands in Mana to protect them from being melted and achieve another step towards your goal of God of Cooking, young man!" The entity answered, with a joyful jingle.
Shirou nearly groaned, but then remembered the two that he wanted to help and free. '... As much as this feels like torture, I asked for this, and if I can add it with Reinforcement, I'll be able to make it stronger. A chef and a smith should never be scared of fire, for that is where my craft lies most. I will not back down from being a hero of justice, even if that means I have to become a new god of our multiverse. And what am I to use for the Miso Soup?'
"For the Miso Soup, you will be using Something Special, Host…" The System said, and Shirou's butt clenched hard.
"The tofu you will be using has a very unstable property. In its original world it is called Nitro-tofu. Handle it too roughly and it will explode, and turn half the city into a smoking, irradiated crater… Fate suggested using it." System answered.
[WhistleBlower!]
'... I'll have to use tracing on it to make sure I can use it properly,' Shirou thought. 'The Pears were hard enough, but I don't want my home to be a crater… I haven't even used the Nitro Cherries…'
"Hardship makes men into Heroes, Host." System answered.
'Understand,' Shirou stated. He then turned to the other three. "Okay, let's clean and get ready to cook."
"Why do we need to clean up?" Shinji asked, not getting it.
"So you do not make people sick," Shirou stated, taking this seriously. "You could cause food poisoning if you are not careful."
"I see…"
While Shinji and Sakura were washing their hands, Rin asked Shirou, "Where's Zelrtech, wouldn't he be here?"
"I asked System to ask him to step out, we don't want Zouken to know he's training me," Shirou answered.
"Uh. Makes sense, your Teacher is not exactly somebody a lot of people like. To put it mildly." Rin answered, nodding.
"The less problems we start with, the better, yes." Shirou answered. "It would put a bigger target on my head if he found out through the worms inside those two."
Shirou and Rin then got washed up after the two siblings did, and all four of them were in the kitchen.
"Okay," Shirou stated, now wearing an apron with the others wearing one as well, "We'll first work on the Chicken Katsu Curry, be careful with the curry especially, too much and it will cover the taste of everything, and that taste will take a lot of time to leave your mouth, so if you don't want to taste only curry for a long time: carefulness is advised."
Sakura and Rin nodded while Shinji just shrugged
"Okay, let's get started, follow what I do," Shirou stated. He was then put in a barrier that only he could see. 'Okay, the heat barrier is up so the others won't feel the heat from the Volcano Bird meat.' He then took a breath and activated his [Reinforcement] on his body. He then used his magic circuits to make a mana cloak around him, and empower his [Reinforcement] as well. 'Please work…' He was then pinged for a new skill.
A new skill has been created through a special action.
The skill [Mana Cloak] has been created.
Mana Cloak
LV 1
90.54% till next level
You cover your body in a protective cloak of mana to protect yourself from harm. This can help you when you're in a dangerous situation. Higher levels can also make it empower your attacks and cover your weapons to make them stronger. Physical Damage X 0.05 you take.
Can be added with the Skills [Reinforcement] and [Physical Endurance]to make it stronger.
All three together total damage reduction: Physical Damage X 0.05 X [Reinforcement] X [Physical Endurance]
MP Cost: 50 MP to Activate, 5 MP per minute to maintain
A new skill has been created through a special action.
The skill [Reinforcement]
Reinforcement
LV 9
The basic skill of all Mugus, you are able to use it to empower their weapons and body. You have a knack for using it most would deem a basic skill.
Physical Damage X 0.45 you take.
MP Cost: 25 MP to Activate, 2 MP per minute to maintain
'Okay System, I'm ready for the meat,' Shirou thought. 'Switch it out with the chicken I have.'
"Understood Host," the System replied, switching the chicken breast with the Volcano Bird meat in a microsecond. Shirou could feel the heat from the meat, even with the preparations he made for his body. He was thankful the System made all his kitchenware, tops and utensils immune to the heat, otherwise questions would have been asked. He was notified for another new skill.
A new skill has been created through a special action.
The skill [Heat Resistance] has been created.
Heat Resistance
LV 1
87.25% till next level
You have the body to take on a fire or heat like it was just a hot summer's day. This can also help you from deterring damage you take from fire attacks or enemies as well as as a chance to prevent the [Burn] effect. Fire/Heat Damage X 0.05 you take. Chances for [Burn] to fail, your Luck X 0.05.
