Chapter 73: Episode 70

Words Count: 4422

A/N: This Ep’s more of an aftermath and slice-of-life kind of deal, the next Ep Rin and Leonis will probably have reached the Tower. Maybe I’ll even let Sakura and Shiro accompany them, not sure though.

A/N#2: I’ve recently been hooked on two Xianxia Novels:

• Mythic Cultivation: My Tongtian can’t be this cute
• This young master is not a cannon-fodder.

Both are of extremely good quality, and I enjoy them a lot, just want to share them for you guys. I really hope more Novels would take place in Mythologies of the World, not Greek and Norse though… Those two are done to death, I want something new, and Chinese Myths are quite entertaining. Although, I understand why few authors attempt to do a Novel about Chinese Myths, it's too convoluted and hard to understand at times.

Also… Surprise?! Bet you thought the next Ep would come tomorrow, didn’t ya?

Here's my usual spiel:

You can read from Episode 71 to 100 (Plus Ep 101 should be up in a few hours) in advanced and the Tier starts from as low as 1USD, try it out!

p a tr e on . com (/) LiamThePoor

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“The explosions last night have caused severe damages to the infrastructures, and most roads affected are currently closed off for the public to protect them.” The female reporter said, hands fiddling with the scripts given to her as she discreetly referred to her male coo-worker.

“The causes of these incidents are being investigated as we speak, though experts have speculated it might be due to gas-leaks and rusty pipelines that haven’t been attended to for several decades since the founding of Fuyuki.” The man spoke seriously, yet all he did was draw a short, indifferent chuckle out of me. Even had I been just another random Joe on the streets, completely unaware of the Moonlit World, there was no way I’d ever buy that shit normally,

Let alone so soon after the Fuyuki’s Great Fire.

“According to the FPD, the casualties from last night are mounting, with an estimation that at least 150 people have lost their lives, with over 200 more wounded with injuries varying from severe to small scratches and burns. Although the public has speculated this is a wildly conservative estimation, and the real number must be around 300 to 400.”

The news reporters continued as my mind wandered back to the events late last night. Neither Triss nor Philippa had come through with their offers to find me the Spell, thus I had planned to delay Sakura’s Trials until I had a better solution than going full exterminator on the old Worm, but what’s done was done. With one less enemy in my territory, I’d be able to sleep easier knowing I wouldn’t wake up to a Crest Worm in the process of wiggling its way down my throat.

For one of the main antagonists, Zouken died surprisingly quick, likely because he had commanded the majority of his swarms to the Church to retrieve Sakura, and with his sole source of consistent Mana gone, the Crest Insects became too much for him to keep. Abandoned by the old Worm, some went berserk, desperate to continue their wretched existences,

Others simply broke down to pools of bubbling liquids without Zouken’s commands.

The stragglers that stayed back at the Matou Mansion was easy-pickings for me.

I basically bombarded the entire place with [Ansuz], then left to hunt down the rest until I finally cornered Zouken in an alley. He was trying to escape down the sewers, which would have been bad. Sadly, outrunning someone who could teleport all over the place was easier said than done.

Those quote-unquote ‘baseless’ speculations weren’t actually baseless, the corpses accounted for were only those with family and friends, those who had… Mattered to society prior to their untimely demises. There were more than one or two homeless persons whose bodies I had been forced to turn to ashes to hide the evidences of the Moonlit World,

The unlucky ones to be caught up in Zouken’s rage-induced rampage through Fuyuki’s streets.

It wasn’t pretty, but it’s better than leaving behind a mountain of evidences for the mundane to speculate. In fact, the reason the casualties were so low was because I spent the hours destroying the bodies drained and ravaged by the old Worm’s Crest Insects, then the rest of the night compelling the authorities that the whole thing was… Explainable through proper sciences.

