During a late dinner...
The food wasn't in good shape.
"What's this, Saber? You said you were good at grilling meat."
"Isn't it well-grilled?"
"We agreed to call this 'burnt'."
It wasn't just charred on the outside like takoyaki; it was completely burnt. And Saber was eating it as if it were normal.
It crunched dryly.
That didn't sound like meat being eaten... If it's like this, I might as well eat jerky.
It was hard and blackened, just like charcoal. Saber was eating it without a fuss.
Not all Servants are good at cooking, I guess. At least grill the meat properly...
I sighed...
My teeth are fine. But this really is just like charcoal, and it's bitter. To wash down the bitterness, the rice just goes down...
How was it back then...
"Wow, you grilled this manga meat. This is precious meat, so eat it well, it's perfectly grilled. Tear into it like a drumstick."
"Okay, got it."
"..."
That meat was delicious back then. How did it come to this...
Am I nostalgic for those times? I shouldn't be, but...
Compared to then, this feels pathetic.
==========================
Lying in bed, I'm doing nothing. Because I don't want to do anything.
"Master~ It's morning, aren't you going to do anything? It's an event, you know?"
If you call it an event, then it's an event...
"Mash, is there really a need to do this event? I'm too lazy to do anything right now. I just want to lounge around under the blankets."
"But..."
"It's fine. We can just rest for a day. Mash, let's just lounge together."
"Is that really okay...!"
"It's not like we'll die~"
I grabbed Mash's hand and pulled her under the blankets. This is truly the devil's temptation, impossible to resist...!
"Yeah~ This is how you indulge in luxury and pleasure, living a life of debauchery~"
"There's none of that, Nero."
"It's just a saying, my dear~"
Debauchery, huh... But first of all, I don't even like alcohol, you know~
Lying in bed under the covers, I think. The Tokyo Second Holy Grail War. The mastermind is definitely Manaka. And the Servants...
Berserker, for now, I've taken. And this time, the class is truly Berserker.
Caster and Assassin are the same as in Fuyuki, with Master Kuzuki Soichiro. And Rider is Perseus.
Was it Isemi? The child from that family was the Master. Archer is Gilgamesh, with some building owner as Master.
Lancer is Cu Chulainn, with Master named Misaya, I think? And Saber is Arthur, with Master Ayaka.
Hmm... What to do. Nothing really stands out as "this is it!".
Should I just spend today lounging like this? On both sides, Mash and Nero pressed their cheeks against mine and wrapped my arms around their chests.
It feels good. Mash is affection-starved, and so is Nero.
Actually, both of them have killed people. Mash isn't really at fault mentally, but I hesitated to summon Nero because of her severity.
Because Draco in the game was aware of her mistakes and seemed apologetic towards Boudica, with bonding dialogue.
As for Nero, even Boudica finds it hard to get angry now and instead questions her ancestors...
Still, my Nero here is aware of her faults. The emotion conveyed through her words and expression. Boudica also says she doesn't really mind anymore, according to the others.
Draco also seems to get along awkwardly but well with Ritsuka and Boudica. Current Nero feels like the Nero from Extra, not the tantrum-throwing emperor from FGO.
In FGO, there was no growth, but in Extra, she met Hakuno and grew into a true adult. Current Nero feels exactly like that.
As for me in the game... Over the past few years, even that Nero had a journey and encounters that allowed her to grow.
Well, it's stranger that our precious emperor couldn't grow despite all she went through. If she threw tantrums in that situation, she wouldn't be immature, she'd just be a jerk.
"I feel like someone is insulting me..."
"I did it to you, who was precious in the past. Of course, you're still half-precious now."
"That's too harsh... Certainly, the old me had no right to complain if Boudica hit me..."
"That still applies now."
"Aren't you being too harsh only on me...?"
"If you don't like it, you shouldn't have created that karma."
... Does this include me too?
"Hmm..."
Wait a minute... Now that I think about it, wasn't Rider summoned much earlier alone?
And I'm pretty sure he incarnated. So he's living undercover as Ayaka's classmate...
... Right, Perseus's wish is to revive his dead Master. I almost forgot.
Since Prototype is pretty much just setting, I remembered while lounging and thinking.
Certainly, the incarnated Perseus had a weak body like Jason's, with only decent skills, relying on Noble Phantasms or skills. So he committed soul consumption, killing innocent people like Mash did in the first order.
In a way, he's the type who became a hero with the most help from the gods in Greece, yet doesn't consider himself a hero, like the final evolution of Shinji.
If Jason had a good personality, he'd be Perseus.
"... What should I do."
"Are you thinking of having a go?"
"Not that. What should I do about Perseus..."
Aside from being a rare Servant... I think someone with Perseus's disposition and personality is quite needed in Chaldea right now. He went through all sorts of hardships and ultimately achieved a happy ending, a rare thing in Greece. So he'd definitely be a big help to Ritsuka or Kirei, and have a good influence on Sakura.
Perseus, huh...
"Hmm... Alright, I've roughly sorted my thoughts. Let's just lounge until lunch and then move...!"
Good, now let's think about lunch menu.
Just as I lay back down on the bed, Mash and Nero startled and quickly got up, drawing their weapons, as something glittered outside the window.
KABOOM!!!
"..."
Sigh... Something flew in and sent me flying. I was hit by something, like a blunt weapon... The room was completely destroyed. The bed...
For now, there were no wounds. By the way, if it was reflected, the opponent... Hmm?
"... Brynhildr?"
Ah... I remember. Definitely, Manaka corrupted and controlled the six Servants who were eliminated in the previous round. Annoying... But, why is she fine?
"Beast factors in the Spirit Core... Who did this? They've made a proper combat weapon."
Beast factors...? It's definitely a setting from Prototype, but I don't know exactly what it is. I know it's closely related to Nero's original sin...
Do I have to engage in a setting battle now?
So... roughly, from the overall protection, anyone who attacks me should be reflected, but since it wasn't...
"That girl has primitive runes plastered inside her sailor suit armor."
A combination of primitive runes and Beast power? What the hell is that abomination? Mana God, what did you create!?
"... By Master's command, I will eliminate you."
"I'm the Master, damn it! I've eaten with Manaka in another world! Gone out to play together! Fought together! I did it all, damn it!"
"... And who is that?"
.... Huh?
She immediately swings her spear wide, and blue flames erupt. Nero and Mash are blown back by the shockwave in an instant. Guys... I called you, so help me out...
"Sigh... Ha. I was debating whether to bring it out for Perseus, but I guess I'll show a taste of grandson? brother? here."
THUD!!!!
I was hit by the spear and sent flying, and in that state, I started the summon via status window. Simply in terms of system attack power, it's the strongest among my Servants.
I press summon, and light bursts forth in front. And...
BAM!!!!!!!!!
"Gah...!"
Brynhildr, with her back broken in a single strike, spews blood from her mouth as she flies away.
"Cough... Wh-what power..."
"First off, physical strength should be the highest. So, shall I kill you? Yatta~ Berserker~"
What if... I can release the Mad Enhancement, what would happen~ I'm curious, curious~