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The following is a fan-based
FICTION
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Chapter 16: Sigma Boy (Literally)
A new weekend comes, and with it plenty of details to study due to the recent developments.
Eli-chan dropped off her current paper detailing the grades she got for the week while Cu delivered a partial one since he forgot some of that stuff. Shaking my head at their eagerness (or limited one in case of Setanta), I was surprised to notice that, despite their mood, the latter had scored better than the pinkette. When the news dropped in, the girl was miffed beyond relief. Exiled to her own room and crying her woes of how cruel the education system was, Cu giddily accepted the 'reward' of choosing what we would eat for dinner. Sadly for me, he asked for fish. And a specific kind of fish I didn't have in the flat.
It was morning and I was already wandering Fuyuki's streets with a clear focus on getting the specific type of food, getting it back home, waiting for dinner and preparing the food. I had no other plans for the day since Taiga had some out-of-town businesses to attend with her family, while Caren had been charged with 'church duties' from her father. How did I know about that last bit? She asked for me to pass by and help as a 'good Christian believer'.
Sadly for her, I am sort of a distant believer. The sort of guy that doesn't go to church all Sundays and prefers to be less pious and condescending about my faith. Hence why I didn't promise anything and told her I was busy for the day. Which was technically true now as I had to get a couple of fishes bought and brought back home. Nothing anomalous was unfolding in the city, with Quartz confirming that the situation had gone surprisingly quiet in the last week or two ever since we dealt with Cu and... I had a suspicion that wasn't going to last.
Soon I was in the supermarket, looking through the aisles and shifting around until I found what I was looking for. With my shopping cart burdened with the only product I wanted, I proceeded to pass by the counter, get the items paid, and was off back home. That's what I had planned for today to be. Well, beyond handling the grading of some papers, of course, but it was a small burden since most of that had already been done yesterday.
...I should have known that repeating to myself that today was going to be a normal day was just an indirect tease aimed at Murphy. I didn't expect the guy to take so much offense to it that he decided to drop onto me a trouble I was just barely prepared for. I was going through my merry way when I suddenly heard a pained yelp coming from a nearby alley. Now, ever since I have been in Fuyuki handling businesses between being a helpful teacher and being a vigilante against any Servant invading this dimension, my interest to snoop around any potential crime in action has increased tenfold. Hence why I was instantly checking what was up with the growing noises of an ambush.
My little investigation led me to the source of the whimpering and pained groans, but also of people angrily asking questions to a local. An old man was being tortured by a military-looking guy, wearing all black and looking edgy as fuck. I mean, I have seen some dark outfits for spec-ops, but those were taken to the magical crappy side of things. And yet they looked quite dangerous since I could see some knives with runes and guns.
I sighed at this, releasing Quartz and turning into my heroic alter ego. I took aim at the moron from afar and released a stun blast which struck them in their head. They crumbled instantly, releasing the poor old man and allowing me to approach the scene. The elder was panicking a fair bit in this situation. My arrival did little to soothe his mind as he thought I was some sort of super-villain from the looks of it. I mean, I can't blame him with what he had just gone through. I could still see bruises and cuts all over his face and hands right now, and maybe there was more under his clothes. The bastards really roughed him up.
"W-What is- what is going on? Wh-Who are you and-"
"Sir, I mean no harm, and you should try to calm down lest you get a stroke out of this."
"I'm-"
"Rightfully frightened, I get it. But you should take a moment to catch your breath," I continued with a firm and yet calm voice. "I understand this is an intense situation, but the last thing I believe you wish to endure is a heart attack."
Despite the fact he looked ready to press more on the matter, he took my advice to heart and kept quiet while regaining control of his fast-paced breathing. He was soon looking calmer due to this, but he was still unwilling to let go of this matter.
"W-What happened? Who- Who is this scoundrel? And why was he asking about someone called Hisau and... Emiya. I think that last one- I think I know someone with that last name."
...What? They were looking for Kiritsugu and his assistant? Well, former assistant since Maiya wasn't around during the Prillya timeline. I wasn't even sure if she was still alive at this point or if she had been working with Kiritsugu and Iri through all those years. Since the Fourth Holy Grail War didn't happen, Kerry didn't have a reason to bring Maiya out of retirement so... was she even in contact with him? There was just so much to check about this matter, and plenty of ways to screw things up for myself and I decided to focus on the old man first.
