Chapter Six: Night Visit
POV Shirou.
"So do you have anything you want to tell me, Raynare?" I asked, trying to suppress my confusion.
"What are you talking about?" She replied, feigning innocence and snuggling up to my hand, practically purring.
As soon as I entered my newly acquired house, I came face to very audacious back of a Fallen who had shamelessly taken control of the television and was munching on chips. And when Kalawarna's head also appeared from the kitchen, I felt distinctly unsettled. After all, that was the kitchen, which meant... usurpation! But before I could protest, I had to quickly intercept the hand of the now conscious Rias. I changed the trajectory of the shot. As a result, some kind of destructive crimson energy projectile flew out the window, broke into parts, and evaporated. The Fallens didn't even raise an eyebrow, but I had to restore the calm and ask Gremory not to fire in the recently built house. And now, we're all sitting at the same table, eyeing each other. Me with the Fallens on one side, and the deviless on the other. God, why is this happening to me?
"Well, you just won a jackpot," Ddraig commented, trying to tease me. It seems he finds this situation amusing. Well, that's entirely expected since he also craves some entertainment.
"Allow me to explain," Kalawarna volunteered, rising from her seat and taking off her apron. This cheeky girl had already tested the new kitchen and prepared snacks for us. It was a blow to my ego. I had never allowed anyone to take charge in my personal domain of culinary creations and honing of my cooking skills. And here, I found out that for the first time, someone else had cooked in my kitchen. It... makes me feel defeated.
"You better try," I grumbled.
"Since our escape from the church, we immediately set out to locate my contacts as we had planned. However, right from the start, everything went awry. Just three days after our escape, Kokabiel ordered the search and capture of all my informants. We had a hard time selling our apartments discreetly and swiftly, using illusions and fake identities with forged documents among the humans. Then, Ray insisted on returning to you while proposing a gamble that, in my opinion, was insane."
"To empty my refrigerator?"
"Make an alliance with the devils and ask for asylum. Immunity in exchange for information about Kokabiel. And that's when we found your new little home." she explained, seeing Rias frown.
"Why do you assume that I will even listen to you?" the redhead asked.
"Because of him." the fallen angel smirked and elegantly pointed her finger at me. "As far as I understand, you really like this guy. You probably won't ruin your relationship with him by getting into a fight with us. After all, he will most likely stand up for us."
"You're using me." I allowed myself to protest, while also noting that she was right. I wouldn't let her harm them. Not after I saved them.
Listening to the fallen one, Rias frowned even more.
"We just want to survive." she shrugged.
"It's a case of the pot calling the kettle black." Raynare said. "Shirou, do you really think she gave you such a huge house just out of guilt? It's clear to everyone that she needs your abilities for their own…"
"That's enough," the devil said. As she spoke, the silhouette of Gremory was covered in a thin layer of the same destructive energy she had demonstrated a little earlier. This one word carried immense inner strength. It was as if a huge steel anvil was on your shoulders, relentlessly wanting only one thing - to make you kneel and crush you with its weight. Clearly, devils and anger are a dangerous mix. Let's keep that in mind and avoid it in the future.
"Rias" I decided to speak up before the situation escalates further. "If you needed my help, you could have just asked. There's no need to make me your debtor."
She sharply turned her gaze towards me.
"It's not something you can simply ask for."
"Even more so, if you can get rid of this 'debt.' Raynare interrupted the deviless, gesturing towards the corner where several steel cases were neatly stacked.
"What is this?" Rias asked.
Raynare stood up from the table, approached the cases, picked one of them up, and placed it on our table. Judging by the sound, it was quite heavy. Without wasting time, she opened and unfolded it so we could see the contents.
"What the…" I stared with my mouth wide open at the neat rows of large green bills that filled the case. Wait a minute, does this mean the others also...
Gremory scoffed. Unlike me, she had clearly seen much larger sums.
"This is the revenue from selling the apartments." Kalawarna reminded us. "If we stay with you, we won't need it much. You can pay for the house right now."
"Well, you know…" I attempted to process the new information, which fortunately went well. However, there was still something that didn't sit right with me. "I don't need anyone's money, and I'll settle things with Rias on my own! That way, everyone will be satisfied!"
I don't need two homeless girls to pay for me. Even if they have money, unlike me.
