Tabitha hid beside a tree with her breath held. In front of her was a temple that had been reduced to ruins. Columns that once boasted magnificence had collapsed and fences had rusted away. Bright stained glass windows had been shattered, and weeds filled the garden. It was the temple of a pioneering village that had been abandoned decades ago. It was completely desolate; no one was close by. However, when the sunlight shone upon it, there was a somewhat pastoral atmosphere to the place. The place would probably be where travelers would set up for lunch or the like.
A loud explosion suddenly broke the calm atmosphere. Kirche had set a tree next to the gatepost on fire. Tabitha, in the shade of the trees, gripped her staff. The reason why the pioneering village had been abandoned came crashing out. It was an orc. It was a little more than six feet tall and weighed about five times that of an average human. Its fat ugly body was covered by skins peeled off from animals. With a large nose on its face, it it had an uncanny resemblance to a pig. In fact, you could say that it was a pig that stood on two legs, and was about as choosy on what it ate as your average pig.
Ten more of them followed the first orc as he bellowed again. Orcs liked human children, and being attacked by a group of creatures with such troublesome tastes, the villagers abandoned the village and fled from it. The villagers told the lord of the area, but the lord disliked dispatching soldiers in forests, and so ignored their requests. This village was one of the many villages in Halkeginia that had had this happen.
The orc conversed with the others through sounds similar to that of a pig, while pointing at the fire blazing around the gatepost. It then yelled angrily at every one of them. Waving the clubs in their hands, the orcs were obviously angry. There was a fire, which meant humans were nearby. They were enemies, and the fire was a bait. Watching this, Tabitha considered which spell she would use. There were more enemies than she had expected. She couldn't continuously fire spells out. If they didn't carry everything out smoothly, they could easily lose the advantage of their surprise attack.
Just then, the air around the orcs shimmered and seven bronze maidens appeared before them. They were Guiche's golems. Tabitha knitted her eyebrows. That wasn't what they had decided on. Guiche must have gotten impatient.
Guiche's seven Valkyries charged at the head orc. They thrust their short spears at it. The tip of the spears sank into the orc's stomach and the orc was knocked back onto the ground. However, the wound was shallow. Its thick skin and fat had acted as its shield, protecting its internal organs from damage. It quickly stood back up, and waved its club, ignoring its small wound. The other orcs rushed over with their clubs, swinging them at the bronze maidens. The clubs the orcs were swinging, were about the size of a human. One hit on the delicate golems, and they would be sent flying, broken on the ground.
Tabitha started reciting an incantation while waving her wand. Water, wind, wind. One water and two winds. The two elements intertwined with each other and the spell was complete. The vapor in the air froze and became several icicles. They skewered the wounded orc from all directions. It was one of Tabitha's strongest attacks, 'Windy Icicle'. The wounded orc fell to the ground at once.
Kirche, who was watching on top of a tree that was separated by a fair distance from Tabitha's hiding spot, waved her wand. Fire, Fire. Two fires. A ball of fire, larger than a normal fireball spell, attacked the orcs. It was the 'Flame Ball' spell. With agile movements that didn't seem possible for their size, they tried avoiding the ball of fire. However, as if it were attached to a string, the ball of fire was homing. It shot inside an orc's howling mouth, and its head burst into flames. However, that was the end of such effective spells. They couldn't keep using such strong spells.
The orcs were scared, but they realized they were being attacked by only a few mages. After realizing this, they remembered a long battle they had with humans once. If they lost, they would lose in an instant. However, only two of them were killed by magic so far. Which means, the human's attack had failed.
Their anger overcame their fear. Their sharp noses twitched, trying to find the humans. A young delicious smelling human could be smelt from outside the temple's garden. The orcs ran at once. Suddenly a person with a sword jumped from one of the trees. The lead orc's head flew off, as its hands comically grasped its neck for a moment before falling forward. Two of the orcs made to crash the human with their clubs, only to each receive a stab to the head that put them down.
Losing five allies already, they surrounded Zero cautiously. With his sword ready, Zero stared at the orcs with a cold gaze. It was as if a dragon was glaring them at. Their instincts told them that he was dangerous. They told them that they couldn't win against him. They told them to run. The orcs looked at each other. One of them roared, shaking its club about. He pointed to Zero and grunted again. The orc was wearing a necklace. After a better glance, it could be seen that it was a necklace made from a straw rope and human skulls. Skulls as trophies. Some of them were rather small. What monsters... Zero couldn't help but take some joy in this. At least there wouldn't be any more innocents added to that necklace.
