Zouken's own body was composed of his worms, those same worms were also capable of forcing themselves inside the body of another to use as a puppet. That was why it came as something of a surprise when I found no such thing on this… Shinji Matou.
His body was completely clean.
No worms, no modifications, and no magic circuits either.
That, coupled with how afraid he was of lil ol' me cast a rather serious shadow of doubt over his proclamation. I had trouble believing even a bit of what he said.
"Are you sure?" I crouched down, tilting my head. "You don't wanna get something like this wrong, mate."
Somehow, my question seemed to inspire confidence in him. His eyes brightened considerably.
"Y-Yes. I'm Shinji Matou. Who… Who are you supposed to be?"
"Henry Smith."
"Huh? A foreigner?"
There was no recognition in his voice, lending even more credence to the notion that he was just yakking. No magus I'd met thus far failed to recognize me, even in this city. My 'crime' against the Clock Tower was immense.
I hung my head.
"You don't have the worms. You don't have any magic circuits. How am I supposed to believe you?"
I heard him grit his teeth, and raised my head to meet a gaze filled to the brim with frustration and indignation, in that order. Before I could press further, his hand shot for his bag. I let him do as he pleased, watching with utmost curiosity.
"Are you about to pull out the nine? You bum."
He did not pull out a gun.
Shinji Matou whipped out a book.
A small tome barely bigger than his hand bound in red, with intelligible golden writing on the front. He roughly opened the book.
I scratched my neck uncomfortably. "I don't think 'the pen is mightier than the sword' applies to this case."
"Rider!"
"Ah."
Steel chains seemingly wrapped around my throat, several times over actually, until they hid my neck entirely. They trembled under the strength of their wielder as they closed in around me. I barely reacted. Shinji stared in disbelief. Disbelief that quickly turned into a mocking grin that made him look even uglier.
"Haha! How's that?! You were so full of yourself till earlier!"
I watched in silence, trying to get a look at my secret assailant. I couldn't. They were standing behind me.
Oh well.
"A little correction. I'm still full of myself."
"You… You don't feel it?"
"I probably would-", I grinned. "-if they were actually touching my neck."
Bazett's surprise was the last shanking I'd allow. The moment I heard the chains, a thin film of infinity formed around my neck, wound together through divine mystery such that a noble phantasm wouldn't be able to outright ignore it.
I ran a finger across the cold metal wrapped around my 'neck'.
"This is disappointing. But, you've attacked me first."
"Rider! Kill him! Kill him now!"
A dagger tore through the air, primed for my neck… only to be come up against by a golden katana. Sparks flew as steel met steel.
"Woah. Hey now. Can't have that."
The dagger rasped along the length of the sword as Rider dragged it upwards, instantly deciding to cleave through the wielder's fingers. Only, there was no wielder. Nobunaga was standing behind Shinji, face to face with Rider. She'd already let go of her katana for a rifle aimed at the opponent's face, her one free hand moved to clutch Shinji's shoulder.
"Back off, little goddess."
Ah, so Rider was a woman.
"Of course, she's a girl." I sighed as the chains loosened, "She hot?"
Nobunaga hummed. "By your standards, surely. Her body resembles that wild woman of yours. Of course, as a creature of divine origin, she is utterly disgusting to myself."
Now I HAD to get a look.
With a shrug, I ripped the book from Shinji's hands and stepped over to stand beside the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven. She'd been right. Rider was exquisitely beautiful, even with the blindfold strapped around her eyes. Her long purple hair flowed down to her feet, and her short, black, strapless, 'dress' barely covered her privates. Instead, her long boots covered most of her thighs, leaving only the slightest skin bare.
"Not a servant for nothing, I guess."
I turned Shinji's book around in my hands before raising my aviators for a brief glimpse.
"A pseudo-command seal? Interesting. Pretty counter-intuitive though."
The book gave Shinji authority over Rider but, in exchange, all mana from the actual Master was cut off. I had to ask what the point even was then since the servant was weakened to oblivion for it but something told me asking this brat for the answer was a pointless endeavor. To make things even worse, it also took away the authority of the real master entirely.
That meant I could murder Rider right here and reduce the servant count to five without her ever having access to her full power.
In fact, such was the reasonable course of action.
She was weaker than Artoria right now.
I eyed her expressionless face calmly.
"Who are you?"
Silence.
"Is dying for this guy worth it?"
Still no answer.
"R-Rider, help me!"
She did not even budge.
"You will die if I move… Master."
Nobunaga was easily capable of ripping out his throat with her bare hands. Weak as she was, Rider would possibly die in that same moment too, at her hands.
That was ideal... but, boring.
I tossed the book in the air and snapped my finger, dismantling the contract that bound them. With the connection to her actual master re-established, Rider's presence soared into another realm entirely. With Shinji, she stood no chance.
Now, she'd be entertaining.
"What now?"
"Kill him." Her answer was immediate. "Please."
"R-Rider, you!"
I raised a curious brow, "Why?"
"He…" She seemed to consider something for a moment, "He forces himself on his younger sister."
Nary a thought passed my head as I nodded at Nobunaga. In a staggeringly brutal movement, her hand moved to his throat. I blinked. She ripped it out and kicked him to the ground. A horrendous sound slipped from his severed windpipe as he desperately clutched his neck. Tears formed in his red eyes.
Nobunaga lowered her rifle.
"Abhorrent ape."
She blew out his brains.
For once, I had nothing against her wanton brutality. If anything, I believed she should have taken it slower instead. As an older brother myself, the knowledge was intolerable. I'd have done the same even if he were a saint otherwise.
"I assume this sister is your actual Master?"
Rider's head lowered as though she was looking at the fresh corpse.
"Yes."
"Then, go. But, if she's anything like Zouken herself, I'll kill her too."
"Zouken Matou molded her. He is no better than this creature. Worse."
…
Well, that was another reason to wipe those worms from the face of the planet.
"Man, I thought everyone in this war would be evil."
So far, all I'd found were angsty teenagers… and Shirou. Sure, there was Bazett and Caster but, ugh, even Caster's death made me feel bad. She'd been genuinely happy with the opportunity to simply live out what time she had with that guy she loved.
This Holy Grail War was turning into a rather grim affair instead of the mythical war between heroes of legend I'd come here for.
From the looks of things, Rider's master was about to be another Caster on my hands.
There was a decent chance Zouken was headed for her too now that I'd flushed him from his hideout.
I couldn't help but groan as I made my next decision.
"Rider, take me to your Master."
She shook her head.
"That I can not do."
"Zouken's gonna go for her. This is going to be another Medea situation if you don't take me to her."
Her expression remained unchanged.
"I want to kill Zouken. That's it. I won't touch a hair on your girl's head if she doesn't attack me. I swear."
Rider stood in complete silence for a good second, so much so that I began to feel awkward instead. Then, she stepped over and as I watched in befuddlement… the woman picked me up… in a princess carry.
"W-What?"
"GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…!"
Nobunaga keeled over laughing with a hand over her stomach.
"I will take you to her."
"…AHAHAHAHA…!"
-
Hope you enjoyed.
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