Assassin Order
"So as we're speaking, Caesar— one of Rome's greatest generals— is invading Gaul right now with an army of 300,000 soldiers?" I asked, concluding all the information I'd learned in the past five minutes with a single sentence.
I stood around a massive map of Europe that was easily the size of multiple SUVs put together. It was so huge that to reach the pieces near the center of the map, a person had to use a long, fork-like stick since their arms didn't have enough reach. It was missing the Scandinavian regions though.
All around the war map were the generals of Nero's army. Five in total, three humans, and the other two were Servants. Boudica and Lu Bu. Nero herself sat in a throne-like chair next to the war map, quiet this whole time. Meanwhile, Ritsuka himself was standing a bit further from the war map. Mash was spending time with Zvezdnyy, keeping her busy.
Though this room had no windows, torches attached to the walls lit up the darkness nicely.
"Yes, 60 legions worth of soldiers at his beck and call, pouring into Gaul," Boudica confirmed. "Caesar's forces would easily overpower Spartacus' army in Gaul."
"Then we'll match him and draft up twice his men! The sons of Rome are born ready to die for the Empire." One of the generals raised his voice and declared.
"Do we even have the men left?" Another general asked, "Three drafts have already been declared, are there any able-bodied men left in Italia?"
Pondering about their lack of manpower, Boudica then suggested a daring proposal, "How about we draft women?"
Being a patriarchal culture, the military was seen as strictly a man's job. This meant that women were forbidden from participating in the military. In fact, women were forbidden from even entering Roman military camps unless there were some very strenuous circumstances.
Nero finally spoke up before any of the generals could disagree.
"My generals! Have no fear, umu. Today, the so-called United Roman Empire may threaten my Rome as much as Hannibal once did, but unlike before, we now have a goddess who shall bring us to victory!!!" Nero announced boisterously. Turning to face me, the Emperor said, "She alone is worth more than an army. She alone is more than enough to defeat my grand-uncle. She alone shall bring us victory once more."
Some murmurs of discontent simmered from the Roman generals. They don't believe me.
"Well, Goddess Kukulkan did defeat Caligula," Ritsuka said, purposefully loud as to silence those mumblings of the generals.
"... Alright I'll deal with Caesar and his army," I said. If I remember correctly, wasn't Caesar kind of a joke in the Grand Order? He looked nothing like the statue of the man, what with there being a huge belly. "We should finalize a plan to deal with the United Roman Empire though. After all, isn't that the reason we turned back?"
"With you around, our victory is all but assured." Nero nodded confidently, "Umu, all we need to do is to just chart a route directly to the United Roman Empire's capital."
I took in a deep breath before letting it out, "I'll be back in… a day at most."
My eyes snapped to Ritsuka.
"Please entertain Zvezdnyy until I return."
"Um, Goddess, are you sure that's a wise idea?"
Huh, guess Zvezdnyy running off had more of an effect on him than I imagined.
"There are games, aren't there? Connect with her. Make the girl laugh, and you have a way into her heart."
Ritsuka's face slowly morphed, the cracks that showed his worry were now filled with the cement of confidence, "Mmhmm. There should be no problems then. Please defeat Caesar, Goddess Kukulkan."
With that, I left the room. Once I was in the hallway, my feet stopped touching the ground as I started hovering.
I quickly said my goodbyes to a reluctant Zvezdnyy. She clung to my shorts, trying not to let go until I promised a concession: when I return, I will play the Roman version of tic-tac-toe with her.
With that done, I took off, not yet at the speed of sound, but fast enough to be out of the labyrinthian Domus Transitoria in mere seconds.
Now in the space above Rome, I waited for a moment to fully take in the sight of the famed city at night. It was a sea of light, with a chunk of it cut away by the dark Tiberis River that ran through a portion of the city.
It made me wonder just how bright must Rome have been during peacetime. Over a third of the Eternal City's population have been drafted to fight against the encroachment of the United Roman Empire.
The sea of lights had edges that fell sharply into darkness. Beyond the walls was just darkness, perfect for someone to hide in.
I scanned the areas around Rome, trying to find any sources of magical energy that represented a Servant, only for nothing to appear. Rome's surrounding was a field of coldness bereft of anything even resembling a Servant.
