For about a month, only my consciousness went to Fuyuki to live, and I woke from the dream and returned to Chaldea.
"In that sense, this is our new member, Sakura. I'm sure you won't make the cruel suggestion to throw her outside where she'll be incinerated by the Human Order, right?"
"What do you take us for..."
"Sigh... I'm not even surprised anymore. You always exceed expectations, don't you? It's beyond ridiculous now, reaching a level of wonder."
"Next time, you might even bring back a real monster~"
The Chaldea staff, including the Doctor, the Director, and Da Vinci, reacted as if it wasn't even surprising. I've really messed up my own reputation, haven't I?
First, I gave Sakura a room to stay in at Chaldea, and left her introduction to the friendly Illya. Me?
I'm mentally tired and want to rest a bit. My body isn't tired, but my mind is... Really, sending my soul out like that. I might watch that movie later.
"If you're tired, you can sleep a bit more."
"You're being lenient with me, Scáthach..."
"Fufu, is that so? Instead, how about going on some free quests later to raise your Bond level as well?"
So raising Bond was the goal... Well, among the early members, she's in the lower range of Bond levels. Honestly, before Skadi came out, I didn't even use her much, and afterwards, since she's an Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm, free quests were difficult too... So raising Bond is tough.
Still, the scenery is nice...
I thought about closing my eyes for just a moment, but since my body isn't tired, sleep doesn't come. Still, spending leisurely time like this with a beauty's lap pillow can be called one of life's pleasures.
For lunch, I should take Sakura and have a meal together.
Spacing out like that, it soon became time to eat.
Getting up and heading slowly toward the cafeteria...
Whoosh~!
"... Huh?"
"Master!?"
Then suddenly, a floating sensation as if the ground disappeared, and for some reason, I began falling downwards.
Hmm, should I deal with this?
"It is not a dangerous matter, my contractor."
"Ah, yes. Then it's fine. It's probably another event anyway~"
As expected, King Hassan guarding my side. Since he says it's not dangerous, I'll just keep falling for now, and soon I fall into someone's embrace as she catches me with both arms.
"... Shuten?"
"It's been an awfully long time~ Master."
Meeting Shuten here, this is unexpected. More importantly, this place... I can see blue sky. The position of the clouds... Could this be the Hundred-Person Tower?
"So how did you summon me again?"
"There was a collaborator~ More importantly, Master, you..."
Smooch...
"Didn't, want to see me...?"
"That's not it, there just wasn't a good timing."
"Is that so~? Then that's a shame... Well, it's fine~ I somehow managed to come out like this too."
To be kidnapped again in less than a day. Was I Princess Peach or something... No, Princess Peach is pretty strong these days?
"Kuhahaha! So you got caught this pathetically, human!"
"What are you saying, Ibaraki-Douji with Bond Level 9."
With Shuten here, Ibaraki-Douji appears as if it's natural. As an early Servant, she also reached Bond Level 9. The reason it's higher than Scáthach's is... well, 5-stars cost too much, so Bond farming is tough.
"So, why did you kidnap me?"
"The Hundred-Person Tower... Master knows it too, right? I just cooperated because they said I could be with Master~ Nothing else besides that."
"Really?"
"With that guy behind you, Master, would I dare lie?"
"That's true."
If you don't want your neck cut, you wouldn't. He said it's not a threat, so maybe I should just enjoy it...
"Ah, but I was going to have lunch with Sakura..."
"Who's that?"
"There is, a kid I brought this time. Ah, whatever~ A slacker like me just goes with the flow of the world~"
"What part of Master looks like a slacker?"
"A recluse master."
"... Well, that's somewhat right."
"But is that okay? Everyone will come to rescue me soon... Even if there's a collaborator, it's either Shiki or Koyanskaya, right?"
"Kya~ Master's intuition is good, huh?"
The troublemakers are obvious, what else...
"Are the Hundred-Person Tower rules the same?"
"That's right~ So it'll take a while to climb up. So~ Our Master, you just need to play with us~"
"Hmm, Ibaraki. Can you give me some snacks?"
"Hah? Tch... Fine, I have no choice. I'll take out the snacks I saved to eat with Shuten! It's special!"
What a tsundere.
For now, let's wait leisurely... It seems like Mash or Morgan and others will persistently climb up. Since there's a rule against climbing walls or flying, it'll probably take a while.
Grrrrmble....
Something suddenly gets dark...?
"Is this a real one-second event clear?"
It was far too massive to be called a Servant.
Kwaaaaaaaang!!!!!!!!!
"Whaaa~!"
The Hundred-Person Tower was utterly shattered by that one-hit kill punch. The power balance is just different~!
"Shuteeeeeen!!!"
"Ack~ Didn't think it would turn out like this..."
"You're calm, aren't you?"
"Master too~"
Maintaining calm alongside Shuten while falling. Well... I guess I've gotten used to it.
"So, is it over now?"
"... Master, surely~ you didn't think I'd end it this easily, did you? That's disappointing... I'm Master's first Bond Level 10, aren't I?"
Shuten approaches me while we're falling.
"Just~ allow me a little... It won't harm you, Master. Master must be curious too, right?"
"About what...?"
"Fufu... You'll know soon."
Wham!!!
Then Shuten's狂暴 headbutt explodes!
Am I going to die from my head cracking like this? My consciousness fades.....
"Ugh... Where is this now..."
Ah, my head. Maybe because I took that headbutt properly, my head is dizzy. How should I say it... My vision seems strange too...
Buzzing~
"Ah, Senpai. You're awake?"
"Mash... How long did I sleep...?"
"Ahh.. About 1 hour?"
"I see..."
Maybe because my throat feels choked, something feels off... Did I get a bump on my head? I look in the mirror for a moment....
"....?"
"..................?"
"Um, congratulations on becoming a woman, Senpai."
".... Mash, could you explain what's going on? I think I've seen this development a lot on Hitomi."
"First, calm down, Senpai. You fell for Shuten-san's trap. Well, some people are saying that Senpai becoming cuter is good in its own way too..."
"What are you saying, Mashmash?"
"Anyway, since there was tacit consent... Please live like that for a while, Senpai."
"...."
What is this?