That alone would not be able to completely silence the worldwide community of conspiracy-theorists, nor would it stop them from poking their nose where it didn’t belong, but as was with all tragedies, I knew the hype and attention would die down sooner or later. Unfortunately, the Japanese Government had decided to hold a National Mourning for the lives lost last night, which meant we would have to lay low for a while to avoid suspicions.

It made sense, this was the second tragic event that had taken place in Fuyuki within three years, and the Government had been utterly useless thus far, which wasn’t their fault, but they had to be seen doing something before public outrage could grow. In fact, the Great Fire was still considered one of the biggest mysteries in the country and was often chosen as a topic for fame-hungry public figures, or chatty teenagers to talk about over lunch.

I had not doubt Rin would receive a call from the Clock Tower regarding this… Fiasco. Luckily, we had the perfect fall-guy to take the blame– Zouken who was very much twisted into a Demonic Abomination incapable of speech, and hence incapable of defending himself or making deals to save his own arse. Courtesy of yours truly, obviously.

Sighing, i muffled a groan with my palm. “It’s still going to be a hassle, isn’t it?”

The Barthomeloi might not pursue this matter, especially once they knew of the old Worm’s Apostle Status, but the same could not be said for the other Aristocratic Houses. Perhaps I could pull some strings behind the scenes? I did have a decent relationship with Sven Glascheit, asking him to put in a few good words for us wouldn’t hurt… Where did I leave his number again?

“On other news, there have been evidences of a horrifically mutated strain of worms and spiders found near the areas where the tragedy took place, it is believed they are responsible for the gas-leaks, having worn down the pipelines.” Right, the Crest Insects and Arachnids Zouken cut loose were around still. What?! I was only one person, and locating those slimy fucks was a four-persons duty at least, which was why I had–

“Local biologists have said their appearances might be due to toxic, chemical wastes from a nearby power-plant…” – Done that. It took a liberate use of [Mesmerize] and [Axii], but the Crest Insects were blamed on a Corporation with several power-stations situated in the outskirt of Fuyuki City. They were the perfect scapegoat too, since their business-practices were quite amoral long before my Rebirth.

In fact, those guys had been accused of illegally dumping toxic materials for decades, causing severe damages to the environment and local wildlife, but they were too powerful to be taken down by a few lawsuits, it’s like pennies out of their pockets…

Two birds, one stone.

I dealt with Zouken beautifully, saved Sakura of a decade of tortures, and even gave the woke mobs of Fuyuki City excuses to take a bite out of their Capitalist Overlord. I was practically a fucking Hero already! The thoughts made me wheeze lightly as I skillfully flipped the omelets. Although, Angra was less than amused at the notion, drawling. ‘Pretty sure Heroes don’t leave behind trails of bodies as collateral, but okay… You do you, Leo-tan.’

‘Don’t be such a spoilsport, Angra. Let me enjoy this victory. Beside, don’t you all hate this version of Humanity?’

‘I do, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to get on my knees and stroke your massive, growing ego.’ Call it a hunch, but I had a feeling Angra just rolled his eyes very sassily. I replied in a huff. ‘That’s… Fair enough, it’s not like I want you stroking anything of mine with those rotting skeletal-hands of yours anyway. Also, last I checked, the requirements to be a Hero are pretty loose, what with people like Jack the Ripper and Empress Nero on the Throne and all…’

‘Oh, fuck you.’

‘You keep saying things like that and I might have to question your sexuality and reconsider this budding friendship based on your answer.’ I told him in the calmest voice I could manage. “The Government has declared National Mourning in three days to commemorate the victims, while the authorities investigate these matters. Back to you, Yuhi-san.”

The News flipped to show a man in his twenties. Much like the rest of the humans in this World, he had unnatural hair-color, and the expression on his face spoke of true of his feelings– Horrified and scared. “Than- Thank you, Watannabe-san. As you can see, I’m here with a few witnesses who claim to have seen one of these… Mutant insects mere seconds before the explosions happened. What are your thoughts and feelings on the matter, Kikuchi-san?”

