After Fiore had calmed down, she told the Shogun everything. To her, the Shogun was not an outsider, but someone she trusted and even admired. There was nothing she could hide from her.
"Haa… so that's how it is. I understand."
The Shogun, arms folded, sat on the bed's edge and nodded slightly.
"This state of mind is inevitable for someone like you. The Black Faction has lost too many—both in manpower and strength. For one as young as you to shoulder such a burden is indeed far too heavy."
"..."
Fiore sat obediently before her, head lowered like a student being scolded. She couldn't refute the Shogun's words—because they were all true.
"Moreover… you are kind by nature. You value life, dislike conflict and killing. With such a disposition, it's only natural that you would fall into confusion."
The Shogun continued.
"…I-I'm sorry… Shogun…"
Fiore apologized in a tiny, pitiful voice. She felt utterly mismatched with her Servant—how could someone like her be Master to the Shogun? And yet… the Shogun had never once argued with her.
"Why apologize? I am not reproaching you. On the contrary… seeing you like this, I worry."
The Shogun sighed softly.
"Because… I have always been lost. Whenever I see your figure and your deeds, Shogun… I feel so useless. To think I am your Master, yet so incompetent…"
Fiore's voice quavered with self-doubt.
"Haa…"
The Shogun sighed again.
"I do not know this world well, nor the knowledge of the Grail… nor even what a Master ought to do. But from my perspective, you have already fulfilled your duty. I have told you before—this vessel… is very satisfied with you."
"Shogun…"
Fiore's eyes shimmered again, on the verge of tears. When had she become such a crybaby?
"Character is innate. A kind heart is no flaw. As you said… magi are cold and ruthless. But you are different. You are like a lotus in the mud—untainted, pure. That is your fortune… Fiore."
She could tell the girl was beginning to sink into inferiority. The only thing she could do now was help her regain her confidence, starting with her heart—guiding her to recognize herself and cease her doubts.
The girl blushed deeply at the words, biting her lip in shy embarrassment.
From the beginning, Fiore had been lost. Since childhood she had forced herself to act strong before her family. As heir to the clan, she had no choice. She still remembered the day she was made to sacrifice her beloved pet to the abyss of magecraft—suppressing her tears before others, only to cry all night once back in her room. Even now, that purity and kindness had never changed.
"You're still forcing yourself, aren't you?"
The Shogun asked gently.
Without knowing why, Fiore nodded meekly. Only afterward did she realize it, flushing with shame.
"Clinging too tightly to something will only wound yourself. Sometimes, letting go is also a choice. Of course… this is but my own opinion. In the end, it must be your decision."
The room was dim, lit only by the warm glow of a bedside lamp. The quiet was filled only by their soft voices, speaking heart to heart. In truth, most of the talking came from the Shogun—patiently soothing, guiding the fragile heart of the girl before her.
"If I…"
If I gave up… If I let go… would the Shogun hate me? Would she be disappointed in me?
The words caught in her throat. Fear lingered in Fiore's heart—fear of the answer.
"No."
"Eh?"
Yet the Shogun spoke first, as if she had already known.
"This vessel… will not be disappointed in you."
That was her answer.
Fiore was not suited to be a magus. Forcing herself would only make that chain strangle her, consuming her life one day—that was the Shogun's view.
"..."
After nearly a minute of silence, the girl in the wheelchair finally raised her eyes to the Shogun and nodded slowly. This was her "concession." She chose to stop forcing herself. She would no longer push on recklessly, ignoring her mind and body.
Though her magic circuits were exceptionally gifted, her kind and pure nature had made her "fail" on the path of a magus. Meanwhile, Caules, though ordinary in circuits, had already reached the mindset of a true magus. Thus he had "succeeded."
Such was fate—contradictory, yet dramatic.
By giving up the burden she had carried since birth, Fiore had also relinquished her position as head of the family. By rule, the role now passed to the second heir—Caules.
'Sister… just stay as you are. Leave the rest to me.'
He had once told her so… and now he truly fulfilled that promise.
Lying beside her brother, Fiore's expression was complicated. Perhaps this choice would place him in danger. Even so, this was Caules' lifelong wish. Since Fiore had stepped back, he would take the role.
"Are you uneasy, Caules?"
Fiore turned her head slightly and asked.
"As a mortal, of course I'm a little…"
Though filled with anticipation, Caules could not help the tension in his voice.
"Stay strong. When the ritual is complete, you will be the head of Yggdmillennia."
Fiore said softly.
"Yeah. Maybe this was decided in childhood already, Sister."
Caules gave a small laugh.
"…Perhaps."
Fiore sighed faintly. She hardly felt like an elder sister at all. Glancing toward the Shogun in the corner, she saw her give a slight nod, and with that she found the courage to smile again.
