章節 1350: Bear Witness
Having heard Alexander's remark, Vahn was at a momentary loss as, from a certain perspective, it wasn't far from the truth. Fortunately, this didn't show on his face so, without missing a beat, Vahn released a chuckle of his own before explaining, "I called you here for two reasons, each uniquely important to the world, and Empire, at large. Your first will be defending the Oceanic Supercolony, a massive settlement that will host more than a hundred million residents of various different species. As for your second task, I have chosen you to serve as one of the representatives of the coming generations. The youth will need someone to rally behind and, with your charisma and capabilities, you will set the example for billions to follow."
In response to Vahn's rather bold claims, Alexander raised his brows slightly, disbelief apparent on his face as he mused, "Wow, you must be quite the character to throw around words like that. Well, I guess I'll find out for myself whether or not you're speaking the truth. Now, as much as I'd like to be some idol for the next generation of brats, what am I to expect in exchange for playing my part? You can't expect me to do all of these things for you without compensation, eh, Your Majesty?"
Since he had already expected Alexander to ask about his reward, Vahn was already prepared with a preliminary offer. He had learned from Artoria that the 'wish' of the original Iskandar was to obtain a new body, one that rivaled his original self in power. Using it, he intended to start his conquest over from the beginning, building an Empire that would span from the 'western coasts', meaning Europe, all the way to Oceanus, the modern-day East China Sea.
This was one of the reasons Vahn had decided to charge Alexander with the defense of Oceania as it was fulfilling one of his life-long dreams. As for the rest of his reward, Vahn offered, "Once all seven Supercolonies have been constructed, you will be provided with a body of flesh and blood. Though I cannot allow you to freely move about conquering lands, I'm certain the alternative is something that will make your blood boil..."
Hearing Vahn's baiting tone, Alexander crossed his arms with a slightly intrigued smile on his face as he asked, "Oh? Consider my curiosity piqued, Your Majesty. Tell me, what could possibly make these restless bones of mine contended if not the thrill of conquest?"
Seeing that Alexander was willing to play along, Vahn's smile curled up at the edges as he explained, "I want you to become a Fleet Commander in the Interstellar Armada I plan to build. Though you will undoubtedly enjoy exploring the Earth, I'm certain you will find greater purpose in exploring stars and planets, place humans have dreamed about visiting since they first looked up at the night sky..."
Even before he had finished his words, Vahn could tell he had hooked Alexander completely as the young Hero's eyes had started to burn with the fires of passion. Unlike other rulers, he didn't even try to hide his enthusiasm and, after a moment of uproarious laughter, he adopted a visage similar to a General ready to lead his final charge, exclaiming, "You really know how to entice people, don't you!? Well, you can count me in, Your Majesty! However, I demand the right to be the first man to venture forth to other worlds! I won't allow another to take the opportunity from me!"
Since Nobunaga didn't particularly care about being the 'first', Vahn had no qualms about nodding his head and readily agreeing to Alexander's demand. One of the man's greatest ambitions had been to see the ocean so, with the temptation of an entire ocean of stars calling out to him, there was no way he could refuse. Rather, now that Vahn had planted the idea in his mind, Alexander would do everything in his power to extend his reach to the stars, nay, even further beyond...
---
With the young Emperor convinced, Vahn had him stand at the side with everyone else, albeit after making quick introductions. This resulted in Alexander teasing Artoria and Da Vinci a bit but, upon learning that the latter would be responsible for making his new dream a reality, he changed tune almost immediately. As for Merlin, Attila, Lancelot, and Bedivere, he didn't particularly care about the three men; even if Merlin gave him a dangerous vibe. Rather, upon learning that Attila was another Conqueror, he seemed to view her in a new light, immediately challenging her to a duel as the King of Conquerors...
Fortunately, before Attila could accept, Artoria nipped the idea in the bud, saying there would be plenty of time for such contests later on. To prevent Alexander from arguing, she even challenged him directly, goading the young Emperor by plainly stating there were many people in the Empire that were stronger than him. This seemed to excite Alexander quite a bit so, at least for the time being, he was willing to behave as Vahn summoned the final member of the current batch, Nero; yet another Emperor.
---
After entering the Throne for the eighth time in a single setting, Vahn spent a moment to massage his temples. Then, dragging his feet over to the familiar terminal, he began adjusting the columns until they reflected Nero's information. Here, he had a pretty big decision to make as, if he really wanted to, Vahn could undoubtedly find a male version of Nero from a different timeline. He also had a lot of options in regard to their Parameters, Skills, and other abilities due to the fact that Nero qualified for nearly every Servant Class, including Ruler.
