Black let the Gilgamesh's Golden Armor disappear and eyed the surrounding battlefield, wearing the Dress of Heaven.
Shirou, with tiny swords jutting out of him like thorns, had stood up, bleeding all over. Kirei Kotomine's corpse lay next to him, disintegrating to black flakes as if someone had lit him up with an invisible fire.
On the other side, Rider was approaching him, Rin and Sakura walking a step behind her. All the ladies were eyeing him with blatant shock in their eyes, their cheeks donning a blush.
Black frowned at that.
It was okay for Sakura and Rin to be affected so much by his Charisma, but for even a Heroic Spirit to be affected so…
There was no doubt that Ainz Ooal Gown hadn't come to ask for Kai's help only because of his strength.
Kai's enormous Charisma, valued at 243 Points with Gilgamesh's Golden Armor on, was enough to make any Storyline Character look favorably at him, no matter the mental defenses.
If Charisma couldn't directly affect a Character's mind, then it would certainly cause circumstances that would benefit Kai.
Either way, Kai would be the ultimate beneficiary of the conversation.
Processing that, Black couldn't help but guess the reason behind the pairing of three Passive Attributes. Why were Charisma, Luck, and Worth Passive? If Worth was the most important in the Primordial Tower and Luck was crucial in the Multiverse, then what role did Charisma play on the same level as the former two?
His brief meeting with Byagoona had forced the Ad Infinitum to keep asking questions, trying to reach probable answers.
And, seeing Rider blushing at him, Black reached a farfetched conclusion.
Charisma, Luck, and Worth — all were somehow related to Fate.
Or, perhaps, it was better to say that… they dictated fate.
Suddenly, arms came wrapping around his shoulders, a face planting itself in Black's back. He looked over his shoulder and found Caster.
Not the Spirit, but Medea of flesh and blood, with the strength of a Servant.
"Thank you…" The words oozed out from Medea's soul, her eyes watering. "… Thank you."
Black had never promised her that he would get her a body. Hell, he had never even planned to get her a body. Medea's presence was tethered to him in this timeline. So, as long as she didn't die, as a Grand Witch, she could let herself exist in the world even after the end of the Holy Grail War… as a Spirit.
Knowing this fact brought a surge of emotions to her eyes.
Unlike Rider, who was still a Heroic Spirit, she was… alive now.
Black looked away from Medea as she kept burying her face deeper and deeper into his back, and eyed the Contestant.
Betty Shaw — an Order's Contestant — with a Glitch!
Black had rarely experienced jealousy for a Contestant before. Even if someone was strong, he was bound to reach that strength sooner or later as well. But… some powers would never be his, he knew.
Betty Shaw's Glitch — Cameraman — was one of those powers.
Black had firsthand seen it in action.
Kai had needed to use My House, My Rules to survive against Gorgon's Noble Phantasm. Black had needed to surpass all his limits, using Selfless Breathing Third Transformation — Recoilless Storm, to do the same.
Betty Shaw… had survived with only a Video Camera on his shoulders.
If it came to match Glitch to Glitch, then Kai would lose by miles.
The only thing that made Blood Devour much more formidable than Cameraman was that Kai used it not only as a Glitch but a source of Comprehensions, deriving hideously powerful abilities like — Reality Marble and Gradation Blood.
Still, as Black looked at Betty Shaw, greed surged in his heart like never before.
Betty Shaw was a Top-level 12th Floor Powerhouse of Order. Killing him would earn him an enormous number of Mission Credits. Also, given his Luck and rank of General of Guards, he could pull out a few Epic Grade Items from Betty's Inventory as loot as well.
But… Black stayed his hand, deciding not to act out against Betty Shaw.
First, he didn't currently lack Mission Credits. Second, he doubted that Betty even had Epic Grade Items, as the guy never used them. Also, using the Chocolate Frog Card to devour Betty Shaw wouldn't let Black obtain his Glitch and Anti-Spiral Blessing, as neither of the two was a Skill or Ability.
The only benefit would be an increase in Attribute Points, Black realized. But the loss…
The Conspirer of Fate narrowed his eyes and… two yellow crystals danced in Betty Shaw's eyes before disappearing into his mind.
"… Black…"
Shirou stumbled as he walked toward him, Sakura and Rin rushing to his side, worry flashing across their faces.
"Medea…" Black called.
Sighing, Medea reluctantly let go of him and blurred next to Shirou, putting her palm on his chest. "It… might sting, boy."
A burst of Mana shot out of Medea's palm as she healed Shirou's ruined Magic Circuits, his eyes rolling back in his head. Slowly, the swords protruding from his body receded before vanishing altogether.
Shirou fell forward, gasping for breath.
Black looked at his three loyal followers. "I don't have much time left," he admitted, shocking the Characters, a sadness settling on Medea's face. "Let's head to Einzbern Castle. I will tell you all what truly happened there."
Shirou gasped. "…What did you do?"
Black smirked. "… Opened a new path… A path to a better future. Salvation is not so easy to achieve, Shirou. We will have to earn it. But, for now, we need to get your sister back."
"…Sister?" Shirou worded, and suddenly his and the girls' eyes widened.
"Illya?!" They shouted together.
Black smiled. "Let's go."
…
A purple spell circle appeared beneath their feet, and all of them disappeared, leaving behind a battered Betty Shaw.
He sighed and… began laughing, recalling everything that had happened to him in this timeline.
Suddenly, words rang behind him.
"… White Room."
Betty Shaw frowned, knowing well that the true monster from Chaos was standing right behind him, breathing down his neck like a wraith. He shook his head. "Never heard of it, mate."
A sigh of disappointment sent a chill running down Betty's spine.
"… Who are you?" Betty Shaw asked. "I… deserve to know that." He hadn't truly expected a reply, but he heard a reminiscing chuckle in the next moment.
"You know…" the Chaos Contestant said, "…I asked this same question to someone only recently. Perhaps, its fate… Yes. You deserve to know in the same way I deserved to know…"
Betty Shaw didn't want to turn around, but he dared to do it anyway.
Hazel, slitted pupils carrying demonic, purple rings around them.
Evil.
Demon.
Emperor.
Words bubbled in Betty Shaw's heart as if someone were engraving them there.
"I am the Captain of White Serpent Pirates," the Chaos' Contestant declared. "… You must have heard of…"
Betty Shaw's eyes popped out.
"… The Five-Crowned Prince…" Kai said, disappearing with a smile.
*****************
AN: Up to 60 more chapters are available in advance across three Tiers. [Use the link in my Webnovel profile to access all options.]
You can even subscribe to the Trial Tier for just 1 dollar to have an experience of exclusive chapters for an entire month. I hope a few of you will consider supporting the work.
100 Power Stones/day: +1 Bonus Chapter next day