Capítulo 1424: Habit : Pressure
Though the feeling of being watched had faded, Musashi spent nearly two full days transferring between various Bounded Fields before coming to a stop outside a small forest shrine hidden away in the mountains of Japan.
No matter how many worlds and timelines she had traversed, Musashi always found herself visiting her ancestral homeland whenever her thoughts were in turmoil. This was also the location they had designated for establishing contact if they believed the enemy had tracked them, so, understanding Caenis was close to her breaking point, Musashi brought her to a place where they could both rest.
As Divine Spirits, Musashi and Caenis didn't have to worry about food and water, but, as they were both humanoid Divine Spirits, they had never outgrown the habits. Musashi, in particular, was quite fond of Sake, but, having been born during the so-called Japanese Renaissance period, she also had a weakness for hard liquor imported from overseas. It was one of the methods she used to calm her mind outside of battle, as, despite achieving the coveted state of Nothingness, the vices she defined her life as a human were like an anchor for her Spirit...
After unsealing a small barrier that prevented the Shrine's offering box from being opened, Musashi pulled out a large gourd, a ceramic jar, and several shot glasses. She then tossed one of the glasses to the moody Caenis, adopting a smile as she said, "We probably have a few hours to kill before any of our allies show up. Come, have a drink with me and stop pouting. It's not like there won't be even more opportunities to fight. You need to learn to relax properly if you want to become truly strong."
Though she had caught the glass thrown her way, Caenis immediately tossed it back, her expression still dour as she stated, "You know I hate that rice wine of yours. I prefer port wine and honey mead, not that bitter water you call alcohol..."
Since it wasn't like she could force Caenis to drink with her, at least without beating her in a duel, Musashi just shook her head before taking a seat on the cold stone steps and enjoying a drink. The ceramic container she used was actually an item she had picked up in her travels after defeating a hermetic priest worshipping Inari Okami, one of the various Gods of Sake. It was a special ceramic jar that could produce a functionally limitless supply of high-quality sake, albeit at a rate of 12oz every five hours.
If left within a Shrine dedicated to Inari, the sake within would ferment once the container was filled, becoming richer and more flavorful with each passing day. Thus, whenever she was busy with other things, Musashi would leave the ceramic container and her personal wine gourd stowed away inside the Shrine, visiting periodically to transfer the contents into larger ceramic wine jars that now filled the entirety of the Shrine's interior.
After emptying half the contents of the ceramic container without bothering to dilute the flavorful alcohol within, Musashi released a hot sigh as her face almost immediately became red. Despite her love of sake, there was a reason her legend mentioned various drunken escapades and brawls. She had always been rather weak to all forms of alcohol, and, while she could even drink some Dwarves under the table, it only took a few mouthfuls of the potent liquor to get her drunk.
Knowing how clingy and easily agitated Musashi got while drunk, Caenis had already disappeared into the surrounding mountains. There was little she could do against Musashi, even while the latter was drunk, so, after learning a harsh lesson several times in the past, Caenis set aside her pride and decided on a swift retreat the moment the disc-shaped glass reached her companion's lips.
Though she had sensed Caenis disappear, tempting her to give chase, Musashi felt it was too much trouble pursuing the horse-like woman. Caenis' foot speed easily eclipsed her own, so, while it was possible for her to cut off the former's retreat, Musashi felt it would spoil the taste of her alcohol if she went out of her way to exert herself. Sake was best enjoyed in good company or while behaving as lazy as possible, so, rather than give chase, she lay back against the cool stone, enjoying the fresh breeze and the gentle rays of the sun while nursing her faithful gourd...
---
Several hours after Musashi had started her private drinking session, she ended up sprawled out in a slovenly mess atop the Shrine's steps. Despite this, she still possessed an ethereal beauty, something that far exceeded the limitations faced by most mortal women. This was one of the perks of being a Divine Spirit, but, in spite of this, the man looking down on her partially exposed figure had a look of frustration and resignation on his face as he lightly nudged her with his foot, muttering, "It's time to wake up, Musashi...hey...hey, can you hear me...?"
Seeing Musashi ignoring his attempts to wake her, laughing drunkenly in response, the man couldn't help releasing a tired sigh before wondering whether or not he should seek out Caenis' assistance or call for additional support. Musashi was notoriously difficult to deal with while she was drunk, but, as someone who vehemently hated most men, Caenis wasn't exactly easy to deal with either.