"Oh, yeah? They are much richer than you now, my friend." Ddraig, don't start, okay?
"No, it's okay, Emiya-kun. I'll accept them. After all, everyone will benefit from this. And your supposed 'debt' will be repaid," the calmed deviless said.
"Are you sure?" I asked just in case, while the fallen angels behind my back gave each other a 'high-five'.
"Yes, don't worry. But before I go, I wanted to ask, what will you do with them?" Rias pointed at the now subdued angels who apparently awaited my answer. "Just tell me, and they will never bother you again."
"Let them stay if they really want to," I decided without much thought, briefly looking at their faces. They needed my help again, and I'm willing to provide it as long as they need it. Living alone in such a house would be very lonely.
"Alright. Well, make yourself at home. I've found out everything I wanted, so it's time for me to go back," Rias said, standing up and heading to the hallway. So I followed to send her off.
As we reached the threshold, she said: "I'll grant their request for immunity in exchange for information. Although I don't really like their presence, they may come in handy. And Shirou, be careful. You never know what they might have in mind."
"All right, I'll keep that in mind."
"Then until tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you at the club," with these words, she finished putting on her shoes and, with a single gesture, moved four cases to herself, two in each hand. As a farewell, she just smiled and then a teleportation circle ignited beneath her, teleporting the girl home.
I breathed a sigh of relief. The house was finally safe.
"Nya," I heard behind me. Swiftly turning around, I saw a black cat with golden eyes sitting on the floor, a sight that was all too familiar. Approaching her closely, I tried to suppress my surprise and joyful smile and instead put on a very stern and serious expression. I picked her up by the scruff of her neck, and with a disapproving look, I raised her to eye level.
"And you, do you have anything you want to tell me?"
"Nya?"
Hearing the joyful news, the fallen could finally relax, and Ray, out of happiness, even dangled holding onto my neck. And I couldn't bring myself to start my favorite task - cooking dinner. After some thought, I decided to give the blue-haired girl a chance to show herself. Fortunately, we already had the necessary ingredients, thanks to the girls managing to buy them. During the time she prepared the food, and as we ate, we had a chance to chat extensively. About the current situation, plans, and demons. I suggested to Kalawarna that she should consider taking on a position at Kuoh Academy to always be close and share important information. She was naturally not thrilled about the prospect of working in the company of creatures from hell, but after some thought, she agreed with me and even mentioned that she had quite extensive knowledge of world history (out of curiosity, I asked her what the King of the ancient city of Uruk was called, to which she almost immediately suggested listening to the complete and truthful version of the epic of Gilgamesh, mentioning which visibly made me twitch). But only on the condition that I can negotiate with both demon clans. Agreeing with her words, I set a goal to discuss this with Sona.
And Raynare honestly admitted that she hadn't planned that far into the future yet, and for now, it would be safer to stay at home. I didn't insist, but I stated that since she was idle, she would help take care of the house. There were no objections.
I was also genuinely glad that Kuro was back. However, I had no idea where she had been for a whole week. I hope she didn't eat any scraps, although, knowing her picky character, I think she didn't eat anything at all. Look how joyfully she devours the fish. But how did she get into the house? The fallen used magic, they told that themselves, but what about her? Only new questions.
After dinner, we, as a group, went to choose our rooms. I decided to stay in the same room as I did in the distant past. It was more convenient, calmer, and much more familiar. The girls made different choices. Raynare settled closer, one room to the left of mine, unlike Kalawarna, who took a place at the end of the corridor. As it turned out, the house was far from empty. It had a full set of furniture, futons, as well as sets of winter and summer bedding. There were even new toothbrushes in the bathroom! Gremory was quite thoughtful.
After choosing their rooms, the girls went to check out the new bathroom and with a kind, carefree smile, "recommended" that I refrain from any impulsive actions at this time. Ignoring their remark, I headed to the inner courtyard. That's where I found what I was looking for. A brand new shed, which brought a weak smile to my face. Unlocking the door and pushing it open with my hand, I saw an empty room in front of me. There were no half-dismantled items or failed attempts at reinforcement, no scattered tools here and there. There was nothing to suggest that this place could have been someone's workshop. And it wasn't. It was a completely new place, without any traces or emanations. A clean slate. I entered and turned to the right, my gaze fixed on a copy of the place where everything had started for me. Leaning down, I touched the floor where the summoning pentagram should have been, entertaining the absurd possibility that my mind had long denied.
