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Chapter 85
🕑 Added 2025-10-04 15:56:14 +0000 UTCHephaestion stepped back. “You are-“
“Silence. Not another word. If you speak again, you will die where you stand.”
With the Child of Einnashe attacking the Rail Zeppelin, it really took all I had not to immediately replicate the ritual that had summoned Hephaestion. So, when pushed even slightly by her not so subtly threatening all I cared about, then trying to murder me, I seized the opportunity. Well, that was what the excuse was going to be.
In truth, I did it simply because it felt like the most appropriate response.
According to my Professor, a catalyst was necessary for the Holy Grail summoning because otherwise, there was a decent chance of calling forth some kind of evil-aligned legend, because most humans were more given to sin than good. The Grail called forth a servant compatible with oneself if no reference was presented beforehand.
And… well… looking at my ‘servant’, it really felt like I should have heeded those words.
A young lady clad in black, with long raven hair cascading down a red cape tied with a golden medallion. Her undeniably militaristic hat ringed with gold. The clothes that were undeniably reminiscent of an army officer. The high boots. A golden katana.
A cute young girl playing at being a soldier.
That was what anyone would think.
At least, that was until they saw her eyes. Blood red, seething and scalding. Mad. Her smile was unmistakably cruel, much crueler than even Bloodlight’s or Sancraid’s.
Briefly, her gaze met mine, then her eyes flickered back to the quietly stunted Hephaestion.
She inhaled deeply and looked at the living forest around us. Her mere presence was so oppressive that even the mad trees stopped in place. Yvette struggled for breath. Even the flakes of snow drifting from the sky scurried around her.
“This place displeases me.”
She snapped her fingers, much like I often did.
In bursts of flame, rifles formed around her. The incredibly old kind, reminiscent of muskets instead of any modern-age weapons. The sort of weapons you’d see in a museum or in a collector’s attic. Made of wood, and with some wheel-like firing mechanism.
She stabbed her katana into the roof of the train, and placed both hands over the hilt. When next she breathed, the guns fired a volley of flame. Flames that carved through the living forest. The snow-covered trees somehow caught fire, and in mere moments, the snowscape was transformed into a smouldering forest-fire.
Bits of burning wood began raining from the trees instead of snow.
At that, a smile crossed her lips.
“Run along, little puppet.” She addressed Hephaestion again, “I’ve lost interest in you.”
The ancient Greek warrior clenched her sword. “You-“
But again, like last night, her presence began to falter. She lowered her head, and faded away, gone with the wind. My ‘servant’ stepped off the train, then. She landed in front of me, unperturbed. For a good moment, she stared at me in curious silence.
I honestly thought I’d have to fight her next. I didn’t quite dislike the idea either.
But no, my hopes were dashed.
She put a gloved hand to her chin and nodded. “Hm. Hm. You seem like an exciting guy.”
Much like Hephaestion, my servant’s earlier hostility was also simply… gone. The oppression, the cruelty and that hate all disappeared. Despite looking the same, it felt like I was in front of a different person entirely.
So, I came to a conclusion.
“My servant is a schizo.”
I facepalmed.
“Oh? A new word. It did not exist in my time.” The girl’s red eyes shimmered in excitement, a child-like smile played across her lips. “A lot has changed since then, I see. What is that contraption? A… A train, how curious. It would have made transporting my armies so much easier. Truly Master, you must show me all the wondrous things of this new era. That is all I ask for in exchange for my aid.”
“…Who are you though?”
I did not recognize her.
Her smile froze, “I… I thought tales of my greatness had made you go through thick and thin to make my summoning possible.”
“Yeah…” I averted my gaze, “I kind of just rolled a dice.”
“Ho?! So that carried on to this day? Yes, alright, this is pretty exciting in its own way!”
For an ancient hero, she spoke quite weirdly.
“Alright. Alright! Hear me once, hear me well.” She threw her cape up, forcing it to flutter even when there was no wind, and put her thumb against her chest, “I am the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, Oda Nobunaga. The One Who Burnt The Gods. I expect good things, Master. Be proud for having summoned me.”