He had seen a guy that could use magecraft. He didn't see magecraft on display but... the questions were eventually going to lead him to the truth. So, he had to forget what happened and I remembered what Quartz told me to do in those cases. I didn't want to pull a Man in Black but... I had to. At least to lessen any issues in the long run.
"What happened, sir, is that you need to look at the fancy wand here."
He glanced at it instinctively and Quartz delivered a soft flash. A bit blinding, but not to the point of burning eyes. My visor protected me from the real effects being that the guy's brain lost memory of what happened in the last twenty-thirty minutes before forcing him to faint on the spot. I carefully shifted him around and left him at the entrance of the alley.
Someone was going to eventually notice him so I left a small piece of paper mentioning he had a bit of a heat stroke. It was that time of the year, so it wasn't that unusual for men of his age to suffer that sort of stuff. With his wounds quickly healed, there were no signs of potential external attacks. Once that was done, I was back in the alley and checking on the grunt I just stunned.
"Who is this guy?" I questioned openly, with Quartz humming a moment, a flash of light hitting the unconscious thug as he studied their biology.
"Male Magus, except he doesn't bear conventional Magic Crests and his body had suffered heavy genetic alterations."
I frowned. "So, not Clock Tower."
"This is not a standard Association's detachment. The guns, the kevlar- and even the magic circuits. This group is not legally-sanctioned by Clock Tower."
Well, at least I didn't have to worry about a CT's intervention if I started to bash some skulls in. Still, what to do with them? I hummed for a moment and then realized I had a proficient interrogator back at home that was in a sulky mood and wouldn't mind playing with some new toy. A phone call was in order.
"What do you want, Mastah? I am busy broodi-I mean, contemplating your unfair judgment."
"Well, since it's unfair, then I guess I shouldn't tell you that I was planning to send back to the flat someone that needs to answer a few general questions about his identity, affiliation and why he is here in Fuyuki," I replied calmly, feeling the sudden drop of annoyance and the growth of interest from the other side of the call. "Obviously that doesn't mean to kill him, just mellow him for a proper conversation."
I heard some giggling on the other side and I think the damp noise that came beyond that was her jumping up and down her bed.
"M-Mastah! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be a silly dumbass. Please, let me have him~!"
I sighed. "Should come through now, and no murdering without my consent. Okay?"
"Yes, Mastah!"
Quartz had the power to teleport items and people through specific rifts with places he had already visited. So, setting up a small 'seal' on the house, I could easily get back there whenever I wanted and if I had the chance to without being caught on the spot. I managed to do that for the unconscious merc first, checking that his restraints were as tight as possible without harming the guy before yeeting him through the portal. I had plans to do the same and spare myself the walk now that the situation was over but-
"Hello John."
I froze, the portal instantly closed as I willed it shut, turning my attention to the source of that familiar greeting and I saw a figure descend from the rooftop. Donning her nun outfit, Caren gave me a flat look and I returned it with an annoyed one.
"Fancy seeing you here in this... squalid alley. I suppose your 'being busy' by dealing with elderly-bashers."
"And didn't you have church duties to attend?" I shot back, the girl not even flinching at the indirect accusation.
"I am on a break. Father would never expect from me to push my limits if I have to already deal with the tedious chore of assisting the wounds of foolish youths."
My grimace grew at this and I allowed the outfit to falter away. "So, what do we do from here?"
"Am I allowed to blackmail you through this discovery?"
The question would have surprised me if I hadn't known what the tone she used to deliver it meant in the long-run. A proper translation of that question, at least one that explained things better was: "If I blackmailed you would I win or lose? If either, would you mind if I gave it a go?"
"I am afraid that the Wizard Marshal would raise issues towards your father's naughty personality and bring it up to the church's attention."
I was sure he wouldn't, but the way I delivered that threat was enough to leave Caren in a somewhat tense mood. At face value it didn't seem she was uneasy, but the way her shoulders raised at my comment was enough to confirm that she was nervous. I had brought up a big claim which could easily screw not only her daddy's current standing since he was granted the position through nepotism, but also hers because she would lose someone that would allow her to act with close to no rules during her current mission.
"...I believe a conversation is still in order."
