บท 32: Mystic Code

We are #13. Dammit guys, keep up the good work!

***

Haruki found Sakura in the kitchen. She was busy slicing vegetables with Rin. Sakura turned to Haruki, waving her knife in the process.

"Senpai, we don't need your help."

Haruki shuddered whenever he saw Sakura with a kitchen knife. "I'll be gone for half an hour."

"What about dinner?"

"I'll be back before it cools down. Rin, look after Sakura."

"You don't have to say that," Rin said and shot him a glare. "Don't challenge someone without me."

Haruki willfully ignored her and exited the house. He couldn't ask Medea to pick him up since she was busy making his Mystic Code. Nor could he ask Semiramis to stop watching Shirou.

'No time to waste.'

He took off into a jog before speeding up. The cold wind of the winter brushed his cheeks as he tore through the streets. Perhaps a little while ago he wouldn't have thought of achieving this speed, but this felt natural.

The few people on the streets were baffled by his speed. Some strange rumors will spread about his phantom-like figure speeding through the dark streets.

Not long after, Haruki reached the Ryuudou Temple.

"Good job," Arch said. "I can feel your growth from here."

'Do you not have any job other than stalking me?'

"Stalking? How crude. I call it the observation of my… disciple."

'Why the pause?'

He interrogated the dragon goddess as he walked into the temple.

"I was thinking about something," Arch said. "Besides that, I do my job as a goddess."

'Like?'

"Like… looking after my world for example."

'Your world?'

"You talk too much. Focus on what you're doing."

'Sus.'

"My master, here," Semiramis slid open the door and invited him inside.

Shirou was leaning against the wall, unconscious. Haruki couldn't think of a way to pull out the scabbard of Excalibur from his body.

'Will cutting him open work?'

He wasn't sure if it was even possible. The sheath was magically implanted in Shirou by Kiritsugu Emiya. It was too big to be floating inside the body.

'Medea, it is.'

The thought made him sigh. Another task for the sorceress.

'I really need to talk to her about her wish.'

He sure as hell had no desire to let Medea seek meaningless revenge. Perhaps it was lust for a beautiful woman or affection, he didn't know neither did he care. Nearly every dragon possessed a 'selfish' trait after all.

Semiramis haughtily looked at Shirou before she turned to Haruki with a sweet smile.

"Why did I carry this young man here, my master?"

"Wait here."

Haruki slipped into the corridors and quietly slid open the door of Medea's room. The sorceress sat with her eyes closed, holding out her hands in a way her palms nearly touched each other. A tiny violet orb floated between her palms; it crackled and sizzled the air with each pulse. She slapped the orb in her hands before she slowly drew her hands back. A violet beam joined her palms, extending as she pulled her hands away.

She opened her eyes and nearly lost her concentration. "M-Master."

"Don't mind me."

She nodded and gripped the violet shaft with her left hand. "Ha!"

She yanked out the entire shaft in one go and carefully placed it on the low table. The crackles died as the intense magical energy receded into the shaft. The weapon took form under Haruki's curious eyes—an indigo blue spear with a black spearhead. The thin silver runes assimilated seamlessly into the shaft. Calling the spear beautiful was an understatement.

Haruki sat down and examined the spear. "That's my weapon."

Medea propped up on an elbow and gazed at Haruki. "It is, Master… It has preprogrammed reinforcement magecraft. Its durability and attack power can rival or even surpass an E-Rank Noble Phantasm."

There was no hint of pride or arrogance in her voice as though creating a Mystic Code that would make any mage drool was a daily occurrence. Despite her calm behavior, her languid eyes gave away her exhaustion.

Haruki reached out and pressed his hand on her cheeks. If the table wasn't between them, he'd most likely have kissed her. "Tired?"

Taking his hand, she leaned against it with a beautiful smile. "I'm out of magical energy."

She had consumed over ninety percent of her magical energy reserves creating this spear. Although their connection could refill her reserves, it'll take nearly a day at this speed.

"Master, can we—"

"My master, where are you~?" Semiramis intruded, only to meet Medea's cold eyes.

"What?" Semiramis shot a glare back at Medea. "Did I intrude on your romantic time?"

Haruki brushed Medea's cheeks before reaching to her long ears. Medea lost her anger instantly, and the pale skin on her tapered ears reddened just like her cheeks.

"Master?"

"Can you do one more thing for me?" Haruki asked with a sigh.

She briskly nodded. One or a thousand, she could do any number of tasks for the man she adored.

Semiramis observed the spear laying on the table. It seemed to be made out of ancient metal.

'She must have created it for him.'

It was of no importance to her. Nodding, Semiramis took a seat. The spikes attached to the end of her long braids landed on the table with a 'tuck' sound. She swished her hair behind her ear and revealed a charming smile. "My master, you think of me as an incompetent woman?"

Semiramis could see Haruki came here to ask for her help regarding the young man lying in the room. He didn't tell her about the problem, meaning he didn't trust in her abilities.

"Uh, it's not like that," Haruki said. "Medea is just more suited for the job."

"Which job is it?"

"I'll explain then."

Haruki revealed the story of Shirou and Avalon.

Medea already knew his plans for summoning a Saber-class servant, but she never imagined they would be summoning the legendary King Arthur. As shocking as it was, Medea felt relieved. King Arthur at least wouldn't scheme against them like Semiramis.

"I suppose defending this place will be easier with King Arthur. Our defenses will remain paper-thin until I build the gardens," Semiramis murmured her thoughts regarding a new servant. Her Noble Phantasm was an excellent fortress, but it was not invincible. She had scouted a few troublesome servants with the potential to take down her fortress. "We need a second line of defense."

Haruki frowned slightly. It seemed that his prediction was wrong. He only considered half the facts. Sure, Semiramis couldn't stand people who were all about morals. She was also a woman who used everything at her disposal to win.

"You still have a lot to learn," Arch said with a giggle. "Don't you, my dear son?"

'…What did you say just now?'

"As a mother goddess of all things dragon, you count as my precious son."

"…"

"My master, listen," Semiramis said, tapping the table with her fingers. "You're naive if you thought I can't take out a pesky scabbard."

She wouldn't allow herself to be underestimated. Gone were the days of planning to take down her master. A young man of his potential could become a precious ally in the future. After all, an empress couldn't rule her empire alone. She needed loyal 'soldiers' to conquer the magus organizations with deep histories.

"We don't have time," Medea said with a snort. "I can sever the link between the scabbard and its owner and take it out without harming him."

Medea took Haruki's hand and walked toward Shirou's room.