About an hour later...
Alear finally finished explaining everything he considered necessary for Nobunaga to know and let out a light sigh. For nearly an entire hour, he had presented each piece of information clearly and in an organized manner.
First, he explained that this was not the "Moonlit World" she knew, but an entirely different universe where the Age of Gods had not yet come to an end. Then, he spoke about the various supernatural factions, their hidden existence, and the way they remained concealed from human society.
After that, he explained the structure of the Underworld, its hierarchy, and the position he himself held as a High-Class Devil.
Finally, he briefly mentioned his connection to the Root, explaining that it was precisely this extraordinary link that had allowed him to summon her into this world...
Throughout all of this, Oda Nobunaga remained silent, occasionally asking questions or responding...
Seated on the bed a few meters away from him, with one leg crossed over the other and her sword resting on her shoulder, she listened to every word without interrupting even once. Her blood-red eyes remained fixed on Alear, analyzing not only the information he conveyed but also the man standing before her. The casual and carefree smile she had worn at the beginning of their conversation gradually faded away, replaced by a much more serious and contemplative expression. It was clear that she was carefully processing everything she had heard, evaluating every detail while observing Alear's reactions, tone of voice, and posture throughout the explanation...
When Alear finally stopped speaking, the room fell into silence for nearly a full minute.
Nobunaga slowly tilted her head, causing her long black hair to cascade over her shoulders like a waterfall of dark silk.
"...Heh."
A low chuckle escaped her lips. At first subtle, it gradually grew into a brief laugh filled with genuine surprise and amusement.
"A different world where the Age of Gods still hasn't ended... A 'Master' who's a Devil and lives in the Underworld... Gods, Youkai, and all kinds of beings I thought were nothing more than legends and fairy tales..."
She paused briefly, and the gleam in her crimson eyes intensified.
"What a deliciously chaotic setting....."
The smile that appeared on her face was that of someone who had just found something far more interesting than expected.
"I'll admit, I was preparing myself to hear something tedious, like another Holy Grail War or some variation of it. But this..." She rested her chin on her free hand while observing Alear with obvious interest. "This is much better."
There was an excitement in her voice that was difficult to hide.
For someone like Oda Nobunaga, who had spent her entire life pursuing the extraordinary and challenging the impossible, being thrown into a world filled with mysteries, gods, demons, and supernatural factions was far more exciting than any predictable conflict.....
"I have to admit, kid..." she continued, a sharp smile appearing on her lips. "You really know how to make a first impression."
Alear responded dryly, though a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"I'm glad to hear that from someone who has been recorded in history as a Heroic Spirit. It's an honor to know I managed to make such a positive impression."
Failing to notice the slight sarcasm hidden within his words, Nobunaga raised an eyebrow, clearly pleased by the compliment. The corners of her lips curled upward even further, revealing her sharp canines.
"Hah! You really know how to flatter people, kid. I like that." She let out a brief laugh before uncrossing her legs and leaning slightly forward. Her gaze remained fixed on Alear, filled with interest and curiosity. "But let's get to what really matters."
The relaxed tone in her voice diminished somewhat, giving way to something more serious and direct.
"Why exactly did you summon me?"
She kept her eyes fixed on Alear before continuing.
"I can accept your orders, just as I said before. I'm not the type of person who goes back on my word... Of course, that's assuming those orders aren't stupid." A provocative smile appeared on her lips. "But don't take that the wrong way. That doesn't mean I'm going to go around following you like some obedient little puppy...."
She rested her elbow on her leg and propped her chin on her hand, never taking her eyes off him for even a moment.
"From what you've explained, there's no Holy Grail War in this world. In that case, the only real obligation I have is to protect you. After all, you're the source of mana I need in order to continue existing here." Her tone remained casual, but there was undeniable firmness behind her words. "Other than that, I see no reason to obey whatever orders you give me...."
She finished the sentence without the slightest hesitation, making it clear that although she recognized him as her "Master," she had no intention whatsoever of acting like a submissive servant. In fact, the direct and provocative way she spoke made it sound almost like a challenge—and, in a sense, that was exactly what it was. She was testing her new "Master," carefully observing how he would react to someone who showed no interest in blindly obeying authority. To her, his answer would reveal far more about his character than any explanation he had given earlier. After all, she had no interest in following someone who demanded absolute submission simply because they held a position of power, nor someone who lacked the courage to stand by their own convictions.
Up to that point, he had made quite a favorable impression. The courage he had shown by facing her attack and retaliating without hesitation had caught her attention. However, one important question still remained. She needed to know whether he was one of those arrogant nobles who believed they had the right to put a collar on their servants simply because they occupied the position of Master. If he turned out to be that kind of man, her opinion of him would change drastically.
But as expected, he truly was interesting.
Alear observed her for a few moments before responding. His expression remained calm, and his voice retained a firm and straightforward tone, without a trace of intimidation or hesitation.
"You can do whatever you want. Go wherever you want, fight whoever you want, and enjoy yourself however you see fit. As long as you don't cause unnecessary problems for me or interfere with my plans, I won't meddle in your decisions. But if you cross that line... I'll have to take measures."
Silence lingered in the room for a brief moment.
