Beta read by Shigiya, Paragon of Awesomeness, FabledLife and Gamercrusher55
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-Demon Capital Tokyo-
Despite the number of violent crimes, cases of missing people, and overall worrisome events being ever on the rise in Demon Capital Tokyo, the city still remained a giant hub for countless people to visit, whether it be for work, simply because they lived there, or even just to visit the bustling metropolis.
The night sky was filled with a spectrum of different colours from neon signs and towering buildings built so close to one another. One could almost call it a futuristic sight that edged close to the edge of cyberpunk. The city was busy during the day and even more lively at night with clubs, restaurants, brothels, and all manner of shady events being held in the underground — there was always something to do.
And just as there were always a great number of people at all times walking the streets, so too did this mean there were opportunities for people to disappear in the midst of nightlife. With no one so much as batting an eye at their absence and no authority willing to risk their lives to investigate areas that were beyond the protected borders of the city, this was a place where every stroll down the sidewalk was a risk in this city.
For they knew what stayed out there. Even if most of the population remained completely oblivious, many were keenly aware of the danger and monstrosity that crawled throughout the shadows… Just waiting for someone to take a step too far around the wrong corner.
"▂▂▃▃…"
Near the shoreline and the dumping grounds, several shadows emerged. Their crimson eyes were gazing at the jewel-like city ahead with hunger and anticipation. Their form, human-like but definitely monstrous, taller than any man, their muscles several times bigger, veins popping out of their green-toned skin. From a distance, it was easy to mistake them for humans, but from close by, one would inevitably notice other traits as well, including the giant fang-like teeth and finally the overall demonic look they each carried.
"Look at all those humans out there, I can barely contain myself." One of the demons, an orc just like the others around him, said with a lecherous grin on his face. He licked his lips when looking at some of the individuals walking across the streets. Drunk and completely oblivious to the terrifying existence not that far away from them. "Then just go grab one or two each, have fun with them, and go back before that scary human finds out."
Hearing that, several orcs hummed in agreement. While in general they looked down upon such entities, that crazy scientist was by no means a mere human. His experiments and how he used demons and humans alike made him no different from them.
"Shouldn't we call Byg instead? Who cares what some dumb human wants? Byg promised to have us connected to a slave trader who can sell us a few toys for a cheap pric—ah!" The one who spoke out, being the smallest orc of the group, fell to the ground when an enormous orc delivered a punch to his face, sending the smaller guy rolling backwards several times until he crashed against a pile of rocks.
"Don't talk bad about bossman Kiryuu. We eat, we fuck, we enjoy, and we leave," he warned each one of them, looking back and releasing a menacing growl, showcasing his teeth, which, unlike the rest, were far sharper and almost vampiric. The faint red tint to his eyes further helped make his appearance far more menacing than a standard orc.
"Y-Yes, Gial!"
Hearing their fearful answers, the giant orc scoffed. These fools would not even be counted as grunts among his tribe. Beginners who had not even earned the right to be treated as a full-grown orc, such as lowly demons were only allowed to do scavenging and menial labor for others who were of far greater value. But thinking about his tribe, a pang of disappointment and sadness filled the monster's heart, for there were barely any of them alive anymore after a terrifying hell knight came over and reduced their numbers by more than half.
"▂▂▃▃!"
The creatures wasted no time in heading closer to the city, though they made sure to keep their distance from the deeper and more populated areas where security would be tighter and their presence more easily spotted. While demons going over to the human world had slowly started to become a more common occurrence, they knew full well that, for the most part, many still did not know the existence of demons and treated them more like legends or creatures from scary stories.
Staying within the shadows, they waited, especially eyeing nightclubs. And soon enough, a number of girls left the club, stumbling on unsteady legs.
They were swaying left to right, giggling and nearly falling to the road, only to be pulled back by one of their friends. So intoxicated that the smell of alcohol permeated the air itself all the way to where the orcs hid. They waited until a handful of them got close enough to the alley, with no lights to shine upon their figures, and they remained hidden from view entirely.
"Hahahah! Did you see his face when Kaede over there started to rub her ass against him, Akiha?" The first one to speak was a beautiful brunette with short curly hair, the leader of the small group of humans, since they all kept following her. She was also definitely the most drunk out of the bunch, with how crimson her face had gotten.
Besides her, the two others were equally as beautiful, one with long black hair and the other with blue hair. Though the last one, even when she looked so shy, was easily the one with the most gifted figure of the three. Her matching blue dress did wonders to showcase her curvaceous contours, and the slit in the middle of her chest showed off a generous amount of cleavage.
"Yeah, so creepy! At least he had a generous wallet, what with all the drinks he brought us," said the dark-haired woman named Akiha, bringing her hand around the shy-looking one with the blue hair.
"Also, Kaede, this is the first time I've seen you make such moves during a dance! Let me teach you a few moves myself for next time; I promise you that with a bit more hip sways and pressing your tits together like this, you will have a line of men willing to buy you a house!"
"N-No, thanks, I did not do it intentionally, even. The alcohol must have gotten to my head… ah! Don't touch m-me there, Aoko!"
"Holy shit, are these bazongas ridiculous! I want them! Let me borrow them a bit, my boss keeps telling me to get bigger ones."
"A-Ah~! P-Please stop! You're embarrassing me!"
"Hehehe, this is just between friends~!"
The girls continue to mess with one another, getting closer and closer until…
"Kya!"
Several hands appeared from the shadows, grabbing hold of them and muffling their voices with their giant hands. All three women were pulled into the shadows of the dark alleyway, with not even a single soul from the other pedestrians witnessing the scene.
Or if they did, they left them to their fate; no one was stupid enough to play hero or risk their lives to meddle with something that was not their business.
"Mmmmn!"
"Mmph!"
They struggled, kicked around, and even tried to call for help, but no one could see them, no one could even hear them as they were soon gagged, and thus their eyes became more and more filled with despair the further away the group of orcs took them; until they were back at the shore where even during the day, rarely any soul would ever pass down those streets so far away from the main city.
"Hehehe! They smell so nice and feel so wonderful, I can't wait to get a proper taste of them!"
