The night in Kuoh seemed calmer than it should have been.
The wind blew through the trees surrounding the Academy, but the tranquility was merely an illusion. A magical barrier enveloped the entire perimeter, vibrating in tones almost imperceptible to human eyes. For those familiar with the hidden world, however, the charged atmosphere was clear: this was no ordinary night.
Two sets of footsteps echoed in the silent courtyard, far from the noise of the battle reverberating through the area. They were outside the barrier, waiting for something in a relaxed manner.
A tall young man with broad shoulders and a casual posture walked leisurely. His deliberately messy silver hair fell over his bright blue eyes, and there was something about him that blended natural arrogance with an irritating calm.
Beside him, a shorter girl walked with determination. Her long black hair, tinged with a reddish glow under the moonlight, swayed like a war banner. Her blood-red cape dragged softly behind her, and the metallic sound of her golden greaves resounded on the stone floor. Her sharp eyes exuded confidence, as if no enemy was truly worth her attention.
Kazuya and Oda Nobunaga.
In the young man's ear, a translucent magical circle lit up. The laid-back voice of an older man echoed.
"So that's it? Kokabiel decided to mess with humans again?" Azazel's voice carried the bored tone of someone who had long expected trouble.
Kazuya kept his expression calm.
"It's not just a game. He's threatening to involve innocents." He adjusted the circle with two fingers, his tone carrying an almost irritating nonchalance. "I'm going to take him out now."
A sigh came from the other side.
"Hah… I already sent Vali to deal with this mess, but if you're in town, even better. I'm not lifting a finger for Kokabiel. If that idiot got himself into trouble, let him deal with the consequences."
"Straightforward as always." Kazuya smirked. "Then don't mind if I get 'a little' violent."
"Do whatever you want," Azazel said dismissively, and the communication cut off shortly after.
The circle vanished, leaving only the silence of the night. Kazuya slipped his hands into his pockets and let out a short sigh. "Always so laid-back…"
Nobunaga glanced at him sideways, a half-smile forming on her lips.
"Hmph. That attitude of his reminds me of some generals I knew. Always letting their subordinates get their hands dirty while pretending to be above it all."
"The difference is that he really is above it all. Well, at least in the hierarchy of fallen angels." Kazuya shrugged. "He just doesn't care to show it."
"I know… but still…" She adjusted her cap slightly, her red eyes gleaming in the dim light. "It's annoying. People who send others to get their hands dirty but never stain their own have always been the type I most enjoyed bringing down."
Kazuya laughed.
"And here I thought you enjoyed bringing everyone down."
"Of course I do." Nobunaga raised her chin confidently. "But there's a special flavor in crushing those who think they're untouchable. It's like smashing a golden insect that believed it was a dragon."
"And to think you say that with a smile." He scratched the back of his neck, amused. "It's almost scary."
"Scary?" She raised an eyebrow, teasing. "Weren't you the one who said you liked intense women?"
"I did," Kazuya replied without hesitation, his tone laced with carefree sarcasm. "But I also like sleeping peacefully at night."
Nobunaga laughed, her voice echoing through the quiet space far from the battle. It wasn't a light laugh but a confident guffaw, as if she didn't need to hold back for anyone. "Then you should think twice before hanging out with me."
"That's the thing." Kazuya narrowed his eyes, looking ahead. "I don't usually think too much. I just go with what feels right in the moment."
For a few seconds, she stared at him in silence, assessing his response. In the end, she broke into an even wider smile. "That's why I like you, Master. You act without pretending to be something you're not. Most of the kings I knew were terrified of showing their flaws. You aren't."
He glanced at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I'm just too lazy to pretend. Well, at least when it comes to that kind of thing. Usually, I prefer keeping my thoughts to myself, as you probably know…"
Silence settled over the courtyard again.
Nobunaga ran her fingers along the edge of her red cape, as if preparing for a performance. "Kokabiel… are you really planning to deal with him alone? No need to call other Servants?"
"'Alone' isn't quite the word." Kazuya replied, stretching his arms as if merely loosening up. "I've got you here, don't I?"
Her expression lit up with satisfaction, though her tone retained the same near-arrogant confidence.
"Hmph. Obviously. I'm Oda Nobunaga. Whether you're in Japan, Rome, or the underworld, no one dares call me a mere sidekick."
"True, true." He smirked, teasing. "You're my deluxe bodyguard."
She narrowed her eyes, feigning indignation. "Deluxe, huh? Hah! One more word, and I'll make it a point to crush this Kokabiel before you even lift a finger."
Kazuya raised his hands in mock surrender, laughing. "Alright, alright. You win."
Despite the lighthearted banter, the conversation didn't hide the intent of what was about to unfold.
Through his [Omniscience], he knew Kokabiel would attack the Occult Research Club tonight to try and start a war, and he would succeed because neither Rias's peerage, including herself, nor Sona and her group were capable of defeating him. In that fight, the entire city would be destroyed, killing all the innocent people.
