As repayment for my power stone debts, I give you not 2, but three chapters, even though I wanted to wait till Sunday to start posting again. Fuck allergies, seriously.
P.S: Kevin_Riley, I gotchu bro. Hope that hurricane didn't mess you up too much.
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Magi were a negligible number among the human order. That was what I was always told by my teachers, my Professor, and my peers. Yet, everywhere I went, I managed to find at least one new magus. I held no qualms about this. No, I loved it. Every single one of us had an eccentric way of being. I enjoyed provoking them and even just watching them, to a certain extent.
Meeting Rin was akin to a godsend for my boredom. I'd locked Caren in the basement after she tried sneaking in my bed the night before, and the so-called Demon King I'd summoned had taken to obsessively playing video games. Watching her, I was even reminded of the times when I took long breaks from work just to play some new release.
So, yes, I was elated beyond measure when my neighbor turned out to be a magus. A magus that bore a striking resemblance to the woman I adored from the depths of my heart, except she was clearly a lot less well-off. I couldn't help but want to tease her and give her things for no real reason even though her being a Master was the first thing I noticed. An enemy that didn't feel like one at all. I bothered her all the way till we got to a lavish high-rise hotel surrounded by other skyscrapers where she then stomped off all red-faced after taking my money.
Money I had just in case I needed to go band for band with some mook in over his head.
Much like my Luvia, she also took one last embarrassed look. I waved her goodbye with a silly smile on my face. She huffed and picked up her pace. With a snort, I turned to face the hotel I was invited to.
Past the tall curtain walls, I saw posh guests bombarding a trio of receptionists behind a sleek rosewood desk while bellhops in their velvet uniforms rushed about trailing behind guests and loading luggage. Despite the exceedingly cold weather, it seemed they were quite busy. Admittedly, I wasn't much bothered by said cold, considering London had been covered in snow when I left.
A guard bowed in greeting when I stepped onto the carpet rolled out to the entrance, and one of the receptionists offered a practiced, polite bow and a smile once I reached her.
I'd always lived amongst Europeans or Americans so it was a bit intriguing to see their faces in person considering my only reference was Nobu. They were beautiful in their own way, as Nobunaga strongly insisted, but my mind didn't really wander towards such things anymore.
At a time, I would've even tried to woo Nobunaga, or even Gray… not anymore.
"How may I help you, honoured guest?"
Woah.
I raised a brow.
"How'd you know I was the honoured on-… Wait no, you say that to everyone." I shook my head, "The top floor."
"Regretfully, the penthouse has been reserved by another guest. If you wish, there are some other options available…"
I tuned out her dialogue… but I didn't interrupt her. People who worked in customer service had enough dicks to deal with daily anyway, I wasn't about to add to that, not when my own mother often complained about annoying clients.
"It's Atrum Galliasta, isn't it?" I spoke once she was finished, "That guest. Yeah, he invited me himself."
"Sir, we'd need permission from him…"
"Then dial him up?" I tilted my head.
She stared at me hesitantly before sighing and slowly reaching for the phone with a small hand. For a moment, I was confused… Then I realized why she was being so apprehensive.
Atrum was a self-righteous piece of shit as a person. He had insane wealth, and he had to make sure everyone else knew it too. He was also the type to start groping a woman just cause she looked hot and surely no one would ever reject him cause he was oh-so-handsome.
I held up a hand to stop her.
"I'll call him myself."
Unexpectedly, he picked up immediately.
"What do you wan-"
"I'm downstairs, ya shite. Tell them to let me through."
"How dare those peasants even-"
Yeah, I cut the call.
The receptionist gave me a sympathetic look. Just then, the telephone lying next to her started buzzing incessantly. With trembling fingers, she received the call. Atrum immediately started barking-
"The name of Atrum Galliasta should've been enough for you to know that any who knows it is far more important than your worthless life-"
"Mate, hell, just tell them to send me up."
He folded under zero pressure when I cut him off, "O… Of course. Send him up, woman!"