Deciding he would rather avoid another beating from the drunken Musashi, the man pulled out his Communicator, walking well away from the slumbering landmine to say, "Send someone else down. I can't deal with Caenis and Musashi while the latter is drunk."
Following his transmission, the man looked around the area, trying to sense the location of Caenis before ultimately deciding to ignore her as he pulled an ornate sniper rifle, a bolt-action rifle that had risen to popularity in the 1980s due to its impressive accuracy and portability. This one, however, had a sleek black luster that seemed glossy at first, but, when observed closely, it actually absorbed the light around it instead of reflecting it. It was also possible to make out thousands of small runes that had been painstakingly engraved along its surface, indicative of more than a hundred different enchantments.
Since it would take a bit of time for Headquarters to send support, the man decided to perform a bit of routine maintenance on his trusted firearm. While this wasn't exactly necessary, due to the fact he was a Heroic Spirit, it was a habit he had formed in his past life. This was similar to Nobunaga's need to conduct maintenance on her weapons and, while not exactly the same, it had a few parallels with Musashi's incessant need to drink herself into oblivion...
By the time he had finished brushing down the firing pin and cleaning the chamber of his rifle, two additional figures had appeared within the man's perception. The first was the woman who had been assigned as his partner, much like how Caenis and Musashi had been paired together. She was the same 'Saber' that had been assigned to assist during the previous mission while, at her side, Alice, the resident mascot of their operation, led the way by pulling the former's hand.
Seeing the white-haired man in the distance, Alice's face brightened into a lovely smile as she broke out into a fumbling run before diving toward him and shouting, "Brother Shirou~" in a happy tone.
Though he caught Alice out of the air, Shirou had a wry smile on his face as he set her back on the ground and whispered, "Alice...I told you not to call me by name when we're outside Headquarters. It is also too dangerous for you out here...who let you come outside?"
Hearing her beloved big brother's words, Alice puffed out her cheeks adorably before ignoring his question and asking, "Are you not happy to see me...?" in an aggrieved tone.
In response to Alice's pouting, Shirou released a small sigh before adopting his most comforting smile, gently caressing her head as he replied, "I'm always happy to see you, Alice. It's just...well, all big brothers can't help but worry about their little sisters. Since you're so adorable, I worry that any random stranger might try to pick you up and kidnap you...hahaha..."
Finding her big brother's response to her liking, Alice's smile returned even more radiant than before as she threw her arms around his neck and chimed, "Big brother is the best~!" before planting a kiss on his cheek.
With a wry smile on his face, Shirou lightly pinched Alice's cheek in response before rising to his feet and greeting his usual partner, his expression immediately becoming a mask of professionalism as he said, "Berserker...are you the one who decided to bring out Alice?"
Without any change in her expression, the woman with features similar to Artoria, the only exception being the color of their hair and eyes, stared blankly back at Shirou before answering, "Assassin...she offered me her cake...Besides, I don't like it when she pouts...it is troublesome...you should play with her more often..."
As if having successfully read a script, 'Berserker' sent a thumbs-up toward Alice, earning a similar expression from the small girl who now clung to Shirou's side. At the same time, Shirou released a tired sigh, something he found himself doing with increasing frequency ever since coming to this world.
Before things became more hectic, Shirou grabbed Alice's hand, intending her to have her wake up Musashi while leaving Caenis to Berserker. The two had a bit of a rivalry between them, but, due to Caenis' hatred of men, it was easier to let one of his female companions deal with her. Most of their group was actually female, the only exceptions being himself, Archimedes, Lovecraft, and 'another', so it wasn't difficult to have someone else rein her in.
With Alice in tow, Shirou made his way over to where Musashi, now with her kimono slightly open, continued napping away with a silly smile on her ruddy face. Seeing this, Alice entered 'panic mode', pushing away her big brother as she shouted, "Brother Shirou, you can't look! Bad...!" Then, after making sure he was facing away, she went over to the sleeping Musashi, shaking her shoulders rather vigorously in order to wake her.
After experiencing a nightmare where she was trapped on the open seas during a storm, Musashi woke to find the familiar face of Alice glaring back at her. Though she was still considerably drunk, the angry face of the adorable little girl had a sobering quality to it, forcing Musashi to quickly fix her clothes as she sheepishly asked, "What are you doing here, Alice? Shouldn't you be back at home...?"
