Chapter 16: Episode 14

Disclaimer: I don't own Nasuverse or any other franchise that can be found in this fanfiction.

Words Count: 5043

Here's my usual spiel:

You can read up to 10 Episodes in advanced plus my other fic: Ars Goetia– Antichrist here.

p a tr e on . com (/) LiamThePoor

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A few weeks had passed since my return. When I wasn't training with Kotomine, I was researching my Magecraft and the inner-workings of [Future Calculation]. It had been… Challenging to say the least. So, my idea was this: Perhaps I could use [Future Calculation], target a single specific timeline and with my own version of [Flash Air] or [Displacement], I'd be able to exchange injured limbs, maybe even organs with my alternate-selves should I feel the need to. It would give me a huge boost in combat, not having to worry about trivial things like getting injured.

Another spell I had thought of was based on the Triple-A Game: Shadows Of War. Basically, if I could recreate [Future Calculation], then I should be able to make phantom-selves to attack my enemies at the same time. But, there were problems… Firstly, the Skill itself was created by a Space Worm-Whale, meaning it was so alien to me that just gazing at its inner-workings felt like it would melt my brain. Thankfully, my time in the Void, coupled with the self-hypnotization Mages had helped mitigate the damages somewhat. Secondly, developing Magecraft was harder than I thought.

It's one thing to learn Spells, it's another to make them. After I had gotten over the first hurdle with liberal use of [Observe], [Structural Gasp] and a fuck ton of self-harm, I now understood how the Skill worked a little bit more than I did before, turned out I did indeed have a [Shard] in my brain, whether it was taken straight from Worm-Verse, or replicated by the Game, I wasn't sure. Hopefully it was the second, I couldn't imagine having a section of your brain removed would be good for anyone, let alone a young girl like Dinah Alcott. But, as people often said: 'When it rains, it pours.'

My problems didn't end with the first two, every time I delved deeper and deeper into [Future Calculation], I felt less… Human. I didn't know how to explain it any further, but I could physically feel my emotions and everything that made me, well, me shift and twist into something else unrecognizable. The process was slow and gradual, but it was definitely happening. At the moment, it wasn't too alarming and I could ignore it. Though, I had a feeling if I kept delving into the Skill, sooner or later, I'd turn into an Alien-Apostle hybrid. That wasn't just my assumption by the way, I did ask [Future Calculation] regularly.

The answer was: 5.669% and still growing. This was acceptable risk, but once it got to 40%, I'd have to temporarily stop the research and find alternative methods, one that wouldn't turn into a Vampiric Abomination. Perhaps, I could ask Zelretch– The Wizard Marshall for assistance? The similarities between the Magecraft I wanted to develop and his True Magic wasn't lost on me. "That's going to limit my options, doesn't it?"

If I managed to obtain his help, my path forwards would be much easier, but it would also create obstacles, such as the Barthomeloi and the Aristocratic Faction. They hated Apostles with a passion and zealous fit only for religious nutjobs. Of course, they wouldn't do anything against me officially, but behind the scenes, I had no doubt they would try to make my life miserable. And unlike Zelretch, I was nowhere strong enough to hold back the tides of eager Mages wanting a taste of my Magecraft… Fun fact: Did you know the Apostle Ancestor once threatened to nuke the Clock Tower?

I didn't, not until Kotomine told me at least. Despite his hatred of all things Apostle-related, the priest did have a small amount of respect for the Wizard Marshall. Although, I was sure it's only due to how miserable Zelretch made the lives of Mages of the Clock Tower. Imagine going to the toilet, only to find yourself transported into an alternate Earth with bacteria that would make you piss and shit blood for weeks in the air. Or doing your research for days, finally choosing to go for a quick rest and was thrown into Warhammer 40K. Yeah, Zelretch… He wasn't always nice.

Some of his pranks were quite lethal. To be completely fair to him, he did end up saving the victims, but still…

Anyways, back to my research. I had found [Future Calculation] relied on very specific weak points between dimensions to glimpse at alternate timelines. You knew those stories about people no-clipping out of reality? That's the fault of these openings in space-time. The good news was, I managed to understand how to recreate these openings. The bad news? While I did open a few, all I could see was the Void and nothing else, the openings were also too small to fit anyone. Though, this discovery turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Since I could now leave small openings that would cut, if not slice off my enemies' extremities.