Soon, I was led into an elevator by a bellhop. A couple awkward minutes listening to weird elevator music later, the steel doors slid away with a ding into a luxurious two-level penthouse with curtain walls overlooking the entire city of Fuyuki and ceiling so high I was sure they'd combined two floors to make this. The floor was laid with wood, then carpets over it, and Atrum himself sat on a large white sofa set up in the center… along with half a dozen scantily-clad women with veils and harem clothes.
I was pretty sure he'd set it up so that anyone entering had to look at him.
He had his arm over the shoulder of a dark-skinned woman on one side, and a fair-skinned one on the other. He was easily fondling their plentiful breasts, and smiled when he saw me. Another woman stepped closer to me, swaying her hips as she walked, but I shook my head long before she ever reached me.
Instead, I was more interested in the one woman that was actually dressed here. She stood behind Atrum, a dark cloak over her head that hid her entire body save for her mouth. Purple lipstick was… certainly an interesting fashion choice, especially with skin so fair it was a mere shade from sickly pale.
"What? Is that one not to your liking? Too old? Too young? Or do you not like how she looks?" He asked curiously, tilting his head. "Have your pick. You're my guest."
I narrowed my eyes, "I'm not here to play around with the women you pay to compensate for how much of a bitch you yourself are, Atrum. What do you want?"
For a moment, anger flashed through his pupils, but then he just fixed a button on his vest, "I told you did I not? That I would acquire something to put you in your place?"
"Have you then?"
He closed his eyes and waved a hand at the woman stood behind him, "Unfortunately no. This witch can not fulfill the sole reason I summoned her at all. Did you summon your own?"
"Kind of. She's a handful though." I took a seat across from him, crossing one leg over the other as I studied his servant.
Her appearance… gave me little. By merely existing, she produced the sort of mystery that was impossible to find in the modern world, older than even what I saw from Nobunaga. It coiled and rolled around her like a miasma. So, she was a fairly old figure at least.
"You've fallen on hard times recently, I've heard." He started again, beckoning over another half-naked girl. "You're not getting along with those Lords of the Clock Tower. They've even decided to hunt you down… and you killed a fair of their number."
"You're also from the Clock Tower, mate. I'd be careful if you're thinking about earning some favours through me."
"No, I admire this. Remember? 'Take what you want, when you want'." He threw up his hands, "It's inconceivable that one of my lineage would take issue with asserting your right as one who is strong."
I coughed into my palm.
"I was certain it would come to that once you defeated Miss Touko. After all, they cannot stomach that younglings like us surpass them with how they cling to useless tradition and glories of old. No, instead, I offer an exchange. My help. For yours."
I raised a brow at that.
The thing was, despite how the situation had worsened, I was in no real danger from any magus choosing to come after me, at all. I knew this. They utterly refused to accept it. I needed no aid nor allies in this. Still, it was interesting that Atrum, of all people, had come ahead.
"I will offer you my resources. I will offer what other help I can. In turn, you will do the same. Surely then, this war will be ours. No one else will stand a chance at all. It's a win-win."
"Atrum…" I sighed. "You don't believe in helping anyone or working together. You want everything for yourself, even I can see that. I'm not turning my back to you."
Instead of getting upset at me questioning his character, Atrum threw his head back and let out a roar of laughter. His 'women' joined him. His servant stood silent behind him.
"There's a Sealing Designation on you. Do you think you have a choice?"
I glanced at his Command Seals. One was missing.
"I do. I heard you out cause I thought it'd be funny but… why do you think you have any chance against me?"
"Your influence is gone. Your backers are gone, too."
"Yeah, but does that make you any stronger?"
"I have a servant here. You have none of your command seals." He said sharply, leaning forward on his knees.
For someone who'd been riding me like a fangirl a moment ago, his hostility was through the roof. A by-product of his unchecked ego, I assumed. I wondered how he'd react if he found out just how I'd used up my command seals.
One to mess with Nobunaga. One to force her to stop dismantling the plane we rode here on. The third to make her speak Pig Latin for a couple of days cause it was funny.
I grinned. "That's fine. I can just take yours. Or, any other master's."
Hell, I was sure I could cheat the system into giving me more so long as I had the time.
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Hope you enjoyed.
Now that the Holy Grail War has officially begun, please don't hesitate to share your thoughts on how I'm handling it. I'd like to know what you think about this way I've chosen to open it even since I'm very nervous.