Before she could finish her line of questioning, Musashi saw Shirou standing off to the side with his back turned, realization dawning on her at the same time as her expression reddened. She wasn't the type that cared if her body was seen by others, but, as Shirou had already resisted her teasing quite, she had developed a certain 'awareness' of him that was hard to put into words. It wasn't anything remotely resembling love, but, as a man with a respectable character, it made Musashi feel slightly ashamed to behave in her usual slovenly manner around him...
Seeing Musashi's expression redden, Alice's face immediately formed into a pout as she moved in a way to block the former's view, her posture similar to a mother scolding their child as she said, "You shouldn't be sleeping outside! If you're sleepy, you should return home and use your bed properly!"
Musashi was at a bit of a loss as to how she should respond, but, fortunately, Shirou came to her aid, saying, "Don't blame her too much, Alice. Musashi has been on the run for the last few days in order to avoid leading the enemy to our home. She was probably very tired so don't be too hard on her..."
Grasping the lifeline that had been thrown to her, Musashi nodded her head, immediately adding, "Assassin is right. Caenis and I have been on the run without resting for two whole days so I couldn't help taking a nap while waiting. Please forgive me, Alice, I promise I won't sleep outside anymore..."
Though her frustration had little to do with the fact Musashi was sleeping outdoors, Alice ultimately decided to forgive her after hearing her big brother's words. Thus, while not as vibrant as the smile she reserved for her big brother and favorite uncle, Alice adopted a kind smile before lightly patting Musashi's head and saying, "You worked hard. Let's go home so you can get some proper rest."
Musashi felt a slight urge to tear up in response to Alice's perceived gentleness, but, as she wasn't absolutely certain it was safe to head back, she shook her head and said, "I'd like to return but there are a couple of things I need to take care of before then. I know you don't like being away from your big brother, but, can you give the two of us a few minutes to talk? There is something very important I need to discuss with Assassin before we can all head back together..."
Hearing Musashi's words, Alice had a complicated expression on her face, but, with Shirou following up by saying, "Alice, be a good girl...please...", she begrudgingly decided to give them some privacy. She knew they needed to talk about the previous mission, and, while it made her a little upset to be excluded, Alice knew everyone just wanted to keep her safe.
After Alice was out of earshot, Shirou's expression immediately became serious as he asked, "Have you been compromised? Tell me what happened after you were captured. Did they...do anything to you...?"
Though she knew he wasn't alluding to anything sexual, Musashi's already red face became slightly more ruddy as she issued a few coughs to cover up her embarrassment. Shirou's face also became a little red once he realized the hidden meaning in his words, but, unlike Musashi, it only took him a few seconds to recover. When she did, Musashi also adopted a more serious expression, her drunken state quickly fading away as she began to recount the details of her battle against Vahn, the method used to contain her, and the rather one-sided negotiations that had led to her release...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: '[Endless Bottle of Sake:B]','The advent of Assassin Shirou and Berserker!?','You better stay away from Musashi-chan you white-haired Octopus...')
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Capítulo 1425: Foreboding
Though she would normally embellish her tales quite a bit, Musashi knew it was neither the time nor the place to mess around. Thus, in order to avoid upsetting Alice, she gave a relatively brief summary of events before ending things by saying, "We underestimated the Emperor too much. Though I hate to admit it, I'm certain he held back during our fight. Though he doesn't seem to be the strongest in the Empire, he gives off the impression of someone without any limits. In our fight alone, I could tell he became much stronger...even the air around him had undergone a qualitative change..."
Hearing Musashi's recounting, and subsequent opinion, Shirou couldn't help but release a tired sigh as he ran his hand through his pale-white hair and muttered, "I wonder what excuse Archimedes will give this time around...we never should have followed that man's plans. The moment we stop caring about the methods used, we lose the right to call ourselves Heroes...what a drag..."
While he had ultimately been convinced callous and logical leader of their resistance, Shirou, and many others within the group, hadn't been comfortable with the methods he had proposed. In fact, the original plan involved more than half of them working in coordination with each other, but, as it became readily apparent this wouldn't work, Shirou had volunteered to get his hands dirty in lieu of his companions. Not only did he have the means to infiltrate undetected, but, in the grand scheme of things, he was more of an Anti-Hero than the True Hero he had strived to be in life, thus making him the most 'suitable' for the responsibility of bearing their group's sins...