The lead orc swung its club at the child. It should have been a solid hit. The child was standing on his club, his arm cocked back. The last thing it saw was the blade moving towards its head. The orc tumbled to the ground. Zero leapt at a nearby orc. In an instant, he cut down the stunned orc. With the force of his sword he finished it off. To the left, he swung the blade again.
Ignoring their instinct, experience and common sense, the orcs roared and went in for an all out attack.
And so, they lost their lives, as Zero swung his saber in an arc, filling the area with a green glow as he cut the orcs in half.
Tabitha's dragon landed on the ground. If the wind dragon had been hurt, it would mean that they would have to walk home, so they decided she wasn't allowed in the battle. Coming down from the tree, Kirche gave Guiche a shove.
"Ouch! What are you doing?"
"It's your fault that we got in such a mess!"
"The plan was to lure them into a pit that Beldandy had dug and light the oil that was prepared in that pit. All the orcs would then burn to their deaths.
"As if they would just all fall into a pit like that. The first to make a move wins. I only put that into practice." Grumbled Guiche.
"Your mole dug it right? Have some faith!"
"When you make a plan, you stick to it if possible. Those things were pretty stupid, so they probably would have walked into the trap," said Zero
Siesta, who was hiding and shaking, rushed over to Zero and hugged him, overcome with emotion.
"That was incredible! Killing those violent orcs! You're incredible Zero!" Siesta then timidly glanced at the corpses of the orcs.
"With these around I guess you can't really go calmly pick mushrooms in the forest." Zero said as he wiped the blood and fat stuck on Derflinger with a cloth.
"You were incredible… but I guess such dangerous things are bad…" whispered Siesta.
Meanwhile, despite the battle, Kirche acted as if nothing had happened. Looking at the map, she said, "Um, within the temple there's an altar… and beneath that altar there's a hidden chest."
"And within that chest…"
Guiche gulped.
"Lies the gold and silver and legendary treasure 'Brisingamen' that the priest hid when he abandoned the temple, apparently." Kirche brushed her hair triumphantly.
"What's a Brisingamen?" asked Guiche.
Kirche read the notes on the map. "Umm, it seems like it's a necklace made of gold. It's made from 'blazing gold'! Wow, even the name makes me excited. When you wear it you will be protected from any disaster and…"
That night… they crowded around a bonfire in the garden of the temple. Everyone had a weary face. Guiche said bitterly, "So the so called treasure was that?"
Guiche pointed at a color faded accessory and a few dirty copper coins. Underneath the altar, there was a chest. However, it was full of junk that they didn't even consider taking back home.
"This is made of brass. These cheap necklaces and earrings, these aren't that 'Brisingamen' right?"
Kirche didn't reply. She just filed her nails with a bored look. Tabitha was reading a book as usual. Zero was lying down, gazing at the moons.
"Hey Kirche, that's the seventh one already! We followed those maps with such effort and yet all we get are a few copper coins! The treasures aren't even close to what the notes of the maps say! Those maps are all hoaxes!" Guiche complained
"Shut up. I said it before, there -might- be a real map within that bundle."
Guiche held the artificial rose in his mouth and lay down on a spread out blanket.
A gloomy atmosphere drifted amongst them. But Siesta's cheerful voice drove it away"Everyone, dinner's ready!"
Siesta started dividing the stew for everyone from the pot on the bonfire. It smelled good.
"This is good! Wow, it's really good. What kind of meat did you use?" Guiche asked while stuffing his mouth full.
Everyone else tasted it and started to say how delicious it was. Siesta smiled and said, "Orc's meat."
Guiche suddenly spat out the stew. Everyone stared slack jawed at Siesta. Zero started laughing. "Oh god, good job Siesta! The looks on their faces were priceless. I can't believed you got them with that!" Zero continued laughing as the others looked at him. "What is this anyhow? Never tasted anything like this before," Zero asked her.
"I made it from a wild rabbit. I caught it with a trap." Siesta went on to explain how she had set up traps to catch rabbits and partridges, and collected herbs and vegetables for the stew, while everyone else was hunting for treasure.
