[Otakemaru Pov]
Having materialized back in the Sajyou mansion after my exhilarating battle with Lancer, I couldn't help but relish the enjoyment I derived from the fight. It was indeed a rare occurrence for me to encounter a human who could hold my interest for more than a fleeting moment.
In the past, my encounters with strong humans were often brutal and one-sided, with me tearing my opponents apart as fear consumed them in their final moments.
But now, my perspective has shifted. I yearned for formidable adversaries who could provide me with a satisfying challenge, a way to escape the haunting memories of my past and momentarily numb the pain that still lingered.
My usual mask of indifference barely concealed the slight smile tugging at the corners of my lips. It was a peculiar transformation, one that spoke volumes about the changes I had undergone.
In earlier times, encounters with worthy opponents would have led to a trail of blood and fear. Now, they offered a chance for exhilarating battles and the possibility of fleeting relief from the weight of my past.
Now, all that was left for me to do was wait for the remaining Servants to be summoned.
As far as my knowledge went, the Assassin, Caster, and Lancer classes had already been filled. There was also that distinctively red-clad Servant, most likely an Archer, based on their observation point from the other building.
With those accounted for, there should already be six classes occupied. According to my information, there were supposed to be seven Servants in total. It appeared that I would be one of the extra Servants. That meant two unknown entities remained.
"Otakemaru!"
The cheerful voice of my Master cut through my thoughts, drawing my attention to her as she emerged from her room, her angelic smile in place.
"Yes, Little Hime?" I responded with my usual indifference, noting that the young girl no longer harbored any fear of my presence. In fact, it seemed she had grown rather comfortable around me. Humans truly were perplexing creatures.
"I just finished researching stories about you!" My Master proudly displayed a book titled "Japanese Legends: The Three Most Evil Yokai of Japan."
"Oh? Already finished, I see... That was rather swift," I remarked, genuinely surprised.
She had been scouring for legends related to me. Unfortunately, much of the historical accounts involving me seemed to have been overshadowed or forgotten after the rise of Shuten Douji/Ibuki Douji. It was as if my existence had been relegated to insignificance.
Considering the sheer size of the book, which covered a vast array of Yokai from Japan, it was remarkable that she managed to complete it within a matter of days.
She responded to my surprise with a dreamy expression, her voice brimming with excitement, "And what a captivating tale it was! I've never encountered a story quite like this before! To think that its protagonist shares your name! Even though the protagonist book may be somewhat stupid, the journey and narrative are truly enchanting!" Her demeanor took on a fangirl-like fervor that reminded me of someone from my past.
"Is that so? Well, I must admit I find this portrayal of Otakemaru rather underwhelming... Perhaps I should consider erasing this Pan-Human story from the collective unconscious of humanity?" I spoke with a touch of irritation. In the days of old, I might have unleashed my wrath upon the humans in this town as a means to vent my frustration.
"Pan-Human?" She asked, intrigued by the unfamiliar term.
"It doesn't really matter," I replied contemptuously, and my hand went to gently caress her head.
"So do you want to share your story with me? Or better yet, why not create a sequel?" Her lips formed a slight pout, an expression of hopeful anticipation.
"Well..." I began, with a hint of irritation in my voice, "It's a trivial matter."
"Hey, Otakemaru," she insisted, peering at me with her innocent gaze, "when can I witness your feats in person? I am eager to see you fight against the other Servants! Considering your strength, you should have no trouble beating them all!" Her words were full of enthusiasm, as her could see my state from the Master's point of view.
[Ootakemaru]
Parameters:
Strength: EX
Endurance: EX
Agility: B+
Mana: A
Luck: C+
NP: A+ - EX - EX
Class Ability:
Divinity: C+
Avenger: A
Oblivion Correction: B
Self-Replenishment: (Magic) A
Mad Enchantment: B
Personal Ability:
God Demon: EX
Oni-Kind Demon (Kijin-Kishin): EX
King of Monster: EX
Apex Predator: A+
Yokai Shift: A
Favor of Spirits: B+
"Patience, little Hime," I replied in a measured tone, my words carrying with them a sense of wisdom, "We need to gather more information about our opponents. When all the Servants have been summoned and I have assessed their capabilities, we will make our move. A wise ruler exercises caution."
"I understand, I understand! But I can't help but feel excited about this! I hope all the Servants will be summoned as soon as possible..." Her accepted my answer with an impatient smile, similar to that of a child anxiously awaiting the appearance of her favorite hero.
