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Chapter 35: Subduing the Empress
🕑 Added 2025-05-07 09:41:41 +0000 UTCIn Takashi Kuroda’s private quarters, he stood face-to-face with the newly summoned Servant.
Semiramis—the Assyrian Empress, the first recorded poisoner in the history of the Type-Moon world. In the original Fate/Apocrypha timeline, she had been summoned as both an Assassin and a Caster, possessing the skills of both classes. Now, she had been summoned as a Caster through his summoning card.
However, given her infamous titles, it was clear just what kind of troublesome figure he had summoned. Servants of such notoriety shared a common trait—if their compatibility with their Master was good, all was well. But if not, they wouldn’t hesitate to betray their Master at the slightest provocation.
Even with Command Spells as a restraint, hidden treachery was far harder to guard against than open hostility. A single act of sabotage during battle could leave an ordinary Master dead without even knowing how it happened—just like a certain refined magus who had been backstabbed in the original Fourth Holy Grail War.
Naturally, Takashi Kuroda intended to nip any such possibility in the bud.
“Caster, the Grail should have already imprinted the current situation and knowledge of this world into your mind. You should understand our respective positions—I am the Master, and you are the Servant. So, what’s this? Are you trying to play the haughty empress with me?”
With that, Takashi unleashed his full power. The Ruination’s energy surged forth, enveloping Semiramis. At the same time, the younger Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale manifested around him, releasing their own oppressive auras.
To subdue the prideful, one had to shatter their arrogance with overwhelming strength. The one with the greater power dictated the rules—this was an eternal truth. Even the Assyrian Empress, before her rise to power, had been forced to bow and endure in the face of superior might.
Moreover, Takashi knew that Semiramis was no fool. Once she grasped the reality of the situation, whether she truly submitted or merely pretended, she would have no choice but to lower her head and accept her role as his Servant.
“To sustain three Servants simultaneously… no, four, counting me. And the power he himself wields—even my true self would hesitate before facing him.”
This was Semiramis’ immediate assessment as she felt the immense energy within the swirling black mist. Normally, Servants far surpassed their Masters in strength, but this situation was beyond abnormal. This Master was already on par with a top-tier Servant—so why summon her at all?
And then there were the three Servants beside him. Semiramis could sense the overwhelming divine aura radiating from them—far surpassing her own. These were deities who had descended as Servants, beings who should never have been summonable in the first place. Even the man before her carried a faint trace of divinity. Was he, like her, a demigod? If so, then his status and power were more than enough to earn her acknowledgment.
“Forgive my oversight, my esteemed Master. Your strength is beyond question—even at my peak, I would have welcomed you as an honored guest.”
With practiced grace, Semiramis withdrew her imposing presence and offered a slight bow of apology. She had little patience for ordinary humans, even skilled magi—but a fellow demigod of equal standing, one who commanded the loyalty of actual gods? That was another matter entirely.
Seeing her submission, Takashi retracted his own oppressive aura, and the three goddesses likewise returned to their usual calm. However, he did not withdraw the black mist entirely—instead, he let it coil around Semiramis like a living shadow.
“I appreciate clever individuals—they save me the trouble of unnecessary words.” He gestured to the mist. “This power will not only enhance your abilities but also serve as an endless supply of magical energy, sustaining your manifestation and even granting you independent action.”
“Accept this gift, and you will become my ally.” His tone was indifferent, but the unspoken threat was clear.
“Such a generous boon… surely, it comes at a price?” Semiramis narrowed her eyes.
“You are powerful, but troublesome. I need a Caster capable of fortifying my stronghold, but more importantly, I need someone I can trust to guard my back. Do you understand?”
As he spoke, he raised his hand, the Command Seals glowing ominously. He had not yet used them to force her compliance—but if she refused, he would not hesitate to erase her on the spot.
Semiramis understood the implication. What surprised her was that he would discard a Servant of her caliber simply over distrust. It rankled her pride—but at the same time, it had been so long since anyone had stirred such intrigue within her.
This Master had piqued her interest. She wanted to see what grand, audacious feats he would accomplish. If he could rouse her long-dormant curiosity, then she would play along—for now.
“Very well. I accept.”
With that, she reached out, allowing the black mist to engulf her hand.
“Every Servant who answers the Grail’s call has a wish they desire fulfilled. Semiramis, I will ensure you do not regret your choice today. Open yourself completely—let this power fill every part of your being.”
Guided by his will, the Ruination’s energy poured into her, saturating her body and soul. Semiramis did not resist—and to her surprise, the process was not painful. Instead, it was exhilarating, as though she were being reborn, her spirit revitalized beyond anything she had experienced in this manifested form.
“Such exquisite power… but what is the true cost? My soul is tainted, yet I feel no binding chains upon it. No matter—I have made my choice. Let us see if his promise holds true.”
As she reveled in the transformation, Takashi used the Ruination’s influence to subtly reinforce her loyalty and trust in him.
“Ding—You have successfully subdued the Assyrian Empress, Semiramis. Reward: 300 Villain Points. Current total: 6,000.”
“Hm? System, why is Semiramis worth 300 points when the Gorgon Sisters only gave 100 each? Shouldn’t it be the same?”
“The difference lies in the method of subjugation. The Gorgon Sisters were forcibly bound through the Ruination’s overwhelming power, and their very existence was tied to it from the start, making them naturally inclined to obey. The process was simple, the difficulty low—hence the lower points.”
“In contrast, Semiramis initially had poor compatibility with you. You first demonstrated overwhelming strength to earn her acknowledgment, then stoked her curiosity, leading her to willingly accept the Ruination. The difficulty was higher, the method more refined—thus, the greater reward.”
“I see. So any villainous act is graded on execution. The more thoughtless and brutish, the fewer points. The more cunning and skillful, the higher the evaluation?”
“Exactly~”
“Interesting. My caution led me to avoid brute-force domination, and in doing so, I learned how to maximize my gains. System, you really should have told me this sooner.”