This was not the parlor, nor a bedroom, but an underground chamber prepared for the Crest Transfer ritual. Four yellow candles burned at the corners of the white bed, where the siblings lay side by side.
The Shogun rose slightly and walked to Chiron's side.
"How long will it take?"
She asked.
"Normally… transferring the Magic Crest should be done slowly. But due to time constraints, we'll use a faster method. It will be more painful, however."
Chiron replied calmly.
Indeed, what they were about to perform was the transfer of the family's Magic Crest. As the head, Fiore would pass it on to Caules. This was something Caules himself had requested—even knowing the risk, he insisted.
The Shogun did not care to ask what exactly a Magic Crest was. Knowing the general outline was enough.
"There's no choice… Time is too short."
Caules muttered with resignation.
"Archer… please begin."
Fiore exhaled lightly and closed her eyes, reassured by the Shogun's watchful presence.
"Very well, then I'll commence the Crest Transfer ritual."
Buzz~!
At Chiron's gesture, a pale green light spread through the chamber. A magic circle appeared on the ground, and glowing patterns emerged across the siblings' bodies.
Crackle…
A sound like clashing currents hissed through the air.
"Ugh! Aaaahhh!!!"
Fiore felt little, but Caules immediately cried out. His entire body was covered in Crest patterns, even his face. He convulsed, screaming as the pain wracked him.
Hearing his cries, Fiore's eyes snapped open. Seeing his twisted expression, her heart clenched.
"Caules! The flow is too fast! Calm yourself!"
She pleaded, trying to steady him. His heart was pounding violently.
"What's happening?"
The Shogun turned to Chiron.
"His body is rejecting the foreign Crest!"
Fiore's Crest was flawless, but for an ordinary body like Caules', it was far too heavy. Severe rejection struck him, the pain like insects biting every inch of him.
"Aaaahhh!!!!"
Caules' eyes rolled back.
"Caules! Caules! Calm down! If this continues it'll only get worse!!"
"Aaaahhh!!!"
He could no longer hear her. His body twisted in agony, drool running down his chin as he convulsed.
"..."
The Shogun frowned slightly, irritated by the noise. She raised her hand, a spark of lightning flashing across her palm, then pressed it firmly against his forehead.
Snap!!
A crisp sound rang out.
"..." ×N
Silence returned.
The screaming boy had fainted instantly. The Crest Transfer continued nonetheless.
"…Noisy."
The Shogun muttered coldly, answering the looks from the other two.
"Haa…"
Fiore let out a long sigh of relief. Thank goodness the Shogun had acted swiftly—otherwise, her brother might not have survived this night.
After completing the Magic Crest transfer, Fiore was brought back to her room. Watching her settle once more into bed, the Shogun knelt on the cushion beside it, gazing quietly at the girl lying beneath the covers.
Fiore was still somewhat weak, likely from the ritual's side effects, but overall she fared far better than Caules.
"Do you feel unwell?"
She asked with concern.
"No… just a little tired. A good sleep will be enough."
Fiore curled into the blanket, lying on her side and facing her, replying softly. Compared to her brother, this was nothing.
"I see… then this will at least ease your burden a little?"
"Mm… but I won't just push everything onto him. The situation doesn't allow me to relax. I'm still the Shogun's Master. I still bear the responsibility of leading the Black Faction to victory. Even so, I will not neglect it."
Her voice was firm, her gaze locked with the Shogun's violet eyes.
"Do you remember the contract between this vessel and you?"
The Shogun asked, closing her eyes slightly.
"Of course… how could I forget my contract with you?"
It was the foremost thing in her heart.
"I will lead you to victory. All you must do is follow behind me. There is no need for you to risk yourself."
"But… but I also want to do something for you, Shogun…"
Her voice grew muffled, like a child sulking—yet only toward one she adored.
"..."
The Shogun fell silent.
"If you insist that much, then do as you wish."
It mattered little to her… she would deal with it when the time came.
"It's late. Your body and mind are weary—rest now."
She lifted the blanket that Fiore had not fully covered herself with, pulling it higher and tucking it in with practiced ease, all with one hand. The smoothness of her motion left Fiore momentarily dazed.
Why was the Shogun so skilled at this? Had she done the same for someone else before?
The thought stirred her curiosity, though she hesitated to ask, unsure if it would trespass on the Shogun's privacy.
"Shogun…"
Unable to hold back, she finally asked in a small voice. In the quiet room lit only by the bedside lamp, her words were crystal clear.
"…What is it?"
"…Have you ever had the experience of putting someone to bed before? You seemed… very practiced."
At that, the Shogun's hand stilled briefly before resuming. She could tell the girl was being cautious, but this was hardly a secret—it mattered little to say.