"I came here in response to your call. Now tell me, are you my master?" The words slip out of my mouth on their own. Memories rush by at the speed of stars. The image of a swordswoman with golden hair flashes before my eyes. She looks at me with determination and confidence. She's waiting for my answer. Pleasant memories.
"But I remember something else. 'People die when they are killed!'" A voice in my head exclaims, shattering the atmosphere irreversibly. Damn, how embarrassing. It's been a long time, but the feelings still won't let go. I want to disappear into the ground.
"Let's... forget about it. Forever."
"I make no promises, partner." The lizard happily responds. Damn him. He'll never forget.
I think I have some time. The girls are splashing around in the bathroom and won't come out for at least half an hour. I can't pass up this opportunity to practice.
I sat down on the floor and focused.
- Trace on.
The sleep in the new house was surprisingly peaceful. It felt a little unusual, but that was all. But what was even more surprising, I didn't feel any nostalgia. Seeing the house or the shed, I used to feel it, but not anymore, and that was very strange. Maybe it's because I never really considered my room as my own. Yes, I slept there... and sometimes not alone. But still, I felt much more comfortable in the shed. Oh well, let's chalk it up to my adaptability.
Waking up early and washing my face, I headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. I figured my new tenants would sleep until at least ten in the morning. After all, they spent the last week in constant tension, hiding from Kokabiel's agents. So, my task was to go all out. To make a great and nutritious breakfast.
Contrary to my expectations, the girls got up right before breakfast. Seeing me working in the kitchen, they only wished me good morning and went to freshen up. I, on the other hand, finished just in time for their return. This was also a chance to see if I had lost any of my skills. It was a challenge! I'll show them what the owner of this estate is capable of!
The table was set, tea poured into cups, and everyone took their seats.
"Enjoy your meal." I wished them and started eating, while also glancing at the girls and watching their reactions.
They picked up their chopsticks, grabbed some tamagoyaki, brought it to their mouths and... ate it.
Their faces froze in shock. And their cheeks turned pink. Then they suddenly sped up and started tapping their chopsticks on their plates!
Direct hit!
Mission accomplished, let's continue the attack!
"Miso soup?" I elegantly pushed the mentioned dish towards them with a smirk on my face. I felt like a seducer, eager to corrupt these girls by giving them forbidden pleasure.
"Yes!" the hungry girls exclaimed in unison. And me? I had already finished eating and was just watching them. It's nice when your efforts in the kitchen are rewarded with happy emotions from those who devour your creations.
"We have a critical strike here." confirmed the dragon. He found this situation amusing as well.
They thoroughly enjoyed their meal and now just sat in silence with blissful smiles on their faces.
"So, it wasn't just my imagination last night." started Kalawarna. "You really are an excellent cook. I admit defeat."
"From now on, I'll only have breakfast here." declared Ray, informing us of this like it was fact of nature.
"Of course. I have been practicing since childhood and putting in a lot of effort. And as you can see, it has all paid off." I replied to the girl, gathering the dirty dishes and taking them to the sink. "By the way, how was your sleep?"
"Wonderful. We were finally able to relax a little. Until this day, we were under constant tension. However, we never got caught or left any traces. Such luck is usually called a miracle. So no one will definitely be looking for us here. We are safe. At least for now."
"I'm glad to hear that. I decided to help you as needed. It would be very bad if something happened to you the next day."
Kalawarna looked thoughtfully at me.
"Why are you so willing to help us?" the question was asked more rhetorically, but I still decided to answer it.
"Because you needed help." I said it as if it were obvious and came across a very thoughtful look from Ray. She seemed to be in a daze, staring at her cup of hot tea. I think it's better not to disturb her now. Maybe she is remembering something from the past.
And then I looked at the clock. It's time for the Academy.
"Classes will start soon, I have to go. I leave the estate to you. Behave well and don't attract attention." I advised, wiping my hands with a towel and headed for my school uniform.
"You're not old enough to tell me that yet." the older of the duo sneered at me. But she had no idea about my true spiritual age.
Ten minutes later, I was already putting on my shoes in the hallway. The girls came out to see me off, which made me a little happy.
