31 Chapter 31: Caster's Quest
(Titus's POV)
[Nero was pregnant.]
Learning of Nero's pregnancy was a sentence I dreaded. Just after completing a mission where I had nurtured many children, this news jolted me back into my mental turmoil.
Following my departure from Tacitus's body, soldiers arrested him, branding him a traitor to the Roman Empire. They also seized Nero's lifeless form. Devastated by the Senate's plan to mutilate Nero's body, Tacitus complied with their every demand to preserve her remains.
For the next two decades, Tacitus became a mere pawn in the court, managing governmental affairs and upholding stability in the empire. He also manipulated Nero's gender, tarnished her reputation, and fabricated events that never occurred in her life. All of this was done to ensure a proper burial for his beloved Nero.
Yet, his actions were not solely driven by the Senate's influence.
[You see, Nero was pregnant, but what dwelled within her belly was far from my child. It was not even human, but a monster.]
Several months after Nero's demise, Tacitus received word that Nero's grave had been disturbed. Upon investigation, he found the grave had been breached from the inside, revealing Nero's burst belly. Something had emerged from her, something unnatural.
Tacitus sensed the gravity of the situation, but before he could delve deeper, Simon Magus appeared informing him about the upcoming danger.
[Simon Magus saw a prophecy where Nero was turning into a monster or demon. But since Nero already saw that coming, she took her life in order to stop this monster to enter this world. However, what she didn't notice was that there was another life in her belly still breathing. The monster possessed the unborn life and grew in Nero's stomach before making its way out.
To stop that monster from entering this universe, Simon Magus asked me to rewrite the history as if I had never come to Nero's life. Where Nero was a despicable man who met his demise pathetically.]
Simon Magus implored Tacitus to rewrite history, erasing any trace of my existence in Nero's life. In this altered version, Nero became a wretched man who met a pitiful end. The reason for this deception was to prevent the monster, possibly of alien origin, from finding openings in history to enter our Earth.
[However, the crisis is far from over. That monster is going to the east, Japan to be specific, to meet its other half and to complete itself.]
The letter then ended with a task that I had to complete in my next mission.
[No matter what, KILL "Tamamo-no-Mae" at all cost, the other half of that Monster. Never let that monster complete itself, or this whole universe will become hell.]
I sighed, tossing the letter into a drawer and taking a deep breath. "If Nero's death wasn't enough, now I have to deal with this unidentified 'monster.' Give me a break…" I rubbed my temples and shut my eyes.
Challenges kept piling up. I had contemplated starting anew, but here I was, grappling with yet another problem. "So Nero wasn't haunted by nightmares but by some kind of monster… If only I were a bit stronger…"
These issues highlighted my weakness. Though I possessed some fragmented skills, my magecraft was still lacking. The spells I knew offered little assistance.
"I wonder if anyone, even a skilled mage, could have done better in my position…"
Nero's plight was beyond the reach of any ordinary mage. It required specific, detailed research, ample resources, and time to understand her condition and the malevolent force haunting her. Unfortunately, I lacked all of these.
"Well, there's no use dwelling on past matters." I shifted my position and accessed the system, preparing for what lay ahead.
[The main mission is triggered.]
[Main Mission: A simple request from a fox
Destination: 1122 AD Japan, Heian-kyō (Primary Dreamshift)
Quest 1: "Mary Tamamo-no-mae"
Attempts: 1
Rewards: EXPs, Abilities and [MAJOR] skills, Memory Fragment, ???
Failure: Corrupted Grail manifestation.]
How simple it would be if only that were the case, right? Just marrying my waifu and my mission would be done. BUT NO! I HAD TO KILL HER TO SAVE THIS BLOODY WORLD!
"She used to be my favorite from Fate Extra," I reminisced, disappointment clouding my thoughts. The blonde girl in the game's promotion wasn't Artoria, which led me to Tamamo-no-Mae. My decision proved right; her heart-wrenching backstory moved me to tears, and I fell in love with her character, making her one of my top servants.
Now, in my time-traveling mission, I had to end her life to prevent her absorption by the Nasuverse 'Cell'.
"Well, it's not like I like her or anything."
A man loves once, and for me, that person was Nero. With this pink-haired fox, there was no room for affection; only marriage and then her demise. It was harsh reality.
Preparations were nearly complete and I was ready for the mission. Just a few hours left before it started automatically, and I wanted it over with. But before I could press the GO button, a knock interrupted my thoughts. It was Rin Tohsaka.
"It hasn't happened yet, right? Your dreamshift?" Rin asked upon entering my office. I nodded, offering her a seat. After a few minutes of silence, she spoke, "I have something to give you."
