Chapter Five "Heaven's Chosen"
I cursed. I didn't deny it was a pleasurable experience that I had been missing lately given my Rin's busy schedule, but that didn't mean I should be happy! It felt like I had betrayed my Rin. This world's Shirou was to blame, but I couldn't really bring myself to disprove…
"Damn my libido," I growled while slapping my cheeks. "It's solely my counterpart's fault…" I grumbled as I sat up with some difficult. "Damn, I feel so weak…"
A glance around the bed and I found something to use.
I climbed out of bed and reached for the katana mounted on the wall. The katana came out of its sheath with practiced ease. Its original owner and the successive inheritors would have been awed by my movements as the katana cut through the air. My bladework would have surpassed what they had ever accomplished, and it kind of felt like cheating. My Reality Marble allowed me to call upon the swordsmanship of the greatest samurai.
The katana returned back inside its sheath and held up level with my eyes. I sighed while feeling its weight. The katana and sword drill I had executed were physical reminders what Rin had "borrowed" from me. If anyone else had been in my shoes then they might have expected that I would want to kill Rin for taking a mage's most important belonging: their Magic Circuits.
Yet…
I couldn't bring myself to hate her. This world's Rin might bear a slightly different appearance and personality, but at her core she was not too different from my Rin. I couldn't discount that this world's Shirou's memories could be affecting my judgement, but I doubt I would make a different conclusion even without the memories.
It also helped that Rin had a good reason for borrowing my Magic Circuits.
Another reason why I wasn't infuriated due to a debt. In a way, I could be returning a favor that I had never done for my Rin. What favor might I be talking about? Well, it was when Rin transplanted some of her Magic Crest into me so I had enough mana and magical ability to summon Unlimited Blade Works to fight Gilgamesh during the Fifth Holy Grail War.
Someone else might agree that I shouldn't repay my debt to this world's Rin as she wasn't the one that had helped me out. Well, it was easy to think that way rationally, but I felt a deep connection even if she wasn't my Rin.
I returned the katana back to its original spot and sat down cross-legged as I closed my eyes.
The single Magic Circuit belonging to this world's Shirou started to produce more mana compared to its dormant state, almost as if in preparation for any magecraft I may perform. I deeply scrutinized this magic circuits more closely than I had done previously. My new discovery would have gone unnoticed if I hadn't been paying attention.
My suspicions were soon proven correct. It hadn't been a coincidence that I had moved swifter, with more power and being more aware of my surroundings during my sword drills. This Magic Circuits seemed to passively use Reinforcement on my body without a conscious thought. It was akin to a muscle memory to perform a certain movement without someone realizing it.
I consulted with the memories that I could access. It seemed in this world physical abilities were not dependable on certain body parts as my world. Your strength didn't rely too much on how large your muscles were or on muscle density. What did play the largest factor in physical strength was the parts of the Magic Circuits associated with the muscles being used. Instead of muscle power, it was mana in selecting areas doing the heavy lifting. This helped explain how this world's Shirou wasn't as lean and muscular as my Fifth Holy Grail War self but possessed the same physical abilities.
If this single, and last, Magic Circuits was to disappear… I shuddered at the implications, but quickly dismissed it.
My attention turned inwards to my Reality Marble.
It surprised me that Unlimited Blade Works seemed unaffected by Rin's "borrowing." I had half-expected it to show signs of damage or collapsing. That was just important my magic circuits were to my Reality Marble's existence.
I called upon Kanshou and Bakuya. Two twin swords that looked like them appeared in my hands, but they lacked the "essence" that made them Noble Phantasms. My favored swords seemed more like powerful Mystic Codes then their normal state. The missing "essence" must have to do with the egos that I had never known existed in them.
The downgraded "fakes" disappeared and I was about to call upon another Noble Phantasms when–
"Hey, what are you doing there? Get back here!" a powerful voice echoed in my mind, and somehow seemed to enter my Reality Marble.
The second most influential Noble Phantasms, behind Avalon, to my life hadn't even fully finished forming when the crimson spear penetrated through a wall and flew out of the room. My brows twitched as I recalled a recent event.
"Kid, you better explain what's going on?" said the voice I had heard earlier.
I sighed. My Reality Marble didn't even have to analyze the history of an object. The materializing figure belonged to someone I was familiar with. You could even say I owed him a debt for saving Rin from Kirei and Shinji during the Fifth Holy Grail– Argh, I forgot. This likely wasn't my Cu Cuhulainn, but this world's version.