I took off after seeing how safe the city was. A vapor cone formed around my body as I easily pushed past the sound barrier. The Mediterranean Sea came into view about three seconds later.
It was a mass of darkness— in the ancient time everywhere was a mass of darkness. Fortunately, in such cases, I can just peer into the infrared spectrum to see at night.
I headed towards Gaul— what the Romans called 'France'.
Alright, let's deal with you, Caesar.
____
A sonic boom that echoed across all of Rome and its surroundings signaled the departure of the Goddess. Alongside that sonic boom was a streak that split the night sky into halves, or semispheres.
At the same time, a group of soldiers was chatting with each other by one of Rome's opened gates.
"What the hell was that?" One asked as he tried to find the source of that loud explosion that almost appeared to come from everywhere— its origin point was above them, after all.
"Pray that it's nothing." Another replied. "By the Emperor, I sincerely hope that tonight will be a quiet night. I want to see my wife tomorrow as I'm rotated out for rest and relaxation."
Before the conversation could continue, the group heard the sound of footsteps upon loose gravel out there in the darkness.
"Who's there?" A soldier demanded.
"Praetorian Guard Cassius Centho, returning after an intelligence gathering operation for Emperor Nero." A voice announced as its footsteps grew louder.
"A Praetorian Guard?"
Stepping into the light, the soldiers saw that it was indeed a Praetorian Guard fully dressed for combat, sword sheathed, and their helmets held under one shoulder. The man was oddly feminine-looking.
"Right." The soldiers saluted, "Please report to the barracks, Praetorian Guard Cassius Centho!"
They let him pass without further questions.
Seeing the guard's armored form disappear as he turned behind a house of dried clay and brick, the youngest of the soldiers, someone no older than 16, asked, "Sir, are you sure that's wise, letting that Praetorian Guard go without further credentials?"
"Julian. Let me tell you something—" The most senior of the officers walked up right next to the young soldier.
The teen was nervous, his arms coming close to his chest in a subconscious act of deference.
"—When you see a Praetorian Guard walking by, you go out of his way. Whatever reason he has is beyond your and my pay grade. Just accept it and let it go."
Even late at night, the city of Rome never sleeps. Even if the place was quiet, it was never completely silent, as there was always a drunkard or two shambling about, their steps loose, an empty clay vase that stank of wine in their hands.
Similar to the city, the Domus Transitoria was never completely silent as servants and slaves were busy preparing for the next day. Fresh breads were baked. Animals were killed and butchered. Honeyed wines selected.
To live like Emperor Nero extensive preparation was needed.
As the first light broke through the horizon, a loudness cut through the relative peace and calm of the Domus Transitoria.
"Nero!" Boudica rushed into the Emperor's bedroom.
It was a grandiose room situated at the very top of the Domus Transitoria. It wasn't hidden out of the way as some bedrooms might be, but instead, multiple paths in the House of Passage led to this room akin to arteries with a heart.
The walls and ceilings were adorned with even more lavish and elaborately designed frescoes and complex mosaics depicting everything Rome, such as Romulus killing Remus, men, and women engaging in erotic acts, and a single very detailed map of the city of Rome that filled a whole wall. Additionally, crowns of golden leaves were placed upon individuals like Romulus, Scipio Africanus, and more, signaling to any viewer their importance.
Nero always loved the city.
Getting up from her bed, the naked, blonde-haired woman pushed off the exotic silk bed sheets and allowed Boudica a full view of her huge tracts of land, both topped with a relatively tiny house.
The rays of sunlight shining through the door to the balcony right upon her supple and lithe body were enough to halt even the most determined of attackers for a second or two.
"Hmmm, what is it, General Boudica?" Nero rubbed the sleep from her eyes, "Umu, I was having the most pleasant of dreams, together with my Locusta, you, and that Goddess I picked up with my charm. We were in the throes of passion, the goddess was between my legs—"
"Okay—okay!" Boudica halted Nero before the latter could continue with her vivid description. The color red filled the general's face.
Does Nero have no shame? Boudica wondered before becoming serious again, "We've got a situation. It involves a rogue Servant."
This prompted Nero to leave the bed and get up fully, allowing Boudica a full, unobstructed glimpse at Nero's beauty.
"Elaborate." Nero simply said as her hands began to wrap a crimson ribbon with edges of gold around her nude body.
