章節 1059: Relax
Though he had realized it as early as his first 'beating', Vahn noticed that his state of mind was always much calmer after the fact. He wasn't sure if it was Scáthach's intent, but there was a strange feeling of release whenever the pains and aches reached a critical level. It was almost as if his brain shut off, forcing Vahn into a state of clarity where everything just 'was'. In those moments, he was able to offer the most basic amount of resistance to Scáthach's attacks and, even though he had yet to accomplish anything with it, Vahn felt like he was getting closer to 'something'...
The most useful part of this was that, even after he was in a recovery phase, Vahn's clarity would persist for several hours longer, allowing him to focus on tasks such as building a house within the Sub-Space Orb. Though it didn't bother him that much, Vahn knew it could be stressful for others if they were stuck in the infinite white space of the orb without anything to serve as a central hub for their focus. This was one of the reasons why he had created the small lake first and, now that he had a bit of time in between training sessions, Vahn had started making the Sub-Space Orb into more of a second home, even if he originally wanted to avoid having people lounge around when he had first created it...
With every strike of his hammer, Vahn felt a vibration pass through his body that bounced around his organs and bones before spreading through his mind, bringing with it a strangely satisfying sensation as each nail was driven into place. He almost felt like a machine that had been given purpose as he moved used abilities like telekinesis and Elemental Manipulation to quickly give form to the design he had in mind. Vahn had purchased a few schematics and blueprints from the system shop before settling on a more traditional eastern-style residence. He had come to prefer this style of architecture long ago so, if given the choice, Vahn would always default to such a style as it always made him feel more at ease than the somewhat plain and spartan designs found in western architecture...
After finishing another line of reinforcement, Vahn nodded in approval at his own work before hopping off the wooden beam he had been sitting on. The flooring and foundation had already been completed so he was now working on the sub-structure that would serve as the supports for the walls and roof later on. Currently, the house was nothing more than a series of neatly arranged red beams and struts that was reminiscent to a skeleton, albeit one belonging to a building. Though there weren't any pipes and electrical wiring, Vahn didn't particularly mind such things since even the Tohsaka Manor only had gas and a few electrical appliances. Most Magus families shunned the advancement of Science and Technology, choosing to instead use Magecraft to create things like perpetually burning candles in lieu of using lightbulbs. The only reason the Tohsaka Manor had electrical wiring and the like was due to the fact that it had been 'required' during the construction process for compliance purposes.
Almost as soon as Vahn had stored away his hammer, a presence appeared at his side that caused him to lightly chuckle before asking, "Is it already that time...?" To this, Scáthach surprisingly shook her head, followed by her explaining, "You have been working hard. For the next couple of hours, I want you to take a proper break. It has been three days since you rested and, even though you may not require it, relaxation is an important part of any training regimen." With that said, Scáthach gave a small nod before vanishing once again. Unless she was helping them train, or answering Rin's questions, Scáthach spent most of her time in her Spiritual form. This was both to conserve energy and, even if she didn't explain it as such, Vahn believed she was trying to be considerate of others. Whenever she was around, people would be more tense than normal so, in order to allow them to relax, Scáthach simply removed herself from the area before concealing her presence completely...
With his newfound free time, Vahn momentarily considered returning to work on the house before ultimately deciding against it. Scáthach had very clearly told him to relax and, though it felt rather refreshing to work hard on the temporary home everyone would be using, Vahn understood she actually wanted him to interact with the others. With this in mind, Vahn made his way out of the nascent building before turning his eyes towards the 'lake' located to the east. He could see Fenrir swimming around like a dolphin as she dove in and out of the water while, laying near the 'shore', Nobunaga and Astolfo were both wearing swimsuits. Since the latter was wearing a pink bikini with a pareo, Vahn felt as if he had subtly tilted a few degrees before quickly setting aside the incongruous feelings spread through his mind.
Noticing that Rin wasn't present, Vahn extended his domain in a pulse to see if she was anywhere within the immediate vicinity. Since this proved fruitless, Vahn assumed she had gone out of the Sub-Space Orb, likely to make a call or prepare a few things before night fell on the outside world. They still had a little under two days left within the orb before the sun set outside but that didn't mean they could completely ignore the passage of time in the real world. Rin was still, technically, the leader of their group. She was also the best candidate for exchanging messages with Lord El-Melloi II and Luvia as, for the time being, Vahn would rather not have to worry about such things. His role was that of an active combatant and, though he was probably the best at gathering information individually, the network of the Mage's Association was still leagues above his own capabilities.
