"Mhm, that's more like a man... even if you're weak. As a reward, I'll just eat your heart."
Taiga Fujimura nodded in agreement, hugging her Tiger Claw Staff. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she adopted an exaggerated expression of surprise.
"No way! How do you know that name?!"
"Because I know you, of course. So, what do you say? Considering defecting?"
Due to his special appearance, his contract with Chaldea had already been severed.
"Hmm, if you're an acquaintance, I suppose I could offer a discount."
Taiga Fujimura stroked her chin thoughtfully, as if weighing the pros and cons. Then, realizing her brain wasn't up to such complex calculations, she steeled her resolve and pointed her Tiger Claw Staff at Jiang You.
"But do you know who's backing me? Quetzalcoatl! The Fifth Sun! Unlike me, she's in her complete form. With your current strength, one punch from her would turn you into sushi dipping sauce."
"This little girl, 'Tristan,' said your name is Jiang You? Have you ever heard an old saying from your country: xi xi wu zhi wei jun jie...?"
Jiang You couldn't help but burst out laughing at Colonel Fujimura's thick accent.
"How dare you! I was trying to warn you, and you mock me!"
The fur on Taiga Fujimura's mascot costume bristled. This wasn't some relic of the past; it was something Taiga had conjured with her Authority, essentially an extension of her own body.
"I'll give you a twelve-fold discount today! Unless you defeat me, you're staying here!"
Taiga charged at Jiang You, putting slightly more force into her attack than she had against Fairy Tristan. She intended to punish Jiang You for his mockery. However, considering Jiang You's earlier confidence and Fairy Tristan's attitude toward him, her battle instincts compelled her to remain cautious. After all, even though Fairy Tristan was no match for her, her inherent strength still ranked among the top tier.
Taiga used her speed to circle Jiang You relentlessly, probing for an opening.
But after darting around for what felt like an eternity, Taiga realized she couldn't find a single opening. It wasn't that Jiang You was flawless; rather, he was riddled with so many vulnerabilities that she began to suspect it might be a trap.
Perhaps he's a powerful Caster-type servant? Taiga Fujimura didn't know much about magic, but she could sense the chaotic state of Jiang You's magical power. Calling it "disorganized" would be a compliment. How could such utterly chaotic magic coexist within a single person?
Unable to figure it out, Taiga Fujimura decided to strike first and ask questions later.
"Die, meow!"
Without any Defensive Magic in place, Jiang You's dazed expression showed he hadn't even registered the incoming attack. The wooden club landed squarely on his head.
Just as Taiga Fujimura was contemplating whether to drag this pathetic servant to feed the leopards, she noticed something was off. The impact felt strange, like striking a wad of cotton. No, not cotton—all her force had dissipated the instant it made contact with Jiang You. This defensive method was unlike anything she'd ever encountered. She couldn't even imagine how powerful one would have to be to achieve such a feat.
Taiga Fujimura immediately leaped back, widening the distance between them. With a servant who possessed such techniques, she feared she'd be crushed into a pulp in an instant.
"Y-y-y-you! What a wicked trick! Using such means to deceive an innocent young girl!"
Taiga Fujimura angrily pointed at Jiang You, now convinced he had feigned weakness to lure her closer.
"No wonder you dared to challenge Quetzalcoatl for territory! You... why aren't you attacking?"
This was a perfect moment to show off and perhaps even get the thick-headed Taiga Fujimura to "deify" him. However, a lie that would inevitably be exposed wasn't worth the effort.
"Of course, because the conditions have been met! Let's play a Shadow Game!"
Jiang You spread his arms wide, and the Duel Space unfurled, its rules overlaying reality. Taiga Fujimura realized she had been trapped within his Noble Phantasm.
Jiang You LP: 4000
Taiga Fujimura LP: 4000
"A Barrier Noble Phantasm? You could have just activated it directly!" Taiga Fujimura scoffed, now possessing Duel knowledge. "Afraid some little girl would steal your thunder? Tsk, so petty."
It wasn't that Jiang You didn't want Fairy Tristan to seize control of his duel; it was simply that she was essentially his Token, unable to trigger the effects of his Noble Phantasms, just like Medea.
Jiang You couldn't be bothered to explain to this nonsensical character. "Taiga Fujimura, my condition for placing you on the Shadow Game wager is that if you lose, you must join us, swear loyalty to us, and obey my commands. Of course, you'll still publicly address Fairy Tristan as 'Your Majesty the Queen.'"
"Hey, hey! Are you planning to undermine me right in front of my face?!" Fairy Tristan complained, oblivious to Jiang You's deliberate disregard.
"If I don't keep you in check, who knows what trouble you'll stir up?"
Though it was called the Faerie Realm, it was essentially Jiang You needing his own faction to complete his faction mission—in other words, playing along with Fairy Tristan's whims.
"Don't act like you've already won! I'm really strong, you know!" Taiga Fujimura declared after reviewing the knowledge provided by Jiang You's Noble Phantasm, feeling her chances of victory were quite high.
"Then my condition is... ah, right! You all must swear loyalty to me too! That way I'll have some useful subordinates as well!"
"A fair exchange."
Jiang You nodded. It wasn't surprising that Taiga Fujimura, whose temperament was even more impulsive than Fairy Tristan's, would make such a condition.
"Then let the Duel begin! My turn!"
Since Fairy Tristan was the first Servant he'd brought with him, Jiang You needed to help her regain some dignity. His current Deck was largely the same as hers, though it also included cards from other Servants he owned.
"Fairy Tristan, I'm counting on you."
"Owner Cards are influenced by the abilities of their owners, right?" Fairy Tristan asked.
Seeing Jiang You's unwavering trust, Fairy Tristan felt a surge of warmth, but she still found the Jaguar Warrior's strength absurd. "If we lose, don't expect me to become her subordinate too. You agreed to this Shadow Game, not me. I have no intention of being ordered around by such a creature. If that happens, I'm leaving."
"But you were chosen as the Sacrificial Priestess by the Great Horned God Cernunnos—you're incredibly powerful."
During a certain Swimsuit Event, Fairy Tristan single-handedly suppressed numerous Servants, though one might argue she and Cernunnos had a combined "83-point performance." Jiang You extended his hand to her once more. "How could the Fairy Savior possibly lose to a mere Jaguar Person? Come, let's seize victory together."
Fairy Tristan responded with a gentle squeeze of Jiang You's hand, then stood beside him. "You said it yourself. Don't blame me for mocking you if you lose. If you start crying, I'll definitely film it and show Mother."