“They were everywhere! I- I was having a walk when they came, I had to hide in the bin, but- but they were ravenous! I even saw them try and swarm some homeless guy and–” Ah-Yes, Mr. Kikuchi, a respectable member of society, a lawyer to be precise. I had chosen him specifically since his words would hold more weight than other random normies. Even with my active-effort in destroying the more damning evidences of Zouken’s rampage, I knew I could not completely hide what took place, thus…

‘More scapegoats.’ Angra lamely finished my train of thoughts.

I crossed my arms, staring silently at the browning omelets. ‘That’s… Not exactly right, is it? The Insects did indeed kill those people, I simply erased all evidences of their doings via excessive use of Spells-bombardment.’

Smiling, I added after a short moment. ‘Has anyone told you you’re a very judgmental Daemon, Angra? ‘Cause you are.’

I had a feeling the Daemon King’s Fragment was about to respond, but sounds of a ringing phone entered our ears and took our attention away. My head snapped towards the source as I turned off the gas, not wanting to burn our breakfast. Then, I blinked next to the phone. Truly, having the Elder Blood had only served to increase my laziness even further… And I was loving every second of it.

Yanking the phone out, I answered slightly irritated. I couldn’t help it, it was six in the morning, who the Hell would call at this time? “Yes, this is Fuyuki Church, how may I help you?!”

“Who are you?! Where’s Kotomine Kirei?” An unfamiliar, yet distinctively male voice screeched like a bat from Hell. “I’m Leonis Magnum, Kotomine’s… Protégé–”

I wasn’t lying per say, the Fake Priest did consider me his project? Successor in his sadistic ways? I wasn’t sure, but those certainly were not lies. “Give the phone to that fucking idiot, what the Hell’s he doing?! We have an entire nation in mourning, the Mages’ Association is losing their shits and nobody can get in contact with the Second Owner–”

Damn, this priest cursed almost as much as I did.

“If I may interrupt, Kotomine Kirei is unavailable. He has been murdered last night by the one responsible for this mess.” I did not need to fake the sadness, I was genuinely upset that the Priest was gone. The Church just felt empty without him stalking the halls like a creep. “Worry not, the culprit has been dealt with appropriately, and most of it is covered up using the more mundane excuses. As for the Second Owner, she’s here as well, nursing her wounds.”

“And who exactly is the culprit? What is this talk we heard of mutated insects?!”

“Matou Zouken, his real name’s Makiri Zolgen. He’s an Apostle and according to what we found, he has been alive for the last five centuries.” I paused to let the information sink in, before continuing with a tired sigh. Good Gods, somebody get me a fucking Oscar. “We still don’t know why he did what he did after centuries of hiding, but he suddenly went mad last night.”

“Fuck… You’re fucking useless–“ That’s rude. I basically saved the entire City and covered things up on my own, you should be thanking me, motherfucker. Obviously, my complaints remained unspoken as he droned on and on, telling me dangerous this situation was and the Association and the Church were genuinely considering wiping the Fuyuki off the map. “– Just get the Second Owner over here, or better yet, tell her to contact the Association or the Church ASAP so we can figure out how to deal with this mess!”

With one last yell, he cut the call short, leaving me with forehead bulging with angrily throbbing veins. “And be quick about it! Fucking– Children– How–… Less”

‘This fucking prick…’ I grumbled in my head, wanting nothing more than to give whoever that was on the phone a piece of my mind– Or my foot more like it. ‘Who the fuck does this guy think he is to give me orders?’

I was correct in my assumptions, even with things handled, the Church and the Association were both up in arms over the matter. It’s generally understood that the Grail War would leave the City in a bad state, which was why the Ritual was purposefully scheduled to take place every fifty years. Yes, the Holy Grail required an absurd amount of Mana to activate, but upon the powerful leylines of Fuyuki, it should have taken the Grail three decades at most to collect the necessary Mana.

