33 Chapter 33: Eve of The Battle
On the second day of their arrival to Fuyuki city, Tanya and Charlotte finally got their new instruction from Ray to meet him in the port area.
Also, Tanya got pranked by Ray when his Wraith Soldier gave her a crystal. When she took it, it shattered into particles and a red symbol suddenly appeared and latched onto her hand like an alien parasite, giving her a mild panic and trying to remove it for a few times until Ray suddenly talked to her telepathically and explained the red tattoo. Because of that, she now has to wear gloves whenever she is outside.
She soon left and took a taxi to reach the port with Charlotte since their vacation had come to an end.
———
"Father Risei. You asked to meet me all of the sudden. What had happened to warrant such an emergency?" A middle aged man with black hair and goatee. Dressed with crimson red suit holding a cane while possess a wise and sharp look of an aristocrat befitting his position as an elite even among Magus.
"Tokiomi. You finally arrived." Wearing a priest cassock, a buff muscular old priest at the end of his lifespan. Greeted the current head of the Tohsaka who is an old friend of his.
Sporting a grim look on his face, Risei revealed one of the participants of this Fourth Holy Grail War had been eliminated. Yet, there's no indication that the Servant of that Master had been killed. Tokiomi thought for a moment and then reached a conclusion.
"Perhaps the Servant switched hands. An assailant probably killed the previous Master and stole the Command Seal." Tokiomi explained. "It might be a little difficult but a capable spiritual doctor should be able to transplant it just like transplanting Magic Crest."
"However, this would mean we have unstable factors entering the fray. Only a handful of magus can compete against a Servant and most of them have alibis to be the assailant." Risei points out with concern. "I sent Kirei to investigate and hopefully could help shed some light to this unknown participant and his backer."
"If so, I will await your good news." Tokiomi nodded before saying. "For our ancestor's wish. We must win the grail no matter what."
"Indeed. This is also for the Church." Risei nodded since Tokiomi only uses the grail once and will give it to Risei to return it to the church. The basis of their cooperation of mutual benefit.
After Tokiomi left, he immediately returned and reported it to his servant. He did this as a means of formality because for sure such a thing wouldn't miss the clairvoyant noble phantasm of Gilgamesh.
"Interesting." The King of Uruk said while savoring his prized wine from his treasury and dismissed his Master.
Their role is reversed where the Servant is really the master and Tokiomi only has control over Gilgamesh because of the Command Seal. Without it, Tokiomi perhaps will be hundred times more respectful.
Meanwhile with Kirei. He is investigating the underground sewage system and found a very puzzling scene. Plenty of signs of struggle yet none indicate what method of attack was used. No sign of spells or weapons were used in this place. Only signs of trashing and a few broken walls.
As if whatever that fought here is actually struggling on its own and died without outside interference. However, Kirei knew this was impossible and tried another method of detection instead. He uses his experience as a Holy Church's executioner and is able to detect negative energy similar to the wide school of magecraft of necromancy. Those that dabble with the dead and soul in a heretical way.Immediately he returned to the church to report to his father while he left a few personas of Hassan of Hundred Persona to investigate the rest of the sewer system.
The Kotomine and Tohsaka alliance is already aware and investigating the death of the master before the official start of the war. Others also tried to investigate it like the Emiya with Einzbern group and Kayneth with his wife Sola-Ui did try to investigate but with use of familiars because they only interested to keep tabs on the events rather than in depth investigation. Only one who didn't investigate is the Master of Rider and Berserker. The former is busy dealing with his Servant's antics while the latter simply didn't have the capacity to spend time and mana to spare on unnecessary action.
As such, it's the end of the preparation stage as all servants had been summoned and the pieces had been laid down by Ray in anticipation of the Grail War. He wouldn't dare to miss this golden opportunity to obtain useful familiars in the form of historical figures from the history of humanity and civilization.
