7 Chapter 6: Malter

Well, this situation was not favourable at all.

I struggle to wrap my head around the fact that this is STILL the tutorial.

Having set up a connection with the leyline the Director tried to have me summon a servant but guess what?

It did not work.

With Chaldea's summoning systems and the power supply in the shitters to say it nicely due to Lev's explosive personality we couldn't even summon servants without catalysts.

And with the rayshift tech in shambles and according to the director the pressure the Mages Association will put on her for her failure and this bombing meant that this "mission" we have accidentally embarked upon has to be a success.

And I unfortunately have to agree.

Because if this all is just one catastrophic failure then the Director will get replaced. And I don't agree just because I feel bad for her. But because if they get restaffed I am fairly certain that my new boss would take a mighty liking to my new set of cool eyes and the demi servant beside me. So we have to make this mission work.

So now, us three stooges under the command of the rude baby director are going on an expedition around the singularity to explore as much as we can to at least be able to say we did something and provide data instead of coming back empty-handed. 

Now, can our ragtag group of.

Mash, the barely qualifies to be a servant!

Olga Marie Animusphere, the rude baby director!

And last of all...

Noah, the restaurant worker!

Can they clear this singularity without getting into more hilarous hijinxes such as nearly dying again and getting bombed?

 Sigh... this is a fucking mess.

"Senpai? You have sighing a lot? Are you ok?" Obviously, no one would be ok in this situation but I did not let anything onto Mash.

"No no, I am fine I am just a tad tired is all." This got me a mean look from the director because of course it did, everything could set off the rude baby.

"You should try conserving your stamina then, how can you be elected as a master candidate when you are already this bad at basic fitness I can't understand." Eh, doesn't even sting that much, I have faced much worse disappointment from my father before. 

As we were walking the road was suddenly blocked with ethereal chains, and the moment we encountered them I trusted my gut instinct and activated my eyes.

"What are those?" Mash inquired while the Director paled, at just like her I felt the colour drain from my face.

Red.

"I suggest we run now." But my warning was too late as a woman landed on a lampost close to us her predatory gaze slithering over us.

It was a beautiful woman with long purple hair wearing black robes that barely covered her body, especially her chest area. In her hands was the mix of a spear and a scythe.

Man, I am so scaroused right now.

"An unknown master and an unknown servant? How young and fresh."

Mash got in front of us protectively with her shield raised while Marie pointed her finger gun at the unknown while she calmly jumped down from the light pole, drawing attention to the broken stone shards and stone humans gathered around we failed to notice.

'General Observation.'

_____/Status\_________________________

Name: Medusa Alter

Personal Information:

Class: Lancer

Species: Servant, Alter

Gender: Female

Current Condition: Good

___/Parameters\___________

Strength : C

Endurance : C

Agility : B

Mana: E

Luck: C 

Noble Phantasm: A+

______________________________________

Shit.

"A servant! But where is the master?" 

"With how mad this world is already I wouldn't be surprised if she did not have one." As the Director said cautiously Medusa Alter(Malter?) slowly walked toward us with seductive stride while licking her lips, it would have looked almost inviting if nine eyes did not show her in the color of blood.

"Mash, Cryba- Director, try to not look at her in the eyes. That's Medusa Alter, a lancer, if that helps." As I said that Medusa looked even more amused as her eyes shone, thankfully without the petrification.

"How do you-!" The rudebaby was about to interrupt when Malder cut her off.

"Oh? My, am I that famous or are you that knowledgable to spot me at a glance mr. master? Well then, why don't you take a look at those eyes you are so cautious about." Malter jumped at me with speed I couldn't even perceive before Mash stepped between us and blocked Malter's advance, getting a humoured glance from the servant. She raised her sickle and tried striking Mash while Mash blocked the blows with her shield, causing large clouds of dust to explode every time they clashed.

"Is this your first time fighting as a servant? Then as your senpai, I guess I have to teach you!" Medusa started attacking relentlessly at Mash who could only passively defend against her attacks, I could barely follow their motions, they were fast, Malter was too fast for me to keep track of even, I could only observe blurs as her hands and feet moved.

After a series of exchanges, Mash was barely keeping pace with, suddenly Malter jumped up to get high ground as her hair started moving around like snakes.

"I will entangle you all with my hair!" The hair elongated and turned into ethereal chains that started wrapping up all exits, leaving no room for exit.

Well, this is new. A feeling of helplessness. Maybe if my system gave me something to help Mash in combat I could have done something but luck was not in my favor.

It never was.

" 'You've got guts' " A ghost-like masculine voice rang out of nowhere.

" 'A little girl is a little girl but you are still pretty strong' "

"Who are you? Show yourself." Malter demanded as like a ghost a figure materialized close to us.