Even if they were both lazing about, Nobunaga and Astolfo both noticed Vahn's approach while Fenrir reacted by dipping deep beneath the water's surface before shooting out like a salmon. Her motion carried small particulate of frigid water which, hitting the two 'sunbathing' Servants, caused Astolfo to loudly exclaim while Nobunaga furrowed her brows and said, "Hey, think about what you're doing, you brat...!" In response to this, Fenrir snorted through her nose before, similar to a dog, shaking her body from head to tail to dislodge the water soaking into her fur. This made Astolfo protect his face as he laughed in a good-natured manner while exclaiming, "Ah, it's so cold~!" in his characteristically high-pitched voice.
Vahn joined Astolfo in laughing while Nobunaga produced a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes as she seemed to contemplate her next action. Before she could start a fight, Vahn ceased laughing before shaking his head and saying, "Fenrir, you know better than to go out of your way to pick a fight. You didn't have to jump out near Astolfo and Nobunaga, even if I was over here. If you can't be considerate of others, you lose the right to complain when they show little consideration for your feelings in turn." This was enough to get Fenrir's ears to droop somewhat pitifully while, at the side, Nobunaga's smile turned a little more genuine, even if there were mocking undertones visible in her eyes.
In the momentary lull in the conversation, Vahn gave a brief glance at Astolfo before asking, "Do you really prefer women's clothes to the point that you even wear them when swimming? Though your other outfits look cute, I feel that this one is a little...extreme?" Though Astolfo had a very thin and lithe body, his body structure was still distinctly masculine in structure. This could be hidden when he wore frilly clothes that broke the lines of his body but, now that he was only wearing a thin swimsuit top, it was very easy to tell that he was male. In response to his question, however, Astolfo playfully pulled the fabric of his top before saying in a mischevious voice, "If I just wore the bottoms, it would look even stranger, don't you think~?"
Finding Astolfo's words held a surprising amount of credibility, Vahn gave a light chuckle before casually remarking, "You know, if you wanted to complete the appearance, I could probably help you. Though I may not be able to alter your gender through the normal methods, I can lend you an item that would allow you to pull off a more feminine look." To this, Astolfo's eyes began to glimmer before immediately causing Vahn a bit of awkwardness when he teased, "Oh~? Does 'Master' want to see Astolfo-chan as a girl~?" This immediately nipped Vahn's suggestion in the bud as, instead of responding to Astolfo's words, he sat down on one of the pool lounges before gesturing for Fenrir to sit at his side. When she happily took the spot next to him, Vahn took her hand into his own, stroking her's with his thumb as he looked towards Nobunaga and commented, "That swimsuit suits you more than the bikini you were wearing last time. Sometimes showing less if even more impactful than putting everything on display..."
Previously, Nobunaga had the habit of wearing what could only be described as a string, T-back, bikini. Now, however, she wore a top that properly hugged her chest and waist, accenting her figure without 'screaming' for attention. This was ultimately for the best as, with her previous swimwear, Nobunaga's tendency to 'shrink' over time could easily cause a wardrobe malfunction. Her physical appearance seemed to fluctuate between a girl in her late teens to a woman in her mid-twenties depending on how much mana she had stored up. On the night she had used her Noble Phantasm, she had even shrunken down from 153cm to a disconcerting 135cm, looking more like a child soldier than a proud warrior...
Never one to deny a compliment, Nobunaga's mood seemed to improve a bit as she leaned forward and asked, "Are you starting to realize my charms? Or do I need to wear a school swimsuit like your little pet to get your attention?" As she spoke, Nobunaga looked Fenrir up and down with her blood-red eyes. Her gaze ultimately came to rest on the former's chest where, for reasons Vahn himself wasn't aware, Fenrir had decided to inscribe her name on the white section of fabric located in the center. She had spent a bit of time browsing the internet on Rin's laptop to research various clothing designs, picking out plenty of cute and frilly outfits that allowed her to masquerade as a cosplayer if she wanted to walk around town. It was likely that, during her research into cosplay, Fenrir had stumbled upon the 'traditional' school swimsuit, keying in on the fact it was her favorite color, dark blue.