"How could a kid in the Circuit Building stage with a single Magic Circuit have my favourite…" Cu Chulainn stared blinking and stared at me. "Damn, you're lucky, kid! A Heaven's Chosen. People would kill to be in your shoes. You are basically guaranteed to become a Demigod given enough time and resources."
Most my counterpart's memories were still waiting to be analyzed, but something told me that those memories wouldn't contain what I wanted to know.
"How long do you think it would take for me to become a god?" I asked.
"You become a god?" Cu Cuhulainn snorted. "You might never cross that wall that had blocked even the most talented or wealthiest humans. Talent and resources have nothing to do becoming a god. It's about waiting for the right opportunity that rarely ever comes every century. Getting there is the least difficult time. Seizing the opportunity to ascend to divinity is final barrier that one in a billion humans achieve in their lifetime."
I had never been interested in what many people pursued such as wealth, influence and fame. It was something that had been utterly alien to my goal of becoming a Hero of Justice! Yet, after listening to Cu Cuhulainn, a desire that I had never possessed before, starting form like a seed. The more I thought about the his words, it felt like I was throwing fertilizer enriched soil at the seed with every passing moment that I analyzed what I had heard.
Power… Not power such as one created by wealth or connections was what I was looking for. It was more physical and magical in nature. If I had a looser morals and ethics, I might have employed the many questionable methods to strength my power so I could save everyone!
All this constant talk of godhood opened my eyes to a path that I had never considered, given that it didn't seem to rely on things that went against consciousness such as human exploitation or sacrifices. The power of a god, while it might not be like spoken in myths and legends, was vastly more capable than I or EMIYA ever was turning our ideals into a reality.
Now, I really wanted to least give godhood a try and there seemed no harm attempting it.
"If I was to lower my expectations. What if I wanted to become a Demigod. How long would that take?" I inquired.
Cu Chulainn stared at me, as if he was peering into my soul. "If you focus on that unique magic spell of yours and its associated branch of magic… five decades."
I had been mentally preparing myself, but the news was worse than I had been expecting. The time I had been believed had been a single decade since I had already possessed one of the prerequisites of a demigod, according to Rin's words.
"Kid, that is extremely short amount of time." Cu Chulainn replied as reading my mind. "The average age of a human becoming a demigod, the Spirit Transformation stage, is a thousand years. A talented or wealthy individual might be able to cut down that time to three centuries. The youngest human to become a demigod was in her thirities, and that was with the support of a clan possessing multiple demigods and gods. You must be dreaming if you're expecting to become a demigod before your sixties."
My ego wasn't fragile as even in my world, I had been considered a third-rate mage for my inability to learn most forms of magecraft. My only blessing had been that my Elemental Affinity and Origin were both Sword. This combination had allowed me to achieve a historical achievement of possessing a Reality Marble, creating degraded Noble Phantasms and replicating the abilities of their original owners. Hence, I had believed I was incredible talent that heavily skewed to one side while leaving me with great deficiencies at the same time.
"Well, I could help." Cu Chulainn continued, probably in response of my wounded pride. "I am not the ungrateful type that would simply steal Gae Bolg."
I wanted to ask for his guidance about godhood when I recalled a huge problem that existed in both my old and this world.
"Can you teach me and help hide my Reality Marble?"
"No way, kid!" Cu Chulainn shook his head fiercely. "It's either my guidance or hiding your Noble Phantasm. Can't have both. So, you get to choose wisely."
I clawed at my mind for ideas until one appeared.
"Trace On."
"Another one!" Cu Chulainn shouted as black, crimson and purple armor started to appear in my hands. "Kid, now I want to enter your Reality Marble!"
The Noble Phantasm was known as Curruid Coinchenn, created from the skeleton of the sea monster Curruid, whose ribs were also used to craft Gae Bolg. It raised the wearer's strength drastically and resistance to damage, which was very high standard as it used Servants as a baseline.
"I will take this as com–" Cu Chulainn was rendered silence as Curruid Coinchenn after fully materializing covered the Irish god.
"What did you do? Gan Jiang's and Mo Ye's creations, Kanshou and Bakuya, didn't react like Gae Bolg and Curruid Coinchenn has with you."
