Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though she would normally embellish her tales quite a bit, Musashi knew it was neither the time nor the place to mess around. Thus, in order to avoid upsetting Alice, she gave a relatively brief summary of events before ending things by saying, "We underestimated the Emperor too much. Though I hate to admit it, I'm certain he held back during our fight. Though he doesn't seem to be the strongest in the Empire, he gives off the impression of someone without any limits. In our fight alone, I could tell he became much stronger...even the air around him had undergone a qualitative change..."Hearing Musashi's recounting, and subsequent opinion, Shirou couldn't help but release a tired sigh as he ran his hand through his pale-white hair and muttered, "I wonder what excuse Archimedes will give this time around...we never should have followed that man's plans. The moment we stop caring about the methods used, we lose the right to call ourselves Heroes...what a drag..."While he had ultimately been convinced callous and logical leader of their resistance, Shirou, and many others within the group, hadn't been comfortable with the methods he had proposed. In fact, the original plan involved more than half of them working in coordination with each other, but, as it became readily apparent this wouldn't work, Shirou had volunteered to get his hands dirty in lieu of his companions. Not only did he have the means to infiltrate undetected, but, in the grand scheme of things, he was more of an Anti-Hero than the True Hero he had strived to be in life, thus making him the most 'suitable' for the responsibility of bearing their group's sins...Seeing the dull look in Shirou's eyes, Musashi released a sigh of her own before crossing her arms and adding, "After this mission, I'm not even certain if what we're doing is the right thing any longer. While I don't believe his words outright, I get the feeling the Emperor's words weren't meant to be misleading. Based on how he has acted thus far, it is safe to say he is the type that faces challenges head-on...I'm not suggesting we just expose ourselves to him, but, if we continue to do things using Archimedes' methods...I don't think our group will last very long..."Though he had yet to meet with Vahn directly, Shirou trusted Musashi's judgment, so, while he had some personal grievances against the man, he nodded in understanding before stating, "A lot of us haven't been seeing eye-to-eye with Archimedes for some time. If not for his Authority, I imagine he would have already been killed off by a number of our would-be allies...unfortunately, we still need him...without his power, this fight would be impossible to win."Musashi didn't completely agree with Shirou, but, as she wasn't actually a Heroic Spirit, she didn't have the same 'programming' as the fourteen who had been summoned by Archimedes. She, like Caenis and a few others, had shifted backward in time alongside Archimedes while Shirou, and the rest of the actual Heroic Spirits, had only been summoned after reaching the current point in the Time Axis. Thus, she had a bit more freedom when it came to her way of thinking, but, unfortunately, the contract she had made prevented her from doing much about it.In response to Shirou's words, Musashi just shrugged her shoulders before looking into the distance where Berserker and Caenis had appeared. Her Empyrean Eyes reflected a peculiar glow even as the day gradually gave way to the veil of night, bringing with it an uncommon chill that normally came only later in the year. This was an ominous sign, and, despite feeling as though Vahn was no longer observing her, Musashi found this 'disinterest' even more terrifying. It was almost as if he didn't care what they did, almost as if he had seen through everything with his blazing golden eyes...With the arrival of Berserker and Caenis, the latter of which had a dour expression on her face when she saw Shirou, it was nearing time for their departure. Alice had already returned to the group after ringing the Shrine's bell, so, while waiting for the mass transportation spell to activate, Musashi gave the entire group a look before locking eyes with Shirou and saying, "I have a bad feeling...almost like something terrible is going to happen..."As Musashi's intuition was rarely, if ever, wrong, Shirou adopted a serious expression in response to her words, asking, "Do you think it has anything to do with the Empire tracking the two of you? Even if they have the means to fool our senses and scanners, the quarantine measures back at HQ should prevent all forms of tracing. Once we return, we should be able to lay low for a while before coming up with a method to deal a blow to the Empire..."Hearing Shirou's words, Musashi immediately shook her head, her own expression becoming more serious as she said, "We shouldn't keep targetting the Empire. Even if he is our enemy, I don't think the Emperor's words should be taken lightly. Our future plans should target him directly...this is what my intuition is telling me. The fact they aren't even trying to track us makes it seem as though Vahn already knows the location of our base...it's like he is testing us..."Musashi generally wasn't afraid of anything, but, as they were preparing for their return, she began to feel something akin to existential dread. It wasn't fear for her own life, but, after becoming rather close to many of her current