"Don't upset Kuro. And... stay vigilant." I gave my final instructions and closed the door behind me.
POV Raynare.
I had a dream. A very strange, unusual dream. A painting unfolded before me. I stood in the middle of a lifeless wasteland, covered in dust and swept by dry winds. The land here was dead, it unpleasantly crunched under my feet, turning to sand and dispersing in endless streams of hot air. Small clumps of mud and dust unpleasantly hit my face, making me frown and cover myself with my hands. Gloomy. It was quite gloomy here. Not a single animal, not a single plant, not a single living soul.
On the horizon, the local sun that illuminated this land was dim. It didn't provide the warmth and light that I could feel in the real world. It seemed to be decaying, on its last breath.
The sky of this land was absurd and incorrect. It was divided into two equal halves.
The left side was filled with gray storm clouds, occasionally revealing streaks of lightning on a sky tainted with rust color. Giant metallic gears were partially hidden in these clouds, slowly rotating, ignoring the storm tormenting the sky.
The right side, on the other hand, was completely opposite to the left. There were fewer clouds, and they were much cleaner than the previous ones. Almost white. The blue sky was clearly visible, with no foreign objects on the horizon.
This land was empty. There was nothing here. Well... something was still there.
Countless steel blades stuck into the dry ground.
I... I had seen these blades before. That day when I attacked Emiya Shirou. Back then, it was a blurry image without any details, a vision that came from my power. But now, everything was different. Too clear, too detailed, too vivid. I was sure I would remember every detail when I woke up from the dream.
Behind me, in the distance, there was a sharp clanging sound. And then more and more.
I turned to the sound and saw a large hill in the distance, the only one in the entire area. On it, surrounded by rusty blades, two warriors clashed in battle. One with red hair, wearing the familiar t-shirt and jeans. In his hands, he tightly gripped two beautiful, short Chinese swords, the black and the white. He ran towards his enemy, showering him with intricate strikes and clearly refusing to stop. I easily recognized him.
The second person was completely unfamiliar to me. His hair was entirely white, and his skin was darker. He wore black shoes with metallic inserts, as well as a red cloak that covered his arms and upper torso, adorned with bandages. The crimson fabric also covered his waist and legs, resembling a skirt. Under the cloak, I noticed some kind of black and tight leather armor. Interestingly, he held the same blades as his opponent. But despite all this, for some reason, I felt like I had seen these facial features before.
These warriors fought not for life, but for death, embodying their desires and aspirations that were reflected in the skies of this dimension. A strange feeling began to emerge in my chest. And the longer I watched their duel, the more I looked into their eyes, the clearer it became. Pain. My heart... it was being torn apart. Seeing how deeply these warriors wanted to destroy each other, how unwilling they were to accept themselves in their attempts to erase their own existence, I couldn't hold back my emotions. This vision... it seemed wrong to me. I wanted to shout at them, to tell them to stop, but no sound came out of my throat. Realizing this, I desperately rushed towards that hill in hopes of stopping them. I wholeheartedly wanted to stop this! There was a vast distance between us. Even though I ran, the distance didn't diminish in the slightest.
For a moment, the space distorted. It seemed as if I saw a beautiful cloudless sky. Instead of the empty land, I saw green meadows covered in lush grass, and blades of grass covered in moss, illuminated by bright sunlight.
But the vision quickly disappeared, returning me to the lifeless field. It lasted only a moment, but it felt like an eternity. It had shown me a boy who was happily smiling... letting go of his weapon. However, the sound of identical blades clashing again made me hasten my steps. I don't know how long I ran, but at some point, I finally reached the hill. Both warriors stopped their endless battle when they noticed me. They looked at me with surprise.
"This vision... I..." I unexpectedly managed to whisper, remembering those green meadows. My heart filled with determination, and my spirit acquired an unprecedented firmness. I looked into their eyes one by one, then poured all my emotions and strength into one single scream of my soul. "I will make it real!"
Waking up, I slowly opened my eyes and stared at the unfamiliar ceiling of a spacious room. Rising up and looking around, I finally remembered where I was. A new mansion that Shirou got from that crazy Gremory. Just the thought of that crimson energy she almost unleashed on us makes me uneasy. Honestly, that girl started having her critical days from the moment Shirou joined her occult fanatics' club. Even though she tried to hide it, I'm the "judge" for a reason.