Class selection wasn't all that important if he used the [Transmigrator] perk but, as a Heroic Spirit, it literally determined what the summoned was capable of. Though he could summon the actual Nero, liberating her from the rather tragic fate known to History, every recent Servant he summoned had been as a Heroic Spirit. If he made an exception for her, it could easily be misconstrued as favoritism, both by other residents and Nero herself...
Feeling that he was stressing over something that wasn't actually an issue, Vahn ultimately shook his head as he selected the Ruler Class, nearly hitting the Lily Class in the process. This caused a snort to escape his nose, scoffing at Fate's attempt to pull a Merlin on him. Fortunately, his Dexterity wasn't a wasteful Parameter and, as he always made sure to double and triple-check things after making past mistakes, Vahn was able to confirm his selection without any 'accidents' occurring.
Just like previous instances, Vahn found himself outside immediately after confirming his selection. Then, alongside a deadpan Artoria and a crowd that now excluded Merlin, he watched as the liquid ether quickly formed the shape of a familiar, albeit slightly shorter woman...
At precisely 150cm in height, 4cm shorter than even the perpetually fourteen Artoria, Nero could be seen standing with her chest puffed out and arms akimbo. This wasn't an exaggeration, either, as, despite having nearly the exact same facial structure, Nero's breasts made Artoria's comparable to a washboard in size. In fact, at a glance, they were at least 10cm larger, a quality shared by her hips as, even without seeing her from behind, the balance of Nero's body gave it away...
The thing that made these aspects really stand out was the fact that, rather than wearing clothes to hide her figure, Nero's seemed designed for the express purpose of showing it off. Not only was her dress cut in a way that showed off an ample amount of cleavage but, if you were to look behind her, a literal 'window' that showed off the line of her back merging into her butt could be seen. To further lend to the incredulity of everyone present, the vast majority of her outfit, besides the actual spots that needed to be hidden, was completely transparent; giving Nero a distinctly lewd yet artistic style due to the fact that her dress was reminiscent of a wedding gown...
As if she knew everyone was looking, Nero had a proud expression on her face as she puffed out her chest a bit more and hummed an 'Umu' before stating, "It is a credit to your intellect that you saw fit to summon this Empress~!" Then, looking back at the 'peanut gallery', Nero's smile only increased in size as she added, "Umu...it would seem you are actually a little lacking? Well, it matters not! Even if my arrival was delayed, the sense to summon me shows you are not beyond salvation, my Master!"
Since she had been summoned as a Ruler Class, Nero, by default, already held Vahn in higher regard than a normal Heroic Spirit. Even without this, however, her nature had always been to act without restraint so, while 'complimenting' him, she walked over and, as if to express he had done a good job, began patting him on the shoulder. From there, without waiting for any kind of response, she looked over at Artoria, her emerald-green eyes flashing with a curious light as she bypassed Vahn to inspect her 'doppelganger'...
Having already expected Nero to be a little difficult to deal with, Vahn followed her departure with his eyes, discovering the 'window' present on her backside. This caused his words to momentarily get caught in his throat but, while it was certainly distracting, there were more important things to consider at the moment. With this in mind, he spoke in a stern yet calm voice, "Nero, do you not have any questions to ask? I summoned you-"
Literally waving away Vahn's words with her hand, Nero partially turned around, staring over her shoulder with a confident expression on her face as she stated, "Your reason for summoning me is unimportant, my Master. Umu, all that matters is that I am here now. Everything else will fall into place without suspense. Unless there is a matter that requires my immediate attention, I would like to learn more about this curious world. Umu, for now, busy yourself with admiring my form. There is no shame in appreciating my beauty, you know?"
With her words finished, Nero turned back to face Artoria, once again without waiting for an actual response as she brought her hand to her chin and mused, "I see history has done its best to emulate my beauty. Umu, it is very well done. If you diet properly and put in a bit of effort, you may approach the level of perfection I have achieved in the future. Umu, never give up...!"