It's not something I'd place my bet on, especially if my foes were Servants, half of them were powerful warriors who would realize what's wrong within seconds, the other half were likely so attuned and familiar with Magecraft, that they would see the abnormalities in space-time right away. Still, for newly-made Apostles? This would be the perfect weapon. In other news, I had my own workshop now! By workshop, I meant a separate room that barely had any book and equipment in the Church, but everyone had to start somewhere, right? Unfortunately, with my own research to do, my already packed schedule got even busier.

Worse still, I had school… Yep, I had to go back to elementary. Next year, I'd enter middle-school, but now I had to study plus and minus with children my age. Good Gods, save thee believer from this horrible Fate. The reason? The CPS– Or Child Protective Services that had gone completely insane after the whole debacle with the Fourth Caster, otherwise known as Blue Beard and his Master. Whereas before, when they couldn't give two shits about the children, the CPS now were like a bunch of mad dogs on the hunt. How they sniffed out my existence in the Church, I had no clue, but they had threatened to take me away on charges of child abuses.

Made sense, they had to be seen doing something… Still, it's a miracle Kotomine didn't eviscerate them on the spot.

Thankfully, the one they met wasn't Gilgamesh but Kotomine. I couldn't imagine the destruction their demands would have caused if it had been Golden Queen. On a side note, the Queen Of Heroes had decided on Europe for her next destination… Those poor souls, they had no idea what was coming for them. "So, when are you leaving for Europe?" Gilgamesh chuckled, her white V-neck sweater wrinkled with every motion, pulled by the soft breasts that hid beneath it. "Eager to get rid of this Queen already? Such an ungrateful mongrel you turn out to be."

"Please…" I paused, trying to swallow down the urge to look at those swaying, incredibly distracting breasts. "Don't put words in my mouth, your Majesty. Frankly, I'd have much preferred you stay, if only for the view itself, but I'm not suicidal enough to think I can dictate what you can and can not do." Gilgamesh leaned back in her seat, another wine glass in her hand. Seriously, just how much alcohol did you have in that Noble Phantasm of yours? "That's smart of you…" Suddenly, her voice turned disappointed, those eyes which were usually upturned narrowed.

"Hopefully, those mongrels won't disappoint me as the rest of Asia already have…" Ah, so this was the turning-point for Gilgamesh, from being a decent, if rather uncaring Queen to a homicidal maniac that wished destruction upon the rest of Humanity. Maybe I could change that? "Why do you think so?" Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow at that. "Why do I think Humanity is a disappointment?" She clarified, frown deepening as I nodded. "Because they haven't done anything for themselves, thousands of years have passed and they are just as foolish…"

Her fist clenched so tightly I was afraid the glass would break. "They are even weaker and more pathetic than their ancestors. How could I allow such lowlifes to pollute my garden with their existences?" That's… Really short-sighted of her. "That's wrong." I instantly refuted. "Humanity have come a long way compared to our ancestors. Pardon me, but I believe you're letting your emotions cloud your judgement."

Unexpectedly, Gilgamesh didn't rage, nor did she express any anger as she leaned forth, her eyes bored into mine. I couldn't see any visible sign of anger, but I did catch a flash of amusement in those depths. "Oh? Explain, if I find your arguments reasonable, I'll reconsider my judgement, but–" She spoke, [Gate Of Babylon] flashing to life behind her, and I could see the tips of weapons, some legendary, others mundane but still articles of perfection. "If I do not like what I hear…" Gilgamesh trailed off ominously.

