Words Count: 4222
A/N: I finally put all the pieces together. Before I was pretty hazy as to how it'd turn out but…
Guest: Who's to say Swan's the antagonist at all? Lorelei was never an antagonist, I believe I've explained on Webnovel she's supposed to be an in for Leo. Basically that Teacher to every protagonist, she's only tougher. Anyway, my point is Swan's not the antagonist, neither is many characters you'd get to see. They're small fries at best.
Anyway, here's my usual spiel:
You can start reading up to Episode 57 of Fate: False Sovereignty in advanced. The Tier starts from as low as 1USD! You can support me and read as soon as I release an Episode, check it out:
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I had wanted to get some shut-eye, but due to certain traumas- I wasn't able to get any even with Shiro snoring quietly against my torso
Parts of myself, the most paranoid parts feared she would- and I know how stupid it sounded- hurt me in my sleep out of a twisted need for Justice- the one thing she had dedicated and sworn herself to- the ideals which shaped her into the person she was today.
After having carefully peeled her off of my person and laid her on my king-sized bed, I rose to my feet, rubbed my eyes to find it was already long past midnight. I knew not who said it, but they were right, the most painful part about betrayal was: They never came from the expected sources. Illaoi's mistake- while unintentional- had only worsened my paranoia. To suspect even Shiro, I must be going mad. "Sleep tight, Shiro-chan."
Patting her head, I left my Office in search of something to fill my stomach. Usually I was not one for midnight snacks, but when the situation called for it… Well, a man had got to eat, right?
Wandering the grounds aimlessly, I was confronted with the noises of a wooden sword being swung echoing the halls once again, and as expected, it's Artoria. It wasn't surprising to me, for who else would train at this time of the night besides her and Shiro? While Rin often slept late and woke up even later, her priority was always Magecraft, she very rarely worked out and honed her others hands-to-hands,
Sakura… She's Sakura, she's not going to practice shits except archery, and even then I had a feeling her interest in the sport stemmed from her infatuation with Shiro more than any actual desire to be good at it.
Don't get it twisted, the younger Tohsaka did like it as a hobby, but that's all it'd ever be- a hobby. "I need to talk to Rin. I'm not wasting my money and resources on an ungrateful, useless hikikomori."
Christ, sometimes I felt like their father more than their friend.
No wonder parents everywhere kept complaining about it being a thankless job. It was about time Sakura throw her own weight around here instead of being a nothing but a hassle and- if I were to be honest- another mouth to feed. It's always like that, ya' know? Whenever they had things they needed help with, they'd be polite, but when I lost my shit because of how utterly idiotic they were, I was still somehow the one in the wrong.
Yes, I admitted it! Swan and her clique were here for me, but did she really think for even a second that without me- without Swan, hostile Masters wouldn't try to kidnap someone whom they all perceived to be an easy prey? Plus, the Grail War was an unpredictable powder-keg with a rather short-fuse. Contrary to the four Good Endings, there were dozens of Bad Ends- traps they weren't aware of. Who to say this Timeline wouldn't have turned out to be an utter shitshow regardless of my presence?
How fucking dared she imply it's my fault when I had explicitly told her to stay- fucking- put?!
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got- the more my blood boiled with righteous rage. "Lord Magnum?"
"Artoria… Do you want to grab something to eat? I'm starving again." The Servant sheathed the blade in the rack and nodded. Try as she might, the twinkles in her eyes at the mention of foods were rather noticeable. Calling Artoria a foodie wasn't quite right, she was more of a glutton than anything. 'Did she just salivate?'
Despite my bad mood, I could not hold in the chuckles which tore their way out of my throat. I knew Artoria could be cute, but this was out of my expectations. It's almost like watching a child at a candy store- a child who wielded one of Humanity's most powerful weapon to ever be forged- a child whose swings could bring down buildings with ease- and if needed- could effortlessly raze mountains to a smoldering ruins…
Maybe she wasn't so cute, I'd be terrified out of my mind just by talking to her,
But if a ten-years old him could ignore the dangers of a wild pit-bull, then it's completely within reasons for me to disregard threats in favor of overwhelming cuteness.
Unconsciously, I reached to pinch her cheek. It's not like she would attack me for that, right? I was wrong.