'Damn, just from the meat? I can still feel the heat with my skills on, and I can see them gaining EXP like a thermometer in the desert at noon.' Shirou stated in his mind.
[[Mana Cloak] Has Leveled Up]
[LV 1 –- LV 2]
[[Physical Endurance] Has Leveled Up]
[LV 1 –- LV 2]
[[Heat Resistance] Has Leveled Up]
[LV 1 –- LV 2]
'Dang, only a minute in this heat and I've leveled up three of my skills already.' He then put on his smile, trying not to show what was going on. "Okay, let's start, and follow what I do. We don't want you to chop your finger's off."
"Right," The four stated.
"As if it's going to happen to…" Shinji said while playing with one of the knives. He shut up when he felt the blade go in.
"... Band-aid?" Shirou asked, handing him one of the things while barely holding back his smirk.
"... Yes." The guy answered with a low voice.
"Snerk!"
"Silence!" Shinji yelled, pointing an accusing finger at Rin, unfortunately it being covered in a cutesy pink band aid made the girl laugh out loud.
"Okay, wash the knife so none of your blood gets in the food, and make sure to cover your cut hand in a glove," Shirou ordered, making Shinji grumble and do just that. When Shinji came back, Shirou continued. "Okay, so we're going to have to work the meat so when we fry it, it'll get all the flavor." Shirou explained, palming the meat he was given.
"First comes de-boning, if you happen to buy a whole chicken, it's actually cheaper than buying parts separately… Not that any of you have any lack of money. But it also makes sure you can personally take care of working the meat properly." They all nodded at him.
"So! First, we separate the wings and legs from the chest… Like this…" Shirou said, gently piercing the meat right above the cartilage connecting the wings and legs to the main body, and disconnecting them all with a very small movement that left literally no blemish on the tender skin.
"Okay, that looks like surgery, more than cooking." Rin admitted.
"Huhuhu! Thank you!" He answered.
"I am handling an Ingredient that is hotter than the melting point of steel, that's a big help!" he also thought.
"Shouldn't be too hard. At least it looks easy enough." Shinji muttered.
"... You are butchering it." Sakura, surprisingly doing a pretty good job for a first timer, said once watched the boy manhandle his chicken meat.
"I am doing no such thing!" He answered while savagely pulling on a leg to try tearing it off.
"Yes, you are," all three stated.
Rin was doing hers slowly, but carefully, making sure not to mess up. "There…"
"Good, now onto the next step," Shirou stated, "Sakura, you did amazing. Rin, a bit slow, but you took great care in doing so. Shinji, you need to be patient, cooking takes time, otherwise you'll make something unreadable and can poison someone."
Shinji felt like he was being looked down on. "I will not be-" He was cut off by the look on Shirou's face.
"I am creteaking you, giving you pointers, not mocking you," he informed him, no malice or anything, just a willingness to teach. "Cooking is an art, you have to be willing to put yourself into your art. So please, listen to what I have to say."
Shinji saw that he was being patient with him, not bragging or anything, just teaching. "... Fine, I'll be more careful."
"Good, now what you need to do next is actually simple, we will take the breast and cut it in thin slices, follow my movements, please. The recipe calls for a very specific thickness, too much and the meat will become an unpalatable brick or meat, too thin and it will become too crunchy. An inch or two will be enough. Like this." Shirou answered, showing them the right angle to cut the meat and slowly, dedicatedly, cutting off slices he then piled-up on a side.
"What's important is going gently and with a constant speed, chicken meat rips apart easily, ruining the cut. Now you try."
Sakura cut her pieces perfectly, smiling warmly. "How's this?"
"Good job Sakura, you're a natural~"
Rin puffed her cheeks, feeling jealous. She cut hers as well, taking it nice and easy. "Done~ Cut like nice jewels~" she said proudly.
Shirou looked and was impressed. "Not bad, just slightly bigger, but they can still be used. Try and make them all the same size next time, okay?"
Rin pouted. "Fine…"
Shinji cut the pieces of his chicken, taking into mind what Shirou told him. "Done."
Shirou looked and nodded. "Good, a little smaller, but like I said, can still be used."
"Guess I still have more work to be done."