Before I could finish that thought, I remembered what I had dreamed.
A hill...
Swords...
Two warriors…
"My heart, crystalline, embedded in my chest... could it be, is that your soul?" I whispered. What exactly did I see? Was it reality or a memory? No, if it had already happened, then I wouldn't be able to influence the events I witnessed or grab the attention of those two. Perhaps the influence of someone else's magic? Unlikely. Almost no one knows that we are here, and no one will find out for a while. So, what then?
Just who are you, Shirou? You use unknown magic, ignore the order established between the three factions for thousands of years regardless of the consequences, for some reason do not want to see others' suffering, and never refuse to help. It's as if something keeps pushing you to do it again and again.
Why did I see that time when you were slowly dying in the midst of fire and ashes? Who was the man who saved you from death? Why does your gaze sometimes become completely empty? Does it have anything to do with the dimension of endless swords? And... who was the warrior in red?
I don't know. And I don't even know if you will answer me if I ask about it.
Tired of pondering this, I finally got up and headed to the bathroom to wash up and take a shower. I postponed my thoughts for later. As soon as I left the room, I bumped into my sister, who somehow managed to find a black kimono she probably slept in yesterday. So, we went together to freshen up. However, when we reached the kitchen, we... were lost from reality. Briefly. There was such a tempting smell! I immediately felt my hunger growing. Entering the kitchen, I confirmed the identity of the wizard responsible for creating such appetizing dishes. Not wanting to wait any longer, my sister and I quickly wished Shirou a good morning and continued our interrupted journey to the bathroom to join the feast as soon as possible.
Returning fresh and energized, we all sat down at the table and started eating.
We were amazed! It turns out Shirou is an excellent cook. What a golden guy! A real find for any girl. In this case, just for us, hehe.
"From now on, I'll only have breakfast here.," I firmly decided to take advantage of this opportunity as often as possible.
However, a little later, memories of this strange dream began to torment me again. I continued to recall everything in the smallest details, trying to find clues or hints to the truth. I completely retreated into myself and woke up only after Shirou went to change into his school uniform. Together with my sister, we sent him off successfully. And he, giving us the final instructions, quietly closed the door behind him.
I need to take a closer look at him and understand what meeting him means for me.
POV Shirou.
"Today is a special day for you, Asia. From this moment on, I grant you the right to have your own familiar," Rias announced when the whole club was gathered.
"A familiar?" former nun questioned, and I unexpectedly became interested in this topic. I wondered what the familiar system was like in this world.
"They are beings that serve as support for devils. If the 'King' believes that one of his servants is ready to have a familiar, he officially gives permission to obtain one. They are very useful in daily life, as well as in reconnaissance and gathering information for their owner. To acquire one, you need to go to the underworld, to the familiar forest. However, there is a restriction. You can only obtain it once a month, and only on the night of the full moon."
"I understand the full moon part, but why only once a month?" I latched onto the peculiar detail.
"The master of familiars lives in that forest, and he's a grumpy hermit. He doesn't want to take on two requests in a month, no matter the payment. He's a grumpy type, but a master of his craft. There are no others like him, so everyone goes to him specifically."
"The familiar forest is the only place in the entire underworld to find them?"
"Unfortunately, yes. And tonight is the time. I am using this opportunity to make Asia stronger."
Well, there are indeed differences between the familiars here and the assistants of mages in my world, more than one. It seems that these versions of familiars are not summoned from outside and are not even created by the owner using a part of a demon's body, like blood or hair. They only reside in one place. From this, one can conclude that the familiars themselves, being living creatures from a magical place, will have their own reserve of magic and may not need constant prana feeding from their owner. However, here a contract or agreement is necessary. But how it works is still unclear to me.
One more difference. A dead person's soul is not used for amplification. If all familiars are already living creatures, then such a method may never have been considered in the devil community. Besides, souls are much more valuable for devils personally. Also, it's interesting to know how the bond between a familiar and its master is created.
"Sorry, Emiya-kun, but since you're not a demon of the Gremory clan, you won't be able to enter the forest through the seal of my kind. And it would be quite difficult to lead you to the Underworld through other means," Rias interrupted my thoughts. From her apologetic tone, it seemed like she wanted to show me that forest.
