Chapter 18: Great Day out

"Comiket?" I tilt my head at Tiamat, she doesn't normally suggest things for activities. Or at all really, so its a little bit of a surprise to hear her make a suggestion like that.

"Yes." She nods her head as me as she floats over to the kitchen table holding a small letter "Little Fafnir left this on your door...I think he's a little intimidated by me." she crosses her arms and pouts "Why doesn't anyone want to spend time with their mother?"

"Kanna-chan spends time with you." I point out as I turn my attention back to the pot of vegetables I'm currently steaming

"She spends time with you, little one." I can hear her pout get bigger "She's only around me because of my proximity to you...Do you think I was too hard on them because of the beach incident?"

"Not really." I shake my head "Sure, Kanna took things a little too far and I wasn't explicit enough in my instructions but Tohru and Lucoa really should have known better."

"But didn't they seem slightly...skittish, afterwards?"

Well...she's not wrong there. Although I have no idea what 'Nega-genesis' and don't know why Tohru and Lucoa suddenly turned white when Tiamat threatened them with it if they didn't clean up the beach but I can't really comment on that. At the end of the day, no one got hurt and...well…

It wasn't that bad for an attempt at relaxation. Castle Sand not withstanding.

"You're probably worrying too much." I shrug my shoulders at her and turn back around to see her slightly concerned face "I'm sure they're not avoiding you because of that." I give her my best encouraging smile, she stares at me for a few moments before she sighs and then floats over and pats my head.

"What a loving child I have!" She mumbles to herself with a small grin.

I pointedly cough "What did Fafnir's note say?" I try to change the topic, Tiamat pets my head for a few more moments before she blinks to herself and retracts her hand. Wordlessly, she hands me the note.

I take it from her and begin reading.

̶D̶e̶a̶r̶ ̶I̶n̶t̶e̶r̶e̶s̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶s̶p̶e̶c̶i̶m̶e̶n̶ ̶

̶D̶e̶a̶r̶ ̶I̶n̶f̶e̶r̶i̶o̶r̶ ̶h̶u̶m̶a̶n̶

̶D̶e̶a̶r̶ ̶H̶o̶m̶o̶ ̶S̶a̶p̶i̶e̶n̶

Emiya

The human Takyia has informed me of a human custom referred to as 'Comiket' where individuals who have a passion for the visual media known as 'Manga' and its animated counterpart meet to purchase and sell their own creations.

Takiya has attempted to acquire the Assistance of Kobayashi and Tohru in his selling of his own creations.

Therefore, I have written this note to request your own presence at this gathering ̶S̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶I̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶o̶b̶s̶e̶r̶v̶e̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶n̶a̶t̶u̶r̶a̶l̶ ̶h̶a̶b̶i̶t̶a̶t̶ in order to gain your assistance in this matter.

Your refusal in this affair is permitted.

Fafnir

"Well…" I furrow my brows and shake my head "He is asking for my help…" I mutter to myself.

Despite Fafnir's bizarre fascination with me, he hasn't done anything malicious and he is asking for my help in socialising with humans.

"You're going to help, aren't you?" Tiamat asks, I look up to see a knowing smile on her face. I try not to think too hard about the fact that despite being here fore barely over a week she apparently has decided she has me figured out already.

"He did ask." I reply and sit the note down "Besides, he's just selling a couple of his own drawings and what not." I shrug "How bad can it be?"

"You're selling curses!?"

"This is the third time you have stated this." Fafnir replies in a bored expression as he places he books on his table, he looks up at me with a raised eyebrow "Are you suffering from a hearing deficiency?"

"H-hearing deficiency!?" I virtually scream back in disbelief "Are you suffering from a brain deficiency!? You said you were going to be selling drawings!"

"I shall ignore your insult of my intelligence." He mutters darkly before fixing me with a serious expression "And I am selling drawings." he hands a booklet to me "They are visual diagrams with everything a human or sentient creature needs to perform a variety of curses. Where is the issue?"