Though it didn't show in her expression or demeanor, Vahn could feel Artoria's anger begin to boil over as her aura became somewhat wispy and chaotic. Had her former Knights not been present, she would have had some choice words to share with Emperor Nero but, unwilling to lower herself to a petty exchange of barbs, she simply smiled and said, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Emperor Nero. I thank you for your compliments but, contrary to your expectations, I am more than satisfied with my current appearance. Now, I believe it is rather inappropriate for someone of your standing to behave in such an uncouth manner. My husband had information to share with you; please cease your rude behavior and listen properly."
Rather than refute Artoria's words, Nero crossed her arms under her breasts, accenting them even more as she nodded her head and issued an affirmative 'Umu'. Then, without sparing another word to Artoria, she turned her back on the mildly-frustrated Empress, allowing the gathered group to bear witness to the 'window' sewn into her gown. Seeing this caused Artoria to deadpan while, at the side, Alexander began laughing uninhibitedly before remarking, "Very nice! Now that's what I call a woman, hahahaha!"
Without turning to address Alexander's remark, Nero just puffed out her chest and raised her chin slightly until she, once again, found herself standing in front of Vahn. Then, pulling up the sides of her gown, she performed a flawless curtsy and said, "It seems my behavior does not match modern etiquette. Umu, if I offended you in any way, please feel free to administer a punishment you deem appropriate. You'll find that, despite being an Empress, I'm quite skilled in all manners, not least of which is the relations between men and women. As my Master, you have-"
This time, it was Vahn's turn to interrupt, his hand moving like a blur as he lifted it to bring a stop to Nero's rather 'open' propositioning. In response, she just blinked in surprise before adopting a rather lackadaisical stance, standing at a three-quarters angle with one hand on her hip as she remarked, "If you are inexperienced, I can teach you. Umu, fret not, my Master-"
With his hand still gesturing for Nero's previous silence, Vahn's expression became somewhat sharp as he firmly stated, "Enough. I understand you have much to learn about the modern world and its sensibilities. As the one to call you into the present, I will not blame you for your behavior thus far. In exchange, I will have you listen properly to the explanation I have prepared for you. I have never had to use a Command Spell before, Nero, do not force my hand..."
As Vahn was speaking, Nero remained in the same pose from before, her expression showing no real signs she had even heard him, much less taken him seriously. Despite this, she unhesitantly nodded her head in response to his words, issuing another 'Umu' before standing properly and turning her eyes up at him, seemingly intent to listen. The 35cm difference between their height required Nero to crane her head quite a bit but, realizing she may have offended her new Master, she elected to at least hear him out before expressing her opinion on the matter...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Umu...','Umu, umu?','Umu...!?')
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章節 1351: Developing Tensions
(A/N: I realize I may not have described Nero's outfit properly, causing a bit of confusion. Though the final design will be left to your imagination, she isn't wearing her Red Saber outfit. Rather, she is wearing something akin to a translucent wedding-dress with three key parts. The top is a strapless lace bodice that hugs her figure, accenting her bust due to its deep cut. Instead of wrapping all the way around like a normal bodice, however, there is a gap in the back which, when combined with her white gown, form a small window. As for the other two major components of her attire: the gown is actually the closest thing to the original dress, just imagine it without the red cloth covering it at all. Lastly, in lieu of any kind of armor, she has lace stockings that rise to her thighs. She has nothing covering her neck and shoulders but, starting from her elbows and flaring out like a flower near her hands, she has lace sleeves. I may have an artist create a rendition of this in the future but you'll have to use your imagination for now~! The sexier it is, the closer you are to the truth...!)
---
Having explained much of what he expected from Nero, Vahn had the distinct expression she turned her brain off while others were speaking. Though she seemed to hear what he was saying, it felt like her eyes weren't looking directly at him and, throughout the entire explanation, she didn't even blink a single time. It wasn't until he had finished completely that she seemed to return to life, movement restored as she dutifully nodded her head and said, "Umu, you are quite the ambitious one. Truly, a man suitable to be my Master. I do have one question though, if I may?"
Since the entire purpose of the discussion was to clear things up for her, Vahn nodded his head in approval but, when he actually heard Nero's question, the mental fatigue that followed summoning seemed to hit him like a brick wall. It wasn't that she asked something improper, rather, with a mildly curious expression on her face, she cocked her head to the side, asking, "Was this explanation really necessary? Umu, I'm certain the Memory Link will clarify everything, will it not?"
Though it was rarely at the forefront of their mind, all Heroic Spirits summoned through the Throne of Heroes were aware of the existence of the Memory Link. It was part of the information provided to them by the Summoning System itself; alongside knowledge about language and other modern conventions.