Since she was only bad terms with Nobunaga, Fenrir just snorted in response to her words before leaning her head against her Master's arms. This caused the smile on Nobunaga's face to fade a bit, at least until Vahn mused, "In your 'small' state, I think it might suit you surprisingly well. Still, your current swimwear is probably the most ideal form I can imagine. The only suggestion I'd made is to change from a shiny fabric to something more matte and natural. You might be trying to draw attention, but it looks a little weird seeing light refract off a swimsuit..." Right now, if Vahn got close enough, he was sure he would be able to see his actual reflection in the fabric of Nobunaga's swimsuit.
Taking his advice quite literally, Nobunaga's swimsuit immediately transitioned into a more neutral appearance, giving her greater appeal than before. Vahn gave an approving nod that seemed to satisfy her as she rolled over on her stomach and commented, "You should create something like an artificial sun in here. It is super dreary seeing white in every direction. If you can pull that off, I'll allow you to apply sunscreen on my back, ufuu..." Towards the end of her sentence, Nobunaga flexed her butt while watching Vahn's face with a 'taunting' expression on her own. Vahn rolled his eyes when he saw this before remarking, "I might be tempted to do it just to channel some extra mana into your body. Watching you try to flaunt your flat butt is a strangely heartbreaking..." The moment these words left his mouth, Vahn had to angle his head to the side as a reddish-black beam of light passed through where his face had been previously.
Making matters even worse, though they were all just messing around, Astolfo fed Nobunaga's frustration by commenting, "Vahn is right, you know? You need to eat more if you want to grow up 'big' and strong. I think even my butt is plumper than your's, Nobu-chan~." To emphasize this, Astolfo turned sideways before pinching the unnecessarily plump flesh of his rear end. This caused Nobunaga's face to pale as, emerging from the void behind her, several vicious black matchlock rifles slowly took form. Wasting no time at all, Astolfo changed into his Paladin's attire before kicking off the ground with enough force to crush his pool lounge with the resultant shockwave. Nobunaga, with the expression of a hunter that had just found its prey, quickly jumped after him as she screamed, "It's too late to run now you brat...!"
Following Nobunaga's outburst, she began to pepper the area with her matchlocks as Astolfo dodged around rather deftly with his superior speed. During an especially close shave, his face became even more playful than before as he commented, "Ara? Isn't your butt shrinking even more?" Since Nobunaga was using up her mana, her body was, ever so slightly, beginning to regress in age. She had originally started off with a moderately shapely appearance, standing around 157cm and looking to be around 18-19 years old. After firing a few barrages, however, Nobunaga had already reduced to 155cm as her breasts and butt, at a rate only those with a discerning eye would be able to notice, were surely shrinking along with her.
With her expression now forming into one that most would only use to look at their mortal nemesis, Nobunaga swiped her arm across the front of her body before extending it outward to the side. In response to her action, a total of one-hundred matchlocks formed in the air before priming simultaneously. This caused Astolfo to pale a bit, realizing he had gone a little too far as he waved his hands and said, "Wait, wait, wait, I was just kidding~!" Though he could easily dodge a few shots with relative ease, it was a completely different thing to try and evade a hundred shots all fired simultaneously. Astolfo would be forced to seriously go on the defensive just to avoid being injured by any of the stray shots fired from Nobunaga's Noble Phantasm.
Just as Nobunaga seemed to be considering whether or not to let Astolfo off, an unexpected occurrence happened that caused everyone present to fall silent. Due to her body shrinking in size, Nobunaga's bottoms were no longer clinging to her hips. Instead, in the midst of her battle pose, the red fabric unceremoniously slipped down her legs before coming to a stop near her ankles. Immediately following this, Nobunaga's expression darkened as, even though she knew her Master would reprimand her, Fenrir couldn't help snickering. As a result, half of the matchlocks reversed direction, pointing towards Vahn and Fenrir, while the other fifty all opened fire on Astolfo...
