*Next day.*
Shedding the stress, I switched to work mode and got busy with settling in—otherwise, how could I even invite a girl over? Em, surveying the forest clearing—I need to make it look nice overall. So my 2nd clone went looting stores, and I figured out a couple things: a clone going Intangibility can't take any items with him, so the first time everything I grabbed fell to the floor. But he can go Invisibility with them, which is good—otherwise the supermarket guard would've had a heart attack watching floating stuff fly around the store, or he'd start babbling about ghosts. Though given the amount of stuff I've helped disappear, people would've believed he was just stealing it himself and lying so blatantly and stupidly.
But the thought of the guard not dropping dead was more like a light brain warm-up anyway—the real work was getting too routine. Also learned that controlling clones doesn't strain the main body—no sense of fatigue at all, like I'd slept all day. And yeah, running 20 kilometers through the forest round trip multiple times that night was fun only for the first 5 kilometers. On the 2nd run, I swiped a player and discs for it—music makes everything more fun. Was surprised to note that Magic and electronics don't conflict.
Figuring the time—6 a.m.—and realizing Rin was still home and I couldn't poke around there yet. Decided to keep setting up my little country Villa! Yeah, Villa with a capital V—I have big plans for this spot. Clear this area to the ground and pitch a tent for sleeping, here's the kitchen tent, way over there I'll dig a Toilet pit, planning to cover it with boards later and steal a proper ceramic toilet from a store! I'm used to comfort, and yeah, cover the whole thing with a tent too! Sitting on a toilet in the middle of the forest, buffeted by every wind, in not-so-warm weather and possible rain? That's for enthusiasts. I'm a pro! Plus, I want to impress my lady love.
Left the 3rd clone on this task, recalled the 2nd to the observation post in the tree by the school. Realistically assessing that I can't abandon key spots, hoping to finish by evening and finally send a clone to patrol the forest by the Jedi Temple.
In the end, even in the clone's body—I got royally fed up. And that night I didn't find a damsel in distress in the temple forest, nor the next night, nor the one after. A whole week passed like that. I got the area set up, even freed up 4 clones for damsel-hunting. Started getting surpluses, so shifted clones to secondary goals—like Shirou's house, and after a short search, Illya's castle, though the forest around her castle was riddled with traps almost more than around Rin's house. Flashed a thought about the church and the maniac priest with Gilgamesh, but held back.
Industrial espionage saw progress too! I finally reached Rin's library! Found lots of interesting stuff, but started with the basics and am progressing slowly. So far just nuances on circuits, Magic and its generation, plus basic elemental spells. Learned not all elements are available to master—there's a light Rune diagram, which I replicated. Well, fire, Water—not bad. Shame the others aren't accessible: earth, air, and some "Ether." The book didn't explain what it is, but it sounds solid. And that makes it even sadder.
Managed to test first spells of my elements and a few neutral ones, like Repair and reinforcement. Even the weakest ones—fixed a broken plastic plate and reinforced myself a bit, letting me run a tad faster and jump a bit higher—small stuff, but it's a start! Even dug up a book on gem Magic; there were actually too many on the topic, but this one had basics and examples of area protection spells, which drew me in. Considering my main body lies unconscious most of the day—protection is needed.
As a result, robbed a jewelry store, spent ages on basic exercises and spells—zero results. Had to admit this must be the Tohsaka Family's Origin, that infamous Family magic. Started pondering my own Origin—no standout successes or advantages yet, and the book's drivel about "look within yourself" and such didn't help much.
*11 days later.*
Another night, still patrolling the forest, and tonight luck struck! Spotted a bright magical aura that suddenly appeared in the Forest! Switched to the nearest clone, yanked off my Respirator—since the mandatory skull mask unfortunately doesn't cover a clone's whole face, just the upper part, so I added the Respirator.
Don't think it'll help much, but it'll protect from something, plus distorts the voice and fully hides the face. And yeah, the skull mask can come off, but it's pretty comfy and part of the original Hassan like the cloak, so I kept it.
And yeah, I'd worked hard on my gear: dressed in military Camouflage, though with all clone clothes turning black, it's not super visible, but it boosts inner confidence. Added a loadout with knives, Axe, grappling hook with rope, and even swiped a Pistol! Which I'm gradually learning to shoot via clones, since there's only one pistol and one mag, but! Bullets, like thrown knives, return to the mag on their own—how? I chalked it up to Magic, and as long as it works, don't mess with it.
Though I was initially skeptical about the Pistol, I took it for two reasons—it doesn't weigh down the pocket, and the "spiritual magical damage" from my shadow weapons should apply to the Pistol too. Got that from there being an Archer Missiles among the original 100 Hassans.
And since I still suck at throwing knives, the Pistol's a solution—some ranged combat beats none. Heh, but what masters and Servants would think if they peeked under the concealing cloak, I won't guess: I look unusual and not at all like ancient hero gear.
But enough. Finally reached her—she's stumbling along in her hooded cloak. We'll definitely get along! We have so much in common; I love my cloak too! Lightly joking away the jitters—alright, time to act!
I leap down in front of her; she freezes, our eyes meet. And I hear a beautiful voice. "Who are you?"
For some reason, I want to answer—Caster, I'm your father! Join me, and we'll rule the galaxy together! As father and daughter!
Ahem, just nerves; I've waited too long! But I held back and didn't show how unhinged I am. Can't show a person everything at once—gotta ease them in, ramping up the crazy to my normal level slowly so they adjust. Plus, given I'm eyeing her with clear intentions, father-daughter won't fly. Unless as roleplay, but not all at once.
While I hesitated in thought, she continued. "Assassin?"
"Yes, I've come for you." Without waiting, I drop to one knee, arms spread wide.
"Oh sweet Caster, your eyes shine in the night, your ears sharp and cute. Join me..." And here I realized poetry and improv aren't my friends; my inner Darth Vader finally staged a coup with recruited roaches in my head, issued them stormtrooper helmets, seized power, so I blurted. "And together we'll conquer this world!"
Even thrust my hand forward, fist clenched—couldn't hold back. Hope I delivered enough PAFFOS, though with the hastily made crappy rhymes—it won't help much. Damn, why now?!
*Cricket chirp.*
Turned my head toward the sound, activated Enhanced perception, peered into the forest for a second, but couldn't spot that mythical critter.
Ahem, focus—the client's almost hooked! Now stand, hug her, comfort her. Which I did, meeting no real resistance. Yes! Success.
Or so I thought—until I coughed up blood and my side met a knife. Released her, staggered back a couple unsure steps. Managed to croak. "Why?"
Never gotten stabbed in the liver mid-pickup on a hot girl—invigorating experience that also tanks self-esteem and confidence. On the edge of awareness flashed that in my past life, I should've taken a pickup course at least once.
Anyway, focus—this is just a clone; retry improv! Maybe guilt-trip her? Heard girls fall for that. Well, time for a show: back up more, slump against a tree, sliding down back-first to the ground.
"I *cough* on a prince… *cough* horse… *cough* but you could've… *cough* *cough*" Damn, I'm delivering a heartfelt speech, but this body can't handle it and starts dissolving into magic particles. What kind of knife is that?! Wasn't even a lethal hit! And a third of my body's gone. "I wanted *cough* an elven…"
And that booted me to the main body.
*The forest shook with a scream—"Fuuuuck…"*
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan