Chapter 4: To Kill or Enslave? That is the question.

The Week After, Tohsaka Residence, Rin Tohsaka POV

It was a rather late night in Fuyuki. The current Tohsaka heir finds herself going through various parcels sent to her home. Spam mail, offers, and… Debt. Great, just another thing she had to deal with. She read through the letter and came to the conclusion that whoever this Arathorn is must think she's stupid.

Like she believes for a moment that her father just so happened to have a debt to some no-name family from Germany. What did they specialize in? Cleaning! Ha, most likely not but it was funny to think about. Though as she read through the letter, she began to realize that this letter about debt might be more legitimate than she thought.

Oh, no. She does not need to deal with debts right now. Kirei has pretty much fucked her financial situation to hell. She couldn't pay off this magus whoever he is. Also without any information on who this guy even is? Like hell is she gonna go meet with him. Maybe Kirei knows more? But does she really want to rely on him?

She doesn't really have a choice does she? She heads to the black demon of her house. The damned phone. She has no idea why Kirei was so insistent on setting up the damn thing but ever since she was given it. DAILY SPAM CALLS! She barely knows how to use the damn thing! Every call she gets she has to wait for the 'voicemail' to see if it's someone important.

Thankfully she had gotten good enough at making calls that she can do it on her own now. No need for stupid priests to patronize her as she struggles with the damn thing! Sadly though she does need a stupid priest for something right now. She can hear him now… Oh yeah that's how phones work…

"Rin. While it's lovely that you called me for once, it's exceptionally late. What could you possibly need at the moment?" She's already regretting calling him. If she didn't need him for advice right now, she wouldn't talk to him for a week!

Not wanting to waste any time she quickly blurts out, "Kirei! I need you to tell me who the hell these Arathorn guys are! Apparently my father owed a debt to them and they want to meet me to discuss it. I need to know more before I make a decision." Please just have something for her. Please just have anything!

A moment of silence from Kirei as sweat starts to spread around her body, "Arathorn? The family that rogue Executors massacred a few years ago? What could a dead family want from you?" Wait, dead family? They don't exist anymore? Kirei himself sounds extremely confused at the mention of Arathorn. That's… Concerning…

Looking over the letter again making sure she has her facts straight, she speaks up once more, "Well this supposed dead family… Are wanting to meet me over a magecraft trade they did with my father years ago. Something about sealing a spirit that was haunting our house…" She was getting incredibly suspicious over this letter.

"Rin… Let me check something, I'll call you in a moment." Wait! No, don't hang up on… And he hung up on her… Great… What is she supposed to do while she waits? The phone rings not long after that and as she goes to answer it, she stops. Looking at the phone for a moment before it goes to voicemail… And spam…

The phone thought it could trick her, didn't it? Little did it know… She has become used to the black demons tricks! Another ring. Nope she won't fall for it. She's not a fool. As it goes to voicemail, "Rin? She's not having trouble with the phone again is she?" Wait, no! It tricked her, the damn demon tricked her!

Quickly answering the phone with an embarrassed expression, "Nothing is wrong! I am fine…" She hears his chuckles from behind the phone. Not even trying to mask his reaction. Stupid Priest…

"Well anyway. I did remember something about the Arathorn's. Apparently there were two survivors of the massacre. The heir and his cousin. Recently the heir made contact with Marisbury Animusphere, a Clocktower Lord. Apparently they've had amicable relations ever since." So some two-bit heir of a practically dead family is trying to pressure her? Ha! Like hell she's gonna let some upstart walk all over her.

Confident that she can handle the situation, she hangs up the phone as Kirei goes to say something else… It was probably him patronizing her. Hopefully nothing important... She isn't hasty...

Anyways, she'll just send a polite letter to this Arathorn guy refusing his meeting. Have some passive aggressive language to make sure he understands not to fuck with her and she'll be fine!

As she begins to reach the top of her stairs to get to her room, she twists her ankle. She doesn't know how she did it, but it happened and then she found herself at the bottom of the stairs. Sore but fine… Also incredibly incensed. Anger blinding her she finds herself back in her room with an already sealed letter…

"Huh?" She could only ask dumbly at the events that just happened. She stares at the letter with confusion seeing it addressed to that Arathorn guy… She already wrote it?