comrades, she didn't want to see them slaughtered by the unforgiving Emperor. His warnings echoed in her mind, and, though there were no guarantees he would have actually spared any of them in the long run, Musashi felt 'certain' that he would slaughter them all if she didn't take his words seriously...Sensing the tension radiating from Musashi, everyone around her began to feel uncomfortable. Alice even hid behind Shirou's back, clinging tightly to his hoodie as she whimpered, "I'm scared...big sis is scaring me..."Since Musashi generally gave off a confident and easy-going vibe, even Shirou began to feel a little nervous, but, knowing it only took a bit of courage to keep hope alive, he forced a calming smile as he picked up Alice, hugging her close as he looked around at his allies and said, "No matter what the future may bring, we will face it together. The Emperor may be a terrifying opponent, but, so long as we stand united, there will always be hope. Come, let us return and discuss this with everyone else. If we put our heads together, we'll be able to come up with a solution...I'm certain of it."If Vahn had been present, he would have noticed the flow of fate around Shirou shift, wrapping up everyone else in its slow yet steady current. As a result, even Musashi began to feel more confident, the smile returning to her face as she answered, "That's right, isn't it? This has always been a war that put our lives on the line so it is senseless to start worrying about it now. I still feel it's best to face the Emperor directly, but, as long as I have reliable allies on my side, I guess it doesn't make much of a difference."Musashi's words weren't exactly inspiring, but, immediately following her musing, Caenis adopted an eager expression on her face as she loudly exclaimed, "You're lacking the spirit of a warrior, Musashi! if the Empire comes knocking at the gates, my spear will be the first thing to greet them! If I don't at least give that bastard a good kick, I won't be able to die with dignity...!"Even if it wasn't Caenis' intention to be funny, Musashi nearly burst into laughter when she heard the former's last few words. She just now remembered witnessing Caenis get kicked by Vahn during their previous encounter, and, while this wasn't exactly funny, the fact Caenis never seemed to learn from her failures was strangely endearing. She was the type that could get beaten a dozen times, yet, even if her opponent was several times more skilled and powerful, she would unhesitantly throw herself at them, time and time again...Seeing Musashi covering her mouth, Caenis' expression turned dour, but, due to the presence of Alice, she decided to restrain her urge to lash out. Alice was the glue that unified many within their group, so, while she had never been especially fond of children, Caenis didn't want to upset her. The doll-like girl could be especially troublesome when she was upset, and, despite a strong desire for battle, Caenis also wanted to just relax once they returned home. This would be difficult if Alice was upset with her, so, for the time being, she bottled up her frustration, deciding to expend it the next time she encountered the 'cowardly' Emperor...After waiting for several minutes, a massive magic circle, this one possessing a uniquely mechanical composition, appeared beneath the group. A few moments later, everyone within the confines of the magic circle began to glow with a pale-blue light as a mechanical voice echoed, "Scan complete. No anomalous readings detected."Before the spell could complete, Shirou interrupted the process, stating, "Transfer us to the near-side Quarantine Bay. Have a team on standby for a comprehensive analysis of personnel and make sure to sever any connections between HQ and Gaia for the next couple of hours. Also, inform the Chief Administrator that there is a reasonably high chance the position of HQ has already been exposed..."In response to Shirou's words, the composition of the magic circle began to shift slightly, it's gear-like components moving like the cog within a clock to change to facilitate their new destination. At the same time, the mechanical voice from before answered, "Acknowledged. Activating Quarantine procedures and informing pertinent personnel..."Once the voice's words began to trail, the light around everyone's bodies began to rapidly increase in intensity before, in an instant, they all vanished like collapsing stars. It was a rather strange sight to behold from the outside, as, for the brief moment before the transfer was completed, it was like they had imploded inward on themselves, being sucked into a singularity of bluish-white light that rippled outward once they vanished...For those experiencing the transfer, there was a feeling of mild nausea, but, after a few seconds had passed, these symptoms faded in their entirety. This left the group standing idle in a futuristic room that was covered in smooth metallic walls adorned with bands of light that periodically flickered on their surface. There was no furniture at all within the space they had been isolated, but, after a few minutes had passed, mechanical automatons began to carry in anything they would need to relax as the Quarantine procedures were carried out.Shirou left Alice in the care of Berserker, earning a mildly annoyed expression from the latter and an aggrieved pout from the former. As he had to discuss things with Archimedes, however, Shirou spent a bit of time coaxing