*Saber uses [Cuteness Overload]! It's super effective! – I doubted she would ever admit to it, but I was ready to swear on my life I saw a hint of a pout there for a second. Brows slightly pinched, Artoria batted my hand away, huffing in indignation. "I am a King, not a child or a pet for your amusement, Lord Magnum."
"Kings can be cute too." I responded with a smug smile, reaching for her ahoge next.
Unlike her cheeks- yes, I'm aware of how sus that sounded- Artoria defended her ahoge far more vehemently, catching my hand before it could even go near her hair as she coughed curtly- shyly. "Lord Magnum, I believe we have a meal to prepare, unless you have done so ahead of time?"
"And miss quality-time with the renowned King Arthur? I wouldn't dream of it." I waved with a teasing smirk. "Although, I must admit I prefer Artoria over King Arthur any day of the week."
Tilting her head curiously, she questioned. "What's the difference?"
"Well, King Arthur is serious, he always has this look of stoicism plastered on his face and it is hard to make conversations due to how curt and polite his responses often are." Taking a short walk around her, gaze looking up and down at Artoria, I suddenly flicked her forehead softly. "Artoria seems a lot more relaxed, like an actual person rather than the emotionless King most are used to."
Hands clasped behind my back, I gestured for her to follow and like a baby-duckling, Artoria chased after me. "It has been a few days since our last… Excursion, how are you dealing with- Well, everything? It can't be easy to navigate the Modern World, let alone a culture so utterly alien to what you're used to."
"Lord Magnum, have you forgotten? I was a Servant of the Fourth War, it's easier for me to adapt than other Servants." While we talked, I saw her struggles and had to slow down. Due to the height differences between us, Artoria's forced to walk at a brisk-pace in order to keep up with me and while the image was adorable, I wasn't that big of a piece of shit.
Gentlemanly behaviors might not earn men brownie-points in the eyes of the majority of modern women- with some even thinking of it as creepy until they landed themselves in troubles and actually needed the help, but for old-fashioned people like a literal historical figure summoned to fight in a free-for-all Death Battle? Well, it probably wouldn't be noticed, though it should have the desired effect, which were to create a comfortable atmosphere where Artoria didn't feel the need to be overly-polite.
In fact, I was even trying to rid us of the whole 'Lord Magnum' thing since I felt like it put distances between us. Unfortunately, she had been resistant to the changes thus far, claiming it not right for whatever reasons. "I'm feeling something a bit less greasy, something lighter than steaks. Though I doubt you have, I will ask anyway. Have you ever tried a dish called 'bánh mì'?"
"I have not. The only foods I've had the pleasure to try besides British dishes are Japanese, courtesy of my Master and the Tohsaka siblings." I hadn't thought it possible, but the twinkles seemed to grow more intense at the mention of an unfamiliar dish.
"It's a Vietnamese Special invented while the Country was still occupied by the French, I believe? It's basically a short baguette with thin, crisp crust and soft, airy texture, often split lengthwise to be filled with ingredients such as vegetables, meats, eggs and sauces. Easy to make, filling and absolutely delicious." Once more, the Servant and I joined forces. Neither of us could be considered phenomenal cooks, but the simple stuffs should not be out of our current capabilities.
"Artoria, can I trouble you with the pork? I will mix the sauces."
After receiving a nod from her, I cracked my knuckles and started to chop up the salads. To make an authentic bánh mì wasn't hard, it wasn't that fancy a dish anyway and what little remained his memories told me all I needed to know about the entire process. Thankfully, the small blonde appeared to have a better grip on chopping than before, getting it done in record time- for her, that is. "Well, well. There you are, Little Lion."
A voice- ever confident with a touch of mirth- cut through the silence like a hot knife through butters as our necks both snapped to search for the uninvited, though still appreciated- in my case at least- newly-arrived presence. "Queen of Heroes."
Though she tried, the Servant couldn't keep the growl out of her voice.
Meanwhile, I merely raised my brow in acknowledgement of the Golden Queen's entrance. "Gil-chan! What are you doing in the kitchen at this hour of the night?"
"Oh? Now that you have found a new obsession–" Her gaze shot towards Artoria. Maybe I was imagining things, but was that a hint of jealousy I detected in her tone? The threat was audible in her voice, though tinged with something I couldn't quite comprehend. "– I'm no longer welcome, is that it?"