Vahn was too used to Heroic Spirits being somewhat disoriented upon their summoning so, hearing Nero's question, he couldn't stop himself from releasing a small sigh. To this, Nero herself just smiled radiantly, placing her hands on her hips and saying, "Umu, worry not, my Master, nobody is perfect. Even one that embodies perfection, such as I, am not entirely without flaw. Umu, umu."
Hearing Nero's words, Vahn wanted to point out her vocal tick but, feeling it wouldn't really phase her in the slightest, he just gave a small nod before addressing everyone, saying, "Let's return to the surface. I need to recuperate my mental energy but, tomorrow, we will have a competition of sorts to clarify matters. Artoria, Alexander, you will wait until then before you go around challenging others. I do not wish to see conflict amongst allies; remember this well, Alexander."
Despite the fact that Vahn had singled him out, Alexander just smiled in response without offering any comment on the matter. In his mind, an Emperor was not something that could be restrained so easily and, from what he had observed between Vahn and Nero, it seemed his new Master lacked the qualities of a 'true' Emperor. Alexander wouldn't point this out but, if it turned out that Vahn lacked the qualifications to rule, it was only a matter of time before someone usurped his power, something that had briefly crossed the minds of both Ozymandias and Nero as well.
Though he didn't know what they were thinking, Vahn never expected that dealing with such strong personalities would be easy. Despite this, he wasn't particularly worried they would do anything as, once they better understood his power, they would realize the futility of such action. Their beliefs of how an Emperor should behave had no value in the present as, from the very beginning, Vahn would rather be a deterrent than an actual ruler. Besides, when it came to being selfish and resolute, he had more than the three of them combined; much like his compassion, empathy, and, most importantly, his authority...
---
While he had no intention of denying their past titles, Vahn had no intention of bestowing the title of Emperor to any of his summoned Heroes. To make it clear that they wouldn't be getting any kind of special treatment, they were given similar quarters to Gawain and Galahad, at least if they chose to stay within the Ivory Castle. Those that chose to live outside were able to stay in one of the various small yet lavish manors that existed, much like Semiramis had in the past. These came with a staff of up to ten Homunculi but, from the very beginning, Vahn made it 'very' clear that they were not to be treated as simple servants.
Since he had to consider things on a much grander scale than most could even imagine, Vahn rarely took insults, admonishment, or even assassination attempts against himself to heart. However, if you targetted or mistreated one of the people he wanted to protect, there were very few circumstances that wouldn't end with you losing your life at his hand. This protection extended to the Homunculi that had taken it upon themselves to act as servants, Knights, and even Governesses for his children. If they were mistreated in any way, it didn't matter how useful a person may be to the Empire, Vahn would bring down his unfiltered wrath upon them...
Fortunately, his message seemed to get across to even people like Alexander who, for the first time since he had been summoned, lost the smile on his face. Vahn's aura had a peculiar calming aspect to it at most times but, when he was warning them not to mistreat, harass, or threaten the citizens and servants of the Empire, this vanished in its entirety. Instead, his aura became unfathomably cold, almost like a void that could swallow up anything without leaving even the smallest trace behind...
In the end, Ozymandias and Nefertari took up temporary residence in one of the smaller manors on the south side of the island. As for Alexander and Nero, they both opted to stay within the castle; the former unhesitantly finding a place for himself near the Knight's Training Field alongside the former members of the Round Table. All he needed to know was that everyone went there to train, making it the obvious place for someone that reveled in the thrill of battle.
The first real issue arose when Nero insisted she be allowed to stay within the Inner Sanctum, her justification being that she was both an Empress and Vahn's servant. She refused to stay elsewhere, pointing out the many people that shared similar traits to herself, both in appearance and status. It was incomprehensible to her that she be excluded from the Inner Sanctum as, despite evidence to the contrary, she automatically included herself as part of Vahn's assortment of women. Since nearly every female he had ever summoned was involved with him, she considered it ridiculous that she be excluded just because she was summoned later.
This was, for various reasons, a painful point to make as it emphasized just how lacking in discipline and restraint Vahn had been. While it wasn't entirely true, as exceptions such as Spenta and Boudica existed, the former was a perpetual child while the latter probably wouldn't be against the idea. She and Spenta were also allowed to stay within the Inner Sanctum at their leisure, something that had only ever been truly denied to Semiramis; for obvious reasons...