"Ignoring the impossibility of a perfect copy of my spear and armor," said Cu Chulainn as he eyed be carefully. "My Gae Bolg and Curruid Coinchenn have been so badly damage that I haven't been able to use them for several decades now. So maybe that has to do with–" The Irish god went silent and I got a good feeling that the two Noble Phantasms were communicating with Cu Chulainn. "That's right." He nodded. "Your counterparts… are currently undergoing repair and I will not be able to use them for a while… You want to come with me?"
I was starting to feel like I was the blacksmith that made Noble Phantasms and sold them.
Still the loss of Noble Phantasms like Kanshou and Bakuya showed that I was likely able to create significant degraded copies of the standard of high level Mystic Codes. So I could afford the trade if I could become the Heroic God of Justice.
"You got yourself a deal–"
"Kid, we gotta talk later," said Cu Chulainn in a hurried tone as his body started to fade. "My Anchor Point is under-attack and I need to return to defend it."
His body was gone, and I was left with a simmering rage. Did another god leave with my Noble Phantasms! I was suddenly starting to feel that all gods might be dine and dashers. My simmering rage wasn't given time to grow when I heard a hand knocking on my door.
"Who is it?" I asked while opening the door.
"Shirou," Taiga began in an unusual serious and formal tone. "Rin-sama's father, Tokiomi-dono, wishes to meet you."
"Well lead the way," I replied calmly as my mind went over what Tokiomi would want to meet for. "I don't have anything to do right now."
This world's Tokiomi Tohsaka didn't look physically too different from my Rin's photos and videos of her late father. What did seem different was the samurai armor where my Rin's father would have adopted to wear high-class western suits.
"Welcome, Shirou." Tokiomi greeted as Taiga escorted me into the room and closed the door behind. "It has been a long time since we met."
His response was what I had been expecting according to my counterpart's memories. It had been a long time of nine months as my counterpart was normally excused while this world's Rin talked to her father and how as a servant it wasn't part of his social status to meet the presiding Tohsaka leader.
"I have heard from my daughter that was able to repel the first attack thanks to her borrowing," Rin started shifting around uncomfortably from Tokiomi's side, "your Magic Circuits to access some of Reality Marble's abilities." He bowed his head and continued, "Please accept my humble thanks. If it wasn't for your assistance then more of conscripts, Fuyuki's Protectors and my clan's private army would have died. That is also not factoring the possible civilian casualties…"
I coughed as the conversation was going in a direction that I was uncomfortable with.
"My father…" Rin stammered as her face started to turned red.
"I will give you my full blessing to marry my daughter," stated Tokiomi with a grin as Rin refused to meet my gaze. "Previously, I had ignored your relationship with my daughter as a way to keep her lib–"
"Tou-sama!" Rin screamed in outrage as she kicked her father's shin. "How could you say that with your daughter in the room?!"
Tokiomi chuckled. "My refusal to acknowledge you as a potential son-in-law stemmed from tradition. There was no way my daughter, a future Countess, could only marry a commoner. It is no longer a problem after you become a Master, which is given an honorably nobility. When Rin informed me of your Reality Marble, only a fool would ignore a potential demigod. You would have eventually gained the title of Duke. This would have made you my superior, and making me the one to be begging for my daughter to marry you."
For a moment, I thought Tokiomi like many opportunistic nobles was planning to use his daughter as a tool to further the growth of his clan. The Tokiomi of my world certainly had seemed that way when he had given his second daughter, Sakura, to the Matous. That assumption of mine was quickly driven away.
A single glance was what it took to say that Rin wasn't unwilling being forced to cooperate with her father's plans. She blushed, but a very determined look.
Suddenly, the full weight of the situation hit me. I felt extremely uncomfortable, but I was able to maintain my composure.
Let's forgot about the part I might be engaged to Rin. I groaned at the absurdity of such an idea. Let's calmly analysis the benefits. I would gain access to the knowledge, wealth and connections that the Tohsaka clan possesses that makes it possible for me to become a Hero of JusticeHeroic God of Justice, and potentially return to my world.
I pondered for a while, but it became clearer as time passed that I couldn't decide at this point of time.
"Let's talk about this another time," I replied calmly.
Tokiomi's eyes widened for a moment then he frowned. "I thought you loved my daughter?" He asked in confused tone. "Have you been de–"
"Tou-sama," Rin chimed in. "Shirou's memories are currently affected by the Madness poison when…" Her voice started to become quieter and cheek started to turn red until no sound came out and her face was flushed like a tomato.