"Our opponent is a duo of Servants. They took some of the patrols as hostages before letting one go to serve as a messenger."
"And what does the messenger say?"
"That… they want to have a discussion with you. And you may only bring one person with you."
"Umu, not too surprising they would be curious of the Flower of Rome but isn't kidnapping a tad bit much to try and capture my attention?" Nero said absentmindedly. As though realizing something, Nero suddenly turned to face Boudica, "Where was this messenger released?"
"In the forest about five leagues north of Rome."
"Hmm. Umu," Nero nodded, "And the name of the kidnapped people?"
"Um, it's Naughtius Maximus."
"Pfft! Umu. A joke name—"
"I don't think that's a joke name, Nero."
That caused the Emperor to halt and raise an eyebrow. She crossed her arms and said, "It's clearly a joke name, Boudica, like Sussus Amongus or Biggus Dickus."
Boudica looked awkward like someone suddenly realizing their fly was open the entire time they were out shopping.
"We have a patrol leader called Biggus Dickus."
Nero studied Boudica's face to check if Boudica was serious or not.
Then the Emperor's laughter rang out across the room.
"Please don't laugh at one of our better soldiers, my Emperor!"
"Umu, I shall go. With that Chaldean Shieldmaiden is my only support."
"What? Why? Why not bring me or Lu Bu?"
Nero chuckled, "I was the one who designed the defense of Rome, including its patrol routes. There shouldn't even be any patrols in that forest for the past five days as it's a weekly thing. Thus, the Shieldmaiden will be enough in case things turn hostile and I retreat."
The Emperor then placed a hand on her chin. "Hmm. This will be a quick thing. Tell no one else of this, Boudica. There is no need to involve anyone else in this… secret Imperial excursion. Oh, and when I return, you will introduce me to this 'Biggus Dickus'."
With the morning plan set, Boudica quietly explained the situation to the recently awakened Mash and Ritsuka.
The Chaldean Master was very obviously worried, but seeing how Mash insisted on going with Nero, he relented.
"Hehehe!" Nero giggled to herself as she was stuffed in the back of a cart full of half-ripe pomegranate, around her dress wrapped the garb of a simple cloak.
"Is something the matter, your Majesty?" Mash meekly whispered as she popped out of a pile of pomegranates nearby.
"This is exciting! Sneaking out like this, I've never done it before!"
Mash honestly didn't know what to think of Emperor Nero. In her history lessons on Rome, Nero was depicted as this mad individual who would burn another person at the slightest provocation.
The Nero right next to her was the exact opposite of the mad Emperor. She was the very opposite of the Shielder as well.
Nero walked with her head held high, unlike Mash who kept her head low to attract as little attention as possible. Nero brazenly enters a conversation, unlike Mash who often finds herself bereft of words in the face of her Senpai.
In a much more subdued tone, Nero then whispered, "I've always dreamed of doing something like this, running away from my mother Agrippina. To think this is how I achieve it…"
Running away from a mother? But why? Mash didn't understand. She never had a mother, being a Designer Baby born for the sole purpose of being a container for a Heroic Spirit.
"Why did you want to run away from your mother, your Majesty?"
"Aw, Mash, there's no need for you to be so formal, not when we're both sneaking out," Nero reached out and patted the purple-haired girl's head. "Anyway, it's because my mother is a total psychotic bitch."
"Uhhh…"
"Always she tries to poison me…"
___
Inside the Domus Transitoria
"So, can you tell me more about yourself, Zvezdnyy?" Ritsuka asked the girl who lounged on the sofa next to him, munching on a bowl of grapes.
Both of them were consuming what Da Vinci called the Ientaculum, the Roman version of breakfast. It was fairly light, even compared to a Japanese breakfast that Ritsuka was familiar with.
For one, it had no meat. The closest thing to meat offered at the table in front of them were the various soft and hard cheeses offered, alongside sweetbreads and fruits such as dates and the grapes Zvezdnyy is currently inhaling.
Seriously, Zvezdnyy is practically sucking up all the grapes like a vacuum!
"Maybe you should slow down? We've got more grapes!" Ritsuka exclaimed. He briefly glanced at the other servants present, their hands carried large cups that held more grapes just waiting for when Zvezdnyy finished the bowl in front of her.
