Later
I sat on the precipice of my home's rooftop, watching the rising sun with an apathetic expression as always.
My mind, however, was rapidly processing countless hypotheses to decode the identity of Rider from earlier.
She wielded an unusual weapon, a pair of stakes connected by a chain. That data point alone was insufficient to reach a concrete conclusion. Her blindfold was another variable, but it did little to narrow the list of potential candidates.
However, what significantly reduced the pool of suspects was her mount... or rather, her Pegasus.
Generally, the Pegasus is a creature rooted in Greek mythology.
Now, factor in her blindfold, almost certainly sealing a pair of special eyes. Combine that with her method of summoning—piercing her own neck to manifest a Pegasus from her blood.
Pegasus. Blindfold. Blood. Greek Mythology.
The answer presented itself immediately.
Isn't that right, Medusa?
She hadn't even utilized her Noble Phantasm, nor the petrifying gaze attributed to her legend in our earlier fight.
Yet, while my deductions were likely accurate, Artoria's case had already taught me that the mechanics of this world deviated heavily from mythologies of my old one.
After all... how does one logically explain turning King Arthur into a woman?
Even an unmatched genius like myself could not fathom the reasoning behind such a genderbend.
I will have to dive deeper into this world's mythology to understand more, hence reaching a valid conclusion.
My thoughts had barely concluded when Medea walked onto the rooftop, coming to a gentle stop beside me.
I glanced at her; she looked back with slightly flushed cheeks.
A single eyebrow of mine rose imperceptibly in question.
"Master... about that mana recharge from earlier. I really need some, since my mana supply has lessened from the moment you summoned that knight..."
She continued.
"I have already created what you requested earlier, Master. Most of my mana was depleted in the process, so I'll need your assistance with a refill." Medea's voice carried a note of giddiness.
Furthermore, Caster's pupils dilated microscopically when she mentioned the mana depletion. Her left index finger twitched, a stress response she likely wasn't aware of.
Half-truth, then. The project was complete. Her depletion was real. But her urgency was manufactured.
I tilted my head slightly, all one hundred and twenty of my dormant magic circuits booting up in a precise sequence. A network of emerald green nerves becoming visible across my body.
I then brought one of my fingers, covered in luminescent emerald lines, close to her mouth and spoke.
"Suck." My voice was apathetic as I watched her latch onto my finger, sucking voraciously, her saliva coating my finger while my mana flowed into her at an accelerated rate.
It was a novel experience for me... yet, it would likely become tedious soon enough.
I ignored her ministrations, my mind once again turning toward the Matou Family and Holy Grail War.
My line of thought, however, was interrupted once more as Artoria walked onto the rooftop with a bottle of juice in her hand. Her eyes widened slightly upon witnessing Medea's actions.
Colour flooded her cheeks as she finished the juice in a single gulp and ran toward Medea, her words accusatory.
"Unhand Master! You devious witch... How dare you lure me away with a carton of juice just to take advantage of my Master!?"
Medea glanced at Artoria for a moment and then promptly ignored her, continuing to drain mana from my finger.
An invisible sword materialized in Artoria's grasp, which she swung toward Medea without hesitation.
Yet... Medea dissolved into spirit form before the blade could reach her.
Artoria, meanwhile, ignored Medea's retreat and rushed up to me. She held out her own handkerchief, wiping the saliva from my finger as if cleaning filth.
...
..
.
Morning.
Medea guided us to an underground area beneath our house that certainly hadn't existed prior to this. It was her workshop.
I stepped inside, with Artoria following close behind, observing the surroundings with cautious curiosity.
My gaze, however, remained fixed on Medea as she led us deeper. Several tables were lined with beakers and test tubes containing unidentified substances.
Magic circles inscribed in an ancient language were carved throughout the area. I didn't scrutinize their formulae in depth, yet the sheer density of mana embedded within them was tremendous, even by my standards.
We passed by various strange contraptions and unfamiliar objects, finally coming to a halt before a study table. Resting atop it was a wooden box, heavily engraved with magic circles.
Medea approached and opened it with a casual swipe of her finger.
She retrieved the object within and presented it to me with evident pride.
"Master, I dare say these are among the finest Mystic Codes I have crafted. The Mystic Codes of other magus would pale in comparison." She spoke, stealing glances at me in search of approval.
I ignored her seeking gaze to focus on the items in her hands.
They were gloves. White gloves, the backs of which were emblazoned with incredibly complex magic circles.
"Master, I have engraved and superimposed 158 magic circles on each glove. They range from shock dampening to force absorption and amplification arrays. With these, your body will seldom be injured even when clashing with physically superior opponents. These circles will absorb and store the kinetic force from collisions, allowing you to release the stored energy later for a charged attack." Medea, perceiving my focus, provided a brief rundown on them.
Artoria examined the gloves and asked curiously, "Master, what is written in the center of those gloves? Between the circles?"
Both Medea's gaze and my own were drawn to the words written in a coded script, nestled between the magic circles on each glove.
"It reads Gott Mit Uns in German, meaning... God is with us."
I listened to her explanation while taking the gloves from her hands and putting them on. They adjusted themselves to my size, becoming skin-tight in moments.
My blank gaze fell upon those words.
God is with us, huh?
My mind drifted toward the past. Countless researchers from Hope's Peak flashed across my memory.
Some had worn devout expressions. Some had been consumed by greed. Some had looked upon me covetously. Others had sought to control a "god" under their thumb.
If they could create a "god," could they not control one?
All of them sped past my mind in rapid succession.
After they had passed... my gaze finally landed on Medea.
Her eyes did not carry greed, devout belief, or a need for control.
Medea's pupils were filled only with trust.
It was the same action—people worshipping me like a god.
Then, why?
Why did I not feel the slight tinge of disdain I usually experienced at such worship?
My gaze shifted to Artoria, who was curiously examining my new gloves, then flashed back toward Medea.
Her gaze did not waver.
God?
I'll be your God.
Just this once.
***
[200 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter]
[5 chapters ahead on P@tr3on = [email protected]/Not_Aaryan]
...
(Note: The Izuru Kamukura/ Ultimate Hope project was a project to create an artificial "god". For a successful surgery, the surgeons even went as far as removing parts of Izuru's brain responsible for emotions, in fact... they went even further to lock all of his memories before the surgery in a corner of his psyche.
In the end, they indeed successfully transplanted every Ultimate talent inside him, creating a godlike being who could do anything and everything. Yet... due to his emotions being surgically removed, and his overwhelming talent of knowing literally everything, he became a being who was perpetually bored.)
...
[Author's Thoughts]
Enjoy.