As much as I wanted to refuse that, I could tell she was up to nag me to oblivion if I just ditched her on the spot. And I knew she could use future occasions to tease me further into more concessions if she picked a 'bad spot' for me to give her some answers. And thus she brought me to the fucking docks.
"Isn't the view grand here?"
Truth be told? No. Maybe because I was accustomed to other 'grand views' and this one paled in comparison, but I just couldn't find the appeal to stare at the 'grandiose' calm waves shifting near Fuyuki's docks. I also had a reason to be less interested in the scenery and more on what Caren wanted from me in this situation.
"So, what do you want to know?"
She blinked, a tiny pout forming at the fact I wasn't up to deal with her crap today. "How did you transform like that?"
"I have a Mystic Code produced by Zelretch to assist me."
A curt response, and I told Quartz that the only times he could introduce himself was only when the situation demanded it or if I told him to in normal instances. This counted more as a latter option than the former.
"And I suppose that this mystic code and form are within a precise reason beyond... playing the role of a hero."
"Someone has been throwing Heroic Spirits into this dimension, and had to handle two troublesome individuals already while also unconsciously allowing the return of a being from the late Age of Gods to come back and become a teacher."
...
"Sounds like you had your hands full for a while," Caren remarked, definitely connecting dots on who was the 'Age of Gods teacher' and I could tell she was aware of how much of an understatement that was. "However, it would be foolish for you to remain alone before the forces of an unknown threat."
"I already have two Heroic Morons back home."
"But they wouldn't understand you on a human level."
"Caren, take a moment to think about what you just said and then tell me you really expect me to believe you are the best at that sort of matters," I flatly rejected, causing her to flinch slightly.
"I suppose that's... a bit of an overshot, yes," The nun accepted 'humbly'. "But still, I believe a partnership would be beneficial for m- both."
"You are sounding quite desperate in trying to get on dates with me through this," I pointed out.
"That's because I am desperate, John," She happily admitted. "I have taken the steps to become a better person. But how can I expect a true recovery if I'm not promised a heaven."
"As a religious individual, you should know Heaven shouldn't be an incentive, but the ultimate destination for a true believer."
"But not many believe it that much, John. You should know better than that," The girl rebuked calmly. "Alas, I believe this conversation can be stretched to another time. How about another date?"
"I'm busy-"
"And I will be there to provide you with assistance. You should praise me with kind words, affection, lovely gestures while tenderly-"
"Nope," I replied while starting to walk away. I wasn't sure how Caren took it, but she decided to rebuke with a single Italian word that one could easily decipher on the spot.
"...Idiota."
I turned around, ready to retort that with an insult, but she was already gone. Pulling a batman on me after dropping a slight like that. Goddammit. Still, with Caren out of my sight, I proceeded to use a rift to get back home and- I was introduced with an odd sight as I saw both Cu and Elizabeth tied against each other with reinforced chains while the thuglet I kidnapped was now up and checking for his guns. The guy was maskless now, his short dark-hair and dark eyes quickly gaining my attention as they looked familiar. Still, what surprised me was that he looked quite young. As if he was around Shirou's age. He paused as soon as he noticed me coming through and approached me with a kitchen knife in his hand, ready to take me as an hostage.
"I suggest you surrender or-"
I blasted him with a stun beam from Quartz, and I watched the guy crumble on the ground. Silence ensued as the two heroes had gone quiet at the sight. Soon I looked at them with a flat look.
"Okay, how did you fail this badly?" I questioned both, and they opened their mouths at the same time.
"It's his/her fault!"
Of course, why should I expect any less from these two 'collaborating'?
AN
Little Merc is a true Sigma (male). After all, his comedy tastes are quite excellent. Plus his 'I don't want to die, duh, so that's why I lived' kind of mindset is a step up from several MCs in the Fateverse. Also, Caren knows but she doesn't know how to make the fact she knows give her the dates/kissing/bedding she seeks from this.
REVIEW Q&A!
Sugoijack9: She appears in one of the Zwhei bonus chapters as a normal bystander that helps Shirou while he ends up 'Yamchaing' himself trying to train the jumping move of his. For some reason, Rin just sees her as a 'dangerous girl' because she is closer to Shirou compared to Rin and Luvia. And beyond that, she isn't mentioned again.