"No."
Was the grapes seriously that delicious? Ritsuka couldn't help but wonder upon seeing the zealousness upon which Zvezdnyy was eating those grapes.
Sure, in his own personal opinion, grapes were one of the more delicious fruits, it's sweeter than an apple, less messy than a watermelon, but the seeds… Wait, not once has Ritsuka seen Zvezdnyy spit out any seed.
Is she eating those seeds?
"How did you meet your Polkovodets anyway?" The teen asked.
That halted all of Zvezdnyy's movement as though she was stopped in time. Dropping the grapes into the bowls, Zvezdnyy smiled, "Heh! Why, she came to me, of course! Drawn by the brilliance emanating from the Witch destined to save all of mankind, Goddess Kukulkan graciously accepted the role of commander of my army, solely to bask in the proximity of my presence."
Zvezdnyy got up from her chair as she spoke in a show of pure theatrics. Her arms were out to the sides as if welcoming a non-existent audience.
"I have entrusted all matters pertaining to the management of my army to my Polkovodets, for I must concentrate my efforts on honing my power to perfection. It shall serve as the ultimate blade that shall pierce the heart of destruction." Zvezdnyy placed a hand on her undeveloped chest as she said that last part, emphasizing the 'heart of destruction'.
Though some people may find Zvezdnyy's words hard to understand, Ritsuka easily saw the meaning behind all the chuuni acts. The way the girl described Kukulkan was like that of an older sibling with a parental role.
"What happened to your original parents?"
"I have been informed that they perished on the day of my birth, consumed by the inferno that marked my arrival into this world," Zvezdnyy said nonchalantly as if she was talking about what she ate last night.
That caused Ritsuka to recoil. Honestly, he expected something may have happened to them to cause Kukulkan to essentially adopt the girl but dying on the day that she was born?
Although… informed?
"Your original World… was it similar to mine?"
"I cannot say for certain. The Foundation kept me confined within this sterile facility at the bottom of the ocean. However, upon emerging after my Polkovodets vanquished the corrupted sun, I found the world beyond bore a striking resemblance to yours."
"What is this 'Foundation'?"
That was the first time anything like that had been mentioned. Was this the 'international security organization' that Kukulkan talked about in her story?
Zvezdnyy brushed off the audible concern in Ritsuka's voice, "Ah, it is akin to my world's rendition of Chaldea. They conceal the anomalies from the public eye, though they disbanded following the intervention of my Polkovodets against the sun. Truly, my Polkovodets is the greatest, no?"
Zvezdnyy… really loves Kukulkan. The way she would talk about her, it wasn't exactly a familial love, but… Ritsuka didn't have the proper word to describe it.
"When did you guys meet again?"
"Oh, when she rescued me from the clutches of my Nastavnik after he'd been corrupted by the sun." Though Zvezdnyy looked at Ritsuka as she talked, her eyes peered into something else, something beyond the simple teen of flesh and blood, something in her past.
A faint smile that belongs on the face of a person reminiscing about good times long past.
It was impressive. From the timeline of things Ritsuka had constructed, Zvezdnyy was already quite old when she met Kukulkan, yet the girl loves Kukulkan as much as a child loves their flesh and blood parents who raised them from before their first memories.
"Kukulkan must be—"
"Ahhhhh!"
Snapping his head to the source of the scream, the teen found a horrifying sight that caused his heart to skip a beat.
The servants that were around them— dead. They slumped to the ground as blood gushed forward. Their killer with a bloodied sword blocked the only entrance to the room.
It was a Roman Praetorian Guard. Wait, weren't they supposed to be the Emperor's bodyguard? Why are they doing this!?
"That's a Servant!" Da Vinci cried out from the bracelet wrapped around Ritsuka's wrist.
The teen instinctively got up and placed himself between the Servant and Zvezdnyy.
The Praetorian Guard had an effeminate voice, "How honorable. Given that, I feel like you deserve to know my name before you die— Cassius Chaerea, Assassin-Class Servant."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
unit_201
unit_201 Now, I was at first going to gender-bend Cassius in accordance with the tradition of the Nasuverse, but then I noticed how Cassius was mocked by Caligula for his 'feminine looks' and so he's turned into a femboy.
Your comments gives me motivation. I need a lot of motivation.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone