Chapter 13

Emiya residence.

The most casual dinner at the Emiya Residence. We were having a great time enjoying Shirou's cooking. This time he was assisted by Medusa, who had apparently learned how to bake. And she was pretty good at it, judging by the enthusiastic look on Ophis's face as she ate her cookies.

I dumped Issei in one of the rooms and left him in the care of one of the Hundred Faces. Let him sleep it off while he can. He won't have that opportunity tomorrow. I've got to have some fun, too, haven't I?

Speaking of fun. Gilgamesh and Enkidu were also sitting at the table and talking to each other. And from the looks of it, they were discussing their adventure. Gilgamesh looked pleased. Of course, I wanted to ask what had happened to them.

- So, Enkidu, can you tell me why the Golden Boy is so happy? I highly doubt it's something trivial," I asked, stroking Tiamat's arm around me. Heh. As soon as I walked into the house, she instantly wrapped her arms around me and refused to let go. Well, at least it's easier to do business with the Ophis.

- We...

- Оh? Why don't you ask me, Magician? Ignoring your King? - Gilgamesh interrupted Enkidu.

- I don't want to inflate your ego any more than it already is. And Enkidu is absolutely more objective than you," I replied, shrugging my shoulders and glancing at the Lancer-class Servant. - And one more thing. Look in his direction, please. I think he's REALLY unhappy.

He raised an eyebrow at my words, but still turned and saw a frozen Enkidu with an equally frozen half-smile, and his hair covering his eyes.

- What is the matter, Enkidu? Who has caused you displeasure? Give me his name, and he will cease to exist! - Gilgamesh stated confidently, glaring at him.

Lancer still did not react in any way.

- Enki...

He was unable to finish his sentence. Golden chains wrapped around Gilgamesh's body and made him look like a mummy. Immobilized and stunned, he fell to the floor, wriggling and mooing something unintelligible. His scarlet eyes looked at Enkidu with genuine incomprehension.

- Mmmmmm?!

Well, that's the only thing the Golden Mummy could produce. It was so funny, I couldn't stand it and laughed. I wasn't the only one, though. Everyone but the Beasts, Ophis, and Assassins let out chuckles, giggled, or outright laughed (Merlin and Emiya). And even Artoria, who was able to tear herself away from devouring the food in her bottomless stomach.

Enkidu slowly rose from his chair and turned to me with his eyes closed.

- Master, do you mind if I answer your question a little later? - He asked me with an overly sweet smile. - I need to talk to my friend alone.

- No problem. Have fun," I replied, waving my hand.

- Aaaaaaaaaa~" Tiamat sang out, waving goodbye as well and smiling softly.

Hearing the answers, Enkidu, without changing his face, walked out from behind the table and headed towards the bound Gilgamesh. When he reached him, he lifted him up with his chains and moved towards the basement. I did not see Enkidu's face, but as I realized from Gilgamesh's frightened expression, it was frightening. And when they were about to disappear into the basement entrance, Gilgamesh, setting aside his pride, threw a pleading look at me.

- Good luck," was the only thing I said to him, and the duo disappeared from my sight.

So, while I have time, why don't I pay Azazel a visit? Uh-huh. I'll do that.

With those thoughts, I teleported away. I hope Nightingale didn't kill him. Or sterilized him.

-0-

Azazel's house.

Arriving in the hall of his house as usual, I was greeted by silence. Absolute silence. It reminded me of a scene from a horror movie, and it felt like something was about to happen.

Scanning the house with 3rd magic, I managed to find the inhabitants of the house. But for some reason, they were all far away from each other. Relatively, of course. Da Vinci was in the basement lab, but the others... Nightingale was constantly moving and clearly looking for something. Or someone, judging by the last occupant of the house. Azazel's presence didn't move, and his aura was as suppressed as possible.

I decided to move in his direction and after walking through a couple rooms, I found the place where he was hiding. It was a closet in one of the rooms of the house. A very ordinary clothes closet. I opened the door and saw the trembling Governor General of the Fallen. And he looked like this: huge circles under his eyes, disheveled hair and clothes. If I didn't know better, I'd say he'd just finished a night of fun. I guess I'm not that far from the truth, though.

- Well, well, well. Why are you hiding, Azazel-kun?

- А?! - He squeaked, and when he saw that it was me, he sighed with some relief. - Is that you, Romani? You're exactly what I need. Take her away! Just take her away! She's-- She's scary. I can't take it anymore!

Oh, wow. Nightingale didn't mess around, huh?