---
Unaware of the chaos occurring within the Sub-Space Orb, Rin had indeed been in the process of contacting Lord El-Melloi II. They couldn't exchange any sensitive information, as there was a chance their communications could be intercepted, but Rin could still issue reports about the war and ask if there were any major developments. Though the Overseers couldn't directly tell Master's where the others were located, at least publically, that didn't stop them from sharing news about battles that had occurred and whether or not any Masters had been eliminated. This was how Rin came to learn that the third Master, a man named Lyasin Karl Afanasievich, had been eliminated. As he was never seen with his Servant, it was impossible to know for certain but, given the circumstances, it was highly like he had been the Master of Ozymandias.
Though Vahn, Scáthach, Nobunaga, and Astolfo hadn't gone into all the details, they made it very clear that Ozymandias had been killed by Scáthach. Vahn had even given her a small golden necklace after returning, something that Rin now kept in a small jewelry box located by her bedside. According to what little they had revealed, causing Rin endless frustrations, Ozymandias had been a phenomenally powerful Servant. Though he had an arrogant nature, it didn't seem as if he was a bad guy so, unless they had pulled something, it meant their Master must not have been that bad either. The fact they had been killed, even after their Servant had been eliminated, pointed towards a larger conspiracy of sorts that was happening behind the scenes. It was most likely that, whoever Lyasin had been allied with, decided to steal his Command Spells through the use of lethal force...
Putting together the information she had, it wasn't difficult to discern that the most likely culprits were the Einzbern family. The only other family that would have gone out of their way to kill the son of an Aristocratic Magus family were the Makiri or, more specifically, the Matou family. Since Rin was almost certain that the Assassin-Class Servant had been summoned by the Sakura, as the Makiri almost always summoned one of the variations of Hassan, it almost guaranteed that the group involved in Lyasin's death were the Einzberns. As it wasn't in their nature to take actions that would draw unnecessary attention to themselves, this meant the person who had killed Lyasin must have been the Magus-Killer, Alex Everdale...
Knowing that one of their enemies had a professional Magus-Killer, while another now had two Assasin-Class Servants, Rin felt a strong headache coming her way. She really didn't want to have to confront her own sister as, after their awkward parting ten years ago, the idea of robbing Sakura of her 'wish' filled Rin with apprehension. Even now, she could remember Sakura's teary indignation as she accused her of stealing the one thing she ever cared about, Shirou. Though Rin didn't know what Sakura wanted with the Holy Grail, that didn't make it any easier knowing that her actions would ultimately guarantee Sakura was denied the chance to obtain her wish. As for the matter with the Einzberns, that was perhaps even more troublesome as, more than almost any other Servant, Rin had come to fear the destructive might of Heracles in his Berserker state...
Though she had lost her life to Gilgamesh ten years ago, Rin recalled her first meeting with the 'Ultimate Homunculus', Illyasviel Von Einzbern. She had been elected as the 9th Head of the Einzberns and was a unique existence whose entire body was comprised of magic circuits. If not for her untimely demise at the hands of the 'Hero-King', she may have gone on to be one of the most prolific Magus in history. With Berserker at her side, seemingly without any equals, it was almost guaranteed that she would be the final victory in the Grail War. If not for the cheat-like existence of Gilgamesh, who was only defeated due to the combined efforts of Caster and Saber, there wouldn't have been anything standing in the way of Illyasviel obtaining the Grail...
Imagining the seemingly unstoppable Heracles allied with a notorious mercenary who had made a name for himself killing Magi, Rin couldn't help feeling a little nervous. Even though their side had numerous advantages, including the almost ridiculously strong Scáthach, Rin felt it wasn't enough to emerge victoriously. Her intuition, which was often proven correct, told her that the real battles hadn't even started yet. If not for the existence of the Sub-Space Orb, Rin felt they wouldn't even have the time to recuperate properly before being worn down by their enemies. Fortunately, more than anything else, their side had the anomalous existence of Vahn to rely on. Without his presence, Rin wasn't sure she would be able to bear the burden of the mission she had accepted for herself...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: '*Hamming Intensifies*','RIP Astolfo-chan...','Rin's Innate, [Type-Moon Heroine] seems to be in full effect xD...!')
