Trifas, Romania.
This remote town lay within the territory of Yggdmillennia.
Not merely administered—utterly ruled.
With magecraft as their foundation, reinforced by their influence in the modern world, Yggdmillennia had seized the city with ease. A towering castle rose at its heart, and the family imposed an outright dictatorship over every street and alley.
When the Holy Grail War began, they even forced the government to declare a citywide curfew. For the residents of Trifas, that was only the beginning of their suffering.
Magi were infamous for acting without restraint. Yggdmillennia's members were worse.
In cities governed by other families, magi already harmed civilians without consequence. In their own territory, they indulged themselves completely.
They killed ordinary people at will, shifting the blame onto criminals or social unrest. To them, resentful bureaucrats and powerless civilians were indistinguishable.
That indifference toward life was precisely why they ruled Trifas so easily. Whether officials, commoners, or wealthy industrial families, none dared oppose them.
Warnings circulated throughout the bustling city: members of Yggdmillennia were dangerous.
That was why Rhodes and his companion were shunned.
He still wore Yggdmillennia's uniform—snow-white fabric threaded with gold, adorned with a crest symbolizing prosperity and inclusion. It marked his origin unmistakably.
Disgust and hostility followed naturally. No one offered kindness to a tyrant unless profit was the only thing left in their eyes.
"And besides, I don't have any interest in sleeping with children!" Rhodes shouted. "I just like small girls, that's all! Just that! Do you understand?"
Tamamo-no-Mae froze. She stared blankly at the surrounding shops and pedestrians.
Every gaze fixed on Rhodes was filled with revulsion—the instinctive rejection reserved for a deviant.
"Uh…" Tamamo-no-Mae hesitated, then forced a smile. She grabbed her furious Master and dragged him into a side alley.
A short while later, on another commercial street in Trifas, Rhodes walked as though nothing had happened, holding Tamamo-no-Mae's delicate hand amid the noise and vitality of the crowd.
"What a rare sight…"
The street was lively. Unlike a national metropolis such as London, Trifas carried a calm, unhurried beauty beneath its bustle.
Rhodes shook his head with a soft laugh. His grip tightened slightly, his voice rough as he spoke.
"I don't understand why you're loyal to me, Tamamo."
"Hehe, liking someone is just liking them. Do you really need a reason?" Tamamo-no-Mae stiffened for a heartbeat, then hurriedly changed the subject. "By the way, I want tempura! Do they sell tempura here?"
"They don't. This is rural Romania." Rhodes replied flatly. "You might find hamburgers, though."
He suddenly turned, hands gripping her shoulders, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"Now tell me. Why are you loyal to me?"
"Is it really that important?"
"What do you think?"
"…Fine." Tamamo-no-Mae exhaled and lifted her head. When her golden eyes met his, a depth of emotion surged within them, far heavier than anyone would expect.
"I like you. More than that, I love your existence itself. Your spiritual body is so exquisite. If a god is a majestic sun, then your spirit—far surpasses even the boundless universe."
She paused, then blinked and smiled playfully.
"You're nothing like this weak form you wear now. I don't know why you became like this, but I'm waiting for the day you regain your strength. When you do, you'll pull me from the stillness of the Throne of Heroes. I believe in you. Even Alaya and Gaia wouldn't be your match, right?"
"Perhaps…" Rhodes faltered, a bitter smile spreading across his face.
When he had been the Guide of Netheril, Gaia and Alaya were nothing to him. Even the gods of the Greyhawk world had earned his mockery face-to-face.
Now, even after reclaiming part of his power, he remained beneath them. Beneath even their guardians.
"Wait… what's that?" Tamamo-no-Mae said sharply.
Her golden eyes swept the street. Pigeons burst into flight, wings beating as they scattered.
"Familiars," Rhodes said with a light chuckle. "Likely the enemy's Caster. Or possibly Assassin."
"They saw me!" Tamamo-no-Mae complained. "In this state, they'll figure out who I am!"
She wore a pale pink tracksuit. Her ears and tail were gone. To ordinary eyes, she looked like a lively young girl, brimming with youth. Yet to anyone with sufficient perception, even the dullest Heroic Spirit would sense her true nature.
"They won't uncover anything. Relax." Rhodes smiled dismissively. "When I made your body, I used special materials—ones that conceal identity. Even if they realize you're a Heroic Spirit, they won't discern your true name or abilities."
"Eh? Why not?"
"Trust my skill." Rhodes replied calmly. "My puppetcraft surpasses even that of Mr. Rozen himself."
"I see." Tamamo-no-Mae nodded solemnly. "Your reputation as a terrible automaton enthusiast is already well known, isn't it? Even if you stroll around with a girl no one's ever seen before, they'll just assume she's an Automaton."
"Very clever. Truly my Tamamo." Rhodes clapped lightly, the smile on his face turning cold and sharp. "But what's with that 'terrible automaton enthusiast' label? I don't recall you knowing me that well."