Something's off but she can't seem to place it... Whatever, the letter is finished and she'll have it delivered. Right now? She needs some sleep, she's exhausted.

Two Days Later, Arathorn Manor

It had been quite a while since Olga's visit. After she ended up staying an additional day you two got to interact casually. It was surprisingly comforting after your last meeting with the Voice. You find yourself missing her company, and not just because she was obscenely hot. She was genuinely a joy to be around.

Sadly she wasn't around and your servant was avoiding you. You don't know why though. You tried to have fun with Lucia but it felt empty and neither of you enjoyed your time with each other. The especially annoying part was that Wilhelm would always look at you with concern whenever you talked.

You're fine. You're better than ever, a bit lonely. Beyond that? You've never felt so certain with your spot in the world. Yet, you don't feel certain do you. Your servant is avoiding you, your only friend is currently unreachable, and you are finding no joy around your family. Did Apophis really affect you that harshly?

You need a distraction. You're tired of worrying about this crap. Just anything to avoid thinking about it. In the back of your mind you hear it, "Do we need to speak once more?" No, fuck off. You just… You just need a distraction. For right now. Only for now. You'll get over it, you're a proud magus.

You get a strange feeling and begin to search for Setanta. A dark omen looming within your mind as you search. Your panic increases slightly every second you go without finding the dog. You need to distract yourself. You don't need to think about it. You don't want to think about it…

As you begin to give up, you finally see the waggle of a tail from amongst the bushes while looking out back. With caution you wander into the woods following Setanta.

Setanta must realize you're following him because he keeps leaving just enough of a trail to keep an eye on him. Does he want to show you something? What could he possibly want from you?

As you continue to wander the woods you see flashes of bright green amongst the forest. Obviously being an unnatural phenomena you summon forth Gae Bolg just in case Setanta is for some reason leading you towards danger.

Reaching a clearing not long after you finally see what Setanta was leading you to. A sword not too unlike the one that beast wielded sticking out of a crack in a cliff. It was lodged deeply into the rock face.

You approach the smaller blade and begin to pull at it. Just as you're about to get it out something slams into you. It was that damn green thing! Just as quickly as it rammed into you, it disappeared. The sword was embedded deeper in the wall.

Not even hesitating you chase after that green thing. Never allowing it out of your sight, despite it never exiting your view, all you could make out was green hair and white cloth. The creature finessed it's way through the woods. Yet you proved to be just as nimble. It was never allowed to escape your vision, not even for a moment.

As it continues to lead you throughout the woods you begin to feel excitement. Solely focused on the objective of catching up to this thing. You begin to laugh, this was just what you needed. The perfect distraction! You can't even remember what you needed to distract yourself from.

The Fun! The Joy! The Thrill! You chase the thing up and down and all around the forest. The thrill of this hunt was getting to you, your heart pumping at a ridiculous rate. Your brain going a mile a minute, never allowing a single thought to linger.

As the chase starts to slow down the creature turns around before jumping over you and running in the other direction. Once again your sight never left the creature.

You just as quickly turn and get right on it's trail. As the chase renewed you gained a clearer view of the green haired creature. It was human, or at least you believe it to be human.

Not long after you and the creature find yourselves back in the clearing, having stopped in that location. You couldn't help but ask, "You're done running?" It acknowledged your statement with the tilt of it's head. After a noise of confusion left the creature it shook its head, vibrant green hair going every which way.

The thing, no, woman? Whatever it was, jumped down. Landing with a crash of power you two find yourselves staring at the other. "I'm afraid you misunderstand… I wasn't attempting to escape. I was trying to get you away from that… Thing." Her arm pointed towards the sword. So something about that blade is off-putting? You'd never guess from the black smoke it was now spewing.

"I appreciate the concern, but I knowingly went to pull the blade out. I don't need a wild woman telling me what not to do." Her face scrunches up at your speech towards her before returning to a neutral expression. After your statements, Setanta decides to finally show himself, bounding towards the woman.

Barking the entire way before jumping into the woman's arms. She gains a confused expression, "Are you certain? I see… I do not like it, but I'll follow your instruction. My master says that if anyone is to pull out that blade, it shall be you." Her face now conflicted as she stares at the sword with worry.

