Void Shiki shook her head and said, "No, the benefit for you is that any Heroic Spirits summoned in the Holy Grail War will become your subordinates, no longer bound to Alaya in any way."
Morpheus nodded at her words. "That's more like it."
Void Shiki continued, "Beyond that, I can grant you a pair of Mystic Eyes. What kind would you prefer?"
"Mystic Eyes of Distortion, Mystic Eyes of Petrification, Mystic Eyes of Precognition, Mystic Eyes of Retrocognition, Clairvoyance, Mystic Eyes of Plunder, Pure Eyes, Six Eyes—or perhaps my Mystic Eyes of Death Perception."
Morpheus heard the names of these Mystic Eyes and shook his head. "I'm not particularly interested in any of them."
Though Mystic Eyes possessed astonishing power, to Morpheus, they were merely adequate.
Even the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception didn't capture his attention.
He said, "If you truly want to offer me a benefit, you could give me a chance to court you."
Void Shiki gave Morpheus a half-smile, half-not. "You want to pursue me?"
"I have that in mind."
"That works for me."
Void Shiki didn't hesitate, agreeing readily. She stepped forward and linked her arm with his. "Then let's get started."
Morpheus hadn't expected Void Shiki to be so straightforward.
However, since she was taking the initiative, Morpheus, as the man, certainly wouldn't back down.
The two strolled along the street, just like an ordinary couple—walking, window-shopping, and eventually catching a movie.
When it came time to part ways, Morpheus said, "Actually, I'd like to sample your cooking skills."
Due to her connection to the Root, Void Shiki had mastered every culinary technique from ancient times to the present.
Compared to her prowess, neither Emiya Shirou nor Erina Nakiri could hold a candle.
She simply rarely bothered to cook.
Morpheus was eager to experience the pinnacle of culinary mastery, so he made the request.
Void Shiki didn't refuse. "Once this matter is settled, I'll cook for you personally. As for the Mystic Eyes, think it over—the offer stands forever."
"If you don't need them, you could always give them to one of your followers, couldn't you?"
Morpheus hummed in agreement, then asked one final question. "When does this Holy Grail War begin, and where is it being held? It can't still be in Fuyuki City, can it?"
Void Shiki replied, "It's in Fuyuki City, and as for the time—tomorrow."
"..."
That soon?
Fine, he'd pull an all-nighter.
After parting from Void Shiki, Morpheus sped off, arriving in Fuyuki City from Mifune City in no time. He located Ryuudou Temple and decided to summon a Heroic Spirit there.
As for the monks at Ryuudou Temple, Morpheus hypnotized them all and sent them away.
Then, he drew a magic circle and began chanting the incantation. He was all too familiar with the process of summoning Heroic Spirits.
After finishing the chant, Morpheus added offhandedly, "Alaya, send me the most beautiful female Heroic Spirit under your command."
If he was summoning a Heroic Spirit, it might as well be a beautiful one—pleasing to the eye.
Strength didn't matter.
With Morpheus here, even if he summoned a mere ornament, he could enhance her to the level of a first-rate Heroic Spirit, or even a top-tier one.
Thus, Morpheus prioritized beauty over power.
With a flash of light, a Heroic Spirit resembling a goddess appeared before Morpheus.
"Lancer, Scáthach, at your service, Master."
Morpheus was utterly bewildered. I asked for the most beautiful female Heroic Spirit under your command, and you send me this purple-haired hag?
Is she even yours to send?
Look me in the eye and tell me—is this purple-haired hag one of your Heroic Spirits?
Right now, Morpheus wanted to grab Alaya by the collar and demand an explanation. What the hell, buddy?
Morpheus was all too familiar with who this purple-haired hag was.
She resided in the Land of Shadows, one of the Celtic otherworlds—a realm considered the domain of the dead and departed souls. As its queen, she possessed skills that transcended into the divine realm and Rune magecraft. She had slain countless undead, humans, and gods, and as punishment for stepping into the divine domain as a human, she was afflicted with a lifelong curse.
Known as a god-slayer on par with deities, she had trained numerous warriors and mages, with Cú Chulainn being the most famous among them.
Someone like her couldn't possibly be a Heroic Spirit.
She wasn't even dead yet—she was still alive. How could she be one of Alaya's Heroic Spirits?
Clearly, after realizing that yet another of its Heroic Spirits was about to be poached by Morpheus, Alaya had promptly contacted Scáthach.
Whatever promises were made, they had convinced Scáthach to descend as a Heroic Spirit.
Utterly shameless.
Morpheus fumed inwardly. Wasn't this just fooling him?
"Scáthach, right? Tell me, what benefit did Alaya offer you to descend into this world as a Heroic Spirit?"
Scáthach sized Morpheus up and said, "Alaya promised to find me a Master capable of killing me. It seems It didn't lie."
At the end, she nodded in satisfaction.
From Morpheus, she sensed an unprecedented threat.
Her body trembled slightly with excitement.
A formidable foe—an unprecedented adversary.
"This is a scam, an unprecedented scam." Morpheus couldn't help but curse aloud.
Scáthach asked curiously, "Why do you say that, Master?"
Morpheus explained, "I'm participating in this Holy Grail War because someone told me that any Heroic Spirit I summon would脱离 from the Throne of Heroes and become my subordinate from then on."
"So I decided to ask Alaya for the most beautiful Heroic Spirit, and Alaya sent you."
"If this isn't a scam, what is?"
Scáthach said confidently, "Master, in terms of beauty, I believe I am second to no deity."
"I won't deny that, but the issue is—do you belong to me? Would you be willing to do intimate things with me?"
Morpheus shook his head. "No, you wouldn't. You just want me to kill you."
"Ah, well..."
There was no fault in that statement. The reason she had agreed to appear as a Heroic Spirit wasn't to engage in intimate acts with Morpheus, but solely to be killed by him.
In a certain sense, calling it a scam wasn't an overstatement.
Because she wasn't one of Alaya's Heroic Spirits to begin with.
"No way, I need to summon again."
Morpheus chanted the incantation once more, adding at the end, "Alaya, if you don't want me coming after you, you'd better send me the most beautiful Heroic Spirit under your command right now—immediately, this instant!!!"
The deceived Morpheus was furious, and the consequences would be severe.
Scáthach, standing to the side, didn't intervene. She too wanted to see if Alaya would compensate Morpheus.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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