"Something like that. Long ago, I often accompanied a child. She was still young. Her family had met with misfortune—both parents passed away, and her elder brother was always away, leaving her alone."
Recalling the distant past, the Shogun's expression softened. That child was none other than a certain daughter of the Tenryou Commission in Inazuma.
"I see…"
Fiore understood. That even a god would personally watch over a child puzzled her, but… her knowledge of the Shogun had deepened once more. And she felt no jealousy that the Shogun had once cared for someone else. She was not that kind of person. Instead, she was glad—for it meant she too was now treasured by the Shogun.
Though the Shogun's bond with that girl might have been deeper, it didn't matter. Fiore was already content. If, when the Shogun returned to her own world, she still remembered her, that alone would be enough.
For now, she would simply cherish the fleeting moments they had together, and accept the Shogun's warmth.
"Sleep now. Look at you… you can barely keep your eyes open."
The Shogun's hand brushed gently across the girl's cheek, then tenderly tucked the strands of hair at her ear behind it.
"…Mm///… Shogun… good night."
Fiore's face glowed with both shyness and happiness as she slowly closed her eyes.
"Good night."
...
About an hour later—
The room was quiet save for the muffled sound of thunder and rain outside, and the soft breaths of the girl asleep. Fiore lay nestled in the pillows, wrapped in blankets, sleeping deeply—for the first time in days. Perhaps it was the comfort of companionship, or perhaps sheer exhaustion.
The warm bedside lamp cast a golden veil across her pale cheeks. Half her face was shadowed by her bangs, dividing her beauty with a touch of mystery.
A flash of lightning lit the window, followed seconds later by the low rumble of thunder. Rain pattered dully against the glass.
The Shogun rose silently and reached toward the lamp's switch. Yet—
She paused, glancing once at the lightning outside, then lowering her gaze to the sleeping girl's face. She chose not to turn it off, leaving the room in its gentle glow to ensure the girl slept peacefully. Then her body dissolved into violet light and vanished.
Boom!
Thunder split the stormy sky. No one could have predicted such a night of lashing rain and rolling thunder. Perhaps it was an omen, a sign of what tomorrow would bring.
But to the Shogun, the environment was perfect. She was the God of Thunder—storms were her blessing, her strength.
She now stood deep in a forest far from the castle… a place where she could act freely, unnoticed.
[You really intend to summon it?]
Ei's voice echoed.
"To break through the fortress in the sky, this is the best way."
[But… I feel that bird would rather tear us apart.]
"It lacks that ability."
[Since you're so certain… then try. Summon that Great Thunderbird from beyond.]
Crackle~!
Lightning surged across her body, her movements echoing those she used when summoning Orobashi—yet with subtle differences.
The Eye of Stormy Judgment opened above, tearing space as storms brewed. Unlike Orobashi's tide of endless water, this time a maelstrom of thunder coiled across the sky. Thick clouds spun into a vast vortex, arcs of violet lightning converging like a reactor.
The Thunderbird was a being of pure Electro. With her own power amplifying it, the storm shook the very fabric of space.
Shriek—!
A piercing cry rolled through the sky.
BOOM!!
From the eye of the storm emerged a colossal, dragon-like head, its gaze locked fiercely on the woman below.
ROAR!!
It opened its jaws, loosing another bellow.
CRASH!!
Breaking free of its confines, the creature emerged in full—a massive avian dragon, wings wreathed in lightning as it soared across the sky.
"Beelzebul!!!"
Its shriek thundered as it dove at her, currents of electricity distorting the air, shaking the trees of the forest.
"Die!!"
ROAR!!
Its maw, brimming with lightning, lunged to swallow her whole.
"…Haa."
The Shogun exhaled softly and raised her hand.
Thump!
A heavy Electro shield wrapped around her body, expanding just as its fangs reached her.
Crackkk!!
The beast's fangs scraped violently against the barrier, sparks flying with shrill screeches. Yet the shield held firm. They remained locked in that strange deadlock for several seconds.
Then—
BOOM!!
With a downward sweep of her palm, thunder burst across the Thunderbird's entire body, forcing it to the ground. Like a guillotine, forks of lightning clamped its neck, pinning it to the earth.
Shriek—!
The dragon-bird thrashed like a rabid hound, snapping at empty air, desperate to break free.
Minutes passed… at last, it grew still, glaring with seething hostility at the kimono-clad woman before it.
"Done struggling?"
The Shogun folded her arms, her eyes cool upon the subdued beast.
"Hmph… I had hoped to tear you apart this time. But as ever, you are not so easily dealt with. Hah… Foolish of me to fight knowing the outcome."
Its voice was high and clear—female in tone—yet dripping with disdain.
—
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