Getting Serious

Following Artorius's attempt to forgive her with understanding, Caren prostrated herself before him, pleading, "I'll take responsibility for this, Your Majesty. Please, let all your anger and resentment be vented on me. Whether I will be your toy, slave, or tool, I'm willing to accept it all."

Bazett looked at Caren in disbelief and exclaimed in her mind speechlessly:

'You turned out to be such a person, Caren Hortensia.'

'I really misjudged you.'

'We agreed that you wouldn't get involved because your hair color resembles the Einzbern women's. What made you change your mind?'

'This kind of opportunistic behavior is just shameful! You're not taking responsibility; you're clearly taking advantage of the situation to seek rewards! Despicable!'

After uttering the words 'I'll take responsibility,' Caren kept her gaze fixed on Artorius. She completely disregarded the bewildered and wide-eyed expression of her colleague, who stood beside her in disbelief.

"Before, I had always sensed someone was spying on me... it was you two, huh?" In response to the silver-haired girl's claim, Artorius neither confirmed nor denied it; instead, he turned the tables and asked this question.

"Yes, it was me and this colleague of mine." Caren nodded without hesitation, then pointed at the stunned Bazett standing nearby.

Bazett: "!?!"

'You rascal, I'll remember this.' After a brief pause, Bazett looked at Caren with a gloomy expression. 'When you said you would take responsibility, you only mentioned yourself, right? But now, when the Emperor questions you, you drag me into it? Dammit.'

The next moment.

"Ouch!"

"Consider this as a punishment." Artorius lightly flicked Caren's forehead, not too forcefully, but enough to make her feel the pain. "Don't try these little tricks again, Caren."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Caren remained composed. Even though Artorius rejected her, she didn't seem too upset.

With that matter settled, they had to return to the hot spring hotel.

Despite Rudolf's suggestion to use the secret base in Tokyo, Artorius declined. Using it would only make him seem afraid, and he was confident that the place he was in was the safest in the world—Artorius Pendragon, the Dragon Emperor, had that confidence.

===

In the following three days, Tokyo was on high alert, and tensions ran deep within the city. Meanwhile, the various branches of the Holy Church worldwide also faced trouble and destruction.

The person named Kotomine Kirei had become a wanted criminal, but he remained hidden.

However, the Empire had also made significant progress. Almost inadvertently, they obtained substantial evidence of the Holy Church's illegal activities. This blow was severe enough to leave them scarred.

But that wasn't the main point.

Soaking in the hot spring water, the Majestic Dragon Emperor sipped on a glass of cold wine, contemplating the situation of the recent attack.

This was the analysis provided by the loyal Rudolf:

"The radicals from the Holy Church are the prime suspects. A bunch of lunatics who fantasize about their divine authority."

"Other than them, there are the Dead Apostles."

"Although it was only the remnants of their regular army, our 'Final Brigade' was annihilated three years ago in the Canadian Arctic, these enemies of humanity can never be completely eradicated."

"They no longer employ conventional warfare but resort to guerrilla tactics and even terror attacks, causing significant losses to the Empire."

As Rudolf explained this, Artorius began to grasp the situation.

'Well shit, this seems to be a parallel world connected to Tsukihime.'

...

In the parallel worlds of the Nasuverse, there are essentially two major categories.

One leans towards Alaya, the timeline of Heroic Spirits, where the laws of humanity are incredibly strong and unyielding. The other leans towards Gaia, the timeline of True Ancestors, where the laws of humanity are volatile and unpredictable.

For those who often say, "Gaia doesn't interfere" or "It won't act unless the Earth is in danger", now might be a good time to take a look at the setting of the 'Tsukihime'.

The peculiar creature who always acts cute in Chaldea is not just Merlin's familiar or mascot.

It is the Beast of Calamity, also known as Logos of Comparison. If these titles don't resonate much, the following ones might send shivers down people's spine.

Primate Murder.

The Beast of Gaia.

Those two titles alone reveal Gaia's deep malice towards humanity.

The so-called 'True Ancestors' were beings inclined towards 'Nature' itself. They are Gaia's means of self-defense against humans.

In a world leaning toward the True Ancestors, it's only natural that the human order is not fixed. After all, humans as the Prime Species (Primates), would be wiped out.

...

'Well, this is a bit troublesome.'

Artorius pondered, and the focus of his thoughts shifted from 'who attacked us' to the biggest enemy the Empire and humanity faced.

'If the world I'm in is one where the 'True Ancestors', 'Nature', and 'Gaia' ultimately triumph, and humans, as primates, are enslaved or even exterminated by the vampires...'

'No. I won't allow such a thing.'

Thinking of this, His Majesty the Emperor no longer felt like taking a vacation.

"Your Majesty~"

Just when Artorius was feeling a bit annoyed, the voice of the maid by his side sounded like a soothing cat, calming Artorius's restless heart.

Since he had shifted from leisure mode to a serious mode, he couldn't keep going fooling around with a hundred maids at once.

During this moment, there were indeed many women bathing with Artorius. However, they were simply taking ordinary baths. Only two fortunate women, one on each side, were embraced by Artorius's muscular arms, both wearing blissful expressions.

Presently, Artorius was not in a boy (Shota) form or a young man (Ikemen) form. He appeared to be a handsome and masculine middle-aged man of around thirty years old (Dilf). He exuded a strong aura, giving off a sense of wealth, status, and power.

This version of Artorius—Dragon Emperor form, overpowered the others, making them feel subservient at first sight.

The standard image of the Dragon Emperor, currently popular in the Empire, was similarly imposing. He had grown a beard, sporting an elegant goatee and a mustache, turning him into a middle-aged man in his thirties.

'Shota' and 'Ikemen' forms were undoubtedly attractive, but if one sought stability, and wanted to rely on a man, a 'Dilf' appearance was without a doubt, the top choice.

The kind that would bewitch young girls completely and commonly addressed by them as 'Daddy'.

===

After being 'comforted' by the two maids, Artorius continued his contemplation.

Now, he was starting to appreciate the experience of this 'drifting phenomenon'.

This adventure allowed him to understand the direction of the future, who his enemies were, and what his Empire should do next.

'Besides the Three Founding Families, four other mages are involved in the Holy Grail War.'

His thoughts progressed to the second stage.

===

Author's Note:

Basically, what needs to be said is this—the world where Gaia has the upper hand is Tsukihime and the world where Alaya has the upper hand is Fate.

Of course, this is a fanfiction work. So, the characters from both sides will make appearances.