"This bitch I got is a fair bit spicier than the last one; she's very energetic."
They laughed in unison, eagerly making their way somewhere more private when nothing would interrupt them.
"Go back to the underground. It's more quiet." Gial grunted, placing the blue-haired one on his shoulders while his other hand explored her body, truly the finest catch of the night. While his instincts were screaming at him to take her right then and there, it would be very irksome if some pesky Taimanins that roamed these parts were to show up.
Despite having full confidence in his own strength and his group's number alone, he came to enjoy himself, not fight to the death.
So while hugging the shadows, they slowly left the area and retraced their steps until they found themselves back where they started.
This place had less lighting and was filled with abandoned buildings, which were used by other demons or shady individuals.
"Hm?" Gial felt a strange tingling sensation on his scalp, as at that moment, when the group was ready to indulge in their catch of the day, they all heard the faint sounds of footsteps echoing in the distance. Upon the empty road where no soul even so much as dared to cross, a single figure could be seen walking calmly on the pavement, his features hidden behind a large hood while he carried a large paper bag filled with groceries. His features were mostly hidden, with only the lower part of his face visible.
"Tch, a human actually had the balls to come here? Probably another drunk." It was not uncommon for them to deal with such people, with many disappearing every year because of this very reason.
"Let's just kill him, or instead eat him."
"Ugh, human man tastes no good."
"Then we'll just sell him. Lots of other demons are more than happy to eat human meat."
A common consensus they all knew about. Human meat in general remained a delicacy many demons could not ignore, and capturing a live one to sell would always bring in some good money. But as the rest of the orcs were getting prepared to capture him, Gial remained the only one who felt something was off about this person.
'Not drunk… no smell.' With his body having been enhanced by Kiryuu, Gial's senses were far more enhanced than the average orc. Even from this distance, he was able to realize that there was no distinct smell of alcohol on this human. There was no sway whenever he walked, either. In fact, he seemed perfectly fine. And most importantly…
'He is not running away.'
Any humans who would catch sight of several demons surrounding several ladies and eyeing him would immediately become terrified, scream, and try to run away. But this one just showed no changes to his demeanour. In fact, it was hard to tell what was even going on in his mind. Was he blind? No, he was walking perfectly fine without any help.
About to call off his companions and just let this man through, Gial blinked and then — the human male was no longer there.
There was no longer anything but an empty street with not a soul in sight.
Like a blip in reality, he disappeared without even a sound.
"—?"
Eh? Where did he…
"Still alive, good. I'll drop her off at Evelyn's."
Gial heard a deep voice speak behind him, goosebumps spread across his skin, and the world around him instantly went completely quiet, not even the crashing waves of the ocean reaching his ears. Gial whipped his head around, stunned to see the human having made his way next to one of the girls and was now holding the one with the short hair in one of his arms.
He was trying to balance both the woman and the bag, not even sparing a glance towards the orcs.
Splat!
A wet thud sounded where Gial's two subordinates stood, bringing his attention back to the spot where they were about to ambush him. Gial saw a horrifying sight in the form of each orc frozen in place, their faces still holding expressions of anticipation and hunger of catching the humans and having their way with them.
Then, half of their faces slowly slid away, showcasing their insides with half the brain matter and eyes inside the skull. One by one, each orc fell to the ground, dead without even having made a sound or even knowing when they died.
"G-Gial?" The shortest one, whom he had punched earlier, looked at him with disbelief, trying to take a step forward, only for more blood to continue pooling at his feet. Whatever word that was supposed to come out next was all gurgled up with blood, nothing discernible whatsoever, until he fell to his knees and his body hit the ground right next to Gial's feet.
They… they were all dead?
How?
What happened?
He tried to think, or at least make sense of the situation and connect the dots, but found himself drawing a blank. All he understood was that this was because of that human. Looking at the man's back as he leisurely walked away with his prey, Gial's sense of fear was slowly replaced by anger.
Once again, he was being ignored. Once again, he was being overlooked, as if his existence meant nothing.
"I kill you!"
Rage built up from deep within Gial's heart, his reddish eyes growing in intensity and his features becoming more vampiric. He rushed towards the man with the sole intent to suck up his blood and feast on his corpse. Both as revenge for his fallen boys and to punish him for ignoring him, just like that bitch did!
The closer he got, the more it became clear that this individual did not even bother with him, for he said one line that caught Gail's attention.
"How long are you going to continue pretending, Taimanin?"
Swoosh!
His body froze, for Gial suddenly found himself unable to continue down his path and crush this human. Rather, a cold and painful sensation erupted from his back. His head could barely turn far enough to look behind and see a giant battle axe blade having been jabbed hard into his flesh, with the toe of the blade having pierced his heart.
(Only pic of Gial I could find that is not nsfw... yes, he is a canon character. A vampire orc hybrid.)
'N-No… can't die… no…'
His revenge, his desire to grow stronger, his goal of capturing that bitch Ingrid and making her feel pain like no other, to break her body and mind after what she had done to his tribe. He could not die now! Yet fate proved to be a cruel mistress, for the axe was pulled back and swung, this time cutting through his neck with ease, cleanly separating the uppermost part from his body until it fell to the ground and rolled, with Gial still holding on to the fringe of consciousness for a few seconds before the light in his eyes went out.
The final thing he perceived was the face of the one who killed him.
That being none other than the blue-haired woman he'd grabbed.
Her shy demeanor and terrified expression were completely gone, replaced with a stoic look as she wiped his blood off of her weapon with a disgusted expression and looked towards the man who was walking away in the distance.
{Break}
He had lost count of how many times such a scenario presented itself to him every time he took this road.
A sense of frustration descended upon the Counter Guardian. He'd been hoping for an easygoing night where, after buying all the supplies for himself and the cafe, he could just walk back home leisurely without any issues. With Black installing several surveillance systems all around the inner part of the city, he had decided to just take these kinds of backroads on the outskirts just to avoid being subjected to yet another reset out of the blue.
He'd even taken to wearing a hoodie just in case, as one could never be too careful.