"Well..." I leaned back, assuming a relaxed attitude, "Now, tell me what do you want to do? You're bored aren't you, me too..."
"Kill people?"
"Hime, although I can bear the title of Oni, I take no pleasure in killing at random. My actions are driven by necessity."
"Very good! Then how do we deal with those who deserve it?"
"... It is tolerable, but only if their crime is something heinous, such as rape or slavery, or actions that classify them more as monsters than human beings."
I was somewhat puzzled when my Master let out a shout. Being summoned by someone like her was indeed a peculiar experience.
In any case, I could try to guide her a little, appealing to her more ruthless tendencies and tempering them with my monstrous nature.
Even though I held the title of Avenger, I could not help but feel the need to protect those around me, especially when I saw them suffering from their own nature, particularly in the case of my Master.
[Interlude]
[Third Person]
In an alley, our favorite Oni stood, his usual indifferent face turned to the impure world before him.
Accompanied only by his Master, Manaka, they had arrived alone. Convincing Manaka's father not to accompany them had proved difficult. Hakuno's presence was entirely unnecessary.
It took Manaka's persuasion to assuage her father's concerns, making him understand her desire to live the war independently and to understand firsthand the life of a true Magus who follows the way of the Root.
Fortunately, his efforts were fruitful. Otherwise, Otakemaru would have been ready to resort to extreme measures to reduce the man's unbearable presence, perhaps cutting out his tongue or, if necessary, ending his life.
Returning to the present, Otakemaru contemplated his strategy for the coming war. Among his thoughts, there was one amusing aspect to consider: his opponents would know nothing about him because of his origins in an alternate timeline.
His opponents would be mostly unaware of his abilities, with the exception of recognizing him as an Oni, of course...
The need for strategic considerations weighed heavily on Otakemaru's mind. Gathering information was imperative at this time, or at least it was something he had learned from the past so as not to make the same mistakes twice.
Caster and Assassin had made their presence known at the Ryuudou Temple, while Archer's alliance with the double-tailed girl, the heir of the Tohsaka lineage, was confirmed through his Master's father's sources.
Lancer's activities were observed throughout the city, Rider remained an enigma, and the identities of Berserker and Saber remained shrouded in mystery, their presence still undisclosed.
"Otakemaru!"
Amidst these thoughts, his Master's voice snapped his attention. She emerged, an ethereal figure with pale skin, cascading light blond hair, and piercing blue eyes. Her attire, a light blue dress with exposed shoulders and a short skirt, bore evidence of a battle, stained with blood.
Otakemaru couldn't deny the intrigue he felt as he observed the spectacle before him – an innocent monster revealing its true nature after a little slaughter.
"Are you finished, Little Monster?" he inquired with a faint smile, his demeanor remaining indifferent.
Otakemaru allowed Manaka her freedom to target specific individuals. Those she eliminated were no ordinary people; they were criminals of the worst kind – rapists, peddlers of narcotics to teenagers, monsters masked in human form.
He didn't harbor any aversion to ending the lives of humans in this world. Back in his cherished Mt. Suzuka, any humans attempting to invade and conquer the sacred lands would be met with ruthless death or even tortured until their desire for life was extinguished. Their flesh and bones would be offered up in celebration of victory.
With a childlike exuberance, Manaka confirmed her completion of the task. "Uh huh! I'm done! But why didn't you kill any?" she questioned with a slight pout. "I wanted to see how you do it!"
"My method of killing is rather straightforward," Otakemaru explained impassively. "I strike them with my claws, targeting their heads to destroy their brains – it's a swift end. I find nothing particularly remarkable about it."
Undeterred, Manaka's childlike determination held steady. She pointed towards a still-breathing victim on the ground and made her plea, her eyes wide and eager. "Then use a special method! I saved one just for you!"
Otakemaru initially denied her request with his typical indifference. However, Manaka persisted, her beguiling expression tugging at something within him. Her persistence triggered memories of moments long past.
"Please? I want to see some of your personal skills! Just once!" Manaka begged, her cute demeanor striking a chord with Otakemaru, reminding him of distant echoes from his history.
Amusement flickered in Otakemaru's gaze as he considered her request anew. "Very well, Little Hime. Since you're so insistent."
As if responding to his will, lightning danced and crackled between his fingers, a living force of nature under his control. Before the thug could react, the lightning consumed him.
Agonizing screams pierced the air as the lightning seared through his flesh, reducing him to ashes. Manaka had foreseen this, using her abilities to set up a boundary field that stifled any cries for help.