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章節 1060: Concern
With night descending upon the outside world, Vahn was discussing the evening's plans with Rin. As he had expected, she was busy gathering information, including the troubling news that more than a handful of normal humans had been simply 'disappearing' lately. Since the disappearances had been taking place all over the city, it was difficult to pin the incident on any specific Servant. In order to find and deal with whoever was responsible, Rin suggested investigating some of the areas where people had disappeared before tracking down the Master or Servant responsible. Though Vahn was still of the mindset of trying to find and recruit Paracelsus, he didn't mind going along with Rin's plan as, at least for the time being, he had no leads on the former's location.
When it came time to 'allocate' their forces, Vahn had taken lead by suggesting, "Rin, I want you to see if Ereshkigal is willing to take to the battlefield tonight. If you can get her permission, we'll split into two groups with Fenrir, Astolfo, Nobunaga, and her in the 'search' group. I'll-." Vahn only got around this far before Nobunaga, who had been sitting quietly at the side immediately answered, "No. You can have Scáthach take the lead in the search party. Rin can transform into Ishtar and provided ranged fire from the sky. I'm going to follow you tonight, unless, of course, you're willing to force me to obey with a Command Spell."
Hearing Nobunaga's impromptu changing of his plans, Vahn couldn't help but frown slightly but, before he was able to rebuff her, Scáthach added, "I will go with the first group. Rin and I have already discussed Ereshkigal's capabilities. She is far better suited to defensive battles and would provide few benefits to her allies. I can use my [Primordial Rune] magic to increase everyone's offense, defense, and, if necessary, tend to wounds. Fenrir and I will take to the frontlines while Rin, Ishtar, and Astolfo will provide support on an as-needed basis. Master, you and Nobunaga should focus on collecting information and trying to track down Paracelsus. It is unwise to try and involve yourself in large-scale battles every night as it will draw too much attention to our group during the recess periods of the War."
Anything Vahn wanted to say failed to reach his lips after hearing Scáthach's words as, alongside Nobunaga giving a nod of approval, nobody else seemed to have any arguments to make. Rin even added, "Ereshkigal said she would be better suited to protecting the Manor, not fighting in enemy territory. As for Ishtar...she said she is willing to help track down the enemy in exchange for a 'reward' later on. So long as she understands what she is searching for, she says she can locate anything under the Heavens that isn't obscured by a powerful concealment spell." This was a bit of a bombshell drop from Rin, causing Vahn to black for a brief moment before asking, "Can she tell us where Paracelsus is...?"
In response to Vahn's question, Rin closed her eyes for several moments, her cheeks turning slightly red in the process. When she opened her eyes, she seemed somewhat hesitant to speak, answering, "She said...it should be possible..." As it didn't take a powerful intuition to see that Ishtar had made some 'demands' of her own, Vahn's face formed the semblance of a wry smile as he calmly asked, "And, what would she like in exchange for her assistance...?" This question only causes Rin's face to become a deeper shade of red as she shook her head, apparently unwilling to answer. Unfortunately, Ishtar didn't seem to be in an agreeable mood as, shortly thereafter, Rin's eyes drooped before her hair gained a purple hue, followed by her previous outfit dissolving away to allow Ishtar's raiment to form in its stead.
Since they were not indoors, Ishtar elevated off of the small sofa Rin had been sitting on before hoving towards Vahn as she explained, "You have been traipsing about and training almost every day. Since our first night together, you have not shown us the attention we are deserving. In exchange for our help, you will tend to the three of us until we are completely satisfied..." At this point, Ishtar was hovering directly in front of Vahn, bent over at the waist with her face only a few centimeters separate from his own.
Instead of being afforded the opportunity to answer on his own, Scáthach was the one to say, "That is a good idea. Though there is nothing wrong with training seriously, it is important to build rapport with your allies. This place provides you the unique opportunity to make the most of your time between battles. In order to avoid having any kind of regrets, you should spend more time with the people you care about, Vahn." As she was saying these things, Scáthach alternated her gaze between Ishtar and Fenrir before, lastly, casting a glance at Nobunaga. Though it was only for a very brief moment, it was enough to convey Scáthach's intentions clearly. She knew full-well why Nobunaga had wanted to partner up with Vahn for the evening and, with how she had been acting during the last few days, Vahn wasn't oblivious either...