Rin presented her signature crimson pendant, the same one she used to revive Shirou in the anime. I was puzzled. "Why are you giving me this?"
Apart from its incredible healing powers, it was her family's heirloom, her father's last memory.
"You need it more than me," Rin said with a smile, flipping her hair. "I have more than enough jewels now. This is the least I could do."
Rin understood the challenges I would eventually face in ancient Japan since she was the only one I confided in about these missions. For now, I kept it a secret from Shirou and Sakura to spare them worry.
I smiled, accepting her gesture. Honestly, this pendant felt like a second chance at life. I just hoped I wouldn't have to use it.
"By the way… about my debt… You can just leave few jewels and settle the account…" Rin began to mutter something, but I interrupted her by taking out the loan contract and burning it to nothingness. I was keeping that contract to control her but there was no point now.
Rin was stunned, then blushed. For a moment, my heart raced. I wondered why there had been no progress between us after so many years.
Rin and I exchanged a final glance before embracing. Though we had hugged before, this time felt different, as if a wife were bidding her husband farewell on a long journey.
After a while, we returned to our senses, but Rin's face remained red.
"Rin," I said, gathering my courage, "I know our friendship continues, but… I think we could take it further too. I'll be serious this time."
"...What?" Rin turned completely red. "What are you saying?!" And before I knew it, Rin stormed out of the room.
---
(3rd Person's POV)
"Ugh, I'm such an idiot," Rin moaned in dismay as she slumped onto the table. Later, she noticed both Shirou and Sakura staring at her as if she were a complete fool.
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY ANYTHING!" Rin glared at the young couple.
"Oh, Onee-chan, I know about your 'condition,' but I'll always be rooting for you~!" Sakura cheered, though Rin could detect a mischievous grin in Sakura's smile.
"Yeah, yeah, it's not your fault. You have this eighth-grade syndrome tsundere personality. We can understand." Shirou smirked.
"AAA! I hate both of you!" Rin screamed and then dashed away. She was painfully aware that she had been rejecting Titus despite her underlying affectionate feelings.
---
(Titus's POV)
"Then… wait, what is this feeling…?" I was on the verge of diving into my dream when an unsettling sensation washed over me, as if someone were prying into my thoughts.
A system notification appeared before me.
[Someone from Fairy Paradise is trying to contract you. Would you like to allow them?]
"Wait, Fairy Paradise?" One name sprang to my mind. Without hesitation, I clicked the YES button. Moments later, several message prompts appeared, their pink hues contrasting the system's usual blue.
[???: Hello, hello. Unk— I mean, Mr. Titus, can you hear me or see my message? I am Merlin.]
'I knew it.' Merlin, one of history's greatest mages and Artoria's advisor. His name and role in the Nasuverse were well-known. He had aided the protagonist against Beast II in the Babylonia anime. Many would be thrilled to converse with him, but not me, knowing his twisted nature, especially concerning Artoria. The Fairy Paradise is referred to Avalon.
Questions arose. Why was he contacting me? Was it related to the 'Monster' I was supposed to face? I thought he'd only intervene in dire circumstances.
"Yes, I am Titus. What does the Mage of Flowers want from me?" I responded, choosing to set aside my grievances for now and focus on the immediate matters.
[Merlin: Well, this simplifies things. Given the recent changes, except for the year 68 AD, I assume you still need to go to Japan, correct?]
I straightened up upon hearing this.
"That's correct. But why are you asking? And do you have information about the 'Monster'?"
[Merlin: Um, could you ask one question at a time? As for the first, I'm inquiring because your next quest is going to be a bit... how shall I put it, 'complicated'? Regarding the second, yes, I do have some knowledge about this 'Monster,' but I can only share it if you successfully complete 'both' of your missions.]
"Then let's start with the first question. If you knew about my time travel, why didn't you intervene earlier?" With Merlin's clairvoyance, he should've prevented me from going to the past, even interfering when I first made a wish upon the Holy Grail.
[Merlin: It's complicated due to the time paradox shit. Let's just say you created certain openings by revealing past truths, which allowed me to make contact. Also, something in your soul resisted my efforts. Don't worry; the changes in the current 2006 won't affect anything.]
He was probably referring to my discovery of Nero's true records, which enabled this communication.
Before I could delve further, another message appeared.
[Merlin: Unk- I mean, Mr. Titus, I know you have many questions, but for now, let's leave it at that. You must focus on your next task; the situation could worsen depending on whether you kill Tamamo-no-Mae or not.]
I sighed and nodded. The gravity of the situation weighed on me. This seemingly straightforward quest wouldn't be easy. Apart from dealing with the 'Monster,' I had to marry an innocent maiden and then end her life.