"That's alright, I'm not particularly drawn to Hell anyway. Besides, I still have my own matters to attend to," I honestly replied. And I remembered the morning conversation with the fallen angel. "By the way, Rias, can I..."
Unexpectedly, there was a knock on the door of our club room. Everyone turned their gaze towards it.
"Come in," Akeno said, and the door immediately swung open.
A group of female students and a male student entered the club room, with Sona and Shinra leading the way. I recognized at least half of them - the Student Council. And most likely, they were here in full force. What were they doing here?
"Sona? Hey, what brings you here?" I asked, taking a few steps forward.
Just as she was about to respond, the guy behind her unexpectedly spoke up. "Hey, don't you think it's a little disrespectful to address Sona-sama so casually?" he protested, stepping up next to the girl. For a moment, I saw her eyelids narrow imperceptibly, as if saying, "Enough already."
"Is it okay to interfere in someone else's conversation and interrupt the speech of your 'King'?" I added, imbuing the sentence with as much curiosity as possible. The guy faltered and quickly glanced at Sona. In response, she simply flashed her glasses at him, but it was enough to make a drop of sweat roll down his forehead by that time. "Don't worry, we became friends a year ago."
The guy decided to quickly nod and step back to his previous position so as not to provoke his president. What is he so afraid of?
"Please excuse my servant, Emiya-kun. He's still a newbie and not familiar with all the rules of behavior. This is my pawn, Saji Genshiro from class 2C," Sona introduced him.
"Well, I think that also applies to me. So, why are you here?"
"I heard that Rias has new servants, so I decided to drop by and say hello."
"Yes, that's correct," chimed in the redhead. "Allow me to introduce Argento Asia, my bishop."
I see, nice to meet you, Argento-san," Sona smiled.
"Yes, um, nice to meet you too."
"Despite the fact that she has only been with us for about a week, Asia, in my opinion, is already ready to receive her familiar," Rias boasted confidently.
"That presents a problem for us. You see, I have also given Saji permission to have his own familiar. And as you know, you can only receive a familiar once a month," Sona pointed out.
After the greetings were exchanged, Rias and Akeno, as well as Sona and Shinra, took seats on the couches and discussed our predicament. In short, there was one attempt to find a familiar, but two people interested in obtaining one. Well, it's a global problem. Naturally, neither of them would be willing to give up their chance. In other words, devils.
"Maybe we can have a competition?" Rias suggested with a hint of excitement, as Sona pondered the options.
Sona raised her gaze to her friend.
"Interesting. You know, that's a pretty viable idea. Of course, they won't allow us to have a rating game due to our age, so we'll have to resolve this in a human-like manner."
"And how exactly?" I asked, curious.
"Like school kids."
"Do you have any ideas?" I inquired.
"I don't, but I know someone who does," the girl said mysteriously. And why are those carnivorous eyes directed at me? My backside is starting to feel panic.
"I think I understand," Rias exclaimed, pleased.
"Emiya-kun, we simply need your assistance," Sona said tenderly. Oh, good lord. She knows perfectly well that I never refuse to help anyone. And I always see things through to the end. Is she going to take advantage of that every time she needs to resolve a dispute now?
However...
"What exactly do you need from me?" I asked.
I am hopeless.
"Choose a fair and acceptable competition for us. We will select our representatives and they will compete for the right to go to the familiar forest. I think it would be fair to not use any magic.
"Is everyone in agreement?" Rias asked, and in response, everyone nodded.
A fair and acceptable competition without the use of magic? There are many options, but considering their build...something with minimal physical exertion would be best. Maybe a test of accuracy?
"Archery." I finally decided.
"Well, not a bad idea at all." Sona smiled with too much anticipation, while Rias suddenly seemed disappointed. Strange.
"Momo Hanakai is quite skilled with a bow, she can represent us."
"Shirou! We don't have anyone who can shoot a bow. We have no one to put forward!"
"I will participate, President. Don't worry." I reassured the deviless.
"But you're a swordsman, you won't be able to do it!"
"Just have a little faith in me…"
"Well... I trust Shirou-san." Asia timidly spoke up. And for that, I am grateful to her.
"Thank you." I ruffled her hair.