"Don't scare me like that. But, you're really handy, being able to make something so nice from things in a forest." Said Kirche in a relieved tone.
"It comes from living in a village," said Siesta shyly.
Thanks to the delicious food, they felt more relaxed. Ten days had passed since they had left the school. As Zero gazed up at the sky, he wondered what Ciel was doing. He'd not really taken the time to think on it, but with everything taken care of, he couldn't help but wonder, was that program right. Did he really succeed in finally bringing some order to that world?
"Is it good, Zero?"
Next to him, Siesta smiled warmly. Stuffing his mouth full with stew, he smiled back. Siesta's smile, the taste of the stew, they both reminded him of something.
After dinner, Kirche spread out the map again.
"Let's just give up and return to school," urged Guiche, but Kirche did not budge.
"Just one more. One more."
As if she was obsessed, Kirche's eyes gleamed over the maps. Picking one map, she placed it on the ground.
"Ok this one! If this one is also a hoax we're going back to school!"
"What's the treasure?"
Arms crossed, Kirche replied, "Dragon's Raiment."
Siesta, who was eating stew after everyone had finished, choked slightly on her food."R-Really?"
"What about it? Do you know something about it? It's close to a village called Tarbes. Now where's Tarbes…"
Siesta replied quickly, "It's in the direction of La Rochelle. There's a big field… It's my home town."
The next morning, whilst they were riding the wind dragon, Siesta explained to everyone. There wasn't much to tell. There was a temple near the village and in that temple there was something called the Dragon's Raiment.
"Why is it called 'Dragon's Raiment'?"
"Apparently you can fly when you put it on," said Siesta, weakly.
"Fly? So it's a wind type item?"
"It's really not that important of a thing…" said Siesta, looking troubled.
"Why?"
"It's a hoax. It's one of those 'treasures' you can find anywhere. It's just the name. Yet the locals are grateful… they decorate the temple, worship it…" she trailed off, blushing slightly. She couldn't help but wonder how her town had been marked on a treasure map...
"Really?" Kirche asked, sounding disappointed. Would this hunt be over before it began?
Siesta then proceeded to say nervously. "Actually… the owner of it was my grandfather. One day, my grandfather appeared in the village. Apparently he told everyone that he came from the east with the Dragon's Raiment."
"Wow…"
"But no one believed him. Everyone says that my grandfather was weird."
"Why?" Kirche asked.
"Someone told him to fly with it, but he told them it couldn't. He made a lot of excuses, but no one had a reason to believe him. After that, he said that it 'couldn't fly anymore' and settled down in the village. He worked really hard, and gave his money to nobles, asking them to put a spell of permanence on the 'Dragon's Raiment'. He treated it with a lot of care."
"What a strange person. It must have been hard on your family..."
"No, apart from the Dragon's Raiment, he was a nice, hard working person. Everyone liked him. He helped our village with many things. He even created a specialty food that we are known for,"Siesta said with a slight smile on her face.
"It's something famous within the village right? Then we can't take it back with us."Guiche replied.
"But… It's like our family property… If Zero wanted to, I could ask my dad to show you it," Siesta said in a troubled voice.
Zero wondered. Something couldn't fly, but had flown here. Could it be? While seemingly impossible, Zero nodded and spoke, "Actually, I think I'd like to see it. Siesta."
"Then its decided, Darling wants to go, so we'll go!" Kirche said a winning smile.
The wind dragon flapped its wings, headed towards Tarbes.
***Break***
Meanwhile at school, Louise was still skipping lessons. She didn't want to meet anyone in her current mood. She only left her room to eat in the dining hall and when she went to take a bath. She knew that Zero had taken to standing around in the Vestri courtyard so she went down there a few days ago to see how he was doing, but no one was there. The carefully created camp site that he had shared with Guiche, who for some reason had started drinking heavily, had been carefully torn down. When she asked Montmorency, who was passing by, and found out that Zero, Guiche, Kirche and Tabitha had been skipping lessons to go treasure hunting. The teachers were apparently mad and would make them clean the whole auditorium when they got back. She felt even sadder when she thought how fun it must have been. She felt as though she was the only one being left out.
Louise cried in her bed again. Whenever she saw the few sketches that Zero had left on the desk, tears would come to her eyes. He'd been annoying, and he hadn't listened to her. But he'd also spent time with her, and had done what he could to A knock came from the door. The door opened with a clank as soon as Louise replied that it wasn't locked. The school headmaster Old Osmand was at the door, which surprised Louise. Louise quickly put on her gown and got off her bed.