" 'Who? Look at me and you'll know.' " Materialized close to us was a man wearing blue druid-like clothing over a black bodysuit with a large wooden staff in hand. And suddenly he raised his staff, multiple runes emerging in front of it. 

"Think fast!" the glowing orange runes turned into fireballs that flew at superspeed toward the surprised Malter who couldn't dodge it time, the fireballs upon contact into missile-like explosions which knocked her off and dispelled her chains.

Appearing right next to us, more precisely me the man in blue addressed me.

"I'm a caster, and for reasons she is my enemy. And while I know the enemy of my enemy is not certainly my friend but for now you can trust me, I am willing to enter a temporary contract with you for the sake of the brave girl. You are the master here, aren't you? You give out the commands."

Me? Give out commands? I was cooking meals at my job just hours ago!

"Hold up, think you've got this a bit twisted, I don't think I can-"

"You're man man arent you!? Don't think about if you can, just do it! You gotta do it right now!" The mystery servant shouted cutting out my words.

...You...!

You know what!? Fine!

Fine, you know what you are right. I am a man, these cock and balls give me the ability to become a master I guess. I gotta shut up and fuck up right now. This is my life now

"Fine then! Caster, bombard her, Mash! Cover for Caster, he is frail he can't take as much punishment as you." Hearing my barking commands Caster let out a laugh.

"Atta boy! That's the spirit kid." Laughing he sent more fireballs toward Lancer while Mash obeying my orders stood slightly in front and next to caster with her shield up, looking out for attacks that Malter would launch, interception several bunches of chains that went for caster.

All the while I did not even blink, keeping nine eyes active looking for any omens that might come, as caster and Mash kept pressuring Malter suddenly my hunch was proven right as a thick line of red extended from Malter's figure toward me and Marie's position.

"Wha-!" I quickly grabbed Marie's wrist and yanked us both out of the way as a spear of chains passed through where we were. Making Marie's eyes nearly pop out of their skull as I yelled out promptly.

"Caster!" "On it!'" *Boom!* almost instantly the branch of chains was blown apart by a fireball from Caster. That was a bit too close for my comfort. 

Thankfully, with two servants, one that was far more experienced we were gaining on Malter pretty handily, I helped somewhat by yelling for them to dodge when I saw a red line suddenly extend from her, at least eventually the battle ended when Malter finally slipped up and stepped on the mine caster planted which led to Caster blasting her to kingdom come with his runes.

[ You have eliminated a Servant(Medusa Alter/Lancer) +1 Random Roll ]

Seeing the notification pop up brought immense relief to me, making my shoulders slump. That was probably the most stressful event of my life. I also wondered about the random draw that popped out of the notification but I restrained myself for the time being, now that the threat was gone I turned off my nine eyes.

And then came the stinging feeling and tiredness. Was I running out of mana? It sure as hell felt like it, having finished their battle Caster and Mash came back to see me keeling over.

"I won't lie kid, you showed some real courage there, and you seem to be a real natural at taking command too, I half expected you to fumble. Kid?"

"Senpai! Are you alright!?" Mash quickly ran to my side and supported me. My eyes were stinging and I felt a sense of profound emptiness. I felt like falling asleep any second.

Was this because I have had 9 Eyes open every second I could?

"Yeah, I'm fine, I am just a bit lightheaded." While I felt lightheaded it wasn't that bad. I could still stay awake long enough for us to get to a proper base. With the hope that the proper base did not have yet another enemy to ambush our ass.

"Well, I wouldn't say it's exactly fine kid. Your magical energy is running low. And you can't exactly support servants if your magical energy is low. And unfortunately, the lass over here does not have the affinity needed to be a master."

"Hey!" Injected the rude baby from behind.

"So, miss. Could you help our friend over here with his magical energy problem? I am sure he wouldn't mind and I don't think having a master running out of energy in the middle of enemy territory is a good idea."

What? Is there like rejuvenation spell or something? Because something like that would really help right about now.

"And how do we do that exactly?" Hearing my words the rude baby director's face lit up into flames as she kept talking to herself while Caster shot me a... thumbs up?

"You! Shut up right now! Just be grateful that I am willing to do this alright!? If it were any other situation I wouldn't be doing this!" Did she suddenly develop mental illness or am I just missing context here?

"I don't know what-"

My words were suddenly cut off.

By the director's lips slamming into mine.

...What?

A/N: Ah, mana transfer, you just have to love it. There seems to be some problems with the magical energy supply from Chaldea reaching singularities so I guess we just have to do this the old-fashioned way.

On another note what did you think about this chapter? I would love to hear your opinions.