"Of course not." I immediately made to deny. "You're always welcome, Gil. I'm just surprised to find you in the kitchen, that's all. It's not the type of place you're often seen wandering."
"This Queen has heard about your breakdown. I went to check if my most recent suitor has regained his sanity, imagine my surprise when I came to your bedroom to find nobody there except for that Accursed Blade." Snorting, Gil crossed her arms in front of her bountiful chest, fingers flicking her the strands that drifted down from her bang. "I can see you two have made offerings. Mind if I take a bite?"
Not waiting for an answer, the Golden Queen snatched the sandwich from my hands to stuff her mouth as she licked the oils stuck to her lips. "As tyrannical as ever, Queen of Heroes. If this is how you treat a suitor you claim to like, I am fearful to know what it truly means to be your citizens."
"Artoria, it's alright." Seeing how bad things might develop, I decided to step in. "It's just a sandwich, it's not hard for me to make a third one."
Gil glanced at Artoria smugly hearing that, deliberately taking a long, drawn-out bite of her baguette as though she's savoring some sort of 'great triumph'. The teasing smile constantly plastered on her lips seemed to send the other blonde in a fit of righteous anger while I tried my best to keep the peace. "See, if the Little Lion said it's fine, then it's fine."
"Mah–" I groaned, already feeling a throb forming. I loved Gil, I liked Artoria individually, but as a pair… Well, I don't want to sound ungrateful for the chance to be acquaintances, but they sure could be headache-inducing. As we all sat around in the dinning table, the formerly relaxed atmosphere was completely gone, replaced by an awkwardness that left me paralyzed on the spot, chewing my baguette with slow and hesitant bites. "So… How is everything going for you two?"
What? I just had a full-blown mental breakdown in the evening- courtesy of Illaoi and Sakura- I didn't have the grey-matter, nor the energy to think of something witty, alright! "Surely you can do better than that?"
The corners of my lips twitched in annoyance. "Well, considering the events which took place this evening, I'm afraid that's all you're going to get out of me tonight."
"Speaking of which…" The Golden Queen drawled, the playful wiped cleanly from her face. "What happened? You were never afraid of hurting someone before, Little Lion. Why did you have such a huge reaction to killing the Magus? He was- should've been just another face amongst many for you and I very much doubt that little handmaiden's- Illaoi was it?- mistake could frustrated you so."
Plopping herself up by the palm, Gil leaned forth. "What's bugging you exactly, my Little Lion. What's on your mind?" She said it with such gentleness, I was sure if we weren't separated by the table and if Artoria hadn't been here, things might have taken a more… Intimate turn, which truth be told, I was not at all against. As for the sword-wielding Servant, she too was discreetly giving me a questioning look. Quite the curious cat Artoria turned out to be, though her 'discreet mode' needed some works.
"Lots of things, I supposed?" Sighing, I set down the baguette, no longer feeling the pangs of hunger I did moments ago. "How do you two do it? You guys were King and Queen once- still are."
Correcting, I continued with a forlorn expression. "How do you deal with the guilt- that nagging sensation every time you kill or hurt someone, even though they deserve it? How do you face their loved ones knowing you are the cause for their losses…? How do you reassure yourself that the path you're treading on is the right one?"
"I don't." The Golden Queen was the first to answer. "Guilt, insecurities. None of it mattered to me in the slightest. The responsibilities and duties of a Ruler are tough and at times cruel. Evils are a necessary part of ruling. You either learn to cope with it, or you don't. Besides, Life is only interesting because you never know if the ideals you've dedicated yourself to are the correct one. Do not stray from it, regardless of how you may feel or think. Caution is a virtue, indecisiveness isn't. Don't mistake one for the other and stand tall."
Artoria clearly disagreed, and the look on her face told me all I needed to know about how she felt towards Gil's confidence. "I agree with some of the things the Queen of Heroes said-"
The Golden Queen smirked, nose pointed upwards smugly. "- But I believe reflection is required at times. Guilt… You're already aware but I tried my best to distance myself from my own Humanity. I did feel guilt, though only a fraction of what it should be."