"How have you been feeling?"
Feeling down, Louise replied, "I'm sorry I've made you worry. It's really nothing. I just don't feel very well…"
Osmand pulled out a chair and sat down.
"You've rested for quite a long time. I was worried, but it seems you're alright."
Louise nodded, and sat down on a chair. With a weary face, she stared out the window.
Osmand stood up. "Where's that familiar of yours?" She averted her eyes and kept silent. Osmand smiled."Did you two have a fight? When you're young, you fight about trivial things. It's because you young people don't know how to compromise. Sometimes, these cracks will develop into something irreparable. You should be careful."
Laughing, Osmand left the room. After the door shut behind him, Louise whispered, "It's not something small...It's all Zero's fault," as a memory of the maid on the bed, with Zero standing over he flashed in her mind.
***Break***
Zero's eyes went round at the sight of the "Dragon's Raiment". They were in the temple built close to Tarbes, Siesta's hometown. That was where the "Dragon's Raiment" lay. Actually it would be more correct to say that the temple had been built to cover the Dragon's Raiment. The shape which Siesta's grandfather had built the temple into made Zero nostalgic. The temple was built in the corner of a field. Its door was made by logs joined together, and its walls were made from planks and mortar instead of stone. On top of an area of the wooden floor painted dark green lay the Dragon's Raiment. Perhaps it was due to the permanence spell… but there were no signs of rusting or corrosion. It was as if it had just been made.
Kirche and Guiche looked at the Dragon's Raiment, dispirited. As if struck by curiosity, Tabitha looked at it with interest. Amazed, Zero stared at the Dragon's Raiment.
"Zero, are you ok? If I showed you anything to make you feel bad…" said Siesta in a worried voice.
Zero didn't reply. He continued to gaze at the Dragon's Raiment as though he were deeply moved.
"Of course this thing can't fly," said Kirche.
Guiche nodded. "This is some sort of canoe right? And look at the wings, they can't even move. It's like toy bird or something. Not to mention that even the wings of small dragons are the size of these wings. Dragons and wyverns can only fly because they can flap their wings. So much for 'Dragon's Raiment'." Guiche pointed at the Dragon's Raiment and nodded, convinced that he was right.
"Zero… Are you really alright?"
Zero grasped Siesta's shoulders as she was peering into his face. "Siesta."
"Y-Yes?"
"Did your grandfather leave behind anything else?"
"Um… the only noteworthy things are his grave and a few of his belongings."
"Show me them."
The grave of Siesta's grandfather was located in the village cemetery. The tombstones were made from large white stones. Among them there was a tombstone made from a black stone, creating a clear contrast with the others.
Words were inscribed on the tombstone.
"My grandfather made this tombstone before he died. It's written in a language from a different country, so no one has been able to read it. I wonder what it says…" said Siesta.
Zero read it out loud. "Navy ensign Sasaki Takeo, rests in another world."
"What?" Siesta's eyes widened at Zero, who read it fluently.
Zero looked at Siesta feverishly, causing her to blush.
"Stop… If you look at me like that…"
"Siesta, you were told that your hair and eyes were similar to your grandfather's right?" Said Zero much to Siesta's surprise.
"Y-Yes! How did you know that?"
Returning to the temple, Zero touched the "Dragon's Raiment". When he did, the runes on the back of his left hand started to shine. I see, so this must also be considered a "weapon", Zero thought as he looked at the machine guns sticking out from the wings. As the runes shone, the construction and the controls of the "Dragon's Raiment" came clearly to Zero. He could fly this himself, he thought. He could even sense the condition of various systems. It was in great shape.
Zero found the fuel tank and opened it. Just as he expected, it was empty. No matter how well it was preserved, it still couldn't fly without fuel. I wonder how he had wandered into Halkeginia with this plane… Zero wanted to trace the trail, no matter what answer it would lead to.
Siesta returned from her parent's home. "Everyone was really surprised since I'm two weeks earlier than I said I would be."
Siesta excitedly handed over the item in her hands to Zero. They were old goggles, probably the ones her grandfather wore as a navy ensign. He was like the owner of the staff of destruction, someone from another world. A foreigner, like Zero. But this time... human.