Alice before entering one of the adjoining rooms alongside Musashi. She would need to give another first-hand account of everything that had happened, and, while the likelihood of Archimedes following their suggestions was slim, at best, it wasn't completely hopeless. He was a man of logic and reasoning, so, as long as you made a convincing argument, backed up by facts, he would take your opinion into consideration when he adapted his future plans...What awaited Shirou and Musashi after they entered the isolated room was a barren chamber with a false-mirror on one side, much like an interrogation room. The mechanism that allowed both sides to see each other had already been activated, and, despite the fact he had been in the middle of an important project, Archimedes wasted no time in heading over after hearing the message issued by the SE.RA.PH system.Before so much as a greeting could be exchanged between them, Archimedes leaned into the thin microphone situated on the control panel hidden beneath the mirror, asking, "How certain are you that we have been exposed? I want to know everything that happened in the sixty-three hours that have passed since the failure of the previous mission...!"(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Dirtying one's hands...','Women's intuition...','The advent of the protagonist aura...!?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Though it didn't strictly follow his training with his Shishou, Vahn was doing his best to help each of the children slowly break through their limits. As a result, part of his evening schedule, the part that had been dedicated to completing Scáthach's challenges, had now been dedicated to spending time with, and training, Mordred, Sakura, Zoë, Astrid, Gareth, Scáthach, and, due to the circumstances of the former, Ciel.Now that he was in charge of training, Vahn's sessions often brought a lot of curious observers and a few temporary students, but, as he took his duties very seriously, most only lingered for a short while before wandering off to deal with other matters. They didn't want to get in the way of children's time with Vahn, and, though Ciel, Gareth, and even Scáthach didn't qualify as children, their circumstances made them exceptions.Currently, Vahn was watching attentively as each of his students, their power restricted by a series of magical or physical seals, pulled statues depicting themselves in triumphant poses. These were much lighter than the variant he had used during his training, but, taking their age and current physical development into account, it would be unrealistic to expect them to pull upwards of 2,000,000kg as children.Ultimately, it was the Parameters of each person that decided how much weight they were intended to pull, as, while it varied based on factors like Race, Skill, and Innates, each Parameter provided a quantifiable increase in attribute they modified. Thus, if two humans had 20D Strength, they would be able to lift and move the exact same amount of weight if all other factors were equal. If there was any difference at all, this could be attributed to their Skills, Innates, or pure, undiluted, Willpower...With her Strength being the highest, at 39B+, Mordred's statue, showing her posing with her sword planted in the ground and a confident smile on her face, was nearly twice as heavy as everyone else in her group. Despite this, she had a resolute grin as her muscles strained enough to be outlined in her form-fitting attire, showing off both her desire to become stronger and her athletic figure. She had pulled out several meters ahead of the rest of the pack, and, with the passage of time, each of the seals designed to weaken her became less effective.The penultimate point of this kind of training wasn't to help the children increase their Strength, but, ultimately, it taught them that limitations, both mental and physical, could be overcome. Mordred's experience with the [Ouroborous Seal] gave her a fair amount of resistance to magical restraints, so, as could be expected, she was able to distinguish herself from her peers. Her only real competition was Scáthach and Gareth, but, for a variety of reasons, it wasn't actually fair to compare them.Scáthach actually needed to be sealed by an Artifact on the level of [Enkidu] just to be restrained like the rest, and, while her Parameters hadn't increased much since her summoning, Gareth had an edge against everyone else since she had been apprenticed to him for a longer period of time. Her mind had basically been 'reprogrammed' to ignore the existence of limits entirely, so, at times, she could even outshine Mordred when it wasn't a direct contest of strength.Fortunately, while the former Heroic Spirits certainly set themselves apart from the crowd, it wasn't as if the other children were falling far behind. Sakura and Mash, in particular, had been breaking through their limits with each passing day, setting an example for the other children to follow. This was important, as, while it was inarguably better to break through your limits without having others to compare yourself to, having rivals made the process infinitely more enjoyable...After pulling her statue the requisite 500m, Mordred wasted no time in abandoning her post, making a beeline directly toward Vahn. She still had several seals restricting her joint movement and magical energy, but, as if they meant nothing to her, she leaped through the air, covering nearly a hundred meters