I was so wrong.
The offer King Gilgamesh made was obviously the better one, not that I'd ever tell him that. In fact, I should have bid for a shorter wait. I'd not slept a wink the whole night, too giddy about my fight with a man decisively known as the strongest Heroic Spirit.
When the first rays of the subdued morning Sun filtered through the window, I was forced to realise that there were still six more such nights to go through before our showdown.
T'was hell indeed.
A blight upon my nature.
This world was so cruel and unfair.
It totally wasn't my fault that I was the one who offered him a week's wait. In fact, my passion for making myself the world's issue was wholly re-ignited, greater than ever.
Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka were about to bear the brunt of it. They were the only people I had to pass the time with right now, after all.
Inhaling deeply of the pure cope I'd just gaslighted myself with, I took off my aviators to wipe them against my pocket. Then, I jumped out of bed, feeling mighty good about myself.
Even from here, I could hear the muffled booms from Nobunaga's consoles. Apparently, games were a technological marvel that the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven was simply unable to leave be... not that I really had anything against her obsession, as an avid gamer myself.
Unfortunately, the titles available in this era weren't quite up to par after what I'd grown used to.
"Hm. I think Caules might be able to..."
I quickly made a mental note.
I'd discuss it with him once I returned to London.
Sighing to myself, I made about starting my day. Mostly, a hot shower after which I dragged myself down the stairs and into the dining hall where Medusa was busy fixing the plates in that cool and calm way of hers. The heated air carried the faint scent of pancakes.
The moment the Rider heard me step inside, she turned towards me, dragging her long purple hair behind her. Actually, she had the longest hair I'd ever seen, bar maybe Hishiri Adashino's... That strange woman's always dragged on the floor in a not-so-hygienic way.
"Finally wearing those?" I hummed out with a smile.
Gorgon Medusa's blindfold was gone, replaced by sleek see-through golden aviators. I'd been right. She was much prettier this way. Her eyes were gold, with thin pupils like that of a servant's.
For a moment, it seemed she'd forgotten to speak. Then, a faint smile crossed her pale lips, "Yes... Thank you."
"No, thank you for listening. They suit you."
The tall woman only ducked her head at my words but I managed to catch her smile growing. Not keen on pushing her, I chuckled and wandered over to my chair at the head of the table. Unceremoniously, I plopped down, crossing one leg over the other.
Then... silence, interrupted only by the clammer of plates.
The lack of energy in the room was the bane of my very existence.
"Yo, Medusa." I started once more.
She quietly raised her head, curious.
"Why'd you take that bet with Shinji? If I were a proper magus, that sort of thing would accomplish nothing."
After all, members of the family were property of the head. Whatever they did with them was nobody's business. That was why the Iselma issue was resolved with no real consequences for Byron, the head, back when I first met the now-deceased Atrum Galliasta.
Medusa hesitated a moment, clutching the plate in her hands.
"I was desperate... Master. That child did not deserve to suffer as she did." She spoke slowly, as though she were thinking carefully about each and every word. "And... what I felt then... was that you were surely not indifferent."
That drew a laugh from me.
"You think maybe it was cope on your end?"
She tilted her head confusedly, unfamiliar with the word.
"Delusion?" I offered politely.
Medusa stared at me, then shook her head from side to side.
"Perhaps, mast-... Henry. But for fulfilling my selfish delusion." She nodded resolutely, "With whatever little time I have left, allow me to help you."
Damn.
Her simple words were so utterly decisive in how she said them that I was forced to stop making light of them. Of course, in that moment, I also realised that I had no convictions of my own to meet that resolve with.
No, that was wrong.
"You know my end goal is always to do what I want, right? That's not really noble enough for that kind of proclamation." I rested my chin atop my palm, making no effort whatsoever to hide my sheer amusement. "What I want is to be a pain in the ass for everyone."
A slight laugh escaped her lips.
"I am Medusa. The Gorgon. I accept your wish, Master."
Before I could respond, Nobunaga kicked open one of the doors, yawning and scratching the back of her neck as she wandered inside in an over-sized red t-shirt and shorts. Her hat was still there though, naturally.
"Gah! This is exactly why I am the superior servant." She groggily rubbed her eyes, "You serious people can be so boorish when what we SHOULD be doing is shooting some homeless person."
"...What?"
"Think about it! We shoot them near the feet, just enough to scatter them. Wouldn't that be totally hilarious?"
...
Medusa blankly stared at Nobunaga, unable to understand.
I, on the other hand, genuinely considered the idea.
"Wait, we can do this with Saber instead."
Nobunaga's eyes shimmered, "No. No! We shoot her Master. That will definitely be more bothersome for that stuck-up woman."
"Dammit, I love this."
She crossed her arms and triumphantly raised her head, a smug grin etched across her face. With that same face, she plopped down right next to me before sticking her tongue out at her fellow servant.
Apparently, there was some rivalry there that I wasn't privy to.
"What's your problem with Rider?" I voiced my curiosity.
Nobunaga closed one eye, "Hmph. Why don't you ask her?"
When I turned towards Medusa, she only raised her hands confusedly, "I do not understand her mislike for me, either."
"A master is supposed to have only one servant."
The Demon King protested with a raised fist, still making no sense at all. But, she did that a lot anyway. After all, I had summoned Nobunaga with no catalyst at all. This type of behaviour was only natural then.
When she quieted down, she puffed up her cheeks like some slighted child. As a kind person, I was inclined to help. So, I stole her hat and tossed it across the room. The hat fell only a step away from the lit fireplace.
Strangely, she didn't respond to even that.
"Huh. Thought that'd get you going-"
She stole my aviators and tossed them right into the fireplace.
...
"You little-"
"Gahahaha! Gonna cry?"
I reached out to strangle her but Caren entered the hall just then. Nobunaga straightened up immediately just as I did too. We held our breaths as the priestess gave us a hard stare, then let out relieved sighs when she finally put her tray down.
"Now, for the Lord's prayer..."
Everyone just ignored her.
I waited until she was done out of common courtesy before diving in like a man starved.
-
There wasn't much on the agenda that day, and I'd initially planned on playing games with Nobunaga all day to pass the time. That plan had cold water poured on it when Rin showed up on my doorstep in that red coat of hers, all buttoned up and ready.
She offered no explanation, and dragged me along with her.
Fortunately for her, I was just about interested enough to comply.
-
Hope you enjoyed.
Please, do comment, and don't hesitate to point out any issues.
This one's a bit shorter than usual, but it did its job completely so it didn't feel right dragging it on for word count. Also helped me get back into the mentality.