"Where is the issue…" I give him and incredulous look "Look at this!" I point at the book "This… this is horrifying!" I frantically wave my hands at the offending item "Not to mention, beyond dangerous to anyone to even attempt this!"

"The instructions are remarkably simple." He argues back "It is merely a matter of finding the ingredients and individual intelligence."

"Fafnir-san…" I take a deep breath and flip open the booklet to see a rather detailed picture "This one is a curse of melting...it literally describes how you can turn the water in a persons body in acid."

"Yes, it does." Fafnir nods and gives me a small smile "That is actually one of the more simple ones, rather surprising given its effectiveness."

"Which is why I don't want you selling them!" I throw my arms up "You are literally teaching humans how to magically kill someone! Not to mention exposing them to the moonlit world!"

"There is a woman over there selling leaflets on how magic can be used to grow plants." He points off, I follow his finger to see a rather young looking woman in a large pointy hat and brown robe manning a small table called 'Magic of gardening' "My idea is the same in principle."

I turn back to him "She's just a lady who decided to use a metaphor…" I slump "She is not literally teaching them magic."

"Yes she is. She's a witch."

"No Fafnir...no she isn't." I give him a pitiable look "She's just dressed like that to go with her theme of her stall."

"No...she's a witch from my world."

I blink once.

Then I blink again.

I look back at the woman, who is wearing a rather cliché witch outfit which would send Tohsaka (or any other self-respecting magus) into a fit, then back at Fafnir.

"Get rid of the booklets." I state and cross my arms "Or I'll have Tiamat do it."

He flinches slightly before recovering, he narrows his own eyes at me, he bites his lip before frowning "Very well...I shall sell my...other booklets."

"And those are?" I inquire suspiciously.

He makes a face of disgust "Charms."

"Do they work?"

"Of course not." He scoffs "You think I would genuinely dirty my hands in making such filthy things or allowing them to be taught?"

"So...you're basically selling like...the kind of booklets you get in a fake magic shop?"

"If you must be so crude...yes." He replies and huffs "Are you satisfied?"

"...Yes." I nod my head.

"Good, because you owe me for this." His frown changes into a smirk "And I will collect."

A shiver runs down my spine at his vague wording, I nod along with him then remember something "Kobayashi and Tohru are here, aren't they?"

"Yes." Fafnir nods "Takiya asked for their aid."

"I'll pay them a quick visit." I turn to Tiamat...who is still being asked to have pictures taken with her. I'm almost hesitant to stop her.

She has the widest grin on her face I've ever seen, probably from all the positive comments she's getting from the people who think she's cosplaying.

She finishes up her latest photo and sees me waving at her, she nods at the cosplayer of a pink haired girl wielding a large cross shaped shield and a boy with a white shirt and black trousers before walking up to me.

"Yes, little one?"

"I'm going to visit Kobayashi and Tohru." I reply, then gesture to Fafnir packing up his book of curses "Can you help him restock with his latest booklets. I won't be long then I'll be back."

"Alright." She nods and wanders towards the grumbling Dragon.

"Like...actual curses?" Kobayashi asks with a slightly worried expression "Genuine curses...that kill people?"

"Yes." I frown and shake my head "Luckily I was able to change his mind and now he's selling scam charm booklets."

"Good." She sighs in relief "Honestly…Dragons are something else…"

"Tell me about it…" I mutter and look over the queue "So hows it going over here?"

"Pretty good." Kobayashi shrugs "We haven't hit the rush yet, although Takiya thinks we'll be prepared for when that happens."

"That's good." I look over to the Dragon maid girl "Tohru." I call out to her she turns to me and I beckon her over "There's just something I'd like to ask quickly."

"Oh?" She tilts her head "What's wrong, Shirou?"

"Fafnir pointed out a woman selling booklets and said she was a witch from your world...is that...possible?"