Though he could send just one Servant to deal with this "minor issue," he decided to come in person because he was bored, and Nobunaga ended up following him…
Well, that was due to something that had happened…
Glancing at Oda Nobunaga, he recalled the conversation he'd had with his Servants a few days ago after they destroyed the Roman gods and returned to Chaldea, where he had to deal with all his wives in a frenzy after witnessing everything that had happened to him. Needless to say, it was extremely troublesome to handle all of them declaring their love for him in a rather possessive way that night… Well, let's just say he had to use his true magic to endure the love of his wives…
Anyway, a little before that happened, he finally sat down in the cafeteria, calling Shuten Douji and Merlin, who were on a mission and only didn't drop everything to see him because they knew it was of utmost importance. Then, he began explaining that after he died as the Master of Chaldea, he was reborn in another world that wasn't the one he was currently in, and the memories they saw were from his past in that world. He had no memories of his life as Chaldea's Master in that life and only regained them when he was reborn in the current world, where his connection to the Root was truly established.
Shock was the only word to describe the reaction of all his Servants. Of course, they all reacted differently, but each had varying degrees of surprise upon learning he was practically omnipotent due to his connection to the Root and everything else. Though their focus remained on his tragic past, wanting to know more details—asking if the woman who raised him had died horribly or if those various men had lives worse than hell—he merely sighed and said they'd see for themselves through the dream cycle.
He didn't dwell on explaining his past. For him, some things didn't need to be dissected in every detail, and prolonging the pain would bring nothing useful. His Servants, however, weren't ready to let the topic die so easily. Many were still disturbed by the idea of a life marked by tragedies, where he had been reduced to nothing before rising again. But, as he always did, he chose to steer the conversation elsewhere.
He decided to mention that, thanks to his connection to the Root, he could practically replicate any ability he desired. It was just a matter of willing it. To illustrate, he casually mentioned that even Gilgamesh's Gate of Babylon was within his reach.
And then, to the surprise of many, the reaction didn't come from indignation. Gilgamesh, his wife, showed no trace of irritation. On the contrary, there was a peculiar gleam in her ruby eyes, as if pride outweighed any need to claim exclusivity. She didn't mind sharing her treasure with her husband because, to her, it wasn't "theft" or "appropriation." It was simply natural. If there was anyone in the world who could have unrestricted access to the King's treasure, that someone was Kazuya.
For the others, this was astonishing, considering the personality of the Queen of Heroes. Many expected the fury of a queen who always valued the sovereignty of her possessions, but instead, they saw the calm acceptance of a woman who recognized her husband as an equal or even more. If even Gilgamesh, with all her legendary pride, accepted sharing what was hers so completely, there was no argument that could question Kazuya's legitimacy in using her ability.
Some were awestruck, others still processing the information.
Kazuya blinked slowly, letting out an almost imperceptible sigh. His scattered thoughts dissolved like smoke, giving way to the reality unfolding before him. Only a moment had passed while he was lost in his thoughts.
Then, he said.
"Well, let's go…"
Nobunaga was already smiling before he even took the first step. The red in her eyes seemed to burn with anticipation, and her hand rested casually on the hilt of her sword, as if it were inevitable that enemy blood would stain the blade.
"Finally," she said, her lips curving into a hungry smile. "I hope this Kokabiel guy is fun and gives me a good fight. If he really has the guts to face me, I'll show him what happens to insects who think they're war gods."
Kazuya shot her a sideways glance, his calm almost infuriating. "Just don't forget I need him for a few minutes. There are questions I still want to ask…"
She raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Oh, questions, sure. And if, by chance, my sword pierces his heart before that?"
"Then you'll owe me a drink and a good time," Kazuya replied without missing a beat, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Her laughter exploded through the courtyard, clear and vibrant, contrasting with the tension growing by the second. "Hah! Fair enough! I'll take that bet, Master."
As they walked, the atmosphere shifted. The air felt heavier, charged with distorted sacred energy, each particle vibrating as if the very space were being torn apart. On the horizon, the bluish light of spells and the red of flames collided in a spectacle that resembled an apocalypse more than an isolated fight.
The metallic sound of Nobunaga's greaves echoed firmly, like war drums announcing the arrival of something inevitable. Kazuya, on the other hand, walked unhurriedly, hands in his pockets, as if he were merely a spectator about to watch a poorly rehearsed play.
"Eager to kill, huh?" he commented, with the same ease as someone discussing the weather.
Nobunaga licked her lips, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Always. The smell of gunpowder, the screams of fools who think they're invincible… Master, you should know: for me, nothing's sweeter than the moment a war crumbles before my laughter."
"And to think you say that like it's poetry." Kazuya chuckled softly, and soon the distant sound of explosions reminded him that the poetry was about to become reality.
A new rumble shook the barrier, and the lights of the battle intensified.
It was time.
Kazuya raised his gaze, his blue eyes glinting under the moonlight. "Let's go."
Nobunaga adjusted her cap, her smile growing sharper. "Heh. Showtime."
And together, they advanced toward the battlefield, where Kokabiel waited, unaware of the kind of enemies about to take the stage.
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