'I was just out for a simple walk, and already I have to deal with a bunch of demons trying to kidnap women as well as sell me for meat. I should have known not to go outside at this time of night.' Then again, had he not left his place so late at night, these people wouldn't even be alive anymore… No, they would have been fine. Also…
'She's terrible at hiding her hostility.'
A girl who pretended to be weak and meek, trying to act drunk and pretending as if she were physically incapable of freeing herself. Her acting was so obvious that he wondered how those demons had failed to notice her weird behavior, but then realized that in many cases, these kinds of creatures were not known for their intelligence. Given how awkward it would be to just turn around and walk away, he decided to help out a bit and carry one of the girls back to the place where the escorts who frequented his cafe worked.
It would not be the first time he brought back an unconscious person with him for them to take care of, and he very much doubted it would be the last, either. He had a mutual understanding with the establishment's owner, and she did not question how and where he found them.
"You over there, wait!"
The Taimanin who'd bisected the leader of this small group of orcs shouted at him right as the sound of the creature's body hitting the ground reached his ears. She'd managed to make quick work of it while it was distracted by him. Of course, he did not listen to her, nor did he bother to provide her with any sort of answer for his actions, and continued to mind his own business.
"Who are you? Were you sent here from Gosha Village? Identify yourself!"
Persistent and stubborn, a troublesome combination to find in a person. He did question and was curious as to why a Taimanin would be spending her time with regular civilians frequenting nightclubs and walking on the streets drunk, or at least pretending to be drunk.
Most likely, she was here on a mission? Regardless, it did not involve him.
"I said stop! If you don't listen, then I will use force! This is your last chance! Identify yourself!"
And just like before, he ignored her. His actions most definitely got on her nerves, as in the next moment, she proceeded to rush towards him, just like what the orc from earlier tried. The quickened sound of her footsteps echoed from behind. He did not pay mind to her actions; with a quick application of Reinforcement and his natural speed, the world around him practically turned into a blur until he stood not on the road near the shorelines, but instead on a rooftop with the skyline of Tokyo in all its magnificence displayed in the distance.
"What!?"
Looking below at the road where he had just been a second ago, the young woman was frozen in shock, her extended hand grasping onto nothing but air at where he had stood earlier. She began looking around hastily to find him, but was unable to spot his shadow. EMIYA stared at the bluenette girl for a few seconds contemplatively.
She seemed… familiar.
During most of the prior resets, it was not uncommon for him to find other Taimanin who had been captured alongside Asagi and Sakura. Just like the two of them, his actions always led to their deaths, and he never truly paid much attention to them.
'Tch, hopefully she doesn't cause me any issues. But if she can attract Black's attention away from me for just a bit, then I can use that to my advantage.'
With that said, he turned his back to her, ignoring how she continued to search for him relentlessly, his figure disappearing once more from the spot and reappearing a fair distance away, where he placed the unconscious, drunken woman against a brick wall before knocking several times on the entrance to the building. The door opened, and a middle-aged lady wearing heavy makeup appeared, with enough for it to cake her face. She held onto a long pipe with smoke trailing from the end while she tiredly exhaled a puff of smoke.
"Another one?"
"She's just passed out. No injuries. You can just let her go when she wakes up, Madame Evelyn." The matron of this little establishment, which was no different from a brothel. It also served as a place where people like him could come and commission an information broker. Her girls were the same ones who frequented his cafe in the morning and tried to tease him every time.
Her real name remained unknown to him, this one obviously being a fabricated one. As to why she chose a foreign name, he figured she just liked the sound of it since this woman also named her establishment and other girls with foreign names.
"So you say, but it will still cost you."
"I give your girls free coffee every day," he reminded her, to which she just rolled her eyes.
"That's a service you voluntarily give to them despite how I never asked you to do so. This is different, just like when I sold you that abandoned building you turned into a cafe as payment for helping my girls; now I owe you nothing." Evelyn said with a dry voice.
Out of every person downtown, she was amongst a few he could trust, given he was certain she did not work for Black and even hated Nomad with a burning passion. With some of her girls being victims of people working for Black, he did not worry that this person would betray him and reveal his identity to them.
Also, because he never told her his true name and had fabricated a fake story.
"Hah, fine. Thankfully, I'm not short on money. I'll even pay you extra if you can provide me with some information," he said, retrieving a small gold bullion he found from one of the many hideouts he had raided these past few months. The matron grabbed the item from his hand so quickly that it seemed like she teleported before stuffing it inside her cleavage.
"Well, go on then, out with it."
"There is a Taimanin that just appeared around these parts. Waist-length blue hair and red eyes, late teens to early twenties, and wielding a big axe, she was in the company of this woman and another one, whom I left with her. I've never seen her around downtown before, so I figured she must be new to the area."
Evelyn inhaled from her pipe once, closing her eyes and pondering while tapping her fingers against her forearm. "I know who she is. Another of those bloody ninja girls who found her way to the city just recently. Someone famous from her village, with what I've learned, but doesn't seem like she is associated with any groups here in Tokyo."
The man nodded, and their exchange ended with him walking away and the madam having one of her girls take the woman inside to rest for the night before heading back inside, only for her to stop for a moment and leave him with a few parting words.
"An invitation has been sent to one of our girls. Apparently, a new event will be held at the Chaos Arena with a special guest in the upcoming days. Do with that what you will."
So things were already starting to follow their natural course. EMIYA began to wonder if he was beginning to deal with a completely new reality, one where nothing would be the same as it was before.
"Thanks for the free information," he said while waving his hand, earning a scoff from the woman before she slammed the door shut. For all that rough side she showed, Evelyn still remained very concerned over the safety of her girls, and he just happened to be the perfect janitor to handle any mess they might find themselves caught up in.
At the very least, she paid him if needed, unlike his other boss.
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Going back to the cafe, EMIYA put the items he bought that were thankfully not coated in orc blood inside the fridge. Then, hearing a sound coming from the outside, he realized that a certain package had been dropped off, and went out to find a folder right in front of his doorstep.
"That was fast."
Easily one of the fastest information brokers he had dealt with in his entire existence, and that was saying something.