I took seat, feeling far calmer than I ever had in both my lives. I was making a case for Humanity, and success was required if I didn't the World to go up in flames. Granted, Alaya would likely send Counter Guardians to stop Gilgamesh's rampage, but I had next to no faith in that amalgamation of consciousness. Really regretting not taking Laws as my major right now. "Well, to start with is technology. Sure, we have regressed as individuals, I'm smart enough to admit that, but as a whole, with our technology, have we not accomplished what people of Ages Old couldn't even begin to comprehend?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat, scanning her neutral expression, then continued. "Tools that can and have helped us build architectures that seem impossible a thousand years ago. Phones and other communicative objects that let us connect with each other from continents away. Weapons that can cause the same amount of destruction as a decently powerful Noble Phantasm. Yes, we as individuals are weak and pathetic as you have said, but as a whole, we are much better than any Kingdom and Empire of the past could claim. Do we make mistakes, do we stumble and fall? Yes, of course, but who doesn't? Let alone Humanity…"

Gilgamesh tapped her fingers impatiently. "That's an interesting point you have made, mongrel. But, what about individuals? What's the point of living if all you do everyday is work for Corporations and Companies you don't care for? Everywhere I look, I see only slaves that work their lives away, lowlifes that would sprawl and beg for the littlest scraps of food. How could such a Humanity possibly thrive as I intended them to?"

Nice counter-argument. "As I have said, we are indeed weaker than our ancestors, but that's the natural progression of Humanity. Hard times breed strong men and women, and the opposite. I have no doubt the Age Of Heroes will come again, perhaps not in the way you have imagined it, but it will come… Besides, are we all not slaves to something, one way or another? Even those who hold the rights to command millions are slaves to their responsibilities. Didn't you yourself once spend hours per day listening to your subjects, making laws, changes and judge to benefit your Queendom?"

Gilgamesh hummed, setting down her glass as she looked at somewhere faraway, somewhere I couldn't see. "Are you calling me a slave, mongrel?" I slumped in my seat. "I'm calling us all slaves, your Majesty. Be it slaves to our desires and ambitions, to our biological needs, our fears and insecurities, or even our duties as individuals of nations. No one is ever truly free, to think otherwise is to purposely deny facts. Not even the Gods were free, as they were the most powerful, they all had to make sacrifices to defeat the White Titan, no?" I paused to take in a short breath. "Even after, weren't they sort of slaves to us, to Humanity? Desperately clinging to their seats of powers?

Nowadays, most people no longer have faith in Gods anymore. They merely use them as either a moral compass, or reassurance that there is something after death. Humanity has changed a lot, and I sincerely think it's for the better."

Gilgamesh didn't speak any further, still I could feel her resolution wane and weaken. There was a long journey ahead if I wanted to convince her of Humanity's worth, but for now, this was enough. "You have given me a lot to think about. Go to your little… Educational Institution and leave me to my thoughts." I stood up reluctantly. "Your Majesty, if you would excuse me." As I reached the door to exit my workshop, I turned back. "While Angra Mainyu's Curse hasn't been able to corrupt you, I believe it's affecting your rational thoughts, it's making you see faults where there is none…"

"Enough, leave me to my thoughts!" I scampered away at the sudden outburst. Hopefully this would change the outcome somewhat.

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Schools in Japan were different. Not just in quality but also discipline. I hadn't had to wear uniform in quite a while, still the motions came easy to me, having done pretty much the same throughout my old life. The line of students, some with excitement in their faces, others frowns that seemed to encompass their entire beings brought me nothing but nostalgia. I had always dreamt of returning to my childhood to get to enjoy more after adulthood began to deal blow-after-blow to both my self-esteem and endurance. Now that I got to experience this again, I had to say I wasn't looking forwards to it.

University was fun, you could skip classes as much as you wanted, you could do homework to make up for low grades. Elementary was a whole different beast altogether. Everyone had to follow the same boring routine, listen to orders from adults whom I knew wasn't that smarter than us. The worst parts were the students. While they weren't dumb, they were children, meaning everything they said was simply incoherent to me. Now I understood why people said: 'You don't want to be the dumbest person in the room, but you don't want to be the smartest either.' It's painful to keep up with these children.

My only respite was the knowledge that I was going to the same school with Rin. Perhaps I could hold an intelligent discussion to pass time. Unfortunately… I was in Shinji's class. Yes, Matou Shinji, that Shinji. Good Gods, I just met him and already I felt the overwhelming urge to bash the brat's brain in. He was the perfect example of the lowlifes Gilgamesh was mentioning, and I had to make a mental note to never let the two meet each other ever. Even I wouldn't be able to save Humanity from the disaster that would follow. "HEY! ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?!" It's like Sven, but worse in every possible ways and far more irritating.

