6 Chapter 5: The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

Headquarters of the History Compilation Committee

The inside of the building was in chaos. Everyone was running whenever moving was necessary and working with extreme fervor when it wasn't.

It wasn't that surprising, given the circumstances.

A new Campione had been born, with no indication of who the new Campione is, the god that was killed, or where the event had taken place. And that was before the announcement made by the Elders of the History Compilation Committee had come through.

The announcement had been a complete blindside and sounded like the Elders had gone senile. Not only was the newborn Campione becoming a part of the HHC, it wasn't as the head. He would be granted suitable lodgings, access to all the information in possession of the HHC, a budget of 10 billion yen per year, and would be disturbed by the HHC only for events involving Heretic Gods, Divine Ancestors, rouge magical organizations, and other Campione, but he would also not interfere with the HHC without proper reason for anything else.

It was the kind of offer made to maybe the top 100 mages in the world, not to a Campione. For a Campione, if he or she decides that they want something either you give it to them or they take it regardless of any consequences.

It was the kind of thing proposed to those who are logical and reasonable, not the walking unreasonables that are known as Campione. And yet the new Campione had not only accepted these terms, he was the reason that they were so low to begin with. The only thing he insisted upon was that information about his involvement with the HHC not be spread.

Most Campione take actions that made them larger than life, but this one seeks anonymity.

Nobody has any idea of what to do.

All the conventional beliefs are being proven wrong by the 5th.

And he just became their new best friend.

Mansion in Tokyo

"I know I said lodgings, but this is ridiculous." Shirou cried out in a tired tone.

He had tried to reduce the rather over-the-top and almost unrestricted conditions to levels most normal people considered reasonable but his own companions, and eventually even the Elders of the HHC, had protested to leaving them at levels that Shirou couldn't believe that the HHC would accept. And accept them the HHC did.

The mansion was the final straw. Both the mansion and the surrounding land could contain the only home he could remember having more than 10 times over easily, with the dinning room alone being bigger than his entire workshop back at the Emiya estate.

"Calm down Shirou, we have nothing to lose from having a house this big. It's also private, so we can make all the defenses we want so we don't have to worry about intruders. We'll also be able to have our own workshops without having to share and we'll get all the supplies we need. There isn't any downside that I can see." said Rin calmly without even a hint of trouble in her voice.

"You're joking right? How will we be able to maintain a place like this? We'd need at least 10 people, and that's assuming we don't sleep at all. A conservative estimate on what we'd need to keep this place in perfect condition with normal people is that at least 35 to 40 people would be required." Shirou said with a voice tinged with exhaustion. He was rapidly approaching his limit of absurdity while the others were taking everything in stride.

"I thought it would be obvious, we get maids," said Illya in a tone that indicated that she believed that what she said was well and truly obvious. Given that she had been raised mostly by maids, it made sense to her.

Shirou could only sigh, a rapidly forming headache troubling him, "well then, where do we get the maids?"

"The HHC of course," the younger Emiya replied.

A week later

And the idea that Illya had worked far better than Emiya ever expected.

There were no intrusions into any of the workshops, the estate was as well maintained as the day they first arrived and Illya had started making friends the same age as her (actually half her age, but Illya didn't feel like complaining).

Illya was actually meeting two newcomers now, "hi, I'm Illya Emiya, who are you two?"

A small girl with brown hair answered back shyly, "Yuri Mariya."

A slightly larger girl with black hair answered back eagerly, "Ena Seishuuin."

Illya stepped closer to the two and put her hands around their shoulders, "I'm now entirely sure why, but i have the feeling this is going to be the start of a beautiful friendship," a grin plastered on her face.