as she shouted, "Chichiue, I'm finished~!" in a happy tone of voice.Vahn was already used to Mordred's antics, but, as it would set dangerous precedence if he just let her do whatever she pleased, he extended his hand, locking her into place using his domain. Despite this, Mordred just snickered in her characteristic 'shishishi' manner before creating a foothold in the air and attempting to cover the remaining distance. This had become something of a 'game', not just between him and Mordred, but all of the children. If they were able to reach him directly, he would provide an ample reward, and, so long as it was 'tame', he would even acquiesce to a single request.Despite the promise of greater rewards, none of the children, including Mordred and Scáthach, had been able to approach without his permission. Though they would be able to reach him pretty easily if their restraints were removed, Vahn had become increasingly proficient in controlling both Space and Time after his awakening. He had even made a startling amount of progress toward achieving a Divinity in both, reaching 93% in Space and 87% in Time after three weeks in the Projection, and, in preparation for what was to come, a few months within Azathoth's dimension.The only thing Vahn was mildly annoyed with was that his progress in Creation fluctuated between 98 and 99%, despite the fact he had even attempted to replicate the creation process of Jade, the tiny white lotus he had developed back in the Record of Danmachi. He could recall the process with absolute clarity, yet, in spite of spending a considerable amount of time attempting to create a new form of life, it didn't give the same 'feeling' as when he produced Jade...Though Vahn's mind had wandered slightly, Mordred was unable to penetrate within a meter of his body. It was almost like an invisible wall blocked her passage as, after getting this far, she could even press against empty Space, similar to someone pressing their face and body against a window. This continued for several minutes straight before she ultimately gave up, allowing the invisible force to repel her backward a few meters, a smile on her face as she mused, "I'll be able to reach you one of these days, just you wait...!"Hearing his tomboyish daughter's remark, Vahn lightly chuckled before reversing the direction of energy within his domain, pulling her closer to him. He then planted his hand on her head, ruffling her golden hair as he retorted, "I have no doubt about that at all, Mordred. For now, however, I'll be forging the path ahead...hahaha-oof...!"Though he had 'seen' it coming, Vahn still ended up getting the wind forced out of his lungs when Mordred suddenly gave him a tight bear hug, whispering, "Just don't go somewhere I can't reach..." in an uncharacteristically solemn tone. In response to this, he just silently hugged her head to his chest, stroking her hair in a calming gesture. He knew she was worried about the recent changes in his behavior, much like every resident within Avalon, but, as he had already decided not to run away anymore, Vahn wouldn't be abandoning her, or anyone else, ever again.Unfortunately, as his plan couldn't be exposed to Akasha and her superiors, he was unable to convey things in a way that put the girls at ease. From their perspective, his rapid increase in power and the subtle shift in his behavior were red flags, but, when it came down to it, he hadn't really changed all that much. Though he could now see the Flow of Fate and had a much better understanding of his influence on the world around him, it didn't change the person he was, He was just behaving in a more responsible manner now, a stark contrast to the whimsy and worry he was known for in the past...To ease Mordred's concerns, Vahn allowed her to sit in his lap, leaning against her back as they watched everyone else finish up their training. She was the type that enjoyed physical contact and the feeling of security it brought, so, if he could serve as a shelter for her heart and spirit, Vahn didn't mind playing the part he had been given. Mordred was working hard to reach godhood through her own efforts so she deserved a reward every now and then. Though this didn't last too long, as it only took a few minutes for Scáthach and Gareth to finish their sets, it was enough to keep her motivated for more strenuous training.With Mordred vacating his lap, Vahn rose to his feet and, while it always filled him with a sense of incongruity, he dutifully pat both Gareth's and Scáthach's heads after the two young women tried, and failed, to penetrate the solidified Space around him. Then, after removing the golden bindings that had been retraining Scáthach's power, Vahn watched as she and Mordred began their usual sparring session while Gareth happily sat at his side.Though a considerable amount of time had passed, at least from his perspective, Vahn still felt it would take a long time before he was used to the new Scáthach. The way she eagerly tried to fit in with the others, combined with the fact she was often smiling, were things he should be grateful for. Despite this, he was always filled with a sense of melancholy, and, understanding this was derived from his selfishness, an even stronger feeling of guilt.Since there was little he could do to affect Scáthach's original decision, Vahn knew he should be doing everything in his power to make her current self happy. She worked really hard to listen to his commands, and, despite