"Yes, what is it that you want, Matou-san?" The brat snorted, face turned upwards, nose pointing at the ceiling as he began. "You're in my seat."

I looked at the table I had appropriated for my use, then at Shinji who was still as arrogant as ever. Fine, I didn't want this seat anyways. In my defense, I wasn't afraid of him in any capacity, but I didn't need Zouken's attention on me just yet. Don't get me wrong, the disgusting, worms-filled Apostle would die sooner or later, but I didn't have anything to kill it and free Sakura of its corruption. And I doubted Gilgamesh would offer her help, given her insistence on staying as a bystander looking in. Though, maybe Kotomine would? If I remembered correctly, the priest's revulsion for Zouken almost rivalled the Barthomeloi's themselves for Apostles.

Food for thoughts, aye? I left for another empty seat, this one next to the windows, it's the Legendary protagonist's seat! Damn did I feel special, gazing at nothing right now… My old school had this ugly building next to it so I never got to watch the clouds move throughout my entire school life. All I had was a depressing grey walls with what my seven years old-self was certain was bloodstains on the surface.

There was still a bit later until school started, so the students were free to do as they liked. The more over-zealous ones were already in their seats, re-reading old materials to prepare for the upcoming session. The naughtier simply sat in groups, speaking to each other in whispers. Me? I was bored out of my mind. There was no Magecraft to distract myself with, no imminent threats I had to face, not even Rin Tohsaka to tease as she was in a different class. Then, in walked Shirou Emiya– The meme-lady 'People die when they are killed' herself. Holy shit, what were the odds?

75.9%

'Thanks, [Future Calculation]!' She stared at me, I stared back at her. It was overall pretty awkward. Her face shone with recognition and excitement as she skipped towards me. Her voice wasn't loud, nor was it even audible in this messy classroom, but I could see her mouth move as she mumbled animatedly. "It's you! Y– You are alive, I can't believe it… I saw that building drop on you, how did you–" I interrupted with a wave, gesturing for her to sit down. "Relax, take a deep breath Ms…" I knew her name of course, but I had to keep up the pretense. "Emiya, Shiro Emiya."

"Ms. Emiya, I'd rather my… Achievement remain unnoticed if it's possible, so please keep your voice down." Shiro looked offended at that, for myself I was guessing. "B– But why? You are a Hero. You saved my life, I– I thought you died and wanted to be like you." I flinched at the mention of 'Hero'. Calling me that seemed to cheapen the title. I was no Hero, I wasn't even trying to be one. Superheroes of Marvel and DC would likely take one look at my moral compass and consider me just another grunt trying to find his place in this fucked up World. "Please don't call me that, Ms. Emiya. I don't deserve such title."

Also Heroes always had horrible ends, just look at all those 'Heroes' in history. Cu Chulainn died tied to a stone, cursed to Death by a Goddess. Herakles was forced to murder both his first wife and two children, then died poisoned by his second wife. Arthur was killed in the battlefield of Camlann amongst his, or rather her Knights. It's a fact that all Heroes died miserably… I'd be a fool to follow in their footsteps. So no, I didn't want to be labelled a Hero.

"But…" She stuttered, seeming to not understand my aversion to the title. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, I could help her avoid the miserable Fate that awaited her. On the other, her assistance and Reality Marble– Unlimited Blade Works would be unimaginably useful for future battles. The question was: Did I want to set an innocent girl for a life of miseries and sufferings? "Look, I merely did what I thought was best..." I stopped, realizing the answer. "Don't do that, don't throw your life away. I was in a bad spot at the time, and had things been a little bit different, I wouldn't have tried to save you at all."

I couldn't, I decided. Looking at her expression, so innocent and vulnerable, like a small puppy that had lost its owners– Its sole reason to live, I simply couldn't condemn her to such a Fate, all because of my thoughtless action. It's obvious what was happening. I had taken Kiritsugu's place on the girl's mind. While Shirou Emiya had used his father as inspiration for his doomed ideal, this Shiro was using me instead. Or perhaps, she was using both of us. I wasn't sure, but I felt slightly responsible for the situation regardless. "Look, I know what it must have looked like, but if given a second chance, I wouldn't have chosen to save you, I would've prioritized my life instead."