"Grandfather only left this behind. He didn't keep a diary or anything like that. But father said he left behind a will."
"A will?"
"Yes. 'If someone who could read the inscription on the tomb appeared, give him the Dragon's Raiment'."
"Meaning it's mine now?"
"Yes. Father said it was alright to give it to you. It was a bother to take care of anyway… It's big and there are some people who worship it… but it's just collecting dust in this village."
"Well, I won't hesitate then," said Zero.
"Father also wanted me to tell you something."
"What did he say?"
"He said he wants you to return the Dragon's Raiment to the king. King… I wonder which king he means. We don't even know which country my grandfather is from…"
"Hmm," Zero said. This plane was over a hundred years his senior. That would mean the emperor of Japan? Not that there had been one for a long time. "I'm from the place that your grandfather is from, and I would... But there is no king anymore. Nobility has been done away with. For quite a long time now actually..."
"Really? So that's why you could read the words on the tombstone. Wow! I'm kind of moved. My grandfather was from the same country as Zero. It seems like fate." Siesta said absentmindedly. "Then grandfather really did come to Tarbes using the Dragon's Raiment."
"This isn't called the Dragon's Raiment."
"What is it called in Zero's country?"
Zero replied, "It's called a Zero fighter. It was a fighter aircraft used in the past."
"Zero fighter? Fighter aircraft? Why does it have the same name as you?"
"In other words, an airplane. As for why it has the same name as me, I'm beginning to think someone has a weird sense of humor."
"What's that? And who has a weird sense of humor?"
"A mechanical way to fly. Far more efficient than the magic the nobles use. And as for who has a weird sense of humor, lets just say that its a phrase from back home." Zero said as he looked at the plane again. He was Zero, the familiar of a zero. And now he had a Zero airplane of his own. He wondered what else he'd find from his world. The only thing that didn't make sense was the age of the aircraft. At most her grandfather might have appeared ninety years ago. So, was there some sort of time lag cause by the transport to this world? He was lost in thought as he looked at the fighter in front of him.
***Break***
That day, they all stayed at Siesta's home. As nobles were staying over, even the village chief came to greet them. Siesta introduced Zero to her family, her father, mother and siblings. Siesta was the eldest daughter of the eight siblings. Her parents viewed Zero in a harsh light at first, but that was soon broken when Siesta told them that he was looking after her at the academy, and that he was the person who had supplied them with the money. Having not been home for a while Siesta looked quite happy being surrounded by family. Zero was envious of her. When he thought about it, Louise, Kirche, Tabitha and Guiche all had families. All he had was the resistance members. He wished he could get back to them. But then, would that just bring more trouble?
In the evening, Zero gazed out at the wide field. The sun was setting behind the mountains beyond the field. It was a huge field. Just as Siesta had said, flowers were blooming everywhere. So this is the beautiful field that Siesta wanted to show him.
The pilot who ended up in this world with the zero fighter probably tried to find a way home by flying in the sky… But his fuel ran out and he landed on this field. The field was flat and wide, so landing here was probably easy. He couldn't fly when he was asked to because he had run out of gasoline.
Siesta came to Zero, who was still gazing at the field, drowned in the memories of his world. She was wearing a brown skirt, wooden shoes and a dark green cotton shirt, instead of her usual maid outfit. Like the field in front of him, her appearance was like that of the smell of sunlight.
"So you were here! Dinner's ready. Father insists we eat together." Siesta said shyly. "I did ask you to come visit, but I didn't expect it to really happen." Siesta stretched both her arms out at the wide field before them. The setting sun bathed the field in a beautiful light. "Isn't this field beautiful? This is what I wanted to show you, Zero."
"Yeah, it is."
Siesta then cast her eyes downwards and twiddled her fingers. "My father said that meeting with someone who came from the same country as grandfather must be fate. He asked if you could settle in the village. He knows that you are the one who gave us the money, and how you obtained it. He said that he could ask for no better a son than you through marriage."
Zero didn't reply. He just stared at the sky. He was thinking of how kind Siesta was to him. If she said any more nice things to him, his heart would probably melt.
Siesta looked at Zero who was still staring at the sky and smiled. "But, it's alright. I know it won't work out. You're like a bird. You're bound to fly away some day."
Zero then decided to tell Siesta the truth. "Your grandfather said he came from the east, right?"