———
On the eve of the third day and the official start of the 4th Holy Grail war. Ray woke up with Tanya and Charlotte on both sides. Can't blame the hardworking man who needs some stress relief after more than 48 hours of non-stop working to complete all his preparation on time.
He stretches his body a little before leaving the bed and prepares himself to start his day. Though, a hand catches him and pulls him back to the bed before landing on a soft jiggly mound.
"*Sigh* Char, today is an important day and I rather not waste the whole morning having sex when there is something more important to complete." Ray rolls his body upside down and looks at Charlotte.
"I'm not." Charlotte pouted and denied it. Then she lifts her hand and envelopes Ray in her embrace. "It just the master is very busy and treating Charlotte coldly unlike usual." She pouted even deeper and hugged Ray tight enough he couldn't escape without Reinforcing his strength.
"I guess…" Ray thought about it and realized that ever since Tanya fell into a coma. They had never had an outing together to spend time and deepen their bond. After all, even if he can assure and enforce their loyalty. That is for disobedient ones and emergency situations. To him, Tanya, new Charlotte and Alma are companions in his journey. They aren't a tool he can use disregarding their emotions and feelings like his Wraiths. Of course, until one of them tried to betray his trust like Charlotte before her rebirth into a Wraith hybrid.
"I think we can all have a walk in the city while waiting for night time. The war is regulated by the overseer from the Holy Church and the participants are only allowed to fight at night." Ray said after checking that he indeed did all those he needed to complete and have free time. He originally wanted to spend the day just resting to keep himself in top notch condition for the battle. But, going out with his women in the city is another way to relax too.
"We?" Charlotte asked before taking a glance at Tanya. "I thought it would just be the two of us only." Her happy expression immediately faded away and was replaced with a pout again. Ray didn't let the chance pass and stretch that pouting cheek with his hands. "I could go with Tanya alone instead if you disagree with my arrangement." Ray reminded her. This is the only time she wouldn't immediately agree with his decision. When it is about who gets to spend time with Ray.
"Go change your clothes quickly and we are going out for breakfast first before anything else." Ray said before to give her a playful spank while she crawled off the bed. Tanya was already awake. Save him time from explaining twice as he also crawls off the bed and wash his face with water he made with mana.
Who knows, he might have an opportunity to meet other Masters and socialize a little with his future familiars.
Half an hour later, Ray and his group leisurely sat in a cafe and ate breakfast. It's around 7:30 am and the city is already bustling with life. Shop owners opened their shops and the citizens came to buy their needs. The cafe they eat at has outdoor tables where they sit and enjoy their food.
"I think I'm gonna buy some clothes. How about you two?" Ray asks while cutting the pancake and shoving it into his mouth.
"I'm in. You need something other than wearing baggy robes all day." Tanya agreed in a heartbeat. Ray keeps wearing his robe and being stubborn about it, saying 'I am dressing to suit my character. Besides, it's comfy.' and Tanya had enough of it. That's why she will happily agree if Ray himself decides he needs a change in fashion. "I know a good shop that sells clothes for mens in that mall I went to with Charlotte last time."
"Also, why is she having a silent protest?" Tanya points out Charlotte's behavior which Ray shrugged at and says it's probably her time of the month but her body doesn't work like normal anymore since becoming a Wraith hybrid and Tanya knew it herself.
"Let her be. She will be back to normal very soon." Ray said while quickly finishing his pancake on syrup and his warm Matcha tea. The other two followed and finished their breakfast before Tanya led Ray into the business district where the mall is located and followed by Charlotte still doing her silent protest.
When arrived, the mall wasn't as big as his original world. But right now, this world is still in the 90's and this mall is already considered big and the three enter before making a beeline into the section that sells clothes.
Ray looks around for something that catches his eyes since his sense of fashion is nonexistent as prior to his reincarnation, his wardrobe would only have three sets of t-shirts, two sets of suit, two black slacks, two trousers and two jeans. This is basically his only outfit of choice for any occasion from work, having a walk in the town and special occasions. As for at home, it's either underwear or nothing since he lived alone anyway and was too lazy to wear much because he needed to wash his clothes after that.