Master? "Are you a servant?" You just had to ask, the oddity of the situation not lost on you. She nods her head before looking towards Setanta. A pattern of bright red shining through his fur. Command seals?

"I am the servant Lancer. You may call me Enkidu." Wait? Lancer servant… But you already summoned the Lancer servant for the grail war… Something's fucked about this entire situation. You give a look towards Setanta as he simply tilts his head and wags his tail in your direction. He can pretend to be cute but you're aware he's a conniving little pup.

You had to bring up the issue even if you wanted to ignore it, "Strange, you sure you're a Lancer servant? Because as far as I'm aware… I already summoned the Lancer servant of this war. Unless you want to convince me he's been a caster this whole time!" Enkidu looks towards Setanta as he barks towards her.

She nods her head before turning back towards you, "I am… Uncertain. As far as I am aware, I was indeed summoned here as a Lancer servant. My moment of activation gave me enough knowledge to assume that I am the Lancer servant of the Holy Grail war." Great, well that's not concerning at all. What the fuck is going on.

Setanta barks a few more times before turning to you expectantly, "My master is requesting that you pull out the blade from it's crevice. I'll allow you to remove it despite my instincts telling me that it's a bad idea." You'd say you never knew Setanta could be so pushy, but your stay at Chaldea showed that the pup was quite the nuisance.

You turn towards the blade with some trepidation before approaching it. You look back towards Enkidu and Setanta seeing them tilt their heads in sync. You decide to focus on the task at hand and reach towards the blade. The smoke, more of a fog really, increases as you slowly start to yank the blade out. It was a struggle but eventually with one clean tug you removed the blade.

Setanta bounds over to you before ripping the blade out of your hand with his maw. The blade now clasped within his mouth, he holds the blade up high. The blade dissipating into a dark mist before settling upon the ground. Setanta barks at you before retreating back into the woods, leaving both you and his servant befuddled.

"I was unaware my master could be so dastardly. Such a tool to be used by a seemingly innocent soul? I was unaware that such depravity could exist. To trick us both so he could have the sword for himself?" As she speaks she wanders to where Setanta left before disappearing into the woods with him.

You're extremely confused.

Exiting the woods you begin to enter your house before you hear your servant appearing just behind you. "Master, bit of an issue, but I think there's an enemy servant living in the woods." He avoids you for a fucking week just to come back and tell you something you already know?

"Is that why you were avoiding me, Lancer?" With a bitter tone you let your grievance be known. Hoping he would realize he had wronged you and at least give an apology. Instead he just sits there looking confused… He never noticed, did he… You hate your servant.

He scratches his head, "Huh, I guess it has been a while since I saw you. How did I manage that? Anyway the servant I believe is living somewhere in the middle of the woods. I felt a big power surge not even an hour ago." He's talking about Enkidu isn't he… He avoided you for a week about something you just found out about.

"I'm aware Lancer, I just finished talking with the servant and her master…" Once more Lancer gains a confused expression. Then he starts looking over you before staring at you with a jovial expression.

"You fought them off on your own? Impressive. Guess it'll be a fun Grail War after all!" Your eye did not twitch. Your eye did not twitch! Your servant is just a damned moron! You grab the scruff of his uniform before pulling him down to your level and smacking him. Not hurt but instead confused your servant backs up before rubbing his cheek.

You turn to him, your irate expression becoming very obvious at this point. He backs up a bit. "No Lancer. I didn't fight them. Cause you see the master of the servant, was Setanta. The damn dog is a master! As for the servant herself? She's also a Lancer. So I was a bit busy being confused rather than attempting to fight a heroic spirit!" Lancer gets a confused expression as you speak.

Then he ingeniously puts your thoughts into words, "Well fuck." Well fuck indeed.

After your tirade against Lancer, Wilhelm informed you that a letter from the Tohsaka heir had arrived. However, right now you don't want to deal with magus shenanigans, servant shenanigans, or shenanigans of any kind right now. You honestly just want to go to sleep.

However, if you do that? The likelihood that Apophis will annoy you is high. As you said, you don't want to deal with shenanigans of any kind. So here you find yourself sitting at your desk staring at the sealed letter from the Tohsaka heir. Not knowing what to do now...

