111: Be careful which way a weapon is pointed.


My steps to reach the upper deck are somewhat shaky - the Argo continues to rock precariously on the gnashing waves, its frame groaning under the driving rain. The rain makes almost everything else impossible to see, but in the distance, lit by the occasional flash of lightning, I can still make out that ridiculous column of swirling water I saw earlier.

It goes without saying, neither Jason nor Benkei had any idea what that massive cyclone signified.

Unsettling mysteries aside, it could be worse. Da Vinci's Mystic Code has done the trick to suppress my seasickness, and the worst excesses of the storm are being held at bay by Benkei's chanting. And, of course, totally undercutting the ominous atmosphere-

"Nob! Bu! Nob! Bu!"

-the oarswomen call out in their ridiculous high-pitched voices, in time with their strokes.

Closing my eyes, I heave a sigh and try to stay serious.

"Jason, how close are we?" I ask. Our next destination, obviously, is that island the Minotaur mentioned. Even if Euryale is a relatively unknown Heroic Spirit, any ally we can grab is one that Alter Ego can't corrupt and send at us.

"About ten minutes out, assuming your map is accurate," The Rider answers. "That said, if she was with Asterios earlier… don't know how to say this dude, but she's totally gonna freak out when she sees you."

That's true. I look just like Alter Ego, so she's probably going to see us as enemies… I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

"Nobbu, I don't suppose you happen to remember Euryale at all?" I ask as she joins us upstairs.

"Oh, I do, actually. We fought Gawain together," She says matter-of-factly, without providing an ounce of context. "Twice, even. She's not super strong, but she's got a skill and a Noble Phantasm that can charm men, so for guys like that Gorilla, she turned out to be a pretty good niche pick."

Don't get caught up in the details, don't get distracted! I can focus on that whole Camelot singularity thing, whatever the hell it is, when we go to England. So, turning my thoughts back to the current subject…

"By the way, Jason, I've been meaning to ask. Last time I tried to ask you pretty much just went on a rant about how we were all going to get ultrakilled by Heracles-" I say.

"We totally still are, by the way," Jason says with a sigh. "No clue why he hasn't just shot us yet…"

"-but anyway, putting him aside, since it seems like he's busy, who else is running around in this singularity?"

Jason strokes his chin. "Well, I already mentioned Alter Ego's crew - he came at us with some conquistador-looking woman, a pirate-looking man, and the Minotaur. Heracles and Medea are working for him too now. But aside from those guys… Blackbeard might still be around? I sent Hector to infiltrate his crew pretty early on, but I haven't heard back from him."

"Jason, by this point it's getting a bit redundant, but please don't just skim over details like the presence of the strongest hero of Troy as if they're unimportant," Mash says with a sigh.

"Well, Medea knew about them, so they're probably toast now. Hector can't beat Heracles, and the rest of Blackbeard's crew is… well, Anne Bonny and Mary Read probably aren't packing much power, and I haven't even heard of Hauroy Rallior. What country would that name even be from?"

…Why does that name sound so familiar? "What's his class?" I ask.

"Dunno. He kept insisting it was [Stick Swinger]."

Oi.

"That asshole's using the same alias from the damn tower!?" I shout. That's where I heard that name!

"Senpai, is he another-?" Mash starts.

"Yeah, he's another guy from that other world- Ley's brother… sort of." I mutter with a scowl. "Roy ate… something kind of like a Heroic Spirit, and he lost his existence to Reid Astrea, the first Sword Saint."

Pausing, I glance back at the ridiculous swirling pillar of water again. Or more specifically, at the strange periodic flashes of light at its apex. With two sufficiently powerful combatants, the light emitted by the clash of their blades might be… "Well, that might be what Heracles is up to," I sigh.

"You think this guy could keep up with Heracles?" Jason asks, raising an eyebrow.

Putting that trick Lancelot pulled with the leaves aside- "I'm no expert in swordplay, but… Reid's the type of sword pervert who can cut through concepts with a pair of chopsticks, so yeah. At the very least he'd have no trouble with the Berserker we saw in Fuyuki."

"Oh come on, Berserker's his worst class!" The Rider protests. "Imagine him ten times stronger!"

That seems a bit extreme! But… "Even then, maybe?" If it was just the Reid I saw, then probably not, but… he's got Roy's abilities too, right? He'd usually call them gross, but Reid's a capricious bastard. Would he hold them back, against a foe like Heracles? "At the very least, I wouldn't count him out."

"Well, if you think that's what's happening, how about we just go jump Heracles?" Nobunaga asks. "I can just ride a gun up there and suck them both into my Reality Marble-!"

"No way." I form an 'X' with both arms. "Reid's not an Archbishop, but he's not a friend of mine either. He's an unrepentant, womanizing- actually come to think of it, that guy really does fit right in with a pirate crew, doesn't he!?"

"So even if we break their deadlock, it doesn't actually do us any good…" Jason mutters with a scowl, stroking his chin.

Reid really is strong. He's strong, and there's some part of my soul that truly wants to use him as an ally. But, without some way to control him-

Wait.

Hang on.

"...Nobbu, you said Euryale had the ability to charm men, right?" I ask.

"Yeah- oh! Oh, you did say he's a womanizer!" She says.

"Heh. Heh. Hehehehaha!" I break down into villainous laughter. Alright, Reid! Get ready, you damn sex pest! I'm gonna make sure you get exactly what you deserve!


"Hm, that's all very exciting, but before that, can you give me a bit of your blood to drink?" Asks my goddess.

"Of course, Euryale-sama!" I answer with glee.

"S-senpai!?" Someone grabs my shoulders, trying to restrain me.

"Hey, just who do you think you are, trying to stop Euryale-sama from getting everything her heart desires!?" A blond man starts shouting at the girl restraining me - actually, now that I look at her, can I really call her a girl, compared to my goddess?

"Ah, we kind of Honnouji'd it this time, huh… we should have left the guys on the boat." Some girl with a body type kind of close to the goddess but with gross soot-colored hair says.

Goddess Euryale lets out a small giggle, and I comprehend the meaning of life.

"Please, stop-!" The person grabbing me continues to struggle, pulling me further away from my goddess.

"Let go of me, you old hag!" I shout.

"Senpai!?" Said obviously unattractive woman cries.

The black-haired girl knocks out my fellow devotee with a single punch. "It's a good thing we left Cu Chulainn to do his seance thing, or this might be really dangerous. As it stands - hey, Benkei, you're a monk, so you're fine, right?"

"Musashibou Benkei, was a monk, pure of all worldly desires," The stony-faced man replies. "However… however, my true name is Hitachibou Kaison! Face me, you foolish girls who can't possibly compare to Euryale-sama!"

"It can't be helped…" The black-haired girl mutters, a gun appearing in each of her hands.