"We just have to trust Shirou. He has never let us down before, has he?" Akeno, who had been silent until now, interjected.
"You're right, I guess I was getting too worked up and I apologize for not trusting you. I'm sorry, Shirou." After thinking for a bit, the girl concluded.
"Don't worry about it. Well then, shall we head to the shooting range? If we take too long, the sun will set."
"You're right, let's go."
So all the faces headed for the exit. And I remembered one thing.
"By the way, I have one request for you, Sona. Will you listen?"
"Let me think. If you can impress me in this competition, then I will definitely listen to you." she promised as she walked past me. Perfect, two mages with one shot.
"Oh, you won't regret it."
Fifteen minutes later, we were all standing on our spacious field. After discussing the terms, the girls decided on the following: the shots would be taken from a distance of two hundred meters using practice bows enhanced with magic just in case, borrowed from the archery club (where Momo holds the position of captain). The targets chosen were small, no larger than half a meter. Each participant would take three shots, and the more points earned, the better. The one with the highest score would be the winner. Magic in any form was prohibited. Only skill.
'Purest hardcore. Oh, these girls have no idea who they're dealing with. Hehe, this will be amusing,'I thought to myself.
Well... yes. It's all quite simple.
Before the main event of archery, we were given the opportunity to warm up. To make my act more impressive, I decided to abstain. If Sona desires a spectacle, then she shall have one. I didn't choose this competition without reason.
"He didn't even warm up before starting, he thinks too highly of himself!" I heard someone's indignant voice. It seems to be Saji. Oh well.
Meanwhile, it was time for the competition to begin.
I conceded the right to the first shot to Momo and simply watched. Meanwhile, she assumed the familiar stance that I had studied and known for so long. Taking position, adjusting and checking, preparing the bow, raising the bow, preparing the arrow, completing the preparations, releasing the arrow, and preparing for the next shot.
Eight steps on the path of the bow. The path on which I became a Master in my own world. It's fascinating how identical yet different these worlds are. The culture, religion, science, and even the structure of the world, everything appears similar yet distinct. And the most joyful part is that no other advanced forms of life from other celestial bodies have come to their planet. The moon here is just the moon and nothing more, not the Absolute capable of erasing all living beings on this planet with its power.
"You know, I wouldn't want to live in your world. It's truly terrifying."
Oops, I got distracted.
I forgot to mention that the targets consist of four zones. The largest one is green, followed by yellow, then red, and in the very center, within one centimeter, is black.
With a graceful flick of fingers, the first arrow soared towards the target. Momo was confident, so her hands didn't tremble. The arrow landed in the red zone, just a couple centimeters away from the center. The second arrow replicated the first's result, and the final, third arrow narrowly missed the bullseye, dangerously close to the black zone.
The members of the student council clapped in unison, praising the girl's accomplishment, while Sona smirked in triumph. Well, it was time for me to bring victory to my side. It was my turn. Taking the bow in my hands, I quickly inspected it and deemed it suitable for shooting from my own hands.
"It'll do," I muttered quietly, seeing the worn-out condition of the practice equipment. They should have updated their inventory already. Glancing at my target, it remained motionless, fairly wide, and the distance only two hundred and fifty centimeters. Not funny at all.
To everyone's surprise, I turned my back towards the target and walked in the opposite direction. I needed space. Our range was quite large, about six hundred meters or so. I marched until the distance to my target reached four hundred and fifty meters. Then, without looking back, I pulled out my first arrow.
After that, my movements accelerated swiftly, like lightning. I turned sharp and, with a simple motion reminiscent of European archers, instantly released three arrows, one after another. I did it faster than any non-magical professional would.
It took less than three seconds for everything to unfold. Taking my time, I examined my target. The first arrow hit the black zone directly. The second found its way there too, cutting through the previous one. However, the last arrow, hitting the black once again, came with such force that it split the wooden target in half. Hmm, I hope I didn't overdo it.
Shifting my gaze to the onlookers, absolutely everyone stood with their mouths agape, even Sona. So, I achieved my goal.
"What...," surprisingly, Saji was the first to regain his composure. "From such a distance and at that speed... without magic... and not even aiming!"
"Incredible," Momo exclaimed with admiration.
"Senpai, you're awesome," Koneko gave a thumbs-up. I'm sure she would have used two thumbs, but her other hand was occupied with a pastry.