Fuck it. Sleep it is. If Apophis wants to come down and fuck with you? So be it. You're not putting this off any longer. After a minute of staring at your ceiling you begin to drift and just as quickly as your eyes close, they reopen. "A joyous occasion! You came to me without any need for me to provoke you!" The stars shine brightly before forming a massive serpent.

This is probably the largest Apophis's shape has taken. It would be a divine sight for many, but for you? It was a hell unlike any other. "Oh don't think like that... After all it was you who settled on how you would handle the lives of others! As Pride you should be glad to have chosen such a path! There shall be nothing you can't take!" The 'deity' in front of you began jumping to conclusions.

Apophis forms two quotation marks made out of stars as he looks at you. "I'm the real deal! No quotation marks, got it? Besides, is it really jumping to conclusions when you yourself agreed to it? Do we need to have this discussion again? Cause it's not entertaining the second time…" His naturally jovial tone turns malicious as his black pits for eyes stare at you expectantly.

Agreed? Pressured and manipulated into agreeing is a better way to say it. "Oh, Pride. Of course you agreed. If you cannot kill your enemies what shall you do? If you let them live without consequence they'll simply come after you. So are you a destroyer or a conqueror. Both have their own fun to them. I won't blame you for what you choose."

You really don't want to have this discussion again and you doubt Apophis wants to either. So you'll save both of you the trouble and just say you'll 'conquer'. "Hmm, I can live with that." Great, is there anything else this annoying ass deity wants?

Recognition flashes from Apophis's eyes before it states, "Oh, oh yes. Before I forget… I wished to inform you of some of my fellow deities. You might interact with a few of them as time marches along." There's more? Great just what you needed. More all powerful jackasses to play with your life.

The stars shine a bright red before returning to a dull white, "Playing? Playing! I am directing! I simply write the script, it is you who plays the part!" Sure, whatever makes the annoying god happy.

Apophis begins to sulk at your words before springing back up full of energy, "Annoying? Me, ha I'd never dare such a thing. Anyways, enough fooling around. I have gods to introduce you to!" With a hearty snap the room changes. What once was a starry void was now a blank one. All except for a bright light in the middle of the room.

Despite having disappeared Apophis could still be heard, "Behold my natural opposite. If I'm the director and writer of your story, he is my co-director and editor. The beholder of the diligents and natural masochist I present you with Ra." Seems all deities happen to go with Egyptian pseudonyms you guess. As you think that the light dulls.

And the large object that was supposedly Ra made itself known. An object radiating solar energy… Calling Ra an object was very unflattering. It was more of a collective of planets. All of them melding together with a large solar object at the center. These planets took on a wing shape, many simply being 'feathers'.

As you approach the being you realize how small you truly are and how far the being was. As you futilely tried to approach Ra, the room shifted back into a starry void. "Ra is the provider of the diligents such as Sif, or as you know her the beast you fought that turned into 'Setanta'. He also really doesn't like you, but don't worry out of the goodness of my own heart I sabotaged nearly all of the other diligents he has sent!" Yet to appear Apophis continues to speak.

Great, you already have one deity seeking your demise now a second one is supposedly after you? Besides, what the hell are these 'diligents' even supposed to be? "Hey! I'm on your side! I just want to see you struggle for victory. It's no fun otherwise. As for the case of the diligents… Consider them the edits Ra has made to my script to inconvenience you."

Apophis can call it whatever it likes. Doesn't change the fact you're getting tired of deities messing with your life. "Well you're gonna have to make room for one more!" The stars begin to flow. Not at all like how Apophis's stars moved. He makes jagged and quick movements while these one flow slowly towards an unknown center.

The stars eventually form a decrepit skull shape. Indents and scars shaped by dull and dead stars. "This? Is Osiris. He is the one you want to stay on the good side of. After all, he can at any moment destroy everything you've ever known and stop our fun." The skull starts to grow out soon forming an entire skeleton as it crawls it's way towards you as Apophis's voice worms it's way into your ears.

Fear takes you as the higher being looms over you. It leans in to consume you whole before the room changes once more. Finally back at the void you were used to with Apophis clearly in your view. "Trust me when I say. I'm the small fry here…" He speaks with clear amusement. At this point you have no doubt that he's the weakest god you've met. The concept alone is terrifying.

The stars start to shift away from their natural form slowly re-entering the starscape, "I'm certain one of my fellow gods will come to meet you one day, but for now you may leave. Just remember to play your part Pride. The rest of the cast are working so diligently…" Apophis chuckles as you awaken back in your room. Sweat rushing from top to bottom.