Ishtar seemed satisfied with Scáthach's arrangement, giggling happily as she said, "Then we'll make a sport of it. Whoever is able to earn the most merit will-." This was where Vahn decided to draw the line, shaking his head to interrupt Ishtar's words before saying, "Listen, Ishtar. I'm not some prize to be won, nor am I reward to be obtained. If this were a more peaceful time, that kind of thing might be okay. Right now, we're involved in an ever-escalating war. If people lose their focus by treating this even like a game, the chances of someone getting hurt in the process are unnecessarily increased. I would rather 'reward' everyone for coming back safely than exchange my affections as some prize you can arbitrarily decide to obtain at a whim..."
As it didn't take much of an imagination to imagine Fenrir or Nobunaga doing something 'foolish' in order to 'win' the prize Ishtar was talking about, Vahn wanted to nip that thought in the bud from the start. Since it was obvious what their desires were, he would take it upon himself to 'rewrad' them at his leisure, not when they decided he was available. Since it had indeed been a while since he spent time with Rin, Vahn had no problems tending to her needs when they returned. As for Fenrir and Nobunaga, the former was a foregone conclusion while, so long as she didn't try to antagonize him in order to rile him up, Vahn didn't mind pacifying whatever urges had been building within Nobunaga over the past two weeks.
Without missing a step, Scáthach gave an approving nod at the end of Vahn's statement, adding, "That is how it should be. One of your biggest problems is that you are constantly thinking about meeting the expectations of others. However, if you only wait for them to make the intentions known, you will lose the initiative and feel pressured. In order to avoid falling into a self-destructive cycle, you should be more resolute in your relationships with others. Even if things don't work out, that is the fault of both parties, not just your own. If a relationship involves one side 'giving' more than the other, it is an unhealthy relationship that is fated to end prematurely."
This time, Scáthach's words had the apparent effect of a bombshell as Ishtar, Fenrir, and Nobunaga all showed dour expressions in response. The only one with a different expression was Astolfo who, for the last few minutes, was awkwardly smiling at the side as he suddenly felt like an outsider who had no place in the current conversation. Though he honestly wouldn't mind having some of Vahn's affections for himself, Astolfo knew the chances of such a thing happening were infinitely close to zero. Unless he accepted Vahn's offer to become a female, a thought that actually made him feel a little giddy, it might be for the best if he avoids the Sub-Space Orb when they return in the morning.
With Vahn's and Scáthach's words bringing an end to the discussion, they spent another half hour or so fleshing out their plans for the evening before finally returning to the outside world. As had been discussed, Scáthach, Fenrir, Ishtar, and Astolfo would be part of the group investigating the Master-Servant pair responsible for the disappearances within the City. Vahn and Nobunaga would be exploring the periphery of the City and investigating any areas of interest, especially in low-population zones. At the same time, however, Vahn had a secret objective which, after everyone left, he turned to Nobunaga to explain, "We'll be investigating the Einzbern Forest tonight. My intuition tells me there is 'something' there...something I should have looked into long ago..."
Nobunaga formed a sly smile on her face in response to his words, saying, "Oho, I knew you were up to something. You really don't learn, do you? Just 'one' night after nearly losing your life, you send everyone else away to go face the more serious threats on your own. That's why you wanted that purple-monster to come with you, huh, so she could clean up after your mess if things went south?"
Never being the type to mix her words, Nobunaga didn't miss the opportunity to throw accusations and insults now that she and Vahn were alone. After all, the fact she had been one of the people he had tried to send off caused her to feel more than a little annoyed. She was his summoned Servant and, even if they didn't have the normal Master-Servant relationship, the fact he relied more on one he had obtained from an enemy bothered her...