Well… that definitely wasn’t a foreboding epithet.
“Gotcha, Oda.”
“Er… That is my family name.”
I closed my eyes in thought. “Nobu then? Cause it sounds like a mouthful otherwise.”
“Oh? Oh! Like a pair of adventurers with nicknames! That might not be so bad. I approve. Tell me your name, Master, so that I might think of one for you as well. Quickly now!”
Well, she was enthusiastic if nothing else. And, a natural-born aura farmer if her entry was anything to go by. This wasn’t bad. Not bad at all. I felt I could definitely get along with her. She also seemed the type to go along with my shenanigans and genuinely enjoy them. Still, there was the whole debacle from earlier to take into consideration.
“It’s Henry.”
“Hen, then? Ah, but Hen is a word for a rooster. Wait, that’s good! I’ll call you Hen!” She laughed heartily, like a child. “Or would you prefer Master?”
I tilted my head. “My preferences matter?”
She put a hand on my shoulder, despite being a good bit shorter than me, and gave a strange smile.
“They don’t?”
“Do mine matter?” She pulled her head back, eying me suspiciously.
“Fair enough.”
“Hah, I see why you were able to call me! Let’s have some good fun.”
Snorting, I turned to Yvette. She was heaving with a hand over her throat. “You alright?”
“Aw, you’re worried? Then, I’m fine! But I do have to ask who this awful person is.”
“I’ve already introduced myself. Are you a fool? Are you?”
Yvette pouted, “I’m not! You almost made me choke to death!”
Seeing as she was fine, I glanced at Karabo beside us. The elderly Executor seemed lost in thought. As old as he was, I didn’t doubt he knew what Heroic Spirits were supposed to be, or that magi often tried to summon them as familiars but usually failed.
He was going to relay the information to the Holy Church.
In that case, it was better to-
The barrel of a rifle was suddenly resting atop his shoulder, nestled against the side of his skull. He didn’t move, just closed his eyes.
“I remember your kind, priest. You make the people weak, and gorge upon that weakness to increase your own worldly power. Tell me. How does growing fat on meat while the common man starves serve your-”
I grabbed the barrel of the gun, and pushed it away. My servant furrowed her brows.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“He’s done nothing to me… yet. The second he does, you can have him.”
Her gun burned away.
“Oh fine. I guess a healthy relationship does have to be give-and-take. Now come, introduce me to this contraption.” Waving her hand, she ran up into the train, leaving us three outside in the still-burning forest.
I thought then… that maybe, just maybe, not removing my glasses when she ‘clashed’ with Hephaestion was not that bad an idea. After all, with a moniker like that, her noble phantasm was certainly geared towards fighting Divinity. Anti-Divine, for lack of better words. I wasn’t sure I could handle that without any repercussions just yet.
Karabo let out a breath. “I have done things in life… that made her fury just. Still, I thank you, young man.”
“Knowing that, don’t expect me to stop her next time.” I glanced at him.
Yvette opened her mouth, but thankfully, she was cut off. The train horn blared repeatedly over the burning forest and black smoke began to rise from the engine car.
“The Rail Zeppelin has broken free from the Child of Einnashe. Please, board the train. We will begin moving once again soon. The staff are not responsible for any person or persons left behind.”
I deadpanned as I boarded the train.
“This place has really shitty service.”
“I mean, everyone boards it willingly y’know~? And those that don’t, don’t really have any choice to begin with.”
I cast one final glance at the forest, lowering my aviators.
Yeah… that thing was still alive and well.
But beyond that, I was extremely curious as to why my newly summoned servant had declared Hephaestion to be a 'puppet of the gods'.
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Everyone always presents this version of Nobunaga as cutesy but her whole point is that she's supposed to be terrifying when semi-serious. The issue is she really isn't unless you really piss her off. Hope I captured this well.
Comments
DaoOfAnime
Nobu needs some heatpats
Bleap
The jumping and aura-farming is going to go crazy with them linked up
BigBot
Crazy duo ☠️