Retrieving the file and opening the seal, he learned the name of the short-tempered Taimanin from earlier. The folder included a clear picture of her, taken from a distance, strange close-ups, and ID pictures, which all showed her true face without all that makeup. This further confirmed the weird sensation he had earlier on; she was indeed someone he'd seen in past time loops.
"Yatsu Murasaki… No black marks on her history, a model student of Gosha Academy who graduated last year, and an acquaintance of those two… Unknown as to why she even came to Tokyo. Most likely, she was in the middle of an investigation mission, or an assassination."
Overall, nothing too worrisome. As long as she stayed out of his way and did not cause too much trouble, he had no issues with her presence. She was merely another Taimanin out of dozens he had crossed so far, some of whom he'd encountered in the middle of their battle against demons and others who still maintained their secret identity while they worked undercover in the red light district.
For now though, he had more important matters to attend to.
"What should I bring as a gift to Sakura's house this weekend?"
{Break}
(Several days later)
-Copenhagen Cafe-
The best kind of customers for any restaurant were always those who came back and became regulars. In most cases, they tended to decide on a favourite dish and order the same thing over and over again, which made it easy for him to figure out what to prepare whenever they came through the door, as well as make plans whenever he went out to resupply and purchase the right ingredients.
And now, even though she had only visited his establishment a few times, Ingrid had firmly cemented herself as a potential regular who always ordered the same thing. An order that he now made sure to always have the ingredients on hand and in abundance so that he could have it ready the moment she opened the door.
"Hah… This right here is the true meaning of life."
Finishing her second Irish coffee, the beautiful, tanned woman exhaled softly with a look of pure bliss on her face. Her beverage this time contained more alcohol than coffee, as per her own request from the second time she'd visited.
"I take it work hasn't been so kind to you lately. That same colleague of yours is still stressing you out?"
Ingrid huffed. "That's one way to put it. Unfortunately, it's not just her, but I'm also getting double the paperwork I usually have to deal with lately, plus there arethere's private matters with my boss to consider."
She said this all casually, having gotten more comfortable around him, at least enough to speak about such matters without being too vague.
"By the way, where is that cute waitress of yours?"
"I gave her the day off. There's been news about some girls nearly getting kidnapped nearby just last night. I didn't want to take any risks, so I told her to stay home today."
"Oh… Yes, I see." Given her position, he knew she must have already learned about the death of those demons and the involvement of the new Taimanin. "I can certainly respect you valuing the safety of your employee. Though if you don't mind my saying so, this place looks much less lively without her around."
He smirked wryly. "Can't argue that. Try as I might to make what comes out of my kitchen the main attraction of this place, she's easily what draws most of my business. Without her here, I don't get a tenth as many customers as usual. It's practically a wasteland today."
Indeed, aside from a small handful of other regulars who'd already come and gone, today it was just Ingrid present, with every other seat empty. Those who usually came to ogle at Sakura's behind had been greatly disappointed when he told them she was absent, and they all came up with an excuse to leave on the spot.
"I know I've said this before, but you probably should think about relocating," Ingrid said after some hesitation. "There is a possibility that this place might be getting more dangerous in the coming days."
"…"
So that information about the Chaos Arena was valid after all. Such events always attracted the worst kind of people to come out of their holes and openly walk the streets for at least a short period of time, with those who knew about the existence of demons confirming that even those creatures would no longer try to stay as hidden as before. What better place for them to frequent than downtown Tokyo, only a mere block from here?
"I don't see any reason why anyone would bother to cause any problems for someone like me. This is just a humble cafe. I'm not exactly drowning in money; it's not even worthwhile to steal anything, aside from maybe this coffee machine and a few pieces of furniture here and there." Still, it suited him to continue to act naively, observing her reaction without making it too obvious. "Not to mention, so far, I have never dealt with any issues. I'm confident in my ability to stay under the radar."
"You really are a very trusting individual, Emiya-san."
To that, he put on his best bright smile. "I like to think of myself as just being humble. Not all people in this city are evil or out to get anyone they come across. Sometimes they are just desperate, and I feel like I can help them in their time of need." He could already imagine a certain former Master of his having a stroke, seeing him say such things with so much confidence and an innocent face like the one he was putting on.
Did he hate doing it? Partially, but thankfully, the results offset the troublesome feeling in his heart while he acted this way. Ingrid looked back at him with widened eyes, most likely questioning how someone so idiotic could exist in this world. He empathized with the woman, for he had been on the other end of this nonsense himself, especially when confronting a certain red-headed fool.
Regardless, the more he put on this persona, the less likely she would be to suspect him if some events were to occur in the future, where she could start suspecting his involvement.
"Speaking of showing trust, how is your love life with your boss going at the moment?"
"Pft!" Not prepared for such a direct and blunt question, the woman choked on her third cup of coffee and cream-flavored whiskey and nearly sprayed his face with the beverage. Coughing several times, Ingrid did her best to maintain a look of composure, but failed. "W-What do you mean by that?" she asked with an audible stutter in her voice, her face going fully crimson.
A composed individual, who rarely anything could shake her, was reduced to a stuttering teenager as soon as he brought up Black as the subject of their conversation, and her clear infatuation with him.
"Going by that reaction, I take it you haven't yet confessed your feelings to him. What a shame, I'm sure any man would be quite thrilled to have such a beautiful woman approach them, seeking a romantic relationship."
He'd found that the best way to have her become more comfortable around him was to build a level of trust between them. One where she would see him as an ally, or at least a trusted confidant who could give her useful advice without any hidden intentions.
If he pushed too hard for certain types of information, the woman would either get suspicious or uncomfortable, shut any conversation down, or even never come back.
"Hah…" her expression worsened again, filled with sourness and bitterness or culminating into an overall feeling of hopelessness. "Nothing much. He… I… I-It's complicated."
"Perhaps he already has someone else he likes?"
She shook her head. "Impossible. There is no one else in this world worthy enough to hold the interest of such a man. At least, not as far as I know."
"Why not just learn about the truth by just asking him directly with a confession?" he advised, using a handkerchief to wipe away some of the coffee she'd spilled on the countertop. "If you keep going down this path, nothing will change, and you will keep telling yourself that you have no chance and keep doubting yourself again and again till eventually, before you realize, it's already too late."
