Wiping the cold sweat from my brow, I stared at the dissipating remains of the Max Elephant. According to the notes, the massive creature laden with bells and intricate markings all over its great body was a reward from one of the Trimurti, given as a protective charm, then later reworked for the Ten Shadows by Tsukuyomi.
I'd found that to be true.
It shrugged off nearly everything I threw at it, until Shuwen unleashed his noble phantasm multiple times at one single junction, creating a slight wound in its thick and tough hide. The Great Serpent pumped that gap full of his extremely corrosive poison, damaging the majestic being from inside and out.
Even then, the Max Elephant only buckled to its legs. It did not fall, but it did end up lowering its head in submission once the poison worked its way through its bloodstream several minutes later. During that time, the creature unleashed a high pressure torrent of water from its trunk that was only impotent because of Round Deer's ability to negate magicks.
I held a hand against my chest, breathing heavily.
"I didn't expect it to be that tough."
Lately, I often found myself thinking less and less of possible consequences in favour of rushing into things headfirst. It was a troublesome way of being, but I found it more and more exciting as time passed. I felt that was what a proper isekai adventure was supposed to be like. I could always leg it if things turned too bad.
At least, this way, life wasn't so depressing.
Shuwen stood over me with his hands behind his back. The old martial artist barely even broke a sweat throughout the taming ritual. There was a slight grin tugging at his aged lips.
"You have begun to shed your needless apprehension." He pulled me to my feet, "As your teacher, I am proud."
A sort of warmth bloomed within my chest. I smiled back.
"After the war is ended, one way or another, I hope you will not forget my lessons, or your training." He turned to the setting Sun like the wise elder that he was. "Or perhaps, as we have discussed, this borrowed life will end before that."
"What are you talking about?"
"Master-... No, Enji. I have said before, I do not mind giving my life to make certain your survival. I have taken enough of them."
I... didn't know what to say to that.
"I want you to teach me more."
"Kaka!"
At that, the small old man smiled warmly, closing his eyes. He did not speak more on the matter, and stepped to the side. "Come along then. That woman must surely be worrying for you."
-
Though the rain stopped early enough, the storm clouds still loomed, covering the sky in a queer gray that remained throughout the day, and even now that the dark of night had long creeped in, I was unable to make out a single star.
I found Bazett standing at the appointed location. We'd parted ways after breakfast, to prepare for the coming confrontation with Berserker and Illyasviel in our own ways, and we were meant to meet up at the road to Kirei's Church.
Pursing my lips, I checked the time.
We still had at least ten minutes... I planned to score some brownie points by arriving, but she seemed to have thought the same, I hoped.
Bazett Fraga McRemitz awaited me under a blinking streetlight, dressed in a maroon suit one shade darker than her hair. That serious face of hers had intimidated me at some point. But, now, I could see the way her eyes shimmered faintly when she saw me. Her arm jerked, then she pushed it down, straightening her suit, before raising it again to give an awkward, mechanical wave.
With a helpless chuckle, I made my way over to her.
Somehow, she did not feel very professional, even if she looked like it.
"Is it because you're an awkward mess deep down?"
"W...What?"
I raised a hand apologetically, "I'm sorry, it's just adorable how hard you try."
"I..." She averted her gaze, "Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"
Then, it hit me what I'd just said. I felt the heat rush to my cheeks, and averted my eyes as well.
"Sorry."
"It pleases me to see you two getting along."
And immediately, all the tension was gone. A sense of dreary oppression replaced the gentle chill, and a strange weight descended upon my heart. When I turned to look at Kirei, those feelings changed into utter confusion.
No, instead, I felt a deep annoyance.
Why had this man managed to unsettle me so deeply?
He was a man, in the end, he was nothing, even the Divine Dogs could rip him limb from limb, no, I didn't even need to call any of my shikigami for him. He was barely an inch or two taller than I was, though much better built. In a battle of the supernatural, all of that mattered little so long as you had mana and skill.
The only reason I didn't pounce on him there was the ever-present threat of Gilgamesh.
I did not want to commit suicide.
"I sense great resentment within you, young man. It ill-suits one of your age." The barest of smiles tugged at the priest's lips, "Does the Lord not teach us to love our fellow man as if he were our brother?"
I narrowed my eyes, "The Lord also tells us to kill pedos."
"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Matthew 18:6. I am aware, young man."
Then he should have long committed suicide.
"I suppose I must be thankful I am not one of those then." His long robes fluttered with the breeze, "Let us ponder another time. We are gathered here for only one purpose this night. Though Saber is yet to be summoned, it would be remiss of me to not understand that the Holy Grail War has begun in earnest. For her flagrant violations, The Master of Berserker must needs be neutralised."
Bazett nodded. I held the priest's distant gaze.
"But, there is an issue. The Einzbern were to provide the Lesser Grail. I believe she is in possession of it, as such, I am bound to accompany you to both aid with the battle, and to safely retrieve the Lesser Grail."
My knowledge on this was sorely lacking. I was forced to accept his words as they were... not. I did not believe anything he said. It was impossible to.
"Is it just going to be us three?" I asked instead, tilting my head.
Our chances weren't particularly incredible if that was the case.
"I reached out to someone-" The loud and heavy rev of a sportsbike broke over his words, drowning out the silence of the night, "There he comes."
Moments later, that 'someone' came into view. A man in a black jacket left unbuttoned to reveal the white dress shirt underneath. He wore black pants, and an unimpressive pair of boots underneath. His face was obscured by a helmet, but I could not help but feel like he was familiar. He revved his bike loudly as he pulled in next to us, giving me a faceful of highway beams like a proper cunt.
The second he pulled off his helmet, the familiarity clicked in place immediately.
Plainly put, he was immaculate. There was no other word fit for his form.
Golden hair that seemed to shimmer even in the dark of night, and blood-red eyes not at all those of a man's. He was a fair youth who made me feel wholly inadequate the moment our eyes met. When I unwittingly lowered my gaze, an amused smirk crossed his lips.
Gilgamesh.
King Gilgamesh.
King of Heroes.
He was going to help?
"Oh? A mongrel that knows his place in this age? A rare sight indeed, Kirei."
I never managed to understand even later in life how the hell I managed to keep my flimsy bravado even in his face back then. Maybe, maybe it was because of how small he made me feel just by standing there, or maybe I didn't want to back down in front of the woman I definitely had feelings for.
"Mongrel is crazy from a half-breed."
His eyes widened measurably.
...Ah shit.
I'd just signed my death warrant.
For a moment, I shut my eyes and pressed my lips together.
-
Hope u enjoyed.
Gimme like 300 PS and I'll drop an extra chap.
You can find 9 chonky chapters ahead at patre0n.com/Bleap.