"Rin, what's wrong?" Tokiomi asked as a very concerned father.
"Nothing!" She screamed while looking away from her father, and almost begging with her eyes for help.
"It is complicated and most of the details will be unworth your time," I replied and Rin nodded gratefully. "Let's just say I am having some issues with my memories."
Tokiomi looked at his daughter and me but did not speak up more on the topic. "Is that so…" He grumbled while tapping on butt of the katana resting on the left side of his belt. "Let's forget about what I mentioned earlier," he chuckled, "but if you're interested in my offer I am ready to take you as my son-in-law anytime!"
Rin didn't seem as embarrassed as before, but she did glare at her father and refusing to meet my gaze. I quickly decided to move onto another topic as if this Rin was anyway like mine then she would explode in anger that might destroy the entire hall.
"When can I expect the return of my Magic Circuits?"
The happy and joking atmosphere turned awkward as Rin looked away and Tokiomi refused to look me straight in the eyes. Eventually one gave into my stare.
"That might not possible," Rin uttered in low voice.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Shirou," drawled Tokiomi, "That might not be possible to return for the immediate future. You must know that a certain level of strength is needed to protect Fuyuki and its Anchor Point."
"And to deter our rivals and would usurpers from ever invading or overthrowing the Tohsaka clan," Rin added. "It might seem unfair of us to take your Magic Circuits, but it is absolutely necessary…"
I was prepared to interrogate the father and daughter when the word, ARD, echoed in my mind. The word seemed to be a trigger. I clutched my temples and groaned in pain as information flooded my mind.
The inflow of information and pain got worse, but I grit my teeth.
"You're… trying to make an ARD!" I growled in pain and anger as I looked at Tokiomi.
"How do you know about ARD?" asked a concerned Tokiomi.
"ARD?" Rin inquired, seeming ignorant of certain details that her father had likely hidden from her.
"I'm surprised that you don't know." I replied while holding one hand to my temple and ignored the fading pain. I glanced at Tokiomi. "I thought all heirs knew?"
For the first time, I saw Tokiomi's calm and confident demeanor slip.
"I was going to teach my daughter after this meeting," he replied sheepishly then turned to Rin. "ARD, short for Artificially Induced Demigod, are the closest thing humanity can produce to a powerhouse with the powers of a demigod without actually being one. This is because humanity hasn't unlocked a constant Godhood method that allows someone to construct a Reality Marble without encountering a fortuitous opportunity.
"You temporarily entered the ARD state when you used our clan's Magic Crest and your lover's Magic Circuits to summon that overwhelming ability to rain down Mystic Codes down upon the monsters."
"That means…" Rin deflated. "My idea to use Shirou's Reality by borrowing his Magic Circuits wasn't a unique idea that I had invented."
"While it wasn't your invention, if you had been born earlier in history then you would have gone down a historical figure." Tokiomi sighed as he pat his daughter. "Still, I am very proud that you, my intelligent daughter, was able to enter the ARD state without even knowing about it."
"Tou-sama!" Rin called out happily as she rubbed her head against her father's hand.
I watched in silence, not because I wanted to ruin the father and daughter moment, but because how unbelievable the scene seemed. I would have never been able to see my Rin act this way. It was just unthinkable.
The Tohsaka Patriarch stopped and coughed into his hand after he seemed to realize that there was someone else in the room.
Rin blushed but her red cheeks quickly faded. "Since what my 'brilliant idea' was something that someone already invented then my original plans of studying and experimenting with Shirou's Magic Circuits are moot. Why don't we return some of his Magic Circuits?"
"We can't." Tokiomi shook his head.
A normal mage might have been wanted to kill someone for stealing their Magic Circuits as such an act involved the soul and something akin to violation of the soul. I had allowed Rin to borrow my Magic Circuits because she had been using to protect Fuyuki and I tempered my response after why borrowed Magic Circuits wouldn't be returned immediately because Rin had promised that my borrowed Magic Circuits would be used to the benefit of Fuyuki, but after Tokiomi's reply was beyond my acceptable limits.
"Why? I can understand why you cannot return all my Magic Circuits." I growled while preparing to use my single Magic Circuits. "It's a completely different case when you cannot return a some of them!"
"Shirou," said Tokiomi as he clicked his fingers, "this is non-negotiable."