"I can't… I mean, even if I wanted to, he is no longer in town. Even if by some miracle I were to gather the strength to do so and be as optimistic as you say, I'll have to wait at least a couple of days until he comes back. Heck, with how erratic he has been with his schedule these past few days, I can't even be sure about that. He could be back tonight or in a month for all I know; it's hard to say."
So Black had left Tokyo.
Not the first time it had happened, but it would certainly be quite annoying if his target were to try to travel halfway across the world and bunker down in a hideout to get away from him.
'No, with a person like him who is drowning in his own ego, pride, and thirst for revenge against me, most likely, he won't give up so easily. But by now, he also knows that confronting me head-on is a fool's errand. Hmm, if I were in his shoes, what would I do?'
The answer was so simple that it took him less than a second to find out.
'Find information on me, of what I could be, how I even came to be. Find powerful allies and a possible means to fight back.'
Unfortunately for Black, he doubted there would be any sort of information anywhere in this world about Alaya or the Counter Force in general. Maybe some vague terms or legends about an entity with a similar role, but nothing concrete. They had stories about gods similar to his own world, but they were just that, stories which he himself had yet to verify if they were real or not.
In an ideal world for Black, even if he were to find a way to kill him, the Counter Force would just send him here all over again, possibly creating another copy with boosted parameters, or perhaps another Counter Guardian in his place — Alaya was not lacking in that department. Or worse, they'd find a way to send a Grand Servant if things went too far.
A battle of attrition where one side just could not lose, no matter what the other tried. Not invincible by any means, but just impossible to kill for good.
Jeeeeeee~
"Hm?" In the midst of his internal monologue, EMIYA noticed the woman staring back at him quite intensely. It momentarily put him on edge as he wondered if he had slipped up and perhaps asked too much and made her become suspicious. But the next words that came out of her mouth completely put those worries to rest and instead left him a bit baffled.
"You know, I never really noticed it before, but you kind of look like him."
"—Excuse me?"
"Like my boss. When you make a face like that when you're deep in thought, you resemble him," she said, chuckling while he remained there frozen with raised eyebrows.
Having seen the man and the result of his actions several times already, he… did not see a resemblance between them at all. Or wish to. Aside from the way they styled their hair and maybe their general build a bit, everything else differed greatly in his mind.
Maybe she had a bit too much to drink?
"Hahaha, is that so? That's nice to hear from someone like you. I can't exactly confirm it since I don't even know who he is or what he looks like. But since you say so, I'll take your word for it."
"Hah… if only he could be a bit more open like you are. It would have been perfect; I wouldn't need to worry so much about such things between us, and perhaps he would be more open to letting me shoulder his burdens," she said with a hollow tone, downing the cup and slumping forward with tired eyes.
"As I said earlier, you can't keep mulling over such things and not make any progress. Treat it like ripping off a band-aid; you give it your all this one time and see the answer clearly. Try to create an opportunity when it's just you and him, confront him with your feelings, and see his answer. If things don't work out, then at least you know not to waste too much time on this and work towards recovering and continuing on with your life. If you get a positive response from him, then that means I'll have saved you a lot of time and mental anguish, and you owe me a drink. Either way, hopefully it doesn't lead you to being fired."
She chuckled again, her face regaining some of its prior color. Clearly, she did not dismiss his words entirely. "It's certainly a pretty picture… but I'm afraid it will remain a mere fantasy."
"Who would have thought someone as confident and direct as you would actually be so scared of simply having a conversation," EMIYA taunted her with a calm smile. "You won't survive long in the business side of the world with that kind of attitude. If you see an opportunity, seize it. Simple as that. If you don't… someone else will get to him eventually, such as that co-worker of yours. You've talked before about how she's also trying to get closer to him. She might try to work her way into his bedroom as well, even if it's just for an easy promotion."
Her eyes twitched, and the woman actually marinated over his words for several minutes until she smacked her hand on the table. "Damn it, you're right about that, and I hate it! I can't just stand around like this doing nothing! I'm not some child who can't confront my own fears! I have faced far bigger challenges in the past, and I've come out victorious each and every time! It would be a stain on my name to let Oboro of all people have an advantage over me!"
EMIYA smirked. 'Careful there, you actually said her name out loud without trying to keep it vague. So a few shots of whiskey and poking her feelings about Black seems to be her weakness.'
While he silently celebrated his minor victory, Ingrid got up from her chair and pointed her finger at him. "You will see. Next time I come back, it will not be to drink away my sorrows, but to celebrate."
"Hoh~? I look forward to that," said the man, watching her grab her belongings and walk away with confidence. It was almost closing time, which worked out for him, yet right as she was about to exit, Ingrid stopped and looked back with a beautiful smile on her face.
"Thanks for lifting my mood, Emiya-san."
Raising a half-empty glass with whiskey on the rocks, which he'd poured for himself just so she could feel more comfortable by having a drinking companion during their conversation, he nodded. "Anything for one of my most loyal customers."
"Oh? Have I frequented this place long enough to be considered a loyal customer?" Ingrid asked with an amused tone that almost sounded… suggestive. The alcohol once again made her behave differently without Ingrid herself fully realizing it.
"Anyone willing to put up with me can be considered a loyal customer."
"I should be the one saying that. I know it must be annoying to hear me rant about my personal issues all day while you must be dealing with plenty of stressful stuff, especially when you live around these parts. Really, you're too good for this district."
Hard to believe that this woman, who genuinely worried about his well-being, had multiple times shown an expression filled with pure killing intent and a desire to cut him down every time he attacked Black. Pure hatred had been replaced with genuine friendly affection.
This gave rise to a faint sense of guilt within his heart, since, at the end of the day, he was using her. It was an emotion he started to feel more and more frequently, not just around Ingrid but also with Sakura and Asagi.
But that sensation was quickly smothered. This was just another part of his duty for this particular mission.
"Worry about yourself first, Ingrid. I doubt my life running a small cafe in this part of town and trying to make a living will be more stressful than what you probably go through daily."