"Oh my," Akeno said, demonstratively licking the tip of her index finger.
"Shirou-san!" Asia joyfully waved at me. They really caught me off guard.
"Sh-Shirou, how did you do that?" Sona thawed out along with Rias. Both stared at me expectantly.
"An archer without eagle eyes isn't worth a red cent," I replied.
"Archer... I see. You chose this competition not without reason, and I so easily believed in my superiority. Well, I'll take this as a lesson. I acknowledge my defeat and am ready to listen to you, Emiya-kun."
"So, we won?" exclaimed the redhead, along with the former nun, who also sent grateful glances my way. "Well done, Shirou! Now Asia will be able to find her familiar," they rejoiced.
"Let's go inside, I need to discuss something with you all. This includes you, Rias," I called the demoness back to the club, finally ready to discuss the vacant history teacher position for Kalawarna.
"I'm home," I announced my return while slipping off my shoes. The kitchen door slid open, revealing fallen angels peacefully drinking tea. Hmm, so they drink tea, demons in the club drink tea. Do they drink anything else besides tea? I should ask next time.
"Welcome back," the girls greeted me in unison.
"Don't you get bored sitting here all day by yourselves?"
"We have a television and a laptop with internet. We manage somehow," Ray playfully assured.
"Poor things. I think reducing your rations would be the best way for you to recover," I teased.
"NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO US!" the angels panicked in unison again.
"Calm down, I was just kidding!" I backtracked, seeing their terrified faces. I have a strange feeling about my cooking skills.
"It seems like your dishes are becoming weapons of mass destruction. Maybe even addictive substances," Ddraig cautiously suggested.
'You're exaggerating.'
"I'll go prepare dinner, and then we can discuss the news. Just wait a little, I'll be quick."
"No problem!"
"As you wish!"
"You think so?"
After dinner, I recounted the results of my negotiations with the devils. After debates and discussions, we finally reached an agreement. In short, Kalawarna will be able to work in Kuoh Academy if she demonstrates her historian skills by attending an interview at the Academy. She just needs to showcase her level of knowledge, and if it is satisfactory, she will be hired. The demons will take care of other details, such as new passports and recommendations from her previous workplace. In return, she will provide all the available information on Kokabiel. Additionally, she agrees to report any suspicious activities or events in the city to the demons, specifically Rias. As long as she fulfills these conditions, she will be under the protection of the Gremory clan. Every devil in the school will be prohibited from harming her.
However, if she betrays the demons, both myself and Rias will hold her accountable. Therefore, I consider this scenario highly unlikely.
Now, I lay on my futon, not even bothering to change out of my clothes, and pondered how once again I chose the path of the least bloodshed. When I traveled through the old world, I often had to intervene in escalating conflicts and take the side of those who would shed less blood and cause fewer human lives to be lost in the long run. Not only in individual battles but also in the aftermath of victory for the side I had chosen. I knew that in such conflicts, not everyone could be saved, no matter how hard I tried, which is why I attempted to minimize the damage, saving as many lives as possible. That was all I could do.
The same applied here. I made the decision to protect these fallen angels, safeguarding their lives despite disagreements with the devils. If I hadn't done so, they would have never returned to this city and most likely fallen into the hands of Kokabiel, resulting in their demise. Therefore, I have every reason to believe that I made the right choice.
My darkroom was suddenly illuminated by red light. Lifting my head, I noticed a magical circle of the Gremory clan on the floor. Familiar outlines of a girl slowly began to appear within the circle. After a few more seconds, she emerged from the portal... what the hell?!
It was Rias. Just not quite in the way I had imagined. She was wearing only a white shirt that reached her hips! Her gaze was determined... but at the same time, it seemed troubled. I lay in complete shock while the girl took advantage of my confusion and sat directly on top of me! What is happening here?!
"Rias... so, have you tamed any familiars?" I managed to squeeze out while keeping my sanity in a relatively calm state.
"Shirou..." the demoness whispered, exhaling passionately. Her voice made my safeguards stir, risking the release of my baser instincts. But I kept the lock closed. At least, until the situation became clear. "Please, make me yours."
Somewhere in my consciousness, a dragon whistled in surprise. And all I could hope for was that nobody would enter here. Especially Raynare.