Hearing Nobunaga's words, Vahn looked into her blood-red eyes, falling silent for several seconds before asking, "You've been seeing more of my memories, haven't you? That's why you've changed so much in the last two weeks..." This was less of a question than a statement, as Sis made him aware of the when and what Nobunaga was allowed to see. Because of how busy he had been, Vahn hadn't put much thought into how Nobunaga would react to his memories but, now that they were alone like this, he realized she had been affected more than he thought. His near-death experience had hit her surprisingly hard, to the point that she only began to return to her normal self in the last 2~3 days within the Orb.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Nobunaga kept eye contact with Vahn as she answered, "I saw everything, all the way up until the moment you were forced to leave your world. I never expected you to be the cowardly type, Vahn..." Though she didn't mean these words, Nobunaga was feeling a little nervous with Vahn staring down at her. She was only around 153cm tall at the moment so Vahn cast a large shadow over her with his 185cm tall frame. This would have never intimidated her in the past, but Nobunaga's perspective had 'shifted' a great deal after she saw the types of enemies Vahn had faced within the dream. His battles with Heracles and Achron had been at a level beyond anything she had even thought possible previously, opening Nobunaga's eyes to the fact that she was much weaker than she arrogantly believed herself to be.
Ignoring Nobunaga's hurtful barb, Vahn was quickly beginning to understand what must have been going through her mind the past few days. Since she was his summoned Servant, it undoubtedly bothered her a great deal knowing that she was 'effectively useless' against the stronger enemies in the Holy Grail War. Even if she had been present during the battle with Ozymandias, it was almost guaranteed that Nobunaga would have lost her life to his Noble Phantasm. Now, seemingly in an effort to prevent him from doing something dangerous a second time, Nobunaga was choosing to stay close to him so he would have to take more measured action to avoid endangering her. This was something completely contrary to her character, as Nobunaga was the exact type to throw herself at enemies without thinking excessively, so it was easy to see why she had been frustrated...
As appreciative as he was of Nobunaga's concerns, Vahn's expression turned resolute as he asked, "You know what I desire, don't you...?" To this, Nobunaga's own expression hardened as she answered, "You seek a strength beyond comprehension in order to protect the things you care about...and, because you're an idiot, you care about too many things. Even in a world far removed from your own, you can't but throw yourself headfirst into a situation that, otherwise, has nothing to do with you. The moment you begin to feel even the smallest amount of pity and empathy, you begin dedicating yourself to 'fixing' whatever you think is broken...it is frustrating..."
Vahn nodded his head, understanding the true meaning behind Nobunaga's words as he muttered, "Yes, not having the power to help the people you care about is indeed frustrating...to think that I would have the Great Demon King herself worrying about my safety." These words didn't seem to sit well with Nobunaga as her faced immediately formed into a scowl. Before she could say anything, however, her words got stuck in her throat as Vahn casually reached out and poked her left breast through her military-style blouse. Immediately following this, Vahn smiled as he explained, "You have a lot of heart, Nobunaga, one that is far too big for its own good. Just like me, you try to take on the burdens of others and guide them towards a better future. When all of this is over...would you like to join me in 'conquering' this world...?"
Nobunaga's expression changed from confusion to melancholy after hearing Vahn's words, shaking her head as she said, "Even if you can keep me anchored to this world after the Holy Grail War comes to an end, it is unlikely I would be able to help you. Without the governance of the Grail, the upkeep cost for even a single Servant is greater than most Mages can manage. Since I'm certain you'll be wanting to keep around Scáthach, Paracelsus, and Astolfo, I'd rather save myself the frustration of being a liability that will prevent you from focusing on what is more important..." Towards the end of her words, Nobunaga removed the glove of her right hand before placing overtop Vahn's, adding, "Even if I will forget everything, I am content just having some of your affections to myself while I'm still here. That's why I need to make sure your stupid ass doesn't end up keeling over before I can sample the goods...shishishishi~." At the very end of her statement, Nobunaga pulled Vahn's hand forward so that he was no longer poking her breast, but grabbing it in his palm.
Vahn felt a bit of tenderness from Nobunaga's actions, especially when considering the rather selfless words she had spoken previously. She was essentially saying she would give up her ability to stay within this world to others, knowing full well her memories would be wiped after she vanishes from the world. Even if she were summoned in another Holy Grail War in the far future, or perhaps in a variable timeline, the memories they forged together would no longer remain. Though he had known this from the start, Vahn now found this reality unacceptable so, even if Nobunaga didn't seek it herself, he had, at this very moment, decided to take matters into his own hands. With that thought in mind, Vahn placed a bit of force into his right hand before sending a few threads of Source Energy into Nobunaga's chest, causing her to startle before instinctually pulling away.