"Okay, let's keep going," Shirou stated, smiling at the fun he was having.
An hour passed and everything was made, both the Chicken Katsu Curry with Miso Soup. Shirou looked ragged, but didn't show it. He had gained multiple windows when doing so.
[Feel the Burn, Burn the feel
You STR and DEX have gone up by 1] X 7
[[Mana Cloak] Has Leveled Up] X 7
[LV 2 –- LV 9]
[[Physical Endurance] Has Leveled Up] X 7
[LV 2 –- LV 9]
[[Heat Resistance] Has Leveled Up] X 7
[LV 2 –- LV 9]
[[Reinforcement] Has Leveled Up] X 2
[LV 9 –- LV 11]
[[Cooking] Has Leveled Up] X 4
[LV 15 –- LV 19]
[[Tracing] has Leveled Up] X 2
[LV 13 –- LV 15]
[[Observation] has Leveled Up] X 3
[LV 5 –- LV 8]
A new skill has been created through a special action.
The skill [Teaching] has been created.
Teaching
LV 1
26.35% till next level
You are able to help with anything that can be taught. Be it from schoolwork to cooking. You are able to help guide people to learn new skills on the road of life.
Hire levels can let you make Skill books. Must have skills [Writing] LV 50 and [Skill Book Maker] LV 25 to do so.
[[Teaching] has Leveled Up] X 6
[LV 1 –- LV 7]
Shirou remembered that he gained the skill [Writing] during class in his Japanese Kanji class, and it was level 15. He'll need to work on that.
'Not bad for a day's work,' Shirou thought.
"Shiroui!" came the voice of Taiga. "Feed me!"
"A Chef's work is never done. Sure!" He answered, chuckling.
"That smells really good," Taiga stated, walking in. She then saw both Sakura and Shinji. "Oh, you brought more guests over."
Just then Blackie and Cerberus walked in, Fou on one Cerberus's backs.
Taiga raised an eyebrow. "Did your tutor get you pets?" she asked Shirou.
"Yeah, he thought I could use some guard dogs in case someone tried to break in," Shirou stated.
Taiga shrugged. "Fine with me, you just need to remember to take care of them, got it? They're your responsibility now."
Shirou nodded. "I got that, now let's sit, I just helped teach these three to cook and we made plenty to eat."
This got a cheer from Tiaga.
All of them were now sitting at the table with bowls of both Chicken Katsu Curry and Miso Soup. Taiga was drooling at the smell.
Chicken Katsu Curry
erictriesit wp-content/ uploads/ 2022/ 11/ Japanese-Katsu-Curry-2-768x1152. jpg
Miso Soup
justonecookbook wp-content/ uploads/ 2022/ 06/ Miso-Soup-8297-I-500x500. jpg
"Host did well in preparing today," the System informed Shirou. "You were able to withstand the heat of the Volcano Bird and the Nitro-Tofu. You might be ready to go into a dungeon soon to find items and ingredients of your world to work with soon."
'That's good to hear, thank you,' Shirou thanked the System. He then turned to look at the others. "Well then, it's time to eat everyone."
All of them gave thanks and started eating. Shirou gave Blackie, Cerberus and Fou their own bowls of Chicken Katsu Curry made with the Volcano Bird. The five of them loved it.
"This is really good," Taiga complemented. "You kids have skills."
"I had good students; I am proud of them." Shirou answered with a big smile.
"Thank you," Sakura thanked meekly.
Rin huffed, smiling proudly. "Of course~"
Shinji just shrugged. "It was different, I will say."
"I'm glad you guys like the lessons," Shirou stated, smiling. "Maybe we can make this a weekly thing." 'That way I can figure out a way to help them, and save them from that monster in human skin.'
"We'll see," Shinji stated, shrugging.
"Enough chit chat, we still have food to eat~!" Taiga shouted, eating more, and loving each teast of her dishes. "So spicy but so good~!"
"Coming, coming," Shirou stated, heading back to the table.
(Matou Household: Basement)
Zouken Matou had been watching everything that had been happening through the eyes and ears of his grandchildren. He did have to smash down their happy thoughts during lunch, he couldn't let them be happy. He needed them to be obedient servants for him to do what he willed.