You let him get to you… Again.

Tired from your talk with Apophis but not wanting to go back to sleep you head to your desk. You decide that instead of running away from the issue of the Tohsaka heir, you'll deal with it now. Pushing it off will just make you want to do it less anyway.

You couldn't have been more of an idiot. An absolute fool is what you are, how dare you think anything would fucking go right! Reading the Tohsaka heir's response was your last mistake… As you began to read the letter it was at first amicable but slowly and surely the audacity of the Tohsaka heir's response got to you.

The letter went into excruciating detail on how Tohsaka would go about putting you in so much financial debt you'd have to serve her for life. You felt your eye twitch. Then you read her defame your family and call them psychopaths who deserved their deaths. Another twitch. Lastly at the near bottom, barely a mention, she said she'd take Lucia from you. You stare blankly at the specific line. "I'll take your cousin as a part of your new debt."

Your eyes violently look over the parchment again and again. How dare this bitch? She can threaten you all she likes. You're not afraid of her threats. You would have even allowed her to get away with slandering your family. However, the second she threatened your daughter? She forfeited her life…

You rip out a piece of paper from your desk and just as you're about to put pen to paper, you stop. At that moment you were going to write the various ways you'd have gone about torturing and killing the Tohsaka heir. However, the words of Apophis begin to reach you, "To kill or enslave… That is the question."

To conquer or destroy. No. Death is too good for someone like Tohsaka. Instead of writing a grand declaration of how you'd go about destroying Tohsaka… You instead write a very simple sentence, "Your ass is mine." You package it with Tohsaka's response before putting it away. Tohsaka thinks she's hot shit? She'll learn otherwise when she's riding your dick.

The Next Day

As soon as you woke up you had sent Wilhelm on his way to ensure that Tohsaka received your response. You're excited about going to Fuyuki now. Hopefully the Grail War starts soon so you have an excuse to personally visit Tohsaka. The amount of joy you are feeling towards the idea of conquering Tohsaka left a manic smile on your face.

Anyone who viewed this smile would've been disturbed. As they should be. The things you're gonna do to Tohsaka? Oh they'll be glorious, and the best part is? She'll deserve every moment of it.

As your fantasy's play out in your head, you hear a knock at the door. What? You approach the door expecting to see someone outside. A small bit of you hoping that Olga had come to visit once more. However, instead you find a large… Box outside your door. You reach towards the letter on the box.

On it was the constellation of a snake… You back away slightly, in case the box decides to explode. Opening the letter with some trepidation you begin to read it. "Dear, Pride! This here is a beg for forgiveness present. I'm aware that my troublesome personality has likely been vexing to you. So I got you a late Christmas present! Enjoy, Apophis!"

What the hell is in this box?

You pull the box inside. Very slowly. Damn is this thing heavy? What the fuck did Apophis send you? Like seriously? Did he send you a person or something? You slowly but surely get the box into the foyer… Now what the fuck are you supposed to do? You don't have a crowbar to pry it open do you?

As it turns out. You did have a crowbar. It was with the rest of the junk from the stockades. So you can safely assume it wasn't used for its intended purpose. The letter had instructions to safely open the crate. So you're a little cautious of something explosive being in the crate. Even if Apophis promises otherwise.

Putting it down on the proper side, you pry the top of it open and remove the wooden casing. Finding quite the sight. A woman with white hair and barely anything covering her body. She's fast asleep. Holy shit he actually sent you a fucking person. "Enjoy the gift, Pride. I might send you another later!"

You unbutton the coat that covers her to find her rather well endowed breasts popping out. There was literally nothing under it. You want her now... No you'll be patient. You have things to do today after all. However, you should probably get her into a room, away from Lucia's vision.

But before that might as well check out the goods. Taking her breasts in your hands as you feel the heavenly softness of her tits. Not only are they real, they feel divine. You take a step back to appreciate the gift. She's definitely good looking… But do you even want…

Who the fuck are you kidding! You want this. You want more than this. Fuck it, if this what you can get by conquering? You'll conquer! But not because that's what Apophis wants, but because that's what you want. You want it all, and so you'll take it all.

End of Chapter 4