Finding her reaction cute, Vahn smiled affecionately as he said, "I still intend to search around the Einzbern Forest, but we'll just stick to the periphery instead of probing deeper within. Though we shouldn't rush, we can either head back to the Manor early or find a place to relax while waiting for the others to return. I would almost suggest we go into the Sub-Space Orb together, but I don't want to be cut off from the outside world in the vent something happens..." While thinking he should make the most of what Nobunaga considered her final few days within this world, Vahn was also considering the possibility something could go wrong while he was distracted. He didn't mind pampering this supposed Demon King for a bit before surprising her later on by disallowing her to 'escape' his grasp so easily...
Feeling the possessiveness in Vahn's gaze, Nobunaga frowned before cautioning, "Don't think I'm some maiden you can just do with as you please, Vahn. I've seen some of the shit you pulled on girls in your past. The moment you try something like that on me, I'll cut it off. Even if it grows back, I'll make sure you never forget to afford me the basic dignities of a woman." Though she had a brash and overbearing nature by default, Nobunaga's views, while open-minded, were a bit on the traditional side. She was fond of the idea of simply enjoying the company of the person you held affections for, not engaging in excessive carnality. Since she had no confidence in being able to resist Vahn's [Hands of Nirvana], she wanted to make it clear from the start that she wasn't to be trifled with at his leisure.
Knowing she had misunderstood his intentions, Vahn gave an 'understanding' nod in response to Nobunaga's demands. He knew better than anyone that he had been a little 'extreme' in some of his past relationships so, unless it was something they themselves sought, Vahn had no desire to test the limits of his lovers in the future. It was far more interesting to simply tease them a bit, as there were always feelings of guilt whenever he pushed someone beyond their limits, even a little. Loki and Anubis had helped to curb this habit of his while Lefiya and Fenrir had taught Vahn how to treat women delicately, even when they proactively sought to be pushed. The woman with the biggest influence, however, was Eina as, up until the very end, she and Vahn only ever had very gentle and loving sex with each other...
With the sun already set beyond the horizon, Vahn knew he and Nobunaga shouldn't keep idling around talking about topics that were better discussed in private. Since she was keeping a short distance away from him, Vahn decided against trying to tease her again as he looked towards the south and said, "We'll start from the southern mouth of the Mion River, following its flow for a few kilometers outside of the city. Since the others should be searching around the northeast, we'll work our way towards them by passing through the rural districts on the outskirts of the city. Depending on the situation, we may join with them for a short while before making our way to the Einzbern Forest in the west. All-in-all, it shouldn't take us more than five hours to complete a full circle so we'll have plenty of time to talk about these kinds of things when we double back to the Manor."
Seeing Nobunaga nod her head in agreement, Vahn smiled somewhat mischievously before closing the distance between them. Nobunaga stood her ground, refusing to back down even though her face formed a frown. Before she could ask what he was up to, Vahn brought his index finger to his mouth, biting into it hard enough to draw blood. His resistance didn't apply to any self-inflicted wounds so it didn't take much force before a steady flow of blood began dripping from his finger. This was enough for Nobunaga to understand his intentions, causing her heart to beat rapidly in her chest, even though her expression remained dour. Then, as Vahn held his hand out toward her, Nobunaga took things even further, attempting to bite him even harder in retaliation.
Unlike Vahn, however, she felt like her teeth were trying to bite through granite so, after failing for a few seconds, Nobunaga eventually snorted through her nose before vigorously sucking his blood. At the same time, her height began to slowly increase until, around seven minutes later, Nobunaga reached 161cm tall and had the appearance of a woman in her mid-twenties. Since her clothing didn't change to match her size, unless she did so manually, her military-style garb now strained under the sizable mounds that were on the verge of snapping Nobunaga's bra. When she finally released his fingers, Vahn saw that they were slightly pruned from her rather forceful suction, causing him to lightly chuckle as they quickly returned to normal, Then, before they set out into the night, Vahn lightly spanked Nobunaga's now plump backside, startling her into anger as she watched his figure vanish like a phantom...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn be like, "You think this is a game!?"','Nobunaga's self-awareness...','Vahn will forever be an ass-man. I blame Hephaestus and Tsubaki (UwU)...')
(A/N: The link depicting Nobunaga's mature form can be found in the comment's section.)
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