everyone behaving awkwardly around her, she did her best not to let it get to her. Though she would occasionally spend some time with Spenta, further strengthening the guilt in his heart, the current Scáthach was doing her best to live her life to the fullest.Vahn kept telling himself to move on, but, no matter how often he repeated the words, the feelings he had bottled up would sneak up on him every time he remembered his failure to save his Shishou. Even if she didn't blame him, he couldn't help but feel there was more he could have done. He also remembered the overwhelming aura of sadness present around her Memory Fragment and the fact he had readily turned his back on her. In hindsight, this had been a rather heartless thing to do, and, if he had the opportunity, Vahn would have liked to apologize to her...While these thoughts plagued his mind, Vahn watched the sparring session between Mordred and Scáthach with a casual smile on his face. It was obvious from the smiles on their faces that they both enjoyed the thrill of battle, and, though Mordred would grimace every time she was sent tumbling backward, she never gave up, bounding back with progressively greater force. As for Scáthach, she had a look of excitement on her face, but, every now and then, she would look over, locking eyes with him a look that sought praise and approval.Even if he wasn't quite at the point where he truly meant it, Vahn would always smile and nod a little whenever their gazes crossed. This caused Scáthach's expression and aura to both brighten, but, with Mordred perfectly aware of what was going on, stirring her jealously slightly, the two would soon be locked in an intense battle, each trying to show off. Vahn didn't entirely approve of this, but, so long as they showed proper sportsmanship after the fact, he didn't mind if they got a little out of hand in their efforts to earn his praise. Both girls had unreasonably high expectations for him, in their own unique ways, so this was just another one of his responsibilities...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Breaking through the limit','Mental Bottleneck','The future comes, whether or not you are ready to accept it')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Though the feeling of being watched had faded, Musashi spent nearly two full days transferring between various Bounded Fields before coming to a stop outside a small forest shrine hidden away in the mountains of Japan.No matter how many worlds and timelines she had traversed, Musashi always found herself visiting her ancestral homeland whenever her thoughts were in turmoil. This was also the location they had designated for establishing contact if they believed the enemy had tracked them, so, understanding Caenis was close to her breaking point, Musashi brought her to a place where they could both rest.As Divine Spirits, Musashi and Caenis didn't have to worry about food and water, but, as they were both humanoid Divine Spirits, they had never outgrown the habits. Musashi, in particular, was quite fond of Sake, but, having been born during the so-called Japanese Renaissance period, she also had a weakness for hard liquor imported from overseas. It was one of the methods she used to calm her mind outside of battle, as, despite achieving the coveted state of Nothingness, the vices she defined her life as a human were like an anchor for her Spirit...After unsealing a small barrier that prevented the Shrine's offering box from being opened, Musashi pulled out a large gourd, a ceramic jar, and several shot glasses. She then tossed one of the glasses to the moody Caenis, adopting a smile as she said, "We probably have a few hours to kill before any of our allies show up. Come, have a drink with me and stop pouting. It's not like there won't be even more opportunities to fight. You need to learn to relax properly if you want to become truly strong."Though she had caught the glass thrown her way, Caenis immediately tossed it back, her expression still dour as she stated, "You know I hate that rice wine of yours. I prefer port wine and honey mead, not that bitter water you call alcohol..."Since it wasn't like she could force Caenis to drink with her, at least without beating her in a duel, Musashi just shook her head before taking a seat on the cold stone steps and enjoying a drink. The ceramic container she used was actually an item she had picked up in her travels after defeating a hermetic priest worshipping Inari Okami, one of the various Gods of Sake. It was a special ceramic jar that could produce a functionally limitless supply of high-quality sake, albeit at a rate of 12oz every five hours.If left within a Shrine dedicated to Inari, the sake within would ferment once the container was filled, becoming richer and more flavorful with each passing day. Thus, whenever she was busy with other things, Musashi would leave the ceramic container and her personal wine gourd stowed away inside the Shrine, visiting periodically to transfer the contents into larger ceramic wine jars that now filled the entirety of the Shrine's interior.After emptying half the contents of the ceramic container without bothering to dilute the flavorful alcohol within, Musashi released a hot sigh as her face almost immediately became red. Despite her love of sake, there was a reason her legend mentioned various drunken escapades and brawls. She had always been rather weak to all forms of alcohol, and, while she could even