Still, it wasn't as if they could just acquiesce to Nero's demands so, deciding to take advantage of the woman's unwavering confidence and all-consuming ego, Vahn discussed the matter with Artoria and several others within the Inner Sanctum before coming to a compromise. If she was able to impress during the coming competition, Artoria would recognize Nero's claim as one of Vahn's Empresses. It actually made her uncomfortable to imagine Nero with someone other than Vahn so, after humbling the woman in a duel, she was hoping the haughty Empress would mellow out a bit.
With his Empress and Consorts coming to an agreement, Vahn informed Nero of the decision while Artoria, followed closely by an entourage of annoyed women, went to seek out Merlin. They knew he must have a reason for insisting that Nero be summoned but, regardless of how he tried to justify it, they wouldn't be pacified until he experienced their frustration. He wasn't the one who had to deal with Nero so, whenever the latter annoyed them, it was all but guaranteed the girls would choose Merlin and Vahn to vent their frustrations, albeit in very different ways...
---
After leaving the Inner Sanctum, Vahn, now accompanied by Okita, Jeanne, and Gareth, found Nero sitting in the waiting room separating the Inner Sanctum from the rest of the Ivory Castle. She didn't immediately react to their presence as, for reasons unknown, Spenta and several Companions had arrived at some point to keep her company. The Companions, in particular, weren't that much of a surprise to see but, upon noticing the presence of the loveable white-haired girl, Vahn couldn't help but squint his eyes as his mind began speculating why she would gravitate toward Nero...
Though he knew there had to be some tragedy in Nero's past, the way she behaved didn't make it apparent she was all that affected by it. Even her aura didn't appear remotely disturbed, possessing a quality similar to a pure golden sun. This gave off the impression that she was an existence far above the mundane affairs of man, untouchable; lacking a single blemish.
The presence of Spenta, however, negated this impression entirely as the young girl almost always went to the place she was most needed. She was even sitting in Nero's lap, tightly embracing the woman who, even now, had a confident smile on her face and an undisturbed aura. Her demeanor seemed to convey that she expected to be loved unconditionally so, without knowing exactly what Spenta was, Nero allowed the girl to snuggle up with her; reciprocating in kind...
As if only realizing Vahn was present when Spenta looked over, Nero followed the young girl's gaze, her smile increasing marginally as she mused, "Umu, I trust you came to an appropriate conclusion. Tell me, my Master, what have you decided? Have you come to your senses~?"
Hearing Nero's question, Vahn was freed from his contemplation, answering in a calm tone, "It has been decided that you will stay outside the Inner Sanctum until tomorrow's competition. If you are able to prove yourself in battle, the girls will welcome you without fuss. For now, a suite has been arranged for you near the Residential Area. If you wish to explore the island or venture around the castle, there are a number of people who are more than willing to guide you around."
Since Spenta was still sitting in her lap, Nero was basically trapped on the bench; unable to rise to her feet. Still, she managed the first mildly annoyed expression Vahn had seen on her face, her arms tightening around Spenta marginally as she asked, "Umu...will you show me around, then? Don't tell me you can't even be bothered to escort a woman you haphazardly summoned without asking their consent?"
Perhaps realizing she couldn't act with impunity, Nero's mood seemed to shift in an instant. Even her aura, which had been blazing like a sun, began to shift into a hazy blue as it began to pulse; similar to the beating of a heart.
Seeing this sudden change, Vahn was slightly taken aback but, as he had actually intended to be the one to show Nero around; he realized she had misinterpreted his words. Thus, before she could lose her spirits completely, he hastily explained, "You misunderstand me, Nero. If I didn't intend to help you settle into your room, I would have sent someone else to deliver the message. Afterward, I was going to show you around the castle and introduce you to the various hotspots. My comment about exploring the island pertained to your options after I return to my other duties. The days and nights within the projection are long so I assumed you might end up wandering around if you got bored..."
As if her earlier mood had been nothing more than an illusion, Nero began nodding her head while intoning 'Umu' over and over. Then, hugging Spenta in her arms, she rose to her feet and, with the same confident smile as before, exclaimed, "Umu, then I'll be in your care, my Master. Please, lead the way; I will follow along without falling behind~"
Vahn nodded his head in affirmation to Nero's suggestion but, even as he began leading the way, he took note of the fact that the proud Empress continued to carry Spenta along with her...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Don't fuck with the things Vahn cares about o_o...','RIP Merlin','Hidden flags and heavy burdens...')
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