But, since the Founding Houses of the Ritual were not reckless idiots, they decided five decades were optimal so as to not arouse suspicions from the mundane side of the World. Five decades were half a lifetime for most, and the newer generations tended ignore things that took place ages ago. However, two tragedies, each taking the lives of hundreds happening in succession? Now that’s when people started asking difficult questions.

If shits went down every half a century, it could become urban legends.

But if it happened consecutively in less than three years, now that’s a completely different story.

Still, I wasn’t about to wake Rin up over something this trivial.

The girl had spent the entire night hypnotizing witnesses with me and she didn’t have a Game to ease her exhaustion, she needed all the sleep she could get. I could handle things as they came along. Speaking of which, both Shiro and Sakura were asleep too, the only ones awake in the Church were Gil and I. No idea what the Golden Queen was doing now, but last I saw, she was going through her usual routine of downing bottles and looking like a baller again.

‘Haaaaa… Must be fun to be one of the most powerful beings on the planet, the whole ordeal doesn’t seem to shake Gil at all.’

I blinked outside her bedchamber, knocking lightly as I called. “Gil-chan, breakfast’s done. Come out when you’re ready.”

Then, I blinked into my own room. If my memories had not failed me, I kept Sven’s number somewhere in my closet. Sure enough, I found the crumpled piece of paper in chest-pocket. The ink was faded and blurred, there were even huge dark blotches thanks to the pen the Glascheit Heir had used, but it was thankfully still readable.

The next second, I was in front of the phone once more.

Moments later, the phone was ringing while I tapped my feet impatiently.

“This is Sven Glascheit, who is it?”

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” I smirked hearing the gasp on the other side.

I could practically see Sven’s eyes widening in surprise. “Leonis, where have you been, you little shit? I thought you died!”

“Uhmmm–” My mind wandered back to my most recent adventure. I probably shouldn’t tell him the truth. While I trusted Sven to a certain extent, it had been some time since we parted, and knowing how Mages operated, there was a real chance he could- would betray my secrets. “I was… Around.”

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“Fine, keep your bloody secrets. Why did you call?”

Leaning against the wall, I idly swung the handset cord. “You haven’t heard about what happened? Japan’s in an uproar thanks to the event last night… In fact, I just received a call from the Church, I might need to call in that favor.”

“Explain.”

I laughed. “How bossy. Okay, so you know the Grail War and the Founding Families responsible for its creation?”

Sven answered. “Of course, who doesn’t?”

“Apparently, one of the people who helped designing the Ritual is an Apostle–” Obviously, I knew this long ago, but I had a role to play. “– And he is still– Well, he was alive, and he was feeding on his descendants until I…”

What came next was a very, very tense conversation with several interruptions from the Glascheit Heir.

Alas, I was able to convince to put in good words for us, though Sven did say that Rin and I, as the main players in last night’s event would most likely be requested/ordered to drag our asses to London regardless.

‘Welp, guess it’s time to book plane tickets…’

Then, I went on to call my acquaintances in Murim next.

I was too young to order plane tickets on my own, but surely Sasaki would be able to procure me those no problem, right?

—— [Fate: DML] ——

Rin half yawned as she burst out from the guest-room she had stayed in, her destination? Wherever her younger sister’s at. The Tohsaka Heiress was inexperienced and careless, but she certainly wasn’t stupid in any capacity.

From the little she remembered of her conversation with Matou Zouken, Sakura had gone through a lot under his… Care. She could not believe it, even now she found it hard to believe her father– The man she had looked up to her entire life, had knowingly put his little girl in that hopeless situation. Maybe, just maybe Sakura could resolve some of the questions occupying her mind. Maybe everything the Apostle said was just a cruel trick in order to hurt her.

Deep down, Rin knew he wasn’t lying, and yet he held onto the hope that he did like a lifeline.

For if he said the truth, then all this time she was living her best life while her sister, that little girl who would so often cling to her, following her to their mother’s bedchamber like a lost puppy was being tortured days and nights. Worse part was, her understanding of House Matou’s Magecraft meant she knew exactly what the Apostle had done. “SAKURA! Where are you?!”