"It was surprising that the boy had such powerful creatures to work with," Zouken muttered. "Might take well to my worms then. I'll just have to mutate him to fit my family, and do as I say." He had a sadistic smile on his face, wanting to hear the tour yells of the boy until he broke.
He knew many simpletons would call him a fool, but when one lived as long as he did, one learned tricks the more simple-minded were not aware of; he was certain he could bend both boy and pets to his will, and more flesh puppets were always welcomed to his collection.
"I know immortality will be in my reach soon."
"Yes, but you may not like how you might get it, or how you'll be after," The System said to themselves. They were getting all the items needed for when Shirou's plan was made. A dish that would punish the foolish man.
(Einzbern's Mansion: Study Hall)
Illya was in the study of her family's mansion, working on her Mage Craft and other family secrets. She would also have information uploaded into her by being placed into the Homunculus tubes, since she was half Homunculus.
"I will prove myself," she muttered to herself. "I'm working hard just like my brother, so I can help him and Father out when the Fifth Holy Grail War starts."
[By Studying Diligently,
Your INT has increased by 1]
Illya smiled. She looked at her new stats that she increased in the last two days.
Name: Illyasviel von Einzbern
Title Occupation: Training Witch of the Third Magic
LV 23
HP: 150
MP: 2677.5
Strength: 20 (-5)
Dexterity: 15 (-5)
Intelligence: 35 (+50%)
Wisdom: 34 (+50%)
Charisma: 21
Luck: 20
Points: 0
Special Status: Imperfect Magic Circuits: Rank A (+50% to INT, +50% to WIS), Body Tampering (-5 to STR, -5 to DEX)
Perk: - Imperfect Magic Circuits: Rank A
Flaw: - Body Tampering
"This makes keeping track of my results far more easy, very user-friendly." She muttered, pleased.
"Miss Illyasviel," called out one of the maids. "It's time for training."
"Right," Illya nodded, closing her book. "I'm guessing Grandfather is impressed by my rapid growth."
"He is indeed," the maid answered. "He is pleased with your work ethic as of late."
"I am glad to hear that," Illya nodded, following the Homunculus maid. "I just figured out what worked for me to help the family regain the Third Magic."
"He is pleased to hear that."
'I hope Shirou can actually find a way to make a dish to do just that,' Illya thought to herself, ready to continue training.
To Be Continued…
And that's the chapter.
Gaia: "That was enjoyable to watch."
Joy: Very, very well done! Shirou is already working to save Shinji and Sakura, Rin is on the way to not be a disaster when cooking and Ilyia keeps being a precious little witch! It was a very good chapter.
Gaia: "And I can tell, things are going to be interesting."
Yep, Shiou and Rin are going to go dungeon diving. With the Fate World, there will be places where mystical beasts will lay, connected to the real world and the reverse.
Gaia: (Giggles) "Indeed, and with my access, he can enter those pockets and entries at will~"
Joy: DUNGEONS! OH YES! THAT SOUNDS VERY COOL! It's indeed something I am really looking forward to!
And get one of the most well-known skills in any Gamer Story, that will mess well with his reality marble.
Gaia: "Ahuhuhu~ I think I know what you mean~"
Joy: Uuuh! What is it? Or do we leave it as a surprise?
It's one of the first skills in the Gamer comics~ I'll just leave you with that hint. Anyways, we should end it here. We all hope you enjoyed the chapter, and leave a like, favorite, review and everything after you read this. And with that, we'll see you next chapter.
Gaia: "Farwell~"
Joy: Thank you all for reading! Remember to like and leave kudos to the story if you haven't already, and to follow He'art/Zechi to keep being updated whenever a new chapter drops! Thank you!
And with that, bye.
Please R&R
(A/N 1) For wondering what Echidna looks like, here: typemoon. fandom wiki/ Echidna
(A/N 2) Thought a Naga would fit sense they are more common in Greek legends.
(A/N 3) Had to add that in, sense it was pointed out to me, and I thought, hey, I can use both. With how Shirou is, I wouldn't be surprised at all.
(A/N 4) For those who are new to Fate/Stay Night timeline or haven't seen that one, so many timelines, it's irritating at times… this is an actual thing, Shirou does teach her to cook.
Links to my Co-Writer's pages:
archiveofourown users/ JoySeeker101/ pseuds/ JoySeeker101
fanfiction u/ 4123328/