Ray thought of buying the same thing as his previous life but Tanya was quick to spot his action and understand his intention. She immediately dragged Ray into a fitting room with not one but two store clerks waiting for him with a bunch of clothes already selected for him to test.
"Cmon, we don't have all day to waste here." Tanya shoved a set of outfits to me and pushed me into the fitting room which reminded me of when I went shopping for clothes with my mother that always, without fail, gave me the set of outfit that I hated the most and forced me to test it.
Ray looked unwilling to enter the fitting room because he disliked this outfit already with just a glance but he remembered he liked it if his women looked pretty like eye candies. They also deserve the same. So, he swallowed his dissatisfaction and tested it out. He exits two minutes later to show it to Tanya. Her brow knit closer as she evaluated it for a moment before shaking her head and sighing.
"This one is not good. Next." The store clerks pass her another set and Tanya passes it to Ray before telling him to test it out.
"Not good. Next."
…
"Not good. Next."
…
"Not good. Next."
…
"Next."
What felt like an eternity later, more than a hundred sets were tested and none could satisfy Tanya even after testing almost all this shop could offer. Ray then selects one he tested before and Tanya begrudgingly settles with that. It's just a black blazer and trousers. Not restrictive and offer a wide range of movement. Ray bought a few more sets for variety but keeping the style consistent despite Tanya said he needed more than just variation of a few shades darker or brighter. Ray countered that he can change its appearance easily with Alteration and he is only buying these so he has something to use as base for creating more outfits for him.
Ray immediately made excuses and fled the mall when Tanya insisted they visit the next store. He isn't doing anymore of this. Just one shop takes three hours and there are still dozens more to check. They probably can spend the entire duration of the Holy Grail war just browsing through these shops day after day. He escaped to the street immediately before he got dragged into another store. He ran out the mall followed by Tanya and Charlotte behind him.
But he suddenly felt the trace of mana nearby which made him look around the area before he noticed a long silver white hair and blond hair which is very noticeable among the crowd that all have black hairs. Indeed, the owners of the hairs are respectively Irisviel Von Einzbern and King Artoria. They definitely noticed Ray because he made eye contact with Saber unconsciously until Tanya tapped his shoulder to wake him up from his daze.
———
"Saber? What's wrong?" Irisviel asks the Servant of her husband who looks in daze at the group of three foreigners, all of whom have blond hair like the Servant of Sword.
Saber stared at the boy in daze for a few more moments before she turned to her false Master before answering. "I feel an odd connection from the boy… could it be my descendant?" Saber asked despite knowing she could have none naturally but what if it happened unnaturally like her son(daughter) which her sister Morgan created.
"Your descendant?" Irisviel pondered the answer as she already studied the history of King Arthur, the wielder of holy sword Excalibur. But it ends up being incorrect and King Arthur turns out to be King Artoria, a 'village girl' that pretends to be a male to ascend to the throne of Britain.
"Yes. Despite being a female that disguise as male to be a king. I did have a child before my death. But I killed 'him' with my own hand in the Battle of Camlann." Saber explained her history to Irisviel as if she is talking about another person and not herself.
Meanwhile, Irisviel is terrified by what Saber just told her and felt sad for her but Saber herself didn't feel much emotion about what she just said. Her biggest regret and wish is the only thing in her mind.
"Are you curious and want to investigate the group?" Irisviel asked.
"No, my task is to accompany Lady Iris into the city and prioritize her protection above all." Saber recites the promise she made upon his real Master.
Later that evening, Servant of Lance stationed in the port of Fuyuki city and released his presence to taunt a servant for battle under his Master, Kayneth Archibald's order. This announced the official start of clash between Servants of the 4th Holy Grail War.
—————