She went door by door, slamming them open in haste to find the girl, until she heard a weak voice respond from the kitchen. “O- Onee-san? I- I’m here.”

Like the winds, the Tohsaka Heiress raced towards her long lost sister, the same sister she had dreamt of reuniting with day after day, night after night, yet was never able to gather the courage to do so much as look her in the eyes, afraid of what she might find in them– Hate. Resentment. Anger.

But what she was perhaps most fearful of, was disappointment.

Rin was so afraid to find Sakura disappointed with her, so afraid the girl would refuse to acknowledge their sisterly-bond, that she never even bothered to check up on her last living family member. Now, now she wasn’t afraid of those anymore, she just wanted to draw her sister in a tight hug, to whisper words of love and encouragements in her ears, if only to soothe the guilt that was biting chunks from her chest.

The Tohsaka Heiress cared not for her friends– Leonis and Shiro.

She cared not for the Heroic Spirit who was chewing on a toast.

Rin was in a stupor as she set sight on her sister– Dark brown hair,

Crystal blue eyes reminiscent of her own pair, something they had inherited from their… Father.

The girl’s soft features, more similar to their mother than Rin’s were…

“Onee-san, good morning.” The demure girl offered, and Rin could do nothing to stop her body from jumping towards Sakura, drawing her sister in a tight embrace as she sniffled. Questions and concerns seemingly forgotten, the tsundere spoke naught but incoherent apologies and wails. “I’m- *Sniff*- I’m so- *Sob*- I’m so sorry, forgive me. Please, forgive Onee-chan, Sakura…”

—— [Fate: DML] ——

Thanks to Rin’s outburst, breakfast was more awkward than the dinner I had with Geralt and Yennefer.

I’d talk to Angra, if only to ease my nerves, but the bastard was five moves ahead and had fucked off to the deepest depth of my consciousness the moment he realized what followed the Tohsaka sisters’ emotional reunion would be incredibly uncomfortable. I couldn’t blame him, he was right to do so.

Even I, for all the layers of skin I had grown, was getting secondhand embarrassment watching how… Unnatural Rin was behaving. “Here Sakura, try this.”

“Onee- Onee-san, I don’t- Please eat, there’s no need for you to–“ She was cut off with a sharp yell by Rin. “NO! You have to eat, you have to get your strength up after…”

Thank Gil she wasn’t dumb enough to mention Zouken, though this? It wasn’t much better. I groaned as I chewed on my pancakes, the soft texture feeling like straws in my mouth, the delicate sweetness faded and bland as I slowly massaged my eyelids.

“Rin-sensei…” The girl’s head snapped in my direction so fast I genuinely feared she might have broken it from the abrupt whiplash, her twin-tails slapping dramatically me on the face. The Tohsaka Heiress did not even seem apologetic as she blinked innocently and owlishly at me. “I don’t know if you’ve realized this or not, but you’re upsetting her, isn’t that right Sakura-chan?”

As though possessed, Rin turned to face her sister questioningly, her stiff and unnatural movements making me cringe slightly in my seat. “Is- Is that true, Sakura?”

Voice barely above a whisper, Rin looked down at her lap, hands fiddling with the edge of her skirt. Suddenly, I felt like an asshole for simply pointing out the obvious, but it had to be said, alright? After everything she had experienced, I doubted the girl would want to be coddled. Hell, in the Heaven’s Feel route, she wasn’t even comfortable being loved, let alone being cared for so… Extensively. “I- I- Well- It does feel somewhat strange, Onee-san.”

I could practically see the invisible arrow piercing her heart as Rin slumped in her seat and muttered. “Sorry.”

Shiro wisely shoveled the foods into her mouth and escaped to the kitchen with her utensils, while Gil just laughed at the sight, hand holding a cup of wine. ‘Seriously, isn’t she afraid for her livers?’