"Um…yes," Siesta said, slightly worried.
"Your grandfather, like I, wasn't born in this world."
"What? But wasn't he born in the east?"
"No. It is much, much further than that." Said Zero in a serious tone. "It's a different world. I'm not from this world."
"You're just playing around with me aren't you? If you don't like me, then just say it." Said Siesta, pouting her lips.
"No, it's not that at all. I'm not playing around with you."
"Is there someone waiting for you there?"
"Yes. And my family is waiting. Someday I will have to leave this world for my own." Zero turned to Siesta, and said weakly, "Siesta, you can't have me. You need to give up. I'm a weapon, its what I was created for. Its what I am. In the world I came from, I fought for hundreds of years. Yes, hundreds. I can destroy, I can fight. That's why I can't do the things you mentioned. I don't have the right to reside with anyone. I don't. Not after everything I've done." Zero said sadly.
Zero was very serious. Siesta knew he wasn't joking around. She looked at him. He was looking into her eyes so seriously. His eyes held so much pain. She was about to speak when a flash of light emanated from his left hand. She covered her eyes and shouted, "Zero!"
Zero shouted as the light from his hand burned his entire body. Was he dying? It sure as hell felt like it. Wave after wave of agony encroached on Zero's body. After the first few waves, Zero fell to his knee looking at the rune on his hand. It was pulsing. And with it, his entire body pulsed. Another few waves of pain and everything went blissfully dark.
***Break***
Zero woke up in an unfamiliar room. He remembered the light from his hand, and the pain. Looking at himself critically, he noticed no damage.
"So you're awake, darling?" Kirche asked from behind him. "You know, you're a lot heavier than you look. You nearly broke the bed when Guiche dropped you on it. He wasn't really that gentle about it either."
"Figures," Zero said with a smile. "Sorry, not really sure what happened."
"Apparently it was your rune. We saw the light from the house. It was rather unusual. People in the town have been a little uneasy because of it." Kirche said silently.
"Yeah, not surprised. Unusual things tend to panic people." Zero responded.
Kirche held up a scroll,"A carrier owl just sent this. The teachers are angry at us," she was slightly pale at the mention of the teachers. "They mentioned Siesta as well. They said that she could have a holiday for the time being since we took her into danger like that. Its not like she didn't volunteer!"
Zero nodded."But you're nobles. You're supposed to be held accountable," he replied with a cocky grin.
After a few moments Siesta came in. "Zero! You're awake? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I feel fine. Not sure what it was, but it seems that the rune has calmed down," Zero held up his hand for inspection. now there was absolutely no armor on his left hand.
Kirche asked,"Where did your armor go?"
"Not sure. This is the second time the armor has changed like that. I've no idea why its doing that,"
"But you're okay, right Zero," Siesta asked, her puffy eyes focused on his face.
As Zero looked at her, he realized she'd been crying. Feeling guilty he said,"I'm fine.
"So can you make that Dragon's Raiment fly?" Siesta asked him, a look of eagerness on her face.
With gasoline, probably, thought Zero. "I'm not sure. I have to talk it over with someone first. It needs fuel. If I can get that, then I can definitely fly it."
"Really? If you could get it to fly, then it would be wonderful. The Dragon's Raiment was called a Zero fighter, right? If you get it to fly, then please let me ride it just once."
Zero nodded. "I can let you ride it as many times as you like if I can get it running. It was your family's to begin with anyway."
The following morning, using a few of Guiche's father's connections, Zero managed to obtain the services of a few dragoons and their dragons. They carried the zero fighter in a large net to the academy.
Guiche initially wondered why they were carrying the useless "Dragon's Raiment", but because Zero insisted on it, he gave in. The costs of making a large net and calling the dragoons were ridiculously high. As soon as the Zero fighter arrived in the courtyard of the academy, someone appeared in an instant and paid the fees. It was Mr Colbert.
***Author's notes ***
Zero, did you break the damned fourth wall?
Zero: Why would you think that?
A weird sense of humor huh?
Zero: So I wasn't wrong then?
... Shut up.
Zero: Point, me. Enjoy the chapter everyone!
You know you're only provoking me, right?
Zero: And you wouldn't torture me with all this crap if i didn't provoke you?
Well I would. But I'd be far less justified.
Zero: See? So no real reason for me NOT to provoke you.
Oh you'll find the reason.