Next day.
We walked through the streets of Fuyuki, heading toward a shopping district. Medea had grabbed onto my hand, her eyes taking in the surroundings with evident intrigue.
Artoria had already gotten her turn. Now, it was Medea's.
"Master, where are we going?" she asked, turning her gaze back to me.
"A shopping district in Fuyuki known for its clothing. I've noticed you seem to have a particular fondness for apparel." I kept my pace steady as I led her forward.
"Master~ You didn't use your [Ultimate] talents to figure that out, did you? Because that would make you ecchi~" Medea said, a teasing lilt in her voice.
A single eyebrow rose in response.
A bizarre deduction. I chose not to dignify it with a reply.
We reached the shopping mall moments later.
Stepping inside, we were met with a wide corridor lined with shops ranging from clothing boutiques to essential goods, even a few cafes scattered between.
I led Medea into one of the largest clothing stores in the mall. It carried a broad selection for both men and women.
Her gaze wandered across the displays before landing on a section labeled Gothic Lolita—and she froze.
Her eyes lit up. She released my hand and dashed toward the section, inspecting various garments that were clearly smaller than her own size.
"Who are you choosing these for?" I asked, coming up from behind.
"Oh! Master, I'm picking these out for Saber. Her wardrobe seems to consist of only the single outfit you selected for her." She spoke absentmindedly, flicking through different articles—some cute, some decidedly gothic.
"I don't think Artoria would wear these." I glanced at a frilly dress draped over her arm.
"You don't have to worry about that, Master. She will. She promised, after all." A hint of smug satisfaction threaded through her voice.
I followed behind as she added one frilly dress after another to her growing collection.
When we reached the clerk at the counter, even he was taken aback by the sheer volume of dresses. He recomposed himself after a moment, passing me a card terminal while stealing glances at Medea.
"Your and Madam's daughter will surely be happy with all these new dresses." He murmured.
Medea's cheeks flushed a deep, violent crimson.
I didn't bother correcting the misunderstanding and swiped my black card.
We had barely stepped out of the shop, arms full of bags, when Medea's gaze locked onto another store.
A figurine shop.
She dragged me inside without a moment's hesitation.
I stood at her side as she bent down, examining rows of magic girl figurines with a captivated expression.
"Master! Master! Look, they're so cute. A Saber figurine would be even cuter. I really want to try making one." She pointed at a golden-haired magic girl figurine, radiating the excitement of a child who had just discovered a new toy.
We ended up leaving with a bundle of figurine-building kits.
Mid-walk, Medea asked.
"Master, if your [Ultimate Analysis] is passive, does that mean you can't turn it off? Even while resting?"
"I can tune out irrelevant data."
"So you know both my and Saber's bodies intimately."
"I said I can tune it out."
She smirked, clearly unconvinced, before skipping toward the escalator.
I followed behind her, emerging onto an open terrace. An open-air food court stretched out before us.
She led me to a two-chair table and slid into one side, gesturing for me to take the opposite seat.
I wordlessly sat down and watched as she browsed through a menu.
"Master... should we try some Greek food?" she asked, glancing up from the menu.
"Whatever you would like." Her eyes curved into crescents at my words, and she went back to the menu.
A waiter soon approached our table to take our order.
"We'll have two souvlaki, a Greek salad, three plates of tomato fritters, two bougatsas, and two Greek iced coffees."
I watched Medea list dish after dish while the waiter scribbled in a hurry, struggling to keep pace.
"And make sure to keep those fritters extra crisp, alright?" She added.
"I've got it, madam." The waiter replied.
He departed with our order.
We waited idly for a time, during which Medea pressed me with more questions about my [Ultimate] talents.
I answered each one calmly.
By the time her curiosity was sated, our food had already been laid out before us.
"Master, let's eat."
I nodded, watching her take the first bite.
...
..
.
We sat on a bench outside the mall as evening fell.
"Master, the food was acceptable at best. You've spoiled my taste buds with your world-class cooking. You have to take responsibility." Medea rubbed her flat stomach as she spoke.
I sat beside her.
"I'll make some Greek cuisine for you next time." My words made her perk up.
A comfortable silence settled between us.
"So... Master, what will you do after the Holy Grail War ends?" She asked, her gaze fixed on a nearby fountain.
"I will probably keep searching for something unknown. Trying to determine which between hope and despair is more unpredictable."
"I have witnessed the extremes of both from the heroic spirits drawn into this war. Yet... a question still eludes me." I followed her gaze to the water.
"What is Hope?"
"What is my Hope?"
Medea turned to look at me. Her voice, when it came, was tender.
"Master, I believe you will find your hope, soon—"
Color bled away from the world. Everything froze.
Medea's gentle smile as she looked at me. Flowing water of the fountain. Birds in the sky. People in our surroundings.
Everything came to a halt.
My precognition—the talent that had never once failed me—did not scream. Did not screech. It howled with abandon.
Danger. Already upon us.
A boundary field snapped into existence around me as compressed winds warped around my arm.
Time bent.
A dagger was hurling toward the unsuspecting Medea, aimed straight for her heart. Held by a gloved hand clad in black.
My invisible, wind-wreathed hand moved into its path.
Dagger and wind collided.
But for the first time... the wind surrounding my arm buckled, forcibly dispelling my spell entirely.
I adjusted, placing my arm between Medea and that dagger.
Yet, my eyes widened by a fraction as I watched a boundary field—eerily similar to my own—envelop that dagger and the hand holding it.
Its speed multiplied fourfold, curving around my hand to reach Medea unimpeded.
Rrrrrip.
Blood splattered across Medea's face.
Her eyes constricted as she looked up.
I stood before her.
A dagger buried through my heart.
Magic circuits and [Beast Will] sigils tried to crawl across my body—only to be forcibly dispelled.
"MASTER!!!"
...
..
.
***
[200 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter]
[5 chapters ahead on P@tr3on = [email protected]/Not_Aaryan]
...
[Author's Thoughts]
So... Who do you think this assassin is? Someone who can even sneak up on Izuru. Though It is quite obvious, but I'll give you all another hint.
His presence concealment is A+ Rank.
Bro is really cooked. He left [Avalon] in Sakura. GGs.
...
I was not about to release any chapters today but then did it anyway.
Have a wonderful day everyone!