With that said, the door closed, leaving EMIYA alone. Usually, closing time would be around evening, but today he had a particular rendezvous planned out with Sakura this evening, so best to get prepared.
As for Ingrid's confession to Black? The Counter Guardian was not worried about it compromising her as an unknowing informant. With that vampire's current state, the chances of that conversation going well — assuming it happened at all — were frankly down in the decimals, if not zero.
Any tiny embers of guilt that managed to seep through were quickly extinguished upon recalling how many times that woman ended up being used as another meat shield by that vampire. He doubted Black saw her as anything more than just another tool.
"Humph, as if I'm any better with my current action." He said in a self-deprecating manner, half joking and half serious.
Closing up the bar and making the final preparations for a proper gift to the Igawa sisters.
{Break}
-???-
Everything felt disgustingly slimy.
Her body was bound by dozens of tendrils coming out of the wall, and tangling around her limbs, leaving behind a thick mucus with a stench so disgusting it left her in a permanent state of nausea. On top of the stench, it acted no different to some sort of paralyzing drug, leaving her entire body numb, unable to exert even an ounce of strength.
But that was not even the worst part, for a simple look down revealed a more disturbing sight which left her sinking deeper into despair. The body she had cultivated through years of rigorous training, tempered through countless trials and missions as it was refined into a veritable weapon against demons…
A body that, despite having retired for years, had barely lost its edge, still as pristine and alluring as ever.
That part of her had been stolen away, with her breasts now being nearly twice their prior size, and filled to the brim with a strange substance oozing from the needles jutting out of these tentacles. Constantly pumping them non-stop to the point she no longer even felt any sort of pain, but instead pleasure. A mind-numbing amount of pleasure that even the touch of the wind pushed her to her limits.
The same change had even replicated within her womb, permanently altered to a point she could not even recognize her body or herself from the puddle of water below that reflected her entire being.
…
"—!"
Strange noises resounded from the outside, the ground beneath trembled, and the single light bulb above her head flickered.
All of it went unnoticed by Asagi, for in her current state, the young woman's mind had practically been turned into a hazy labyrinth. Any sort of critical thinking had become impossible for her, as if all of her nerves and pleasure senses were pushed to their absolute limit and kept at that state for an excruciatingly long amount of time.
Worst of all, she had failed to save him. She'd seen with her own eyes the tragic fate that had befallen her beloved Kyousuke… Any hope of saving him became more diminished by the hour, like a small candle about to be extinguished in the roaring winds of a blizzard.
"—!"
The commotion grew louder, and for the first time in a long while, the doors leading to the hallway where her cell was fully opened. And then, a faint stench of blood reached her nose, followed by the sound of many footsteps rushing through the hallway.
"S-Stop him!"
"Help! We need backu—urgh!"
"H-He killed her! The Hell Knight is dead! Run!"
The security put in charge of guarding the place, both humans and demons, all retreated en masse, rushing past the hallway leading to her cell and causing enough noise to finally manage to pull Asagi out of her numb state to pay attention.
Empty eyes stared outward, watching people carrying weapons of all sorts, be they swords or guns, falling one by one. They all died in a matter of seconds. One moment, they had all huddled up in one spot, shooting towards someone in the distance, and the next, their bodies had gone limp with a shadow practically blinking into existence right behind them.
The figure was holding a sword in one hand, blood sprayed in the air like a geyser, yet somehow the blade remained unbloodied. A spotless and tattered white cloak waving in the air adorned the mysterious figure in black armor; the person's features were hidden from view.
Yet, she could tell he was looking right at her.
Looking right at the abomination she had become.
Too tired to even ask to be saved, she had but one request.
"…P-Please…"
Asagi whispered, unable to say more, but the meaning behind her single word was conveyed to this entity.
"…A-a-n… h." This voice sounded like a man, but she wasn't sure. Her own senses could no longer be trusted. Several times in her cell did she heard phantom noises of Sakura screaming for help and Kyousuke's voice roaring like that of a demon. He said something to her, but she could not hear it, perhaps calling her name, or maybe he was an agent sent by Gosha Village or the government.
It did not matter.
Right after, she felt the cold sensation of steel piercing her heart. Strangely enough, it neither felt painful nor pleasurable due to the modifications she'd been subjected to. Regardless, the woman could feel her life force quickly diminishing, bringing her to death.
But in her final moment, mustering up every bit of strength she had left in her being, Asagi lifted up her head one last time to face this person — forcing a weak smile on her face.
"…T-Tha… nk… y… ou…"
Despite the mangled words that were barely audible or even comprehensible, she was satisfied. As her head went limp, in her final moment, Igawa Asagi caught a glimpse of the man's grip on his sword tightening ever so slightly. Whether it happened due to anger or frustration, no one could tell.
It mattered not, for she knew…
He had heard her.
.
.
.
"I've cleaned up the living room, Onee-sama!"
"Ah!"
Teal-coloured eyes snapped open as a stunningly beautiful young woman with deep navy-blue and black hair was startled awake by both the loud sound of her sister's voice and the fact that she had nearly fallen off the sofa in the living room.
"T-This… again?"
Breathing rather haggardly and covered in sweat, Asagi was at a complete loss as to where exactly she was, or even what year it was. Her mind was a mess, trying to gather her messy thoughts.
"Eh? Are you okay? Why are you sweating so much?" Sakura asked, walking down the stairs wearing a yellow tank top and short jeans that together were deeply revealing.
She was in her home, there were no strange tendrils, no prison cells where her body remained hanging from the wall for days, and where her body… where it… the fading nightmare alone was enough to make her want to vomit on the spot. But she held it in, not wanting to worry her sister.
Asagi forced herself to put on a fake smile.
"Nothing, I just almost fell to the ground while asleep, but I managed to catch myself." She made a quick excuse on the spot, remembering how after finishing cooking the small feast they had prepared, she came to the living room waiting for Sakura to finish cleaning her bedroom. She realized that at some point, she must have fallen asleep and, unfortunately, had another bizarre and horrible nightmare. "Also, what are you wearing!? These are not appropriate outfits to show to guests! Go change into something that covers you more!"