I felt her hand landed on my shoulder. "Casualty is part of War. It is not glorious, nor is it worth celebrating. Keep the guilt close to your heart, it'll guide you to the correct choices. As long as you can feel guilty about taking a life, there's still goodness within you. You are not a good person, Lord Magnum. But I would hesitate to call you bad either."
Leaning into my seat, I smiled- yet instead of the freeing feeling I anticipated, only bitterness hammered in my chest. "It used to be different, you know? Things were a lot easier back when my enemies were just faceless mobs I must kill- people who in my mind had no lives of their own and then… And then I am confronted by their loved ones… And everything changed."
Come to think of it, the first time I genuinely felt guilty for having caused devastation was all the way back in the Witcher-Verse, wasn't it? I had not understood it then, believing it to be naught but a phase which would pass. Oh-How wrong I was… How deeply I was mistaken. Ever since I had only grown more and more disturbed by my own sadistic tendencies,
There were days when I looked at the mirror to see not the man I was, instead a bloodthirsty monster whose cravings could never be filled. "We can merely give counsels, Lord Magnum. How you decide to go ahead will depend on you and you alone- to be a Tyrant, or to be a just King, the decision is yours to choose, no one else's."
Chuckling, I grabbed my now stone-cold baguette. "Sorry. I didn't mean to blindside you two. I usually talk about my troubles- these touchy-feely stuffs to Illaoi, but- Well, I'm sure you know what happened. That isn't an option for me anymore, not until I feel like she has served out her sentence so..."
"Lord Magnum–"
"Just call me Leo or Leonis like everyone else, please." I pleaded, starting to get PTSD from my time in the Tower. Lord Magnum this, Lord Magnum that, Lord Magnum please spare my dumbass Heir! Good Gods, what a pain. "It's not right, I am–"
"You might be a guest here, but I'm not much for formality- not with my… Friends?" I asked, trying to portray a hopeful touch to my voice. "Besides, I'm referring to you as Artoria rather than your proper Title, right?"
"T- Then, Leo…"
"Already looking for a second Lioness to fill your growing Pride? I'm impressed!" Artoria and I glanced at Gil with a dark expression, though neither was willing to deign her joke with a response. "Once we've had our fills, my bedroom is open to you both. Come and go at your own convenience."
It might be my imagination, but the atmosphere had lightened up considerably, I think?
Or maybe it's due to the lessening of the stuffy feelings in my chest? Either way…
The Golden Queen winked, which caused Artoria to groan in irritation. As for me? I might just take on that offer.
— [Fate: FS] —
"Is it confirmed?" The blonde asked through the coms they had bought, her face schooled in an unsightly expression- not by choice, mind you. She was just that annoyed.
"It is. Titus and his Servant are dead- murdered by Magnum most likely. We didn't personally come, but our familiars have spotted traces of his demonic hordes prowling the area." Swan's grip over the device was so tight, it would have shattered to pieces had it not been for all the enchantments layered over the blocky phone. These devices were properties of the Church in truth, given to them by the Bishop in hope they would be able to put Magnum to rest, though Swan was starting to feel they had been taken advantage of.
If the Holy Church had really wanted to kill Magnum, shouldn't they have sent more than a few cheap devices?! A Crusader or even an Executioner would have been appreciated! "What of his Command Seals? Is it possible to retrieve them?"
"They're gone, unfortunately."
"Dammit! That reckless fool! I told him to be careful!" Throwing the phone against the wall, Swan cursed loudly. While she would never dare to fault her deceased brother, at this very instance, parts of her- the smallest parts could not help but resent him for having befriended Magnum in the first place. "Is it possible to salvage anything at all? Even his corpse might prove beneficial to our cause in the long-term."
"Like… Scrap them from the walls in boxes? 'Cause all we found were his organs splattered everywhere." Head throbbing as though being hammered, Swan clamped down on the urge to curse loudly, still fearing for her image. "And what of his Mystic Codes?"
House Lance wasn't a big name in the Clock Tower, thus she doubted he'd have anything worth taking, though when dealing with a foe who severely outclassed them, every little bits helped. "They have been taken, sadly none is functional due to the state we discovered them in, Lady Glascheit. What do we do now? He'll certainly keep a lookout for us."