I pulled from my memories, images of that Hellscape, of the pain that having my lower-half completely crushed caused and felt my resolve strengthen. "You seem like a good kid, so I'm giving you an honest advice. Prioritize your own life, don't be a Hero and you should live 'till you're grey and old." —"B– But…" I interrupted with a sharp snort. "There are better things to inspire to be in life than Heroes. It's a thankless job, one small mistake and all the cheers and well-wishes could quickly turn to jeers and contempt. Don't buy into that bullshit."

…

Afterwards, Shiro didn't speak to me for the whole school day. Looking lost in thoughts even when questioned by the teachers. I didn't bother her either, opting to keep my distance and merely observe. I had done what I could to discourage her, whether she kept to her path or not technically was no longer my problem. Well, I said that, but I'd have to pay attention to her. It's Shirou 'I will save everyone' Emiya we were talking about, one small conversation wouldn't do the trick. If she's still dead-set on becoming a Hero, I'd have to teach her Magecraft so her Circuits didn't turn into shriveled branches.

By the way, I had tried to make my nerves into pseudo Magic Circuits as an alternative source of Mana. I was sure the Game would keep me alive, but that sort of pain wasn't something I'd wish on even my most hated enemies, Zouken maybe. It's like something had replaced the electrical charges in my nerves with molten lava and inserted Black Keys into my spines and were wriggling them around in a very successful attempt at worsening the pain. Needless to say, I was screamed at the entire afternoon when Rin learnt of the debacle, calling me all sorts of names, which included, but not limited to: 'Idiot', 'suicidal',…

By the end, I was quite sure she had only stopped because she ran out of adjectives to describe my stupidity. To be fair, she wasn't wrong. It was a stupid thing I did, inspired by a certain Fanfic that shalt not be named in an attempt to gain an almost limitless source of Mana. As you could see, it didn't work. I was slightly suicidal, but I wasn't a crazy masochist. I didn't fancy having my balls stepped on, or turning my nervous system into an asteroid field. "– What do you think?" Rin shot me a contemplating look. "Using your Skill as a base is a genius idea. Though, as your teacher, I'm required to tell you that you should refrain from doing so.

You already said your attempts are affecting you negatively, I don't want you turning into a tentacled monster just because you think it will be a good idea." Well, there went my plans. I could choose the risky path and continue with my research as usual, but I should probably stop for now. [Dimensional Rifts]– Yes, I named my new Spell and it had turned into a new Skill prior to that, was a decent prize already. I didn't want to push my luck anymore than I had, especially since so far, everything Rin had warned me about had all had terrible results.

While Gilgamesh did harbor... Positive feelings for me, I had no doubt she wouldn't hesitate for a second to obliterate me if I was transformed into a miniature Space Worm-Whale. "Although, I don't think you will need to halt your progress completely. I'm sure there are ways for you to continue your research with the information you already have?" Rin wasn't wrong, not in the slightest. But doing it the old-fashioned way was going to be incredibly troublesome. "I guess that's possible, though I'm thinking of contacting the Wizard Marshall. My Magecraft and his Magic are rather similar after all."

Rin grimaced. "I don't think you should. According to old records from my family, Zelretch Schweinorg is not someone easy to work with…" I looked at her pale face, curiosity surging in me. "Any story to tell?" – "Well, this one time, my ancestor was… Thrown from his toilet into the middle of a sidewalk medieval Era. It– It wasn't pretty, he was chased by the guards and lost his pants along the way." Oh, maybe I should refrain from apprenticing under him then. What? My self-esteem might be down the drain, but I did have some of it. Besides, being chased with my pants down just didn't sound that appealing to me.

Both of us stopped at the Tohsaka Mansion, instead of taking the bus like everyone else, we had chosen to walk back to our separate homes. It's quite convenient, since… Well, our homes weren't on the same path, but in the same direction. I could go on a walk with Rin, and get some exercise, it's a win-win! Remember kids, never skip leg day, or you would end up with skinny, chicken legs. No wonder Future!Rin had such banger thighs, she was walking for miles upon miles everyday. "Well, here we are… See you tomorrow?"