Servants could not get diseases or illnesses, but Gil was no longer a Servant, was she? The Grail’s muds had basically given her a real body, meaning she was still susceptible to… You know what? I stood to my full height, internally vibrating in excitement at the fact I was at last able to loom over the Golden Queen. Sure she was sitting down, yet I was happy all the same. I made to grab for her cup, lips twitching as she maneuvered it away from my reaching claws.

“Gil… Give me the bottles.”

She smiled, amused. “Hmmm… No.”

With a gesture, the cup was telekinetically tugged and flew in my waiting palm amidst Rin’s and Sakura’s astonished eyes, most likely amazed by the giant balls of steel I had suddenly grown and was lugging around everywhere. I blinked into the kitchen, dumped the fruity, alcoholic beverage down the sink, only to find Gil sipping on the whole bottle by the time I returned.

Then, the Golden Queen tipped the bottle my way in a taunting gesture, before going right back to her drink.

“Gil…” I whined– Wait, no. Nope, I did not whine, I groaned. “You need to cut down on the alcohols, your livers can’t handle this lifestyle you’re having.”

She clicked her tongue, looking sideway and acting as though she hadn’t heard anything. “Worry about yourself, Little Lion. Your issue with the Mages is more urgent than my unhealthy lifestyle.”

“So you also realize it’s unhealthy?” I narrowed my eyes.

She returned with a sassy, “So what if I do? What are you going to do about it, Little Lion?”

“Wait, what issue? What Mages?!” I was prepared to launch another [Spatial Manipulation] to steal the bottle from Gil when Rin jumped out of her seat. Chuckling anxiously, I glared at Gil, smiled and… Blinked into my Workshop, wheezing as I heard a loud, “Leonisss!”

Thus, our chase began.

There were curses, not the magical kind, mind you.

There were Spells thrown left, right and center.

It was pure, unadulterated chaos.

Obviously, I wasn’t going to keep the issue with the Association and the Church from Rin, it concerned her livelihood and future prospects, to keep it from the Tohsaka Heiress was to harm rather than help. I was only doing this to lift her mood.

Hence, after playing for a while, I allowed the tsundere to catch/tackle me. “Alright, Leo! Now spill. What was Gilgamesh talking about?”

“Fine, fine… This morning, I received a call from the Church. They wanted to find Kirei regarding the Zouken ordeal, but he’s- Well, he’s indisposed of so I–” Getting up, I patted the dust from my shirt. “– I told them a version of what happened. Don’t worry, I blamed it all on Zouken, said he suddenly went mad and started a rampage in the middle of the City. I think we’ll still have to make a trip to London though.”

Rin’s eyes widened like saucers.

Trembling, the Tohsaka Heiress pointed at me. “And you did not think to inform of this, why?!”

I reassured. “Don’t worry, I have it handled. I contacted one of my acquaintances to put in good words for us. He’s the Glascheit Heir if you remember, the Glascheit isn’t a big House or anything, but they do have influence in our circles. We’ll be fine, I promise.”

Letting out a shaky breath, Rin asked. “When are we leaving?”

“The day after tomorrow.” I clasped my hands around hers. “It’ll be fine, you don’t have to worry. If they try to cause troubles, I can offer them some of the stuffs I have: Potions, and Phantasmal Species’ body-parts. I’m sure they won’t be able to reject.”

“You don’t know how cutthroat the Moonlit World is! You should have told me, woken me up or–!”

I shushed. “Rin, those wizards on their Ivory Tower are not of my concern, you and your wellbeing are.”

Cupping her face, I put on my best smile. It’s time for CHA to show its worth. “I have plans, plans that will get us out of this unscathed. I just need you to trust me, can you do that?”

“I trust you…” Somewhat teary-eyed, Rin resumed her mumblings. “But if they take away my Title as the Second Owner, I’ll beat you up.”

Laughing, I pulled her in a hug, ruffling her hair as she screamed. “It’s alright, when have I ever disappointed you?”

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