"Oh, yeah." She nods her head, Kobayashi and myself blink at her "In fact, I've seen nearly a dozen other people from my world here. Orcs, Fairies, witches, mermen."

"...Oh…" I mumble and nod my head "Is that...common?"

"Don't know." She shrugs "I haven't really spoken to the other races, we don't really have a habit of talking to our food."

"…You...eat them?" Kobayashi asks, I feel my eyebrows rising at this sudden stream of new and rather disturbing information.

"I haven't eaten one in a while...not since I came to the human world."

"O...kay…."

"I'll...just...I'm going to head back to Faf-oof!" I turn and walk away only to bump into someone, we both stumble back slightly and I hear the sound of paper dropping.

"Sorry." I instantly apologies and reach down and start picking pieces up "Wasn't looking where I was going."

"Eh, no worries kid." A voice replies and they crouch down too.

I freeze at the familiar sound of it. I slowly crane my head up to get a look at who I bumped into.

The man does the same, given how his expression goes from laid back to surprised in an instant, I can guess he recognises me too.

"Kid!" He beams at me, I shoot to my feet and away from him, my expression torn between fear and surprise.

"Lancer!?"

AN: *Grins* Yo.

No, he won't be a permanent cast addition.

More like a visitor for a chapter or two.

I...I just had too

Also...props to anyone who caught my little cameo.

Anyway…

On with the Omake!

The giant fist smashed into the ground as the maid leapt away, fury in her eyes as she opened up her mouth and a gargantuan beam of energy spewed forth.

The giant figure snarled, the eye in their chest narrowed as they threw their arms wide and replied with a thousand beams of their own. The two forces clashed with eachother in a stalemate which burned bright enough to turn the black of the throne room into the brightest of days.

The assault continued as from the smoke a smaller figure emerged, the white haired child whose expression had normally been one of apathy was instead awash with one of pure rage as she launched herself at her target.

Her small body impacted the giant with enough force to crack the rock they stood upon. The demon let out a roar of anger and he gripped her in his hand and flung her from his body.

He barely got enough time to return to his feet before another figure came charging in and launched forth a barrage of punches.

The amalgamation of demons responded with a jabbing rush of his own, the woman with mismatching eyes and rather casual clothes met his blows with a steely expression as the pairs arms virtually blurred out of existence.

"Enough!" The demon king roared and broke off his offensive before thrust his arms forwards "Turn to ash!" a purple beam of energy shot forth from his hands and was intercepted by a pair of beams from the maid and the child.

Their own attacks sliced through his and smashed into his arm, the demon king released a roar of pain as his right limb was vaporised. Wordlessly, he held up the stump and said nothing as it reformed itself.

Goetia turned his head to the three phantasmals "This is beyond inconceivable." he snarled "In what manner does my plan affect you!? Its only targets are humanity! Avalon will remain untouched! What compels you in this futile struggle!?"

"You took her from me." The maid snarled, a barely restrained tone of anger in her voice as her eyes flashed red "She was the one thing I cared about most! She was my whole world! I didn't care about the rest of humanity so long as I had her!"

"...A pet? You care for a human...as a pet? This is what motivated you!?" Goetia demanded incredulously "What of you two? Did you also have human pets?"

"You stole my friend…" Kanna muttered darkly.

"You robbed my of my summoner…" Lucoa frowned and pumped magical energy through her body.

"She was more than some pet!" Tohru growled "She was everything to me!"

"Pathetic...utterly ridiculous...to think that Phantasmals could be gripped by the same worthless feelings as humans...its too pathetic…" He muttered before clenching his fists "In that case...I shall re-unite you all!"

The space behind him churned as his voice rang out.

"Third Noble Phantasm deploying!"

"Hurry Senpai!" Mash cried out as she sprinted through the throne "They charged on ahead to fight Solomon!"

"Right, right!" Ritsuka panted as he struggled to keep up his pace "I don't know who they heck Kobayashi is...but when we win...I want to know how they heck she kept them all in line..."