I waved her goodbye and quickly vacated the area. I didn't go back right away, opting to take a roundabout route instead. I needed to find somewhere deserted and scarcely populated. Unfortunately, it was rush hour, so every street was bustling with people. Finally, I decided to go to the harbor. The employees there mostly worked at late night, which was at least two to three more hours away. Why? Well, I had felt someone watching me the entire day. It was merely a feeling at first when I got on the school bus this morning, but then it kept getting stronger and stronger throughout the day.

The feeling intensified as I got closer and closer to the harbor, which was basically in the other side of Fuyuki. I jogged slowly, seeing as there's no reason to be quick about this. I could now see silhouettes of people at the corners of my eyes, some jumping on rooftops, others simply trailing me and disappearing in the thinning sea of people once they saw me looking. Finally, I was there. "Well, you all have been tailing me the entire day like a bunch of hunting dogs. Here I am, why not come out and introduce yourselves?" I heard shuffling and whispered shouts.

Then, five people appeared. Two girls, three guys, and by the looks of it, the way they moved, they were all fighters. "Told you he noticed us." One of the girls who had black hair and glasses spoke, only to get screamed at by the guy, whose hair was a spiky, bleached-pale blonde. His eyes were a piercing, crimson red. Overall, his entire appearance reminded me of a certain Queen. "Shut the Hell up, you damned extra!" Huh? He's cocky as fuck too. Was… Was he by any chance related to Gilgamesh? A distance descendant perhaps?

"Y– You shouldn't speak like that to your teammates, Bakugou!" Wait, wait. Give me a fucking seconds, Bakugou as in Katsuki Bakugou? The explosive rival of Izuku Midoriya in MHA?! What the actual fuck? This was the wrong Verse, you disgusting sweats-ridden knucklehead! The other girl who spoke up for, presumably, her friend wasn't actually familiar. Thank the Gods for that, I thought I was in the wrong Verse for a moment there. "Okay…" I drawled. "Mind explaining to me why exactly were you bunch of clowns following me around?"

"""CLOWNS?""" – "YOU WANNA DIE, YOU EXTRA?!"

I face-palmed. I probably didn't need to say who spoke the following sentence, no? "Here, let me fix it then. First, generic, sarcastic girl with glasses who existed solely to be the team's voice of reason…" I looked at each of them. "Bubbly girl who will probably die within the first season so the protagonist can have his power-up moment." I pointedly ignored the shouted 'DIE?' from the girl. "Generic Guy A, Generic Guy B–" I wasn't even wrong, those two had brown hair, brown eyes with no other recognizable features in an anime World. They were at most recurring extras whose roles were to comment on the protagonist's fights.

"– And the pile of explosives, who's likely the protagonist's rival, or the protagonist himself." Unfortunately, it was too early in the timeline, so all the references I made seemed to go over their heads by a mile. "Did I miss anything–?!" I didn't get to finish as Bakugou charged at me, faster than any mundane person I had seen. In that fraction of a second, I could see his fists lighted up with swirling balls of energy, the same energy Satou of Kyoto had used to enhance himself in our short fight. I ducked, letting his fist flying harmlessly over me as palmed his stomach, sending him sliding back a few feet.

"Martial Artists, huh?" I questioned, more to myself than the gaggle of clowns before me. What the fuck did I land myself in? A generic shounen anime? What's next, they were gonna power-up via friendship. "Please, don't try that again or I will have to bash your face in, that or give you a wedgie, your pick." I shrugged uncaringly, though my body had already entered combat state, eyes darting around for possible sneak attacks. The explosive knucklehead clenched a fistful of dirt, his other hand clutching his stomach as he roared, preparing for another charge. "Stand down, Bakugou. Our mission is to make contact with the Magus, not to provoke him."

Surprisingly enough, the one to speak wasn't Glassed Girl, but Generic Guy A instead. He fixed his outfit, patting the dust from his pants and continued. "Hello, Magnum-san. As you have surely found out, we are Martial Artists. We are here to make contact, and if possible, establish a partnership with you."

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