What do they do indeed…
Even Swan herself didn't have an answer to this question, though admitting that'd definitely affect morale, which was already low in the first place. "We attack, hit him hard and fast. That guy is arrogant- conceited, he will not expect us to strike his Castle directly so soon after our failure in acquiring his wenches."
The slight tremble amongst her Faction voices told Swan all she needed to know. "We all came here to avenge our dead, or have you forgotten that? Too afraid to even speak in the presence of Magnum? Are we each not emboldened with Servants of our own- beings who supposedly possessed powers beyond that of any human or Magus?!"
"We- But- It's Magnum." They echoed in unison, as though that made their cowardice better.
It didn't. "So what do you lowlifes plan on doing then? Beg Magnum to death? Wait until old age claims him- if it even could?!"
"We- Well, no… But maybe a plan that's a bit less- I don't know- risky?"
"This is the Grail War, what plans aren't risky, you bloody fools?!" For a second, Swan even thought maybe it'd have been better if she had gone alone instead of having to babysit these animals!
Rather ironic, for a Glascheit to compare others to beasts, though she was at her wit's end with their stupidity. "Perhaps your advisors have a point, Contractor." Her Servant- Saber quipped in from the sideline, his sword- while sheathed- was still able to unleash torrents of Mana in every direction- a passive ability of the Noble Phantasm. "Since you seem to agree with them, why not tell us this brilliant plan of yours, Saber?"
"During the Mongols' rampage in the 13th Century, it is said the Trần Emperor ordered his citizens to evacuate the Capital, leaving nothing for the Mongol Hordes to use- no food, no women, no riches." The Servant's face was calm as began to narrate. "I will not bore you with the details, but by the time they were able to catch up, the Mongols were both weakened by starvation and demoralized. Needless to say, the lost miserably- chased from the Southern Lands."
"Is there a point to this?" One of the brainless animals rudely interrupted. "I was getting there, if you'd just listen…"
"Go on." Crossing her legs, Swan commanded. She hadn't heard of her Servant before, and at first,
She sincerely thought he was of Chinese Descent, yet he had displayed an extreme dislike of the Country. Apparently, his origin was based on a small Country in South-East Asia- a Country which would've never even made the history books without being occupied by both France and the United States during the two World Wars. It was only after she had studied the cultures- the Legends he originated from, did Swan start to trust his advices more and more.
"Point is, why don't we try the same on him? Instead of leaving our bases empty, we will fill them up with traps, wait in ambush and draw Magnum into an unfamiliar battlefield on our own terms. That can't be more dangerous than attacking him while he has a home-ground advantage." Brows raising, the golden-robed Emperor smiled. "I am not saying we have to use our real bases, a fake one will do. It does not matter how powerful this Magnum is, he can't possibly fight four Servants, plus all the Masters on his own."
The plan made sense,
It seemed reasonable enough, yet Swan's hesitant. Magnum was an arrogant bastard most certainly, but would he really be stupid enough to charge in unprepared? 'Doubtful.' She thought, though she could tell her… Companions were already sold on the idea. Sighing, the Magus' fingers reached to roughly comb her hair. "Fine, let's do it your way then."
They're about to cheer when her next words put a halt to the celebration. "Now, who wants to draw Magnum out of his lair?"
At that, the noises stopped,
Every single one of the Magi who- by their own account- were not at all afraid of Magnum whatsoever (note the sarcasm) suddenly seemed so obedient, like good little students while the teacher was checking the homework. """I can't do it/My legs are hurt, I won't be able to outrun Magnum/I'm–"""
Excuses, excuses, excuses.
All she heard were excuses.
Silently, Swan sat and mused. 'Sven… I'm doing this for you- for the continuation of our House. Pray for me, brother.'
"I propose Mr. Matou. As the sole person with the least resources to offer, I believe it's only fair for him to throw his weight around, wouldn't you all agree?"
— [Fate: FS] —
"Thanks for coming in such a short notice, but I think it's time we make some changes around here." Hands clasped together, plopping myself up on the table, I gestured for the huge group of Servants and Masters to take seats. "The first amongst those is Sakura–"
The young woman herself did not appear caught off-guard at suddenly being brought up, having realized what this was about probably. I didn't care. Even if she was surprised- even if she cried and begged and pleaded, this matter was a long time coming. "– She needs to start contributing around here… That, or she has to learn Magecraft."