Once the flames had reduced the group to charred remains, Otakemaru's mastery of the elements came into play again. With a simple gesture, he summoned a gust of wind that swept away the ashes, leaving the scene clean.
Manaka's eyes were wide with a mixture of awe and intimidation. "You can create lightning so easily!" she exclaimed in a voice tinged with a touch of fear.
Otakemaru's expression remained stoic as he regarded her. "You're a Magus, aren't you? Isn't that a normal skill for your kind?"
Manaka shook her head, her excitement evident. "Well, I've never seen a human who could generate lightning so effortlessly! It's quite rare, and even among Magi, I've never heard of anyone with such an ability," she replied, a chuckle escaping her lips.
Otakemaru rolled his eyes in response to Manaka's fascination, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. He found his Master's quirks rather intriguing. "Now that you've had your fill of killing, how did it make you feel?" he inquired.
Manaka's giggles subsided, replaced by a thoughtful expression. After a brief pause, a cherubic smile graced her face. "It was quite an interesting experience. Watching them beg for their lives, feeling their blood on my hands... It was something entirely new to me. Their screams were particularly enjoyable."
Otakemaru's expression remained unperturbed by her response. He had expected such reactions from her, given her peculiar nature as an innocent monster. It seemed that she relished the opportunity to reveal her true self without the need for pretenses.
"Coming from someone like you, that doesn't surprise me at all..." Otakemaru mused, his tone neutral. "Let's go before someone notices the effects of your Boundary field. Can you clean up the bloodstains?" he inquired, to which Manaka nodded enthusiastically, her smile undimmed.
In a matter of moments, they managed to erase all traces of the recent events, leaving the alley behind. Once they were out of sight, Otakemaru assumed his astral form and reactivated his Presence Concealment. As they strolled through the city, he gazed at his surroundings with a detached air, his indifference masking the complexity of his thoughts.
As they continued to walk through the city, Otakemaru's thoughts swirled with a mix of fascination and curiosity about the modern era. "This era is quite fascinating... While mine had its own charms in war, this one, particularly in terms of architecture and technology, surpasses it," he mentally conveyed to his Master.
Manaka listened through their mental link and nodded in agreement. "Even if the Grail imparts knowledge of the modern era, experiencing it firsthand is a different kind of fascination," she responded, her eyes taking in the cityscape.
To Manaka, Otakemaru remained an enigma. While she wasn't particularly concerned about his desires, she was intrigued by his story. Despite reading about him in the book "Japanese Legends: Japan's Three Most Evil Yokai," she found that his legend was shrouded in mystery.
The tales she had come across were set in various historical periods, ranging from the feudal era to potentially before World War I or even the Age of the Gods. However, beyond those stories, there seemed to be a distinct lack of historical information about Otakemaru.
As they strolled through the city, the enigmatic aura surrounding Otakemaru piqued Manaka's curiosity even further. Despite reading a few stories about him, she found that there was a significant gap in historical information that could explain his extraordinary abilities and values.
It was as if, just as he had mentioned, his story was more akin to a fairy tale than a documented historical account. This mystery only added to his allure, making Otakemaru an enigmatic puzzle that she was determined to unravel.
And the fact that he was handsome and cute with those two horns also helped. He was like a prince... No, Demon King. Yes, rather than the Knight in shining armor is more like a King leading his army.
He is clearly better than a Knight.
As the Master and Servant pair continued their leisurely walk, a comfortable silence settled between them. Otakemaru delved into his own contemplations about Servants and the impending war, while Manaka relished in the presence of her enigmatic hero, enjoying both his company and the city around them.
However, their peaceful reverie was interrupted as they neared a local school in Fuyuki City. Sensing something amiss, both Otakemaru and Manaka came to a sudden halt, their senses on high alert.
A/N: Some important information for the story:
If the servant fight in country the legend born they got buff, so basically mc got power up because this HG in Japan.
Hime= Princess
Pan-human= Original Timeline.
Onmyoudou arts = is one of Thaumaturgical Systems that is predominant in Japan and a variant of the Chinese school of Thaumaturgy that uses the concept of yin and yang as foundation. A system that excels at divination, curses and the like, its most famous practitioner was Abe-no-Seimei.
Shikigami, a symbol of power for the Onmyouji, are beings that are at the disposal of the practitioner similarly to the Western Familiars. Creatures that share a spiritual connection with its master after receiving a part of their master, their powers are limited to a single-purpose curse and once the contract has been formed they will remain for as long as their master's power does not run out