"Oh come on, Onee-san, he has already seen me working at the cafe while wearing a sexy maid costume with a huge cleavage window and miniskirt all day every day. He's had plenty of chances to ogle my boobs like the rest of the customers, and I practically flash my butt at him every time I lean forward."
"You what!?"
What was wrong with this girl? She was being far too comfortable and trusting with her body, and around her boss of all people!
"Go get changed into something that actually covers yourself, right now! Or else this will be the last time you ever invite a guest to our home!" She gave the girl an ultimatum, which managed to work as Sakura pouted and walked back upstairs with heavy steps.
"Tch, fine!"
Seeing her behave like that left the older sister exasperated. Why did her younger sister insist on going so far for that man? The answer came easily enough.
'Then again, she is more than old enough to be interested in those things… But still!'
This little bit of familial stress along with the nightmare she had just experienced, made her want to go outside and get some fresh air. As for the matter of Emiya coming over for dinner, she had no issues with it whatsoever. In fact, Asagi even wanted to thank the man for making her sister more productive rather than lazing around in her room. Plus he clearly valued her safety, having instructed her to take the day off work after hearing news about an attack on some women not far from the cafe just last night.
Not to mention she did feel like her first impression with him had not exactly been the best, and she wished to mitigate that.
Walking towards the courtyard in the back of her home, Asagi came to a halt upon spotting someone sitting on the porch, looking absent-mindedly at the garden.
"Kyousuke?"
Calling out his name, she was about to approach him, but in that instant a very uneasy sensation filled her entire being. For just a brief moment, the man in a yukata sitting in front of her disappeared, and in his place stood a monstrous figure with grotesque limbs and remnants of a face that once belonged to her beloved.
"Asagi?"
"—!"
In a moment born out of battle-hardened instinct, she jumped away right as a hand came to rest upon her shoulders with her body moving as if it were about to pull out her katana, only to realize there was nothing by her side.
"Ah…"
Only then did she realize her mistake, seeing her lover standing there with confusion written all over his face, the horrific image nowhere to be seen.
"Are you feeling alright, Asagi? Why did you react like that?" He asked, and she had no answer.
'Why… did I react like that?' The answer eluded her. She herself had no idea why she'd done that. But at that moment, had her old katana still been attached to her hips, she may well have…
"N-Nothing, I was just lost in my thoughts and got spooked, h-hahaha…"
Just like with Sakura, she tried to play it off and pretend nothing was out of the ordinary.
"B-By the way, I'm sorry I didn't accept your invitation last time, there was just this matter with Sakura I had to handle first."
The man shook his head. "It's fine, but I do have something important I need to share with you now. Do you want to go out with me for a bit? We can make a date out of it."
A date? Now?
"Ah, Kyousuke, we can't do that. Our guest is about to arrive at any moment, and we really shouldn't just leave Sakura to entertain a guest on her own out of the blue. It would be rude."
"Guest?" He put on a strange face filled with confusion, looking at her in silence, which also confused Asagi.
"You don't remember? Sakura's boss, the owner of the cafe she works at, who she invited over a few days ago for dinner at our house today."
"O-Oh… Y-Yes, of course. I remember."
That was something else she had noticed recently; Kyousuke had started to behave quite strangely as well. On more than one occasion she would find him just sitting there with a lost expression, sometimes not even reacting when she called his name.
When she returned from the cafe after that pleasant visit and tried to call him, he did not even answer her calls and came back home late. Believing him to be in a bad mood after her rejection and feeling bad about it, she did not question him and kept her silence. But now, she started to wonder if it was truly just him being angry, or something else.
"Do you mind giving me a hint as to what this important matter you wanted to discuss is about?" she asked curiously while clutching the edge of her sweater, since he kept bringing up this matter over and over again, she figured it must have been something important.
"I can't tell you now, not here. At least somewhere quieter and preferably without many people around us. It's about our future, about us."
"..."
A strange emotion rose within her heart, one that felt more like bitterness when she heard that last part.
Ever since those dreams began occurring, the way she felt whenever she was around him had changed from her prior self. It was as if by being in his presence, she was standing next to a beautiful and fragile vase where just a touch from her could result in it being corrupted and shattered into pieces.
Despite having left the life of a Taimanin behind her years ago, for some reason the same fears she had long ago had now returned with a vengeance.
'Am I… reconsidering our…?'
No, she refused to even entertain that ridiculous thought! Asagi was certain in her heart that she still loved this wonderful man.
…So then why did she feel afraid around him? Why did just imagining them being together fill her body with dread? Fearing not just for her own future, but also for Sakura and Kyousuke himself?
"K-Kyousuke, I think I also have something important to say to y—"
Ding, dong~!
The sound of the doorbell chiming brought her back to reality and shattered the awkward moment between the two of them. Asagi's eyes widened as she looked at the clock and realized that it was time.
"He's here!"
"Ah…"
A look that could only be described as frustrated irritation crossed the man's face, which he quickly hid when Asagi turned her attention back to him. She'd failed to notice.
Turning around and taking a step towards the house right as he was about to grab her, Asagi rushed towards the front entrance.
"Sakura! I had better not see you with those skimpy clothes from earlier! Come downstairs quickly, he's here! Let's go, Kyousuke, I want to introduce you to Emiya-san."
This being the perfect moment to change subjects, she did not waste the opportunity and quickly did the final check-up on herself with a nearby mirror. She could not fail again and leave him with a bad impression of her!
If that were to happen, then Asagi feared she would not be able to show her face back at that cafe ever again due to sheer embarrassment.
That would be a genuine tragedy in her eyes, given just how amazing the coffee and food were over there; enough to even make some of the more expensive and lavish bakeries and cafes in Tokyo feel like she was consuming utter dirt.
'Alright, Asagi, just forget about the matter with Kyousuke for now. I must still be thinking nonsensical stuff after that dream, I'll just explain it to him later on, and he'll understand,' she reassured herself, feeling her heart start to calm down.
Though her smile disappeared when she saw Sakura coming down the stairs.
She still had those same shorts on from before that barely reached her thighs, and judging from the thin straps over her shoulders, the same also applied to the tank top. The only difference was that Sakura had thrown on a long-sleeve shirt over it all!