Parts of the walls, ceiling and flooring moved and thirty-six samurai appeared out of what seemed like hiding spots. These were not ordinary samurai, according to their weapons' and armors' histories. They were most elite and experienced samurai serving the Tohsaka clan. Each of them had a minimum of a century of battlefield experience fighting monsters and humans. Every samurai had reached the Core Creation stage.
The one samurai that caught my attention the most was another familiar figure that I had known from my world. It was Raiga Fujimaru. Except those one was not yakuza boss, but the senior most retainer that commanded the highest authority and respect after the Tohsaka patriarch. He was an Organ Fortification stage, and five centuries of life experience to call upon.
"Shirou, I treasure you as grandson since you are so close to Taiga," said Raiga in a fond tone. His expression started to harden as he drew his katana and pointed it at me, "But there are certain boundaries you must respect. As Rin-sama's personal attendant that may afford you more authority than most of the Tohsaka retainers, but that doesn't disobey Tokiomi-dono's decisions–"
"But I can, Raiga-san!" Rin shouted as she ran infront of the katana pointed at my direction. "Tou-sama, why can't you return some of Shirou's Magic Circuits?"
"I have made my decision, and I will not change it." Tokiomi replied in tone that if anyone questioned his decision then they would be consequences.
"Tou-sama! It's just a few Magic Circuits! They rightfully belong to–"
"Take my daughter and her attendant away! They are not allowed to be near me until I call for them."
"As you command, Tokiomi-dono!" shouted the samurai collectively and eight samurai approached Rin and me.
"Rin-sama, please don't make this difficult for us," said one of the samurai approaching Rin without drawing his weapon.
"Aoi-dono would be disappointed if you do not respect your father's wishes." Another female samurai added. Her words seemed to have an affect as Rin's expression faltered.
The four samurai approaching me were much less respectful compared to how they treated Rin. It was as if I was a fellow retainer that could turn traitor at any moment.
"Tou-sama there must be a reason! Why not retu–"
"I apologize, Rin-sama." One samurai muttered and delivered a swift blow to Rin's neck.
I was about to rush to Rin's side, and the samurai around me prepared to draw their weapons. My tensed legs relaxed and I sighed in relief to see Rin's expanding and contracting chest. The samurai had only knocked her unconscious.
"What are you doing!? Take Rin-sama and her attendant away!" Raiga shouted.
The samurai gently carried Rin and I grudgingly left the room.
The doors closed behind as the Tohsaka samurai took Rin and Shirou away.
"Tokiomio-dono," said Raiga. "I humbly request that you rethink your decision.
"There is no need for formality, Raiga. It's just us." Tokiomi replied as his calm-looking demeanor disappeared and a troubled expression formed. "I didn't want to do this… No one wants to offend one of the Heaven's Chosen…" His eyes faded with regret. "But, I must seize the godsent chance of studying Magic Circuits that act as foundations for Reality Marbles. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for my clan. If I don't take advantage of it then we may never raise beyond what we already have!"
"Everyone knows the consequences of provoking a Heaven's Chosen. It only ends in two ways. The Heaven's Chosen dying or the offender (and associated group) to be destroyed," said Raiga in a grim tone. "It isn't too late to reverse course. History has shown that we have not passed the point of no return."
"I understand what you are getting at," Tokiomi sighed. "Raiga, I greatly appreciate your advice. If it wasn't for your guidance then the clan would have fallen several times under my reign, but I will have to ignore your advice just this once…" He turned to the newly erected scroll listing the deaths of Tohsaka clansmen and retainers that had died protecting Fuyuki in the last battle. "Their sacrifices, and more people will die if I don't secure the secrets of creating a Reality Marble. We need a demigod holding down the fort."
"More could die if you continue this course. If Shirou doesn't grow and destroys us then it will be those groups with demigods and gods amongst their ranks will," said Raiga angrily while pointing at the very same scroll Tokiomi was looking at. "The reigning groups that decide the fate of the world would never allow the secrets of creating a Reality Marble to spread. Their power and influence would be otherwise challenged if demigods and gods start appearing enmass. They would do everything eliminate every men, women and child associated with the clan. Do you want to be responsible for that?!"
Raiga was about to harshly respond when a portrait started to move.
"You don't have to worry about the clan being destroyed," said a voice as a figure stepped out of the portrait and got larger.
"Founder!" Tokiomi and Raiga shouted reverently as they prostrated before the figure.
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