Seeing Emiya's bright smile, Hephaestus's heart skipped.
She didn't dare look at him and hurriedly changed the subject.
"Y-you... what are you saying? Just take me to the imperial capital already."
"Alright."
Emiya took a few steps forward and stopped beside her.
Hephaestus instinctively took a step back.
"W-what are you doing?"
"Taking you to the imperial capital," Emiya said, as if stating something obvious.
"You... you don't need to be this close to move someone," Hephaestus stammered.
"I didn't before," Emiya replied. "But I do now."
He continued forward.
Step by step.
Hephaestus kept retreating.
For every step Emiya took, she took one back.
By the time he finished speaking, she realized she had nowhere left to go.
Her back hit the wall.
Emiya raised a hand and pressed it against the wall beside her, blocking her escape.
"Look at me, Hephaestus."
She unconsciously lifted her head.
Their eyes met.
And what he had said earlier flashed through her mind.
Her face flushed instantly.
She dropped her gaze again, not daring to meet his eyes.
Emiya chuckled softly.
Just as he expected.
Pure.
Innocent.
Hephaestus had been mocked by nearly every god in heaven because of her eyes, with the sole exception of Hestia.
It was obvious she'd never been in a relationship.
So her reaction now made perfect sense.
Emiya reached out and placed a finger under her chin, gently lifting her face.
Hephaestus's eyes darted around.
Anywhere but him.
"W-what... what are you trying to do?"
"What do you think?" Emiya asked calmly.
"I-"
She didn't get to finish.
Emiya leaned in and kissed her.
Directly.
Cleanly.
Their relationship was already close.
Now it was time to cross the line.
Hephaestus's eyes widened.
She tried to push him away.
But in Orario, gods couldn't use divine power.
And without it, even a goddess who could swing a massive hammer couldn't overpower Emiya.
After a moment, he pulled back.
"Did you like it?"
"I... I don't know."
Emiya wasn't satisfied.
So he kissed her again.
A few minutes later, he pulled back once more.
"Did you like it?"
"I..."
Still not satisfied.
He leaned in again.
When he finally let go the third time, he asked calmly,
"Now?"
"Yes, yes, I liked it, alright?"
This time, Hephaestus answered immediately.
She didn't dare hesitate.
It was new.
And she didn't hate it.
But it was far too embarrassing.
"That's good."
Emiya released her completely and took her hand.
"From now on, we're lovers."
The word lovers instantly cooled her overheated mind.
She froze.
"Lovers?" She frowned. "If I remember correctly, you're not exactly exclusive."
"You already know how many there are," Emiya replied without the slightest embarrassment.
"Pah. You scumbag."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Hephaestus was utterly exasperated.
She didn't want to give in so easily.
But she couldn't deny how much she liked him.
"Using the plot to win over a goddess... that's just cheating."
Emiya shook his head.
"I didn't use the plot to get you. I haven't even seen what's under your eyepatch."
As he spoke, he reached for it.
Hephaestus slapped his hand away.
"Don't. You'll be scared."
Emiya paused, then nodded.
"Even the gods were scared. I probably will be too."
Her expression darkened.
"But that's fine," Emiya continued.
"If I'm scared the first time, I'll look again. If I'm scared the second time, I'll look a third."
"One day, I'll get used to it."
"And one day, I'll think it's beautiful."
Hephaestus snapped, "What are you trying to say?"
Emiya's voice softened.
"I'm willing to twist my sense of beauty for you."
The words struck her like an invisible arrow.
Straight through the heart.
She had never heard him speak like that before.
"Pah. You scumbag."
"Mhm. Thanks again."
Hephaestus had no idea how to respond anymore.
So she changed the subject.
"Let's go."
Emiya knew when to stop.
If he pushed further, it might backfire.
He took her hand and led her away from Orario.
To the imperial capital.
-
Atop a massive clock tower, a man and a goddess stood side by side, overlooking the city below.
"It really is prosperous," Hephaestus said.
Emiya nodded.
"It's a thousand-year imperial capital. Expanded again and again over centuries. Prosperity is only natural."
"Where are we in the story?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," Emiya replied.
"I met Akame in the forest before, but we barely spoke."
He glanced at her.
"Besides, you care more about Teigus than the plot, don't you?"
Hephaestus nodded openly.
"I'm following the story to see which Teigus I can get."
Emiya chuckled.
"That's easy. I have a way."
She looked at him with interest.
"What are you planning?"
"Follow me."
He took her hand and flew toward the imperial palace.
It wasn't hard to find.
It was the most extravagant complex in the capital.
When they reached the skies above it, Emiya released his Conqueror's Haki.
Boom.
A terrifying pressure exploded outward.
An invisible wave swept through the palace.
Minds went blank.
Bodies collapsed.
Even Great General Budo, the Empire's strongest guardian, was hit.
His strength came from his Teigu-Adramelech.
Not from himself.
There were indeed fighters in this world who could kill dangerous beasts without Teigus.
Tatsumi had killed a Level 1 Earth Dragon with a normal sword.
But that was the limit.
Compared to the One Piece world, it was insignificant.
Even Budo, stripped of his Teigu, was at best equivalent to a low-tier pirate.
Maybe Arlong.
To Emiya, that was nothing.
Under the overwhelming pressure, Budo's mind went blank.
And a moment later, he collapsed as well.
Silence.
The entire palace fell quiet.
Under Hephaestus's puzzled gaze, Emiya led her into the main hall.
They found the young emperor.
Unconscious.
Knocked out instantly by the Haki.
Several maids lay nearby.
Hephaestus looked at Emiya.
Understanding dawned.
"You're not planning to force him to hand over the Teigus?"
"That's too much work," Emiya replied.
"I have a better option."
He walked over, took a drop of the emperor's blood, analyzed it, and activated transformation magic learned from Loki.
In moments, he became the emperor.
Hephaestus nodded.
"I see. You're taking his place."
Emiya smiled.
"Once I'm emperor, Teigus, Imperial Relics, resources-everything becomes simple."
She thought about it.
It made sense.
"And the real emperor?" she asked. "What about him?"
Emiya looked at the unconscious boy.
He wasn't evil.
He admired his father.
He wanted to be a good ruler.
But he trusted the wrong minister.
A tragedy.
An incompetent ruler wasn't malicious.
But incompetence still ruined nations.
Emiya had no intention of killing him.
"Send him to Orario," Emiya said.
"Have your Familia look after him. We'll send him back when this is over."
Hephaestus nodded.
"Alright."
They transported the emperor to Orario, called a Familia member, and left him in their care.
Then they returned to the palace.
By then, people were beginning to wake.
Footsteps rushed toward the main hall.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
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