Seeing the dull look in Shirou's eyes, Musashi released a sigh of her own before crossing her arms and adding, "After this mission, I'm not even certain if what we're doing is the right thing any longer. While I don't believe his words outright, I get the feeling the Emperor's words weren't meant to be misleading. Based on how he has acted thus far, it is safe to say he is the type that faces challenges head-on...I'm not suggesting we just expose ourselves to him, but, if we continue to do things using Archimedes' methods...I don't think our group will last very long..."
Though he had yet to meet with Vahn directly, Shirou trusted Musashi's judgment, so, while he had some personal grievances against the man, he nodded in understanding before stating, "A lot of us haven't been seeing eye-to-eye with Archimedes for some time. If not for his Authority, I imagine he would have already been killed off by a number of our would-be allies...unfortunately, we still need him...without his power, this fight would be impossible to win."
Musashi didn't completely agree with Shirou, but, as she wasn't actually a Heroic Spirit, she didn't have the same 'programming' as the fourteen who had been summoned by Archimedes. She, like Caenis and a few others, had shifted backward in time alongside Archimedes while Shirou, and the rest of the actual Heroic Spirits, had only been summoned after reaching the current point in the Time Axis. Thus, she had a bit more freedom when it came to her way of thinking, but, unfortunately, the contract she had made prevented her from doing much about it.
In response to Shirou's words, Musashi just shrugged her shoulders before looking into the distance where Berserker and Caenis had appeared. Her Empyrean Eyes reflected a peculiar glow even as the day gradually gave way to the veil of night, bringing with it an uncommon chill that normally came only later in the year. This was an ominous sign, and, despite feeling as though Vahn was no longer observing her, Musashi found this 'disinterest' even more terrifying. It was almost as if he didn't care what they did, almost as if he had seen through everything with his blazing golden eyes...
With the arrival of Berserker and Caenis, the latter of which had a dour expression on her face when she saw Shirou, it was nearing time for their departure. Alice had already returned to the group after ringing the Shrine's bell, so, while waiting for the mass transportation spell to activate, Musashi gave the entire group a look before locking eyes with Shirou and saying, "I have a bad feeling...almost like something terrible is going to happen..."
As Musashi's intuition was rarely, if ever, wrong, Shirou adopted a serious expression in response to her words, asking, "Do you think it has anything to do with the Empire tracking the two of you? Even if they have the means to fool our senses and scanners, the quarantine measures back at HQ should prevent all forms of tracing. Once we return, we should be able to lay low for a while before coming up with a method to deal a blow to the Empire..."
Hearing Shirou's words, Musashi immediately shook her head, her own expression becoming more serious as she said, "We shouldn't keep targetting the Empire. Even if he is our enemy, I don't think the Emperor's words should be taken lightly. Our future plans should target him directly...this is what my intuition is telling me. The fact they aren't even trying to track us makes it seem as though Vahn already knows the location of our base...it's like he is testing us..."
Musashi generally wasn't afraid of anything, but, as they were preparing for their return, she began to feel something akin to existential dread. It wasn't fear for her own life, but, after becoming rather close to many of her current comrades, she didn't want to see them slaughtered by the unforgiving Emperor. His warnings echoed in her mind, and, though there were no guarantees he would have actually spared any of them in the long run, Musashi felt 'certain' that he would slaughter them all if she didn't take his words seriously...
Sensing the tension radiating from Musashi, everyone around her began to feel uncomfortable. Alice even hid behind Shirou's back, clinging tightly to his hoodie as she whimpered, "I'm scared...big sis is scaring me..."
Since Musashi generally gave off a confident and easy-going vibe, even Shirou began to feel a little nervous, but, knowing it only took a bit of courage to keep hope alive, he forced a calming smile as he picked up Alice, hugging her close as he looked around at his allies and said, "No matter what the future may bring, we will face it together. The Emperor may be a terrifying opponent, but, so long as we stand united, there will always be hope. Come, let us return and discuss this with everyone else. If we put our heads together, we'll be able to come up with a solution...I'm certain of it."