- What did you do to make her come after you? - I asked, making an uncomprehending face. - Besides, she's not going to kill you, is she?

- That's what I'm afraid of, damn it! - he huffed and raised his voice. - She won't kill me, she'll just turn me into a vegetable, and I'll spend the rest of eternity drooling! You have no idea what I've been through! Я-

- There you are, Azazel-san. It's time to take your medicine," I heard the voice of the Berserker-class Servant. Apparently, so did the Governor General. He was shaking all over, and his eyes started running from side to side, trying to find ways to escape.

A few seconds later, Nightingale entered the room with a syringe in her hand. She looked at us and stopped.

- Master? What are you doing here? Do you need medical attention?

- No, not at all. I just need to have a little talk with Azazel-kun. Can you postpone his treatment for a while? It's a very important matter.

- No. The medicine must be taken on schedule. If you don't, there could be complications,'' she said firmly, squinting at Azazel.

What was the Governor General doing? He was hiding behind my back and glancing furtively in her direction. I could feel his hands trembling.

- It'll be all right, Berserker. I'll call you if anything happens. Now, please give us time to talk. Just this once.

Nightingale looked at me intently and after a long moment, she nodded reluctantly.

- You have one hour. No more," she said and left the room.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Azazel dropped to his knees and grabbed my waist. I could even see tears of happiness in his eyes.

- Savior! You were sent by the Father, right! Thank you! Thank you! Thank...

- Shut up, please," I interrupted him, massaging his temples. - We really need to talk. And I want to get on Berserker's bad side, for that matter, and so do you.

Heh. Poor guy. I wonder how he'll react if he finds out how close his words came to the truth? How would he react if he knew I was the reincarnation of Solomon?

My words gave him a start and he quickly came to his senses.

- Let's go to Da Vinci's. We'll talk there," I said and teleported us to his laboratory.

When I got there, I saw Da Vinci typing something on a computer, her eyes running back and forth across its screen at high speed. A genius at work, I suppose. Azazel, on the other hand, quickly walked over to one of the walls, and after pressing something, a mini-bar popped up in front of him. He instantly grabbed one of the bottles and drained it in a gulp.

- Did you refill your tank, Azazel-kun? - I asked and sat down on a vacant chair available in the lab. - Can we talk now?

- Yes," he stated and put the empty bottle back down. - Now we can.

- Great. Da Vinci! Can you take your mind off me for a moment, please? I need you, too.

- О? Master? I didn't see you," she said, looking away from the computer. - Neither did Azazel. What's this conversation?

- Is it possible to create an artificial Noble Phantasm? And I mean one that has a real legend at its core. Or rather, an artificially real one. Say, some legend from some anime or manga," I explained.

- Wouldn't that just be a Sacred Gear? As far as I'm concerned, that's exactly what it is," Azazel said.

- No, it isn't. The Sacred Gear is a kind of mystical code. A magician's tool, like a staff or a robe. It doesn't have the basis of a legend like Noble Phantasm, and thus doesn't get its power from the world itself. The stronger the legend, the stronger he is. So, the Master wants to create a legend that doesn't exist in this world and then create a Noble Phantasm based on that legend," Da Vinci explained and turned to me. - Those are very bold thoughts, Master. But I can't understand, why not just use True Magic for this?

- 1st True magic allows its wielder to simply create. I can't put an item's history into the Root of the World. Well, or I can, but I don't know how. As it is, I haven't really delved into researching 1st, I've mostly been learning about 3rd. And I wouldn't want to risk erasing myself from existence without researching the subject," I said and shrugged. - That's why I need you.

- I see. It's a very interesting topic. But we will need a starting point for our research," Azazel shook his head, and Da Vinci agreed with him.

- I understand," I said, and I created two items, a Sword and a book, and placed them in front of them. - The Sword was an analog of Excalibur from the parallel world. Something in between the analog and the laser sword from Star Wars. And the book is a brief legend of it. Is that enough to get you started?

- Quite! - Azazel exclaimed excitedly and grabbed the sword and began to examine it. And Da Vinci took the book and began to study its contents with a passion.

- Wonderful. Then I'll leave you to it," I said and got up from my chair.

- Uh-huh," they said, not really paying attention to what I was saying, but concentrating on things.

Well, let them have their fun, I thought, and went back home. When is Issei going to wake up there? It would be time to start his straddle training.

With those thoughts, I headed to the room where I dumped Issei, chuckling quietly to myself.

-0-

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