drink some Dwarves under the table, it only took a few mouthfuls of the potent liquor to get her drunk.Knowing how clingy and easily agitated Musashi got while drunk, Caenis had already disappeared into the surrounding mountains. There was little she could do against Musashi, even while the latter was drunk, so, after learning a harsh lesson several times in the past, Caenis set aside her pride and decided on a swift retreat the moment the disc-shaped glass reached her companion's lips.Though she had sensed Caenis disappear, tempting her to give chase, Musashi felt it was too much trouble pursuing the horse-like woman. Caenis' foot speed easily eclipsed her own, so, while it was possible for her to cut off the former's retreat, Musashi felt it would spoil the taste of her alcohol if she went out of her way to exert herself. Sake was best enjoyed in good company or while behaving as lazy as possible, so, rather than give chase, she lay back against the cool stone, enjoying the fresh breeze and the gentle rays of the sun while nursing her faithful gourd...---Several hours after Musashi had started her private drinking session, she ended up sprawled out in a slovenly mess atop the Shrine's steps. Despite this, she still possessed an ethereal beauty, something that far exceeded the limitations faced by most mortal women. This was one of the perks of being a Divine Spirit, but, in spite of this, the man looking down on her partially exposed figure had a look of frustration and resignation on his face as he lightly nudged her with his foot, muttering, "It's time to wake up, Musashi...hey...hey, can you hear me...?"Seeing Musashi ignoring his attempts to wake her, laughing drunkenly in response, the man couldn't help releasing a tired sigh before wondering whether or not he should seek out Caenis' assistance or call for additional support. Musashi was notoriously difficult to deal with while she was drunk, but, as someone who vehemently hated most men, Caenis wasn't exactly easy to deal with either.Deciding he would rather avoid another beating from the drunken Musashi, the man pulled out his Communicator, walking well away from the slumbering landmine to say, "Send someone else down. I can't deal with Caenis and Musashi while the latter is drunk."Following his transmission, the man looked around the area, trying to sense the location of Caenis before ultimately deciding to ignore her as he pulled an ornate sniper rifle, a bolt-action rifle that had risen to popularity in the 1980s due to its impressive accuracy and portability. This one, however, had a sleek black luster that seemed glossy at first, but, when observed closely, it actually absorbed the light around it instead of reflecting it. It was also possible to make out thousands of small runes that had been painstakingly engraved along its surface, indicative of more than a hundred different enchantments.Since it would take a bit of time for Headquarters to send support, the man decided to perform a bit of routine maintenance on his trusted firearm. While this wasn't exactly necessary, due to the fact he was a Heroic Spirit, it was a habit he had formed in his past life. This was similar to Nobunaga's need to conduct maintenance on her weapons and, while not exactly the same, it had a few parallels with Musashi's incessant need to drink herself into oblivion...By the time he had finished brushing down the firing pin and cleaning the chamber of his rifle, two additional figures had appeared within the man's perception. The first was the woman who had been assigned as his partner, much like how Caenis and Musashi had been paired together. She was the same 'Saber' that had been assigned to assist during the previous mission while, at her side, Alice, the resident mascot of their operation, led the way by pulling the former's hand.Seeing the white-haired man in the distance, Alice's face brightened into a lovely smile as she broke out into a fumbling run before diving toward him and shouting, "Brother Shirou~" in a happy tone.Though he caught Alice out of the air, Shirou had a wry smile on his face as he set her back on the ground and whispered, "Alice...I told you not to call me by name when we're outside Headquarters. It is also too dangerous for you out here...who let you come outside?"Hearing her beloved big brother's words, Alice puffed out her cheeks adorably before ignoring his question and asking, "Are you not happy to see me...?" in an aggrieved tone.In response to Alice's pouting, Shirou released a small sigh before adopting his most comforting smile, gently caressing her head as he replied, "I'm always happy to see you, Alice. It's just...well, all big brothers can't help but worry about their little sisters. Since you're so adorable, I worry that any random stranger might try to pick you up and kidnap you...hahaha..."Finding her big brother's response to her liking, Alice's smile returned even more radiant than before as she threw her arms around his neck and chimed, "Big brother is the best~!" before planting a kiss on his cheek.With a wry smile on his face, Shirou lightly pinched Alice's cheek in response before rising to his feet and greeting his usual partner, his expression immediately becoming a mask of professionalism as he said, "Berserker...are you the one who decided to bring out Alice?"Without any change in her expression, the woman with features similar to Artoria, the only exception being the color of their hair and eyes, stared