If Vahn had been present, he would have noticed the flow of fate around Shirou shift, wrapping up everyone else in its slow yet steady current. As a result, even Musashi began to feel more confident, the smile returning to her face as she answered, "That's right, isn't it? This has always been a war that put our lives on the line so it is senseless to start worrying about it now. I still feel it's best to face the Emperor directly, but, as long as I have reliable allies on my side, I guess it doesn't make much of a difference."
Musashi's words weren't exactly inspiring, but, immediately following her musing, Caenis adopted an eager expression on her face as she loudly exclaimed, "You're lacking the spirit of a warrior, Musashi! if the Empire comes knocking at the gates, my spear will be the first thing to greet them! If I don't at least give that bastard a good kick, I won't be able to die with dignity...!"
Even if it wasn't Caenis' intention to be funny, Musashi nearly burst into laughter when she heard the former's last few words. She just now remembered witnessing Caenis get kicked by Vahn during their previous encounter, and, while this wasn't exactly funny, the fact Caenis never seemed to learn from her failures was strangely endearing. She was the type that could get beaten a dozen times, yet, even if her opponent was several times more skilled and powerful, she would unhesitantly throw herself at them, time and time again...
Seeing Musashi covering her mouth, Caenis' expression turned dour, but, due to the presence of Alice, she decided to restrain her urge to lash out. Alice was the glue that unified many within their group, so, while she had never been especially fond of children, Caenis didn't want to upset her. The doll-like girl could be especially troublesome when she was upset, and, despite a strong desire for battle, Caenis also wanted to just relax once they returned home. This would be difficult if Alice was upset with her, so, for the time being, she bottled up her frustration, deciding to expend it the next time she encountered the 'cowardly' Emperor...
After waiting for several minutes, a massive magic circle, this one possessing a uniquely mechanical composition, appeared beneath the group. A few moments later, everyone within the confines of the magic circle began to glow with a pale-blue light as a mechanical voice echoed, "Scan complete. No anomalous readings detected."
Before the spell could complete, Shirou interrupted the process, stating, "Transfer us to the near-side Quarantine Bay. Have a team on standby for a comprehensive analysis of personnel and make sure to sever any connections between HQ and Gaia for the next couple of hours. Also, inform the Chief Administrator that there is a reasonably high chance the position of HQ has already been exposed..."
In response to Shirou's words, the composition of the magic circle began to shift slightly, it's gear-like components moving like the cog within a clock to change to facilitate their new destination. At the same time, the mechanical voice from before answered, "Acknowledged. Activating Quarantine procedures and informing pertinent personnel..."
Once the voice's words began to trail, the light around everyone's bodies began to rapidly increase in intensity before, in an instant, they all vanished like collapsing stars. It was a rather strange sight to behold from the outside, as, for the brief moment before the transfer was completed, it was like they had imploded inward on themselves, being sucked into a singularity of bluish-white light that rippled outward once they vanished...
For those experiencing the transfer, there was a feeling of mild nausea, but, after a few seconds had passed, these symptoms faded in their entirety. This left the group standing idle in a futuristic room that was covered in smooth metallic walls adorned with bands of light that periodically flickered on their surface. There was no furniture at all within the space they had been isolated, but, after a few minutes had passed, mechanical automatons began to carry in anything they would need to relax as the Quarantine procedures were carried out.
Shirou left Alice in the care of Berserker, earning a mildly annoyed expression from the latter and an aggrieved pout from the former. As he had to discuss things with Archimedes, however, Shirou spent a bit of time coaxing Alice before entering one of the adjoining rooms alongside Musashi. She would need to give another first-hand account of everything that had happened, and, while the likelihood of Archimedes following their suggestions was slim, at best, it wasn't completely hopeless. He was a man of logic and reasoning, so, as long as you made a convincing argument, backed up by facts, he would take your opinion into consideration when he adapted his future plans...
What awaited Shirou and Musashi after they entered the isolated room was a barren chamber with a false-mirror on one side, much like an interrogation room. The mechanism that allowed both sides to see each other had already been activated, and, despite the fact he had been in the middle of an important project, Archimedes wasted no time in heading over after hearing the message issued by the SE.RA.PH system.
Before so much as a greeting could be exchanged between them, Archimedes leaned into the thin microphone situated on the control panel hidden beneath the mirror, asking, "How certain are you that we have been exposed? I want to know everything that happened in the sixty-three hours that have passed since the failure of the previous mission...!"
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Dirtying one's hands...','Women's intuition...','The advent of the protagonist aura...!?')
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