But before she could force her to change again, that little minx proved to be more cunning than she imagined, for she went ahead and opened the door.
"You're finally here, boss! Wow! What's with the celebrity-hiding-in-public outfit you have going on there? Not that I'm complaining; it looks strangely good on you."
"Sakura, you should have listen—!?" Whatever complaints or lectures she had planned for the young blonde got stuck in her throat, for standing at the door was a tall man who was dressed very differently from how he looked at the cafe. With a hat on which hid his snowy white hair and thick black sunglasses that covered most of his upper face. Wearing a gray shirt with the top two buttons undone, showcasing a white T-shirt beneath that clung to his skin and showcased the surprising amount of barely hidden muscles beneath, and black pants.
"We meet again." 'You again, huh?'
Two nearly identical voices overlapped with each other. One that back in her dreams, was nothing but vague gibberish, but now sounded clearer than ever before.
At that moment she knew something was truly wrong with her. She was mixing reality and nightmares together.
"Ah!"
It was not the man's appearance itself that shocked her, but the disturbing sense of familiarity she felt at that moment that turned her mind completely blank. And in that moment, her feet accidentally struck a drawer nearby, which led to the woman falling face-first on the wooden floor.
"Kya!"
"Onee-san!?"
"Asagi!"
The pain she felt from that fall was nothing compared to the embarrassment that exploded within her heart at how hard she fumbled for just saying hello!
To think she'd been a renowned Taimanin who fought against dozens of demons at once, and now she had fallen prey to a random wooden table… Her old teachers would be so upset.
Grabbing onto the closest hand within reach, Asagi pulled herself back up. Holding her nose, she realized that the person she'd grabbed onto was none other than Emiya-san, looking down at her with concern on his face. He removed his glasses and hat, unveiling steel-gray eyes and leaving his snow-hair now fully visible.
Now, he truly looked no different than that kind and generous cafe owner who made both her and Sakura's day brighter with his wonderful culinary talents for all the things one could hope to find in a cafe. Nothing like the cold and scary entity from her nightmares who harvested lives like the Grim Reaper.
Truly, she had made a fool of herself.
'Uuuuh, just kill me already,' she cried inwardly, having never behaved like this even when she finally mustered up the courage to confess her feelings to Kyousuke!
"Thank you…"
That was all she could bring herself to say while getting back on her feet, feeling her face burn harder than the surface of the sun, and wanting nothing more than to dig a hole and bury herself within. It felt like no matter what she tried, her fate was always to embarrass herself when in front of this man.
"You really are Sakura's sister; both of you are equally as clumsy when surprised," Emiya joked, earning a slight jab to the shoulder from the younger Igawa sister.
"Hey, I'm not clumsy! The only reason I fell over two days ago was that I was testing out working as a waitress wearing roller skates!"
"You broke five plates, four cups, and threw several of my cakes into people's faces," he said dryly, which she could not dispute. "Here, I brought something for all of you."
Emiya had not come to the Igawa household empty-handed and handed over a small box filled with several kinds of pastries which Asagi and Sakura both immediately recognized as the ones he made and sold at his cafe.
"I wasn't sure if there would be other guests in the house, so I brought six slices of different flavors."
"Oh my~ you really do spoil me, boss!" Sakura showed no restraint and immediately accepted the gift, opening it right then and there and taking a bite of one of the pieces. "I really missed this. I completely forgive you for making me take the day off."
"You must be the first employee in the world who argues with their boss to not get a day of paid leave."
"That just shows how dedicated I am," she said with a smirk that he returned, looking at how the two of them bounced off one another. A moment of joy filled Asagi's heart. Most of it was due to just how happy her little sister looked.
And though she did not say it out loud, as a woman herself, she recognized and understood the look that appeared on Sakura's face whenever she talked to him.
After all, she had been in her exact shoes several years ago with that very same expression.
"Hello there, my name is Kyousuke, Asagi's boyfriend. Nice to meet you, Emiya-san."
"Oh? I see… A pleasure to meet you as well. I've heard a lot about you from Sakura."
"Likewise."
Kyousuke appeared and went over to greet the man, both shaking each other's hands and greeting one another with short and curt yet polite responses.
"Ah, yes, please come in. I'm sorry that you had to come here on your own. This neighborhood can be a real maze at times." Asagi did her best to play off her earlier embarrassment and forced a confident and calm expression back onto her face. She forced herself to remember her training as a Taimanin on how to keep a lock on one's emotions.
She just never imagined she'd be using such a technique to not make a fool of herself when welcoming a guest into her home, of all things.
As Emiya walked deeper into the house with Sakura pulling him along, a giddy look on her face. Clearly she was excited to show him around, and with a fond roll of her eyes, Asagi followed.
Kyousuke remained behind, with his earlier smile disappearing once more and a blank look overtaking his face.
His kimono had loosened up from his earlier movements, which at a certain angle would grant a view of his left upper chest. But rather than regular skin, beneath it was a collection of pulsating red veiny flesh with eyes forming on its surface.
It had been encroaching upon his body for days now, and even growing deeper within him, spreading faster the more time went by.
This thing just kept getting harder and harder to hide.
"..."
Looking back at Asagi as she went into the kitchen to prepare some drinks, he pulled his clothes tighter to hide the mutated flesh, and as if a switch had been flipped, Kyousuke reverted to his usual self and shut the door before moving to join the rest of the group.
The trap had to be deployed today no matter the cost; he could not afford to wait any longer.
As per Oboro-sama's orders.
________________
The dress Murasaki wore as "Kaede" (Check comment)
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The next 5 chapters of Snafu, and my other Fate fics (Fate Coiling Sword with 3 chapters, Wrought iron taimanin with 3 chapters, A Fake Familiar Reborn with 3 chapters, Steel Eyed Faker soon to be 3 chapters, Hound having 3 and To love a sword having 4 chapters) are already available on my P@treon. With 4 more Broly chapters at /NimtheWriter. Also, I post commissioned arts on each story, already posted a few on an Archer's Promise, Broly and Snafu.