blankly back at Shirou before answering, "Assassin...she offered me her cake...Besides, I don't like it when she pouts...it is troublesome...you should play with her more often..."As if having successfully read a script, 'Berserker' sent a thumbs-up toward Alice, earning a similar expression from the small girl who now clung to Shirou's side. At the same time, Shirou released a tired sigh, something he found himself doing with increasing frequency ever since coming to this world.Before things became more hectic, Shirou grabbed Alice's hand, intending her to have her wake up Musashi while leaving Caenis to Berserker. The two had a bit of a rivalry between them, but, due to Caenis' hatred of men, it was easier to let one of his female companions deal with her. Most of their group was actually female, the only exceptions being himself, Archimedes, Lovecraft, and 'another', so it wasn't difficult to have someone else rein her in.With Alice in tow, Shirou made his way over to where Musashi, now with her kimono slightly open, continued napping away with a silly smile on her ruddy face. Seeing this, Alice entered 'panic mode', pushing away her big brother as she shouted, "Brother Shirou, you can't look! Bad...!" Then, after making sure he was facing away, she went over to the sleeping Musashi, shaking her shoulders rather vigorously in order to wake her.After experiencing a nightmare where she was trapped on the open seas during a storm, Musashi woke to find the familiar face of Alice glaring back at her. Though she was still considerably drunk, the angry face of the adorable little girl had a sobering quality to it, forcing Musashi to quickly fix her clothes as she sheepishly asked, "What are you doing here, Alice? Shouldn't you be back at home...?"Before she could finish her line of questioning, Musashi saw Shirou standing off to the side with his back turned, realization dawning on her at the same time as her expression reddened. She wasn't the type that cared if her body was seen by others, but, as Shirou had already resisted her teasing quite, she had developed a certain 'awareness' of him that was hard to put into words. It wasn't anything remotely resembling love, but, as a man with a respectable character, it made Musashi feel slightly ashamed to behave in her usual slovenly manner around him...Seeing Musashi's expression redden, Alice's face immediately formed into a pout as she moved in a way to block the former's view, her posture similar to a mother scolding their child as she said, "You shouldn't be sleeping outside! If you're sleepy, you should return home and use your bed properly!"Musashi was at a bit of a loss as to how she should respond, but, fortunately, Shirou came to her aid, saying, "Don't blame her too much, Alice. Musashi has been on the run for the last few days in order to avoid leading the enemy to our home. She was probably very tired so don't be too hard on her..."Grasping the lifeline that had been thrown to her, Musashi nodded her head, immediately adding, "Assassin is right. Caenis and I have been on the run without resting for two whole days so I couldn't help taking a nap while waiting. Please forgive me, Alice, I promise I won't sleep outside anymore..."Though her frustration had little to do with the fact Musashi was sleeping outdoors, Alice ultimately decided to forgive her after hearing her big brother's words. Thus, while not as vibrant as the smile she reserved for her big brother and favorite uncle, Alice adopted a kind smile before lightly patting Musashi's head and saying, "You worked hard. Let's go home so you can get some proper rest."Musashi felt a slight urge to tear up in response to Alice's perceived gentleness, but, as she wasn't absolutely certain it was safe to head back, she shook her head and said, "I'd like to return but there are a couple of things I need to take care of before then. I know you don't like being away from your big brother, but, can you give the two of us a few minutes to talk? There is something very important I need to discuss with Assassin before we can all head back together..."Hearing Musashi's words, Alice had a complicated expression on her face, but, with Shirou following up by saying, "Alice, be a good girl...please...", she begrudgingly decided to give them some privacy. She knew they needed to talk about the previous mission, and, while it made her a little upset to be excluded, Alice knew everyone just wanted to keep her safe.After Alice was out of earshot, Shirou's expression immediately became serious as he asked, "Have you been compromised? Tell me what happened after you were captured. Did they...do anything to you...?"Though she knew he wasn't alluding to anything sexual, Musashi's already red face became slightly more ruddy as she issued a few coughs to cover up her embarrassment. Shirou's face also became a little red once he realized the hidden meaning in his words, but, unlike Musashi, it only took him a few seconds to recover. When she did, Musashi also adopted a more serious expression, her drunken state quickly fading away as she began to recount the details of her battle against Vahn, the method used to contain her, and the rather one-sided negotiations that had led to her release...(A/N: Alternate Titles: '[Endless Bottle of Sake:B]','The advent of Assassin Shirou and Berserker!?','You better stay away from Musashi-chan you white-haired Octopus...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 1425: Foreboding