[Merlin: However… Mr. Titus, it's okay to follow your heart.]
It was way unexpected from him.
[As long as you live, countless possibilities exist to change the situation. Sister believed in you; I believe in you, too. You've got this!!]
'Wait a moment! This isn't like him. Is he truly Merlin? Also, sister? Who is he talking about?'
Merlin was known for lacking human emotions. For which doubts surfaced, but for now, I kept them to myself. His last message infused me with newfound determination.
I closed the message tab, reclining on the sofa before pressing the GO button for the quest.
[The Dreamshift has begun.]
A compass-like object materialized before me, its needle spinning counterclockwise.
I shut my eyes and descended into darkness.
---
(???'s POV)
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in an entirely different place. People surrounded me, akin to my first mission, but this time, I stood at the forefront. The grandeur of the hall's decorations indicated it was a king's palace.
I wore a two-piece outfit, a kimono with trousers and layers that hugged my chest. A tall hat adorned my head. Amidst the crowd, I heard the rhythm of music. Focusing, I spotted a woman captivating everyone around her. Her pink hair was elegantly tied, and though she appeared no older than 19 or 20, she had a gorgeous figure and her charm was mesmerizing. With each graceful step, she stole the breath of every man present, myself included. I pushed aside her dance and focused on my mission.
"Tamamo-no-Mae is still so beautiful!" someone exclaimed.
"I wonder if she is a goddess…"
"That's right, she is a goddess. A goddess that heals our hearts~" murmured onlookers, snapping me back to reality. Unbeknown to me, even my dragon opened his eyes for the moment before of this beautiful woman.
'Let's see what I am this time.' I pushed away the allure of my target and concentrated on my mission.
---
[[Status]]
Name: Titus Dusklock (Temporary Name: Takeru Tsukuyomi)
Age: 18
Elements: Light (Special)
Level: 29 (Locked)
…
Parameters:
STR: 36
MAG: 41
END: 33
AGI: 35
LUC: 10
Additional SPs: -
…
HP: 180
MP: 197
…
Passive Skills: (Imperial Manager A), (Saint's Golden Rule A), (Presence Concealment B), (Charisma D [Temp])
Active Skills: (Force Control A), (Imperial Privilege A)
…
Magecraft:
Illusionary Arts Rank D: [Illusion Hide], [Expression Distort]
Miscellaneous: [Bounded Field] etc
LCs: 115,000
---
[Takeru Tsukuyomi/Tsukuyomi-no-Takeru is a young, talented teen with vast knowledge in trade and politics. Since the age of 14, he has managed government affairs in many regions. His natural charisma drew the attention of lords' wives, preventing him from staying in one place for long. Currently, he had arrived in Heian-kyō, the capital of Japan, to assist in government affairs and trade. However, he was known for captivating the hearts of many belonging to others.]
I wondered if the system enjoyed creating characters like him. Anyway, the good news was I could use magecraft along with all the skills, including my inventory panel. The bad news was the only skill I had with this body was just to woo women, and I could tell where I would be using such skill.
Once I grasped my identity, the music had already ceased. At the end of the row, I spotted an overweight man seated on a golden throne, guards flanking him. He must be Emperor Toba, the 74th Emperor of Japan.
The pink-haired maiden, Tamamo-no-Mae, stood before Emperor Toba. Their affection for each other was evident; were it not for the audience, they would likely indulge in more intimate expressions of their feelings.
'Tch,' I found myself oddly irritated by the sight. I wasn't one to feel jealousy, yet I couldn't bear to witness the maiden's affections bestowed upon that rotund man.
It was then Emperor Toba and scholars around him started asking Tamamo some questions, to which Tamamo replied without any hurdle. The queries mainly were about people in the court, like their names, ages, or their relatives. However, there were also some questions related to science, like why fire is hot, how water comes down from a river, and how rain happens.
I was confused since people have yet to discover this knowledge. Let alone the so-called scholars around Emperor Toba; how come Tamamo was answering these questions? She should be just a simple village girl.
Anyway, time was ticking, and I had to interfere, planning to introduce myself to Emperor Toba and leave an impression.
As if fate favored me, an opportunity arose.
"Then I shall present you with three riddles. Tell me, how long will I take to circle the world?" Emperor Toba inquired to the maiden. He started asking riddles.
Tamamo, who had answered confidently moments ago, hesitated for the first time. She began counting on her fingers, the onlookers growing silent in anticipation.
"One day!" A voice echoed through the court.
All eyes, including Tamamo-no-Mae's, turned toward me. I raised my index finger and smirked. "Your Majesty, it will only take you one day to circle the earth."