Then a wide, wild, and genuinely amused smile spread across Nobunaga's face. Her blood-red eyes gleamed with a mixture of pleasant surprise and pure challenge.
"Ohh...?"
A low laugh escaped her lips as she tilted her head, staring at him with a sharp and provocative gaze.
"So you really have the guts to suggest you'd punish me if I caused trouble... Hah! You really are interesting, kid."
Nobunaga slowly rose to her feet and took a few steps forward until she stood directly in front of him. Despite her short stature, her presence seemed to dominate the entire room. She slightly raised her chin to look him straight in the eye, maintaining that challenging smile that did nothing to hide her excitement.
"Interesting... Very interesting. You've got a backbone. I like that quite a lot."
She crossed her arms and let out a brief laugh.
"Very well, kid. I'll stick around for a while... and observe how you conduct yourself. If you continue being entertaining enough, I might even decide to help you for real. But don't think I'm going to work for free. If you expect me to fight for you, just know that you'll owe me a huge favor afterward. You'd better prepare some good sake and a banquet worthy of the occasion if you want me to defeat your enemies."
Her red eyes narrowed, gleaming with anticipation and mischief.
"But don't get the wrong idea. If I decide you're weak or boring..." The smile on her lips widened dangerously. "Then you'd better watch out, or I might just shove a firework straight up your ass."
With that said, her Servant disappeared into the air, assuming Spirit Form. In that state, she could pass through obstacles without hindrance and completely conceal her presence. It was one of the most common ways for a Servant to conserve Mana outside of combat while freely traveling wherever they wished without being noticed.
As soon as Nobunaga's presence vanished from his room, Alear heard her voice echo directly within his mind through the connection between Master and Servant.
"By the way, kid. My name is Oda Nobunaga, the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven. Looks like you summoned me as an Archer-class Servant, so don't expect me to be fighting on the front lines unless you're there with me. But don't worry... I'll make sure not to shoot you in the back if you decide to run onto the battlefield. Kukukuku~."
Her amused laughter echoed through his mind before disappearing completely...
Alear let out a sigh and decided not to try stopping her from wandering around. He already knew that Nobunaga was the type of person who did whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted, and trying to restrain her would probably only irritate her. Even so, he wasn't worried that she would simply disappear or abandon him. As someone who had once been her Master in his previous life, he knew her very well. Nobunaga was the type of person who devoted herself completely to whatever she decided to do. Once she set a goal or made a decision, she moved forward without hesitation. It was precisely that unwavering determination that had transformed her into one of the greatest revolutionaries of her era.
Although her historical reputation often portrayed her as a cruel, tyrannical, or even demonic figure, after getting to know her in Chaldea, he had come to see her in a very different light. To him, much of that image was the result of exaggerations and distortions accumulated over centuries. After all, when examining the policies Nobunaga implemented during her lifetime and the countless efforts she made to strengthen her domains and improve the lives of her people, he found a portrait vastly different from the one usually presented in stories and popular legends.
Behind the feared figure known as the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven was someone who had challenged outdated traditions, broken stagnant power structures, and driven changes that helped shape the future of Japan. It was precisely because he knew this side of her that he believed that once Nobunaga decided to remain by his side, she would not be someone who abandoned her commitments lightly....
Alear simply decided to leave one final warning for his Servant.
"Make sure you come back by tomorrow. Even if there's no Holy Grail War for us to participate in, the Underworld is still an extremely dangerous place. You don't seem like the type of person who gets caught off guard easily, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Losing someone who's supposed to be my ally would leave a bitter taste in my mouth."
For a few moments, there was silence on the other end of the connection. Then Nobunaga's voice echoed through his mind once again.
This time, Alear could perfectly imagine her casually waving a hand as if brushing away an unnecessary concern.
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry so much. Contrary to what my appearance might suggest, I'm an adult, you know?" Her tone carried the same carefree confidence as always. "But don't forget to call me if you run into a problem you can't solve. If you call me 'Big Sister,' I might even decide to lend you a hand."
Alear could almost picture the mischievous grin on her face as she said that.
With those final words, the mental connection between the two was abruptly severed, leaving the room completely silent once more.
He let out a long sigh and allowed himself to fall onto the bed, remaining there as he stared at the ceiling with an empty expression.
...It would be so much easier if Nobunaga remembered him.
The thought surfaced involuntarily, bringing with it an unpleasant weight he had been trying to ignore ever since he explained everything about this world to Nobunaga. After all, for him, this was not the first time they had met. He remembered her, the battles they had fought together, the conversations they had shared, and everything they had experienced in Chaldea...
But for Nobunaga, none of that existed. She saw him only as a newly acquainted Master, someone interesting enough to pique her curiosity, yet still a stranger. There was not the slightest trace of recognition in her eyes, no memory of those days.....
The discomfort he felt because of that suddenly intensified, tightening around his chest in an unexpected way. It was an irrational feeling, almost childish, but no less real because of it.
His expression ended up twisting slightly.
No matter how much he tried to act indifferent, he could not stop himself from wishing that she remembered. Even if only a little. Even if only his name...
But he could not have everything in life....
____________________
(A/N: Want to get ahead?
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